End of the Year Book Survey 2012

This is my first year participating in this survey (created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner!) and wow, were these questions hard! But it was fun too. It gave me a chance to really look at what I've read and reviewed this past year. And you know what? This was an awesome year of books. I discovered lots of new favorite books, authors and fellow bloggers. I hope 2013 is just as great, if not better :)

Here are my answers...

Best Books in 2012

1. Best Book You Read in 2012?

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson. I’m warning you now, I’m going to be mentioning this one a lot! Another HUGE favorite of mine is The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I won’t be forgetting either of these books anytime soon. 

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn't?

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. I had waited forever for this book to come out and then when I read it, it didn't live up to its predecessors, Graceling and Fire.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I resisted this book so much because of its cover. I took one look at it and totally judged. For a year. But eventually I gave in and of course, I loved it! I really should stop judging books by their covers. 

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Tiger Lily and The Fault In Our Stars. 

Runner-ups: Flat Out Love by Jessica Park, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. And for my fantasy loving friends: Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. 

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson. The first two books are out, The Girl of Fire and Thorns and Crown of Embers and I cannot wait for the final installment, Bitter Kingdom.  It’s just so different from the other fantasy books I’ve read. 

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

John Green, David Levithan, Stephanie Perkins, Hannah Harrington, Jodi Lynn Anderson, Melina Marchetta.

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

Every Day by David Levithan. It was different from anything I’d ever read before and I wouldn’t even know what genre it would fall under. Because it’s not fantasy but it’s not exactly just contemporary either. It’s in a category of its own. 

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I’m sure most of you have seen this book right? It’s not exactly short. But I bought this book during lunch, started reading it while waiting for the bus, on the commute home, while I ate dinner, until I finished it that same day before going to bed (and still at a decent time!). I could not put it down until I reached the very end.  

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson. (Obviously!)

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I love this illustration of two of them with their headphones on. I definitely want to see this book on my shelf when it comes out. 

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 

I’m going to choose Augustus Waters from The Fault In Our Stars. Despite everything he’s gone through in his life, he still loved so completely and passionately. He still found reasons to laugh and find joy. Almost everything he said to Hazel throughout the course of the book, I wanted to highlight and remember. Even now when I look back and read some of his dialogue, I can’t help but sigh and fall in love with his character all over again. 

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

Tiger Lily (I will save my actual gushing for the next question.)

Honorable mention: North of Beautiful by Justin Chen Headley. The author’s writing style, the imagery throughout the book and the feelings prompted by her words. I was really blown away by Terra’s story of self-acceptance. 

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

Tiger Lily had the greatest impact on me this year. It was so unexpected. A lot of things come to mind when I think of this book. Unique storytelling, beautiful writing. But most of all - losing your first love. Tiger Lily, despite her tough facade, was someone who I felt loved deeply even if she couldn’t always say or show it. Watching her walls start to crumble around Peter and the inevitable appearance of Wendy, the relationships she had with people around her like her father Tik-Tok, reading Peter’s final letter to her. I remember all those moments as if I had just read it yesterday.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman. 

The funny story behind this (which long time readers of my blog may or may not remember) - I read Where She Went first, back in October 2011. I remember falling in love with Mia and Adam’s story as they walked around New York talking about their past and what had brought them there. So much so that I thought to myself.. I don’t need to read the first book because I already know what happened. Fast forward to February 2012 and I decided on a whim to read If I Stay.  It was so beautiful and haunting. By the end of the book, I was kicking myself for thinking I didn’t need to read it. 

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 

“The look he gave me… My stomach quivered in that exact same way when I watched Before Sunset, yearning for a guy to know me so deeply and truly, we were only really complete when we were together. That I could talk, go on wild tangents, make obtuse references, and he would divine my meaning before I knew what I was trying to say myself. Erik had fallen asleep next to me on the couch, complaining later that the movie was "just people talking." He had no idea that this movie could have been a love letter written for me.”  - North of Beautiful 

“Sometimes I think that maybe we are just stories. Like we may as well just be words on a page, because we're only what we've done and what we are going to do.” - Tiger Lily

"I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.” - Fault In Our Stars

 16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

Longest: A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R. R. Martin, 1,128 pages

Shortest: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, 176 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. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

I have to go with Insurgent. I got to the end and I had to reread it a few times because I wasn’t sure I fully grasped the meaning. It was definitely an OMG / WTF / WHO CAN I TALK TO RIGHT NOW moment. 

Runner-up: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. The last moment with Ruby and Liam. I did not see Ruby’s intentions coming until she actually did it. And then I was like - “No! You can’t!” But she did and I have to wait a whole year to find out what happens next. Actually more because I read this ARC over the summer.  It’s a very very long wait. 

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Samantha Reed & Jace Garrett from My Life Next Door // romantic

This was the first mature, angst-free teenage relationship I had read about and it was so refreshing. It wasn’t drawn out and there was a very natural progression to it. Plus the swoon factor? WOW. 

Karou and Zuzana from Days of Blood & Starlight // friendship 

Zuzana travelled to Morocco to find Karou, in order to save her and then ended up staying with her to help create Chimaera from animal teeth. All with a smile on her face. If that isn’t friendship, I don’t know what is. 

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor. 

I loved the first book, Daughter of Smoke and Bone and I was pretty confident I would feel the same about Blood & Starlight. But it ended up being everything I thought it would be AND more. So much more. Amazing storytelling and world building and character development. A+ all around. 

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg. 

This is one of those books where I asked Estelle to give me a suggestion and literally bought it a minute later. I’m so glad I did! It was exactly what I needed at the time. Something light and fun but still had meaning (I love books with awesome friendships!). 

Looking Ahead…

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012? 

I discovered so many book blogs this year! So I have to cheat and name a few. First there’s 

Alexa Loves Books. Not only do I love her blog but she’s become a good friend too. I’m so glad we met! But I also love Novel Sounds and The Perpetual Page-Turner. Both are awesome bloggers whose reviews are always fun and well-written. I hope we get to know each other better :)

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012? 

I don't really have a favorite review. I just try to express myself as best as I can each time I write one and hope it encourages to someone check out the book. And hopefully leave some comments or start a discussion :)

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

My post, What Women Want In Books vs. Real Life.  After I read Fifty Shades of Grey (yes I read it, don’t judge me!) and Crash, I couldn’t help but see similarities between the leading men. Bad similarities. I kept thinking about how I wanted to write a comparison and eventually I did. It was a lot of fun to write!

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

I loved Reading Writing Breathing's post about a guy's perspective on YA books. Interesting and well-written. 

from BEA 2012

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

Book Expo America! Need I say more? :)

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?

The Gayle Forman / Melina Marchetta / Kristin Cashore book event at Books of Wonder for a few reasons:

- I discovered Books of Wonder was only 3 blocks away from my office. 

- Estelle, Alexa and I went to this event together and this was the first time I had met Alexa in person.

- This was the first time I ever went to an author signing/reading (excluding BEA). 

- Um, I LOVE THESE AUTHORS. 

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

What Women Want In Books vs. Real Life. 

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

My Tiger Lily review only because I wanted to scream from the rooftops that everyone should read this book. 

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

Books of Wonder! I love their events and just the cozy atmosphere. It’s become my favorite book store ever since. 

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

Yes, I originally set my GoodReads Reading Challenge to 100 books. When it was clear that I was going to meet that goal much sooner than I expected, I started keep upping the goal 10 books at a time. Finally, I was like I’m just gonna challenge myself to 150. Right now I’m on 146. I know I can do this!

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

After reading my first Melina Marchetta book this year, I wanted to read everything else she had ever written. I’ve read three so far but I was really hoping to get to Finnikin of the Rock and Froi of Exiles. I don’t think I’ll have time this month.. but next year! It’s at the top of my list. 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

So many! Just One Day by Gayle Forman, Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins, Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson, Untitled Book #2 of Penryn & the End of Days series by Susan Ee. 

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

Reading-wise, I want to add more variety to the books I choose. Read a few more adult books and ones that are out of my comfort zone. I was doing that at the beginning of the year and then it became YA all the time (which isn’t a bad thing!). But I think it’ll be good to mix it up.  Also, my dad really wants me to read Hemingway (his favorite author) so I want to read at least one next year. 

Blogging-wise, I just want to keep doing what I’m doing. When I started my blog, I never imagined that it would turn into what it is today. I mean it’s still a small, newbie blog but I love getting to share my love of books and talking to other people with the same passion. I want to keep working at my writing and do more with my blog in general.