2014 End of Year Book Survey

End of Year Book Survey is hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner

Previously, my 2013 End of Year Book Survey, my 2012 End of Year Book Survey, and my 2011 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.

My Month in July: Moving Plans, Anne Obsession, and a Birthday Giveaway

July was a fairly low-key month for me, which doesn't translate into a particularly exciting monthly recap post so I apologize for that. I've been spending much of the past few weeks planning for a move. The end of my lease is FINALLY approaching (August 31) and I can't wait to get out of my crap apartment and away from my shitty landlord (excuse the language... I rarely ever swear, but in this case I feel it is warranted). I won't go into details, but basically I have never felt so violated in my life as I have living in this apartment and dealing with several breaches of my personal privacy by my landlord. Luckily, my boyfriend and I have found another apartment that is in a better location, seems to have a reputable landlord, and is just generally better quality (ie. NO cockroaches or major electrical problems!). The only problem is of course, it's much more expensive. But I think I've finally come to accept that that's just how it has to be, living in the second most expensive city in Canada and wanting to live in a nice, clean home that I feel safe in.

But ANYWAYS. While I've been dealing with the stresses of moving, I've also had plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy myself. As I mentioned last month, I read Anne of Green Gables for the first time and it became an INSTANT favourite of mine! So much so that not only did I reread Anne of Green Gables again this month, but I also went on to read the entire series! (Or, at least, all the books that are in the public domain; I haven't quite got my hands on the two books that were written afterwards in the 1930s).

I spoke before of my love for Anne, but it's worth repeating: I just love her earnestness, her dramatic nature, and her love of life. Reading about her adventures just brings me so much JOY! And it's an instant pick-me-up for me when I'm feeling down or stressed. I didn't enjoy the sequels quite as much as the original as Anne naturally does some growing up and loses a bit of her theatricalness, but it was just such a pleasure to read about her journey from orphan girl, to budding teacher and writer, to married with children. These books have become SO special to me this month that I just had to share!

They also do a great job with the movie adaptations, I think:

Megan Follows IS Anne brought to life! It's so satisfying when a book you love is translated into a faithful movie adaptation that does the book justice.

And taking my Anne Obsession to the next level:

Just HAD to have these potatoes from Anne's home, Prince Edward Island!! Bonus: they're also endorsed by two-time Olympic gold medalist Canadian bobsledder, Heather Moyse! LOL.


Also this month, I binge watched another Canadian treasure, Orphan Black:

I actually didn't even know this show was Canadian at first. All I knew about it was that it was about clones, it airs on BBC America, and the lead actress was supposedly brilliant. And lo and behold, I recognized Toronto immediately and then determined that the entire cast, crew, everything was Canadian, which was surprising because it's also a very fast-paced, thrilling show with great acting talents. Now I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but I feel like it's honestly pretty rare that Canada is able to produce shows of the quality of Orphan Black to run with the big shots in the US and the UK, for various reasons. So I am definitely pleasantly surprised with Orphan Black and I'm totally LOVING it! Also, Tatiana Maslany - who plays many different renditions of her cloned character absolutely brilliantly - was totally ROBBED of a nomination for Best Actress at the Emmy's this year and last!!


Lastly, there are a number of birthdays to celebrate. Firstly to my favourite hero Harry, who turns 34 today and who changed my life for the better, and secondly to my favourite author Jo, who turns 49 today and who is my Queen. Thank you for inspiring me, being there for me through my hardest times, and for giving me a love of reading.

Source

And thirdly, and much less importantly, it is my 26th Birthday tomorrow! So to celebrate these birthdays and because I haven't hosted one in a while, I'm having a giveaway. One person will win $15 CDN to The Book Depository for the book of their choice. Thank you so much for reading my blog!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Posts in July:

Waiting On Wednesday: HarperCollins Fall 2014 Catalog Part 1

Waiting On Wednesday: HarperCollins Fall 2014 Catalog Part 2

Top Ten Blogging Confessions (with Beauty and the Beast GIFs, just 'cause)

Top Ten Favourite TV Shows

The Ten Authors I Own The Most Books From

Muggle Monday: 7 New Things We Learned From J.K. Rowling's New Article On Pottermore

Muggle Monday: The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike #2) Review - 5 Stars

Review: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen - 4 Stars

Review: City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare - 4 Stars

My Life in June: World Pride, Toronto Zoo, and The Night Before Our Stars

Best Book Read in July:

No surprise here - I LOVED Jo's newest book, written under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith. As with the first in the Cormoran Strike Series, The Cuckoo's Calling, the mystery was excellently done, the characters are layered and likeable, and the story is very engaging. I was glued to the pages of The Silkworm and I really cannot wait to see more from Jo and Cormoran Strike in future instalments!

My Life in June: World Pride, Toronto Zoo, and The Night Before Our Stars

I absolutely CANNOT believe 2014 is already half over!! Where has the time gone?? I would like some of it back now, please. I feel like I've been busy, busy, busy, and yet haven't accomplished very much so far this year thesis-wise. Entertainment-wise, however, I'm doing fine - check out my June:


Just this past weekend, I was able to attend my first ever Toronto Pride Parade:

This year is an extra special one for Toronto Pride because Toronto played host to World Pride this year, which meant an entire week of festivities. I was only able to make it out to the parade, but I'm happy I even managed that considering how intensely hot it is outside and how crazy the crowds were. As always, LGBT Pride parades never fail to make me smile and appreciate just how many people out there are good-hearted, open-minded folk who embrace and support those who are of a different sexual orientation from their own. It made for a great day!


Earlier this month, I was FINALLY able to make time to visit the world-renown Toronto Zoo:

I spent an entire day there and STILL only saw about half of the entire zoo! Another visit to see the rest of the park is already in the works because I seriously LOVED every minute of it. How cool would it be to be a zookeeper there??

My favourite animals were the apes - the gorillas and the orangutan I saw. I don't know how anyone can meet our closest living relatives, the Great Apes, and NOT feel an instant connection to them.

They're also very intelligent animals. Check out the video I took of this clever orangutan washing the glass of her enclosure with her left hand and squeegee-ing it with her right hand:


And finally, this month I was also lucky enough to be able to attend the advanced screening event of The Fault In Our Stars movie, entitled The Night Before Our Stars:

And so I saw The Fault In Our Stars in a theatre full of squealing teenage girls. In retrospect, this was not such a great idea. Of course it was SO great to see such enthusiasm for a great book by such young people, but for me, it kind of took away from the viewing experience. The girls all squealed and cheered every single time that Augustus Waters appeared on screen so that I could not hear his dialogue and they all bawled LOUDLY at the end of the movie in a fashion that I found quite distracting. So what did I think of the movie? Well, I really don't know. I really feel like I need a second viewing of the movie all on my own so that I can FEEL my own feelings and not get distracted by raucous squeals and loud honks. I have the general impression that I liked it and thought it was well acted, but that's it. I will rent it on DVD and make up my mind about what I think of it then!

Blog Posts in June:

Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2014
Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR (Help Me Prioritize!) - As always, you guys DELIVERED when I asked for help on which books to prioritize for my summer reading and I can't thank you enough! Funnily enough, the results were fairly even across the board, which makes me excited because I KNOW I have some good reading ahead of me! If you're curious, Crown of Midnight and Eleanor & Park tied for first place with 39% of the vote, Graceling came in second with 36%, and The Raven Boys and The Giver tied for third with 32% of the vote. No worries though, I do absolutely plan on reading all ten of the books on the list, I just wanted to know which ones should be made a priority for right now!
Top Ten Unique and Beautiful Uses of Typography
Review: Raging Star (Dust Lands #3) by Moira Young - 4 Stars
Review: Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne - 3 Stars
Series Review: Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - 4 Stars
The Great John Green Read of 2014
My Life in May: Moira Young, Period Dramas, and the Great John Green Read of 2014

Best Book Read in June:

The audiobook of Anne of Green Gables was offered up for free last week on SYNC Audiobooks and I didn't think much of it as I downloaded it to my phone to listen to as I get ready in the mornings. But then. OHMIGAWD IT WAS INSTA-LOVE (yes, it DOES exist in some instances!)!! Okay, first of all it must be said that I feel a bit ashamed at the fact that I, as a Canadian, had never read this classic Canadian novel. I have no excuses. And second, I want ever so much to be bosom friends with Anne Shirley!! Words cannot express how much I love that girl and her imagination and her earnestness. I can only hope that she would think me a kindred spirit in turn. This audiobook, as narrated by Colleen Winton, just filled me with so much JOY (and in the end... heartbreak) that it instantly became an all-time favourite of mine. I do wish Anne of Green Gables had been introduced to me in my childhood, but I am happy to have it in my life as an adult at any rate. Also: it has convinced me that I absolutely MUST see Prince Edward Island in my lifetime!!