At the start of 2010 some of you might remember when I got all feisty and proclaimed new year's resolutions were irritating and evil and that I would under NO CIRCUMSTANCES be making one.
But then at the start of 2011 something weird happened and I found myself making not one but TWO resolutions.
THE HORROR.
So as is customary, with the beginning of a new year one must go back and look at their resolutions and see if they did or did not accomplish what they said they would.
Resolution number one was to read 35 books in 2011 (which after I crushed that goal I moved up to 45).
I know right? I AM SO WILD AND CRAZY!
Being a dutiful goodreads member (are we friends? Be my friend please!) I signed up for their book counter, and after the completion of each and every book I read I wrote a review and posted it on goodreads AND this here blog. THAT'S HOW MUCH I LIKE BOOKS.
When all was said and done I crushed my goal and actually read 48 mother fucking books. In one year.
I am officially cool.
For my 2012 book nerd resolution I started slow with a goal of 30 books, and we'll see if I can't actually top 50. What can I say? One of my favorite times of the day is when the day is winding down and Adam and I crawl into bed, grab our books and snuggle in to read for even as little as 15 minutes. It's truly the most relaxing part of my day.
Yes, we are 96 years old. Don't judge.
Looking back on the 48 books that have entertained me throughout the year there are some that really blew me away. Some true 5 star out of 5 star titles. So, here are my top picks I read in 2011. Check them out, or check out the whole list, and if you read one, let me know what you thought!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I'll admit that the style of letters in the very beginning made my brain hurt. I thought there was no way I would ever keep all the characters writing back and forth to one another straight, especially seeing as they seemed to jump right in without much warning or explanation.
But before I knew it I was hooked. A wildly fast read, but so utterly lovely. This book is truly about characters; the caring and adorable heroine, the cast of crazy and unusual islanders, the dramatic suitor, lovable child, and intriguing Elizabeth. Something about learning of their lives via letters enables you to feel as if you know them in a deeper way than most narratives which I really enjoyed.
By the end of the book I wanted not only to visit the island of Guernsey but meet the cast of characters from this sweet book. A great vacation read.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am a sucker for any memoir that depicts with crystal clear detail a life that is insufferable. The Glass Castle did not let me down. The writing is simple yet compelling as you watch Jeannette turn from an excited and proud member of the worlds most dysfunctional family to an adult trying to run away as fast as she can, yet still love the people she was raised by. Most of the time I wondered what it was that could create two adults who behaved as her parents did. What had happened to them to make them so completely off base?
At times I couldn't believe what she wrote was a real life that four children were forced to grow up in. The realities they faced on a day to day basis of finding food or simply staying warm are so basic to my life I couldn't fathom growing up without them. I couldn't help but wonder if I had been raised in this same family if I would have come out with the drive and determination Jeannette seems to posses.
This story is both heartbreaking and triumphant. You HAVE to read this book. So good you'll have trouble putting it down.
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh dear I loved this book. In the very beginning I worried the flowery language used to describe cooking and food would bore me seeing as I wouldn't describe myself as a "foodie", but as the stories continued I absolutely fell in love with the writing, and even more so the students of The School of Essential Ingredients. Suddenly, I want desperately to take a cooking class...
The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine by Somaly Mam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a very small and very fast read, but it is riveting. Somaly Mam is such a modest but amazing woman and the steps she has taken to make positive changes in the lives of victims of human trafficking is truly astounding. The retelling of the pain and misery Somaly has lived in her own life was captivating for sure, but her story of how she turned her own pain into positive change in Cambodia made me want to meet her. Read this book.
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book blew me away. I devoured it. The twisting story lines of three characters all intertwined around this one home was at times absolutely painful to read. The author did an amazing job of allowing the reader to emphasize and understand the conflicting points of views of all three characters simultaneously. When I opened the book I never in a million years could have predicted the haunting path it would take... You must read this book.
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I never imagined this book about three generations of farmers living on a 1,000 acre plot of land would have ended the way it did. The writing was simple but captivating, and the twists and turns of the family drama on this single farm just got more and more out of control. Jane Smiley is a fantastic author, and I look forward to reading more of her work from here on out.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book. It was packed with incredibly powerful themes, everything from slavery, to women's rights, to tolerance, and yet, it conveyed the weight of these issues without being overly dramatic or feel forced. It was both a painful story and full of life lessons, and you couldn't help but love Celie and Nettie and every other character in between. A quick but great read.
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is as good as "they" say it is. Bourdain is snarky, out of control, and ultimately raw. I've always known I don't have it in me to be a chef, would simply never be able to withstand the hours, or the standing, but Bourdain somehow makes you feel like if you choose not to join him and his fellow chefs you're missing out on something exciting. His writing is humorous but well done, and when I finished this book I wanted to watch his show, make something from his cookbook, eat at his restaurant, and read his other books all at the same time.
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a painful story, but one that pulls you in almost instantly. I actually skipped out on holiday activities to hurry up and see how the various plot lines would converge.
The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The most beautiful part of this book are the one liners. Short, sweet, honest, perfect. Witty and dry, honest and lovely. Books about dating and relationships should all be this realistic. Melissa Bank reminds us that there are so many factors than the traditional boy meets girl.
Sometimes a book doesn't have to be a 5 out of 5 to be a fantastic read. My year was full of 3 out of 5 and 4 out of 5 star books as well. See the whole list HERE.
So the 
