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I was going to write one of those blog posts about how fabulous/horrible my year was but I chickened out at the last moment for three reasons.
- First, it’s so cliché, isn’t it?
- Second, it seems awfully narcissistic. It involves quite a bit of navel-gazing that I honestly can not muster at this point in time with a straight face.
- I really am tired (and I figure you are too) of the sound of my voice (so to speak).
So I decided to do something different. From the title you can figure it out. If you did not read any book last year, you can close this page right now. If you did, riddle me this. Of all the books you read in 2011, if you could recommend only one book for me to read in 2012, which would it be?
Personally, I’d recommend The Screwtape Letters and The Book Thief. Screwtape Letters because it made me more aware of my unique failures and weaknesses in my Christian life. The Book Thief because it resonated with me; it represented the type of books I’d love to write. I wrote a review here and in the Habitat issue of Klorofyl.
So tell me yours. What one book would you absolutely recommend? It could be any type, any genre. Fiction, non-fiction, comic, social commentary, textbook. Any . Use the comment box, and let me know which book you’d like me to read, and why.
This is my last post for the year. So here’s wishing you a wonderful 2012. See you next year!
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NiiN0i
Beyond Good and Evil ~ Friedrich Nietzsche and a Book of quotes by Lao Tzo and Poetry and Quotes by Khalil Gibran 🙂 …
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Cassie
The Book Thief is wonderful. I’ve been wanting to read The Screwtape Letters and just haven’t. But thanks for the quick review!
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liban1998
i read history of Somali. it contains poems and wisdoms, and it is also contains most hostorical histories of country. I learned a lot of information about the country because I read informaation the country. Somali have
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@toluOloruntoba
First Read:
‘Strength to Love’, by Martin Luther King Jr. A collection of his sermons that reveal the beating hear of MLK- philosopher and preacher, brother and Christian. Totally worth it.Re-read:
‘The World is Flat’ by Thomas L. Friedman. An almost prophetic account, via brilliant journalism and recent history, of the forces molding the future. -
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ThinkTank!
I’d recommend ‘The Millennium Trilogy’ – the girl… with the dragon tattoo/who played with fire/who kicked the hornets nest. I picked up the first one and couldn’t stop until I had read all three. They are masterfully crafted thrillers.
I’d also recommend ‘And thereby hangs a tale’ by Jeffrey Archer. A wonderful collection of short stories which as an amateur short story writer, thrilled me completely.
Most of The other books I read this year were heavily technical and unless you’re interested in Well-Test Analysis, aren’t worth the trouble 🙂
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Nikki O.
Three books that stood out this year (yes, Naija no dey answer the correct question – instead of one book, I give you three).
1) JM Coetzee, Disgrace
2) JM Coetzee, Life and Times of Michael K (the greatest book I have ever read, simple – the first book that made me question the meaning of my life and has me asking myself whether I would be a different person if I were stripped of all the material possessions I have come to (foolishly) cherish so much).
3) Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro – bawled like a baby at the end of this very unusual book. I cried and cried and cried. And I’m usually a hard-nosed bitch.Happy (early) New Year!
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Osemhen
Lol! Nigerians! This writer, Coetzee sounds familiar. But I’ve never read him. Maybe 2012 is the year I finally do. Happy New Year!
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Gbenga
Thanks for this post, I plan to read 100 Books in 2012 [yea, that’s a tough call!] and I’ve added a few titles from suggestions here to the list.
I would recommend Okechukwu Ofili’s “How Stupidity Saved My Life – Life Lessons from an Overanalytical Engineer”, if you haven’t read it yet. Saw a few copies at Debonair Bookshop two weeks ago.
Happy New Year (in Advance) 🙂
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Pili Kamenju
I recommend “the science of getting rich” by Wallace D. Wattles. I’ve read and re-read this book. It works!
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jhymy
steig larsson’s Girl with the dragon tattoo trilogy was a good one for me last year.tackling the song of ice and fire series at the moment
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Osemhen
Everyone’s been talking about this girl with the tattoo book. I should find out what the fuss is. Yeah, I totally recommend A Song of Ice and Fire.
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Tarela
I saw the first season of GOT and have decided to read the books… soon. Now I honestly cannot remember the books from last year (there’s this particular post-revolution China – wouldn’t call it love – story) but one does come to mind and it’s from the Queen herself, Agatha Christie and titled “Endless Nights”. I love a good mystery, a great twist, quaint romance but what gets me with writing anything is the first person’s account of a story when said person is of many layers.The Chinese one I mentioned though is a very good read and makes you think (of what, you can’t really say). I will get back to you though when I remember the others and can make a proper comparison.
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Olubunmi Olorunda
Aleksander Solzhenitzhen’s ‘Cancer Ward’.. Immersion into communist Russia and deeply into the lives of all sorts of categories of people; though deep but it doesn’t bore you into sleeping. On the contrary..
Actually the only book I read last year:-)-
Osemhen
Lol! It sounds like a complicated book, perhaps that was why it ended up being the only one you read? Is it fiction?
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Jeremiah Nzere
You should read “This Present Darkness” by Frank Peretti. Why? I don’t know. The adjective to describe it hasn’t been coined yet.
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osisiye
‘Steve Jobs’ by Walter Isaacson
It was real.
I still wish Alex Haley was the biographer thoughOops. I read ‘I know why the caged bird sings’ by Maya Angelou in 2011 too
It’s a tie *furrowed brow*
Nnaemeka
Ha. The A Song of Ice and Fire series. Started this year, decided not to read Dance of Dragons yet.
I also re-read lots of great books this year. Does that count?
Islands of Silence, by Martin Booth, was good too.