Hosted by Jamie of the Perpetual Page Turner.
Ugh. This is a very late post since I've been procrastinating and I don't know what face I'll show to you guys. If 2016 was the year of starting a ton of urban fantasy series, then 2017 was the year of a lot of book-reading slumps.
I have been reading... just not whole, honest-to-goodness books. This is the first time I haven't reached my Goodreads reading goal. Both of them, since when I caught on that I wouldn't be able to reach the usual hundred books a year, I reduced the goal number to seventy-five. And I fell short by about nine books.
But for all the years I've been setting reading goals and blogging (seven) and reading (practically my whole life), I always say that it's not about the number of books you've read but about your experience with them.
Number of Books Read | Number of Re-Reads | Genre You Read the Most From
- As you can see, I didn't have a great year when it comes to the number of books I've read.
- Soooo many reading slumps.
- ...and blogging slumps.
- I sure hope I 2018 will be better.
1. Best Book You Read In 2017?
It's a toss-up between Cheating Death by April White and Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop. Both are series enders to two of my favorite series ever.
I cannot repeat and emphasize myself enough: READ THEIR SERIES - The Immortal Descendants by April White and The Others by Anne Bishop.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I loved the concept and it has potential but it drowned in the storytelling and tangled cluster of the story quest.
And the development of the characters' relationships.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
I wanted to read Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao because it's not very often I see a book based on Asian history/mythology written by an author with an Asian heritage in mainstream YA world.
And it's not very often I encounter a book (or I'm just not looking in the right places) where it is clear that the protagonist (of their own story) may be a future villain in the whole concept.
FOATL reminded me of of the Korean drama Jang Ok-Jung where the show was about centered around this lady with such beginning and later on became powerful but did unspeakable things.
I don't know if I want to read more of her story but this book is really one for the bookshelves.
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
My persuasion skills were not at par this year.
5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?
Best series started: Wolves and Roses by Christina Bauer
Best sequel: Haunting the Deep by Adriana Mather
Best series ender: Cheating Death by April White
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?
None. But I loved the writing of Julie C. Dao, Katherine Locke, and Emily Bain Murphy.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
You can't make me read out of my comfort zone! Nooooooo!
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
The Pottermore Presents series. For when I want a Harry Potter fix and I don't want to read the main books.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship, and Dangerous Hobbies
11. Most memorable character of 2017?
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?
- This is the aftermath. What happens after a huge upheaval? Back to normal? Or are there smaller threats to deal with?
- Not many book series deal with what happens after the confrontation with the big bad; just a small epilogue to see if the main pair gets together with a hint of a happy-ever-after.
- I also like the fact that the books feature shapeshifters who don't go Hulk, all-dominating, caveman-behavior to show their alpha tendencies.
- Anne Bishop's books have special snowflakes in them but the book worlds didn't revolve solely around them making the story absurd and ridiculous.
- I loved how she wrote and dealt with everything, everyone, and each and every facet.
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017?
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read?
...I waited seven years before reading the rest of the Parasol Protectorate series. And I liked it less and less as I progressed. I stopped before finishing the series.
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017?
"We created Brave wherever we were brave" - The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke
“...you look the truth in the face - not the truth that has fangs and fur but the hard truth about yourself, that you're just as dangerous as the beings the rest of the people fear but you can't afford to be as honest about it. You can't tell those people that you'll make deals with what they fear in order to keep them sage from the monsters who look just like them.” -Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
Nothing surprised me.
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
MEG and SIMON!!!
Finally!
It was an open ending but all signs point to yes!
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
The Saira, Archer, and Ringo trifecta. They make a great team.
...from the Immortal Descendants series
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
I'm saying Cheating Death and Etched in Bone a lot in this survey.
Because they're really good AND YOU HAVE TO READ THE SERIES!
21. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
- Roar by Cora Carmack.
- Everyone was reading it so I had to find out what's so fascinating about it.
- I did enjoy it.
- Straightforward storytelling with no wishy-washy, dilly-dally narrative.
- Fast-paced and enjoyable.
- Substantial world-building and fleshed-out mythos without spoonfeeding readers.
- Romance that unfolded nicely
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?
No one but the Brooding YA Hero made me laugh. Does that count?
23. Best 2017 debut you read?
The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
Well-crafted, well-written mystery. Reminiscent of the whimsy and mysticism of the writings of Maggie Stiefvater and Jennifer Murgia, The Disappearances is beautifully captivating. The narrative unfolds the mystery at a steady pace that builds the anticipation of the reader.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
The Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic by Helen Harper was not at par with the sarcastic hilariousness of Charley Davidson but it still gave laughs.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2017?
I was in a blogging fugue.
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2017?
My review of the The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke.
Not everyone's cup of tea but the writer's prose was beautiful and on point.
3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
Still, hands down, ArmchairBEA.
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2017?
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
It felt like I'm having a hiatus while still reading (lots of fanfics) and lurking around my blog.
It felt like I'm having a hiatus while still reading (lots of fanfics) and lurking around my blog.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
I was part of the blog tour and Katie McGarry really draws crowds.
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Reviews. Always.
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?
The books for review that I haven't gotten to... yet. *awkward laugh* Reading slumps are such a bitch.
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?
A compilation of reimagined folklore and mythology of East and South Asia.
It will be released in June 26, 2018.
3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
The sentence above was pre-written. As of this posting, I've already read it and it was GORGEOUS. I'm going to put the book, the writing, and the author up there together with Maggie Stiefvater, Holly Black, and Laini Taylor.
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?
My most anticipated enders were released last year! Most of the series I'm in the middle of are still in in that second-book stage.
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?
I've learned to be a at-my-own-pace blogger and just write and post stuff that I really want to post; whether it is to promote a book through blog tours and blitzed or just fangirling through reviews.
I really want to write more discussion/review posts about the films and TV series I watch. Even all I post is a mixture of gifs and screenshots from them. Heh.
6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):
I opted not to request and read ahead. Look at the TBR pile 2017 left.
66 books is still really good. Most people in the world don’t read that much. I hope you’re having a great 2018!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!