2011 Reading Summary

I hereby admit that I started this blog mostly because I wanted to write this post. I love end-of-year lists.

# different books read: 115
I didn't make the 100 mark the past two years, which I attribute to reading LES MIS in 2009 and devoting all free time to NaNoWriMo for one month in 2010. This year I was unhindered by any such noble endeavors.

# rereads: 30 (26%)

Favorite new books of 2011:
CHIME by Franny Billingsley
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor
THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater

Runners-up because I can't pick just one favorite book or three:
HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff
THE PENDERWICKS AT POINT MOUETTE by Jeanne Birdsall
THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen
FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta
BRIGHTLY WOVEN by Alexandra Bracken
THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson
BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys

Classics reread and muchly enjoyed:
THE SCARLET LETTER by Nathaniel Hawthorne
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens

Anxiously awaited sequels/next-in-series:
DEMONGLASS by Rachel Hawkins
THE PENDERWICKS AT POINT MOUETTE by Jeanne Birdsall

Books that have begun to educate me about the atrocities of Stalin:
ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell
BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys

Books I like to read at night?
PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL by Jessica Day George
EYES LIKE STARS by Lisa Mantchev
MOON-FLASH by Patricia A. McKillip
THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON by Sarah Addison Allen
KEEPING THE MOON by Sarah Dessen
STARCROSSED by Elizabeth C. Bunce
MOON OVER MANIFEST by Clare Vanderpool

-less is more fun:
SOULLESS by Gail Carriger
CHANGELESS by Gail Carriger
BLAMELESS by Gail Carriger
HEARTLESS by Gail Carriger

Surprises:
HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff - If I'd known what happens in this book, I would never have guessed I'd like it so much.
SISTERHOOD EVERLASTING by Ann Brashares - There's a 5th book? Surprise! I cried. Not a surprise.
THE CARD TURNER by Louis Sachar - Who knew bridge could be so interesting?
FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta - Is it really fair that someone who writes such brilliant modern-day novels can also succeed in the fantasy world? Oh, who cares about fairness - I will eagerly read anything she writes.
BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys - I thought the book seemed dry when I flipped through it at the bookstore, but it ended up being one of my favorites of the year.

Books in which fearsome creatures emerge from the sea:
THE CHANGELING SEA by Patricia A. McKillip - Dragon
THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater - Water horses
BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray - Dreamy teen pirates

Books featuring classical musicians:
THE MOCKINGBIRDS by Daisy Whitney - Piano
WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman - Cello

Books set in Regency England that reference Jane Austen and her novels, usually SENSE AND SENSIBILITY:
WRAPPED by Jennifer Bradbury
REGENCY BUCK by Georgette Heyer
A CIVIL CONTRACT by Georgette Heyer
I now feel a need to reread SENSE AND SENSIBILITY.

Books that I remember making me laugh:
MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR: A NOVEL OF LOVE, MARY POPPINS, AND FENWAY PARK by Steve Kluger
THE WEDNESDAY WARS by Gary Schmidt
BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray
FRIDAY'S CHILD by Georgette Heyer

I hope your reading year was as enjoyable as mine. Happy reading in 2012!

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

This book made me laugh.

The characters live in an America that's controlled by The Corporation: Because Your Life Can Always Be Better. The Corporation fills the TV lineup with shows like "Captains Bodacious," about hot boy pirates, one version of which is "Captains Bodacious IV: Badder and More Boaciouser," and promotes such products as Lady 'Stache Off with triple beauty action (in addition to removing hair, it moisturizes and tans). The Corporation also sponsors the Miss Teen Dream Pageant, whose ratings sadly have been dropping.

The plane carrying the current contestants of the Miss Teen Dream Pageant crashes on an isolated island. The surviving girls figure out how to feed and shelter themselves, and then they discover that there's more going on on the island than they'd ever imagined. Such as arms deals and political intrigue. Also, they receive a visit from the Captains Bodacious pirates.

The story is totally, but subversively, over-the-top. Outrageous truths about today's media can be stated openly in a situation that is itself unbelievable. For instance, one of the messages from the story's sponsor says:

The Corporation would like to apologize for the preceding pages. Of course, it's not all right for girls to behave this way. Sexuality is not meant to be this way - an honest, consensual expression in which a girl might take an active role when she feels good and ready and not one minute before. No. Sexual desire is meant to sell soap. And cars. And beer. And religion.

Although I don't agree with all of the opinions expressed, BEAUTY QUEENS is a good starting point for discussions on a variety of subjects affecting teens (and non-teens) today, whether they're beauty queens or not.

For instance, one of the contestants is black but wants to compete as just a young woman, not a young black woman. While I sympathize and mostly agree that she should be able to compete without worrying about how she is representing her race or how her actions will affect all black Miss Teen Dream contestants after her, I don't think that's possible right now. I know that people make judgments about my race and religion based on their acquaintance with me, and that, if I want their conclusions to be positive, I have the responsibility to behave appropriately (not that I always do). I don't know how to change this, but the book at least brings the issue to people's attention.

I wish I'd remembered to write down a quote I really liked, but I didn't, so here's a summary. A couple of the characters talk about how their situation started off like a female LORD OF THE FLIES, with them being marooned on an island. But unlike the boys who lost themselves to their primitive urges and degenerated into wildness, the girls find themselves, thriving in an environment free from media-fueled artificial expectations. They discover new abilities when they suddenly have to do things for themselves that no one in their regular lives would have expected of them. So how can we create island experiences for our girls today?

I'll end with a quote that made me laugh. Adina, Miss New Hampshire, is acting as the interviewer for Jennifer, Miss Michigan, as the girls practice their pageant skills.

Jennifer relaxed. "Sorry. I don't mean to get all up in your face. I'm just not used to this beauty stuff."

"You aren't?"

"No. First time. My guidance counselor got me into it. Some new program they're trying out for at-risk girls." Jennifer rolled her eyes. "Like this isn't a gang. Please. It's the freakiest gang ever."

"Just curious: How did you manage to win Miss Michigan?"

"I didn't. I was second runner-up."

"What happened to the winner?" Adina asked.

"She tripped."

"And the first runner-up?"

Miss Michigan cracked her knuckles. "She tripped, too."

Adina swallowed hard. "Right. So, Miss Michigan, can you tell us about your platform? Please. I mean, if you're okay with that."

"Oh. Sure. My platform's called Don't Even Think About It. I go into schools and I say, 'Whatever bad thing it is you're thinking of doing, don't even think about it. 'Cause I can see into your soul, and I will hide in your closet and come for you in the night, and the last sound you ever hear will be my sharp teeth popping through the flesh of my gums, ready to eat you.' Their eyes get all big. It's awesome. I love little kids, man. They're the cutest."

"Next!" Adina practically shouted.

(Part of this post filched from my Goodreads review)

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury

Thanks to Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, I give automatic points to any book taking place in Regency England. WRAPPED by Jennifer Bradbury gets additional points for Jane Austen references, historical details, a sympathetic lady's maid, multiple foreign languages and espionage.

Agnes Wilkins is making her debut as a young lady in London society, and her first event is a mummy unwrapping at the home of her wealthy, handsome and single neighbor, Lord Showalter. She finds and surreptitiously keeps an object hidden in the mummy's wrappings. After the event ends suddenly and several of her neighbors' houses are ransacked, Agnes decides she must learn more about the mysterious object. This involves much sneaking about but is well rewarded by the acquaintance of a handsome young stranger named Caedmon Stowe who shares her passion for adventure. Agnes and Caedmon's (how do you pronounce that?) discoveries embroil them in a mystery that extends from the tombs of Egypt to the intrigues of Napoleon. Meanwhile, Agnes must keep her adventures hidden from not only her parents and chaperone but also her persistent new suitor, Lord Showalter.

This is a fun, fast read. The story kept me engrossed, and I liked the ending. The Egyptian bits brought to mind the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters, although in those books Amelia Peabody actually goes to Egypt, while in this one we see the Egypt craze as it occurred in England, which is interesting in its own way.