I read 31 books in 2011. I think that this is the first year that I have ever tracked every single book, keeping a running tally. I’m a very fast reader, but I don’t always devote as much time to reading these days as I used to. Usually I a regulate reading to a few stolen moments under the covers at the end of the long day. Some nights this means that I am up far too late (if a captivating book)….or it means that I hardly read any pages at all, making finishing a book take forever (a less interesting book–I rarely give up on books though–I like to finish).

The list (with some remarks and links to the books; almost all of these were Kindle edition):

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. My (one and only) note in my journal about this book says, “brilliant.” I only wished that it (the book) had been longer.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. This is (awesome!) free to download to the Kindle. I think that this is my third reading of the book and I have to say that reading as an all-grown-up adult is a very different experience from reading it as a teenager and a young adult. I found it depressing (I mean, how can it not be? Adultery and suicide being among its topics) but the writing is just (for the most part)….beautifully depressing. I honestly hate the political parts of it–I find them boring–but the characters are so captivating that even though this is an incredibly long book, it still held me (with some brief skimming of the parts where Levin goes on and on and on and on….).

It Must Have Been Something I Ate: The Return of the Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten. Loved this one. So entertaining. Warning: if you are the kind of couple who both enjoys gastronomy be prepared to annoy your partner by insisting that they listen to (many, many) sections of the book, after you’ve pored over it yourself. They will roll their eyes and then they will surreptitiously read portions when you aren’t looking. It’s that good.

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee. Fascinating and informative. Obviously I have a vested interest in cancer and cancer research but this really was a terrific science read. It was interesting to read about the history of the treatment of cancer, to see how much trial and error has been involved in trying to find a cure. This book both filled me with despair (so much we don’t know!) and with hope (great strides have been and continue to be taken).

Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. I don’t know that I had ever really read this before. Maybe portions of it. “Weird and wonderful” is what I wrote to myself in my notes about this one. Definitely a quick read.

The Paris Wife: A Novel by Paula McLain. So so so so good. Several years ago I went through a Hemingway phase and this definitely rekindled my desire to re-read some of his works. And, yes, it would seem that the story itself would be rough to read because it is about the dissolution of a marriage and yet….and yet….I just loved this book. It helped that I read it right after my spring trip to Paris as I was able to visualize the very neighborhoods and areas in which the story took place.

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. This was one of the Hemingway books that I had never read and, after having read a recommendation by a blogger that I like, I decided I must read it immediately. I’ve actually got Adam reading it right now and I think he loves it. Hemingway is such a brilliant author–so passionate and strong and he cuts right through the crap. I especially loved what he had to write about writing. It is a portrait of an unusual time and place, so many personalities all living and creating and socializing together. F. Scott Fitzgerald is my all time favorite author and, even though he is portrayed in this book as an irresponsible drunk, I gobbled up the sections about him. What a crazy time.

The Last Queen: A Novel by C.W. Goftner. I chose this one because I wanted to read something historical about Spain while we were visiting there in May. It was a good choice for the Spain trip. It was interesting and it provided good historical background for understanding a little bit of the Spanish monarchy.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. How can one go wrong with Jane Austen? This is such an enjoyable read. As situated in its time as it is, the emotions and the relationships are so universally relevant, even in this day and age.

The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. Just lovely. One of my all time favorites. Tragic and gorgeous.

When Did I Get Like This: The Screamer, the Worrier, the Dinosaur-Chicken-Nugget-Buyer and Other Mothers I Swore I’d Never Be by Amy Wilson. Funny and true but, ultimately, a pretty forgettable book.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I got sucked into all the press for the upcoming movie. The books was….okay. Not the best book ever. The plot does move along and it is entertaining but I got annoyed by the dialogue and characters.

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon. Oh my goodness, I just loved this book. Interesting, thought-provoking, well told. Great story, very engrossing.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I borrowed this one from Mom after hearing what felt like everyone say that they loved it. Excellent and well worth the hype. Such an interesting glimpse into a world that I knew nothing about. It made me wonder about any similarities to the Latin American “help” living and working here in Southern California, in this day and age. What level of prejudice exists here and now?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I know everyone loved this book. I feel ambivalent (sorry). Yes, I couldn’t put it down. It did have that going for it. But it was creepy. And the dialogue was stupid. And it just seemed very, I dunno, very Young Adult (which I believe it is actually marketed as but I didn’t expect because so many of my Regular Adult friends seemed to have read it). I don’t know that I will read any of the other books in the series. I didn’t feel compelled to read the second one right after this first one so….I don’t know. (But, like I said, I could NOT put this book down! Had to find out what happened!).

Sleepwalk with Me and Other Painfully True Stories by Mike Birbiglia. I needed something light after reading The Hunger Games. I had heard this author on This American Life and I couldn’t get his (hilarious) story out of my head so I decided to check out his book. Hilarious! Loved it.

Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright. This is the story of a woman who has an affair and leaves her marriage. There are some great descriptions of suburban housewifery, but all in all I didn’t really resonate with the main character and that made it difficult for me to really and truly like this book.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. Great read. It kept me up at night (had to finish it!). I actually found this novel thought-provoking. It is about the little things that add up through the years and the ways in which we just might miss them.

It Sucked and Then I Cried by Heather Armstrong. Meh. I love her blog, but I’m not so sure about this book. Not so funny and not so touching so this didn’t really do it for me.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Dark and moody. Kind of a slog to get through (I don’t remember thinking this the first time I read it, years ago. I think I LIKED all the dark and moody back then. Now I feel like, come on people! Snap out of it!).

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I kept getting this book as a recommendation on Amazon and passing it over. A book whose narrator was (supposedly) a dog? Um, weird. NO thanks. Finally I downloaded it and I am glad I did. Engrossing (even though it is about car racing, not a favorite topic of mine by any means!). I LOVED that it came from the dog’s point of view. Kept me up way too late reading. (Adam read it after me and it only took him two days to read it, which is some kind of record for him–a quick read!).

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. I was intrigued enough, after all the press that this book got, to read it and judge for myself whether the so-called Tiger Mother was cruel and oppressive or simply doing what she needed to do to help her daughters excel. It was certainly food for thought reading this book. Me personally? I wouldn’t have wanted to be the author’s daughter. Yikes.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. So good. Loved it (as I have loved all of this author’s books).

Away: A Novel by Amy Bloom. Weird.

Shanghai Girls: A Novel by Lisa See. Good book. I enjoyed this one.

Let’s Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship by Gail Caldwell. Touching.

Nowhere Near Normal: A Memoir of OCD by Traci Foust. Oddly Fascinating.

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert. Good and thought provoking. Marriage is what you make of it. I agree.

Rescue: A Novel by Anita Shreve. This was okay but not one of my favorites. Fairly entertaining but not brilliant.

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Adam made me read this, after he read it himself. It was fun to have our own little book club! I just don’t agree with the philosophy of the book, but….it is an enjoyable read.

Anywhere but Here by Mona Simpson. Entertaining novel.

And….started but did not finish until it was 2012:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I give up! I just had to read this after all the hype and the movie and everything. Disturbing and yet so incredibly readable. I really liked it.