After giving myself carpel tunnel last night leaving comments on some other darn fine Armchair BEA Introduction posts from my Droid, I didn’t have the gumption to write up a really slick post for today. The theme is Favorite 2011 Reads (to date). What you’re going to get is a short and sweet description of each book and a link to my review. I wish I had more creativity in my bones, but blah. My life has been crazy these past couple of weeks and we’re preparing for Emma’s First Communion this weekend. Ack! Excuses, excuses, I know. 
As an introduction, both of my favorite reads this year are by new-to-me authors. Each of them deal with music and what it means to be in a band. They both address maintaining friendships when you are different from everyone else. Yet, they are both completely different books:
Best Books Read in Print (as of 05/24/11):
The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bagnanni (Amy Einhorn Books)
Best Book Read in Audio (as of 05/24/11):
Paul is Undead by Alan Goldsher (Gallery) and narrated by Simon Vance (Blackstone Audio) — This book WILL win the Audie for Humor tonight, I just know it.
Holy Crap! I Can’t Believe I Forgot This!
The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard (Ecco)
I ought to be flogged for not including that above, but it doesn’t deal with music, being in a band, etc… I can’t mess up that bit of blogging genious. LOL! This is a damn good book. If you haven’t read it yet, why the hell not?
Honorable Mention:
The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer (Riverhead)
Skinny by Diana Spechler (Harper Perennial)
French Leave by Anna Galvada (Europa Editions)
These books are wonderful, too. All told, 2011 has been a great reading year. What has been your favorite read so far? Have you found this year to be better than last year?
I think I should see about finding Paul Is Undead. It sounds like a perfect choice to listen to instead of read in print.
Carol, you’re going to absolutely love it! Please let me know what you think when you’re listening to it.
My favorite read this year was a surprisingly Zombie love story. Warm Bodies (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7619057-warm-bodies).
I haven’t read or listened to any of these, but now that they’re on my radar I’ll have to change that.
Girlfriend, I’ve been slamming out posts right and left so I can get ahead for Poland. My fingers are bloody nubs and I say blah too. Those posts that I’ve been writing lately are going to suck.
In fact one of the latest that I’ve written was for The House of Tomorrow. Can we just say hell to the yeah? Loved that book, and the audio rocked. The other music-related book I gave five star love to was A Visit From the Goon Squad.
You know I haven’t read any of these books! They all sound interesting though!
I really need to find time for The Uncoupling, since I won a copy on audio from you!
Jennifer,
I just downloaded Paul is Undead from Overdrive, and am planning to listen to it probably this weekend. (I’m about halfway through one book, and have another lined up after that.)
I have heard you recommend it many times, and since I am currently doing a zombie theme, I thought I would finally give it a listen.
Thanks for the recommendation,
Bob