Books of 2011

2011 is nearly over (can you believe it?!) and I've read some great books this year. I reached my goal of 50 books; I actually went over that if I include books I read for classes. At least I completed one challenge this year!
Of the challenges I planned on doing, I only succeeded at a few. You can see the full list here. I loved the L.M. Montgomery Reading Challenge hosted by Carrie. She also hosted a Narnia Challenge in July that I loved as well! I think month-long challenges are good for me. Not too long, not too short.

Though I attempted Katrina's Spring Reading Thing 2011 and Fall Into Reading 2011, I was not very successful. As I've discovered, challenges that last longer than a month don't work for me. And a year long challenge? Forget about it! I completely forgot about Amy's Jane Austen Reading Challenge. I had all of 2011 and I didn't read a single Jane Austen novel. Forgive me. I hang my head in shame.

Now on to something more uplifting. Here are my Top 5 Fiction, in no particular order:

1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
4. The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen
5. After the Leaves Fall by Nicole Baart

Top 5 Non-Fiction, in no particular order:

1. In the Land of Believers by Gina Welch
2. Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
3. Joni by Joni Eareckson Tada
4. Thriving at College by Alex Chediak
5. The Band That Played On: The Extraordinary Story of the 8 Musicians Who Went Down with the Titanic by Steve Turner

For those of you who aren't afraid of the world ending in 2012, I'll tell you my plans. I'm going to shoot once again for 50 books, but I'll be more cautious when choosing reading challenges. I've also realized the importance of choosing books wisely. It gets harder and harder to read for fun when in the midst of school; I don't have as much time as I used to!

I'm off to read... I'm currently reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and East of Eden by John Steinbeck.