Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2013 End Of The Year Book Survey

best books 2013 end of year survey
 It's time for Jamie's Annual Book Survey. If you'd like to join the fun, check out this post. I stole the graphic at the top from Jamie!

The Books

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)

Graphic Novel- The Arrival by Shaun Tan. A great Readathon read.
YA-My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. I could NOT put this one down. 
Contemporary Fiction- Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. My first Rainbow book. Not my last.
Historical Romance- Forever A Lord by Delilah Marvelle. The third in the Rumor series and my favorite.

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

White Jacket Required by Jenna Weber. I'm a big fan of Jenna's blog, Eat, Run, Live but her book fell flat for me.

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

For years, I have been anti-romance. I wouldn't read a Harlequin Romance or any book that was close to that genre. But I've been reading more historical romances from Harlequin and Avon mostly and been really enjoying them. I see more romance in  my future!

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

Attachments, Eleanor and Park, The Kitchen Counter Cooking School, My Life Next Door, and Love Minus Eighty.

 Best series you discovered in 2013?

The Rumor Series, The Iron Druid Series, and the Leviathan series.

 Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

Rainbow Rowell! 

Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

My Life Next Door. I started it before work one day. Big mistake. I was sneaking reads in all day.

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

Attachments or My Life Next Door.

 Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?


 Most memorable character in 2013? 

 Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

Code Name Verity and Two Boys Kissing. The writing in both broke my heart.

Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013? 

Probably Me Before You. I thought about Will's choices a lot after I was done reading it.

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

I finished both the Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants series and the Scott Pilgrim Series. Both had been on my tbr list for a while. 

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

“There are moments when you can't believe something wonderful is happening. And there are moments when your entire consciousness is filled with knowing absolutely that something wonderful is happening.” 
“You can only actually help someone who wants to be helped.” 

“They say you never know what you would do in a hypothetical situation. We’d all like to think we’d be one of the people who gave up their lifejackets and waved a stoic good-bye from the slanting deck of the titanic, someone who jumped in front of a bullet for a stranger, or turned and raced back up the stairs of one of the towers, in search of someone who needed help rather than our own security. But you just don’t know for sure if, when things fall apart, you’ll think safety first, or if safety will be the last thing on your mind.” 
― Huntley FitzpatrickMy Life Next Door

“We gather the things we learned, and they don't nearly add up to fill the space of a life.
You will miss the taste of Froot Loops.
You will miss the sound of traffic.
You will miss your back against his.
You will miss him stealing the sheets.
Do not ignore these things.” 
― David LevithanTwo Boys Kissing

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
The Shortest: Two Mrs. Gibsons by Toyomi Igus at 32 pages
The Longest: The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly at 675 pages

 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!

I wanted someone else to read Attachments so we could talk about. I convinced my coworker to read it but she took a month to finish it. I probably pestered her once a day about it. I doubt she'll ever read another book I recommend!

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

 Friendship: Beth and Jennifer from Attachments
Romantic: Jamie and Claire from Outlander, Nina and Alex from Anyone But You, Atwood and Imogene from Forever A Lord.

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

Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire. I really enjoy her October Daye series.

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

After reading Paranormal Indulgences rave review of Attachments, I immediately put it on my library queue. I'm so glad I listened to her!

 Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?

Here's a pie chart of my most popular genres:
YA and Graphic Novels continue to be the two genres I read the most. 

Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?

Jase from My Life Next Door and Sutter Keely from The Spectacular Now.

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

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. He builds the best worlds.

 Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

I usually don't cry at books but I teared up at the end of Nine Rules To Break While Romancing A Rake by Sarah McLean. I feel silly saying that but I was really wrapped up in the story.

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

The Spectacular Now and My Life Next Door. I think everyone needs to read both immediately. 

5 comments:

  1. I still can't believe I haven't read anything by Rainbow Rowell yet, but I plan to read Attachments as soon as I can this year! You seemed to love it! :) Hope 2014 brings you many good reads.

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  2. I enjoyed reading your post. My Life Next Store caught my eye awhile ago, then went off my radar. I've added it to my to read list. Happy New Year!

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  3. Rainbow Rowell is all over the place in these end-of-year posts! I'm sure I'll get to reading one of her books (probably Attachments). The Spectacular Now was also a movie this year, right? I think it got good reviews as well.

    Romance is still not a genre I get into often, but I've found a few that I've enjoyed such as Julie James' Something About You.

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  4. I feel the same way about romances. I always brushed them off as something I was sure, wasn't for me. But the more I read them, I really think they can be a fun little escape.

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