Each year, Jamie over at the Perpetual Page Turner does a great end-of-year book survey. While I read about half the number of books I read last year, I still think 63 books is something to be proud of. Here are my picks for 2012!
1. Best book you read?
Love Does by Bob Goff (review). It shook me up and inspired me in all the right ways. If you haven’t read it, please get your hands on a copy right now. What are you waiting for? Just go get it. Seriously, the rest of this list isn’t anywhere close to as good as Love Does. Come back to it later. I won’t be offended.
2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
Bossypants by Tina Fey (review). Not that it was bad, it just didn’t live up to the hype.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book?
11/22/63 by Stephen King (review). Stephen King has always scared me a little. His JFK novel floored me—it was downright phenomenal.
4. Book you recommended to people most?
Love Does by Bob Goff (review). See #1.
5. Best series you discovered?
The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind (review) and Wise Man’s Fear (review)). Fantastic, dark fantasy series. Can book #3 come out already?
6. Favorite new authors you discovered?
Patrick Rothfuss, Scott Lynch, and Cheryl Strayed
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee (review). A tome about cancer? Not my usual fare. yet I devoured it—so very interesting!
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book?
Of all things, it was Wild by Cheryl Strayed (review). Her memoir had me staying up far later than I should. I couldn’t put it down.
9. Book you read this year that you’re most likely to re-read next year.
I don’t re-read a lot. I know, however, I’ll re-read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (review) in 2013. I originally read it in 2011. I’ll read it for my month of cultivating gratitude (in March).
10. Favorite book cover?
I quite liked the cover of Old Filth by Jane Gardam (review). Book was pretty darn good, too.
11. Most memorable character?
Auggie in Wonder by RJ Palacio (review). Born with a facial deformity and the heart of an underdog, he will absolutely win you over before you can blink. Such a good book that everyone (adult and kid alike) should read.
12. Most beautifully written book?
Wild by Cheryl Strayed (review) was gripping and read like superb fiction. Because You Have To by Joan Frank (review) was a close second. How she can put a sentence together!
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you?
Seven by Jen Hatmaker (review to come). While I found Bob Goff super inspiring, I think Jen Hatmaker wins me over for author who moved me to the most action. Her book, about her personal mutiny against the excess in her life, had me really questioning my possessions, finances, volunteering, giving, diet, wardrobe, and Sabbath. Lots of changes around here thanks to Mrs. Hatmaker.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited until 2012 to finally read?
The Stand by Stephen King (review). Once I got through 11/22/63, friends convinced me The Stand wouldn’t freak me out too badly. It didn’t! Such a gripping book – can’t believe it took me this long to get to it.
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?
I didn’t keep track of favorite quotes this year. I usually highlight and then go back and look, but because so many of my books were audio, I didn’t really take notes like I usually do. I’m sure there are highlights somewhere in my physical books, but I don’t have the time to look!
16. Shortest and longest books you read?
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (review) was 96 pages, while The Stand by Stephen King (review) was 1152.
17. Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to someone about?
There were several scenes in The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien (review to come) that had me and Ryan talking. I didn’t realize that the movie strayed from the book (as good as the movie is!).
18. Favorite relationship?
I just could not choose one! So I picked several: Maddie and Julie in Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (review to come), Corrie and Betsy in The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom (review), and Auggie and his friends and family in Wonder by RJ Palacio (review).
19. Favorite book you read from an author you read previously?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (review). This is YA at its absolute best.
20. Best book you read based solely on a recommendation from someone else?
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (review to come). Read this based on the recommendation of my friend Esther, and I’m glad I did – it was spare, beautiful, and utterly heart-wrenching.
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By the Numbers:
In addition to Jamie’s list, here are the numbers for my reading life in 2012:
Total books read: 63
Total pages read: 25,085
Fiction / non-fiction: 38 / 25
Female / male authors: 22 / 41
New authors / previously read authors: 43 / 20
Audio books: 36
Books by Year Published: 1800s: 1 / 1900 – 1950: 4 / 1951– 2000: 8 / 2001: 1 / 2003: 1 / 2004: 3 / 2005: 2 / 2006: 1 / 2007: 3 / 2008: 4 / 2009: 9 / 2010: 5 / 2011: 15 / 2012: 12
Most books by the same author: 4, Stephen King
Most books in one month: 8, February
Fewest books in one month: 2, November
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Challenges:
I didn’t complete all my challenges, but I came pretty close!
Back to the Classics Challenge: Read 9 books from specific categories: 7 books read (78% complete)
Audio Book Challenge: Listen to 25 audio books: 36 audio books read (144% complete. Dang.)
What’s in a Name 5: Read 6 books with certain words in the title: 6 books read (100% complete)
TBR Pile Challenge: Read 31 books off my TBR shelf: 28 TBR books read (90% complete)
Leave a link to your end-of-year wrap-ups in the comments. I love going and looking at what people have enjoyed throughout the year!
I’ll be loving the review of Return of the King if you do one. Always like talking about Tolkien and/or Peter Jackson’s adaptations of Tolkien’s work.
I need to get to the second Rothfuss book. Thought Name of the Wind was fantastic. Hopefully A Wise Man’s Fear will be one I get to this next year and then I’ll be in the same boat with you and the rest who are dying for the final chapter.
Love seeing your stats. You read a lot of new to you authors this year. I only had 15 out of 55 that were new to me. If I count a couple anthologies which were filled with mostly new authors, then 17. With the Women of Genre Fiction Reading Challenge being hosted by Worlds Without End, then I’ll have at least 12 female authors I read next year for the very first time ever (if I’m good and complete the year long challenge).
I hit 55 books (it will be 56 after today) and that feels like it was a comfortable number given how little I read for a couple of months over the summer.
Carl V. recently posted..My 2012 In Review
Review of RotK tomorrow! Definitely get Wise Man’s Fear. I was afraid it was all feeling a little Harry Pottery, but it really diverges from the Kid With Talent At A Magic School in the second book. Can’t wait for #3!
I’m going to go check out that reading challenge. I’m listening to a Connie Willis book right now — I’m sure that probably qualifies. ;-)
What is cool about that challenge is that it has to be all female authors that you haven’t read before, so taking it on means making the effort to check out a bunch of new-to-you authors. I had fun making my pics.
I have the book waiting for me, just need to work it into the mix. As I haven’t read any of the HP books and only seen one of the films (yes, I know) I thankfully didn’t have that reaction to the Rothfuss book. :)
Carl V. recently posted..My 2012 In Review
Oh how cool! I’ll definitely look into it then!
Wow, Cori, I killed you in the number of books I read. Over 100, with many, many, MANY repeats. But, since the majority of them were roughly 10 pages long and had names like “Goodnight Moon” and “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” I’m thinking that if you go by pages, you’ve got me beat. If we tally by your silly standards (meaning the book has more words than pictures), my best guess (I didn’t keep track) is 15 and 3/2 (one started in 2011 and finished in 2012, one I decided not to finish, and one that won’t be finished by tomorrow). :)
Dang. I read Dinosaur vs. Bedtime a bunch, but not nearly as many times as you’ve read Goodnight Moon.
15 3/2 books is great, considering you have a Tiny Baby Person attached to you at all times.
Great synopsis! I’ve been waiting for Rothfuss to finish/get further along on the Kingkiller series before diving in again. Glad you enjoyed your King excursions this year. And we’ll have to discuss the things in LoTR!
SteveB recently posted..2012 Favorites: Books
Oh Rothfuss. WRITE LIKE THE WIND! (Or, was that George RR Martin…)
Wonderful year-end-survey, Cori! Thanks for recommending ‘Love Does’ and ‘The Fault in Our Stars’. I will look for them. Enjoyed looking at your reading year in numbers. You seem to have read a lot of nonfiction! Hope you have an amazing reading year in 2013 too!
Vishy recently posted..2012 – A Year of Reading
I do read a lot of non-fiction! I tend to rate it higher than fiction, too, because it usually touches me a little more deeply.
King really does have a broad range. I’m glad that I’ve gotten more into his books this year. Haven’t gotten to 11/22/63 yet but I will. And I’m also impatiently waiting for The Kingkiller Chronicles to be finished.
Glad to have found your blog.
Charleen recently posted..My Year of Reading
Definitely get 11/22/63 — such a good read! Glad you stumbled here :)
11/22/63 is really high on my list for this year. I ended up loving The Stand too and was so surprised by that.
Melissa recently posted..Pin it and Do It: Pinterest Challenge
Definitely pick up 11/22/63. I’ve recommended it to a bunch of people, and everyone has thought it was really great.
Great post, very fun to read. I love many of the books you mentioned, especially The Stand, 11/22/63, Wild, and The Fault in Our stars. Here’s my list: http://msredpen.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/2012-the-year-in-books/
I think Wild has made most end-of-year lists!