Tales Post – 2014 End Of Year Book Survey

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This fab end of the 2014 survey is the 5th annual end of year survey hosted by Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner and is the first time I am participating!  Thanks to Jim at YAYeahYeah for pointing me in the direction of this fab blog!

Before I start I would like to thank everyone for their support with my blog in 2014, fab authors for writing fab books and being generally awesome and fab followers and bloggers for being just fab and friendly in 2014.

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Number Of Books You Read: 

According to my Good Reads I have only read 29 books! I didn’t join Good Reads until August 2014 and prior to that I had only read a handful of books due to a personal issue which caused me to not be able to read.  I am fully back on the reading bus now and hope to do better in 2015.

Number of Re-Reads:

5!  Some re-reads from my childhood in the mix.

Genre You Read The Most From:

This year I discovered the wonderful world of YA and I loved it!

Best Book You Read In 2014?

Cruel Summer by Juno Dawson – I LOVED this book so much and is my best read of 2014!  Scream / I Know What You Did Last Summer all mixed with humour and dead bodies.  Just a fab read with a twist I did not see coming!  Fantastic!

 Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Billionaire Boy by David Walliams – Every month my son gives me a book to read off his shelf and he is a big fan of David Walliams (as are most kids).  My son told me this was his favourite.  Although it was good I expected it to be better, but it hasn’t put me off reading any of his others!

 Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014? 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – I steered clear of The Hunger Games due to all of the hype, but I finally read the 1st book in 2014 and it was fantastic!  I loved everything about it and planning to read the next two in 2015.

Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?

Cruel Summer by Juno Dawson and We Were Liars by E Lockhart – I talk about these books A LOT (You will see)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best series you started in 2014?

Geek Girl by Holly Smale – I read this in 2014 and it made me laugh so much.  I must read the next few in the series before the new book comes out.  Loved Harriet Manners.

 Favourite new author you discovered in 2014?

Juno Dawson – She can do no wrong in my eyes!  I love her books!

 Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith – I never would have picked this book up in a million years to read.  Not my genre.  Not my thing.  The cover did nothing for me and the blurb was just weird.  Oh how wrong was I!  I read this book as part of a course I was doing and it was fantastic!  Great characters, great story, huge bugs! I loved it so much!

 Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson – I couldn’t put this down when I read it this year and I loved it and a great twist at the end!

 Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

My True Love Gave To Me – Various Authors – I will definitely be re-reading this around Christmas 2015.  It was a great read – I loved it so much!

Favourite cover of a book you read in 2014?

Say Her Name by Juno Dawson – This cover is AMAZING!  It’s perfect and fits the genre of the book and sets the tone of the book perfectly.  I have turned this book outward facing many time in a shop so other people can be scared….I mean admire its beauty!

 Most memorable character of 2014?

Amy Dunne from Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – I loved this character even though I maybe shouldn’t.  Such a fantastic character!  If you have read this book – the whole cool girl speech blew me away!

 Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

We Were Liars by E Lockhart – This book may keep appearing as it was just a beautiful read from start to finish.  E Lockhart’s writing took my breath away.

 Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

Hollow Pike by Juno Dawson – This may seem like a strange choice for this, but after a personal issue this is the book that got me back into reading so it holds a special place in my heart and was life changing personally for me.

 Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read? 

Della Says: OMG! by Keris Stainton – A really fab read from a really great Author!

 Favourite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green –

“I fell in love with him the way you fall asleep.  Slowly, and then all at once”

*Heart Melts*

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2014?

All I Want For Christmas by Esme Taylor – A short Christmas Love Story so this was my shortest read.

The Diviners by Libba Bray – Definitely the most longest and scary read I’ve read this year.

 Book That Shocked You The Most?

 OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters from The Fault In Our Stars – No words…just perfection.

 Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year?

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick – This book was a great read not only for a personal reason for me, but also for the fantastic relationship between Laureth and her little brother Benjamin!  Its heart-warming and portrayed perfectly.

 Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Other than some re-reads I think I most of my books I have read in 2014 have been from authors I have never read before!

Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Solitaire by Alice Oseman – Everyone told me to read this debut and I did and it was wonderful!

 Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green – Augustus Waters – Need I say anymore? *Drifts off into a daydream*

 Best 2014 debut you read?

Trouble by Non Pratt – This book was all kinds of wonderful!  Such realistic relatable characters, fab story and wonderful writing.  A fantastic debut from a lovely author.

 Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Again this for me built the best world this year, but I hoping to visit many more worlds next year!

 Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

The Boy And A Bear In A Boat by Dave Shelton – such a fun read.  It is what the title says but is a great book about friendship and team work.  It made me smile lots!

 Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?

We Were Liars by E Lockhart – This book broke me into a million tiny pieces and I am still not over it.  I cried for hours and sat and stared into space for hours after also.  Even thinking about this book makes me well up! If you have read it you will know what I mean.  If you haven’t read it grab a copy immediately preferably with a big box of tissues.

 Hidden Gem Of The Year?

A Kiss In The Dark by Cat Clarke – This was my hidden gem of 2014 – I adored it so much!

 Book That Crushed Your Soul?

We Were Liars by E Lockhart – Did you guess?  I’m sorry this book keeps appearing but that is how much love I have for this book and IT CRUSHED ME!

 Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith – For me this is my most unique read of the year, so different to anything I normally read.

 Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Petit Four by Various Authors – I loved this collection of 4 short stories, but the reason it made me mad was as it about cake I kept actually eating cake!!!  Nom Nom Nom!

New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014? 

Jim over at YAYeahYeah – great blog and I feel I have made a great twitter friend who I hope to meet up with at some point in 2015!

 Favourite review that you wrote in 2014? 

My favourite review I wrote was maybe the We Were Liars by E Lockhart book review simply because I have so much love for this book!  I also had the pleasure in meeting her in 2014 and it was amazing.

 Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

My blog has not been up and running for very long, but my favourite non review post has to be Does Music Influence Writing or Characters In UKYA?  I had so much support for this feature form lovely UKYA authors and the end result was amazing.

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

The best event I have taken part in this year had to be #pointhorrorbookclub run by the wonderful Juno Dawson.  Every month we revisit a Point Horror Book that I used to read during my childhood of Juno’s choosing, we read and then discuss it on Juno’s website around the 13th of every month.  Its normally hilarious and have met some wonderful twitter people in the point horror asylum!

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

The best moment for me this year was when I met Juno Dawson at a book event at YABirmingham along with Non Pratt and Holly Bourne!  I am a huge fan of Juno Dawson’s books and she was just as lovely in person and she called me a legend which made me both blush and be happy at the same time!  No one has EVER called me a legend before!

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

I think my most popular post on my blog for 2014 was the Does Music Influence Writing Or Characters in UKYA post – I had many re-tweets, comments on twitter, comments on the blog and many views on this post which made me very proud indeed.  Thank you to all!

 Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

This is a hard one for me because me blog is new and I have had so much support getting going from other bloggers / publishers / followers / authors that I really think all my posts have had so much love.

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

This has to be the wonderful people over at YABirmingham – as well as fab events their twitter feed is amazing and great reviews also as well as great members of staff at the shop.

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

I hadn’t set any challenges at the start of 2014, but if I’m honest due to a personal situation starting in the middle of 2013 and the beginning half of 2014 I achieved my goal / challenge of getting myself back into reading so for me this was a big achievement after a not so fab year.  I fully thank the author Juno Dawson for getting me back into reading as her books are what I read first and got me back on track to which I will for ever be thankful.

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill – I simply must get around to reading this asap in 2015!

 Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?

Under My Skin by Juno Dawson – I simply cannot wait to read this!  I love Juno’s writing style and the genre is just up by street!  Plus the cover is amazing and the book is going to have sprayed pink page edges!  I have mine on pre-order already – due out March 2015!

 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

7 Days by Eve Ainsworth – I’m lucky enough to have a copy of this already and will be reading early 2015 prior to the release date in February 2015!

Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

Arsenic For Tea by Robin Stevens – I admit I have not got around to reading Murder Most Unladylike (this 1st in the series) yet, but my son has read it and he is excited about the 2nd book in the series due out in January 2015.  I’m excited to as I know how wonderful it will be and Robin is so lovely!

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

I am hoping to read and review 80 books in 2015 (hmmmmm) and I am also hoping to feature more guest posts on my blog!

 A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone – Every one needs to read this book!  It all kinds of magic and wonderful.  Both myself and my 9 year old son loved it!  In fact you can find my review here and my sons review here.  Our February 2015 – go pre-order a copy now!

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Thanks to Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner for hosting and I’m looking forward to 2015 already!

Happy Reading