Pimpin My Faves of 2011 plus a Giveaway

I’ve been agonizing over how I wanted to do this and then I realized there was no reason for it; my blog…my rules!  So, in usual fashion, I’m just gonna wing it!
The time has come for end of the year wrap ups.  Last year, I’d had such a bad year that I decided to wait until after the first of January to look forward instead of looking back.  2011 wasn’t the best year I’ve ever had but it was good enough that I feel ok to look back on it, so here goes!  Below is my list of my favorite things from this year; books, tv shows, music and outings.  Afterwards, there’s a Sons of Anarchy-themed (what else??) giveaway; WOOT!

Fave books of the year (**Note – these are books I read this year but they did not necessarily come out this year**)

PersuaderLee Child


I read the entire series of Jack Reacher books by Lee Child this year.  I cannot say enough about how much I love these books!  Action,  adventure,  explosions, fights, mysteries, impossible challenges and, in the middle of it all, an Ex-Army MP drifter who is the BADDEST. BAD. ASS. IN. BADASS. TOWN!  I could have put several of the books in the series on this list but I picked Persuader because it’s a book early in the series and, while reading it, I was fully aware that there were several other books written in the series and I was STILL on the edge of my seat with my heart racing as I read, wondering if Jack was going to be able to make it out of the situation alive!  Now THAT is some good writing!

Pale Demon – Kim Harrison – Lots of Trent; quiet as its kept, he’s my favorite!

Dreams of a Dark Warrior – Kresley Cole – so much torturous fun!!  It sounds wrong but it was so right!

Kiss of Snow – Nalini Singh – I’d anticipated this one for a while and it did not disappoint!

Magic Slays – Ilona Andrews – Kate and Curran RULE!

Fave New TV shows of the year

Game of Thrones - HBO  – WINTER IS COMING, BITCHES!! Ned Stark.  The Iron Throne. Khal Drogo.  The Khaleesi.  Jon Snow.  Littlefinger. It doesn’t matter if you know the names;  just….just watch it.  Or read it.  AND watch it.  Trust me.  It’s worth it.  The definition of EPIC.  I say again; TRUST ME. 

Revenge- ABC – Incredible, soapy fun! 

Suits -USA - Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter is the reason to watch the show.  Period.  And Gina Torres is his boss!  SCORE!


Happy Endings - ABC – one of the best comedy ensembles on tv.  I’ve had plenty of good laughs with this show this year.  It’s worth a watch for Damon Wayans, Jr., alone.  I think he may be funnier than his father.  Hilarity.


Suburgatory - ABC – oddly enough, I don’t really like the main character of the show but I love a lot of the supporting characters.  Even with that, the show makes me laugh and that’s all I really want from my half hour comedies!
Fave  returning TV shows of the year


Sons of Anarchy - FX –


I’m pretty sure not one of you reading this is surprised to see this show at the top of my list!  I am a SOA ADDICT and proud of it!  My pimpage of the show has brought a couple of my co workers, my cousin and several of my Tweeps into the ranks of my fellow SOA addicts and I’m ecstatic about it!  This season was STELLAR!  As usual, I’m already counting down the days until September!


Justified - FX – This is one of the shows that keeps me occupied during the long break between SOA seasons.  Last season was incredible and I’m so looking forward to the new season that starts in a couple of weeks.  Timothy Olyphant as US Marshall Raylan Givens is THE. MAN.  Period.


Archer - FX – Best animated show on tv, hands down!  Very adult, very funny, very quotable and I’m very much looking forward to it coming back in a couple of weeks!


Parks and Recreation -  NBC – My favorite returning comedy.  If you were a fan of the early years of The Office and the cute development of the Jim and Pam relationship,  you should be watching Parks and Rec.  They have a couple that rivals Jim and Pam!  Plus, Parks and Rec brought us “Treat Yo’ Self” Day:



It’s the best day of the yeeeeaaarrr!



Fave Music of the Year


My fave new music of the year, by a looooong margin, was Adele’s 21.  By such a long margin, in fact, that I don’t have anything else to put here.  Oh…except my fave rap lyric of the year:


“If we ever do this whoopty whoop, I want allll that bleepty bleep” – Andre 3000
Yep.  That.


 My fave outing of the year


My trip to Authors After Dark in Philly  - met so many of my tweeps, had some successful writerly type meetings AND was introduced to a bunch of new to me authors; it was the trip of the year for me! I wrote about it here, in case you missed it.

Well, there you have it; all the high points of 2011 for me!  My family traditionally gives each other gifts on New Year’s Eve so I’m going to extend that to my blog family too!  I have a copy of the Songs of Anarchy CD, songs from Sons of Anarchy seasons 1 – 4, courtesy of my bestie Chena, to give away. 

If you want it, tell me something that you loved in 2011, whether its on my list or not.  That’s it!  I’ll pick a winner at random on January 5, 2012.  Contest is open to all. 
Thanks for hanging in there with me in 2011!  Looking forward to more fun in 2012!  Everyone have a happy, safe and prosperous New Year!!

Comments

  1. after first few sentences i was onto amazon looking up the Jack Reacher books, you were one of the people who recommended the best read, and reread of 2011 THE BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD. What a great series of books that i went on to pass a love of to a number of friends, i adore the brothers ;-). Game of thrones was indeed brilliant and i bought the first book yesterday.
    being from England i don;t see all your shows but of course SONS OF ANARCHY is top show i love love love it.. and Justified!! how great is that too ;-)and to carry on coincidences with your blog i this evening recorded from the tv Adel live at the Albert hall
    the one other thing i enjoyed this year is that i bought Dr Who box set 1-4 with Christopher Ekleston and then David Tennent, my daughter and i watched them over some months and enjoyed them so much ( also watched the new dr matt smith, who we both liked) our missin for 2012 will be to buy and watch Torchwood . enjoyed seeing how much thing we have in common book/tv/music wise
    hope 2012 is good for you my lovely friend xx oh and sorry that was so long x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy New Year! This was a fun year. Going to AADPhilly was the highlight of my year - LOVED meeting you!! My favorite read was Shadow Walker by Allyson James, but I also loved KISS of SNOW and MAGIC SLAYS. xoxo J

    No need to enter me in the contest.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great post Penny! I love Treat Yo Self. It was part of my 2011 Favorite Things post. I'm going to start buying "fine leather goods". Treat Yo Self 2011!!!! LMAO!!!!

    I have to say my favorite things were Adele's album '21' which is nothing but the truth! And of course, SOA. Thanks for talking me down, keeping me calm and supporting me during my SOA marathon. I can't wait until September!

    Please enter me cause I want this soundtrack sooooo bad! I love Hey Hey My My by Battleme.

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  4. Favorite book(s)Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James and Kiss of Snow.

    Favorite TV Show is Games of Thrones. I want Drogo back!

    Got SOA for Christmas so I've been watching those and would love this soundtrack.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your list is AWESOME!!! I'm going to read Pale Demon this weekend. I'm excited that there's a lot of Trent in it, too!

    OMG, Gabriel Macht in Suits...drool!! Mind you, I still see flashes of him in that old Gap commercial, jitterbugging with Claire Danes. I'm going to find that clip...and send it to you for your viewing enjoyment. LOLOLOL!! Jitterbugging in CHINO'S!!

    My fave discovery of 2011 was Karin Slaughter! Her books are amazeballs. Her books deal with dark subject matters and the details are shudder-inducing...just how I like it!! LOL! I've ordered the entire Grant County and Atlanta series thus far. People have compared her to Patricia Cornwell (old PC) but I think she's better.

    In music, I can't say enough about Foster The People (really, I talk about them all of the time) and Bombay Bicycle Club!! LOVE!

    Um, no need to enter me in the contest for the CD. Although it would be rather funny if I won! LOL!

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  6. @Jah - thanks for the comments, Janie! I LOVE that we have such similar tastes! I'm so glad SOA and the BDB brought us together on Twitter!!

    @Twimom - JEN!! Hanging with you at AAD was one of my best memories of the year! I promise, next time we're together, I WILL dance with you! *wink*

    @Marquetta - TREAT YO SELF! LOL So glad you've joined the rest of us SOA addicts on the SOA crazy train!! It's a fun place to be, right??

    @Amanda - I want Drogo back tooooo!!! That was just....UGH! Thanks for the comment!

    @Chena - Thanks for the cd for the giveaway, homie!! I'll have to give Karin Slaughter a try; I was a big fan of the old Patricia Cornwell books!!

    ReplyDelete

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