tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post7939458688538631619..comments2024-02-10T19:58:20.327+00:00Comments on Stuck in a Book: Top 15 of 2011StuckInABookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-5196516356479029832012-01-03T16:32:31.452+00:002012-01-03T16:32:31.452+00:00This is the second time in 10m that i see Christop...This is the second time in 10m that i see Christopher and Columbus in a Best of 2011 list (The Captive Reader was another). Elizabeth and her German Garden was one my best this year and I'm really like to read more by her.Alex (The Sleepless Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03083761152675156469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-11056826934754037782011-12-27T19:20:38.380+00:002011-12-27T19:20:38.380+00:00I <3 your list and am so glad you enjoyed Confe...I <3 your list and am so glad you enjoyed <em>Confederacy</em> so much! Still looking out for <em>The Skin Chairs</em>. I did do a list <a href="http://pagesofjulia.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/best-of-2011/" rel="nofollow">here</a>, and would add two since that post, <a href="http://pagesofjulia.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/112263-by-stephen-king/" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="http://pagesofjulia.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/the-home-maker-by-dorothy-canfield/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Not all will be to your tastes since fully half are new books, but I did take one tip from you, so thanks, again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-58948488370174737962011-12-25T17:25:01.192+00:002011-12-25T17:25:01.192+00:00I think I'll add a couple of these to the to-r...I think I'll add a couple of these to the to-read list.Kelly Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01752857506190488860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-61697364192612867792011-12-25T05:13:32.036+00:002011-12-25T05:13:32.036+00:00Gilead made my top 10 as well - and several of the...Gilead made my top 10 as well - and several of these have been added to my tbr list thanks to you.Susan in TXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09550766549670690646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-6471900050672642252011-12-23T23:09:11.142+00:002011-12-23T23:09:11.142+00:00Elaine - a last minute victor, that's edge-of-...<b>Elaine</b> - a last minute victor, that's edge-of-your-seat stuff! Since you read so many books each year, fancy joining me on A Century of Books, and reading one from each year of the 20th century?!<br /><br /><b>Ruthiella</b> - oo, lovely! I have built it up, haven't I? Perhaps I found it so good because I wasn't expecting it... but nonetheless, it is incredibly moving.<br /><br /><b>Helen</b> - lovely, and thank you :)<br /><br /><b>Danielle</b> - Oh, you will love Gilead, I promise! Thanks for another year of great suggestions on your blog.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-24598640193951058242011-12-23T22:37:41.805+00:002011-12-23T22:37:41.805+00:00So glad to see you changed your mind about Howards...So glad to see you changed your mind about Howards End--it's one of my favorites. I think I will have to read Gilead next year since both you and Rachel/Book Snob rave about it. Lots of other interesting books on your list that I will have to explore now, too. After I read the discussion of the Saki on the Doves group I loaded it onto my Nook, though I haven't yet gotten to it. And I agree that Patrick Hamilton's book is exceptional! Best wishes for the Holiday--hope you're having a great time with your family.Daniellehttp://www.danitorres.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-5231842010621498672011-12-23T20:57:42.155+00:002011-12-23T20:57:42.155+00:00Merry Christmas Simon! I've read quite a few o...Merry Christmas Simon! I've read quite a few on your list and noted down several more as they look so good... I hope you have a peaceful and wonderful holiday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-29577520853159120322011-12-23T18:09:09.603+00:002011-12-23T18:09:09.603+00:00Great list. You have me at "the best ending I...Great list. You have me at "the best ending I have ever read". The Unbearable Bassington just went on my TBR!Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-29686868654290131632011-12-23T15:36:04.734+00:002011-12-23T15:36:04.734+00:00What an interesting list Simon. Here are mine and...What an interesting list Simon. Here are mine and, my book of the year, is Magnificent Obsession by Helen Rappaport<br /><br />http://randomjottings.typepad.com/random_jottings_of_an_ope/2011/12/books-of-the-year-1.html<br /><br />http://randomjottings.typepad.com/random_jottings_of_an_ope/2011/12/books-of-the-year-20-non-fiction.htmlElainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17739410242766153431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-26614813683197019162011-12-23T12:33:39.050+00:002011-12-23T12:33:39.050+00:00Harriet - I have a feeling Hamilton might be near ...<b>Harriet</b> - I have a feeling Hamilton might be near the top of next year's list, if I finally manage to read another book by him. Craven House is next on the list. Looking through my list, I'm pretty sure you'd like most of them - definitely Two Serious Ladies.<br /><br /><b>Annabel</b> - thanks! Let me know if you plan on reading Craven House, and I'll join in with you...<br /><br /><b>Megan</b> - thank you :) Confed of Dunces is a bizarre book, a real love-or-hate novel, but definitely give it a go...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-52109873609608409302011-12-23T12:30:48.200+00:002011-12-23T12:30:48.200+00:00Claire - I totally do that myself! I held off fin...<b>Claire</b> - I totally do that myself! I held off finishing Great Expectations last December, for that very reason... but then only actually finished it after I'd made my top 15 *this* year. Foolish boy!<br /><br /><b>Peter</b> - I can't say I'd recommend any of the others to you, actually, except maybe Let Not The Waves of the Sea and the Maxwell/Warner letters... maybe?<br /><br /><b>Chris</b> - thanks! I'm sure my list would change if I were to make it another day, but I love lists too much not to make an order... Having said that, looking at past years' lists, I'm still pretty content with the orders.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-10351663616853517242011-12-23T12:26:57.891+00:002011-12-23T12:26:57.891+00:00Leaz - not something I would ever have expected wh...<b>Leaz</b> - not something I would ever have expected when I borrowed it from the library!<br /><br /><b>Myra</b> - thank you! I will definitely read Home and Housekeeping this year (or at least I fully intend to...) If your staple is YA/children's, have you read the Moomins? I haven't, but I intend to this year.<br /><br /><b>Laura</b> - I definitely intend to read Robinson's other two novels this year - I must read Home before I forget the details of Gilead...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-66518596868526107492011-12-23T10:55:52.273+00:002011-12-23T10:55:52.273+00:00Great list here! I've always wanted to read a ...Great list here! I've always wanted to read a Confederancy of Dunces but so far haven't... may have to keep it in mind for next year I think! <br /><br />Megan @ Storybook Love Affair<br /><br />http://storybookloveaffair.blogspot.comMeganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11502639351486537832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-86690222466357871802011-12-23T09:19:47.027+00:002011-12-23T09:19:47.027+00:00A fantastic list, Simon. I've only read the T...A fantastic list, Simon. I've only read the Toole, which I didn't 'love' but did enjoy hugely. I will have to get into Patrick Hamilton - I do have a couple of his novels in my TBR. I failed with 'Gilead' though - I just couldn't get into it at all... another time maybe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-80816386221203870662011-12-23T09:08:14.262+00:002011-12-23T09:08:14.262+00:00Great list and I'm very happy to see Hamilton ...Great list and I'm very happy to see Hamilton at the top. Of the others I've only read William, Gilead and Howards End -- oh, and Bassington but that was ages and ages ago. I did start the von Arnim after you raved about it but it didn't grab me -- I should get back to it. And the Comyns -- well, that's a treat I still have in store. <br />Anyway have a wonderful Christmas, as I'm sure you will, in the bosom of your lovely family, not forgetting your lovely cat. xharriethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04470091985662379182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-81222120586286231632011-12-23T08:23:05.346+00:002011-12-23T08:23:05.346+00:00Loved your list. I'm full of admiration that y...Loved your list. I'm full of admiration that you whittled a year's reading down to just 15 best books. My own lists tend to become unwieldy, and the order varies depending on the mood I'm in.Christine Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814026435889782750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-87465708091935838412011-12-23T08:11:43.584+00:002011-12-23T08:11:43.584+00:00I'm not a list person myself, unless it is a c...I'm not a list person myself, unless it is a checklist of things to take from one lab to another. Of the books on yours I have read only the Toole, which I loved, and the Forster which I didn't (though I have liked a number of his other books).Dark Pusshttp://morganas-cat.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-24797734825059100482011-12-23T04:16:05.112+00:002011-12-23T04:16:05.112+00:00I do love a list and this one is fantastic. I'...I do love a list and this one is fantastic. I've only read 1 of the 15 but I've added most of the others to my wishlist after reading your reviews. I've been consciously holding off starting <i>The Unbearable Bassington</i> and <i>The Element of Lavishness</i> since I picked them up at the library last Friday because I'm worried reading them before 2012 would complicate the already difficult task of compiling my own Best of 2011 list! But, come January 1, I certainly know what I'll be reading.Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-61630688614553507082011-12-23T01:21:37.249+00:002011-12-23T01:21:37.249+00:00What a great list. I'm so glad to see Gilead ...What a great list. I'm so glad to see <i>Gilead</i> on your list, and hope that you'll read <i>Home</i> -- the two go so well together, and I loved them both equally. <br /><br />You've given me lots of great reading recommendations as well!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07219439074687598827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-29828656392676760742011-12-23T01:05:49.087+00:002011-12-23T01:05:49.087+00:00Hi Simon! Enjoy your rest and the Holiday season. ...Hi Simon! Enjoy your rest and the Holiday season. I love this list that you have just created - I haven't read most of this (my staple being children's lit and YA fiction), but I do read adult literature every once in a while: Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping is a personal favorite, one of the authors familiar to me in this list of yours. Will definitely check out all the other titles you have included here and read through (some of) them in the coming year. :)GatheringBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477710897574769648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-81934865088577638982011-12-23T00:44:52.155+00:002011-12-23T00:44:52.155+00:00Ha, ha, glad to see Toole's book made it!Ha, ha, glad to see Toole's book made it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com