I know it's actually already the new year so I'm a little late on this but at least I'm getting it done on the second day of the new year instead of right before the second day of 2016 because that's really more my style. Procrastinators Unite, right??
2014 Reading Stats
Number Of Books You Read:
I honestly have no idea because I started this blog late in the year and I didn't keep up with how many books I read throughout the year. I read fast depending on the book and I'm usually always reading something so I'm going to say between 150-200. I feel like that's a fair estimate.
Number of Re-Reads:
None! I'm not much of a re-reader. I have such a short attention span and such a long TBR list that I don't even get a chance to think about re-reading something. Although, I HAVE been thinking about re-reading the Harry Potter series. Maybe a 2015 resolution?
Genre You Read The Most From:
Um......I would say Chick-Lit/Romance. I'm not a very romantic person in my every day life. I actually think most "romantic" things are pretty cheesy but there is just something about a good sappy romance that does it for me.
Best in Books
1. Best Book You Read In 2014?
I have to pick just one? No...sorry. I can do a Top 5, though. Well,....Top 6...in no particular order because they were all pretty great.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
- The Divorce Papers - Susan Rieger. I was excited about the concept of this book but it really fell flat and ended up being super boring. I felt like I was back at my old court clerk job. Ugh.
- Is It Still Murder Even If She Was A Bitch? - Robin Leeman Donovan. I still giggle when I read the title of this book. And honestly, some people may really, really enjoy this book but I got halfway through it and decided I didn't like the characters. And I can't even tell you why. It was just one of those things were I was reading it and then it was kind of like "meh".
- We're All Mad Here - Leigh Raines. This book.....I was REALLY disappointed in this book. From the synopsis, I thought I would really enjoy it. Especially considering the fact that I suffer from my own mental illness issues. All this book did was piss me off. The main character whines about every little thing in her life that doesn't go her way but refuses to take responsibility for her actions. Everything that happens to her is someone else's fault and the mental illness becomes a crutch and an excuse for poor behavior. I just....ugh. No. Just no.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?
The Murder of Adam and Eve - William Dietrich.
I've been trying to push myself into reading different genres and exploring what's out there in book land. I was apprehensive about reading this book but it turned out to be amazing. There were some parts that I did feel were kind of stretched out longer than they probably should have been but other than that, this was a great read. Loved this book!
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?
I'm not a book pusher. I recommended a few books to my mom and of course I reviewed books here on my blog but other than that, nothing. I don't like it when people push books on me so I try not to do it myself.
5. Best series you started in 2014?
KB Nelson's Faithless: A Tainted Love Serial is probably my favorite series this year. I didn't read that many books in a series this year. I really enjoy stand-alones more because of my attention span but this series is so good! I just received the third installment so I will be doing a review of all 3 here on the blog soon.
Best Sequel of 2014?
Best Series Ender of 2014?
I didn't finish a series in 2014.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?
I can't pick just one so I'll give you my top 4. In no particular order.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
The Murder of Adam and Eve - William Dietrich
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
The Demeter Code - Russell Brooks
9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Please refer back to that re-read question at the beginning of this survey.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?
11. Most memorable character of 2014?
Lucas Oliver from Me Tarzan - You Jane. He's incredibly sexy and funny and he reminds me so much of my incredibly sexy, funny husband :)
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?
Walking On Trampolines - Frances Whiting. This book made me have the Ugly Kardashian cries. For reals. It got me right in the feels.
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?
Walking On Trampolines. It really brought into perspective how important it is to forgive yourself and to not take advantage of the relationships in your life.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read?
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?
"I have my share of mistakes, done a lot of things I'm not proud of, but I kept beating myself up for causing you all the hurt when all you've always done was to be by my side, accept me the way I was with good and bad, seeing me for who I was and not giving up on me." - Lucas Oliver, Me Tarzan - You Jane
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2014?
Longest: The Demeter Code - 442 pages
Shortest: Faithless #1 - 69 pages
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
Gone Girl is the one that really got me. I was definitely not expecting that book to end the way it did. I spent the next two days thinking about it.
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Jane and Lucas from Me Tarzan - You Jane
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Claire and Miranda in For Real
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Hmmm.....
21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
Gone Girl
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?
Lucas Oliver from Me Tarzan - You Jane
23. Best 2014 debut you read?
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
The Demeter Code. Russell Brooks wrote the settings for that book so well that I felt like I was right in the middle of the action.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
This book made me nostalgic about the awkwardness of high school and trying to find your own identity and someone who likes being around you enough to maybe eventually love you.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?
Walking On Trampolines and Me Tarzan - You Jane. Walking On Trampolines was written so beautifully and the characters were written in such a way that you can't help but fall in love with them and then some of the characters die. And I just couldn't handle it. I mean I was snotting on myself I cried so hard. Me Tarzan - You Jane felt like someone had taken pieces of my life and reworked them to create a story. The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking "this is my life" (minus the fabulous trip to Paris, of course) and it reminded me of how much it hurts to lose someone you love in a tragedy and of how incredibly fortunate I am to have found someone like my husband who helped me pick up all the pieces and get my life back on track. I mean it when I say I ugly cried.
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Walking On Trampolines.
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?
The Murder of Adam and Eve. Who would have thought about killing off Adam and Eve?
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Gone Girl. I get the ending. I understand why Gillian Flynn wrote it the way she did but still....I even threw the book across the room. I just couldn't....
My Blogging/Bookish Life
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014?
In no particular order, a few of my favorites
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014?
Me Tarzan - You Jane because I made such a personal emotional connection with that book.3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
I didn't really do much but I did participate in Parajunkee's Feature and Follow Blog Hop once. It was fun. I just keep forgetting to do it again.
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?
Having authors that I really liked not only acknowledge me on social media but actually LIKE my reviews of their work. And become my friend on social media. I got a little star struck, I think.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Book Blitz: New Beginnings There's a giveaway there for a gift card so of course it was popular :)
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Excerpt 3: The Body Caches this or the other two excerpts I posted. I'm working hard on this story that I eventually want to publish and I would love some feedback on the writing, characters, etc.
9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
NaNoWriMo, NetGalley, & Edeweiss. I feel like all of those are self-explanatory. Oh my geez!
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I won NaNoWriMo is less than 20 days. I didn't have any reading goals this year.
Looking Ahead
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?
I read an excerpt a few weeks ago and I haven't been able to get it off my mind. I have to read this book and I'm pretty sure it will be the next one I read.
2. Books You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?
3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?
I really want to get my NetGalley percentage up and my Edelweiss list cleaned up. I'd also like to make some blogging friends and stop being such a shy creeper on other blogs.
6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
