A survey by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner
2014 READING STATS
NUMBER OF BOOKS YOU READ.
Currently reading my seventieth book.
NUMBER OF REREADS.
Three (Angelfall by Susan Ee, Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas).
GENRE YOU READ THE MOST FROM.
Fantasy which is surprising because I usually read (and love) YA contemporary more. But then again, I’ve been obsessed with fantasy as of late.
BEST IN BOOKS
I. BEST BOOK YOU READ IN 2014?
I don’t know, man I’m really torn between Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater and Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. I’m choosing both.
I don’t know, man I’m really torn between Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater and Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. I’m choosing both.
II. BOOK YOU WERE EXCITED ABOUT AND THOUGHT YOU’D LOVE BUT DIDN’T?
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I downright loathed the main characters and the plot just made me so smad (sad + mad).
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I downright loathed the main characters and the plot just made me so smad (sad + mad).
III. MOST SURPRISING (IN A GOOD OR BAD WAY) BOOK YOU READ IN 2014?
Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu. I thought it’ll be same-old, same-old but it explores so many themes from cheating to bullying and secrets. I only have good things to say about this one.
IV. BOOK YOU ‘PUSHED’ THE MOST PEOPLE TO READ (AND THEY DID) IN 2014?
It’s a tie among Vicious by V. E. Schwab, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I feel victorious.
It’s a tie among Vicious by V. E. Schwab, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I feel victorious.
V. BEST SERIES YOU STARTED IN 2014? BEST SEQUEL OF 2014? BEST SERIES ENDER OF 2014?
Best series I started this year is definitely Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff because it’s so damn good.
Best sequel has to be Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor because so dark (and Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater and Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas).
Best series ender is Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo because so much awesome.
Best series I started this year is definitely Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff because it’s so damn good.
Best sequel has to be Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor because so dark (and Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater and Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas).
Best series ender is Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo because so much awesome.
VI. FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR YOU DISCOVERED IN 2014?
Jay Kristoff because Stormdancer made my heart weep.
VII. BEST BOOK FROM A GENRE YOU DON’T TYPICALLY READ/WAS OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE?
Out of the three comic books I managed to read this year, I loved The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1, The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie so hard.
VIII. MOST ACTION-PACKED/THRILLING/UNPUTDOWNABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR?
World After by Susan Ee. I finished it in a day so hell yeah, it was all of the above.
IX. BOOK YOU READ IN 2014 THAT YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO RE-READ NEXT YEAR?
World After by Susan Ee, Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas and Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (these two books, man).
X. FAVORITE COVER OF A BOOK YOU READ IN 2014?
I love the cover of Since You’ve Been Gone because it’s so summery and the fonts are fabulous. The cover of The Half Life of Molly Pierce is just so artsy which I love. I still don’t know who that is on the cover of Blue Lily, Lily Blue but I love it so hard anyway.
XI. MOST MEMORABLE CHARACTER OF 2014?
The heir of ash and fire who would fucking bow to no one AKA Celaena Sardothien.
XII. MOST BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BOOK YOU READ IN 2014?
The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno. Dude, that book has words so fucking amazing.
XIII. MOST THOUGHT-PROVOKING/LIFE-CHANGING BOOK OF 2014?
Falling into Place by Amy Zhang. The book will make you tear up because it’s about life and cuts really, really deep.
XIV. BOOK YOU CAN’T BELIEVE YOU WAITED UNTIL 2014 TO FINALLY READ?
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline because I always thought it wouldn’t live up to my love for sci-fi but it did and yes.
XV. FAVORITE PASSAGE/QUOTE FROM A BOOK YOU READ IN 2014?
I’m such a quote lover so here are three.
‘I know when I’m awake and when I’m asleep,’ Ronan Lynch said.
Adam Parrish, curled over himself in a pair of battered, greasy coveralls, asked, ‘Do you?’
‘Maybe I dreamt you,’ he said.
‘Thanks for the straight teeth, then,’ Adam replied. – Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
‘I somehow knew that the particulars didn’t matter. She was my heart, she was half of me, and nothing, certainly not a few measly hundred miles, was ever going to change that.’ – Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
‘Fireheart – why do you cry?’
Because I am lost,’ she whispered onto the earth. ‘And I do not know the way.’ – Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
XVI. SHORTEST AND LONGEST BOOK YOU READ IN 2014?
A whopping 625 pages of Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylot and only 18 pages of The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo because I got curious about Genya (and the Darkling was mentioned so, obvs).
XVII. BOOK THAT SHOCKED YOU THE MOST?
The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1, The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie and all because of Lucifer and that ending!
XVIII. OTP OF THE YEAR (YOU WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP!)
PYNCH. (Ronan, please tell me that you dreamt Adam for reals).
XIX. FAVORITE NON-ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP OF THE YEAR?
Rowan and Celeana because damn, that’s some intense friendship/soul mating.
XX. FAVORITE BOOK YOU READ IN 2014 FROM AN AUTHOR YOU’VE READ PREVIOUSLY?
Well, I don’t think you have to guess the answer to this. Still, The Assassin’s Blade and Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas and Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater.
XXI. BEST BOOK YOU READ IN 2014 THAT YOU READ BASED SOLELY ON A RECOMMENDATION FROM SOMEBODY ELSE?
Asti, Aditi and Fahima pushed Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff on me until I read (and abso-fucking-lutely loved) it.
XXII. NEW FICTIONAL CRUSH FROM A BOOK YOU READ IN 2014?
STURMHOND. He be so witty and heart-breaking.
XXIII. BEST 2014 DEBUT YOU READ?
Falling into Place by Amy Zhang and The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno.
XXIV. MOST WORLD-BUILDING/MOST VIVID SETTING YOU READ THIS YEAR?
The world of Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas is so vast and breathtaking. I don’t know how she does it. Also, the world of Penryn & End of Days series by Susan Ee is pretty vivid and gruesome and I love it.
The world of Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas is so vast and breathtaking. I don’t know how she does it. Also, the world of Penryn & End of Days series by Susan Ee is pretty vivid and gruesome and I love it.
XXV. BOOK THAT PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE/WAS THE MOST FUN TO READ?
Just One Night by Gayle Forman. I didn’t even know I needed the feels until I read it.
XXVI. BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY OR NEARLY CRY IN 2014?
That would be a lot (I guess binge-reading series will do that to you). Falling into Place by Amy Zhang, Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas and Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff.
XXVII. HIDDEN GEM OF THE YEAR?
More people need to read Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu.
XXVIII. BOOK THAT CRUSHED YOUR SOUL?
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas and to think that Maas says book 4 is the darkest so far. WHAT.
XXIX. MOST UNIQUE BOOK YOU READ IN 2014?
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz which made me realize that I need to include more LGBT books to my to-read list.
XXX. BOOK THAT MADE YOU THE MOST MAD?
Talker 25 by Joshua McCune. Such an infuriating book whyyy.
BLOGGING/BOOKISH LIFE
I. NEW FAVORITE BOOK BLOG YOU DISCOVERED IN 2014?
I’ve discovered so many it’s hard to choose! So I’m not going to.
II. FAVORITE REVIEW THAT YOU WROTE IN 2014?
My review of Vicious by V. E. Schwab which I read in 2013 and am still not over how good the book is.
III. BEST DISCUSSION/NON-REVIEW YOU HAD ON YOUR BLOG?
Most popular discussion was about absent mothers and the female bildungsroman followed by YA adventures in parts (which is basically a discussion about duologies and trilogies).
IV. BEST EVENT THAT YOU PARTICIPATED IN?
V. BEST MOMENT OF BOOKISH/BLOGGING LIFE IN 2014?
I rediscovered instagram and went from full-time instagrammer and part-time bookstagrammer to part-time instagrammer and full-time bookstagrammer. That was hard to type.
VI. MOST POPULAR POST THIS YEAR ON YOUR BLOG?
An electronic playlist. I love me some music. Most popular bookish post was about discovering the tag and browse features of Edelweiss.
VII. POST YOU WISHED GOT A LITTLE MORE LOVE?
All of my discussion posts because I love all the different perspectives!
VIII. BEST BOOKISH DISCOVERY?
Book photography on Instagram! I love it and I love looking at book photos.
IX. DID YOU COMPLETE ANY READING CHALLENGES OR GOALS THAT YOU HAD SET FOR YOURSELF AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR?
Well, I was supposed to read 80 books this year and I’m close to finishing my 70th book. I call that success.
LOOKING AHEAD
I. ONE BOOK YOU DIDN’T GET TO IN 2014 BUT WILL BE YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN 2015?
All the books by Brandon Sanderson, yes.
All the books by Brandon Sanderson, yes.
II. 2015 NON-DEBUT YOU ARE MOST ANTICIPATING?
The fourth book in Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
The fourth book in Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
III. 2015 DEBUT YOU ARE MOST ANTICIPATING?
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh which is a somewhat retelling One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.
IV. SERIES ENDING/A SEQUEL YOU ARE MOST ANTICIPATING IN 2015?
The Raven Cycle #4 by Maggie Stiefvater (!!!), Lion Heart by A. C. Gaughen and End of Days by Susan Ee. Eeep.
V. ONE THING YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH OR DO IN YOUR READING/BLOGGING IN 2015?
I hate that I’ve become so lazy when it comes to writing reviews so I want to change that and I want write more posts instead of just letting the ideas rot in Google Keep.
I hate that I’ve become so lazy when it comes to writing reviews so I want to change that and I want write more posts instead of just letting the ideas rot in Google Keep.
VI. A 2015 RELEASE YOU’VE ALREADY READ AND RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE?
I read a 150-page preview of A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab which is as awesome as the title suggests. Also, I’m currently reading Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge and I think it’s a great book!
I absolutely NEED to read the Sanderson books ASAP! They sound fascinating. And you're so right about Stormdancer. I haven't read Kinslayer yet, but I've got it, so it's bound to be soon.
Ooh I loved your post on female bildungsroman too (I still cant pronounce it properly)! As you know, I crossed my 100 books goal way back in April, and now I'm somewhere in the 170s, but I feel like that's just a bunch of numbers, and this year, the quality's been missing. I hope you enjoyed your 70 books! 🙂
Dreams of Gods and Monsters was my biggest this year as well! I think it will be for a lot of people, actually. That was a beast, but I loved EVERYTHING about it.
Rowan and Celanea will forever be my platonic OTP <3 And Asti got to me too, because I just read Kinslayer as well and LOVED it! It’s good to know about Life by Committee – I’m waiting for it to come out in paperback so it will match my copy of OCD Love Story, but as soon as it does I’ll be reading it.
I reread Anna and it didn't sit well with me AT ALL.
What is this The Half Of Molly Pierce and why haven't I read it. HMM 2015 read for me perhaps?
WE NEED THAT LAST RAVEN BOYS BOOK ASAP BUT ALSO NOT because I don't want that series to end. I'm not ready to let go. Oh god.
OMG, the ending of The Wicked + The Divine! :O
Yay for all the Jay Kristoff love. I'm so glad those ladies pushed Stormdancer so much! Not sure if I would have read it otherwise. Can't wait to read his next (2) series!
I had to read that one about IG twice to get it XD
"All the books by Brandon Sanderson." YEEESSS!!! I'll cheer you on (or push you until you start)
A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC! YES! GET ON MY SHELF ALREADY!!!
You've come to the fantasy side, nice 😀 It's hard to choose between BLLB and HOF, but both are great picks and I looooooved them. World-after was SO action-packed, I can't wait for the next book <3 I tried Stormdancer last year, but it didn't work at that time. This is the year I will try it again.