Best Reads for 2011

One of the things I really love about the end of the year is seeing everyone else's best of lists.  I always have trouble picking out my faves though and with 81 books read this year picking out my top ten for was no exception.  I finally managed to do it though.  So here they are-my top 10 plus five "honorable mentions" You didn't really think I'd be able to pick just ten did you?  :)

1.

The ultimate tale of forbidden love and set in the Australian outback to boot!  I loved the story of Father Ralph and Meggie.  In fact, I loved all the characters.  This was a book that I loved so much that it took me a long time to find something to read after it because nothing else came close!








2.

This was my first book by Sharon Kay Penman and after reading it I was left wondering why I waited so long to read one of her books.  This was the fantastic love story of King John's illegitimate daughter Joanna and Llewelyn ab Iorweth-a Welsh leader.  The historical detail in this was excellent and she managed to show a different side of King John.  Loved this story!








3.

This is the story of Rachel Kalama-a seven year old girl who contracts leprosy-a disease afflicting Hawaiians in the late 1800's-and is sent to live at the leper colony on the island of Moloka'i.  Even though there were a lot of sad parts in this book, I enjoyed following the journey of spirited Rachel and her friends.  After this I immediately picked up Brennert's next book Honolulu and I loved that one too (just not as much as Moloka'i).  I think Alan Brennert was one of my best "finds" of this year and I very much look forward to whatever he comes out with next.






4.

When I started compiling my best of list earlier in the month,  I hadn't read this one yet but I devoured this chunky book about a little boy named Peekay growing up in Africa as the tensions from the Boer Wars remain, the war in Europe rages on and apartheid takes hold in South Africa.  I really didn't want this story to end and have learned today that there is a sequel which I will be getting my hands on as soon as possible.







5.

I loved the story of Pearl and May in Shanghai Girls and was anxious to continue their story along with that of daughter Joy in Dreams of Joy.  As Joy grows into young womanhood she becomes an idealist who wants to do everything she can to help her mother country-China.  When Joy runs away to do just that Pearl follows to get her daughter back.  Joy discovers things are extremely different from what she expected as she is introduced to Communism and life under Chairman Mao.   I was completely wrapped up in this book, especially the parts taking place in Communist China.  I spent half the book wanting to shake some sense into Joy and I still really enjoyed this one despite that.




6.

I'm usually a read the book then see the movie person but I saw the movie The Road starring Viggo Mortensen and had to pick up the book to see if it was just as good.  This book left me so down after I finished it and McCarthy has a rather interesting style in regards to punctuation and dialogue that takes some getting used to.  Even though this was probably my most depressing read of the year it was really good as well.  I cried at the end of the movie and the book.







7.

Paranormal vampire themed type books?  Not a fan.  The Passage?  Definite fan.  The first half of the book introducing the child Amy and leading up to what happened to cause the extinction of 90% of the human race had me hooked.  The book switched gears for awhile and got bogged down a bit but then it picked up and hit me with an ending that left me going WHAT IN THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?!  I can't wait to read the next part in the trilogy coming out next year.  I'm sure I'll blaze through it as well and then spend another week sleeping with the lights on like I did with this one.





8.

Ok, so the Tudors have been done. And done. And done again.  This time though Margaret George takes on Elizabeth I in the later years of her reign and showed a whole new side of her.  I loved seeing behind the mask Elizabeth so painstakingly created throughout her years on the throne.  In addition to Elizabeth's story we get that of her cousin Lettice Knollys who is as different from Elizabeth as can be.  The alternating viewpoints of these two ladies worked really well here and even though like all of George's books, this one was a door stopper but I loved every minute of it.





9.

I discovered Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia series last year and every time she comes out with a new one I can just about guarantee it's going to be good.  This one focuses more on my favorite couple-Julia and Brisbane as they try to help brother Bellmont out of a sticky situation.  This series just keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait until the next one!







10.

This book tells the story of several Jewish women named Rachel and the passing of the family heirloom Cuheno diamond from on Rachel to the next.  As one Rachel dies the next one inherits.  This book starts off in Spain in the 1400's and continues all the way to the 1970's.  Each Rachel is unique and has a completely different story from the last.  Some are more likeable







HONORABLE MENTIONS:


1.

This is the story of Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump, a woman who at under 3 ft tall, would not let her size define her.  She knows she is destined for greater things and sets out to accomplish them-marrying General Tom Thumb, becoming a close confidante of PT Barnum and becoming one of the most famous women in the country along the way.  I loved reading about Vinnie's fascinating life.  I wasn't even really all that interested in reading this but I once I started I completely fell in love with it.






2.

I love books set in Ireland and this telling of the warrior Queen Maeve by Jules Watson was no exception.  Passionate about the welfare of her people and  a fierce warrior we follow Maeve as she proves to those around her that she is a ruler material despite being a lowly woman.  I love strong female characters and Maeve fit the bill.  Also enjoyed the mystic elements thrown in as well.








3.

What can be said about Marie Antoinette that hasn't been said already?  A lot apparently.  This book tells of MA's upbringing in the Austrian court and  the effort that went in to making the young girl worthy of the French Court.  This book covering MA's childhood up until the point she becomes Queen is the first in a trilogy.  I was surprised at how much detail the author was able to stuff in this book and still make it interesting.  I genuinely felt sorry for the poor girl throughout the entire novel.






4.

I really liked this one.  It starts off innocent enough.  When Alice Ibbetson notices a rare Lady's Slipper orchid on her neighbor's property she decides to steal it setting off a whole chain of unforeseen events.  Citizens turn against each other, a murder occurs-once it gets rolling it doesn't stop and there is even a little romance thrown in for good measure.







5.
Queen by Right tells the story of Cecily Neville (known as Proud Cis), wife to Richard Duke of York.   I really liked spunky Cis who we meet as an eight year old girl.  She grows up alongside Richard and they form a close friendship which blossoms into a true love match.  I really liked this lady's fascinating story as she stood by her husband despite his being constantly humiliated and shunned by King Henry VI and his haughty Queen Margaret of Anjou.  Loved the detail and learned quite a bit about Cis whom I'd never heard of before picking this up-this book had me leaning Yorkist :)




Did any of these make your list?