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Five Inspirational Truths for Authors

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Best Books of 2011

Because I'm on a deadline for book 3 with Tyndale, I haven't had a whole lot of reading time this year. I have read a few books though, mostly for endorsement.

If I had to pick the best book I've read this year, fiction-wise, it would have to be The Hunger Games, which is a young adult series that I'm reading with my sons. It's absolutely riveting. I'm also in the process of reading Jennifer AllLee's-- The Mother Road. Fantastic so far!

What are your favorite books of 2011? What is it about those books that made them make your list?

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14 comments:

  1. I definitely enjoyed the Hunger Games, too (though Mockingjay wasn't my fave series wrap-up book).

    I was all excited to think of great books I've read this year, until I realized that I spent an inordinate amount of time working on my OWN books in 2011, so I haven't read very much! Well, I did just finish Judges and I'm into I Samuel in the Bible, it doesn't get more exciting than that!

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  2. I'm only on the first in the series, Heather. I've heard from others they didn't like the wrap up either. What is it about the last book in a series that makes it so hard to nail, I wonder. Seems like lots of series have that problem. It's good you're busy with your own stuff! That's a great problem to have. :)

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  3. I'm so glad you asked. Here is my list which I'll be posting on my blog soon:

    In alphabetical order, here is my Top 11 for 2011:

    Always the Wedding Planner – Never the Bride, by Sandra Bricker
    A Sweethaven Summer, Courtney Walsh
    Dry as Rain, Gina Holmes
    Heiress, Susan May Warren
    Promises to Keep, Ann Tatlock
    The Edge of Grace, Christa Allan
    The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Sarah Addison Allen
    The Heart of Memory, Alison Strobel
    The Mother Road, Jennifer AlLee
    Undercurrent, Michelle Griep
    Unexpected Dismounts, Nancy Rue

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  4. I just realized two of my choices are actually not being released until 2012, but I got to endorse them, so be sure you watch for them!

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  5. Are you sure those weren't all the books you read Ane? ha. You're kind to have mine on the list. I hadn't read Undercurrent this year otherwise it would have made it on my list too.

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  6. This year my favorites in MG and YA books have to be...

    Fantasy:
    ND Wilson's DRAGON'S TOOTH

    Dystopian:
    Veronica Roth's DIVERGENT

    Contemporary:
    I am halfway through RJ Anderson's ULTRAVIOLET and loving it.

    Historical:
    CLEOPATRA'S MOON by Vicky Alvear Shecter

    Overall favorite:
    ND Wilson's DRAGON'S TOOTH

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  7. Thrilled to answer because I want everyone to be aware of this great find, Closer Than Your Skin, by Susan D. Hill. It's a non-fiction book with superb story telling and beautiful truths. I felt as though I stood on the threshold of heaven while reading this.

    Oh, which reminds me of two other books I loved. Both were about heaven, Heaven Is For Real, and The Little Boy Who Came Back From Heaven.

    I'm surprised to discover all my favorites were non-fiction since I see myself as smitten with fiction.

    I need to be reminded, and was in such lovely ways as these books provided, that another realm is busy on our behalf. There's much activity we remain unaware of and don't often consider as we focus on the things we can see.

    These reads spawned some great family conversations and I witnessed my children's excitement over heaven as we rehearsed what it is we're preparing for.

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  8. Leah, just read your post...have you read "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn? That's a great book with a very imaginative yet Biblical view of heaven. It definitely made me look forward to it more! We won't just be strumming harps!

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  9. The Hourglass Door trilogy by Lisa Mangum with a close second of The River of Time Series by Lisa T. Bergren. Both are time travel...go figure.

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  10. What I love about this is the diversity in the books we all love. And Gina ... pttttttt! LOL

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  11. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. This book completely enthralled me. I wrote a review on my blog:
    http://kathrineroid.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/book-review-of-the-scorpio-races-by-magge-stiefvater/

    ReplyDelete
  12. (Dang it: haven't gotten to read Dry As Rain yet, but I'm fairly sure it's in one of the presents under our tree. ;) )

    In no particular order:

    Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson

    The Mountains Bow Down by Sibella Giorello

    Pattern of Wounds by J. Mark Bertrand

    The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

    The Opposite of Art by Athol Dickson

    Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins

    The Resurrection by Mike Duran

    The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue

    In spite of that list, I actually read more novels that I didn't like this year. :( Hope 2012 is a better reading year. And I still have some from 2011 that I'm sure would've made my list if I could've gotten to them.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello Gina, I had a chance to catch a few of your inspirational words at the local author speaking engagement at the Roanoke Library a few months ago.
    Your statistics were stark, and your aura was great. River speaks very highly of you.
    I just published my first novel titled 'A Moment's Touch.' Its a secular novel with strong spiritual overtones, and of course, a happy ending. I like to call this book a Romantic/Thriller.
    I'm 43 and living in Roanoke, Va.and really enjoy the heck out of writing. I read an article done on you a couple of years ago by Mike Allen and have been trailing you ever since. Unbeknownst to you, you were my inspiraion for the completion and publication of this, my first novel.
    I just wanted to say thank you so much!

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  14. Thanks, Ane, for mentioning my novel!

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