End of Year Survey - 2011

So I saw this great survey on Alternate Readality and decided to fill it out for myself.  If you would like to join you can head over to 

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?
Gosh thats a hard pick, I loved books from each of the genres so I think I might cheat and pick a couple of different books and honestly how can I narrow the list down after reading so many books this year?!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins & Divergent by Veronica Roth were definitely towards the top of my list, both sucked me right in.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman was probably one of the most beautiful books, I loved the writing style.
Broken Chords Barbara Snow Gilbert was a great YA book this year
Aurelia by Anne Osterlund was a great twist on traditional princess stories, loved it.
Of course Fire by Kristin Cashore will always top my list every year I read it.
Dusty Britches by Marcia Lynn McClure was a great western romance.
Stone Cold Seduction by Jess Macallan was by far my favorite paranormal romance this year!

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

I hate to say it but Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins were real disappointing after reading Hunger Games.  I felt they were rushed and just thrown together without much development or thought.

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

 I generally don't read books unless I know I will enjoy it but I think I have to say the book that I ended up loving far more than I expected was Divergent or Christmas Jars by Jason Wright.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

Oh goodness, another list I have to narrow down! If I Stay was definitely on that list and I of course push for Fire every chance I get!

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

I have to say the Gray Court series by Dana Marie Bell has totally sucked me in, I love the fantasy of it all (not to mention the adult romance bits)

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

This year was such a big year, I was introduced to a number of authors that have become my favorites! Gayle Forman, Larissa Ione, Barbara Samuel, Robin McKinley, Kailin Gow, and  Jess Macallan just to name a few.

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

 I generally don't like SciFi but when it was suggested to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, I gave it a shot.  It was surprisingly good, and didn't talk over my head with the time loops.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

 I really could not put down Divergent! Thankfully I read it on a day when the boss was out of town so I could read it straight through to the end :D

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

 I have to say Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton, I am a huge Anita Blake fan (and Merry Gentry for that matter) and couldn't wait for this next book. It definitely wasn't a disappointment either!

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

 

11. Most memorable character in 2011? 

Probably Katniss from Hunger Games or Four from Divergent

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

Definitely If I Stay and Where She Went, something about the pacing and rhythm.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011? 
Again, probably If I Stay or Christmas Jars, both were emotional books in different ways.

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

Hunger Games and The Notebook, why oh why did I wait so long?!

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

I generally don't note quotes but one that made me laugh hysterically was from Blood of a Maple by Dana Marie Bell -  "Your giving me the choice? I thought macho men made all the safety decisions when it came to the womenfolk. You know, grunt, grunt. Get in house Wo-man. Followed by the inevitable beating of hairy chests."

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

I swear I re-read Fire every year. I will probably also re-read some of Dana Marie Bell's series as the new books come out, and Bitter Frost by Kailin Gow to get ready for the rest of the series.

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!

Again probably Divergent & Hunger Games, they were just that type of book.

 Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2011

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2011? 

They are all new to me this year but some of my favorite stops are Alternate Readality, Badass Book Reviews, Quill Cafe, Sunny Reads, The Write Obsession, and Thoughts at One in the Morning.


2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010? 

Probably the Hunger Games trilogy review, I was kind of without words and didn't really stick to a review structure, but just rambled.
 
3. Best discussion you had on your blog? 

I don't really have too many discussions on my blog, mostly just reviews.

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


I have to say my favorite post has to be from Thoughts at One in the Morning and the author guest post by Liz Reinhardt What My Little Ponies Taught Me About Life.

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

I didn't get out much this year, didn't even make it to the Boston Book Festival but I did start up a Book Club, hasn't been super successful but I have high hopes for 2012.

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2011?

 Um probably winning two giveaways by Badass Book Reviews for Stone Cold Seduction by Jess Macallan and Dangerous Desires by Diane Escalera, I got introduced to two new great authors that I can't wait to read more books.  Isn't that the whole reason for book blogging, to find new books and authors?!

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

 Oddly enough the most popular (viewed) post by far with 71 views was the Bedtime Story featuring The Giving Tree, guess we are all just little kids inside :P

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

 I'm not sure, I just want everyone to enjoy the reviews and join in my love for these books.

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

 Finding out that some of my close friends who I have known for years actually love books! And finding new friends through books.

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

I didn't complete my 2011 Challenge (I blame it on all you book bloggers and bringing new books to my attention HAHAHA), but I did meet my goodreads challenge of 100 books by reading 136!

Looking Ahead...

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

Gosh so many, I am really looking forward to reading the 3rd book in the Gray Court series, Artistic Vision by Dana Marie Bell, Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay, and Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione


2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

 Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore!!! Been waiting for a few years for this one and already have mine on pre-order!!


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

 I would like to meet all of my challenges this year and knock down that giant TBR pile of mine.  I also want to lessen the amount of books I actually purchase by reading the ones I already have waiting.

On my blog, I want to restart my Bedtime Stories and be more consistent with my posting of it. I also want to improve my review posts (I also need to get pictures for my rating system).  Small goals but ones I would like to achieve.

I wanted to add a little bit of my top books and biggest disappointments to this list so here you have it.

My Top Books for  2011

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Stone Cold Seduction by Jess Macallan

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

If I Stay & Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Broken Chords by Barbara Snow Gilbert

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

Dare to Believe & Noble Blood by Dana Marie Bell

My Biggest Disappointment Books of 2011

Knight Moves by Jamaica Layne

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

The A Circuit by Catherine Hapka

Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Wildwing by Emily Whitman

A Knight's Enchantment by Lindsay Townsend

So that's 2011, onward to 2012!