31 December 2014

2nd Annual End of Year Book Survey - 2014 Edition!






Number Of Books You Read: 107 (technically 108, since I read The Bell Jar twice)
Number of Re-Reads: 2
Genre You Read The Most From: Probably contemporary




1. Best Book You Read In 2014?
(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)


2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The one that disappointed me the most is probably Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy. I preordered it, waited and waited for it to arrive and started reading it the minute I received it and I did  not like the book.. I was seriously devestated.


 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014? 
Probably Waiting on the Sidelines (Waiting on the Sidelines #1) by Ginger Scott, it is a coming-of-age love story and I had a hard time getting into it but I ended up absolutely loving it.


 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?
Wonder by R.J. Palacio.. I even got my friends to buy the book


 5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?
The best series I started AND finished in 2014 is either Pivot Point by Kasie West or Across the Universe by Beth Revis
The best sequel and series ender is probably also books in those series..


 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?
I discovered a bunch of new authors in 2014, these are the ones I read multiple books from:
Beth Revis and Kasie West


7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson since it is my very first high fantasy book/series and The Edge of Never (The Edge of Never #1) by J.A. Redmerski since it was my very first new adult book


 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Probably Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington or Tear You Apart by Sarah Crossan - absolutely loved those books and I could not put them down. 


 9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Landline by Rainbow Rowell during wintertime or maybe Wonder when I'm in the mood for it


10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?
I've chosen 2...



11. Most memorable character of 2014?
Hmm Auggie from Wonder, Vin from The Final Empire and Madison Nichols from Accidentally Married


 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?


13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?


 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read? 
I have to pick Across the Universe by Beth Revis since it's the only book I loved, which I didn't discover or had on my TBR before 2014


 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?
 “Neal didn't take Georgie's breath away. Maybe the opposite. But that was okay--that was really good, actually, to be near someone who filled your lungs with air.” 
-Landline by Rainbow Rowell


16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Peter Panda Melts Down - 40 pages and The Final Empire with 647 pages


 17. Book That Shocked You The Most
(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)
Deception Point by Dan Brown or Killer Instinct by S.E. Green


18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)
Madison and Jared from Accidentally Married


19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Georgie and Seth from Landline


20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Landline by Rainbow Rowell


21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
The Bell Jar, I think. I had to read it for a paper and my teacher was the first one who raved about it.


22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?
Ethan from Between the Lives


23. Best 2014 debut you read?
Feather Bound by Sarah Raughly


24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
The Across the Universe series by Beth Revis


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?
Rain (Rain #1) by Christie Cote


27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Red at Night by Katie McGarry


28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Wonder by R.J. Palacio


29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson


30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Wonder... I was mad at the other kids but I absolutely love the book




1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014?
Daring Damsels, which is Ebony's blog - a great friend of mine.
    

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014?   
Probably Wonder 


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 was supposed to go to a major book event here in Denmark but I was sick so I couldn't go. I haven't really participated in anything else but read-a-thons this year and I failed miserably at most of them.. 

   
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?  
Well, I got one saying that I was missed and my posts was missed and they were looking forward to when I came back - that made my day!

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 have been MIA for a while, but one of my most recent posts that I wish had got a little more love is my shameful book confessions - it was quite fun to do. 


9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)? 
There's Libib, which is an app that allows you to categorize your entire library. I don't think I've discovered that much really.


10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Check out my reflecting on 2014 post




1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?
This is a really tough one since I don't really have any... But maybe Shattered by Tery Teri so I can finish the Slated trilogy, start A Game of Thrones or maybe continue the Mistborn series

     
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?   
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven or Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby


3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?    
Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas - her first actual book, I believe


4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?
   This is a tough one since I don't really read series.. But maybe Golden Sun, the sequel to Red Rising which I have yet to read.


5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?
Just continue blogging, I guess, I've had a hard time finding the time for it these last months. 

   
6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
Tear You Apart by Sarah Crossan


Have you filled out the end of the year survey or are you planning to?

23 December 2014

Reflecting on 2014

In the beginning of the year I made some bookish resolutions and I tried to stick to them in the beginning of the year.. Until I forgot everything about them.

My first resolution was to read 50 books, which I definitely did - I've read a total of 105 books, one of them I read twice.
The second was to read 3 classics and I guess you could say I completed that one as well; I read Erasmus Montanus eller Rasmus Berg (a Danish classic), How to be Good by Nick Hornby, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. How to be Good and The Bell Jar are modern classics - but still classics.
The third was one of the ones I didn't really make since I wanted to read the books I already own - and that didn't go so well. I tried and I've definitely read a bunch, but I've mainly read books for review and some from the library. I still read some of the ones on my shelves though.
I really regret adding this one to the mix but in the beginning of the year I wanted to review all the books I read - which is the worst idea ever and I made a post about it not that long after because it sucked. Reading isn't fun if you have to review every single book.
I succeeded my fifth resolution which was to use the library more and cut back on buying books. These last 6 months I've bought 10 books tops and I used the library a lot in the beginning of the year but not so much these last couple of months - I've still not bought that many books!
My sixth resolution was to venture out of my comfort zone.. Meh.. I guess I ventured a bit, but not as much as I'd anticipated. I read some new adult, I tried historical fiction but I didn't really like it and I found that I really enjoy fantasy and women's fiction / chick-lit.
I also failed miserably at another resolution which was to participate in read-a-thons. I really tried, but I've been quite sick and I fell asleep after two hours of the 24-hour read-a-thon back in October.
I've succeeded my eighth resolution which was to read the books from Netgalley - although I had 7 books when I started and now about 30, my feedback ratio is still a lot higher and have reached 80 multiple times.
The last 2 resolutions was to create a mini-series (for the blog) and write a story - I failed both.. I also wanted to re-read some books and I re-read The Bell Jar (read it twice this year) and Alice in Tumblr-land.
I guess I reached most of my 'goals' which is great, I still want to try and reach some of the ones I failed at though.

In my Looking Ahead part in the 'End of the Year Survey - 2013' I said I wanted to buy and read The Book Thief at the first opportunity I got - I bought the book and I tried to read it.. But I hated it.. I tried to force my way through it but after 250 pages I had to stop, it's just not a book for me I guess.
I also said that my two most anticipated books were Unmarked (The Legion #2) by Kami Garcia, Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy and Shattered (Slated #3) by Teri Terry. I haven't even looked at Unmarked or Shattered and I absolutely hated Side Effects May Vary - great choices apparently.


Things that happened in 2014... Well, I made an account on Instagram and I'm kind of addicted now. I also became a reviewer for Hot Key Books (and apparently Piccadilly Books) and Lindhardt & Ringhof (a Danish publishing company). I also received my very first physical books for review as well as being nominated for the Liebster Blog Award.


That was 2014 for me! It was not that eventful but it was still a great year! How was 2014 for you?

6 December 2014

Christmas and Winter reads

Sorry I've been MIA for the last month, but life happened and I've been in a reading slump, again. BUT I bring you today a post with a bunch of Christmas and Winter reads since it's my favorite time of year and I want to make the best of it. So let's start:

I don't know about you, but when I think about books to read this time of year it's either classics - because you can actually drink a hot beverage while reading them, and because I love reading classics when it's cold. Books that take place during the Winter or the holiday season. Books with snow. Fluffy books and books with baking - because I always bake my way through December. Oh, and massive books so you can just snuggle up in a blanket and stay there for the rest of the day.




Two years ago, when I first met my boyfriend, I read Dash and Lily's Book of Dares and I absolutely loved it. The summary basically tells you what happens in the first chapter, but the story is so much more. Normally I hate when the summary tells you what happens in the first chapter and not what the whole book is about, but I loved it when it came to this one.
It's such a cute and fluffy read and there's lots of snow and romance involved. (YA)




I read Let it Snow last Christmas when me and my family just moved into our new house and it made the process easier because I had a fluffy read whenever I became stressed or irritated (I hate moving). I remember loving all 3 stories, but I think I preferred the first one. I also loved how the stories where intertwined without it being confusing. This one is also a Christmas and a Winter story with lots of snow and holiday cheer! (YA)



I think the majority of people have either read, seen or just heard about The Grinch that Stole Christmas. I have watched the movie every Christmas season for as long as I can remember but I read the book for the first time last year and I loved it. The movie and the book is at the same time alike but not alike. For once I enjoy both of them and I think everybody HAVE to read this book. (Children's)




I read A Christmas Feast and other stories last month, I think, and I loved it. It's an anthology with a bunch of Christmas stories and I adored it. I read it in a single day and for a person who normally hate anthologies I would say that that is quite fast. If you're intrigued you can read my review here. It will definitely put you in a Christmas mood with all the lovely Christmas romances! (Adult)




You can't make any list without a Rainbow Rowell book! Since her newest one is set during Wintertime it's perfect. I actually read Landline during the summer, since that's when it was released, but it really should be read during the holiday season. Nevertheless I loved it and it's definitely going to be one of my favorites for quite a while. (Adult)
I read Fangirl last Christmas so maybe that's why it reminds me of it, but I do believe it has a Christmas feel to it as well. (YA)





I started reading this the other day and so far I'm really enjoying it. My True Love Gave to Me is another anthology made up of Christmas stories and it's quite popular at the moment. (YA)





Other books and stories:

Are there any books I've forgotten or should know about? 

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