My penultimate post for 2011

We’re heading back to New York tomorrow morning, and depending on how long the wait at the Holland Tunnel is when we finally reach the city, (it’s torture, because we can see our building – so close and yet so far away) I may or may not be in the mood to post tomorrow night.

Here, then, is my list of favorites from 2011, in no particular order.

Books:

It was a great year for Young Adult Fiction (or at least for my reading of Young Adult Fiction). Some of these books were not published in 2011, but I plead the Stephen King rule: if I read it this year, it counts. Here is my list of favorite fiction for 2011:
1) The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld.
2) Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
3) Legend by Marie Lu
4) The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

And now for Non-Fiction:
1) Education of Millionaires by Michael Ellsberg
2) Tribes by Seth Godin
3) Happiness is a Serious Problem by Dennis Prager

Movies:

1) Jane Eyre starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender
2) The Muppets starring (surprise!) the Muppets, Amy Adams and Jason Segal
3) Crazy Stupid Love starring Steve Carrell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone
4) The Help starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone (& a bunch of other great actors!)
(I reserve the right to make two additions to this list next week, since I have not yet seen the new Sherlock Holmes move or Girl With the Dragon Tattoo…)

Blog:

Hands down, no contest, it’s Dooce.com She does not write about learning, or education or anything you might think I would read on a regular basis. Bodily functions often come into play in her blog, but nobody makes me laugh as hard as she does. Please don’t miss her end of the year list of her favorite blog posts of 2011.

TV:

1) Grimm: Once Upon a Time seems to be getting more of the buzz, but for my money there is no contest. The mind of Joss Whedon is just twisted enough to make Grimm delicious, gory fun.
2) Hawaii Five-O: The whole show is worth the banter and chemistry between Alex O’Laughlin as Steve MacGarrett and Scott Caan as Dano.
3) Castle: This season has been touch and go, but the wannabe superhero episode was classic.

(I know, I should be watching Modern Family, but I’m not. So sue me.)

Theater:

This is kind of unfair, since I’ve seen exactly one show this year that wasn’t a kids production, but it’s my list, so here goes:

1) Venus in Fur: Nina Arianda is UNBELIEVABLE in this show. Funny beyond my ability to explain, but able to create the tension needed for scenes that border on uncomfortable to watch. Nothing happens, but the entire audience thinks it JUST MIGHT. And Hugh Dancy? Perfect.

Music:

1) Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5
2) The Hands All Over album from Maroon 5 This is the best overall album from anyone that I’ve heard in ages. Too many others start to sound the same after about the 3rd song, including Adele.
3) Someone Like You by Adele (Just because her album isn’t my favorite doesn’t mean I don’t love this song.)
4) I Like It by Enrigue Iglesias – sorry, can’t help it.
5) Born This Way by Lady GaGa

I’m sure there are others, but those are off the top of my head, which means I really, really like them.

Happy New Year everyone! May your 2012 be the best yet.

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