End of the Year Blogger Survey!

Saturday, December 31, 2011


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!

11 comments:

  1. Ok, I need to add the Night Circus to my 2012 list even though the description makes me nervous.

    Bel Canto was one of my favorites when I read it a few years ago so it always makes me happy when someone else enjoys it.

    Happy New Year!

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  2. Water for Elephants made it into my top ten for 2011. I think that sometimes if you start a book expecting great things you are much more likely to be disappointed. I loved the historical aspect of prohibition era circuses and I guess that's not to everyone's liking :)

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  3. I don't blame you for DNFing Water for Elephants, I hated that book.

    I really need to read Bel Canto! Been on my shelf for years!!! Maybe 2012 will finally be the one? lol.

    Happy New Year!

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  4. Oh my gosh, I had to give Nevermore the same "award" for 2011. Seriously. Could. Not. Stop. Reading. It. And the ending?! Really!?

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  5. I always love to see your lists so I can go put some more on my goodreads "to read" list. I loved The Night Circus, too! It might be my favorite book I've read this year. I finished The House of Mirth and it was wonderfully written but the ending....no like! I will try The Age of Innocence on your recommendation. :)

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  6. Hiya. Oh my gosh, the ending to Delirium left me speechless. I was shocked, too. I have not read or heard of The Age of Innocence. I really should now.
    :D

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  7. @Helen's Book Blog -- Hope you like The Night Circus! Bel Canto was so lovely, I can't wait to read more of Ann Patchett's work.

    @Ellie -- Yeah, it just wasn't for me!

    @Sarah -- Good to know I'm not the only one, haha. Hope you like Bel Canto, I look forward to reading what you think of it.

    @Christina -- I know, right? I am dying for the next book.

    @Kathryn -- Age of Innocence has an even worse ending, but even though they are both so sad I love them. Edith Wharton is such an amazing writer.

    @Kandee -- I am DYING for Pandemonium to come out! I keep hoping the ending to Delirium is a fakeout, although I don't think it is... :(

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  8. I'm hoping I'll be able to get a hold of The Night Circus soon. I feel so left behind...and very much like I'm missing something brilliant...

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  9. I loved The Night Circus. It was such a fabulous read, one that you wanted to speed through, yet savor at the same time.

    I'm so glad you liked Sisterhood Everlasting too. I definitely cried when reading that one.

    Great choices on your list!

    Laura @ The Traveling Owl

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  10. I'm glad to hear that you loved The Night Circus since I'll be reading it soon--not a huge circus fan, but then I'm not a huge baseball fan and still really enjoyed Art of Fielding so the impossible CAN happen. ;) I got The Night Circus through Powell's Indiespensable program a couple of months back and it came in a black velvet slipcase--absolutely gorgeous.

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  11. @Risa -- I hope you won't be disappointed when you read it! I couldn't believe how amazing it was.

    @Laura -- With the Night Circus, I couldn't stand to finish it, so I only read a few pages a day. I didn't want it to end! I think I am going to visit it again this year but maybe through the audio version. Thanks for stopping by!

    @Melody -- I am looking forward to reading your thoughts on the Night Circus! I am a baseball fan and can't wait to read The Art of Fielding. :) The slipcase sounds lovely -- there is nothing more appealing than a beautiful edition of a book!

    ReplyDelete

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