The literary success of fiction and nonfiction titles, despite the country’s economic downturn, proves that the best books were written in 2011. Telling biographies are talked about in many cafes; and true bookworms will hardly lend out a good memoir. The following titles, which I refuse to let out of my sight, are just a few of my favorites:
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson tops the list of ’2011′s Most Talked About Books.’ Everyone loves a success story and the electronic age would not be the same without the extraordinary contributions of Steve Jobs, a brilliant, but misunderstood man.
Readers will never forget the transparency of a medical industry gone morally bankrupt in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Author Rebecca Skloot gains our trust with her dedication to dig up the truth when the greedy promote profit, not people.
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey, not only places him on the bestseller’s list, this book touts Harvey as the go-to-guy for relationship mayhem and couple mending.
An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski is one of the most memorable and true stories of 2011. An uncommon friendship between Laura, a white sales executive and an African-American boy, Maurice, threatens social boundaries. At first glance, it is unclear why and these two become connected. But both are entwined and engulfed in dysfunction. Maurice’s environment is rooted in neglect, poverty, and drugs. Laura’s environment is stifled by alcoholism and physical abuse. Their search for peace leads them to each other. And the rest is history.
Ralph Richard Banks, a professor of law at Stanford Law School, teaches us a
thing or two in Is Marriage for White People? Banks examines how the decline of African-American unions affects us all. Intimate relationships are put to the test with informative, and sometimes humorous, observations. Many readers may come to the conclusion that marriage is for anyone willing to step out on faith.
Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever is one of the most popular fiction titles among kids and adults. The collage of diary entries and cartoons make for entertaining reading. The antics of Greg Heffley will continue to replace many video games as the new, hard-to-put-down hobby.
A cookbook is more than just a how-to guide. If it’s any good, it’s a dog-eared, slightly soiled treasure. Les Petits Macarons: Colorful French Confections to Make at Home by Kathryn Gordon and Anne E. McBride is the ideal kitchen companion. Its shiny pages boast easy-to-read instructions and colorful photos to create the perfect macaron. Treat family and friends to a tasty French treat or delight them with this awesome cookbook.
Go the F**K to Sleep by Adam Mansbach and illustrated by Ricardo Cortes is a cool book for parents who want to vent. It’s funny and cute — exactly what a stressed out, sleepy parent (with a wide awake child) needs before bedtime.
My Long Trip Home: A Family
Memoir
By Mark Whitaker
Nonfiction
Simon & Schuster
October 2011
The Best of Me
By Nicholas Sparks
Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
October 2011
Reimagining Equality: Stories of
Gender, Race, and Finding Home
By Anita Hill
Nonfiction
Beacon
October 2011
The Education of Millionaires:
It’s Not What You Think, and It’s Not Too Late
By Michael Ellsberg
Nonfiction
Penguin Group (USA)
September 2011
Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy
Kid Series #6)
By Jeff Kinney
Fiction
Harry N. Abrams
November 2011
Playground
By Curtis Jackson (50 Cent)
Autobiographical Novel
Penguin Group (USA)
November 2011
Zone One
By Colson Whitehead
Fiction
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
October 2011
Zero Day
By David Baldacci
Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
October 2011
Truth and Consequences: Life
Inside the Madoff Family
By Laurie Sandell
Nonfiction
Little, Brown & Company
October 2011
Steve Jobs
By Walter Isaacson
Nonfiction
Simon & Schuster
October 2011
A Reliable Wife, Robert Goolrick, Algonqin Books of Chapel Hill, January 2010
I savoured this book … every single page. “A Reliable Wife” was an erotic, tantalizing tease. I was smitten from the very first meeting of Ralph Truitt, who placed an advertisement in the paper for a ‘reliable’ wife, and Catherine Land, the unreliable harlot who responded to his ad. I experienced the beauty of delicate words and one of the most incredible tales in literature.
Getting to Happy, Terry McMillan, Viking/Penguin Group, September 2010
Terry McMillan’s “Waiting to Exhale” was a tough writing act to follow … and the sequel “Getting to Happy” packed a punch. I loved this book. My friends loved it. Movie producers loved it! The divas of drama, Robin (Lela Rochon), Savannah (Whitney Houston), Gloria (Loretta Devine), and Bernadine (Angela Bassett), graced the big screen in 1995, and left McMillan’s fans craving for more of this “BFF” reunion. Fiesty as ever, the four friends returned once again to break your heart and rejuvinate your spirit. One of the most anticipated book sequels in African American fiction, “Getting to Happy” fulfilled the promise to entertain and make readers happy.
Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks, Grand Central Publishing, September 2010
Nicholas Sparks fans had something in common — they were suckers for another good love story. And I was one of them. This past year, no one knew more about pain, love, and redemption than Sparks. With more than 50 million copies of his books in print worldwide, the author penned one more winner with his sixteenth novel, “Safe Haven.” This hot fiction was a blend of passion, romance, and mystery. Fans had another great novel to add to their Nicholas Sparks collection. Book clubs nationwide had another great love story to talk about.
Missing You Metropolis, Gary Jackson, Graywolf Press, November 2010
Poetry was never high on my reading list, but this sort of “ode to comic heroes” was just the poetic justice I needed to change my mind. Super words transported me to a fun place. The few worries I had melted away among numerous stanzas of hot poetic memories. Gary Jackson’s furious love of comics is the vein for his talent of transporting his desires to paper like humans fading to super heroes right before take off. I’ve never picked up a comic book. But after spending an evening with “Missing You Metropolis,” I feel a strange kinship to Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, Captain America, and the who-can-ever-forget-the-unforgettable Wonder Woman. Who knows, one day, I just might read a comic book or two.
Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want, Lisa Johnson Mandell, Grand Central Publishing, January 2010
One of the best career manuals I’ve ever read could land me that dream job … or just a regular 9-to-5 job, until the economy gets better. “Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want” was all about making yourself over, even if you thought you were perfect. And with a little push and creativity from author Lisa Johnson Mandell, it was actually doable. A career comeback was never more urgent than in 2010. It was (and still is) a necessity for anyone rebounding from a setback, a layoff, or another bad beginning. And you’ve got to start somewhere.
What I Know Now About Success: Letters from Extraordinary Women to Their Younger Selves, edited by Ellyn Spragins, Da Capo Lifelong, May 2010
I was so impressed by this little advice manual disguised as personal letters, I gave it to a friend and asked her to pass it along to her young daughter. And later, I even purchased a copy for my niece, who has a mind of her own. More than 14 brilliant women, including Barbara Walters, Kate Spade, and Soledad O’Brien opened up about their struggles and ultimate triumphs. But I was most impressed with personal-finance, author and columnist Suze Orman. This past year, just about everyone, even the rich and famous, needed good, old-fashioned money advice. She provided us with all the tools we needed to shape up. Orman also shared her advice on truth, “
“You will not — you cannot — come into your power until you live a life that is 100 percent authentic every moment of the day, in every way.”
