A huge thanks to Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner for creating this survey! :)
1. Best Book You Read In 2013?
Contemporary YA: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Contemporary Adult: Unsticky by Sarra Manning
Contemporary New Adult: Come See About Me by C.K. Kelly Martin
YA Science-Fiction: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Adult Science-Fiction: Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy
Urban Fantasy: Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
YA Fantasy: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Adult Fantasy: Cold Fire by Kate Elliott & Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
YA Paranormal: Haze by Paula Weston
YA Historical Fiction: A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
YA Fairy Tale Re-Telling: Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay
Middle Grade: A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh. *YAWN* After loving Nevermore I really expected more from this sequel. :/
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
Small Damages by Beth Kephart. I really do not condone teenage pregnancies, so when I found out that this book - with its gorgeous cover! - was all about one, I really didn't expect to like it. Kephart's prose and beautiful tale, however, gave me a completely new perspective on this issue and made me fall in love with Spain, family, and food all over again.
4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
Unsticky by Sarra Manning & A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce.
5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
Kate Elliot's Spiritwalker Trilogy and Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy both totally blew my mind. Other extremely notable series I read this year include Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson Series and The Scarabaeus Duology by Sara Creasy.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
I've discovered many fantastic authors this year, but I haven't read enough of their books to determine if they're my favorites yet, like C. K. Kelly Martin whose debut New Adult novel I fell head-over-heels for. I'm a total fangirl of Sarra Manning, though, after this year, as well as Amy Kathleen Ryan.
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
I don't read a lot of mystery/thriller novels with unreliable narrators or second-person perspective, but both Stolen by Lucy Christopher and All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry were absolutely fantastic and have hooked me into this creepy genre.
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill read exactly like an action movie, while Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow was so haunting and captivating I couldn't put it down.
9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
I will definitely be re-visiting Manning's Unsticky as it is such a deep and provocative novel. I can't get it out of my head...seriously.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
11. Most memorable character in 2013?
Ugh, why this question? Isn't it obvious I love ALL the characters? Stiefvater's Raven Boys are the most memorable, however, particularly Ronan. And let's not forget Kavinsky! ;)
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
No and Me by Delphine de Vigan. de Vigan is actually a French writer and her books have been translated into English, hence the reason I could read them, but they are just beautiful.
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
Jessi Kirby's Golden, Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light, Hilary T. Smith's Wild Awake, The Jessica Darling Series, and Dostoevsky's Crime & Punishment.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
I don't know how many times I've seen Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty on the shelves of my library since its release in 2002. Way too many times, but I finally got around to reading the series and just LOVE it. Moriarty writes epistolary novels like no one else.
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?
“This is our story to tell. You’d think for all the reading I do, I
would have thought about this before, but I haven’t. I’ve never once
thought about the interpretative, the story telling aspect of life, of
my life. I always felt like I was in a story, yes, but not like I was
the author of it, or like I had any say in its telling whatsoever.” ~ The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
“Right now I want a word that describes the feeling that you
get--a cold sick feeling, deep down inside--when you know something is
happening that will change you, and you don't want it to, but you can't
stop it. And you know, for the first time, for the very first time, that
there will now be a before and an after, a was and a will be. And that you will never again quite be the same person you were." ~ A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Longest: Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It?
Charm and Strange by Stephanie Kuehn, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater, The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Cat & Vai's romance in The Spiritwalker Trilogy by Kate Elliott, Callie's relationship with her father in Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller, and the friendship between Otter, Kestrel, and Cricket in Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow.
19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?
I actually read a fair mix of Contemporary YA, Adult Romance (Contemporary + Historical), and Fantasy.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Vai from The Spiritwalker Trilogy & Cathal from Heir to Sevenwaters.
23. Best 2013 debut you read?
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters & The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman & The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
Elliott's The Spiritwalker Trilogy (CLEARLY, everyone needs to read this series because it is the answer to practically every question!)
25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?
27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?
Come See About Me by C. K. Kelly Martin & The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014?
3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Not only has one of my trusted reviewers read an early copy of this and enjoyed it, but it's being published by Strange Chemistry which nearly always turns up unexpected gems.
4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?
Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan, Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo, Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor, Shimmer by Paula Weston, Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins, Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?
Attend a book event and meet an author or at least meet another blogger. *fingers crossed*
Rachel and I are taking part in this bookish survey soon too, so I had a lot of fun with reading your answers. I loved seeing you mention All Our Yesterdays, I think everyone is probably sick of me by now by the amount of times that I've mentioned that book. I also loved reading Golden this year too. And actually got a copy of Unsticky from the library after reading your review (lets just hope I have the time to read it over the Christmas break!). I hope next year brings you lots of fun blogging events that you can attend! :)
ReplyDeleteOoh, that's awesome that you're loving the Heir to Sevenwaters series. I really want pick up the first book at some point, because I am enjoying her YA Shadowfell trilogy. :)
ReplyDeleteOK I don't even know how to comment on this! But I love your reading recap of the year. Hopefully I can make one of these, though I'm already overwhelmed! LOVED The Sky is Everywhere and Unsticky (thank you for recommending the latter!!) I really want to read A Face Like Glass but for some reason it's not in my library network. I need to just buy it! I skipped Enshadowed b/c of the low ratings, though if the finale is good, I guess I'll have to slog through it :(. So disappointing after waiting a long time to read it! Small Damages was so so good. I'm glad you connected to it as well. YAY for giving the wolves of mercy falls another chance! It makes me so happy that you picked up the first book again and connected to it. I just finally read and really loved AOY, and YES YES about Ronan. I agree about Wild Awake and I really need to read Golden By Jessi Kirby. So many other thoughts I want to say but I'm running out of steam! You know SHIMMER isn't the series conclusion, right? There's 4 books total ;). LOVE this list.
ReplyDeleteOh, I actually really love this survey! I might have to do it for my post tomorrow, too! You know, I read ENSHADOWED, too, and I was really, really disappointed. I just expected so much more from it, you know? I love that there is so much diversity in terms of what to choose from though :)
ReplyDeleteLove this survey! The Bone Season was a book that definitely had many a scene I desperately wanted to talk to someone about. Mostly the whole book. I ran to my phone and told my mom she needed to buy it asap so I could have someone to discuss it with. She did and she loved it to:) I'm right there with you on Ruin & Rising too, I need that book in my hands immediately! SO good:)
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic survey! I usually do something like this on my own every year. I love seeing The Sky Is Everywhere on your list. It was recommended to me by Lisa ages ago and as my bestie, she always knows what I'll love. I haven't been the same since.
ReplyDeleteAlso, yay for our Raven Boys, and deintiely for Ari and Dante.
I forgot to mention that I bought a copy of Small Damages, I just need to find the time to read it.
Wow! Glad you were answering that instead of me! It looks like I need to take a look at the Spiritwalker series you wrote about more than once or twice or three times! I haven't even heard of it. I loved your answers, some of them are the same as mine. I've had The Sky i Everywhere for awhile and still haven't read it despite the numerous recommendations. And Fall for Anything.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I like about your blog. Your books aren't all the latest releases. They come from releases back a few years ago (that I have on my shelves) and current releases to the classics.
Great job coming up with the answers to these tough questions!
What a great survey! Loved your answers. I tell you my fave next to an unputdownable read is a surprising read. So adding that one to my list. You already added the unputdownable one on it. :)
ReplyDeleteYou know my love for The Sky is Everywhere ( and her next book has a 2014 release date!!!) as well as Unsticky and Small Damages, so I love that they are featured prominently on your survey, K! And yes, clearly I need to read the Kate Elliot series and Sorrow's Knot, which I have but have not yet read. And you have my interest piqued with the Alex Wayfarer book! Great summary of your year! Oh, and I want to meet a blogger this year too!!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, loved The Sky is Everywhere so I'm really glad you loved it too, Keertana! I haven't read most of these books yet but I'm adding them to my TBR. Hope you get to attend a book event and meet an author soon! It's one of the things I want to do next year too!
ReplyDeleteWhere should I start this comment. From the start. Well yaya for The Sky is Everywhere. I agree it's a great story. Also Forever was amazing too. I must add that I agree about Enshadowed. That book was truly disappointment. I just hope that the next one won't be. I guess I need to check out others on this list that I haven't read :) Amazing post, Keertana :)
ReplyDeleteKeertana, I love that you reach for books from a wide array of literary genres. I'm inspired to branch out from my usual paranormal and fantasy selections to spice up my reading life; doing so would most likely prevent me from falling into the dreaded reading slump; I'm afraid I suffered from many this year. I know who to come to when I can't decide what to read next. Your list has a little bit of everything, and I'm curious to try out some of your favorites. I have Stolen in my possession, so I definitely need to get to that. I remember when you recommended the Scarabaeus duology to me, so I'd love to read that at some point. Then there's Unsticky and Small Damages. I'm not big on Contemporary, but I'm slowly becoming more interested in the genre. Gosh, there's plenty of groundbreaking material out there for me to explore. I'm looking forward to it all! Thanks for the list! Be ready, though! I'll be bugging the hell outta ya in 2014. ;)
ReplyDeleteMarlene @ The Flyleaf Review
Stiefvater's Raven Boys are the most memorable characters for me from this year too. I loved The Dream Thieves! I'm so glad to see In the Shadow of Blackbirds and The Bone Season make your favourites too. And Aristotle and Dante! Such gorgeous book. Those 2014 releases are pretty much the ones I'm DYING to get my hands on. I can't wait to read Isla and Dreams of Gods and Monsters, especially! Awesome picks, Keertana. :)
ReplyDeleteI love that cover for Small Damages (it may be one of the reasons I want to read this book...)
ReplyDeleteAnd yay glad to see so much love for the Spiritwalker trilogy! I really liked the first book. I should get around to reading the second and third installments soon I suppose.
I hope you're able to attend some book events/meet other bloggers this year, too! It's also one of my hopes for this year.