Reflecting on 2015

2015 was a year full of new books! It was a year where I evolved, where I became aware just how much I can handle and I realized that I'm not sure who and what I want to be yet. It was also a year filled with milestones;

In 2015 I turned 18
In 2015 me and my boyfriend celebrated our 3 year anniversary
In 2015 I graduated or I became what we call 'student' here in Denmark
In 2015 I received my first proof copy
In 2015 I received my first actual ARC
In 2015 I reached 100+ followers on G+
In 2015 I reached 1000 followers on Instagram
In 2015 I started receiving physical books for review from Danish publishers and a Danish site
In 2015 I created a new blog in Danish called Frk. Litteratur (Miss Literature)

So, that's a quick summary of my year. The majority was reached in the last 4-6 months! I'm quite proud of everything I achieved this year.

Let's talk literature;

In 2015 I read a total of 130 books! I'm quite astonished with that number since my goal was 75. Aside from that I read 32 childrens books, short stories and novellas in total, I also read 3 graphic novels. Yes, I like to keep it separate since I don't think graphic novels count as books!
According to goodreads I read 43. 487 in 2015 - I have no idea whether that's true or not but it's probably around that number.
The best books I read in 2015 was;

• A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1) by Sarah J. Maas
• The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
• Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
• I nærheden (Nearby) by Peter Hugge
• All of the Above by James Dawson
• You (You, #1) by Caroline Kepnes
• A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
• If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher 

 I quite like that it's a mix of YA, adult and nonfiction!

When it comes to the amount of books read July was definitely an amazing month! Somehow I managed to read 20 books! I believe cramathon made that happen! I read the least amount of books in September where I managed to read 4.

The longest book I read was A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin with a whopping 780 pages - close second was Dublin or The Princes of Ireland - which is the original title - with 768 pages!
The shortest book I read was The Pearl by John Steinbeck though and I was not a fan!

The book which surprised me the most was The Selection (The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass. I picked it up on a whim expecting a mediocre but fast read and what I got was definitely a fast read but I loved it. I'm waiting for the last book to be released to I can marathon The Heir and The Crown since they are about the daughter!
I've also had some disappointing reads, as I'm sure everybody have. I have two that really disappointed me; 99 Days by Katie Cotugno and Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer.

Since I don't have any goals, except for reading 75 books, I really have nothing else to say about 2015. Here's to a great 2016!

To all the books I've loved before, a tribute

Yes, I stole that title from Jenny Han's book but I don't care! I haven't read it and I have no idea whether I want to or not but I guess time will tell! I've read a lot of books and some of them just lie on shelves or some I've forgotten. This is a letter type thing to all the books I've loved before, and still do

Dear Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, you got me through some rough times, some
tough times and you helped me grow up. You were there with me every step of the way and for that I'm glad, I loved growing up with Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Dumbledore, you made my childhood what it was.

Dear Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, we've spent quite a lot of time together and you've been in my life when times where tough and I really needed you. You taught me that it's okay to be sad and you got me to accept that life isn't fair and life is life. You simply can't do anything about it other than live it. You gave me valuable life lessons and made my life better.

Dear The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, you got me into reading again! We spent some marvelous nights together, rather few actually but I love you anyway. We've had some amazing adventures together, some breathtaking moments and some terrifying episodes. I love you!


Dear Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, you were my first classic, my first love, my first book boyfriend and my first obsession. You took me by surprise, you ripped my heart out and put it back in. You took my breath away and you made my heart beat. I think about you all the time and it's about  time for a visit, I love spending time with you and even though it shouldn't be possible each time is better than the last. Never leave me!

Dear The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, you were my first thriller, my first mystery and my first reread. I've loved you for a long time and we've been together so many times these past years. You taught me that a book doesn't have to be read and then put on a shelf for the rest of its days, you taught me that reading a book multiple times is marvelous.



Dear A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, you are breathtaking and wonderful. Our time together was glorious. Yes, there was tears, but there was also smiles and a lot of other emotions.



 Dear Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, you made me bond with my best friend, you taught me that books out of your comfort zones don't have to be a bad thing and you made me realize that sometimes clichés aren't that bad. You were my first vampire book and one of my first YA books.



Dear The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, I have no words for my love to you, even though I didn't grew up with you I still feel like I grew up with you. You're moral is important for me and I love you. Your story is wonderful, the illustrations marvelous and I wish I could live in your world.

Dear The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, you were probably my first nonfiction book. You taught me positivity, you taught me the art of relaxation and you taught me to take control of my life. I've learned so many valuable life lessons from you and I will treasure you forever! Your lessons have made my life so much better and for that I thank you

Dear The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, you were my first ebook and you took me by surprise. I had expected a different ending and you definitely made me cry. You're emotional which means you made me feel all the feels and I'm thankful. You made me feel at a time I needed to feel again and you got me out of my slump, for that I thank you!


Dear Fangirl, Attachments, Landline and Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, you taught me to love love stories, you made me feel all giddy and gave me butterflies! I love all of you and your stories has definitely put a smile on my face! Thank you for all the good times, the smiles, the butterflies and the feels, I love you!


Dear Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, you were my first retelling and I've treasured stories like you ever since. You made me realize that retellings is my favorite genre and you made me love that genre, you have shaped my reading taste and I will never go back. I love retellings and I'm glad you were my first.


Dear Wonder by R.J. Palacio, you took me buy surprise, I read you with eyes full of tears and I love you immensely. Your story is wonderful, it teaches so many life lessons and you're a must read for people of all ages. You have made a big impact in my life and I wish everybody take something from your story. I love you.


Dear If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher, you helped me in a time of my life where I didn't know I needed help. You put a smile on my face and you inspired me! You helped me realize a lot of things about myself and you taught me to do random acts of kindness for strangers. You've helped me see my way in life clearer and you made me realize that needing help is not a sign of weakness and asking for that help isn't a sign of weakness either. I thank you for all your lessons.


Do you have any books you've loved and/or want to thank? You're welcome to write a letter to the books you've loved before, and please tag me, I would love to read your letters!

Turning 18 and reaching milestones

So, I'm turning 18 tomorrow and I somehow felt inspired to write a post before my birthday. At first I had no idea what to write about, but suddenly I came across an idea. Milstones and highlights of my bookish life so far. It's been 17 years with both ups and downs and even though I've not loved every bit of it it's still my life and I want to look back and take a trip down memory-lane.


I can't remember when I found my love for reading as a child, but I, strangely enough, didn't read that much as a child. I loved to draw and I loved to sing back then. I actually joined the choir when I started attending school when I was 5-years-old and I still actually still sing a lot. I haven't been to choir for a couple of years though. I remember reading a lot when I was around 8-11. We lived in the country so there was a librarybus - instead of an actual library - and I always visited when it was in town. I found somewhere I belonged in books and they were my place to be at the time. I also remember a special summer, when I was around 12 or 13, where I read the entire Harry Potter series - it was great.  I stopped reading again until 14 or 15 - then I really started reading and I've only been in short slumps (a few weeks at most) since then.


Some milestones I've reached and important 'events' (since 2011)
I discovered goodreads in October 2011, which is why it's my milestones since then. 

• The first year I read 100+ books was 2013. 2013 is actually the year I read the absolute most (119 according to goodreads)
• The first book I ever gave 5 stars was Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden - back in 2011
• The longest book I've ever read is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling. A whopping 796 pages
• I gave 30 books 5 stars in 2014 - the highest number of 5 star reads in a year. 
• I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time in 2012
• I've just read my first 'erotica'! - Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James and I read my first New Adult book in 2014
• In 2013 I discovered that I absolutely love retellings and dystopia
• I read my very first historical fiction book in 2012 and hated it.. 
• I read my first nonfiction book in 2013
• I've read all of Dan Brown's books - I read the last one in the end of 2014. I've also read all of Rainbow Rowell's books.
• I became a reviewer in 2013 - and started receiving physical books for review in 2014. 
• I started 'instagramming' in February 2014 and I started blogging in October 2013

Confessions
I figured, in spirit of Colleen Hoover's new book; Confess, that I should confess some things - some of them may be a bit shameful. I actually wrote a post with a bunch of shameful book confessions a while back - so consider this an extension!

• I can't remember whether I've actually read the last book in the Harry Potter series and I don't know if I want to because I know it'll break me
• I started Fifty Shades of Grey last year in August or September and I've literally just finished it. Because of the ending I had to pick up the second book immediately and I enjoyed it way more. It might be one of the best things I've read this year so far. 
• I claim that Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors, yet I've only read Pride and Prejudice. 
• I bingeread series - and preferred series - before I really got into reading. Now I never read series.. I definitely prefer trilogies, duologies or standalones now. 
• I've read Hunger Games 3 times. I read it in 2012, then received it for my birthday in the same year and read it again - so I read it 2 times in the course of 2 months... 
• The only book by John Green I haven't read yet is Paper Towns. I loved The Fault in Our Stars but all his other books have fallen flat for me.. I've not enjoyed them nearly as much.
• I hate reading anthologies but I do enjoy a short story or novella once in a while
• I love the idea of reading classics but I don't really read them. I just say I will. 

Looking ahead

So, I have some things I want to get better at and I have some things I am looking forward to in the future. So here it is - the very last list of my post 

• In the future I want to get better at reading series and actually finish the series I start
• I want to get better at reading classics 
• I want to get better at reading my own books instead of prioritizing library books and books I receive for review all the time. 
• I also want to get better at interacting with you guys! I want to write more posts or just better posts - I want to have a better blog. 
• Reading books that I actually really really want to read and not just think - sounds good - is something I have to get better at. I want to start thinking: "Is this a book I think I'm going to enjoy?" - sometimes I read the book even though I have a feeling it's going to disappoint me.
• I really want to stop using netgalley as much as I do. The majority of the books I read are from netgalley and I want to stop that 

Is there anything you want to change about your life. If so, what?    

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)

Fantasy: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson

Childrens: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Science fiction: Across the Universe series by Beth Revis

 New Adult: The Edge of Never (Edge of Never #1) by J.A. Redmerski

Contemporary: How to Love by Katie Cotugno

Adult: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

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?

The Boy with the Tiger's Heart by Linda Coggin!

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

Landline or Wonder

 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?

Accidentally Married or Cold Feet at Christmas

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?   

'To comment or not to comment'

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)?   

'To comment or not to comment'

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?