Welcome to Smugglivus 2011! Throughout this month, we will have daily guests – authors and bloggers alike – looking back at their favorite reads of 2011, and looking forward to events and upcoming books in 2012.
Who: The lovely, witty Raych of Books I Done Read is our guest for the day. Raych provides endless hours of entertainment with her hilarious reviews and conversational style (complete with sweet gifs, naturally).
Give a warm welcome, folks, to Raych!
Awards categories like ‘best read’ or ‘best character’ are next to meaningless, so I’m glad the Very Specific Awards Categories has become something of a Thing. I am nothing if not a purveyor of Things.
Behold! Raych’s Very Specific Awards, 2011!
Book That Most Thinking People Would Have Avoided Due To The Horrible Cover But Who Are NOW Avoiding Due To Misguided Wrath: Chime by Franny Billingsley.
Ok, remember how Lauren Myracle’s Shine almost made it into the National Book Awards but then Chime made it instead and people were pissed which is fine because what a cock-up but they were pissed at CHIME which is very stupid? Don’t be those people. Chime is excellent and witty and also has heaps to say about gender and representation of self and so forth. Also, is hilarious in parts.
Book That Made Me Super Fucking Excited To Roast A Chicken, And Also To Eat Better: The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn.
It will make you wield knives with CONFIDENCE, which is either a pro or a con.
Book That Made Me Weep LIKE A CHILD But Without Killing Off Any Dogs, Thank God: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.
Also takes home the Best Use Of Illustrations In Which Said Illustrations Are Enjoyable On Their Own Merits AND Add To Story, Are Not Just Shoe-Horned In Because That’s A Thing People Do Now.
Smally-Tallys That Prove Size Doesn’t Matter: 84 Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff (97 p) and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark (1006 p).
Both equivalently excellent, despite the 900+ page difference.
Book That I Felt Weirdest About Enjoying So Much And Which No One Seems To Have Found As Hugely Hilarious As I Did, Plus I Hear The Movie Was Super-Serious, So What Gives: Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen.
Please can just one other person be like, Yes, I also lolled? Thx.
Book I Can’t Believe I Read This Year Holy Shit That Was A Long Time Ago: Hey guys, remember January? I know! Anyway, I read Black Juice in January and seriously, go read all of Margo Lanagan’s things, but SERIOUSLY GO READ THIS ONE. Bring a pocket handkerchief.
Book That Everyone Was Right About Being Super-Good: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles.
Everyone’s right! It’s super-good.
Book That I Want To Non-Stalkerishly Force To Be My BFF: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, containing therein my favorite portrayal of Women Who Give A Shit About Each Other in some time.
I want this book to be my bestie, I want its two main characters to be my besties, I want Rainbow Rowell to be my bestie, I WANT TO COME OUT OF THIS WITH FOUR NEW BESTIES.
This has been a boss year, reading-wise. Next year will be hard-pressed to beat it, but I have The Optimism. *eyes new Margo Lanagan coming down the pike*
Thanks, Raych!
16 Comments
asa
December 5, 2011 at 12:16 amnice article bro
Amy @ My Friend Amy
December 5, 2011 at 1:13 amAw, yay Raych. Great choices.I say this but I’ve read exactly none of them.
Celine
December 5, 2011 at 2:42 amYeay for Raych!!! Also, I too loved Black Juice. LOVED IT.
Allison
December 5, 2011 at 3:15 amLOVE your Monster Calls award, oh my lord – if a dog had died I’d probably still be crying.
Nymeth
December 5, 2011 at 3:27 amI love this list, but I ESPECIALLY love #1. Listen to Raych, everyone! You don’t want to be those people.
Ana
December 5, 2011 at 4:16 amI have to add my “listen to Raych” re Chime as well. Totally agree.
rhapsodyinbooks
December 5, 2011 at 7:55 amGreat list and yes, always good for sad books not to kill off dogs!
Rhiannon Ryder
December 5, 2011 at 9:27 amOH MY GOD! can you imagine if A Monster Calls killed off a pet too??! I think I would have had to jump in front of traffic. As it was the sobbing was out of control.
But it was awesome sobbing, sobbing I am sharing for christmas as I’ve bought the book for gifting.
Also, now I want to read Girl Interrupted for LOL’s and fist bumps. The Movie was not funny.
Candice J
December 5, 2011 at 10:18 amAttachments was awesome; its a seriously unrated book.
Elizabeth
December 5, 2011 at 10:27 amI added Raych’s blog to my g-reader sight unseen because of this post’s awesomeness.
Marg
December 5, 2011 at 4:43 pmI have read quite a few Margo Lanagan short stories this year and I can’t wait to read more!
Vasilly
December 5, 2011 at 8:46 pmRaych, I can’t believe you laughed at Girl, Interrupted. I was so traumatized after reading that book! 😉
jenn aka the picky girl
December 5, 2011 at 8:47 pmMan, I really want to read A Monster Calls, but it’s all sad? Noooo. I hate crying over books. Except when I don’t know it will happen and then I cry but secretly look around to make sure no one sees me, even though I LIVE ALONE. Yeah.
Anyway, everything you say about Attachments is YES. I really didn’t want to stop hearing about the besties because seriously they were so like me and mine, if we ever wrote all the funny shit we say down.
Love the list. Fun.
Malin
December 6, 2011 at 6:22 amSince I discovered Raych’s blog, I’ve added so many books to my reading list, and thanks to her, I’ve discovered so many awesome books this year. I can absolutely recommend following her blog, and picking up any book she rates highly.
Amy
December 7, 2011 at 6:28 amAh I’ve read so few of these but the headings on each book makes me seriously want to pick them up now!
SandyG265
December 9, 2011 at 12:34 pmI ahven’t read any of tjose books.