A Year in Books - Best of 2011

Okay maybe not a best of 2011 more a favourites of what I've read in 2011 but that doesn't have a snappy title.

10 - Julian Corkle is a Filthy Liar by D J Connell

Muriel's Wedding meets Strictly Ballroom where it all comes good at a hairdressing competition. Genuine smirk out loud moments

9 - Stone's Fall by Iain Pears

A puzzle box of a novel that combines high finance, murder , espionage and love.

8 - Palo Alto by James Franco

Short stories of dead soul youth in minimalistic style that recalls early Brett Easton Ellis from annoyingly multi talented actor

7 - Forgetting Zoe by Ray Robinson

Harrowing tale of the capture and imprisonment of a young girl but a tale told of the capacity to survive with heart and sense of hope  ... and much better than The Room

6 - Imperial Bedrooms - Bret Easton Ellis

Revisiting the characters of Less Than Zero, with the characters older put playing out the same parts with a whole new set of insecurities. - mixes the banal , with the horror and sharp shocks of emotion

5 - Boxer Beetle - Ned Beauman

Debut novel packed with more ideas than a lot of authors manage in their whole career. Unlike anything else you are likely to read in  long time

4 - Beatles - Lars Saabye Christensen

Coming of age novel following 4 friends who bond over music with each chapter loosely themed around one of the fab 4s song titles

3 -  Something to Tell You - Hanif Kureishi

Another Kureishi book and another mid life crisis, but this time told with real warmth and humour as well as a cast of supporting characters that you can really care for

2 - Last Night in Twisted River - John Irving

Not his best but better than most. It is as ever epic in scope but personal in its core relationships, funny , tragic and wise ... oh and reassuringly a kind of bear and a farting dog feature

1 - A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan

Short stories disguised as a novel. Forget the last clunky chapter, this is joy with at its heart the power of both music and love