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2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)

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June Reviews Link-Up

July Reviews Link-Up

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My Progress:


9 / 30 books. 30% done!

2024 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (1)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia (1)
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*

International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (5)
- France (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Scotland (1)
- The Netherlands (1)

My Progress:


12 / 51 states. 24% done!

2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


10 / 50 words. 20% done!

2024 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


15 / 50 books. 30% done!

Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


32 / 50 books. 64% done!

2024 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


27 / 52 books. 52% done!

2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


21 / 40 books. 53% done!

2024 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge


13 / 40 books. 33% done!

2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


5 / 25 books. 20% done!

2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge

2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge

My Progress


17 / 26.2 miles. 65% done!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


15 / 100 books. 15% done!

2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

My Progress:


34 / 104 books. 33% done!

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


31 / 52 books. 60% done!

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

My Progress


32 / 165 books. 19% done!
Saturday, December 30, 2017

My Year in Books, 2017: Survey Says ...

The end of a year is one of my favorite times in Book Bloggerland.  It's always fun to check out everyone's stats and goals for the new year.  Just like I get excited about reclaiming my house after Christmas, I love cleaning up the blog so it's shiny and fresh for whatever's to come.  Here's to a fabulous 2018 both on the blog and off. 


I'll post my official stats later (I'm still hoping to squeeze in ONE more book before January 1st), but for now I'm going to do this fun end-of-the-year book survey created by Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-Turner.  If you want to follow suit, you're welcome to link up your post here.


Number Of Books You Read:  157—I'm just about done with #158 and I'm hoping to sneak in one more book before the new year.  We'll see.

Number of Re-Reads:  2

Genre You Read The Most From:  Probably mystery/thriller



1. Best Book You Read In 2017?

The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy 
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I read a number of books that could fit this category, but the one that stands out most is Year One by Nora Roberts
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? 
At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourse by Latter-Day Women by Jennifer Reeder and Kate Holbrook, eds. -- I was surprised by how much I loved this one.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?


I don't know about a specific book, but I feel like I "push" certain authors:  Kate Morton, Louise Penny, Sharon Bolton, Jane Casey, etc.

5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?

Starter: Wool by Hugh Howey
Sequel: Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman or How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Ender: Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?
 Emily Bain Murphy

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

 I didn't read much out of my comfort zone this year ...

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Anything by Megan Miranda, Peter May, Sharon Bolton, or Jane Casey 

9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?


I'm not much of a re-reader.  I do read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens every Christmas and I'm in the middle of re-reading the Harry Potter series, so probably those.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?

I love all the covers for The Gold Seer trilogy by Rae Carson.  Into the Bright Unknown is no exception. 
11. Most memorable character of 2017?
Olivia from You May Already Be a Winner by Ann Dee Ellis

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?


How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017?
 Worth the Wrestle by Sheri Dew

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read?


Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer 


15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017?
Um...

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?

Shortest:  Christmas at Ruby's by Holly Schindler (90 pages)
Longest:  Wool by Hugh Howey (528 pages) 

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
This might be spoiler-y, but Jean-Guy Beauvoir and Annie Gamache (from the Armand Gamache books by Louise Penny)
 19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir, always
 20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny 

21. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:


Far From the Tree by Robin Benway

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?

I'm too old for book boyfriends!

23. Best 2017 debut you read?


The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?


Peter May is a master at bringing the Outer Hebrides in Scotland to life.  I always love reading his books set there.  I also love Julia Keller's depictions of West Virginia.  Both authors do a remarkable job of bringing their settings to life, highlighting both the ups and downs of life in such inhospitable places.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?


It's All Relative by A.J. Jacobs

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?


I cry over everything, so yeah ...

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?


The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy—it hasn't gotten nearly the buzz it deserves

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?


How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?


Wool by Hugh Howey

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?


The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny



1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2017?


Lots.  There's no way I can remember them all, but here are a few:


2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2017?


Uh ...

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?


Uh ... I'm not sure I did any of these this year ...

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?


Top Ten Tuesday is always a favorite.  I was pretty boring offline this year -- I went to zero author signings/festivals/conferences/etc. Boo hoo.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2017?


I still literally do fist bumps and shout "YES!" every time a publisher sends me a hot book that I really want to read.  That happened a number of times this year.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?



Same as every year -- keeping up with reviews.  Currently, I'm reviewing books I read back in June.  My to-be-reviewed stack of shame (see above) is pretty daunting.  Yikes!


7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?


My Top Ten Tuesday posts are always the most popular.  I try to comment on at least 25 blogs each time, so I get a lot of comments back.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?


Um, all of them??  Ha ha.

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?


Through trial and error, my daughter and I discovered the best place to trade books (the most money back/store credit for your books) is at our local indie, Changing Hands.

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?


Ha ha.  No.  I signed up for two reading challenges this year and didn't get anywhere near completing either one.  Oops.


1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

 A Piece of This World by Christina Baker Kline
 2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?
The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton

3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?


The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?


Third book in The Knowing trilogy by Sharon Cameron

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?


One of these years I'm actually going to accomplish my goal of reading 200 books!

6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):


The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

17 comments:

  1. Looks like a good reading year! Glad you liked Far From the Tree!! I can't wait to read The Great Alone!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't like it as much as I wanted to, but I did like it. I find its premise especially interesting because my youngest daughter, who's adopted, has a bunch of half siblings out there and I hope someday she gets the chance to meet them :)

      Delete
  2. I love your reviews, your recommends and this reflection. You are my go-to for if I need a good comfort read or a new series. I stinkola at challenges and barely keep up with my Book Group reads but they motivate me and stretch me. I'm excited to try some of your favorites!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Gaye! I'm glad you still check in :) Happy New Year!

      Delete
  3. I'm so impressed that you've read over 150 books this year and that you might sneak in two more books before the end of the year. Do you do audio books or do you read books the old fashioned way?

    You're never too old for book boyfriends, lol.

    I'm so jealous that Changing Hands is your local Indie Store. But, I'm glad I have TKE. I just wish I had Changing Hands too, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I'm always dismayed when I see my end-of-the-year number. I feel like all I do is read, so it seems like it should be higher. LOL. I actually don't do audio books at all. Just regular ole books -- mostly paper, but e-books too.

      Changing Hands is an awesome bookstore. I love it! It's actually about a 20 minute (one way) drive from here, so I don't go there that often. It's always fun to visit, though. TKE is also a great store. I've been a couple of times and I love it!

      Delete
    2. That's so crazy that you don't do audio books and you still read that many books. You must be a fast reader. I need to learn to read faster, lol.

      Delete
  4. Great way to wrap up the year! (And it sounds like The Disappearances is a book I really need to read in 2018. Happy new year! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You do! It's a great book. Imaginative, compelling, clean, and just all-around awesome. I love it!

      Delete
  5. Not to mention your closet full of books... 😉

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shhhh ... no one is supposed to know about that!!

      Delete
  6. I did this same end of the year post and will put it up tomorrow. I did, however, delete a bunch of the questions that I couldn't quite muster up answers to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I should have done that -- I blanked on a number of them. I can't wait to see your answers for the questions you completed :)

      Delete
  7. I never save quotes from books either! And you’re never too old for a book boyfriend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I take copious notes while I read a book, but I toss them after I write its review, so yeah, I definitely couldn't remember any quotes!

      Delete
  8. Thank you for mentioning me! I'm super happy too that I found your blog! I always love it when I find new books to read, especially when they are out of my comfort zone. :) I know how you feel about being behind with bookreviews. You can do it! :)

    You read lots and lots of books in 2017. A great reading year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome! I love finding fun new blogs to read and sharing them with others. Yours has been a delight. I look forward to seeing what you read in 2018!

      Thanks for the encouragement on my lingering reviews. I definitely need it. Yikes.

      Delete

Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.

P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!

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<i>Reading</i>
End of Story by A.J. Finn

Listening

<i>Listening</i>
My Contrary Mary by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows



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