BEST BOOKS IN 2013
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1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)
Contemporary YA – Definitely Eleanor & Park and Fangirl. I can't choose between the two. I don't care if that's cheating. You can't make me! Honorable mention to Anna and the French Kiss, by the way.
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic – Requiem by Lauren Oliver
Historical Fiction – The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Paranormal - Dark Witch by Nora Roberts. Yes, its paranormal romance, but it was my favorite.
Science Fiction - Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Fantasy - Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Would you consider Cinder to be fantasy? Its kinda sci-fi too, but I'll go with it.
The Alchemyst: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. I eyed this book up for months at the book store, finally got it home and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I literally only picked it up because the hype was getting inside my head and I was so surprisingly in love with it that I stayed up all night finishing it.
Probably Cinder. I know this sounds blasphemous but I don't recommend books that often (other than through my reviews) because most of my social circle doesn't crazy-read like I do. But I got my cousin to read it, mentioned it to a few people, and bought it for a friend for Christmas, so I think that counts!
Across the Universe by Beth Revis. The only series that I read all the books back to back absolutely could not put down. Loved it!
RAINBOW ROWELL. Absolutely. Hands down. She is amazing and a new favorite of mine.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. I decided to read this book out of mere boredom and the fact that my sister had already downloaded it on my nook. It was not a book I would normally have picked up, but I enjoyed it so much and plan on reading his other books.
Well, a book I absolutely couldn't put down was Eleanor & Park, but I wouldn't exactly call it thrilling. A thrilling read I couldn't put down was A Million Suns by Beth Revis.
Cinder and Scarlet for sure since I want to re-read them before Cress comes out.
Hmmm... good question. I'm definitely going to go with...
and that's just the dust jacket. The actual book itself is gorgeous also, inside and out.
I'm going to go with Cath from Fangirl on this one. I have never understood and felt so "close" to a character before. She is me. She is all of us. If you haven't read this book, read it, and I guarantee you'll completely understand what I'm getting at.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It may not have been a favorite of mine, but I can't deny how amazing the writing was and how hauntingly beautiful it was in its entirety.
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
Gee, the biggest impact? I really don't know how to even answer that one... I suppose I'll go with The Book Thief because it invoked the strongest, darkest emotions in me.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. The entire series, really. I think I read book 4 back when the 2nd movie came out, but it meant nothing to me then as it does now. Such a great series, and though I'm severely traumatized by the final book, I can't believe I waited so long to get to it.
Eek, that's a tough one. I don't usually remember quotes unless they come from a Jodi Picoult novel because her books are so chock full of them. Can I skip this one? I think I'll skip it. Thanks. :)
Well, the shortest book that I actually counted toward my reading goal in 2013 was As They Slip Away by Beth Revis, at 48 pages, which was a novella to the Across the Universe series.
The longest book I've read in 2013 was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at 870 pages (a re-read). Honorable mention to A Game of Thrones at 801 pages.
Will it get old if I keep saying Eleanor & Park? The final moments of the book that absolutely killed me. I gave the book to my sister immediately so we could then discuss it.
Cath & Levi in Fangirl. Also, Cath and Reagan. They are fun together. But I can't not mention Eleanor and Park.
Strangely enough, most of my books this year were by authors I'd only started to read in 2013. So I'm going to go with Dark Witch by Nora Roberts. I read a couple of hers this year and this was the best one.
20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
I only read one book based solely on recommendation and that was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Sadly, however, it was not a favorite of mine. As it stands, since it is the only one to make the list in this question, I guess it stays.
Fantasy - no surprise. Honorable mentions to Dystopian and YA Contemporary.
Park from Eleanor and Park. He's 16, and I want him to be my boyfriend. Judge me, go ahead.
Once again, most of the books I've read this year were debuts or sequels to debuts. So... I think I'll go with Across the Universe by Beth Revis.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It was nothing if not detailed, I can say that for sure.
This is probably cheating because its a re-read, but the Harry Potter series that I spent the better part of the year re-reading was the most fun I had overall.
Book that made me cry the most? The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
Books that made me cry (in order of buckets of tears shed): Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Requiem by Lauren Oliver, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Harry Potter's 4-7.
The Pentrals by Crystal Mack. Great debut book that didn't get the attention it deserved.
BOOK BLOGGING/READING LIFE
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1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013?
This one goes to my best blogging bud: Amber from Paradise of Pages!
I don't know if I can objectively choose my favorite review, but I can tell you the most popular one: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini... which is a bit of a surprise now that I realized that considering I'm quite immersed in the YA blogosphere... interesting...
I haven't had very many, but the best, based on stats was one of my very first Harry Potter discussions of the first book, The Sorcerer's Stone.
We see tons of thought provoking reviews and discussions throughout the year. I don't think it would be fair to try and name one considering I won't remember ones I read months ago and loved, so I'm sorry, but I have no answer :/
5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
I haven't been to any awesome bookish events but I did participate in Armchair BEA which was pretty fun and sparked my interest in going to the real BEA. It will happen!
6. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?
Um.... it will probably sound inconsequential to you big book bloggers out there who've been doing this for a while, but I think the best moment was when I was approved for some netgalleys and ARCs that I really wanted... that was pretty awesome.
I haven't been to any awesome bookish events but I did participate in Armchair BEA which was pretty fun and sparked my interest in going to the real BEA. It will happen!
Um.... it will probably sound inconsequential to you big book bloggers out there who've been doing this for a while, but I think the best moment was when I was approved for some netgalleys and ARCs that I really wanted... that was pretty awesome.
Once again, oddly enough, it was that review of A Thousand Splendid Suns... weird...
All of my reviews... except of course for that pesky A Thousand Splendid Suns review, cause that one blew everything else out of the water.
GOODREADS!!
Aha! Yes, I was hoping you would ask. I started this year out with a goal of 40 books for the entire year and I made it to 59! Also, I had a goal to re-read the Harry Potter series and I pulled it off at the last moment!!
LOOKING AHEAD...
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House of Hades by Rick Riordan. Bought it the day it came out, but I have been holding off due to plans to begin re-reading the entire (two) series next week. But I will get to it!
Cress by Marissa Meyer. I simply cannot wait!!
I don't really keep up on who's book is a debut or not. Is that weird? I generally only care about if fellow bloggers I trust have read it and recommend it, regardless of if the author is brand new or not.
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Well I have a whole slew of goals for 2014 but I won't bore you with the details. The most important one in my opinion is my goal to read 60 books in 2014. I had a goal to read 40 last year and I killed it by 19, so I figured adding one more can't hurt. I think I can do it!
Well, guys... hasn't this year been something? We've had not-so-awesome things happen (My fiance tore his Achilles tendon and was out of work for 4 months, my mother and brother both broke their arms...), there were some awesome things that happened (I got engaged, I started my career as a paralegal, my fiance began his career as a correctional officer). We met new people, tried new things, and here we are on the cusp of a new year, a new beginning, and a chance to do it all over again! I hope you all make 2014 worth while, because I know I sure will!
Happy New Year to all of you!!
A.
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A.