12.12.2013

End of Year Book Survey

12.12.2013
best books 2013 end of year survey

Another survey I'm borrowing from the blog Perpetual Page Turner (including her graphics). As this is a baby-fledgling, low-traffic Book Blog (only a year old), some of these questions might be a little tricky for me to answer. But I'll go for it anyway!

Best YA book 2013


1. Best Book You Read In 2013?

It has to be Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell, even though it was the freshest in my memory.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I guess I'll just admit it here - A Tale For The Time Being wasn't what I'd thought it would be. But also The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight (which I didn't finish or review) was a let down.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013? 

The Ocean At The End of The Lane - I'd thought I was DONE with Neil Gaiman, and he surprised me.

 4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

Haha, Fangirl, once again. But also a few of my Catholic books like On Heaven and Earth and Abbess of Andalusia, interestingly.

 5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

Since I've really only started two series' this year, and that was The Parasol Protectorate and Game of Thrones. Both are very good, but very different.

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

Rainbow Rowell

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Abbess of Andalusia, because up until now I'd never been a strong reader of non-fiction OR religious literature.

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

 The Ocean At The End of The Lane

 9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

I don't usually re-read books :/

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

(I couldn't pick)

11. Most memorable character in 2013? 

Oh, yikes! That's not easy. Um... Reagan from Fangirl, because she reminds me of my friend Danielle so much it's scary.

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

I'm sure there were several, but the one that stands out to me was actually Eat, Pray, Love

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013? 
The Alchemist - the timing was just so right, even though I'd been holding on to it for a year before I got around to reading it.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read? 

I'm so happy this is a question, because I've been feeling really sheepish about this until now but I have to answer Eat, Pray, Love again

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?

“Am I crazy?" she asked. "I feel like I am sometimes."
"Maybe," he said, rubbing her forehead. "But don't worry about it. You need to be a little bit crazy. Crazy is the price you pay for having an imagination. It's your superpower. Tapping into the dream. It's a good thing not a bad thing.” 
― Ruth OzekiA Tale for the Time Being

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

 Longest - Clash of Kings (I'm still picking my way through it)
Shortest -  The Ocean At The End of The Lane

 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!

Remember in Game of Thrones when Bran caught Cersei and Jamie and got pushed off the tower? (tiny spoiler)

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

That's not easy, really. None of them really captured me. I supposed Reagan and Cath from Fangirl again, because I swear that's the sort of relationship I have with Danielle

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Again, The Ocean At The End of The Lane

20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Bride's Story!

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?

Probably Religious Non-fiction

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?

Jon Snow from the Game of Thrones books ~swoon~

23. Best 2013 debut you read?

Blue Like Jazz - I think that was a debut

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?

Bride's Story, literally because it's a Graphic Novel

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?

Gosh, The Parasol Protectorate Series is a lot of fun. It's all the usual stuff (romance, super natural, and steampunk) that some people will curl a lip at you for, and normally call it a "guilty pleasure." But it's just a fun, fast, and funny read

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

Even though it fell a little short of my expectations, that's A Tale For The Time Being again. The story of Nao's uncle and grandmother really tug at the heart strings - whoo-whee!

27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?

On Heaven and Earth - even though it was published for the first time in English this year and it's been out for a while. Pope Francis is Man of The Year (and he deserves it) but I think most people will pay attention to what he says as it makes the news than actually try to gain any insight into his mind.

reading-life-2013 

(optional)


1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013? 

Book Riot is really entertaining and interesting

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2013? 

Story of a Soul - it's simple, short, and sweet, but I feel like it's 

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

Not many people actually leave me any comments - LEAVE ME COMMENTS, PEOPLE! I'd love hearing from you guys!

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?

I can't remeber if it was this article or maybe it was this one, but both pertain to about the same thing - and I think it's really interesting (give'em a read!)

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

None really - The Louisiana Book Fair was about a month ago and I was too busy to attend

6. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?

When I figured out I could get ARC's (Advanced Readers Copies) from publishers

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

My review for Soulless - no one really left anything in the comment section, but a few friends did come up to me after they read it to talk about it. So that's P Cool!

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I really wish more people would read more of my reviews. In my old Book Review LiveJournal, I got a lot of love for my book reviews, and I'm totally perplexed as to why no one seems as interested anymore.

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

This summer, when my parents and I visited Arkansas, we found the most delightful bookstore in Eureka Springs, downtown area. I can't recall the name of it, but it contained some books I've never even heard of - and the most splendid children's books collection,,,

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I read 50 books already! 

2014-books


1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?

This goes back to question 14 - I have a huge stock pile of books that I bought when they were popular, which have had movies made of them, and aren't much talked about that I Still haven't yet read. My goal is to read most (if not all) of them.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?

Do you even have to ask? I'm pretty stoked for Landline, Rainbow Rowell's next book!

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Welp. I don't know any...

 4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?

Also, I try not to read many series'...

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

I really, really hope my blog starts to pick up a few more readers. I remember the days of LiveJournal when I had a modest, by loyal followers who really liked what I said about books. It was so long ago, but I hope to reclaim that status.

3 comments:

  1. Sounds like we have a lot in common! I also have a huge pile of books that I own and never seem to get to, and that's one of my goals for 2014. Ocean at the End of the Lane, Game of Thrones, The Alchemist and Rainbow Rowell are all on my to-read-soon list! (P.S. I only know him from the TV show version, but I have a bit of a crush on Jon Snow too!)

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  2. I hope your blog will have lots and lots of visitor In the next year, never give up on blogging. Never give up on loving books

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  3. I can't believe I still haven't read any Rainbow Rowell. I will definitely need to rectify this soon, I have heard only amazing things about all of her books.

    Great answers :) My End of Year Survey.

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