My “To Read” pile grows immensely faster than my “Finished” pile, but here’s what I knocked out this past year.
Favorite Fiction Book of the Year: I noticed a pretty big lack of fiction this year. Or the fiction I did read, was quite time-consuming. I’d have to say that 2666 by Roberto Bolaño was my favorite of the year. It’s over 900 pages and took a dang long time to get through, but it was worth it. And it changes enough within the book so it doesn’t get old. Great book. If you have a few weeks and are looking to completely disappear in esoteric fiction, this is a good one. The Marriage Plot and The Sparrow are close seconds.
Favorite Non-Fiction, Non-Theology Book of the Year: This one is tough, because there are all kinds of subjects within a rather specific genre. Bossypants is incredible, but I feel like it’s cheating a little bit since I listened to the audiobook on the move down to Arizona from Minneapolis. I didn’t actually read the book. Chris Hedges’ The World As It Is is as wonderful as it is depressing. And it is both. I’d recommend reading it if you want a book to read a chapter at a time and then put down for a bit. It’d be pretty depressing to try to tackle it in one afternoon.
Favorite Non-Fiction Theology Book of the Year: Pete Rollins’ new book Insurrection really captured my imagination this year. It’s heavy enough for theology nerds like myself to read, but accessible enough for a more normal, well-adjusted person. Takes theologies of Bonhoeffer, Derrida/Caputo, Kant and others to construct a really interesting and rich theology. Highly recommended.
So what did YOU read this year?
Cheers,
Eric
Eric Clapp 4.0 
Great list, sir! Wow! Way to go, YOU! I hope to read a lot more in 2012. I also loved Bossypants! Currently reading: The Marriage Plot – halfway thought and liking it a lot.
Happy reading to you in the year ahead!
Thanks! I’d been waiting for The Marriage Plot for awhile. It took a little while to get through, but I really liked it as well. I’m working through The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach right now. Great book.
And I had to struggle to keep my car on the road when I was listening to Bossypants because I was laughing so hard at some parts. Happy 2012 reading to you as well!
We read a lot of the same books Eric. Love it.
Doesn’t surprise me in the slightest, Mike. Hope your post-Christmas days are going well.
I feel like I really need to read Bossy Pants because EVERY book blogger I know is recommending it. Wonderful list. I’ll have to look through and read a few reviews.
Bossypants is wonderful. If you are into audiobooks at all, it’s a great one. Tina Fey does the reading and adds some stuff in and plays audio clips of some of the SNL sketches she references in the book. It’s hysterical.