End of the year book survey 2011
I saw this end of the year book meme at caffeinatedlife's blog. It is hosted by the interesting book blog The Perpetual Page Turner 
GENERAL
01. Best Book You Read In 2011?
Which book meme made by a book-loving person starts with such a question? Everyone who loves reading should know you can never choose just one Best Book. But alright, these are the Best BookS I read in 2011 (rereads not included)
- Benjamin Mee - We bought a zoo
- Kristen Heitzmann - The Rose legacy
- Jeffrey Overstreet - Cyndere's Midnight
- Penelope Williamson - The Outsider
- Charles Dickens - David Copperfield
- Lynn Austin - While we're far apart
02. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?
Divine by Karen Kingsbury. While I've read a fair few Karen Kingsbury books and know what (not) to expect from them, I still had high hopes for this modern retelling of Mary Magdalene's story. Unfortunately, it was not nearly as good as it could have been, I thought it was shallow and predictable.
03. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?
My uncle wrote, or actually translated a book, from Medieval letters. It was about the trial of Jan Hus, an early Church reformer and written by a man named Poggius, a village priest, who observed the trial and wrote letters to a friend about what he saw. It was really easy to read (which says something about the translating skills of my uncle I think!) and very interesting and sad to learn about all the wordly and church politics which in the end caused Hus to be executed.
04. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?
I wrote reviews here on Livejournal recommending some of the books I read: The Outsider and Cyndere's Midnight.
05. Best series you discovered in 2011?
The Rose inheritance by Kristen Heitzmann was a very interesting historical series about a mining village in the Western United States of the 19th century.
06. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?
Kim Vogel Sawyer. I read two historical novels by her which I really liked, they were fresh and interesting and had engaging characters: My heart remembers and A promise for spring.
07. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Knielen op een bed violen by Jan Siebelink. I gave up on reading Dutch literature after my secondary school time, when I hád to read them for assignments. Now, almost ten years later, I thought it would be only fair to give this genre a second chance. I started of with this book which had created a lot of buzz in the Christian community a few years ago. It's about a very strictly religious man and the influence his beliefs have on his wife, children and business. While I think Dutch literature will never be one of my great loves, I certainly enjoyed this well-written book.
08. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?
Whisper to the wind by Maureen Lang was quite thrilling. It was about an illegal paper in WWI occupied Brussels and there was always the threat of the characters being arrested. But also Jane Eyre, especially as I was nearing the proposal scene. I knew how it would end ofcourse, I even know parts of the conversation by heart, but still I had to tear myself away from the book!
09. Book you most anticipated in 2011?
I'm not really up to reading all the newest books, but I'm really glad I finally got to read While we're far apart by Lynn Austin, I always anticipate new novels by her!
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?
11. Most memorable character in 2011?
I reread Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brönte this year and was struck again with what a wonderful character she created in Jane! She's so strong and yet has her human flaws and the way we hear/read her thoughts in the novel is almost modern. I believe Charlotte Brönte was way ahead of her time in writing Jane Eyre.
12. Most beautifully written book in 2011?
Cyndere's Midnight by Jeffrey Overstreet. The prose of this fantasy book is really wonderful!
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?
I had the most discussions about Knielen op een bed violen, the Dutch novel I told you about in question 7. It didn't really have a great impact, but it did set me thinking about strict religion, which some of my family members have experience with, and how it forms you as a child.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?
The Outsider by Penelope Williamson has been on my list for some years now, ever since I watched the movie. Now that I've read it and enjoyed it so much, I indeed cannot believe I've waited so long!
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?
I haven't really written down any quotes from the modern books I read, so I'll leave you with a lovely quote from Jane Eyre:
"If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you,
and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends"
16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?
Probably none, as there are more than enough other books I still want to read. But oke, if I had all the time in the world it would be Cyndere's Midnight by Jeffrey Overstreet.
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
The books I most want to talk with someone about are usually the classics. Because I've heard so much about them and when I finally read them I want to discuss them with others who love these books. But that's what Livejournal is for, right? This year those were Daniel Deronda by George Eliot, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and I'm currently reading Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell, which I'm really eager to discuss with someone. So if anybody has read Ruth, please comment!
LOOKING AHEAD…
01. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?
I didn't do my yearly Jane Austen reread!! I wanted to reread Mansfield Park this year, so I'll definitely do that next year. I also want to go on with rereading Lord of the Rings, I only managed The Fellowship of the Ring in 2011. And there are some books on my bookshelves which have been there for quite some time now, which scream for attention!
02. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?
I'm really looking forward to reading the newest novel by Lynn Austin, In Wonderland, which my mother gave me as a present for Sinterklaas earlier this month.
03. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading In 2012?
I really hope to read some more in 2012. I wasn't too impressed with my reading list of 2011, I've had better years, so to say!
GENERAL
01. Best Book You Read In 2011?
Which book meme made by a book-loving person starts with such a question? Everyone who loves reading should know you can never choose just one Best Book. But alright, these are the Best BookS I read in 2011 (rereads not included)
- Benjamin Mee - We bought a zoo
- Kristen Heitzmann - The Rose legacy
- Jeffrey Overstreet - Cyndere's Midnight
- Penelope Williamson - The Outsider
- Charles Dickens - David Copperfield
- Lynn Austin - While we're far apart
02. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?
Divine by Karen Kingsbury. While I've read a fair few Karen Kingsbury books and know what (not) to expect from them, I still had high hopes for this modern retelling of Mary Magdalene's story. Unfortunately, it was not nearly as good as it could have been, I thought it was shallow and predictable.
03. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?
My uncle wrote, or actually translated a book, from Medieval letters. It was about the trial of Jan Hus, an early Church reformer and written by a man named Poggius, a village priest, who observed the trial and wrote letters to a friend about what he saw. It was really easy to read (which says something about the translating skills of my uncle I think!) and very interesting and sad to learn about all the wordly and church politics which in the end caused Hus to be executed.
04. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?
I wrote reviews here on Livejournal recommending some of the books I read: The Outsider and Cyndere's Midnight.
05. Best series you discovered in 2011?
The Rose inheritance by Kristen Heitzmann was a very interesting historical series about a mining village in the Western United States of the 19th century.
06. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?
Kim Vogel Sawyer. I read two historical novels by her which I really liked, they were fresh and interesting and had engaging characters: My heart remembers and A promise for spring.
07. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Knielen op een bed violen by Jan Siebelink. I gave up on reading Dutch literature after my secondary school time, when I hád to read them for assignments. Now, almost ten years later, I thought it would be only fair to give this genre a second chance. I started of with this book which had created a lot of buzz in the Christian community a few years ago. It's about a very strictly religious man and the influence his beliefs have on his wife, children and business. While I think Dutch literature will never be one of my great loves, I certainly enjoyed this well-written book.
08. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?
Whisper to the wind by Maureen Lang was quite thrilling. It was about an illegal paper in WWI occupied Brussels and there was always the threat of the characters being arrested. But also Jane Eyre, especially as I was nearing the proposal scene. I knew how it would end ofcourse, I even know parts of the conversation by heart, but still I had to tear myself away from the book!
09. Book you most anticipated in 2011?
I'm not really up to reading all the newest books, but I'm really glad I finally got to read While we're far apart by Lynn Austin, I always anticipate new novels by her!
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?
11. Most memorable character in 2011?
I reread Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brönte this year and was struck again with what a wonderful character she created in Jane! She's so strong and yet has her human flaws and the way we hear/read her thoughts in the novel is almost modern. I believe Charlotte Brönte was way ahead of her time in writing Jane Eyre.
12. Most beautifully written book in 2011?
Cyndere's Midnight by Jeffrey Overstreet. The prose of this fantasy book is really wonderful!
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?
I had the most discussions about Knielen op een bed violen, the Dutch novel I told you about in question 7. It didn't really have a great impact, but it did set me thinking about strict religion, which some of my family members have experience with, and how it forms you as a child.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?
The Outsider by Penelope Williamson has been on my list for some years now, ever since I watched the movie. Now that I've read it and enjoyed it so much, I indeed cannot believe I've waited so long!
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?
I haven't really written down any quotes from the modern books I read, so I'll leave you with a lovely quote from Jane Eyre:
"If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you,
and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends"
16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?
Probably none, as there are more than enough other books I still want to read. But oke, if I had all the time in the world it would be Cyndere's Midnight by Jeffrey Overstreet.
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
The books I most want to talk with someone about are usually the classics. Because I've heard so much about them and when I finally read them I want to discuss them with others who love these books. But that's what Livejournal is for, right? This year those were Daniel Deronda by George Eliot, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and I'm currently reading Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell, which I'm really eager to discuss with someone. So if anybody has read Ruth, please comment!
LOOKING AHEAD…
01. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?
I didn't do my yearly Jane Austen reread!! I wanted to reread Mansfield Park this year, so I'll definitely do that next year. I also want to go on with rereading Lord of the Rings, I only managed The Fellowship of the Ring in 2011. And there are some books on my bookshelves which have been there for quite some time now, which scream for attention!
02. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?
I'm really looking forward to reading the newest novel by Lynn Austin, In Wonderland, which my mother gave me as a present for Sinterklaas earlier this month.
03. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading In 2012?
I really hope to read some more in 2012. I wasn't too impressed with my reading list of 2011, I've had better years, so to say!