Wednesday 22 December 2010

Best of 2010

Started by The Perpetual Page Turner, I've seen this survey on a few blogs now, so I thought I'd give it a go.

1. Best book of 2010?
This is just so hard! I have read so many brilliant books this year. I have to mention Before I Die by Jenny Downham, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (reviews for both coming next year), and The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. Those were some of the novels that really touched me. But then there are also the Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry novels. Too good for words! Nor can I not mention Alpha by Rachel Vincent or Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead - brilliant finales to fantastic series!

2. Worst book of 2010?
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Was no-where near as good as everyone made it out to me. It actually bored me. If it wasn't for the fact I've been brought up to read a book until the end, I would definitely have stopped reading it. Really didn't like it.

3. Most disappointing book of 2010?
Matched by Ally Condie. It had so much potential, but just fell flat for me. It was good, but it could have been so much more.

4. Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2010?
I think this will be Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide by William Hussey. This book so much better than I was ever expecting. Not too scary for me, but full of brilliant fantasy! I just loved it!

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010?
I really have no idea. I have forced so many books onto my cousin over the year. I think she'd have to answer which one I went on about the most. Probably Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, I think,

6. Best series you discovered in 2010?
The Perfect Chemistry series, the Dorina Basarb series by Karen Chance. I have read several brilliant first books this year, but as I haven't read the next ones, I don't want to mention them. But those two are just so good! I love them!

7. Favourite new authors you discovered in 2010?
Both new and new-to-me: Cat Clarke, Andrea Cremer, Lauren Oliver, Jenny Downham, Jandy Nelson, Simone Elkeles, Sarra Manning, L.A. Weatherly. I could go on!

8. Most hilarious read of 2010?
I haven't really read any novels that are soley humourous. So I think I will have to go for Death's Mistress by Karen Chance. There are some very adult moments in this book I felt were just so funny, plus Dory is just a funny character in all.

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010?
Ahh. Umm... Torment by Lauren Kate and Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick, simply because I was dying to know what happened next in the series.

10. Book you most anticipated in 2010?
Torment and Crescendo again.

11. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2010?
There are lots of gorgeous covers, but the best I think has to be the cover for North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley. It just works so well!

12. Most memorable character in 2010?
Tessa from Before I Die by Jenny Downham. Just amazing.

13. Most beautifully written book in 2010?
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson and A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crawly jointly. Hands down.

14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?
So many! Pretty much all the ones I read for Body Image & Self-Perception Month, and the ones I've been reading for Death and Bereavement Month next year. Before I Die and The Sky is Everywhere again. Love!

15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read?
Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance. I knew Chance is a genius, I should have picked up this book sooner!

Book blogging in 2010

1. New favourite book blog you discovered in 2010?
Empire of Books! Another YA blog run by a boy! I'm all for boys reading! :)

2. Favourite review that you wrote in 2010?
I tend not to have favourite reviews. I write a review, post it, then forget about it. So I don't really know.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
Less of a discussion, more of a feature - Body Image & Self-Perception Month. I really enjoyed it.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog?
A post that really made me stop and think was a post on The Book Smugglers, Crossing A Line: Is Banning Books Ever OK? It came about due to Amazon selling a certain book for paedophiles, but Ana's post is more about her own reaction and linking to censorship. It really made me think.

5. Best event that you participated in?
There were some good ones! But I think the best for me was the first blogger's meet-up organised by us ourselves for ourselves - not for an author or a publisher. It was great fun!

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2010?
How so many blogs around the globe - run by reviewers and authors alike - stood up for Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson when that article was released. Was just brilliant to see how we all rally together. And some brilliant, brave people shared their personal stories, which I just thought was amazing. To do something so difficult, to help save a book... just wonderful.

7. Best bookish discovery?
Not so much a discovery, but more like being reminded of something I already knew: how fantastic publishers are. If you take it to it's simplest terms, we bloggers help the publishers. However, they also do so much for us that they don't need to: blogger events, turning up to our own blogger events, surprise gifts, how helpful they are when we run features or ask for help regarding book suggestions for certain themes. Just incredible. And I love them for it!

Sorry for the lack of photos. Jo is a busy girl!

2 comments:

  1. I could go for a hilarious book. I might have to give that Karen Chance book a chance. Pun intended. *groan*

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  2. Hahaha! :D Go on, give Chance a chance! :P However, you'd want to start with Midnight's Daughter rather than Death's Mistress - MD comes before MD in the series!

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