2012 Books In Review
Stealing from ladyadeone! :)
(Oh, also note that all books mentioned also have authors mentioned, but since I wrote this in parts, the authors don't necessarily appear the first time the book titles do.)
Overall - best books you read in 2012?
The Hobbit (reread) by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hiding Place (reread) by Corrie Ten Boom, Mama’s Bank Account by Katherine Forbes, The Screwtape Letters (reread) by C. S. Lewis, and Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. I read some other good books, but I guess this wasn’t a stand-out year for excellent books.
Best series you discovered in 2012?
Hmm…For lack of anything else and with a little reservation, The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith, and The Goblin Wars by Kersten Hamilton.
Most surprising (in a good way) book of the year?
I read Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit at my sister’s request, just to check for content, and I ended up liking it fairly well; I also enjoyed The Scent of Water more than I thought I would, even if some parts drove me crazy. I wasn’t entirely sure what Letters from a Woman Homesteader would be like, but it was just as good as I’d hoped. Otherwise, I guess I wasn’t really pleasantly surprised by many books this year. ;))
Most disappointing book/Book you wished you loved more than you did?
I suppose this should be Code Name Verity, except I didn’t love it at all, and I only wish I liked it at all because Mel loved it and recommended it to me. :”> ;)) Runners up would be Legend by Marie Lu (because a number of other people I know like it and I get in arguments about it…) and Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer (except I feel the loathing of it is so well deserved…that I don't actually wish I liked it, but it was kind of disappointing).
Book you recommended most to others in 2012?
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. :)
Best book that was outside your comfort zone/a new genre for you?
I’ve been reading a number of books on WWII and the Holocaust since the fall of last year, so it would probably be either Night or Dawn by Elie Wiesel. The first is Wiesel’s personal account of life in a ghetto and then concentration camps during WWII; it’s heart-rending. The second is a story about a boy after a similar experience while part of a terrorist group to free Israel, and addressing his upcoming execution of a captured British soldier; fictional, but the setting and emotion behind it all is very real.
On a lighter note, Letters from a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart was also very good and my first time reading an epistolary novel. :)
Favorite author you discovered this year?
Technically, I heard a book on tape and read a couple of his children’s books before, but this year was really the first time I realised why most of the family loves Alexander McCall Smith. :)
Author you read the most in 2012:
Hmm…I’m guessing Alexander McCall Smith, though Terry Pratchett, Richard Peck or Ursula K. Le Guin is probably second.
Most thrilling, unputdownable book of 2012?
Either The Mark of Athena (a good romp) or one of Elie Wiesel’s books (very gripping for different reasons).
Book you most anticipated this year?
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan.
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
How about four favourites? :D
(A fairly light, pretty cute story overall though easy to figure out.)
(Decent story, but not a huge stand-out to me.)
(You've probably already heard about this one from me...)
(And you heard about this one in this post too.)
Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
Well, McKillip is always beautiful, but Harrowing the Dragon didn’t particularly stand out to me. Elizabeth Goudge’s The Scent of Water also had some nice passages, though it drove me kind of crazy too. Noriko Ogiwara’s Dragon Sword and Wind Child had a very nice feel/tone to it, though, so I guess I’ll go with that one. :)
Most memorable character?
How about Miss Asa-Smith from The Paradoxes of Mr. Pond? She’s probably one of the funniest bit characters I’ve run across (see quote below).
Most annoying character?
It’s kind of a toss-up between Queenie from Code Name Verity and the main character from Lady of Quality (also, her love interest, and several other characters from that book); I have pretty concrete reasons for the latter, and less explainable/more personal ones for the former.
Favorite couple:
Tea and Finn from The Goblin Wars; the premise of their relationship is kind of cliché, but the actual construct is well-done - they’re serious about it, and that includes staying within the bounds of what her father and family are comfortable with. Less seriously, William and Sacharissa from Terry Pratchett’s The Truth made me laugh. ;))
Book I read but had already forgotten:
Borrowed Children by George Ella Lyon. I had absolutely no idea what this book was until I ran across it in the library the other day; once I saw the cover, it all came back, but before then I was coming up completely blank.
Book that had a scene that left you reeling and dying to talk to someone about it?
The ending of Dawn was kind of a punch, and I really would’ve liked to talk to someone about it. Otherwise, probably either one of Kersten Hamilton’s or Rick Riordan’s books.
Series you gave up on in 2012?
I don’t usually give up on series persay, but I think it’ll be a while before I read any more Earthsea books by Ursula K. Le Guin (I really liked The Tombs of Ataun, but the fourth book in the series and the collection of short stories just rubbed me wrong). Otherwise, I may eventually read more of R.J. Anderson’s books but not anytime soon, and I just haven’t found enough time and interest to read more of The Girl of Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson.
One book you didn’t read this year that will be your #1 priority in 2013?
Technically, only my library books have been real priorities for this year since they have due dates. But, I’m meaning to reread LotR as soon as I can, and also try to ILL some more WWII books that have been recommended to me (plus other recommended/interesting books). :)
New book you are most anticipating for 2013?
The next books by Kersten Hamilton (The Goblin Wars), N. D. Wilson (The Ashtown Burials), and Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus). :D
Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2012?
"Yes; I cared more for that dirty rag of vanity, worse than any vice, than I did for any vices. How many men have sold their souls to be admired by fools? I nearly did it, merely to be suspected by fools. To be the dangerous man, the dark horse, the man of whom families should be afraid--that is the sort of abject ambition for which I wasted so much of my life, and nearly lost the fulfillment of my love. . . . I was better than I seemed. But what did that mean, except the spiritual blasphemy that I wanted to seem worse than I was? What could it mean, except that, far worse than one who practised vice, I admired it? Yes, admired it in myself; even when it wasn't there. I was the new hypocrite; but mine was the homage that virtue pays to vice."
The Paradoxes of Mr. Pond by G. K. Chesterton. (And the rest of the scene really stood out to me too.)
More amusingly, this passage from the same book just made me laugh:
“We have all heard of American interviewers who rip up family secrets, break down bedroom doors, and collect information in the manner of burglars. There are some; but there are also others. There are, or were, when the intelligent writer remembers them, a very large number of intelligent men ready to discuss intelligent things; and there was Miss Asa-Smith. She was small and dark; she was rather pretty and would have been very pretty if she had not dipped her lipstick in hues of earthquake and eclipse. Her finger-nails were painted five different colours, looking like the paints in a child's paintbox; and she was as innocent as a child. She was also as garrulous as a child. She felt something paternal about Mr. Pond and told him everything. He did not have to tell her anything. . . . She had written a play; and she just longed to read it to Mr. Pond.”
Euripides’ Medea also had a number of memorable quotes, so it gets an honourable mention. :)
Book that had the greatest impact on you this year?
I’d read it before, but The Hiding Place hit me again with the horror of men’s wickedness and the depth of God’s faithfulness. Elie Wiesel’s books also stuck with me.
The first book you read in 2012?
Started in 2011, Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea. Started in 2012, Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Tombs of Atuan.
The last book you finished in 2012?
Apparently Tsubasa, Vol. 12 by CLAMP. Non-manga, though, would’ve been Promised by Caragh M. O’Brien.
(Oh, also note that all books mentioned also have authors mentioned, but since I wrote this in parts, the authors don't necessarily appear the first time the book titles do.)
Overall - best books you read in 2012?
The Hobbit (reread) by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hiding Place (reread) by Corrie Ten Boom, Mama’s Bank Account by Katherine Forbes, The Screwtape Letters (reread) by C. S. Lewis, and Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. I read some other good books, but I guess this wasn’t a stand-out year for excellent books.
Best series you discovered in 2012?
Hmm…For lack of anything else and with a little reservation, The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith, and The Goblin Wars by Kersten Hamilton.
Most surprising (in a good way) book of the year?
I read Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit at my sister’s request, just to check for content, and I ended up liking it fairly well; I also enjoyed The Scent of Water more than I thought I would, even if some parts drove me crazy. I wasn’t entirely sure what Letters from a Woman Homesteader would be like, but it was just as good as I’d hoped. Otherwise, I guess I wasn’t really pleasantly surprised by many books this year. ;))
Most disappointing book/Book you wished you loved more than you did?
I suppose this should be Code Name Verity, except I didn’t love it at all, and I only wish I liked it at all because Mel loved it and recommended it to me. :”> ;)) Runners up would be Legend by Marie Lu (because a number of other people I know like it and I get in arguments about it…) and Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer (except I feel the loathing of it is so well deserved…that I don't actually wish I liked it, but it was kind of disappointing).
Book you recommended most to others in 2012?
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. :)
Best book that was outside your comfort zone/a new genre for you?
I’ve been reading a number of books on WWII and the Holocaust since the fall of last year, so it would probably be either Night or Dawn by Elie Wiesel. The first is Wiesel’s personal account of life in a ghetto and then concentration camps during WWII; it’s heart-rending. The second is a story about a boy after a similar experience while part of a terrorist group to free Israel, and addressing his upcoming execution of a captured British soldier; fictional, but the setting and emotion behind it all is very real.
On a lighter note, Letters from a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart was also very good and my first time reading an epistolary novel. :)
Favorite author you discovered this year?
Technically, I heard a book on tape and read a couple of his children’s books before, but this year was really the first time I realised why most of the family loves Alexander McCall Smith. :)
Author you read the most in 2012:
Hmm…I’m guessing Alexander McCall Smith, though Terry Pratchett, Richard Peck or Ursula K. Le Guin is probably second.
Most thrilling, unputdownable book of 2012?
Either The Mark of Athena (a good romp) or one of Elie Wiesel’s books (very gripping for different reasons).
Book you most anticipated this year?
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan.
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
How about four favourites? :D
(A fairly light, pretty cute story overall though easy to figure out.)
(Decent story, but not a huge stand-out to me.)
(You've probably already heard about this one from me...)
(And you heard about this one in this post too.)
Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
Well, McKillip is always beautiful, but Harrowing the Dragon didn’t particularly stand out to me. Elizabeth Goudge’s The Scent of Water also had some nice passages, though it drove me kind of crazy too. Noriko Ogiwara’s Dragon Sword and Wind Child had a very nice feel/tone to it, though, so I guess I’ll go with that one. :)
Most memorable character?
How about Miss Asa-Smith from The Paradoxes of Mr. Pond? She’s probably one of the funniest bit characters I’ve run across (see quote below).
Most annoying character?
It’s kind of a toss-up between Queenie from Code Name Verity and the main character from Lady of Quality (also, her love interest, and several other characters from that book); I have pretty concrete reasons for the latter, and less explainable/more personal ones for the former.
Favorite couple:
Tea and Finn from The Goblin Wars; the premise of their relationship is kind of cliché, but the actual construct is well-done - they’re serious about it, and that includes staying within the bounds of what her father and family are comfortable with. Less seriously, William and Sacharissa from Terry Pratchett’s The Truth made me laugh. ;))
Book I read but had already forgotten:
Borrowed Children by George Ella Lyon. I had absolutely no idea what this book was until I ran across it in the library the other day; once I saw the cover, it all came back, but before then I was coming up completely blank.
Book that had a scene that left you reeling and dying to talk to someone about it?
The ending of Dawn was kind of a punch, and I really would’ve liked to talk to someone about it. Otherwise, probably either one of Kersten Hamilton’s or Rick Riordan’s books.
Series you gave up on in 2012?
I don’t usually give up on series persay, but I think it’ll be a while before I read any more Earthsea books by Ursula K. Le Guin (I really liked The Tombs of Ataun, but the fourth book in the series and the collection of short stories just rubbed me wrong). Otherwise, I may eventually read more of R.J. Anderson’s books but not anytime soon, and I just haven’t found enough time and interest to read more of The Girl of Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson.
One book you didn’t read this year that will be your #1 priority in 2013?
Technically, only my library books have been real priorities for this year since they have due dates. But, I’m meaning to reread LotR as soon as I can, and also try to ILL some more WWII books that have been recommended to me (plus other recommended/interesting books). :)
New book you are most anticipating for 2013?
The next books by Kersten Hamilton (The Goblin Wars), N. D. Wilson (The Ashtown Burials), and Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus). :D
Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2012?
"Yes; I cared more for that dirty rag of vanity, worse than any vice, than I did for any vices. How many men have sold their souls to be admired by fools? I nearly did it, merely to be suspected by fools. To be the dangerous man, the dark horse, the man of whom families should be afraid--that is the sort of abject ambition for which I wasted so much of my life, and nearly lost the fulfillment of my love. . . . I was better than I seemed. But what did that mean, except the spiritual blasphemy that I wanted to seem worse than I was? What could it mean, except that, far worse than one who practised vice, I admired it? Yes, admired it in myself; even when it wasn't there. I was the new hypocrite; but mine was the homage that virtue pays to vice."
The Paradoxes of Mr. Pond by G. K. Chesterton. (And the rest of the scene really stood out to me too.)
More amusingly, this passage from the same book just made me laugh:
“We have all heard of American interviewers who rip up family secrets, break down bedroom doors, and collect information in the manner of burglars. There are some; but there are also others. There are, or were, when the intelligent writer remembers them, a very large number of intelligent men ready to discuss intelligent things; and there was Miss Asa-Smith. She was small and dark; she was rather pretty and would have been very pretty if she had not dipped her lipstick in hues of earthquake and eclipse. Her finger-nails were painted five different colours, looking like the paints in a child's paintbox; and she was as innocent as a child. She was also as garrulous as a child. She felt something paternal about Mr. Pond and told him everything. He did not have to tell her anything. . . . She had written a play; and she just longed to read it to Mr. Pond.”
Euripides’ Medea also had a number of memorable quotes, so it gets an honourable mention. :)
Book that had the greatest impact on you this year?
I’d read it before, but The Hiding Place hit me again with the horror of men’s wickedness and the depth of God’s faithfulness. Elie Wiesel’s books also stuck with me.
The first book you read in 2012?
Started in 2011, Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea. Started in 2012, Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Tombs of Atuan.
The last book you finished in 2012?
Apparently Tsubasa, Vol. 12 by CLAMP. Non-manga, though, would’ve been Promised by Caragh M. O’Brien.