Faves of TwentyEleven: The Books

Day One of My Faves of TwentyEleven Book Awards

1. favourite book read in 2011

this one is WAY too hard, so i am going to TWEAK the question and choose my favourite Aussie YA book of the year, which goes to All I Ever Wanted by Vicki Wakefield

2. most powerful book

I LOVE this book, so much. It breaks my heart yet fills me with hope and the overwhemling theme/message SHINES brilliant: Split by Swati Avasthi

3. brilliantly funny

Oh, I read so many funny books (I am drawn to them, so). For my sense of humour ~ here are some of the books that had me reading with a ridiculous grin on my face the whole time :)

4. best ache-y, heart-breaking, tear-jerker read

Two equally stunning little books ~ each in their own way... Both genuinely moving.

5. most beautiful story

LOVE this love story. LOVE the taking of a prostitute and restoring her. Gorgeous read.

6. delicious rainy day comfort read

Hunting Lila: not my usual rainy day comfort: but it was so fun and swoony

The Day Before: any of my verse books deliver for this category. Lisa Schroeder is pretty much my new fave author in this genre.

LIANE MORIARTY: I love you.

7. adrenalin-fuelled, unputdownable award

This one is hard for me as nothing I read this year felt pumped full of adrenalin, not even the 7 or so adult suspense thrillers I read. I'm going with Legend as I really enjoyed it and read it in one day ~ although it's not all heart-pumping action :)

8. the beautiful prose award

Oh, Vicki Wakefield ~ I ADORE how you write.

9. most atmospheric and vivid setting

For those who have read Froi ~ you'll know why I picked it. Marchetta has imagined and created an entire world that feels so vivid and realised it's easy to be transported there.

Halfway through the year I chose Burn Bright for this and it's still stunning and wild and gothicky and just a smidgen behind Froi as a runner up :)

10. i-so-want-to-go-there award

Oh, this book made me all antsy for travel :)

11. most original and imaginative

Absolutely cannot go past Burn Bright. Also, John Belushi is Dead is a book I would describe as marching to it's own drum beat ~ it's quirky and different and very cool.

12. best under-appreciated, hidden gem book

YOU GUYS. These three books from me are all on my absolute favourite shelf. Such gorgeousness. Such brilliantly talented YA authors. I feel good just thinking about these gems.

13. i-had-no-idea-i-would-love this-so award

Enclave: This was a gift from a friend & I honestly had not really seen any buzz about it, so hadn't any built-up expectations. And then I started it and completely loved it. Such an engrossing read. Have you read it? It's a YA post-apocalyptic.
Genesis: From it's bizarre narration and delivery I wasn't sure it would be my thing ~ but then I got COMPLETELY into it and it fully delivers. What a genius little book.
Violence 101: Oh ~ I still love thinking about this book. It is also very different in it's delivery ~ surprising fun in parts and completely fascinating.

14. most haunting story

Never Let me Go for it's subtle absence of hope and eerie delivery. Pure because some of those scenes and visions of the future: my gosh, it genuinely creeped me out.

15. outside my comfort zone but gosh how i loved it

A paranormal fantasy, haha. Not my usual read. But this books was so. much. fun.(with lovely dashes of swoon). Good times. Cannot wait for book two.

16. series that i’m loving

Love Unearthly and Hallowed. They delivered for me in being absorbing reads.

17.  always recommending this book award

ahh! Well, there's the books I always say I LOVE (but don't imagine that everyone else will necessarily feel the same way I do ~ such as my love for Psych Major Syndrome <3). And then there's the books that I seriously think people should read such as Split. Also: only *just* recently read but I am SO going to be pimping it out as an all-time fave verse book: Chasing Brooklyn.

18. completely awesome premise award

Legend is, in part, a re-imagining of 'Les Miserables' (love that book) and Warm Bodies, LOL, the zombies got in touch with their feeling and stuff, aww...

19.  would make the best movie

Wouldn't Past Perfect be a perfectly fun teenage flick? 

And, although I didn't really like The Name of the Star ~ it has the premise (Jack the Ripper) and the originality to make it something fresh for the big screen (plus it's set in Britain).

20.  want to re-read already

First book that came to mind: Song of the Sparrow ~ I am taking this with me on Christmas holidays :)

I will confess to already re-reading a batch of books I read this year: Psych Major Syndrome, Saving June, Unearthly and Every Little Thing in the World.

And... they're my picks for Day One :) So much fun. Tomorrow it's all about The Characters. Can't wait to check out anyone who is joining in

I haven't paid for the upgrade on Mr Linky, so it will only display one linky dooby on the site at a time. You can link up here for the next 24 hours or so, then access the links in a new window. If the option to add your link has been removed, PLEASE leave a link in the comments. Sorry if this sounds complicated O.o  :D
NB: it also advises to leave a comment after linking: you so have have to do that, it's an automated message :)

xx Nomes