Very Long Post Ahead. Here it is - that time again. This End of the Year Survey hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner has remained a favorite of mine to look forward to every year. It's enjoyable to reflect back on the past twelves month and what I've read, picking out my favorites, the quirks, the hit or miss moments. If you're curious on my answers from previous months, check out 2012, 2013 and 2014.
2015 has been an excellent year with reading.
I've passed my goal on Goodreads, for the first time setting it at 150 instead of 100, am satisfied with most challenges on this website, joined challenges on Goodreads groups for the first time since 2009, and had fun while doing it. For the first time, I participated in buddy reads and am now addicted to them. These social connections have enhanced my enjoyment of books, which could never be a bad thing.
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 2015
2015 Reading Stats
Number of Books Read
180Number of Re-Reads
23
Most Read Genre
Urban Fantasy
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EXTRAS I TRACK AND ADDED TO THIS SURVEY:
- Yearly Challenges Participated In: 19 on the website
- Read-a-thons Participated In: Six
- New Books Acquired: 213
- Current Count Now for Physically Owned Books: 2, 538
- Current Count Now for Books To-Be-Read (Including Borrowed and E-books): 2,055
Best In Books
Best Book You Read in 2015
I can never, ever name just one. I read several five stars this year - I'm not including re-reads for this one
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Book you were excited about and thought you'd love more but didn't?
CRY WOLF has been recommended to me for ages, especially since I enjoy the Mercy Thompson series so much. So many even say it's superior and the better series. Wow, was I in for a negative surprise when I ordered this one in November and crawled through the book. Pure paranormal romance without spice or spark. Mercy Thompson is more UF, which I enjoy more, but even I love some PR if they're done right. I couldn't connect to to heroine, who I found average, nor the hero - who I found dull. The side characters interested me more, but I was irritated at the end with what happened to one of them. The relationship was pre-existing, grrr, and there was no spark in the bedroom. The buildup was quick and over way too fast for my liking. Clearly everyone is different and I respect others thoughts....but this one definitely wins for me in this category of high hype but low delivery.Runner-Up: Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and Kingdom Come novelization
Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book you read in 2015?
When I was a teenager and attempting it the first time, I was so turned off by the dialogue heavy text that I didn't even make it halfway through. For years I have listed this book as a least favorite King offering, while high praising the movie at every turn. On a trip to San Francisco, I dug into this one for a re-read and was blown away. The book was gripping, intense, powerfully character driven, and absolutely outstanding. Shows how first impressions aren't always the right ones.
A book you "pushed" the most people to read in 2015?
I listed it as a write-in for the Goodreads Choice Awards as Young Adult.
I also recommended it on lists and to people online.
I was sent this as an ARC from Penguin. They have a winner here with the twists that remind me of some of Christopher Pike's best work, the edgy writing style, and completely dimensional characters. Highly recommended!
Review here.
Best series you started in 2015?
- Deadtown - this series looks like it will be a lot of fun!
- A lot of the series I read in 2015 were not new to me this year. I have high hopes for K.J. Charles' new M/M romance trilogy, Society of Gentlemen; the first book was good and released during the summer. The second book will already be released in December 2015 (can't wait), with the third and final being mid-2016.
- For children and YA level, I was impressed by Lord Loss by Darren Shan, although the series hasn't grabbed me yet as strongly as the Cirque Du Freak Series.
- I'm digging Lawrence Block's unusual cozy mystery series that has been around awhile but that I've just started, about a cat burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr.
- I started the Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child Pendergast series this year - also have high hopes for it, the first two books were great.
- I read the first book in the Song of Ice and Fire Series - Game of Thrones was well-written and intriguing.
Best sequel in 2015?
The second book in the December People Series by author Sharon Bayliss was even better than the first, as epic as that one already was. I can't wait for the third, which is set to be released near the end of 2016. Bring it on!My Review of Watch Me Burn
My Review of the first, Destruction
Best series ender in 2015?
Although not a perfect book, I'd say City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. A solid 4 stars. Review here.
Favorite new author in 2015?
I enjoyed Paula Hawkin's The Girl on The Train and look forward to more of her work. Her writing style was surreal, balanced, and unforgettable.
Best book from a genre typically out of your comfort zone?
Most..action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
A toss up between The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and Housebroken by The Behrg.
Book you read in 2015 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
There was some hefty steam in Rob Colton's The Timber Pack Chronicles that needs revisiting. Otherwise I usually will not re-read a book the year after I've read it, it's too fresh in the mind, although sometimes the mood strikes and makes an exception.
Favorite Book Cover of a book you read in 2015?
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Most Memorial Character of 2015?
- Yikes, a tough one. I'm going to go with Augustus McRae from Lonesome Dove.
- Pendergast from the Pendergast series was also a delight to read about, quirky and strange, in the Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child series.
Most beautifully written book read in 2015?
In terms of prose writing, I'll pick The Camelot Shadow by Sean Gibson (adult fantasy) and The Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano (children's fantasy). Also have to throw in Fevre Dream and Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.
Most life-changing/thought provoking book read in 2015?
The Grapes of Wrath, as a depressing and sobering piece, made me more mindful to a section of American history I previously thought little about.
Book you can't believe you waited till 2015 to finally read?
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson - people have been talking about this book for years, and I owned it before 2015. Why I procrastinated, who knows?
Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2015?
“The best fantasy is written in the language of dreams. It is alive as dreams are alive, more real than real ... for a moment at least ... that long magic moment before we wake.
Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli. Reality is plywood and plastic, done up in mud brown and olive drab. Fantasy tastes of habaneros and honey, cinnamon and cloves, rare red meat and wines as sweet as summer. Reality is beans and tofu, and ashes at the end. Reality is the strip malls of Burbank, the smokestacks of Cleveland, a parking garage in Newark. Fantasy is the towers of Minas Tirith, the ancient stones of Gormenghast, the halls of Camelot. Fantasy flies on the wings of Icarus, reality on Southwest Airlines. Why do our dreams become so much smaller when they finally come true?
We read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang. There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La.
They can keep their heaven. When I die, I'd sooner go to middle Earth.”
― George R.R. Martin
Shortest and longest book you read in 2015
Shortest - You're Amazing by Mary-Anne Victoria Rabe
Longest - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Book that shocked you the most
I don't know about shocking - I'm going to go with "surprised" in a heartfelt way with Everybody Loved Roger Harden by Cecil Murphey. The ending was beautiful.
OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship)
- I loved, loved, loved the M/M couple Archie and Daniel in Think of England. Definitely my favorite pairing this year, and one of my top favorite romance books.
- Also, re-reading the Kate Daniels and Downside Ghost series, I was reminded how much I love Kate and Curran together, and how naturally Terrible and Chess fit.
Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year
- The friendship between Call and Gus in Lonesome Dove. Complex, heartfelt, long-term.
- I also love the weird and psychologically twisted relationship between Dr Lecter and Clarice when I read the Hannibal series this year.
Best book read in 2015 that you read solely from recommendation/peer pressure
Group reads of The Child Thief by Brom, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and Horns by Joe Hill.
Newest Fictional Crush you've developed in 2015
Bones from the Cat and Bones SeriesBest 2015 Debut you've read
To repeat an answer above, Still Waters by Ash Parsons
Best world building/most vivid setting you've read this year
I'd have to say Steelheart in the Reckoners Series. I love the thought of the superpowered beings, where it's realistic they were corrupted and took control of towns, and how the system is being challenged by everyday rebels banding together to fight for fairness against all the obstacles in their path. There being some superpowered beings that are stronger than others and that act as leaders also makes sense.
Book that put a smile on your face/the most fun to read?
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Big Shoes is the fourth book in the comedy crime series with Austin Carr. I love every book that comes out in this unique series.
The Long Halloween brought a smile to my face for comic fangirl reasons. It was a lot of fun and deserves its popular reputation.
Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2015?
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- Ray Charles Biography - that ending epilogue was oh-so-sad and life-souring.
- Lonesome Dove, there's some truly sad scenes in this epic adventure.
- Fevre Dream is the type of sweet bittersweet sadness that you can't shake off.
- I love House of Sand and Fog - tragic ending.
- Oh, and I have to add in She's Come Undone - out of room for pictures without overlap. Excellent book though, sad stuff though.
Most unique book read in 2015
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Hidden Gem of the Year
Book that made you the angriest (didn't necessarily mean you didn't like the book)Reap the Wind was a long awaited book - enjoy the series. It was a great book, really, but I was a bit annoyed one of the major things I was waiting for wasn't resolved. Still recommend it.
Your Blogging/Bookish Life
Favorite review you wrote in 2015
- A Curious Tale of the In-Between
- House of Sand and Fog
- The Tenth Planet
- Lonesome Dove
- The Girl on the Train
Best discussion/non-review post in 2015
- UF Chronicles: Why I Love Urban Fantasy
- Kim Harrison Author Signing - Vacation post
- Things that seem to go with books and libraries
- Organizing bookshelves by genre versus author
- Tribute to your favorite spooky creature
Best event you participated in that was bookish in 2015
Without a doubt, going to San Francisco to visit the Goodreads headquarter office for a power user summit. One of the best times of my life - the memories are priceless. I still need to do a vacation write-up post about it.
Best moment of Bookish/Blogging life in 2015?
Again, the Goodreads power summit event. An epic time, unforgettable few days, I'm in love with those memories. <3
Most popular post this year on your blog (whether comments or views)
I'm honestly not sure. I should probably track this stuff more and be a more responsible blog owner and all, but...
Post you wish got more love?
I guess this one - UF Chronicles: Why I Love Urban Fantasy
Best bookish discovery (sites, stores, etc)?
Out of Print
Did you complete book goals, challenges you set for yourself this year?
Yes, but too much to list here - please see my 2015 Challenges and Resolution Wrap-Up Post
Looking Ahead
One book you didn't get to in 2015 but will be a priority in 2016?
The Book Thief
Book you are most anticipating in 2016 that is a non-debut?
2016 Debut Most Anticipating?
I don't keep track of debuts, I just run into them.
One thing you hope to accomplish/do in blogging or reading life in 2016?
Read and review even more.
A 2015 Release you've read in 2015 and recommend to everyone
