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Bookreporter.com Staffers Pick Their Favorite Books of 2011

Before ringing in the new year, we at The Book Report Network reflect on some of our favorite books published for the first time in 2011. Though it was difficult to narrow down, each staff member chose up to five books that he or she enjoyed the most this year. Take a look and see if any of our selections match yours --- and which titles you may want to consider reading in the future.
 


Tom Donadio, Editorial Director

  • RAFA by Rafael Nadal and John Carlin 
  • HIGH STRUNG: Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, and the Untold Story of Tennis's Fiercest Rivalry, by Stephen Tignor
  • HAPPY CHAOS: From Punky to Parenting and My Perfectly Imperfect Adventures in Between, by Soleil Moon Frye
  • DEAR BULLY: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones


Vicky Kariolic, Producer

  • THE WISE MAN’S FEAR by Patrick Rothfuss
     
  • BAKUMAN, Volume 3 written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata
    Volumes one and two introduced our heroes and started exploring their arsenal and opponents, but volume three is where this unique story by the creators of Death Note really takes off and becomes a non-mainstream battle to become number one. Instead of firing weapons and psionic blasts, the combatants are manga-ka (comic creators) who battle using manga on the battlefield of "Weekly Jump" --- a weekly comic magazine geared toward young men and boys that publishes stories chapter by chapter. The weapons are story, pen, ink and compelling characters; the support and sidekicks are the editors and, oddly enough, the rivals; and the judges of the winners are the readers from around Japan who vote every week. Who will be the top, and who can stay at the top? This is where the real battle to become world-famous comic creators begins!
     
  • GHOST STORY: A Novel of the Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher
    Harry Dresden is dead. However, that doesn't mean that events and adventures will just leave him to rest in peace. As he is going through processing, Dresden discovers there is a bit of accounting that seems to have gone awry, so he is sent back to the earthly plane to find his own murderer. It would've been easier if they had given him his body to use, but he is told it is unavailable, so he has to go back incorporeally. Of course, why would anything ever work out easily for him? Now Dresden has to figure out how to interact with a world that doesn't even acknowledge his existence, or believe in ghosts at all, and try to track down his murderer. Follow Dresden on another adventure (hey, this could be his last) and see a whole new aspect of this world created by Jim Butcher.
     
  • PAT THE ZOMBIE: A Cruel (Adult) Spoof, by Aaron Ximm and Kaveh Soofi
     
  • THE RAMPAGE OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA by Nagaru Tanigawa
    Haruhi Suzumiya is at it again! In book five of the light novel translations, Kyon recounts some tales that were missed in previous recountings. Experience an ever-looping Summer, an over the top video game showdown, and a bizarre puzzle in a blizzard in the mountains.


Joshua Mallory, Website Client Relations Coordinator


Eric Rhodes, Design/Project Manager

  • WE ARE ALL WEIRD by Seth Godin
  • DO THE WORK by Steven Pressfield
  • READ THIS BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING by Al Pittampalli
  • DONNIE BASEBALL: The Definitive Biography of Don Mattingly, by Mike Shalin
  • PEARL JAM TWENTY by Pearl Jam


Anne Staszalek, Marketing Associate

  • SYBIL EXPOSED: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case by Debbie Nathan
    The original "Sybil" changed how everyone looked at Multiple Personality Disorder. Nathan explains how sadly, it was all fiction, supported by others who made reputation and bank on the lies.
     
  • MAGIC SLAYS by Ilona Andrews
    In a heap of Modern Fantasy universes filled with weak heroines, Andrews brings us Kate Daniels, who is smart, brave, tough and an equal to every male in her universe.
     
  • ELIZABETH AND HAZEL: Two Women of Little Rock by David Margolick
    A very famous picture that embodied school integration in the 60’s is brought to life and we get to know the stories behind the two girls in the picture…and what the future brought to them and the relationship they had.
     
  • THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost
    Another modern paranormal; but vampires Cat and her mate Bones are the perfect blend of romance and action; there is never a dull moment in any book in the Night Huntress series!


Amanda Torres, Marketing Intern

  • THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin
  • CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS: The Mortal Instruments, Book Four by Cassandra Clare
  • FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater
  • DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver


Dana Wilson, Editorial Assistant

  • READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline
  • BOSSYPANTS by Tina Fey
  • THE LOVER'S DICTIONARY by David Levithan
  • THIS IS A BOOK by Demetri Martin