I wasn’t going to do ANOTHER end of year post. But then Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner posted her latest end of year survey and then Nicole (my real life friend) at The Book Bandit also posted a riff on that survey and then I decided it would be fun to play along.
(All questions and pretty images were created by Jamie so obviously if you too use them she should be credited and linked too!)
Without further ado here is my 2013 End of Year Survey:
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)
Okay so the short version is check out my 13 for 2013 list. My favorite is hard to pick but right this second I’d be okay going on the record with In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin which got me through maybe the hardest time ever this year.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
There were a lot of disappointments but the the one that stings the most is definitely The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney. I had such hopes! Oh and can we talk again about Stephen in The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson?
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
Probably Pivot Point by Kasie West. I went into this one with no expectations only to end up really, really impressed and it’s a solid favorite now. This one was even more surprising because I almost wrote it off without giving it a try.
4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
I’d say easily Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein followed closely by The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton and The Archived by Victoria Schwab.
5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
Can a duet count as a series? If so: The Archived by Victoria Schwab. If not, Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
Alethea Kontis or Tessa Gratton. I read them both for the first time this year and wow!
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Hmm. I don’t have a lot that isn’t comfort zone because if I don’t like something I don’t stick with it. But perhaps The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. I don’t read a lot of alien books (and I like even fewer) but this one was fantastic!
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
See my answer to number 7. Also: Proxy by Alex London. Literally never knew where it was headed.
9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
I . . . I don’t actually re-read books. *hides* There just isn’t enough time.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
11. Most memorable character in 2013?
Hmmm. I’d say any or all of the characters from Never Fade by Alex Bracken followed closely by the casts of Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff and the cast of Vicious by V. E. Schwab.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
Tough one and could have many answers but let’s say The Midnight Dress by Karen Foxlee.
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
I mean you probably know already if you read regularly but In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin. I won’t say it saved my life but it was exactly what I needed while I waded through the scary week before Mom’s surgery. I love Anya and her trilogy.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
Ha. I read so few backlist titles this year that it’s hard to answer this question. Like I literally might have read a whopping three non-debut/2013 pub books. Is that even possible? Of that huge pool I would say Geography Club by Brent Hartinger which has really become an iconic part of the YA landscape. And I even interviewed Brent about the series!
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?
From In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin:
“We are where we are.”
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Much like Jamie I used goodreads to check this.
Longest: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken at 512 pages.
Shortest (not counting picture books I read obvs): Cloaked in Red by Vivian Vande Velde at 127 pages.
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!
Um practically all of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey! So many twists! I can’t say too much but also Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst.
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
June and Day from Champion. They make each other better. Friends: Maddie and Verity in Code Name Verity. Is there are better friendship anywhere?! *sobs*
20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
Pivot Point by Kasie West. I wasn’t even going to read it but then Andi started raving about it and I gave it a second look.
21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?
Probably YA Fantasy. It’s always YA fantasy!
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
I feel weird saying Victor from Vicious but he’s my new favorite sociopath. And of course Beast from Dark Triumph. In terms of a crush that isn’t terrifying: Finn from All Our Yesterdays.
23. Best 2013 debut you read?
Oh man. So many choices. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrell or Pivot Point by Kasie West.
24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton or How to Love by Katie Cotugno.
25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?
Vicious by V. E. Schwab and All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrell, or one that I’m saving for my 2014 posts The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski. I loved watching them come together.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. “Kiss me, Hardy! Kiss me quick!” *sobs uncontrollably*
27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?
In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin is the conclusion to a series but it came one the scene pretty quietly. Also wish The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni got more play.
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013?
I made a lot of new blogging friends this year! Kayla at The Thousand Lives, Andi at Andi’s ABCs and Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner (she doesn’t know we’re friends yet, shhh). And of course friends I already had like Nicole at the Book Bandit and Cecelia at The Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia continued to be awesome.
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2013?
Also tough because I liked a lot of my posts this year BUT let’s pick two I haven’t mentioned yet: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black and The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando
3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
Not a lot of discussions happen here but I liked when blogging buddies came and commented on any of my posts. Anyone Could be a Manic Pixie Dream Girl also generated a small discussion.
4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?
I enjoyed Liz Burns’ review of The Infinite Moment of Us. It was interesting seeing her very different take on the book.
6. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?
Oh god. I’m so spoiled so there are a lot but can we talk again about how I’m twitter friends with RACHEL HARTMAN AND ELIZABETH WEIN? I mean, what?!?!
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Oddly I think it might be one of my non-book posts: Anyone Could be a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
None specifically. But I do wish more people commented here. I like talking to people :)
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Playing around with Bookcrossing has been fun.
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I met my Goodreads goal of 175 books!
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?
I want to prioritize back list titles in my house in general because I have too many (shocking I know). But right out the gate priorities include Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood, The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding, and Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein.
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?
All the books! One that I get more and more excited about is The Strange Maid by Tessa Gratton.
3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
I’m not sure! But you know I’ll find something soon.
4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?
The One by Kiera Cass and the second Seraphina book from Rachel Hartman. Oh and Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers if it is still coming out next year. Dates change and all that.
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?
Back list, back list, back list. I’m a little embarrassed that almost all the books I read this year were published this year. I want to clean out my shelves reading some older titles and be more well-rounded. I have committee work coming up with YALSA that might help with that too. Basically the name of the game is reading what I already have, managing my to read shelves (yeah . . . shelves . . . sigh) and try to not acquire a bazillion books. The key is deciding the difference between things I WILL read in the near future and things I MIGHT read. Which is hard.
Otherwise I’d just like to continue blogging regularly and having fun!
Miss Print 