2011 End of Year Survey!

Hosted by Jaime @ Perpetual Page Turner!

Inspired by Ginger @ GReads!

1. Best Book You Read In 2011? 

Anna and the French Kiss -- Honestly?? One of my favorite reads EVER.  (Although this was a tough question - I read so many great books this year, that I'm not sure how I was missing them.)

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

Room. I wanted to love it. Everyone I know went on and on about what a wonderful book it is. But - eh. If I hadn't been reading for a book club, it would have been a DNF. And I hate to not finish books.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

This is a toss up between The Hunger Games and Across the Universe.  I didn't expect to love Dystopian (which is now one of my favorite Genre's) and I HATE(d) Sci-Fi of any variety. Yet The Hunger Games turned me onto Dystopian, which I can't get enough of. Across the Universe? I could NOT put it down.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

Anna and the French Kiss for sure! I gave away a dozen copies of it to friends and families since July. Also, Divergent. I made my book club read it. I gave it to friends. I couldn't get enough of it.

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

A toss between Vampire Academy and Jessica Darling! (I just finished VA, and hope to finish JD in January...)

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

Since I apparently have been living under a rock, this is a long list. Megan McCafferty, Richelle Mead, Stephanie Perkins, Beth Revis and about a dozen other fabulous YA authors.


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

YA/Dystopian. I didn't read much YA before - aside from the "Big Ones" - Harry Potter and Twilight - but now? It's all I read, with a few exceptions thrown in.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - hands down. I started when I put my three year old down at 8pm, and I finished just as I was getting her breakfast at about 9am! (I think I dozed for a short bit in there.)

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?


Lola and the Boy Next Door!!!!

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

11. Most memorable character in 2011? 

Eddie Dean from Stephen Kings Dark Tower Series.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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

Shine by Lauren Myracle and Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott. Both effected me on an incredibly emotional level.

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

The Vampire Academy - in a whole. (Although really, there are so many...)



15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011? 


From Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower IV - Stephen King)
 

Roland looked up and saw Susan sitting in her window, a bright vision in the gray light of that fall morning. His heart leaped up and although he didn't know it then, it was how he would remember her most clearly forever after - lovely Susan,, the girl at the window. So do we pass the ghosts that haunt us later in our lives; they sit undramatically by the roadside like poor beggars, and we see them only from the corners of our eyes, if we see them at all. The idea that they have been waiting there for us rarely if ever crosses our minds. Yet they do wait, and when we have passed, they gather up their bundles of memory and fall in behind, treading in our footsteps and catching up, little by little.

16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012? 

 I think Anna and the French Kiss will be a re-read, just before Isla comes out!

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!

Mara Dyer!! I am still angry that not many IRL friends/family have read it, so I can gush, scream, throw things...

 Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2011 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2011? 

Since I just discovered book blogs in 2011? All of them. *lol*  (I'm not going to call any one out specifically, but I have about 12 that I hit EVERY DAY and try to comment on EVERY DAY.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010? 

Divergent by Veronica Roth :: I feel like this is the review where I finally found my groove with reviewing. Like I finally have figured out how to write them so that they work for me.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog? 

Sadly, I can't really answer this question... But I already have a few discussion related posts planned for 2012!!

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

Reading Vacation (Melina) is wise beyond her years and it really shows with her post (here) on Sexy Times in YA! She does such a great job of reminding us all what truly young adult readers are wanting! (Keeps it in a bit of perspective really.)

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

Sadly? I must leave this answer blank -- I intend on finding a bookish event (or two or five) in 2012!

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2011?

As cheesy as it sounds? Getting to know other bloggers on twitter, having total fan girl moments. Just learning the ins and outs of blogging. I am ready to have a stellar year in 2012!


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

This TGIF / Follow Friday was my most popular (160 views) my review of Shine by Lauren Myracle was close behind with 132 vies.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

 Realistically? I'm thrilled that ANYONE comes to my blog - so I'm happy for any love at all! (Ask again next year ;) )

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

Book Blogs. Seriously. I had no idea there was a whole community out there with book nerds like myself.

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

I set a personal goal this year, to read 80 books. (I read 62 last year.) I've blown past that - I'm over 120 for 2011, although I'm not sure yet what my total will be. (I am hoping to finish 3 more books "this year".)

Looking Ahead...


1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?

Umm... I just glanced at my stack of books, and I really REALLY want to kick off 2012 with Daughter of Smoke and Bone, as well as The rest of the Mercy Fall's trilogy.


2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

 ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!! Although I am approaching it with hesitation since it is the FINAL companion to Anna and the French Kiss.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2012?

 Reading -- I hope to up my number of books read. I'm thinking I'll aim for 130 next year. I already read pretty diversely; so I don't have any real goals in that matter.

Blogging --I want to continue to grow my blog. I want to have at least one "discussion post" per month, and I'd love to be consistently getting comments on reviews by the end of 2012.

Top Ten Books of 2011

The Top Ten Books (I read) in 2011

*These were not all NEW books in 2011, just new to me.
**In no particular order

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth.
Why? Why not! Tris is a fabulous heroine, the world that Veronica Roth built sucks you in. And who has read this that has not spent time trying to figure out which sector they belong to?? (My Review.)

2.Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.
Why? Stephanie Perkins writes in a way that I feel like I am right there in the middle of the book. Like the characters are life long friends, and the places are all places I've been (despite having never been to France.) And Etienne? *Swoon* (My Review.)

3. Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, #5) by Stephen King. (Actually - the Dark tower Series)
Why? I love Stephen King. I spent three months in the Dark Tower Series, and I cannot even begin to explain how deeply I became committed to the characters. To me; this was my favorite of the series.  (My Review)

4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.
Why? This book was magical in a way I cannot begin to explain. It sucked me in and wouldn't let me walk away until I was finished. (And then had me running to the store for a red scarf immediately after!) If you haven't read this one, you must! I can't even begine to explain why. (My Review)

5. The Future of Us by Jay Asher, Carolyn Mackler.
Why? Because it's the first YA book aimed so closely at my generation. I was similar in age to Emma and Josh, so I felt like I was living there. It also made me nostalgic - not just for 90's products and bands, but for my own "Josh". (My Review)

6. Only Mine by Susan Mallery.
Why? Not only do I ADORE Fool's Gold, and this was my favorite couple so far! But also, this was the book that introduced me to book blogging. Susan Mallery RT'd Jess' (Gone with the Words) review and I was addicted!  (My Review)
(

7. Touch by Jus Accardo.
Why? I could not put this book down. I loved it. I loved the idea of Denazen, I love Deznee and Kale, both together and apart. I finished it and immediately looked up when I could get my hands on the next book. (Unfortunately? Not until May...)  (My Review.)

8. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Why? While I read this one way back in January - pre blogging days - it inspired me to read and read and read this year. I'd always been a reader, but I read the series in a weekend and couldn't stop reading after that. It even got my husband reading!   (No review written.)

9.  Across the Universe by Beth Revis. 
Why? Because I am not a fan of Sci-Fi. Never. No Way. No How. But this book? Read it in one sitting. Could not stop, needed more. Still need more.  (Review to be posted next week.) 

10.  The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin .
Why? Again - Why Not?? This story, the characters, the mystery and the twist? Wow. Just. Wow. Go. Read. Now. (Go. Re-read. Now.) (My Review)