I have a confession - the end of the year surveys hosted by 'The Perpetual Page-Turner' are on my favorite events to participate in the year. No idea why - they are one post only, but maybe it's because it's such fun to recap for the year and share that with you all?
I'm doing it a bit early this year, as is she and others - most of the major votes and stats are in by this time of the year, and Christmas week will only get busier.
Overall I'm happy with my reading for 2014. I read more than my previous four year challenges at Goodreads by a considerable amount - 150+ books (go me.) It surprises me some can read up to 300; I doubt I'll ever be at that point, but I'm hoping with scheduling and such that I'll keep climbing higher next year. I won't review absolutely everything for this site - such as short pieces that only get notes and such, but if interesting, my Goodreads challenge link is here. Unfortunately my 30+ friends comments and likes have disappeared, and Goodreads staff has never offered a solution or even a response on the feedback forum. >:(
So, On to the fun stuff ~
Note: The survey is for books you read
throughout the year, no matter when they were published, and is not
limited to just books that came out in 2014!
Number Of Books You Read:
As of 12/13/2014: 152. Will update on December 31st.
Number of Re-Reads:
3 - An unusually small number for me. Not much for re-reading this year, I guess. Here are the ones I Re-read
Genre You Read The Most From:
Includes Short Stories, Anthologies, and Cross-Overs
Urban Fantasy: 31
Horror: 32
Mystery: 10
Young Adult: 20
Romance: 20
Children: 21
Non-Fiction: 12
Paranormal Romance: 5
Graphic Novels/Superhero Books: 8
I guess the highest number I've read is Horror, which surprises me some. Read a lot more of that than I figured.
Horror: 32
Mystery: 10
Young Adult: 20
Romance: 20
Children: 21
Non-Fiction: 12
Paranormal Romance: 5
Graphic Novels/Superhero Books: 8
I guess the highest number I've read is Horror, which surprises me some. Read a lot more of that than I figured.
1. Best Book You Read In 2014?
Hard to say, and impossible to name just ONE.
Here are my top picks
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?
Bad Way
Unfortunately I was very disappointed with this book. This surprised me.
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?
Sadly, I can't think of any books I strongly recommended that people flocked to read from me alone. I did tell a friend to read the magic breaks series, but that was a buddy read for him with other friends.
5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?
The best series I started in 2014 and finished was the M/M Paranormal Historical romance series, A Charm of Magpies. I started this series in December and devoured it, great stuff. Also The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning.Best sequel of 2014 was definitely Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews. My favorite of the series, it was outrageously excellent.
Best series ender published and read in 2014 was Kim Harrison's The Witch with No Name.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?
Karen Marie Moning - LOVED the Fever Series!
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I rarely read M/M romance, historical romance (been infrequent the past few years), and never have read paranormal historical romance.
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Not sure yet
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?
Impossible to choose just one...
 |
 |
 |
 |
11. Most memorable character of 2014?
Darren Shan from the Cirque Du Freak series, which I finished - rabidly - in 2014. Such an amazing series and my favorite Young Adult series ever.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?
Toss up between:
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?
Toss up between:
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read?
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?
“Perhaps - I want the old days back again and they'll never come
back, and I am haunted by the memory of them and of the world falling
about my ears. ”
― Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
“He suspected that Duane had lived in those lofty realms of
thought, listening to the voices of men long dead rising from books the
way he'd once said he listened to late-night radio shows in his
basement.”
― Dan Simmons, Summer of Night
“There's no need to talk, because the truth of what one says lies in what one does.”
― Bernhard Schlink, The Reader
― Bernhard Schlink, The Reader
“Art is one of the few places where talent and madness can actually go to squirrel away inside each other.”
― Pat Conroy, My Reading Life
― Pat Conroy, My Reading Life
“Will his work survive? Alas, I worry it will not. As an American
liberal with impeccable credentials, I would like to say that political
correctness is going to kill American liberalism if it is not fought to
the death by people like me for the dangers it presents to free speech,
to the exchange of ideas, to openheartedness, or to the spirit of art
itself. Political correctness has a stranglehold on academia, on
feminism, and on the media. It is a form of both madness and bigotry,
and has already silenced the voices of writers like James Dickey across
the land.”
― Pat Conroy, My Reading Life
“But in life we don't usually get to choose the time of our
defining moments. We just have to stand and face them when they come, no
matter what sort of a state we're in.”
― Darren Shan, Sons of Destiny
“You can be free from everything but the consequences of what you do.”
― Isabelle Holland, The Man without a Face
― Isabelle Holland, The Man without a Face
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Longest - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Shortest - Gruesome Grub: Halloween Parties and Recipes
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Darren and his mentor Craipsley
Charles and his teacher/father figure Mr. McLeod
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
From friend Bandit (Mia) and recs on Horror Afficiandos group on Goodreads
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?
Like so many others before me - BARRONS!
23. Best 2014 debut you read?
Unfortunately, I'm not sure if I read any debuts this year.
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
 |
 |
 |
 |
I picked the 'Charm of Magpies' series because I loved the author including the interesting magical talent system in Historical times. Fascinating stuff. Each of the practioners gets their own talents too, beyond cool. Harry Potter - 'nough said. The Fever series is amazing in it's magical construct world with the dark and light fey. I enjoyed the unusual magical system for the City of Bones series.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?
 |
 |
 |
I cried my eyes out for Killers of the Dawn. Wow. And Gone with the wind had several weepy moments for me. Killing Mr. Griffin was surprisingly depressing.
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
This authors' debut seemed to be in 2013. This book debuted in 2014, really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more of the series when it comes out.
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
The ending was appropriate in some ways, others not. This excellent series was an emotional roller-coaster.
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
A death and misunderstanding angered me at the end.
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014?
So appreciate she honored me with a Liebster award
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014?
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.)?
Kim Harrison's signing of The Witch With No Name in October at Barnes N' Nobles in Tampa, FL
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?
The above, definitely. Meeting Kim Harrison was awesome!
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
I've thought about it, but I'm really not sure.
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
The new bookstore I found that I loved was the Books-a-Million in Tampa for the book signing with Kim Harrison. Found a great deal on Edgar Allan Poe stuff, and they had a great children's section.
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Yes, completed by personal goal of reading over 100 books a year
Completed my of my challenges for the 2014 challenges page
I had fun participating in the RIP Challenge again this year
It was nice to discover the feature 'Life of a Blogger'
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?
None known at this time
3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
None known at this time
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?
The next book in Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels' series
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?
Definitely be more consistent with blogging, I was terrible this year!
6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
None that I know of, haven't read ARC's for a few months.
