BOOKS!

One of my 2011 Resolutions was to read more. With the help of a website dedicated solely to books and reading, I kept track of the books I read this year. All 19 of them! I read a lot of comedy, some series, and a little fantasy/sci-fi. I'd say there was a pretty good mix of everything in there.

2011

Frances's favorite books »

}

I thought I'd give you a round up of the books I read this year as I finished #19 last night and plan to start on #1 for 2012 tonight.

Autobiographical books read: Tori Spelling's "Stori Telling," "Mommywood," and "Unchartered Territori." "Someday My Prince Will Come" by Jerramy Fine. Kendra Wilkinson's "Sliding Into Home."
Favorite: "Sliding Into Home" by Kendra Wilkinson. This girl cracks me up. I knew a lot of her past going into the book so I wasn't shocked by much of it. I loved her voice throughout the book, too. As a fan of her show and Girls Next Door, I knew her personality and I could hear her reading it to me as I flew through the book in just a few short days.

Fiction (Non-series): JK Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard." "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky.

Fiction to Silver screen: "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett. "Water for Elephants," by Sara Gruen. Emily Giffin's "Something Borrowed."
Favorite: "The Help" was beautifully written and wonderfully transferred to film. It's getting a lot of Oscar buzz and deservedly so. I also love me some Emma Stone (who had an awesome 2011). The Help, both book and movie, had a wonderful way of being serious and getting the point across, while also having a fun element of comedy.

Fiction Series: "Something Borrowed" and "Something Blue," by Emily Giffin. Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games." George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire #s 1 and 2 (aka "Game of Thrones" and "A Clash of Kings".
Favorite: The Hunger Games. Hands down. Mainly because I finished it in about 2 and a half weeks while at camp. Suzanne Collins goes into a time well into the future (although she never says when and I'd really like to know) where the world has fallen into post-apocalyptic ruin and what was the US at one point is now Panem, a country divided into 12 districts each in charge of one product or service for the rest of the country, and the Capital. It's scary. It's relatable. It's amazing and I can't wait for the first movie in March!

Comedy: "Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me," by Friends of Chelsea Handler. Tina Fey's "Bossypants." "Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me" by Mindy Kaling.
Favorite: I don't think I have a favorite in the section. All of these women are hilarious. I read Handler's other books last year and knew that thins one would be a must-read when it hit bookshelves earlier this year. Tina Fey has been a favorite of mine since she and Jimmy Fallon were the Weekend Update co-anchors on SNL. And I love Mindy Kaling on the Office. Her character, Kelly, is pop culture-obsessed, boy crazy, and all in all hilarious. Not to mention Mindy has written a few of my favorite episode of the Office. I recommend all three of these ladies' books to anyone who loves comedy.

What books did you read this year? What books are you looking forward to reading next year?