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31 December 2011

Here's to the Best of Everything in 2011


Had to post my favorite gift...the keyboard for the iPad...
My heart is full.

Another year has come and gone and with that, some exceptional (and some a little ho-hum) reading. Blogging continues to be a blast these past two years and being a part of this wonderful community is amazing. And I love the new design Tawni at Forever Design Studio created, and I finally feel I have something that represents me and my blog. (I have something fun planned to feature the work she did, so stay tuned).

I also can't wait for another year with the bloggers I already know, and I'm excited to meet those who will be starting up in 2012. Everything about this world has been so. much. fun. So here's to you!

The biggest achievement for me this year is that I've now incorporated audiobooks into my reading experience and I am better for it. How have I let audiobooks slip me by all this time?

For this list, I've included audio and printed books into this combined overview, simply because I didn't listen to enough audiobooks to warrant its own separate list. The list also includes anything I've read in 2011, but doesn't necessarily mean it was published in 2011.

In no particular order, my favorites I read or listened to this year were 
So those were my favorites. And if I had to pick only one book to be at the very top of my list, it would have to be 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I loved everything about that book.

Here's to another year blogging with all of you, reading, and sharing some fantastic reads and commiserating over the not-so-fun ones! Thanks for reading and welcoming me into this wonderful community!

Posted at 5:30 AM  //  Labels: , ,
25 comments

25 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 31, 2011 at 6:46 AM

    Great list. I've read a few (Caribou Island, Faith, The Help, Skipping a Beat) and enjoyed them. Here's to another good year of reading in 2012!

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  2. Sandy NawrotDecember 31, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    I've read most of these, and the rest I either have or are on my TBR list. It makes my heart warm when I hear people discover audio books. They are truly an amazing thing, and a big part of my life. My best friend got me started on them about five years ago, but before then I never even considered them. I can't imagine! Hope you have a great New Year's Eve and here is to the best year ever!

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  3. Tanya PatriceDecember 31, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    LOVE the new design!!!! And thanks for this list of amazing books - I've only read a few - Before I Fall & Henrietta Lacks - and I plan on getting to 11/22/63 very soon.

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  4. LesDecember 31, 2011 at 9:21 AM

    I hope to read 11/22/63, Henrietta Lacks, Caribou Island, Never Let Me Go, and The Passage sometime in 2012. We'll see how far I get with that list. I read the least amount of books this year in all my history of keeping stats, but maybe I'll find more time in the coming year. I've definitely listened to more audio books than ever before, so that helps, especially with the chunksters!

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  5. HollyDecember 31, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Love the new look! I have yet to take the plunge with audiobooks but am thinking about it since I have a 35 minute commute for work so that would give me over an hour of listening time every day. I've only read 3 books on your list but a lot of the others are on my TBR. Hope you have a wonderful new year full of great books!

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  6. rhapsodyinbooksDecember 31, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    I got an IPad keyboard too! Love it! And I just started 11/22/63 but so far it's not grabbing me. But I trust you, so I'm persevering! :--)

    Happy New Year!

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  7. bermudaonionDecember 31, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    I've read 3 of those books and loved them all. My book club will be reading 11/22/63 in January and February. Happy New Year, Natalie! I hope to see you at SIBA this year.

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  8. mpartykaDecember 31, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    First let me say that I LOVE you blog template!!! Makes me what to give my blog an update.

    I haven't read Skipping a Beat but keep thinking I will, so I will add this to my list. Can I be honest and tell you that I didn't care for Before I Fall at all? This will sound dumb but all the repetition bothered me (I know... that's what the story is about)... I own a copy of The Passage, I should try reading this one in 2012.

    Have a wonderful New Years! I look forward to blogging with you next year.

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  9. ZibileeDecember 31, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    This year was also my year for rediscovering audiobooks, and I have listened to some amazing things thanks to Sandy and her enthusiasm for the format. I just so happen to be reading Let the Right One In at the moment, and have to say, it is very weird and disturbing, but also a great book. I am wondering how it will all turn out!

    This was a wonderful list, and I am planning on reading a few of these (or listening to them) in the upcoming year. I am sure that I am going to find them to be very engrossing reads!

    I hope that you have a very Happy New Year, Natalie, and I wanted to thank you for the wonderful support and friendship that you have graced me with!

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  10. ElizabethDecember 31, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    So many books I'm tempted by on your list! Particularly 11/22/63 by Stephen King, definitely considering that for 2012.

    Happy New Year! Looking forward to The Science Fiction Experience with you!

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  11. Mandy @ Adventures in BorkdomDecember 31, 2011 at 12:42 PM

    Hey, I got an IPad keyboard too! Can't wait to put it to use!

    It's been wonderful getting to know you in the last few months, and I look forward to getting to know you better in 2012!

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  12. AmusedDecember 31, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    I loved Faith, The Help and Rebecca as well! Great picks and a great year. Loving the redesign - so pretty!

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  13. Tales of WhimsyDecember 31, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    I love your new look!

    I too started incorporating audios this year :)

    Happy New Year doll!

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  14. CatDecember 31, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Happy New Year, Natalie! I love the new look of your blog.
    Lots of great reading on your list - after reading your review I put the Stephen King on hold at the library. Has been years since I last read one of his.........now I'm wondering if I should try A Game of Thrones.

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  15. Grace at Feeding My Book AddictionDecember 31, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Hey Natalie, I love the new blog design and all of your awesome graphics. I also loved your favorites list. I'm psyched for my readalong of 11/22/63 next month and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks will be read next year; I won't keep putting it off! Keep up the awesome job. Happy New Year!

    Grace at Feeding My Book Addiction

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  16. JoAnnJanuary 1, 2012 at 1:26 PM

    So many books on your list have been favorites of mine, too. Haven't read Stephen King since high school, but feel like it's time to revisit this old favorite with 11/22/63.

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  17. JennyJanuary 1, 2012 at 3:24 PM

    I'm going to read Never Let Me Go for sure this year. And I'm reading Faith for a TLC blog tour soon, so excited!

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  18. SherryJanuary 1, 2012 at 7:54 PM

    I'm collecting year end/beginning lists at Semicolon's Saturday Review of Books this week:
    http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=16513
    And as a bonus, I'm suggesting books for each blogger based on their list of 2011 favorites. You're invited to add a link to your list post if you're interested.

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  19. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2012 at 10:15 PM

    I love the new design!!

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  20. redheadJanuary 2, 2012 at 12:16 PM

    great list! I SO want to read Lindqvist's Let the Right One In, I've seen both version of the movie, and I'm sure the book is a hundred times better.

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  21. Carl V. AndersonJanuary 2, 2012 at 2:48 PM

    Love the new look of your blog, and the Hanes header is perfect!

    Wonderful to see Rebecca on your list. It is one incredible book, my favorite of all the gothic reads I've read and the one that I think I find myself judging all other experiences against. Its been over 20 years since I've last read it and yet the memories of that experience linger on.

    I bought the Laski book for my wife last year and had thought to read it over the autumn but didn't get to it. Perhaps this year.

    Happy New Year to you. I wish you an even more wonderful year of reading and of blogging.

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  22. Alex (The Sleepless Reader)January 3, 2012 at 7:29 AM

    Several on your list are also favorites (of this and past years), like Never Let me Go, Game of Thrones and Wolf Hall. I read WH in 2010 with my bookclub and now we're all waiting for the sequel to come out this year :)

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  23. ChrisbookaramaJanuary 3, 2012 at 8:05 AM

    I have the King novel on my Kobo. I must read it. So glad you loved Rebecca. It's a favorite!

    I LOVE the new look! Makes me want to change up my template. Great job!

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  24. MarceJanuary 4, 2012 at 6:48 PM

    How did I miss your post, uggh. I look forward to reading Rebecca and Let the Right One In this year.

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  25. Jackie (Farm Lane Books)January 6, 2012 at 7:25 AM

    I've read and loved so many of your favourites -Let the Right One In, Henrietta Lacks and The Help in particular. I'm interested in the King (will try to read one for your challenge) and Let the Right One In (but am a bit scared of it)I hope you have a wonderful 2012!

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