December 30, 2013

End of the Year Book Survey

Thank you to the wonderful Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-Turner for this survey.


I tried to do this last year because I think it's awesome, but I didn't ever finish it.  This year I was better!  At least at answering these questions.

1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)
I’m just gonna go with my gut and say Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson.  It was one of the first books I read this year and it hasn’t really left my mind since.  I’m constantly recommending it to people and I can’t wait to reread it myself.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle.  It sounded like a good story, had an awesome cover, but I thought it was just too reminiscent of Judy Blume’s Forever.  And I know, most people consider Forever a classic, but I read it too late in life and didn't really connect with it like you're supposed to, so those feelings kind of carried over to this one.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013? 
The Bloodlines series.  I read both Vampire Academy and Bloodlines for the first time this year (in a very short amount of time).  Love them both, but by the end of VA I was kind of fed up with Rose.  Bloodlines, though, turned out to be one of the best series I’ve read.  The main characters are some of the most well written that I’ve ever encountered and I can’t wait to see what comes next in Sydney and Adrian’s story.

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
Probably Tiger Lily.  Or more recently This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales.

 5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
Bloodlines.  I’m sorry if this survey becomes a love letter to Richelle Mead, but I just love these books so effing much. 

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
Bennett Madison.  I read September Girls and adored it.  I really enjoyed what he had to say about pop culture and society’s norms through the story’s (capital G) Girls.  I will definitely be looking out for more of his books in the future.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
I don’t really like reading too much Middle Grade, but I did read a bunch of it this year that turned out to be great: Doll Bones, Fortunately, the Milk, Timmy Failure, and Love That Dog.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
The most thrilling stand alone goes to If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch.  Series is (once again, I’m sorry) Bloodlines, especially The Fiery Heart.    

9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
The Bloodlines series hands down.  I have wanted to reread them since I first put them down.  I can’t wait until we’re closer to Silver Shadows and I have an excuse to pick them up again.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
I’m going to say Doll Bones by Holly Black.  The colors and the style of the art on that cover is gorgeous.  I would get it tattooed on me, I just love it so much.



11. Most memorable character in 2013? 
It’s going to be either Adrian Ivashkov or Sydney Sage from Vampire Academy/Bloodlines.  I can’t decide which one of them is more memorable to me.  I could write essays about both of them and their perfect imperfectness.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara.  I didn’t know that she was a poet until after I read this book, but it definitely shows in her writing.  Lovely, Dark and Deep was a beautiful read.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013? 
Doll Bones really got me thinking about when it becomes the norm to stop playing pretend and telling ourselves stories and that aspect of growing up.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read? 
Vampire Academy.  It took A LOT of pressure from my sister for me to pick up these books, but it was well worth it.  And now I can't wait for the movie!

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?
 From Eleanor & Park:


16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Shortest: The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl, 32, Longest: Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead, 594

17. 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!
Indigo Spell, the frat house scene obv.  Please come talk to me about Sydney and Adrian.  PLEASE.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Sydney and Adrian from Bloodlines.  So good for each other, such strong characters, such a realistic relationship in an unrealistic world. 

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Just One Day by Gayle Forman (or Just One Year!), Going Rogue by Robin Benway,

20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke. I didn’t really think gothic was my thing, but I picked this one up on a recommendation from my sister (who is very rarely wrong) and it was great.  Totally creepy and very awesome.

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?
From a quick survey of what I’ve read, it looks like Contemporary was the clear winner this year.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
ADRIAN IVASHKOV.  No question.

23. Best 2013 debut you read?
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell.

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
Neverland in Tiger Lily.  She totally rips down what we’ve all known about Neverland from when we were little and reinvents it for this story. 

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?
Timmy Failure by Stephan Pastis.  It was hysterical.  I think I read every other line out loud to my sister because it was killing me.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?
Tiger Lily made me SOB.  Like, I didn’t think I was going to be okay ever again kind of sobbing.  So good, but so so sad.

27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?
I don’t know, I didn’t really hear much about Cherry Money Baby by John M. Cusick, but I thought that was really good.  I fell off the blogging train a bit this year, so I didn’t really hear a lot of the hype.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black.  It just always feels good to have a Holly Black book I haven’t read waiting in the wings for me. 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?
Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5) by Richelle Mead.  I have to KNOW.

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy and Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano

4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?
The Everneath series.  (Okay, I already read Evertrue, but it technically doesn’t come out until 2014 so I still feel good about this choice.)

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?

Be better.  I fell off the blogging train towards the end of the year, but I really hope to pick myself up and get back on here.  I really enjoy it and it helps me better remember what I’ve read.