Best Books of 2011
It’s a great time of year to be a reader! Of course, there are all the wonderful books that will be wrapped up under our Christmas trees, but also because the Best Books lists start to come out. Always a terrific resource, the best unexpected treasures come from the New York Times notable books list and all the great lists gathered by NPR.
Working at a library, we all sit around and read all day. We wish! That could not be further from the truth, but we are all huge book lovers and take great pleasure in making book recommendations. So in the spirit of holiday sharing, our staff members have compiled our own 2011Best Books list.
(Click on any of the titles and go to our catalog where you read descriptions, author bios, reviews–and order the book from your library branch. For free. Beat that, Amazon!)
I have not gotten to nearly as many books on these lists as I would like, but I want to add my vote for Tea Obreht’s stunning novel of the Balkan wars, “The Tiger’s Wife,” which I read in the early summer and whose characters, imagery, and magic has stayed with me throughout the year. And I can’t possibly forget the rich and haunting “Cat’s Table”by my all-time favorite novelist Michael Ondaatje—an incredible journey through childhood.
Development Manager, Jim Bogart reads more books than the rest of us combined—everything from fiction, history, sports, biographies, mysteries, even a kids’ book or two. His favorites for the year include the narrative histories “Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President” by Candice Millard, about the assassination of President James A Garfield; and “Devil in the White City” author Erik Larson’s chilling “In the Garden of the Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Berlin.” He also loved 
the new Stan Musial biography by New York Time sports columnist George Vecsey. For fiction, he recommends Stephen King’s surprising time-travel/parallel universe novel “11/22/63” and Amor Towles’ brilliant debut about the Jazz age jet set, “Rules of Civility.”
Jim has also spent the year reading everything written by Canadian suspense author Louise Penny, including this year’s Edgar Award-winner for best mystery, “A Trick of the Light.” Another great 
mystery recommendation comes from our Friends Coordinator, Debbie Podgorski: #1 New York Times suspense writer Harlan Coben’s new thriller about sports agent Myron Bolitar: “Live Wire.”
Our Communications Manager, Jennifer McBride, has impeccable taste and recommends “The Marriage Plot,” Pulitzer Prize-winner and “Middlesex” author Jeffrey Eugenides’ big novel of academic romance. She also loved former Wall Street Journal reporter Philip 
Connor’s “Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout,” a memoir of his days and nights atop one of the last fire watch towers in New Mexico.
Finally no one knows more about new books than our Collections Development Specialist, Jennifer Alexander (it may actually be Jennifer’s job to read all day). Of all the books Jennifer has read this year, her favorites are “Maine” by J. Courtney Sullivan, a book she describes as a gossipy page-turner with great writing; and the clear 
and heartbreaking short fiction collection by Edna O’Brien, “Saints and Sinners.”
KIDS’ RECOMMENDATIONS:
From our youth department, kids’ book guru Desiree Schumann recommends Mo Willems’ new picture book, “Hooray for Amanda and her Alligator,” a funny tale about a unique friendship; the “The Outcasts: Brotherband Chronicles #1,” the first installment in a new seafaring adventure series by Australian creator of the “Ranger’s Apprentice” series, John Flanagan; and “The Chronicles 
of Harris Burdock,” a compilation of stories inspired by the enigmatic 
drawings of illustrator Chris Van Allsburg and written by many of the best writers for young people.
Assistant Manager of Youth Services Sarah Wood is an expert on teen literature. Her favorite for the year is “Divergent,” Veronica Roth’s dystopian sci-fi thriller about love and loyalty. She also recommends National Book Award-finalist Sara Zarr’s “How to Save a Life,” a 
touching novel about grief and the meaning of family; and “The Future 
of Us” by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, an inventive story set in 1996 about teens who discover the Facebook pages of their future selves.
So, what do you think? Part of the joy of reading is sharing your thoughts with other book lovers. Please feel free to comment on our favorite books and add to our lists in the comment section.
Happy holidays and happy reading!
