End of the Year Book Survey

Jamie from the Perpetual Page Turner is running an end of year book survey as 2012 which I thought would be a great way to sum up my first year as a Book Blogger.

Best In Books 2012

Best Book You Read In 2012?
Shadows on the Moon by Zoë Marriott

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter, it wasn’t anything like I expected and Alice annoyed me so much.

Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?
Pop! by Catherine Bruton, the blurb doesn’t do this book justice.

Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
Geekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind by Andy Robb

Best series you discovered in 2012?
The Butterfly Novels by Denise Deegan – it’s amazing and wonderful and you will need tissues.

 

Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?
So many…  Luisa Plaja, Keris Stainton, Ruth Warburton, Denise Deegan, etc

Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
The Hunting Ground by Cliff McNish, I hadn’t really read much horror before this 2012 and this was definitely the way to start.

Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard, I don’t actually remember leaving the sofa until the last page done. I must have… *thinks* nope can’t remember.

Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:
Sunshine by Robin McKinley, because I read that at least 3 times every year.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012? Frostfire by Zoë Marriott

Most memorable character in 2012?
Eleanor Fitt from Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard, she rocks!

Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
Shadows on the Moon by Zoë Marriott

Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?
Unhooking the Moon by Gregory Hughes, this is now the book that makes me read others even when I don’t like them because until the final few chapters I really didn’t understand why Unhooking the Moon is so amazing.

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?
Best reply to a Zombie threat goes to Eleanor Fitt from Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard: “And if I ever get my way, I’ll personally feed you to my mother.”

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012?
The Dancing Bear by Michael Morpurgo (68 pages)
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld (480 pages)

EDIT: I got that wrong, it’s actually The Diviners by Libba Bray (592 pages) though if I’m honest Prep felt like the longest book.

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It?
And for Your Information by Denise Deegan (Butterfly Novel #2) pretty much from start to finish.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Yukiko and Burru from Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously
Shadows on the Moon by Zoë Marriott, I am getting a little repetitive but it’s SO GOOD.

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
Book is Geekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind by Andy Robb which Katie from @StorytellersInc ordered me to buy. Best series The Butterfly Novels by Denise Deegan, I asked Twitter and the awesome Luisa Plaja suggested these and I am so glad she did!

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012?
Well everyone’s really because I didn’t pay so much attention before I started my own.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012?
Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff, mainly because of Jay Kristoff’s reaction to my artwork. Which was pretty epic.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
I haven’t really had discussions but my The Pink Thing (reading pink books only and comparing them) was great fun.

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

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
Keris Stainton’s Emma Hearts LA Booklaunch, I had been a blogger for all of 1 week so that was many kinds of epic. Keris invited me following Write Dreams and I got to met loads of other bloggers as well as authors such as Tanya Byrne.

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?
Inviting author’s to interviews and every one of them saying yes! Getting Uncorrected Proofs (aka ARCs) for review, the day The Diviners by Libba Bray showed up on my doorstep weeks before the publication. And of course The Magic Book Box.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Story Telling Magic Box – Part 2 surprisingly enough.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Interview with Denise Deegan, The Butterfly Novels }|{ it did pretty well but I wish more people had seen it so I could convince them to read the books.

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Storytellers Inc I knew the shop was there but only really started going in this year. If they’d let me I’d move in…

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Took part in both the Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge and The British Books Challenge 2012 and exceeded them, so very happy.

LOOKING AHEAD…

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, I can’t believe I still haven’t read it. I love the story.

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?
The Night Itself by Zoë Marriott

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?
Luna’s Little Library only started in May of 2012 and I’ve learned a lot in the last 8 months but I’d love for 2013 to be when I really find my feet, make more blog-friends and get hold of some signed books. I LOVE signed books!

So tell me about your year?