Top Ten :: Books of Summer 2011
As summer 2011 is wrapping up, perhaps you didn’t get a chance to read some of the most talked about books of the season. Sometimes summer can be more difficult to find the time to sit down with a book; kids are home, travel is happening, relatives are visiting, and schedules are off. No worries, you’ve got the advantage for waiting. You’ve allowed the masses to do the leg work for you, and now you can see which books flopped and which books lasted – and are deemed worthy of you trekking to the bookstore for a splurge. Below I have compiled the top ten bestsellers from hardcover bestseller lists of the summer… enjoy!
How many of these titles have you read this summer? Which ones are tempting you to make a trip to the bookstore?
Key to using this list:
- Click on book covers for more info about books.
- Titles that are linked, are linked to my reviews of the specific title.
- If there is a * next to a number, it means it was equal to the book above it.
- If there is a CS next to a number, it means I have a review copy and the review will be Coming Soon.
- All titles (except for #4 are eligible for the Indie Lit Awards) — if you love ‘em, nominate ‘em!
1. 
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Hardcover, 353 pages
Published June 7th 2011 by HarperCollins Publishers
*2.
A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5) by George R.R. Martin
Hardcover, 1016 pages
Published July 12th 2011 by Random House Publishing Group (first published 2011)
3.
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Hardcover, 314 pages
Published March 3rd 2011 by Ballantine Books (first published February 22nd 2011)
4.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Millennium #3) by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)
Hardcover, 563 pages
Published May 25th 2010 by Knopf (first published 2007)
5.
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Hardcover, 335 pages
Published July 21st 2011 by Viking Adult (first published March 2nd 2011)
6.
Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
Hardcover, 388 pages
Published June 14th 2011 by Knopf
7.
Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published May 3rd 2011 by Viking Adult (first published March 24th 2011)
(the following books were equal, so I’ve included them all as #’s 8-10, even though there are four titles)
(CS) 8/9/10
The Magician King (The Magicians #2) by Lev Grossman
Paperback, 400 pages
Published August 9th 2011 by William Heinemann
8/9/10
Cold Vengeance (Pendergast #11) by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
Hardcover, 356 pages
Published August 2nd 2011 by Grand Central Publishing (first published August 2011)
8/9/10
Full Black (Scot Harvath #10) by Brad Thor
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published July 26th 2011 by Atria (first published June 7th 2011)
8/9/10
Portrait Of A Spy (Gabriel Allon #11) by Daniel Silva
Hardcover, 432 pages
Published July 19th 2011 by Harper (first published July 1st 2011)
Every time I come here I add to my wish list. And today there’s a whole list of books to add to an already long list. I can’t decide if I should give you the evil eye or hug you.
Haha, both! If it makes you feel better, this list is making me add to my TBR too. I’ve really been wanting to read The Paris Wife (but am trying to hold off until after A Moveable Feast) and Caleb’s Crossing.
I am 87 pages into Rules of Civility and think that I want to marry this baby. Towles’ words and phrases paint the most beautiful pictures in my brain.
It just gets better and better!
I’ve got “Rules of civility” on my TBR pile and “Maine” on my TBR list but the others books don’t interest me (thanks god !!!!!
).
Haha, seriously or you would be the one keeping The Book Depository in business!
Yep ! Sponsoring is my life
Five of these are also my favs for the summer.
I’ve only read Caleb’s Crossing, which I really enjoyed, even if the title might not have been the best choice. It unwittingly tied in nicely with my visit to Harvard’s Peabody museum.
I’ll be reading A Dance with Dragons once I read the other three in the series I’ve yet to read. And I’ve already on the waiting list for Rules of Civility. A couple of the others I may try, if I like the ones in the series before it. I’ve got The Magicians and Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, but haven’t gotten to them yet.
Good to hear you liked Caleb’s Crossing. I’m really interested in that one!
Some of these I definitely want to read but I have to say I did not like The Paris Wife. The ending just dragged for me. I love summer reading lists though!