End of the Year Blogger Survey!

I love this survey hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner. I always find things like this a little hard to fill out, but it is so interesting to read other people's responses that I am going to give it a go!


1. Best Book You Read In 2011? 
For once, this is an easy question for me to answer. The Night Circus blew me away. The writing was fantastic and the story completely swept me up. I know people say it is over-hyped, but for me it was a perfect book. 
2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?
Hmmm. I had heard so many good things about Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen, but I couldn't even finish the book, so that was kind of disappointing. 
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?
I was really surprised by Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I had heard that it was kind of boring, but I had borrowed a copy and decided to try it out anyway. I LOVED it. 
4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?
I recommended The Night Circus like crazy. I have a feeling that this book will continue to show up, so if you are one of the haters who don't like it, this survey might annoy me. I also recommended Delirium quite a bit.   

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?
I just finished The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart and I can't wait to continue with it. I also really loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth books by Carrie Ryan and am currently midway through both the Fablehaven and Books of Bayern series. 
6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?
Erin Morgenstern, Diane Setterfield, Ann Patchett are all writers that come immediately to mind. Ann Patchett is the only one with a backlist so far, so I guess I'll have to read more of her work!
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
I read quite a bit of paranormal YA lit this year. I was really turned off by it at first, but I really enjoyed Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare and Nevermore by Kelly Creagh.


8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh was awesome. Also, Delirium by Lauren Oliver. 
9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?
Probably Crossed by Ally Condie. 
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?
I didn't much care for this book, to tell you the truth, but I still love the cover. 

11. Most memorable character in 2011? 
Love love love Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. 
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan. And The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Obvs. 

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011? 
Emotionally, it was probably The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.


14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read? 
Most definitely The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. 
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011? 
I thought this was just breathtaking as far as the imagery goes, which means a lot as I am trying more and more to write.

The bonfire ignites in an eruption of yellow flame.Then the second chime follows, the second archer sends his arrow into the yellow flames, and they become a clear sky-blue.A third chime with a third arrow, and the flames are a warm bright pink.Flames the color of a ripe pumpkin follow the fourth arrow.A fifth, and the flames are scarlet-red.A sixth brings a deeper, sparkling crimson.Seven, and the fire is soaked in a color like an incandescent wine.Eight, and the flames are shimmering violet.Nine, and violet shifts to indigo. A tenth chime, a tenth arrow, and the bonfire turns deepest midnight blue. On the penultimate chime, the dancing flames change from blue to black, and for that moment, it is difficult to discern the fire from its cauldron.And on the final strike, the dark flames are replaced with a blinding white, a shower of sparks falling like snowflakes around it. Huge curls of dense white smoke swirl up into the night sky. 

Seriously, I remember reading it and just being swept up in the scene.  


16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012? 
I will definitely be reading The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan again. If the sequel to Nevermore by Kelly Creagh is coming out pretty soon, I will be rereading Nevermore as well. 
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! 
Definitely the end of Delirium. I finished it a few weeks before it was "out in the wild" and so I couldn't talk about it with anybody (a lot of my real life friends are readers). I can't wait to read Pandemonium!


It's been a great year, and I'm looking forward to the books that 2012 brings!