Katie's Top 10 Books of 2011

Since all these publishers have come out with their “BEST OF THIS YEAR’S READING” lists and I have been offended by their shameless self-promotion of their own books, I decided to review my reading list from 2011 and share MY favorites with YOU! Granted I’m no publisher, but I am opinionated, especially on the subject of “favorite books”, and also I’m not good about just picking books that came out this year.  Who cares when the books came out if I never read them before and they are awesome good, right? I figure I can pretty much do what I want since I’m not getting paid for it.

Here goes (in no particular order, I might add):

1. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie.  I have recently discovered the great Agatha Christie’s mystery novels. They are short and sweet and rock on. I still want to roll the r’s like a Scottsman in “murrrrrdeerrrr.”  I can’t quit, they are addictive!!

2. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.  I got hooked on the HBO series, and then I totally got sucked in to this written series, and boy was it a time commitment, but who cares…the books are totally awesome great stories and I really enjoyed comparing the different ethnic groups/peoples to the ancient Asians and Europeans I learned about in my Western Civ class.   My favorite character is Arya.  She is one cool little chick.  Does anyone else think Mongols = Dothraki?

3. I, Claudius by Robert Graves.   This was a wickedly awesome look at Ancient Rome.  I loved the satirical attitude of the narrator and learned a lot about Roman civilization.  I was totally there, in the story, and could smell the smells and taste the foods (and of course the wine…)

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.   YA Lit?  Yeah, I loved it.  The story captured me from the get go and I was pissed that I bought the first volume in soft cover and then had to go and buy the rest in hard back because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.  I’m looking forward to the movie and hope to God they don’t blow it.

5. Little Bee by Chris Cleve.  OMG! This novel has some hard situations and it made me cry, cry, cry. Little Bee overcame extreme odds, and her voice and the language used in this book were absolutely beautiful.  I listened on audio book, and the book actress who performed it was OUTSTANDING. 

6.  Dark Lover by J.R. Ward.  Naughty, naughty, naughty…but I loved it.  Oh Wrath, where are you now???? (Thanks, Danice for turning me, ugh, um, ohhh... "on to it.")

7. The Magicians by Lev Grossman.  I hate saying this, but it’s the best way I can describe this story…. The Magicians is like Harry Pottery’s older, meaner, more serious older cousin.  There’s a magic school (college), and the characters are actually flawed and realistic (not like Harry and the gang who seem all goody-goody and squeaky clean. I mean, there’s no sex there at all for heaven’s sake…)  Some of the characters aren’t even likeable, but the magic is fantastic and I enjoyed the story very much.  I’m up for reading the Magician King soon, Grossman’s recently published sequel. It’s on my “to read” list.

8. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.  Wow. Just Wow.  This book is like a really dark Alice in Wonderland.  I loved it. I can’t wait to read more of Gaiman’s stuff. American Gods is on my list.

9. Cleopatra by Stacy Shiff.  This is the only non-fiction book in my Top 10 and it was an awesome biography.  I wish someone would do an historically factual fiction movie acting all this out.  It would rock on. Cleopatra was an amazing character and I totally loved learning more about her. Get Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleo outta my head, will ya??

10. The Last Werewolf by Glenn Duncan.  I know, I only gave this book 3 stars on my list, but I just can’t seem to get it out of my head, so here it is on my Top 10 list for just that reason.  I still think about it and that guy’s voice who performed the audio book…he must have been HOT!!

So, there you go. Katie’s Top 10 of the books I read in 2011.  Go read the ones that interest you and let me know what you think.  Send me some of your favorite book recommendations and I’ll add them to next year’s reading list.   Maybe you’re recommendation will make the Top 10 for 2012…if so, I’ll share the credit with you.  ( I know, smashing, right???)

You can't ever have too many friends....

So, I totally have a new girlfriend! I love it when that happens!!  As I’ve grown older and realized the value of girlfriends, I’ve become so much more aware of how important and fulfilling girl-relationships are.  Going through a divorce brought it home for me, and I will never go back to “my man is enough for me.” (Or allow myself to be isolated and brainwashed, but that’s another story….)

Don’t get me wrong, I love my man and he’s “it” for me. I’ve found my “soul-mate” and all that jazz.  The thing is, girlfriends GET YOU.  Girlfriends are IMPORTANT.  And I am talking about REAL girlfriends. The kind that stick by you when you’re being an idiot, the kind that will tell you, “um, hey, maybe you should rethink that whatever…”, the kind you bounce ideas off of and will give you good feedback, the ones that celebrate the good stuff with you, and the kind that SHOW UP for stuff you wouldn’t want to show up for yourself. 

I believe I am one of the luckiest girls on earth, because I can count my REAL girlfriends on fingers AND toes.  I do not have a doubt that if I am in crisis, there will be a baker’s dozen there for me, offering me a place to stay, a comfortable bed to sleep in, someone to feed me, love my kids, love my pets, take care of my husband (unless, of course, he’s the source of the problem,) clean my house, wipe up the rest of the mess, cry with me, listen to me go-on-and-on, and in general BE THERE for me.  My girlfriends also show up for the fun stuff. And bring wine.  I am truly blessed.  You girls know who you are. I don’t have to name names.

Some of you have been around forever. Some of you have been around a really good, long time. We’ve seen a lot together, grown into the women we’ve become together and know that even if we don’t call each other on the phone all the time, we’re still friends.  I rely on you and trust in your friendship implicitly. 

Some of you are fairly new friends, but I know you’re the keeper kind. The ones that keep up with each other, make an effort in cultivating the friendship, reciprocate invitations, (you know...I call you...you call me....) and we genuinely like each other.  I love it that I’m able to continue to make friends.  Some of you I’ve found in unlikely places.  Some of you I’m delighted you were exactly where you should have been. Some of you I lost accidentally and then refound.  You gotta love it when that happens!

I love it when I make a new girlfriend, and I always know right away whether I’ve “clicked” with someone, or not.  Time flies by, conversation is easy, sharing comes naturally, laughs are abundant and satisfaction is immediate.  There’s a thread that is picked up, woven in with the rest, and the resulting tapestry is both beautiful and strong. 

Here’s a shout out to all my girlfriends. Again, you know who you are and you know I love you J  Thanks for being there for me and for being who you are.  You are the BEST at being you and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  And know this, I’m THERE for you, too. No matter what!