never the same girl twice

I thought this year I'd do something different and highlight the books that most impressed me this year. I suspect my book count might go down significantly next year (mostly because I won't have the convenience of borrowing books from work anymore, or the lovely staff discount either - though the largest library in Montreal is on my way home from work, so there's some hope).

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is the book that stands out the most from 2011. A brand new author, she manages to intertwine history and fantasy, the circus world and true magic, wonder and enchantment. Something about her style calls to mind Catherynne Valente, if only for the sense of wonder you discover each new creation, all more fantastical and unimaginable than the next. This book touched something in me. And while I have a weakness for stories that pit two characters against each other in such a total way that their lives are subsumed by that rivalry, it's the magic that makes it so special.

The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay - while this is technically a trilogy, I read it as one giant volume and loved every minute of it. It's epic fantasy done the way it should be done, with a grittiness and attention to detail that's rare to find. The fact that he's a Montreal author is just another bonus.

Graveminder by Melissa Marr - I'm not sure why, but this one has stuck with me through the months. I enjoyed some of her teen books (they were hit and miss), but the concept behind this one just spoke to me. It was her depiction of the afterlife that caught my fancy, something new and original and entirely fascinating. I can't wait to read the next one.

Nation by Terry Pratchett - technically, this is a teen novel, but it was by far one of my favorite Pratchett books. It was anthropological and original and enchanting, with a lovely ending and just the right notes of humor. Thoroughly unlike his other novels, but clearly demonstrating that Pratchett can do more than just Discworld.

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner - I discovered this author from a short story collection and was instantly fascinated by her two main characters: a disenchanted, bitter, angry young lord determined to get himself killed in the slums of the city, and his unlikely lover, a sensible, logical swordsman who is the best in the city and chooses to take the young lord under his wing and keep him alive. The characters are grating and harsh, but there's a tenderness there, and the mystery of what drives Alec to be the way he is...

Divergent by Veronica Roth - another first-time author. This is the next must-read book in the style of the Hunger Games: a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has split themselves into 5 factions in order to prevent all the vices that led to war in the first place. Unfortunately, this system has been corrupted and has deteriorated to the point where it just doesn't work anymore. The choices the main character faces, as well as the vivid descriptions of the factions and the people who choose them, are very intriguing and original. The main character's strength is refreshing: she gets by on her own wit and doesn't rely on anyone else, even when she probably should. I can't wait to read the second volume.



Total books read in 2011: 66 (2 in French)