2011 was a landmark year for the written word. With a huge surge in the popularity of e-books, authors’ voices have the ability to reach a wider audience than ever before. Avid female readers who have yet to catch-up on 2011′s new releases, are in for a treat. From fiction to nonfiction, the world of literature has produced something to suit every taste. So sit back, relax, and dive into the top 10 books of 2011 for women.
Men: Check out our Top 10 Books of 2011 For Men here.
So, in no particular order, here are our Top 10 Books of 2011 For Women:
“The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. Southern-born Stockett brings the early 1960s to life in The Help. Skeeter, a 22-year-old socialite has just received her degree from Ole Miss. However, her achievements are discounted because she lacks a husand. Aibileen is a black maid currently raising her 17th white child, despite losing her own son. Aibileen’s friend, Minny, is a vivacious cook who consistently loses jobs for talking back to her bosses. The three women bind together to start a movement that will alter their Mississippi town forever. They’re tired of being relegated to the positions reserved for females, especially black women. The moving novel is at times humorous, but also poignant. Stockett does a fantastic job of capturing the hypocrisies and injustices of the era. The universal tale takes a deep look at the interactions between these three seemingly different women. The novel will resonate with any woman who’s felt smothered by the roles imposed by society.More on Amazon
“Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?(And Other Concerns)” by Mindy Kaling. Any fan of NBC’s The Office knows Kaling as the quirky Kelly Kapoor. However, she’s also a writer and co-executive producer on the show and is responsible for some of the hilarious plot lines. In her auto-biography, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, readers can gain insight into Kaling’s life as a daughter to reserved immigrants, a timid child, a playwright and Off-Broadway star, and now a comedic heavyweight. As a bonus, Kaling includes her riotous thoughts on relationships, friendships, stardom, and everything in between. This book’s a must-read for any woman who needs a good laugh and admires funny, strong, successful females. More on Amazon
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. Referred to as HeLa by scientists, Henrietta Lacks is buried in an unmarked grave and was virtually unheard of until recently. The poor tobacco farmer from the South died of cervical cancer in 1951. Unbeknown to Lacks or her family, medical professionals took a sample of her tumor. These tumor cells became the first “immortal” human cells to be grown in culture. They remain alive today and have been deemed one of the most vital discoveries in medicine. HeLa cells were used to develop the polio vaccine, to uncover the mysteries of cancer, viruses, and the effects of nuclear bombs, and were a factor in breakthroughs in in vitro fertilization, cloning, gene mapping, and other advanced scientific research. The cells were used to start a multimillion dollar industry. Yet, her family hasn’t seen a dime. Over a period of more than a decade, Skloot uncovered the mystery to reveal the story of Henrietta and her family, the unethical experiments on African Americans, the legal battles, and the beauty and horror of science. Women interested in science, ethics, and mystery will have difficulty putting this non-fiction read down.More on Amazon
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“Conquistadora”by Esmeralda Santiago. The thin, dark-skinned Spanish aristocrat, Gloriosa Ana María de los Angeles Larragoity Cubillas Nieves de Donostia, or Ana for short, doesn’t fit the typical standards of beauty. During the 1830s, Ana hides in the journal of a conquistador while at convent school. She laments the fact that she’s female and will never have the opportunity to become an explorer and adventurer. Esmeralda Santiago captures Ana’s plight in Conquistadora, a novel that spans over several decades. It’s a story of marriage, slavery, and the choices Ana must make during the time in which she lives. Santiago’s book is a true, suspenseful page-turner. History buffs and those longing for adventure will be enthralled with this story. More on Amazon
“A Small Hotel” by Robert Olen Butler. A Small Hotel is a reminder that there are two sides to every story. After over 20 years of marriage, Kelly Hay runs to the New Orlean’s hotel where she first fell in love with her husband on the day the divorce is to be finalized. Her husband, Michael, visits another hotel with a much younger woman. Butler’s novel reveals the agony of lost love, as two individuals attempt to navigate their complex emotions. The superbly crafted novel will conjure up feelings of readers’ own loves both past and present. The romance is unapologetic, yet deeply sensitive. A Small Hotel is a great read for those looking for a romance novel with depth. More on Amazon
“What Alice Forgot” by Liane Moriarty. Moriarty’s protagonist, Alice, sustains a bump on the head while at the gym, resulting in amnesia. However, it’s only the memories of the past decade that elude her. When she recovers, the 39-year-old Alice believes she’s 29 and is reveling in her happy marriage and pregnancy. In reality, she has three children and is going through an ugly divorce. Alice’s sister tries to help her put together the pieces and jump-start her memory. Both funny and utterly relevant to the trials of daily, domestic life, the novel makes readers think about the things in life they’d like to forget. What Alice Forgot is the perfect light read, but also rings true regarding the years that follow the initial thrill of adulthood. More on Amazon
“In the Garden of Beasts” by Erik Larson. In the Garden of Beasts is a nonfiction masterpiece that shines light on information about why America was so unwilling to acknowledge the threat of the Nazis in 1930′s Europe. Larson paints a convincing picture of officials who failed to take the U.S. ambassador to Germany, William E. Dodd, seriously. Dodd, a professor, gave the government warnings, but was bumbling and naive. In 1933, he moved his family to Berlin. Martha, his 24-year-old daughter, engaged in affairs with numerous men, including a Communist bureaucrat and an influential Nazi. Through these affairs, she pieced together what was truly happening in Germany. Martha helped her father overcome his naive views and take a stand. Unfortunately, this stand occurred much too late. Women who love history, unearthing unknown facts, and torrid affairs, will find Larson’s work to be one of the most important books of 2011. More on Amazon
“The Marriage Plot” by Jeffrey Eugenides. Jeffrey Eugenides, author of the epic novel Middlesex, has done it again with The Marriage Plot. The novel follows the lives of three students at Brown University in the 1980′s. Madeleine, a hopeless romantic who’s writing her thesis on Jane Austen and George Eliot, who perfected the marriage plot evident in all great English novels, is suddenly entangled in a love triangle. Leonard, a smart, moody student and Mitchell, an old friend majoring in religious studies, make their entrances into Madeleine’s life. The novel centers around their final year in college, their graduation, and their baby steps into adulthood. Eugenides will have readers asking if the true love usually reserved for romance novels, is still possible today? The Marriage Plot is a tale of love, self-discovery, and maturity told in thoughtful, brilliantly written prose. Literature lovers who enjoy a full-fledged romance, that also has elements of reality and pragmatism, will be engrossed with Eugenides’ latest work. More on Amazon
“The Tiger’s Wife” by Téa Obreht.The Tiger’s Wife was a National Book Award finalist and for good reason. The protagonist, Natalia, lives in a Balkan country that’s recovering from the devastation of war. The young doctor becomes fixated on solving the mystery of her grandfather’s death. By interweaving myth and memory, Obreht is able to open a fascinating world that illustrates the stories that endure death, war, poverty, and sadness. One such story is about a tiger who escaped from a zoo and befriended a deaf-mute woman, who became known as the tiger’s wife. Natalia uncovers details about the tiger’s wife, her grandfather’s own stories, and the stories of those around her in attempt to find a unifying thread. Women driven by nostalgia, those who like a good story, and lovers of beautiful prose will find comfort in this book. More on Amazon
“Lyrics Alley” by Leila Aboulela.Lyrics Alley is set in 1950s Sudan and captures the story of a wealthy, Sudanese family who are enduring the uncertainty of shifting powers in Sudan. Mahmoud Bey heads a business empire, but after his son has a debilitating accident the family’s future is up in the air. His two wives, one traditional and one drawn to progress, experience tension from the pull between the old world and the new. Lyrics Alley is a poetic tale of loss and reconciliation. Those wishing to have a glimpse into another culture will treasure this portrait of Sudan in its new found independence. More on Amazon
Check out the Top 10 Books of 2011 for Men here.
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