The Year In Reading: End Of Year Book Survey

Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner has created a great end-of-year book survey.  She put it up some time ago, but I wanted to wait until 2011 was actually over before completing it.  There were a couple of books I was still hoping to finish.  So here goes…

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

The Hungers Games Triliogy, by Suzanne Collins.  Not exactly how I expected to answer, but I loved these books.  The Chronicles of Narnia:  Voyages of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis gets an honourable mention.

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie, by Alan Bradley.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

Wither, by Lauren DeStefano.  I didn’t expect to love this book so much.  I can’t wait for Fever.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

The Hunger Games and The Wars, by Timothy Findley, depending on the person.

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

I didn’t read a lot of new series this year.  I’ll have to go back to The Hunger Games and Wither, book one of the Chemical Garden.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

Apparently I didn’t read a lot of new authors this year either.  Timothy Findley (not exactly new, but I hadn’t read him before), Suzanne Collins and Lauren DeStefano.

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

Umm… I have a pretty broad comfort zone; it includes most of the bookstore… I don’t know… How To Tell If My Boyfriend Is TheAntichrist, I guess.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

If you can’t tell by now, I’m not going to say it again (okay, The Hunger Games)

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

Dead Reckoning, by Charlaine Harris

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

Here are a few:

11. Most memorable character in 2011?

Katniss or Rhine? (The Hunger Games and Wither)

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

The Frozen Thames, by Helen Humphreys.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?

This is a difficult one.  It’s a little unexpected, but my instincts are saying, Mini Shopaholic, because as I read about Becky dealing with her crazy daughter, I could see myself in many of the same situations.  If I’m not careful, one day my daughter will knock down the mannequins in… a store that has a mannequin dog.

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

Sea Of Swords, by R.A. Salvatore.  I started the Drizzt series so long ago and I’m still not caught up yet!

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?

I don’t keep track of quotes anymore… I used to… ten years ago.  I actually have been feeling like I should start again.

16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?

The Hunger Games, before the movie comes out.

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!

Moral Disorder, by Margaret Atwood.  The Head.

 Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2011 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2011?

What Red Read, at least, I think that was this year.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2011?

The Disney Princesses, by Susan Holbrook; Ponies, by Kij Johnson.  Interestingly, a poem and a short story.

I’m skipping 3 & 4.

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

I have to say, my favourite memes are Short Story Monday and Top Ten Tuesday.

Also skipping 6.

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

My FlannelKnickers, by Leonora Carrington.  I don’t know why.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I think they’re all loved J

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

The CanadianBookshelf.

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

I don’t do challenges.  I read more than last year by one book!

Looking Ahead...

1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?

World War Z, by Max Brooks

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

Fever, by Lauren DeStefano

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2012?

Reading – I read a lot of genres this year.  Usually I’m more balanced with my literary fiction and I want to get back to that.

Blogging – I hope to be able to blog as much as I like.  I have a bit of a back log because of the infant and I don’t usually.  I’d also like to get back to doing my Word of the Week posts.

Thanks for reading! Leave me a link so I can read your survey too.