2010 in Review Book Meme
Hi! I'm very late to the end of year memes thanks to a nasty long bout of the flu. Snagged this one from Miss Emily
This year I decided to record all the books I read, a paltry 559 total due to law school, studying for the bar (twice, ugh) and work. I read mostly law, romances and paranormals. This doesn't include fic of course, which I'll cover separately. Still, it was a year that bookwise had many highs and very few lows.
1. Best book of 2010?
Absolutely The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz which was not only hilarious but moving and something of an emotional revelation for me.
2. Worst book of 2010?
The Darkly Luminous Fight For Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber was campy, earnest, purple prosed dreck. What a piece of crap.
3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010?
It has to be Patience by Lisa Valdez. We waited so long for a sequel to 2005's Passion, which was such an unusual and pulpily wonderful page turner. Patience was just okay and I had to force myself to finish it. I've read Passion at least 30 times. Not worth the wait at all. Hot Finish by Erin McCarthy was disappointing in that there was so much buildup to this couple in the previous books and the chemistry etc just sort of trickled out in a mediocre way. The book was fine but not what I was hoping for.
4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010?
Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis was so much more than I expected. I also adored Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross, which was nothing like what I thought it would be. The Wild Hunt by Margaret Ronald was wonderfully intricate and exciting. Siren by Tricia Rayburn still haunts me. Very spooky and beautiful. Native Star by M.K. Hobson was astonishing and lovely.
5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010?
The Spellman series by Lisa Lutz. I recommended it everywhere and went so far as to buy family and friends copies and make them listen to the audio books when I drove. I can't say enough good things about them and live in terror of a movie being made of them and ruining them. Also, I am Izzy, for better or for worse.
6. Best series you discovered in 2010?
Hard to say. I loved the Unholy series by Stacia Kane, devouring all three in the same day while on my Alaskan cruise. I never thought I could fall in love with an unrepentantly drug-addicted main character but she made me buy off completely. Wow, were these books exciting, angsty and full of unrequited romance, action and fascinating world-building. Instant fan here. Coming in a close second were Laura Bickle, Jennifer Estep and Maggie Stiefvater.
7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010?
I always pick up a bunch of new authors but more so this year when I pushed myself to read many, many new to me authors in the paranormal genre. The release of Kindle for the mac lead to me starting to read ebooks in a major, major way although I'll never favor that form. I do love satisfaction on demand however. Stacia Kane was a revelation for me. I am digging Nancy Holzner and her Deadtown series. Anna Katherine hooked me into what sounded iffy, Salt and Silver, and left me panting for more in the fascinating world she created. Also see question six.
8. Most hilarious read of 2010?
The Spellmans Strike Again as discussed above.
9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010?
Three-way tie here between The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz, Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs and Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews . I counted down the days to each of these from the second I finished the preceding books and then started all three over again from the beginning the second after I finished the last page. I found myself stopping and taking breaks for pointless tasks in the middle of reading just so I could stretch out the experience of reading them for the first time but then carrying the book with me so I wouldn't be separated from it in case an earthquake or some act of god somehow kept me from returning to my bedroom. Wow, that's embarrassing to admit.
10. Book you most anticipated in 2010?
See answer nine.
11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010?
Rosebush by Michelle Jaffe was beautiful inside and out.
12. Most memorable character in 2010?
If a new character, then I'd have to pick Carolyn Crane's Packard, a character memorable because she made me fall in love with the sociopathic bad guy.
13. Most beautifully written book in 2010?
Either Shiver or Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.
14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?
The Spellmans Strike Again made me think deeply on my beliefs because of my deep identification with Izzy and what the author had to say.
15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read?
I don't have one of these. I generally read something as soon as I hear about it.
Any thoughts on these? Ping me back. Happy reading in 2011!
This year I decided to record all the books I read, a paltry 559 total due to law school, studying for the bar (twice, ugh) and work. I read mostly law, romances and paranormals. This doesn't include fic of course, which I'll cover separately. Still, it was a year that bookwise had many highs and very few lows.
1. Best book of 2010?
Absolutely The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz which was not only hilarious but moving and something of an emotional revelation for me.
2. Worst book of 2010?
The Darkly Luminous Fight For Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber was campy, earnest, purple prosed dreck. What a piece of crap.
3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010?
It has to be Patience by Lisa Valdez. We waited so long for a sequel to 2005's Passion, which was such an unusual and pulpily wonderful page turner. Patience was just okay and I had to force myself to finish it. I've read Passion at least 30 times. Not worth the wait at all. Hot Finish by Erin McCarthy was disappointing in that there was so much buildup to this couple in the previous books and the chemistry etc just sort of trickled out in a mediocre way. The book was fine but not what I was hoping for.
4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010?
Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis was so much more than I expected. I also adored Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross, which was nothing like what I thought it would be. The Wild Hunt by Margaret Ronald was wonderfully intricate and exciting. Siren by Tricia Rayburn still haunts me. Very spooky and beautiful. Native Star by M.K. Hobson was astonishing and lovely.
5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010?
The Spellman series by Lisa Lutz. I recommended it everywhere and went so far as to buy family and friends copies and make them listen to the audio books when I drove. I can't say enough good things about them and live in terror of a movie being made of them and ruining them. Also, I am Izzy, for better or for worse.
6. Best series you discovered in 2010?
Hard to say. I loved the Unholy series by Stacia Kane, devouring all three in the same day while on my Alaskan cruise. I never thought I could fall in love with an unrepentantly drug-addicted main character but she made me buy off completely. Wow, were these books exciting, angsty and full of unrequited romance, action and fascinating world-building. Instant fan here. Coming in a close second were Laura Bickle, Jennifer Estep and Maggie Stiefvater.
7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010?
I always pick up a bunch of new authors but more so this year when I pushed myself to read many, many new to me authors in the paranormal genre. The release of Kindle for the mac lead to me starting to read ebooks in a major, major way although I'll never favor that form. I do love satisfaction on demand however. Stacia Kane was a revelation for me. I am digging Nancy Holzner and her Deadtown series. Anna Katherine hooked me into what sounded iffy, Salt and Silver, and left me panting for more in the fascinating world she created. Also see question six.
8. Most hilarious read of 2010?
The Spellmans Strike Again as discussed above.
9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010?
Three-way tie here between The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz, Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs and Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews . I counted down the days to each of these from the second I finished the preceding books and then started all three over again from the beginning the second after I finished the last page. I found myself stopping and taking breaks for pointless tasks in the middle of reading just so I could stretch out the experience of reading them for the first time but then carrying the book with me so I wouldn't be separated from it in case an earthquake or some act of god somehow kept me from returning to my bedroom. Wow, that's embarrassing to admit.
10. Book you most anticipated in 2010?
See answer nine.
11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010?
Rosebush by Michelle Jaffe was beautiful inside and out.
12. Most memorable character in 2010?
If a new character, then I'd have to pick Carolyn Crane's Packard, a character memorable because she made me fall in love with the sociopathic bad guy.
13. Most beautifully written book in 2010?
Either Shiver or Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.
14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?
The Spellmans Strike Again made me think deeply on my beliefs because of my deep identification with Izzy and what the author had to say.
15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read?
I don't have one of these. I generally read something as soon as I hear about it.
Any thoughts on these? Ping me back. Happy reading in 2011!