DeLibrarie: 2012 End of Year Book Survey

I realize that it's a bit late in the game to do an end of year book survey but late is better than never. So here it is! I found this at The Reader's Antidote and I've always found surveys to be fun so I thought I'd give it a go! So here it is...

2012 End of Year Book Survey

1. Best Book You Read in 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

The Selection by Kiera Cass

This book blew my mind... I could not put it down.

2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didnt?

The Libation Bearers by Aeschylus. It was intriguing but long and tedious... a little disappointing in that respect but it's a classic so I'm not all that surprised.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

I'm always a little nervous when it comes to putting mythological creatures in teen fiction because they have a tendency to make the creatures silly or inconsequential. However, this book was so real and believable and true to the severity of the creature that I LOVED it. It was such a captivating read.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Not as many people have read it as I had previously supposed so I went on a mission to get people to read it especially since it had become a movie this year.

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

This book is stunning and I havn't put it down since I picked it up late last year. It's the perfect read for winter because it takes place in winter, too. I love it.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Jocelyn Davies and Kiera Cass

I had never read anything by them before this but I'm so glad I have now. They are wonderful writers.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Medea by Euripides

I've always been a sucker for the classics, but this type of classic genre was new to me and while the writing is tedious, this particular story was heart-wrenching. And while it was terribly sad, it has stayed with me because it is such an incredible story. Definitely a great read.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Of course I've read this before, several times, but I've been rereading the entire series and I have trouble putting these books down once I've started them.

9. Book you read in 2012 that you are most likely to reread next year?

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Because the sequel, The Elite, is coming out soon. EEK!! I'll be rereading this series over and over again for the rest of my life I imagine.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Nightlight by The Harvard Lampoon

That cover is SO funny, I LOVE it.

11. Most memorable character in 2012?

Damon from The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

He's so immensley different from the Damon in the television series version of this story that I love seeing the contrast. In the book he is so purely evil. I hate him for it, but it's refreshing to see a character so bent on destruction like he is. All the bad boys nowadays have this soft side to them, but not him. He's pure evil and it's a nice change.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Seriously, this book was wonderful!

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?

How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel

So disturbing and yet powerful...We always forget how life can be for some people and then stories like this remind us...

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?

Until I Die by Amy Plum

She is such a fantastic writer and this series is so spell-binding that I wanted to read it right away, but I also want to wait and savor the series, too. So I put it off but I'm upset that I waited because it's SO good...

15. Favorite book passage/quote from a book you read in 2012?

I had to give most of the books I read back to people or to libraries so alas, I cannot look up my favorite quotes as of now... but go look up some Teaser Tuesdays and I'm sure you'll find some good quotes there!!

16. Shortest and Longest book you read in 2012?

Longest: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling with 734 pages

Shortest: The Libation Bearers by Aeschylus with 43 pages

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...) Be careful of spoilers!

The end in Ripple. I won't say anything more than that, except that I DID NOT see it coming and I was SO taken aback... I'm still looking for someone to talk to about it because no one else has read it apparently!

18. Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc)?

I love America's TWO relationships in The Selection. I won't say more so as to not ruin anything...

19. Favorite book you read in 2012 from an author you read previously?

The Mandrake by Niccolo Machiavelli

That story is SO wonderul! Machiavelli is fascinating.

20. Best book you read that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Del made me read it because she needed to talk to someone about it and I'm SO glad she forced me to read it. It is now one of my all-time favorites.

Looking Ahead

1. One book you didn't get to in 2012 but will be your #1 priority in 2013?

Destined by Aprilynne Pike

I've been putting off the final in the Wings series, but I need to know what happens...