End of Year Survey

Borrowed this from Dolce Bellezza who stole this from The Literary Stew who stole it from The Perpetual Page- Turner.  And so here goes:
1. Best Book(s) You Read in 2011?

•  1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
• A Visit From the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan
• An Object of Beauty - Steve Martin

2. Most Disappointing Book?

• Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson - expected it to better than it was.
• A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse - expected more from the book.
• Bossypants by Tina Fey - definitely love Fey on 30 Rock, but didn't really care for her book.

3. Most Surprising (in a good way!) Book of 2011?

• State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
• The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
• Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

4. Book(s) you recommended to people most in 2011?

• 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
• An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
• Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy
  

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

Don't really read series that often, so... none.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

• Simon Van Booy
• Ann Patchett
• Steve Martin

7. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

• 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
  

8. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

• 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
  

9. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

10. Most memorable character in 2011?

I have two - Aomame and Tengo from 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami.

11. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy

12. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?

• 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
• Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy
• The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
• State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
• A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
• An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin  

13. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

• Villette by Charlotte Bronte

14. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read in 2011?

I have too many to remember, but they were mostly found in 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami and Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy

15. Book that you read in 2011 that you would be most likely reread in 2012?

Not sure which one I would read again in 2012 - the ones I loved I would rather wait a few years before reading again.  So I suppose my answer is none of them.

16. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami had plenty of these types of scenes.

A Day in Books Meme

I found this on The Literary Stew's blog and thought I'd give it a go. Here goes:

I began the day with A Visit From the Goon Squad
On my way to work I saw A Horseman in the Sky
and walked by A Novel Bookstore
to avoid The Radleys
but I made sure to stop at The Gin & Chowder Club
In the office, my boss said "Swing Low."
and sent me to research An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge
At lunch with Irma Voth
I noticed An Object of Beauty
under Shiny Objects
then went back to my desk Chosen
Later, on the journey home, I bought 32 Candles
because I have Bedbugs
then settling down for the evening, I picked up The Three Weissmanns of Westport
and studied Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough
before saying goodnight to Rip Van Winkle

Happy Holidays!!

The Printmaker's Daughter by Katherine Govier

About book:

Recounting the story of her life, Oei plunges us into the colorful world of nineteenth-century Edo, in which courtesans rub shoulders with poets, warriors consort with actors, and the arts flourish in an unprecedented moment of creative upheaval.  Oei and Hokusai live among writers, novelists, tattoo artists, and prostitutes, evading the spies of the repressive shogunate as they work on Hokusai's countless paintings and prints.  Wielding her brush, rejecting domesticity in favor of dedication to the arts, Oei defies all expectations of womanhood - all but one.  A dutiful daughter to the last, she will obey the will of her eccentric father, the man who created her and who, ultimately will rob her of her place in history.

Vivid, daring, and unforgettable, The Paintmaker's Daughter shines fresh light on art, loyalty, and the tender and indelible bond between father and daughter.

My thoughts:

I liked this book. It was interesting and rather rich in detail; which made it easy to imagine nineteenth century Japan.  Plus, the fact that Oei is based on an actual historical figure added an element of authenticity to the story.  Reading about the art work and the relationship that Oei had with her father was fascinating.  She devoted her life to him and in return he expected more and more from her.  Her art work surpassed her father's in talent and scope, yet Oei would not take any credit for it.  Instead, she would allow her father to pass her work off as his, thereby cementing his place in the art world.  His desire for the limelight far outweighed any paternal inklings he may have felt for his daughter, which made Oei resentful.  She struggled to deal with the fact that her relationship with her father was completely one-sided; her talent hidden beneath his name. 

Suffice it to say the characters definitely captured my attention.  Their struggles and passions were captivating to read about.  Oei was a young woman who eschewed Japan's societal construct of what a woman should be - obedient wife.  Instead, she chose to focus on her art and embrace some of the wayward ways that were impressed on her as a child.  Hokusai, Oei's father, took her around with him as he traveled and worked on his painting; and as a result, they were usually surrounded by a circle of peers that consisted of fellow artists, prostitutes, writers and actors ( the very people who bucked society's rules ).  Definitely an interesting group of people to have influence your daughter, wouldn't you say? 

As for the art work -  well, after reading so much about it and picturing it in my mind, how could I not seek it out?   Luckily for me, the author has included examples of both Oei and Hokusai's pieces on her website.  Definitely something I enjoyed checking out. 

Aside from enjoying the story and characters, I found the writing to be solid and engaging.  The pace was perfect for a sweeping epic, which is just how I would characterize this historical fiction text.  I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction, Japanese culture and history and Japanese art.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book!