I don’t know if these are the “best” books of 2011 but they are my favourites. I was going to do a list of five, but I couldn’t cut one. So six it is!
1. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
This Ain’t Your Mother’s Book Club is doing this in January, and I hope they love it as much as I did. It’s Cormac McCarthy-ish, but with more humour.
2. Blue Nights by Joan Didion
This book is unflinchingly honest and gut-wrenching. I pretty much read it in one sitting. Then I hugged my kids tight.
3. The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock
This isn’t for everyone, but I just loved it. Brilliant writing, gritty, nasty goodness, this is.
4. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
This is one of the best bios I’ve ever read. You don’t need to be a tech freak for this to be a completely compelling read You can also read it for the business insight from a true visionary.
5. Natural Order by Brian Francis
This is a beautiful book that I will never forget. And if you’re the mother of a little boy as I am, it’s particularly resonant.
6. The Antagonist by Lynn Coady
This is another book I read it just a couple of sittings (I can’t say that about many books these days). Witty, funny, fierce coming-of-age story.
So there’s my list. Now tell me yours!
