The Annual End of Year Book Survey was created by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner.
Number of books I read:
According to Goodreads, I have read 56 books this year.
Number of re-reads:
Two. I re-read 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry and 'The Sign of the Beaver' by Elizabeth George Speare
Genre I read the most from:
I'm not positive which genre I read the most of. I didn't really stick to any specific genres this year. I did read a lot of children's books and book to movie adaptations if those count at all.
1. Best book I read in 2014:
I honestly can't say exactly. It's a tie between the first book I read in 2014 which was 'Cloud Atlas' by David Mitchell and 'Cinder' by Marissa Meyer.
2. A book I was excited about & thought I was going to love more than I actually did:
'Blood and Chocolate' by Annette Curtis Klause.
I watched the movie adaptation years ago and sort of enjoyed it. The book was nothing like the movie and kind of bored me to death! I wonder if I would have enjoyed the movie if I had read the book first.
3. Most surprising book I read (in either a good or bad way):
'Rotters' by Daniel Kraus
I was surprised by the morbid content of this book.
4. Book I pushed people to read:
The only book I think I can count here is 'The Maze Runner' by James Dashner which I pushed my older sister to read at the same time as me.
5. Best series I started:
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Best sequel I read:
The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan
6. Favorite new author I discovered in 2014:
This would probably have to be Marissa Meyer since I read more than one book of hers in 2014, enjoyed both, and can't wait to read more.
7. Best book from a genre I don't typically read:
'The 5 People You Meet In Heaven' by Mitch Albom
I'm not positive what genre this is (contemporary? literary fiction?) but it counts because I read books in those genres less often. It was pretty good, too.
8. Most action packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year:
Hmm. There are a few books that would fit in here (such as 'A Storm of Swords' and 'The Maze Runner') but I didn't read them in one quick sitting or even if a few short sittings. Instead, I'll name one that really fit the bill since I read it pretty quickly: 'The Blood Guard' by Roy Carter.
9. Book I read this year that I will most likely re-read next year:
I probably won't re-read anything from 2014 but there are a few children's books that I want to re-read out loud to my daughter including Harry Potter, Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, etc.
10. Favorite cover of a book I read in 2014:
The book was 'so-so' but I LOVE the cover.
11. Most memorable character of 2014:
Cinder wins.
12. Most beautifully written book I read:
'Between the Spark and the Burn' by April Genevieve Tucholke
I didn't really like the story but the writing was something else. Like being in a dream.
13. Most thought provoking / life changing book I read:
A tie between 'The 5 People You Meet In Heaven' by Mitch Albom and 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens.
14. The book I can't believe I waited til 2014 to read:
'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens.
This is such a beautiful story! I've watched lots of the movie adaptations but this was my first time reading the book.
15. Favorite passage/quote from a book I read in 2014:
“All parents damage their children. It cannot be helped. Youth, like pristine glass, absorbs the prints of its handlers. Some parents smudge, others crack, a few shatter childhoods completely into jagged little pieces, beyond repair.”
- 'The Five People You Meet In Heaven' by Mitch Albom
Shortest: One of the children's books I read. Not sure which.
Longest: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
17. A book that shocked me the most:
Beloved by Toni Morrison
18. OTP of the year:
(One True Pairing)
I honestly don't know how to answer this. It isn't something I pay any attention to.
19. Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year:
Meh. Again, I don't know how to answer this.
20. Favorite book read in 2014 from an author that I've read previously:
'Matilda' by Roald Dahl
21. Best book I read in 2014 that I read based solely on a recommendation from someone else:
The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom
(My mom recommended I read it.)
22. Newest fictional crush from a book I read this year:
I honestly don't care for crushing on fictional characters.
23. Best 2014 debut book I read:
I think that the only one I read was 'The Blood Guard' by Carter Roy
24. Best worldbuilding/most vivid setting I read:
Both 'Cloud Atlas' and 'Cinder' had great worldbuilding and vivid settings.
25. Book that put a smile on my face / was the most fun to read:
'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl
26. A book that made me cry or nearly cry:
I didn't read any books that made me overly emotional.
27. Hidden gem of the year:
'Wilderness: The Lost Writings' by Jim Morrison
I found this book of Morrison's poetry in a thrift store and enjoyed it despite that some of it was really weird and 'whacked out'.
28. A book that crushed my soul:
None of the books I read this year crushed my soul. :(
29. Most unique book I read in 2014:
Probably 'Wilderness: The Lost Writings' by Jim Morrison. It was definitely different.
30. The book that made me most mad (even if I liked it):
'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I just couldn't come to terms with the ending!
1. New favorite book blog I discovered in 2014:
Thanks to Bloglovin, I've followed a ton of new blogs and I keep up with all the latest posts so it's too difficult to choose just one!
2. Favorite review I wrote in 2014:
I really don't like my own reviews! I always think they are lacking! I didn't write very many this year, either.
3. Best discussion/non-review post I had on my blog:
I don't really have discussion posts on my blog but I will attempt to do more in the future!
4. Best event I participated in:
Bout of Books Read-a-thon
(Always my favorite!)
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014:
I just feel like the worst at answering these questions right now! I've been too preoccupied with pregnancy (and having my little one) to remember much of this year!
6. It's missing!
7. Most popular post on my blog this year (either views or comments)
Post with the most comments (a whopping SIXTEEN!) was my Stacking the Shelves #31 post. I'm actually going to start 'We Were Liars' tomorrow!
8. A post that I wish had gotten a little more love:
All of them?!
9. Best bookish discovery:
I'm usually making all sorts of bookish discoveries but like I said previously, I was way too preoccupied this year.
10. The reading goals/challenges I finished that I set for myself this year:
I made a 'Revisiting My Goals for 2014' post that you can check out!
1. One book I didn't get to this year that will be my #1 priority in 2015:
I've got a little list going!
'We Were Liars'
'The Winners Curse'
'Talon' by Julie Kagawa
'Storm Siren'
2. A non-debut book I am most anticipating in 2015:
It's a little difficult to choose just one yet so here is a LIST of one's I'm excited about.
3. A debut book I am most anticipating:
I'm not exactly sure which debut novels are coming out yet.
4. Series ending or sequel I am most anticipating in 2015:
The Black Reckoning (The Books of Beginning #3) by John Stephens
5. One thing I hope to do/accomplish in my reading/blogging life in 2015
Possibly redesign the blog
Participate in a read-a-thon or two
6. A 2015 release that I have already read and recommend:
I haven't read any.
