End of the Year Survey 2013

Happy New Year, everyone!

Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner is hosting this exciting survey for the fourth time, and although I didn't read as many books as I'd hoped in 2013, I had lots of fun filling out the survey.

Best in Books 2013

1. Best book you read in 2013?
Strangely enough there wasn't one particular book that stood out above the others (I gave 17 books 4 stars on Goodreads but none got 5). If I have to pick one of the 4-star books, I'll say The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke.

2. Book you were excited about and thought you'd love more but didn't?
The Orphanage of Miracles by Amy Neftzger. It sounded really exciting and it started out great, but somewhere along the line it sort of lost the pace and I started to get bored. The ending didn't satisfy me at all.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter. I wasn't sure if this series was anything for me, but I ended up really enjoying it.

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people the most?
The Lord of the Rings. You should read it.

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
The Judd Bell & Corey Purchase series by Steve Worland. I love a good thriller and these books are full of action, excitement and humour.

6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2013?
Diana Wynne Jones. I can't believe I've never read her before.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Outlaw Trail by Brian Fox. I like watching westerns, both films and TV shows, but I don't think I've ever read a book from the genre before. It probably helped that this book is based on the TV series Alias Smith and Jones, which is one of my faves.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
Velocity by Steve Worland. Non-stop action.

9. Book you read in 2013 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
I don't usually re-read books until a few years ahve passed, but I think I'll re-read The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes before the next book in the series comes out.

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2013?

11. Most memorable character in 2013?
Every character from The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes. They're all intriguing and colourful and unique in their own way. Amazing ensemble.

12. Most beautifully written book you read in 2013?
The Lord of the Rings.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I saw a lot of myself in the main character, which felt good and sad at the same time.

14. Book you can't believe you waited until 2013 to read?
No one special, really.

15. Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2013?
This is quite random, because I never remember to write down quotes.

"Miracles are tougher than you think. It's only our belief in them that's fragile."
The Orphanage of Miracles by Amy Neftzger

16. Shortest and longest book you read in 2013?
Shortest: White Collar Christmas by Misty Evans (9 pages) (Does it even count?)
Longest: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (1095 pages)

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.) Be careful of spoilers!
There's a plot twist in The Sacred Sword by Scott Mariani that I absolutely hate and made me want to scream.

18. Favourite relationship from a book you read in 2013 (be it romantic, friendship etc.)?
Atticus O'Sullivan and Oberon the Irish Wolfhound from Hammered by Kevin Hearne.

19. Favourite book you read in 2013 from an author you've read previously?
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen.

20. Best book you read in 2013 based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?
Not a direct recommendation, but I'd heard so many good things about the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter around the blogosphere.

21. Genre you read the most from in 2013?
Fantasy (8 books)

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
I think I'll have to say Corey Purchase (Velocity & Combustion by Steve Worland), the charming Australian who can talk to his dog.

23. Best 2013 debut you read?
Actually I don't think I read any debuts in 2013.

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
The dark and mysterious Venice in The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke.

25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2013?
Either Velocity by Steve Worland or The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes.

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2013?
None, I think. I'm so often sad or depressed in real life so I tend to avoid sad books.

27. Book you read in 2013 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?
I don't know how most of these were received, but I definitely think more people should read The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes. It's a brilliant heist story in the fantasy genre with memorable characters.

Looking Ahead...

1. One book you didn't get to in 2013 but will be your number 1 priority in 2014?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I've been meaning to finish the series for years but kept putting it off. I finally started it on New Year's Day. Only problem is, it's so good that now I don't want it to end! I also want to read Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch. It's about time I find out what Locke and Jean are up to!

2. Book you are most anticipating for 2014 (non-debut)?
The sequel to The Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher.

3. 2014 debut you are most anticipating?
I haven't had a chance to look into this year's debuts, so I don't know yet.

4. Series ending you are most anticipating in 2014?
Tbh I don't know if any of my series are ending this year!

5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2014?
I simply want to read more than I did last year and also try to get my blog going again with more frequent reviews and other posts.

So that was my 2013! What were your favourite books from 2013?

End of Year Book Survey

This awesome survey is hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner.

I had a few ups and down last year when it came to reading and blogging, but I reached my overall goal of 40 books, which is the most I've read since I started keeping track in 2005. I could have made it to 45 if it hadn't been for a reading slump over the summer, but I did read some great books so I'm very happy with 2011 bookwise.

1. Best book you read in 2011?
Hmm... I reread a few old favourites, but if I'm not counting them then it's A Scottish Ferry Tale by Nancy Volkers. It's a heart-warming love story with a beautiful setting and I didn't want it to end. And I obviously can't answer this question without mentioning The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale by Christine Bell. Technically it's a novella, but I had so much fun reading it that I simply have to include it.

2. Most disappointing book / Book you wish you loved more than you did?
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. It sounded like a lot of fun and adventure, and while it certainly wasn't boring, I just felt, well, way too old for it.

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

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn. There was a lot of buzz about this book when it was published and to be honest I didn't think it would be my cup of tea, being a teenage romance and all. But I ended up loving it so much I sat up reading until 3 in the morning because I didn't want to put it down.

4. Book you recommended most to people in 2011?
The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale. I just want everyone to read it. :)

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?
The Bloody Jack series by L.A, Meyer. The first book was chock-full of adventures on the high seas, and I can't wait to read more books from this series.

6. Favourite new authors you discovered in 2011?
Sarah Addison Allen, Lawrence Block and Nancy Volkers.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis. Not sure what to call this genre - supernatural crime, maybe? Anyway, it was a new experience for me, but one I really enjoyed.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?
I have to say The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, even though it was a reread. I guess it's a testament to the author when the book is just as good (maybe even better) the second time around.

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?
The Devil Colony by James Rollins (number 7 in the Sigma Force series).

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

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. It's blue and shiny and whimsical and I love it.

11. Most memorable character in 2011?
A few spring to mind: The afore-mentioned Stormy Gale and Locke Lamora, and Keiro from Sapphique by Catherine Fisher.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?
A Scottish Ferry Tale certainly created beautiful images in my mind.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?
Again, A Scottish Ferry Tale. I related quite strongly to the main character and the book lingered for days after I had finished it. I still wish I could go to Scotland and find my own little ferry tale.

14. Book you can't believe you waited until 2011 to finally read?
Sapphique by Catherine Fisher. I should have read this sequel to Incarceron the minute I had finished the first book, while the story was still fresh in my mind.

15. Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2011?

From A Scottish Ferry Tale:
"Here's what I think," she said. "You love him. The two of you are amazing together. And that scares you. You are sure that because it's so good, something will go wrong, and instead of enjoying it, you're on guard, waiting for the bad thing to happen."

16. Book that you read in 2011 that you would be most likely to reread in 2012?
The Christmas Scrapbook by Philip Gulley. I love the Harmony series and I think this one will be a Christmas tradition just like Christmas in Harmony.

17. Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it?
Frequently during Dash & Lily's Book of Dares!

And that was my 2011. Here's to 2012!