In a very belated response to my colleague, ImageNations, asking for our Favourite reads of 2011, here are
mine:
- The city and the city, by China Mieville. From one of the best contemporary SF/fantasy authors – a “noir” mystery set in two parallel but intersecting universes that seem to be somewhere in Eastern Europe
- The boy in the striped pyjamas, by John Boyne. I read this story set in wartime Germany/Poland before watching the film, and found it very moving. I know the main character is supposed to be nine years old, but many of us can be naive about what is really going around us.
- Alice in wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. The classic, which I re-read again, and still loved, and still found something different to appreciate. I read it on my Kindle, and did admit that I found the lack of illustrations a little disconcerting. I guess that shows my age!
- The historian, by Elizabeth Kostova. Normally I am not into horror/vampire lit, but this tale of Dracula was pretty good. It is long though.
- Drive, by Daniel Pink. Someone ordered this for work, and I did find it interesting.
- State of wonder, by Ann Patchett. Read this for Accra Book Club.
- Imperial life in the Emerald City, by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. I bought a couple of years ago, and was prompted to read it after watching the film Green Zone and noting that it was based on Chandrasekaran’s book. The film was enjoyable but in my opinion its relationship to the book is somewhat tenuous. And I thought the book was really good, one of the best reads of 2011.
- The education of a British-protected child, by Chinua Achebe. A wonderful set of essays from the master of Nigerian literature.
- Hallelujah! the welcome table, by Maya Angelou. Although I suspect I bought this because of its recipes, the stories behind the food were much more interesting.
The above are the books I gave the highest ratings to during the year – a mixture I do admit of the serious, and not-so serious, but then this is a reflection of the type of reading which I do.
Thanks Nana Fredua Agyeman for taking the initiative, so others could follow!
Accra books and things 
Thanks Nina for sharing your favourite books. It reminds me of a gap in my reading: I’m yet to read anything by Maya Angelou. I need to rectify this anomaly.
I haven’t read much of her poetry, though I’ve heard her – on TV/radio – and she does know how to present herself. Her five volume autobiography, which starts with I know why the caged bird sings is a pretty good place to start
I am trying to contact the blog owner of this blog to discuss my upcomign opening of my new bookstore in accra. It wil l be really helpful if you had your contact somewhere on this blog. Thanks
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To the blog owner. I wanted to email you to discuss something – but you dont have your contact anywhere on the blog. I wanted to discuss my upcoming Elegant STationery, Fine Stationery and Bookstore I am getting readyto open in Osu, Accra
You read The Historian? It’s sitting on my shelf and I’d heard mixed reviews. So given it’s size, I always ignore it. Maybe this year… Wonderful list of books.
I know it got mixed reviews, but I did enjoy it, though it did take me a while to finish it.
Some truly fantastic books here that I loved as well, including the Achebe and Imperial Life in the Emerald City. I had no idea that film was loosely based on it… but as you say it isn’t too similar I likely still won’t watch the film. Congrats on your 2011 reading and I hope you read some just as good or better in 2012!