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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 End of Year Book Survey




2014 Reading Stats:

Number Of Books You Read: 125!

Number of Re-Reads: 10

Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy, definitely.


Best in Books:

1. Best Book You Read In 2014?
Without a doubt, it has got to be Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. 2014 was the year I fell head over heels for all things Anne, and I've been obsessed ever since. So yes, as you will likely notice from the rest of this survey, 2014 was definitely "The Year of Anne" for me!

2. Book You Were Excited About And Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne. When I first read the synopsis for it, I thought it screamed ME. But no, this one didn't quite work for me.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?
I was pretty blown away that Jo managed another stunning mystery with The Silkworm, and I was surprised by how intensely gory this book was!

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?
Probably Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. Especially the audiobook narrated by Colleen Winton. I know I was regretful that I had waited until 2014 to read this Canadian classic, and I wish someone had pushed this one on me sooner!

5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?
Best series started: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Best sequel: The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike #2) by Robert Galbraith (Jo)
Best series ender: Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) by Laini Taylor

6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2014?
L.M. Montgomery and John Green.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I tried out some non-fiction reads for the first time in 2014 and was surprised by how much I enjoyed them! Especially, Steve Jobs, the biography by Walter Isaacson - surprising how fascinating I found this book!


8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas.

9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Oh, let's just say Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery because even though I've already read it twice in 2014, it's the perfect pick-me-up book and I could definitely see myself reading it yet again in 2015!

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2014?
Loooove these new covers for the Anne of Green Gables series from Tundra Books!
11. Most memorable character of 2014?
Well, Anne Shirley of course! I want to be bosom friends with her.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. My first ever Melina Marchetta read and I am definitely going back for more.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?
Just One Day by Gayle Forman. This one resonated very deeply with me. AND gave me a major case of wander-lust!

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read?
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan! People had been telling me for ages that I needed to read it!

15. Favourite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?
Again, Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables says some real gems in that melodramatic way of
hers that is just so endearing:
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."
"My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes."
"It is ever so much easier to be good when your clothes are fashionable."
"Red hair is my life long sorrow."
... and I could go on and on. Oh that Anne!!


16. Shortest And Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Shortest has got to be some novella - I read quite a few of them this year. Longest was City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare coming in at 733 pages.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most
The end of Shadow Kissed, the third book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead - did NOT see that coming!! Total game-changer.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe FOREVAR!!

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacot from The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (Jo) - love the dynamic here.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Scarlet and Cress by Marissa Meyer were fantastic follow-ups to Cinder, which I read in 2013.

21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - okay so, Sara of Just Another Story has been trying to get me to read this one for YEARS! And I'm so glad I finally did!!

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?
Augustus Waters of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

23. Best 2014 debut you read?
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
The Glade in The Maze Runner by James Dashner was pretty intriguing!

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - Anne's melodramatics never fail to coax a smile out of me!

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?
Somehow, my answer to this one is also the book that made me smile the most this year: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - I stayed up quite late to finish this one, and near the end a certain scene nearly KILLED me (you know the one I'm talking about if you've read this book!).


Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?
Guys, I am WAY overdue for a reread of Harry Potter. I'm thinking I'll finally try out the audiobooks!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?
Very curious about A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas!

3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
I have my eye on The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey and Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?
Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer!

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?
Well now, I read 50 books in 2011, 75 books in 2012, 100 books in 2013, and 125 books in 2014. Dare I challenge myself to read 150 books in 2015??! Errrmm, probably not a good idea considering 2015 is the year I will have to write my thesis. So I guess my #1 Goal for 2015 is just to read WHAT I want and WHEN I want and have FUN doing it! Ditto with blogging.

34 comments :

  1. I binge read TVD and Bloodlines series this year. I can't wait for The Ruby Circle! I'm overdue for a HP reread. I'm thinking this summer since that is when I used to reread the series. Red Queen is amazing and a must read for 2015. Happy New Year and New Books!

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    1. I'm almost done with VA... kind of don't want it to end, but at least I'll have Bloodlines! And I used to reread HP every summer as well :)

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  2. Well you sure do love Anna don't you!! Yale yours is the very first blog I ever read and I loved it then and though I haven't visited in a wee while, I still love it very much now :D Happy New Year x

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    1. Oh yes, do I ever!! heh, well thank you and a happy birthday to you too!

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  3. Anne is amazing, I want to pick up the audio book again, maybe try the narrator you suggested. I'm saving up to buy the box set ( i love the new covers but so far it's only available in Canada and I say to myself 'I've always wanted to go to Canada...' just need to talk the parents into straying that far north for some vacay ;))

    And I'm SOOO glad you read Jellicoe ( I think I need to re.read that one myself, as well as HP from the start!!!) I think you would really like The Piper's Son, and you can always try Melina's fantasy series Lumatere Chronicles (second book is the best of that series in my opinion).

    Anyway, happy new year Aylee!! *hugs*

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    1. Oh, are those book covers really only found in Canada? I didn't realize... well yes, you'll just have to come visit me in Toronto then!!

      And yes, I'm not sure which Marchetta book I'll go with next, but I have a good feeling I'll love it as well. I might want to carve out lots of time for the Lumatere Chronicles so that I can take my time with it, I'm thinking.

      Happy New Year to you, as well!! *hugs back*

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  4. You did amazing, reading 125 books all while going to school! I'm wondering what I did in all my free time now .... lol. :) So glad we both discovered Anne this year!! I can't wait to read more ... and I love those covers from Tundra! So cute! I've been listening to the audiobooks on Hoopla, but I just might have to get those.

    Here's to a great 2015! Maybe you'll surprise yourself and hit 150 books. :)

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    1. Heh, wellll a lot of them were novellas. And you were raising a youngin'! I'm definitely thankful to have Anne's words of wisdom in my life ^^ Well now, 150 books seems awfully unlikely, but maybe if I introduce more picture books into my reading schedule...

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  5. I think that's a great reading goal! You have to keep it fun. And I LOVED The Silkworm. I'm so ready for another book in that series. SO GOOD. I just read Cinder and I'm about halfway through Scarlet now- loved/loving them. I'm so behind on series, so this is the first I'm starting with to get caught up, especially with Fairest coming out and then Winter!

    -Lauren

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    1. Excellent, glad you're reading the Lunar Chronicles and loving them!!

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  6. I though The Silkworm was an amazing sequel, too! So looking forward to book 3! Did you hear that there might be more than seven books? Not to keen on the idea of that myself...

    Ahh, I so wish Winter was coming out this month! The release data is too far away!

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    1. I did hear that! Well, I guess it works because there is more room for loads of books compared to HP because Cormoran's stories are mostly independent from each other.

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  7. Oh, I was so excited about Midnight Thief too and then DNFed the book...I actually liked how it started but not where it seemed to be going. Woah, you re-read many books!! I think I only re-read one or maybe even zero :P Not much of a re-reader. Oh, I hope you enjoy those audio books! I'm not into audio books (find them too slow). Happy New Year!!

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    1. Ehhh yeah, I was sort of liking how it started too, but meh. Oh well! I love rereading :D

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  8. Wow! 125 books! I've only managed to read 70 books last year, but I'm definitely planning on reading 100 books this year! Check out my End of Year Survey:

    http://rabbitearsbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-2014-end-of-year-book-survey-1st.html

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  9. Woah, 125 books read this year, that is INCREDIBLE. ESPECIALLY considering your studies. I am in awe *bows down before you*

    I LOVE how much you enjoyed Anne of Green Gables :D I also want to be bosom buddies with Anne. She's so beautifully melodramatic and her poetic soul just makes me smile! Of course, I loved your mentions of The Assassin's Blade ♥, Scarlet, Cress, Days of Blood & Starlight...Oh and I am SO totally OVERDUE for a Harry potter reread too! Last time I read them I did audio with the bf. This time, I think I'll do the books again (I HOPE.)

    I'm thrilled you did this survey too, I had a lot of fun with mine :D I hope 2015 is an amazing year for you Aylee, bookish and otherwise XOXOX Happy new year! *hug*

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    1. We'll, there were a lot of novellas and audiobooks in there, so I don't know how incredible it is. BUT THANKS!

      Best wishes to you in 2015 as well!! <3<3

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  10. I love Anne and VA! Also, I'm happy to see that you enjoyed Jellicoe Road. I plan on giving it another try again soon and hopefully, I'll be able to get through it.

    Oh, and all those books you're looking forward to in 2015, I'm dying to read them too :) I can't believe we have to wait sooo long for Winter, but at least Fairest will be coming out soon!



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    1. Yay, I would still love to discuss Jellicoe with you... so many feelings about that one. Hopefully there will be some bookish event soon that we can both make it to - would love to catch up!

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  11. I actually haven't read Anne, but def should. Happy 2015!

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  12. ANNE! ANNE! ANNE! She featured heavily on my survey also. ANNE/GILBERT WAS ALSO MY OTP ANSWER GAGSDFKJASDLFKJHHHHHH!!

    I can't believe I've not read The Cuckoo's Calling yet, but it is high on my priority list (maybe next month). Also Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Throne of Glass, I NEED these books in my life.

    Love this post - great answers! Happy New Year.

    PS Anne was also my answer for #11 <3 <3

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    1. :D:D YAYYYYY THIS PLEASES ME SO MUCH!! I knew I wasn't alone in feeling this way about Anne!!

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  13. It warms my heart to see all this Anne love! :-) I am also WAY overdue for a Harry Potter re-read. I'm so behind in my TBR I don't see it happening soon, but I want to just take a time out with all the books anyway. :-) Happy New Year Aylee!

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    1. Hee :D:D I just love her, what can I say? Happy New Year to you too!

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  14. Wow! This was so informative. You make me really yearn to read Jelicoe Road. I finally bought it, now I just need to read it!! Anne of Green Gables would be a stretch for me. I don't like classics AT ALL. I must admit you've made me curious, at least, I mean how could you like a book that much? I REALLY need to read #3 (conclusion to Daughter of Smoke and Bone) that's one of my most favorite series ever.

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    1. Oh Gina, Anne is just such a delight! She is overly dramatic and girly and honest and just loveable. It's a feel good read for me because I just couldn't help but fall in love with her and root for her!

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  15. Midnight thief is such a shame. It sounded so good, but you are not the first one I see who is disappointed by it. I have never read Anne, but I've seen the movies and I was delighted by her character. I should read the books. Dreams of gods and monsters was a fantastic ending, i couldn't have asked for more.

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    1. Yes, you should definitely read the books, I'm sure you would love Anne there, as well!

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  16. Wow. You seem to have a great year in terms of reading. I'm looking forward to reading Melina Marchetta and Robert Galbraith this year. I hope I love them as much as you did. Great post, Aylee!

    Sarika @ The Readdicts

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  17. I loved reading everyone’s surveys! I want to read Anne of Green Gables now because of how many times it showed up in you post.

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