End of 2015 Book Survey

Once again, I'm filling out an end-of-the-year book survey made by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner! The link leads you to her own list for this year.

Number Of Books You Read: 31

Number of Re-Reads: 2 

Genre You Read The Most From: Classics and contemporary (which is CRAZY because even though I enjoy contemporary I never seem to read much of it)

1. Best book you read In 2015?

Click here to see my list.

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

There are probably some diehard fans that hate me right now because these books get A LOT of love. But I just wasn't crazy about either of them. As I said in my review of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I just felt there were too many Underworld similarities for it to feel original, and I didn't even review Outlander because I knew that I wasn't about to say anything that hasn't already been said before by the few who disliked it.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph - I had to read this play for an acting class (don't ask) and I guess I just wasn't expecting it to be as fantastic as it was.

Fairest by Marissa Meyer - I didn't expect this to be so good since it's a prequel about the Lunar Chronicles villain, but holy crap. That whole family is crazy.

4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did)?

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork - well, no one has actually read it yet, but I bought it for my best friend for Christmas last year and this year I got a professor to put it higher up on her TBR (she can use it for a class).

5. Best series you started in 2015? Best sequel of 2015? Best series ender of 2015?

Best series started: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Best sequel: I'm going to cheat and use the prequel Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Best series ender: Redeemed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?

Virginia Woolf, hands down. (Obviously she's not new to the world, but she's new to me.)

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

Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph. I don't usually read plays, but this was really good.

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

Either Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas or Redeemed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. Also, I read Fairest by Marissa Meyer in a day - talk about some insane characters with major issues.

9. Book you read In 2015 that you are most likely to re-read next year?

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. It was perfect, and I could relate to it in ways I've never been able to relate to a book before.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas - a gorgeous piece of art depicting a badass character! 

11. Most memorable character of 2015?

Antoinetta - Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Celaena - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Lily and Mrs. Ramsay - To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?

Aurora Leigh by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Looking For Alaska by John Green

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

13. Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2015?

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee certainly sparked some discussions.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?

Looking for Alaska by John Green and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read In 2015?

"Thomas Edison's last words were 'it's very beautiful over there.' I don't know where there is, but I believe it's somewhere, and I hope it's beautiful." - John Green, Looking for Alaska

"It would be hung in the attics...It would be destroyed. But what did that matter?" - Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse (to provide some context, "it" is a painting)

"I have had my vision." - Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse

16.Shortest & longest book you read in 2015?

Shortest - Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph

Longest - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

17. Book that shocked you the most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

Fairest by Marissa Meyer - THAT WHOLE FAMILY IS BATSHIT CRAZY

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne - THE ENDING

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee - OH MY GOSH ATTICUS WHY?

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Mr. Weston and Agnes - Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte (the Bronte sisters do romance better than anyone!)

Doug and Kayleen - Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph

19. Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year:

Jim and Huck - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

20. Favorite book you read in 2015 from an author you’ve read previously:

Looking for Alaska by John Green

21. Best book you read in 2015 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else/peer pressure:

The only book I read based solely on a recommendation this year was The Awakening by Kate Chopin. One of my favorite teachers said it was one of her favorites and I've loved her previous recommendations, but I was a bit lukewarm on this one. Definitely an important book from an important author though.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?

I'm not sure if I have one, but I though Doug from Gruesome Playground Injuries was a sweetheart albeit reckless.

23. Best 2015 debut you read?

As usual, I didn't get to a debut.

24. Best worldbuilding/most vivid setting you read this year?

Nothing's jumping out at me too much (because I haven't read as much sci-fi and fantasy this year) but I could visualize the castle in Throne of Glass really well.

25. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read?

Redeemed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2015?

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (THAT FREAKING ENDING OH MY GOSH) and Looking for Alaska by John Green

27. Hidden gem of the year?

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph

28. Book that crushed your soul?

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

29. Most unique book you read in 2015?

The Rover by Aphra Behn. This play is really... Well, I don't even know. I've certainly never read anything quite like it. It was written in the 1600s and highlights how women were looked upon in that time, and it's rather alarming. But it's also unique because women generally weren't writing in this time period; Aphra Behn was the first woman to write professionally. In A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf says “All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn, for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.”

Also, Aurora Leigh by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She took the epic form and made a relatable story with her interesting style. Mrs. Browning also gets props.

30. Book that made you the most mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, because there were just too many Underworld: Rise of the Lycans similarities.

Book Blogging

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?

I'm having trouble with finding book blogs. There are so many out there but I've always been selective about who I follow. (Not the greatest karma, I know.)

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?

I don't really have a favorite review... but, I suppose I was most excited about writing my review of the album Visions by Grimes.

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

Let's face it, they weren't that memorable.

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

The only meme I participate in is Top Ten Tuesday.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?

I honestly don't know if there was a single moment. It was a solid year all-around.

6. Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

My review of Endless Forms Most Beautiful by Nightwish.

7. Post you wished got a little more love?

For the second half of this year, I think it would be more appropriate to say I wish the blog in general got a little more love. (Pageviews took a nosedive.)

8. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Hmm... I don't think I have one this year. Although I will say that I was finally able to find three books I wanted for the buy two, get one free deal they have at Barnes and Nobel.

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

I always want to read at least 24 books each year, so I surpassed that.

Best Books I Read: 2015 (Also Top Ten Tuesday)

Every year since I began blogging I make a big post about the best books I read. Since then, I've added a ton of end-of-year lists, and I wanted to try and spread them out a bit. I saw that today's Top Ten Tuesday (a lovely meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish) would be our best books list, so I decided that today would be the day - a little earlier than usual. I'm going to make this list only include what I've read from the start of the year through December 14, and anything I read from today until the end will just go on next year's list.

The books selected are the only ones I gave 5/5 on Goodreads. This list is a bit weirder than in previous years - I didn't read nearly as much YA as I usually do. (I still love YA - I simply read a different kind of variety this year... Primarily because of the university workload as an English Education major.) I found some new favorites in places I least expected this year!

Looking for Alaska 
by John Green

Well, I finally read it, and I must say, John Green knows how to write a damn good book. Looking for Alaska, which follows a teenager nicknamed Pudge who goes to boarding school for a more exciting life, was beautiful in just about every way. Green's writing style is immaculate: Not only are this man's sentences linguistically pretty, but he also does an exceptional job of describing emotions and making readers feel them. I cried - but that's hardly a surprise. The themes are easy to connect with as this book heavily deals with guilt and forgiveness, and the characters are so wonderful and flawed - it would be hard not to love Looking for Alaska. On a personal level I feel as though I picked a really good time to read this one.

To the Lighthouse 

by Virginia Woolf

To the Lighthouse is the first Virginia Woolf novel I've read, and it surely won't be the last. It resonated with me quite deeply - I still think about it all the time. I've wanted to reread it since I put it down, and that doesn't happen often. I could really find myself in the painter Lily Briscoe and her relationships with a number of other characters; I could make connections between the Ramsay dynamic and my own family's way of functioning. Woolf uses her complicated stream-of-consciousness writing style to unravel psychological states and to show time's slow progress, giving us a perfect, clear picture of several characters over the span of two days (separated by ten years). She is clearly showing readers rather than telling them. All aspects considered, To the Lighthouse instantly became one of my favorite books this year.

A Room of One's Own 
by Virginia Woolf

See, I told you To the Lighthouse wouldn't be my last Woolf novel (although A Room of One's Own is a big essay... you get the idea). Woolf addresses the needs of women (and really, of all writers) in order to write something and write it well: Financial security, education, and space to herself. Naturally, it is a feminist essay, but from a literary nerd's standpoint this was especially interesting to read because Woolf uses classic authors as examples, namely William Shakespeare, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, and Jane Austen. The connections she makes and the theories she comes up with are equally fascinating and powerful.

Go Set a Watchman 

by Harper Lee

Yep, I consider Go Set a Watchman one of the best books I read this year. I enjoyed this pre-To Kill a Mockingbird manuscript thoroughly for what it was - and what's really unique about reading this is you can take it as seriously or as not seriously as you want - there are details about To Kill a Mockingbird that are inconsistent with what became the actual novel. I accept the argument that Harper Lee likely changed her mind about what she wanted Atticus Finch to be, but regardless, the fallen idol concept of this book really moved me, and there's something about Lee's writing that makes me plow through pages at high speeds.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 
by Mark Twain

I first read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 2013 for a high school class and I really enjoyed it. I gave it a four out of five on Goodreads. I reread it for a college class this year and somehow my appreciation for this novel really expanded. I don't think I fully realized how much I loved Huck's story and how it's really everyone's story to some extent until this reread. Plus, Twain can be quite funny, thus making this book even more enjoyable to read. It has a good comibination of feels. I imagine I'll reread it a third time someday.

Wide Sargasso Sea 

by Jean Rhys

Wide Sargasso Sea is essentially wonderful Jane Eyre fanfiction, as Jean Rhys writes about Bertha (Antoinetta) Mason's troubling childhood and her eventual marriage to Mr. Rochester. This book is written beautifully. I read it for a university class, so I learned about why Rhys slightly shifted the time it was written and how Rochester's typical British culture clashed with Antoinetta's unique one (as a British girl raised in the Carribbean). Rhys' cultural and historical considerations offer an interesting perspective on the characters Jane Eyre fans have already been so fascinated by. Many who read this prequel seem to hate Rochester afterward, but I did not - for a variety of reasons that I won't get into. I ultimately feel the same way as I always have: He's flawed, but I feel sorry for him. I think he truly tried to do the best he could in his situation. Altogether, I think this is a very valid prequel.

The Handmaid's Tale 
by Margaret Atwood

I kind of dreaded reading The Handmaid's Tale because I expected it to be kind of scary and morbid. It definitely was, and that's why it's good. Imagine a futuristic society that restrict's women's freedom in every sense - that's what's in this book. Some of the ideas this society argues for may seem so ridiculous, but people make them even now. Offred's story is told from her present standpoing along with flashbacks, and Atwood strategically reveals information to keep readers asking questions. It's definitely thought-provoking - a nightmarish scenario that can go on society's list of futures to avoid encountering.

Redeemed 

by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Once again, I use my best books list to honor the series everyone loves to hate. Redeemed is the final installment of the Cast girls' House of Night series and I thought it was an incredibly fun and satisfying read. The characters are silly and the magic is awesome, as per usual. There are also some twists in Redeemed that I definitely was not expecting. Perhaps the biggest theme of this series is forgiveness (an element I have always appreciated), and of course this came full circle in Redeemed. I really enjoyed this conclusion.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 
by John Boyne

I was nervous about this one. I heard the author was pretty ruthless with readers' hearts in the end, and the Internet was right. A book about Nazi Germany from a child's perspective is bound to dampen eyes and help gain perspective - the Holocaust is even more confusing and stupid when examined from the eyes of a child. The simplistic writing tackled a scary world ever so innocently from beginning to end as Boyne traced the friendship of Bruno, the son of a lead Nazi officer, and Schmuel, a Jewish boy at "Out-With." This book shows that sometimes a whole other world is just over the fence, if we care to look.

Gruesome Playground Injuries

by Rajiv Joseph

I somehow stumbled into an acting class at my university this semester, and Rajiv Joseph's play Gruesome Playground Injuries was required reading (and performing). I don't read a ton of plays and when I do they're usually older literature, and I guess I just didn't expect to love this one as much as I did. It's a peculiar story - two people cross paths time and time again throughout their lives as they hurt themselves and each other. Between intentional self-harm and merely reckless behavior, these characters go through a lot together. Quite a few themes and emotions are represented; it's so easy to get something out of this short read. I loved it.

Feel free to share your list with me. I hope you had a fabulous year in books! More fun lists are coming - I have a two-part countdown of the year's best musical singles, a book survey, and a new kind of music list scheduled.

End of 2014 Book Survey

Once again, I am participating in a fabulous bookish survey held by none other than Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner. I always think her end-of-year surveys are a blast, so I'm quite happy that the tradition has been continued for 2014! Unfortunately I tend to not read as much as most book bloggers so there are quite a few repeats as some books fit into several categories. Enjoy!

2014 Reading Stats:

Number Of Books You Read: 26 (I seem to read slower than most)

Number of Re-Reads: 1 (pathetic, I know)

Genre You Read The Most From: Classics and science fiction

Best in Books:

1. Best book you read in 2014?

My complete list of the best books I read this year is right here.

2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Please don't yell at me. I was SO EXCITED to finally read it... But I just found it incredibly dispassionate. I like to feel all the feelings when I read, but that just didn't happen with this classic. I couldn't believe Elizabeth feelings for Mr. Darcy in the end. I suppose when it comes to 'soap opera' classics I'll have to stick to the Bronte sisters.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?

I was really surprised by how much I loved Marissa Meyer's Cinder. I didn't think I'd enjoy it nearly as much as I did - in fact, I adored it. But The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin also surprised me - I wasn't too sure what to expect before opening it, and it ended up being way more unique than I anticipated.

4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did) in 2014?

I'm not much of a book pusher... Primarily because I don't know many people who read as much as I do. But I did buy my bestie Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork for Christmas; hopefully he likes it.

5. Best series you started in 2014? Best sequel of 2014? Best series ender of 2014?

Best series started: The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer, The Changeling trilogy by Amanda Dirlam and Melanie Overmyer

Best sequel: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, Cress by Marissa Meyer

Best series ender: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?

Anne Bronte, David Mitchell, Marissa Meyer, and the team of Amanda Dirlam and Melanie Overmyer.

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

-I usually don't read fairytale retellings, but I finally bought Cinder by Marissa Meyer - and I absolutely love her Lunar Chronicles series. These are fairytale retellings done right!

-In fact, I typically don't do retellings period, but I tried Black Spring by Alison Croggon (which is a Wuthering Heights retelling). It wasn't fantastic by any means but it wasn't bad.

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

I was gulping Marissa Meyer's Scarlet and Cress whole.

9. Book you read in 2014 that you are most likely to re-read next year?

If the next Changeling book comes out this year, I'll likely reread Crossing the Threshold to refresh my memory.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork. It's incredibly beautiful. Black Spring by Alison Croggon takes second place; it's so creepy and awesome!

11. Most memorable character of 2014?

Oh goodness, there were so many fantastic characters... Basically everyone from the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer, Lucy Snow and Paul Emmanuel from Villette by Charlotte Bronte, Somni-451 from Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, and Marcelo from Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Night by Elie Wiesel, and Villette by Charlotte Bronte.

13. Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2014?

George Orwell's 1984 was definitely the most thought-provoking. And scary. Of course, Elie Wiesel's Night always provokes some thought and it definitely changed me the first time I read it.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read?

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork. That needed to happen YEARS ago.

15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2014?

"They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God."

-Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God

"To the person in the bell jar, blank and stopped as a dead baby, the world itself is the bad dream."

-Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

16. Shortest and longest book you read in 2013?

Shortest: The shortest novel I read was Night by Elie Wiesel at 120 pages, but if plays and short stories are included, I read Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Ernest at about 70 pages.

Longest: Villette by Charlotte Bronte at 559 pages. (It's actually a bit longer if you include the pages of French translations.)

17. Book that shocked you the most?

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

-The ending of Villette by Charlotte Bronte... Did she really just end this book like this? Yep, she did. Unconventional and genial storyteller that she is.

-Weirdly enough, finding out who exactly Wolf is in Scarlet also surprised me because it had been a while since I read Cinder and the obvious answer wasn't catching my attention. I know, I don't understand how I didn't see it coming either; it was pretty obvious.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

-Wolf and Scarlet from Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

-Cress and Thorne from Cress by Marissa Meyer (so cute!)

-Gilbert Markham and Helen Huntington from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

-Annah and Catcher from The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

19. Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year?

Cinder and Thorne! (From Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.) Their contrasts are so fantastic! But I also love Cinder and Iko; they're best friends for life.

Luna and Kakeru from Sailor Moon Short Stories 2 by Naoko Takeuchi... Okay, so it may have seemed romantic from Luna's point of view, but at the end of the day, it's utterly complicated and sweet. (For those who don't know Sailor Moon, Luna is a cat and Kakeru is a human.)

20. Favorite book you read in 2014 from an author you’ve read previously?

Villette by Charlotte Bronte - I adored Jane Eyre when I read it a couple years ago and determined that I will everything by Charlotte and her sisters, and one of the books by them I was most eager to read was Villette. It's such an unconventional story even by today's standards... It's genial, really.

I was also really impressed by A Million Suns and Shades of Earth by Beth Revis. Her Across the Universe trilogy is fabulous through and through, and I suppose if I had to choose between the two, I'd pick Shades of Earth because it's so different yet so full of intensity and mystery all the same. I was really impressed by how Revis handled it.

There is a story in Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon Short Stories 2 called "The Lover of Princess Kaguya," and I absolutely loved it. I've always loved it since I was little and saw the Sailor Moon Hearts in Ice movie.

21. Best book you read in 2014 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else/peer pressure?

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I only read it because one of my teachers highly recommended it. I didn't know anything about it when I started reading it, and I was pleasantly surprised. It's very good.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

Wolf from Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series.

23. Best 2014 debut you read?

Crossing the Threshold by Amanda Dirlam and Melanie Overmyer. This is a short self-published book which is the first in a trilogy. I really enjoyed this one; I've never read a fantasy that felt so contemporary before, and I love that. (It sort of reminds me how Annette Curtis Klause writes her paranormal romance novels to flow like contemporaries, and I love me some Annette Curtis Klause.) The characters may seem typical at face value - the nerdy, unpopular girl and the jock with a more sensitive side - but they're actually much more interesting than that. I could relate to Shea in ways I can't relate to other characters.

24. Best worldbuilding/most vivid setting you read this year?

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis. I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read these, so I'll just have to keep my mouth shut on this one.

25. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read?

-Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, because of all of Thorne's dialogue. And Iko is always adorable.

-My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, because George is so adorable!

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2014?

Night by Elie Wiesel. Again. It's a Holocaust autobiography, so it's only natural that the tears would come. And Wiesel's beautiful writing doesn't help matters much in the emotional department either.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston... Because it's just not fair. Although I acknowledge that even though it's sad, (I'm trying really hard not to spoil) it's good that a certain character was able to find what they were looking for. But it's still not fair. I actually cried a lot at the end.

Villette by Charlotte Bronte had me tearing up a smidge at the end, but I know it's not supposed to be sad. The point is that the character can let go and be independent... But this really wasn't fair either - to the point I reread the last four pages like half a dozen times before I could really believe what just happened. Charlotte Bronte, why do you play with my soul so much?

27. Hidden gem of the year?

I read quite a few "hidden gems" this year. I don't understand why more people aren't reading these - they're all fantastic books!

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork - Marcelo is a contemporary about a boy with autism who hears music in his head as he finally dives into the "real world" and realizes that it isn't all that great. The blend of feelings is just right.

Crossing the Threshold by Amanda Dirlam and Melanie Overmyer - Crossing the Threshold is the first book in these 2014 debut authors' Changeling series about two teens with a larger purpose than they realize who are pushed together by some outside force. It's basically a contemporary/fantasy... Yes, I just said a contemporary/fantasy - that in itself should be an incentive to go buy a copy and start reading!

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte - Poor Anne just gets no attention in the grand scheme of Brontemania. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is such an important feminist novel, AND it's interesting and has some of those heavy Bronte-esque emotions.

Villette by Charlotte Bronte - Charlotte is really just popular for her classic novel Jane Eyre, but Villette is also a profound piece of literature. I realize that the first half is pretty slow and it isn't initially grabbing as Jane Eyre is, but Charlotte really accomplished something here; this book is WAY ahead of its time, and it's even beyond the time we're currently in.

28. Book that crushed your soul?

For the most part, my soul is unscathed by the books I read in 2014, except for Elie Wiesel's Night. My heart was mostly what took the impact.

29. Most unique book you read in 2014?

Villette by Charlotte Bronte - Like I said, this book is beyond our time. I've never read a book with such a plot... The way it ended, the emotional note it ended on... It's not what anyone would've expected. Ever.

Crossing the Threshold by Amanda Dirlam and Melanie Overmyer - It's a fantasy that flows like a contemporary. There are a lot of Irish influences. AND I can relate to Shea in ways I haven't been able to relate to other characters. Needless to say, this book is one of a kind.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - A series of stories intertwined because of reincarnation? Not that unique. All the stories are completely different genres and are written to suit each genre? Incredibly unique.

The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin - This story is about a mock-Egyptian society, and I've never read such a fantasy before. The concept of dreamblood and all of that other complicated stuff that I'm struggling to remember (it feels like forever since I've read it) made for a very interesting and unique story.

30. Book that made you the most mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Keep in mind that I liked these books:

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick - Samantha's mom. 'Nuff said.

Revealed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast - Zoey needs to get it together. But, considering the next (and final) book of this series is called Redeemed, I imagine she'll be, well, "redeemed."

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork - The way that certain characters treated Maracelo because of his autism is bound to anger anybody. The worst part is that there are people who are like this in the "real world" outside of this book.

Blogging/Bookish Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014?

I discovered a couple of new book blogs, but now neither of them are active, but I did discover a couple of music blogs:

The Metal Pigeon (which, of course, is centered around metal music)

Hapfairy's World (centers around symphonic metal and female-fronted metal in general - we all know how much I love symphonic metal)

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014?

I don't really have favorite reviews... But I suppose I'll say my review of Epica's latest album The Quantum Enigma is my favorite because of how happy I was as I was listening and writing.

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

Probably my concerts post because it was the most fun to write. Going to concerts is one of my most favorite things I life; it's about time I shared some thoughts about my experiences.

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

I got to go to a local Q&A event in which Amanda Dirlam and Melanie Overmyer talked about their debut novel Crossing the Threshold.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

Discovering that two of my favorite former teachers (Dirlam and Overmyer, as mentioned above) wrote a book and being able to read and review the manuscript before it was released was awesome! I'm so proud of them! And I promise that the fact that I know the authors personally didn't sway my opinion on the book whatsoever. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't have praised it as highly in my review or in any of these categories.

6. Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Here are the top 5 by views:

1 - Tuomas Holopainen of Nightwish Releases First Solo Video: "A Lifetime of Adventure"

2 - Aftermath by Amy Lee (Review)

3 - Hydra by Within Temptation (Review)

4 - I Love Gilmore Girls

5 - Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I'm Not Sure I Want to Read

7. Post you wished got a little more love?

Some of my poor book reviews just have a lack of love, particularly Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork, The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, and My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

8. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

-HALF PRICE BOOKS. It's the most amazing store that could ever happen to the bookish world. Unfortunately all the Half Price Book stores are far away from me so I always have to make a bit of a road trip. But, when I went there, I got a paperback for $4 and a hardcover that's usually $40 for $6. While I was there, I sold some books and got $8 out of it... So I got a $35 purchase for $2. You just can't beat that.

-I went to a Barnes and Nobel for the first time in my life. (Calm down, I used to go to Borders all the time and I frequent Books-A-Million. Barnes and Nobel is located farther away than where I usually shop.)

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

I just try to read 20 books a year or more (I know, it's low) and I did it.

Looking Ahead:

1. One book you didn’t get to in 2014 but will be your number 1 priority in 2015?

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. After reading my first book by him this year, I can't wait to see what Mitchell has in store! And I also really need to read Redeemed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. And Thorne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. And - okay, I'll stop now.

2. Book you are most anticipating for 2015 (non-debut)?

All of the next Lunar Chronicles books by Marissa Meyer (Fairest and Winter) and The Last American Vampire by Seth Graham-Smith, which is a sequel to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

3. 2015 debut you are most anticipating?

I never seem to know about debuts until they happen. (I don't get ARCs.)

4. Series ending/a sequel you are most anticipating in 2015?

I'm really anxious for the sequel to Crossing the Threshold in the Changeling series by Amanda Dirlam and Melanie Overmyer as well as Winter by Marissa Meyer.

5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging life in 2015?

Stay consistent with the post flow. I was SO GOOD at this year - SO GOOD, I TELL YOU, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. But then university happened and I only posted once in October. Fail. Furthermore, I need to find balance between reading for school and reading for fun, because it just didn't happen during my first semester at the university. Like, at all.

6. A 2015 release you’ve already read and recommend to everyone:

Again, I don't get ARCs.

 

 

I hope everyone's having a great new year!

Best Books I Read: 2014

As usual, I've compiled a list of the best books I read throughout the year! I love making these end-of-year lists! I feel like I've read a ton of stellar ones this year, but, I've got to narrow it down somehow. This list consists of all the books I gave 5 out of 5 stars to on Goodreads. According to my stats, the two genres I read the most from this year are science fiction and classics, and for the most part, this seems to be represented in my list of favorites this year. Enjoy!

Marcelo in the Real World
by Francisco X. Stork

This book is perfect; I couldn't stop gushing over it! I loved everything about Marcelo in the Real World: The characters were crafted phenomenally, the general concepts were interesting (plus, this is the first time I ever read a POV of someone with autism), and oh my goodness, there was so much emotion! There were moments that sent butterflies fluttering around my stomach but there were also moments where I was fuming mad over the rudeness that some characters aimed at Marcelo. Hence, in this beautiful contemporary, Marcelo discovers that there are some people in the real world that are kind-hearted and make our lives better, but there are others that are devious and corrupt. It took forever for me to get around to this novel, but now that I've read it, it's one of my favorites.

Cloud Atlas

by David Mitchell

 

Cloud Atlas turned out to be quite an intriguing read, which is what I was expecting based on what I'd been hearing. I heard it was a confusing story about reincarnation, but I honestly wasn't very confused. I thought Cloud Atlas was a brilliant idea; readers are essentially reading more than one story, but they're all connected. They're even different genres, so the book can appeal to just about any lover of fiction. (Personally my favorite story was that of Somni-451, which is a dystopian story.)

 

 

The Bell Jar
by Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath's only novel is a very depressing piece of fiction, and as I mentioned in my classics post, that fact isn't helped by how Sylvia Plath's life ended. But perhaps the biggest reason this novel won me over is through Plath's beautiful writing style. She has to be one of my favorites in terms of how pretty her prose was. And while I also mentioned in my classics post that I couldn't relate to the general story very well because I hadn't truly been 'under the bell jar,' I didn't specifically mention that this disconnection caused me to feel detached from the metaphor... But about a month or so later, I saw someone who looked as though they were indeed under a bell jar. Now I understand that Sylvia Plath picked the most accurate metaphor.

Cinder

by Marissa Meyer

 

In the beginning, I had about zero ambition to read this book. Cinderella retelling? No thanks. I'm not into fairytale retellings. Sailor Moon retelling? People who live on the moon? Heavy on the science fiction aspect? Now we're talking. I can't believe I put this book off for so long; it's amazing! Cinder is a fantastic character and the world that this is set in is so interesting! For the first time in a long time, I wanted the sequel, Scarlet, ASAP (and of course, the bookstore never had Scarlet in hardcover, so I had to wait forever). I definitely recommend Cinder for those who haven't read it yet - whether you like fairtytale retellings and Sailor Moon or not.

Scarlet
by Marissa Meyer

I devoured this book in huge gulps and fangirled my face off. Scarlet, the second book in Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series, may have even better than Cinder. The characters in this book are absolutely wonderful; more have been added since the first installment and the newbies are just as prominent as the characters we've already met. Cinder and Scarlet are both pretty badass in their own ways, Kai is sweet and troubled, Thorne is adorable and hilarious, and Wolf is so complex and sounds so attractive.



Cress

by Marissa Meyer

 

I also devoured Cress in huge gulps and fangirled my face off. It's been a while since I've read all of the available books in a series in one year instead of getting distracted by other books, and I must say, so far, all of the Lunar Chronicles books are grade A material. Cress is a fantastic character; I'm very happy she's on our little team of heroes, and it was so interesting to watch her relationship develop with Thorne - so cute! There was definitely a lot going on; putting the book down to do things like eating and sleeping was difficult. However, there's a messy situation at hand... Well, there are a couple of messy situations at hand, and I'm so stoked for the next book, Winter (which comes out next November) to find out what happens. 

Villette

by Charlotte Bronte

Where do I even begin? I absolutely adored Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, which is one of my favorite novels of all time, and ever since reading it, I've wanted to read everything by the Bronte sisters. After reading Villette, Charlotte is officially my favorite author. Even though it was written about one hundred and fifty years ago, it is by far the most groundbreaking novel I've ever read. Even now, nothing about Villette is conventional, and I don't think a better picture of jealousy and loneliness has ever been painted. Our heroine Lucy Snowe must be an independent woman; she must learn to let go, and her love M. Paul Emanuel undergoes a series of changes before he can accept a woman like Lucy. Villette is one of my favorite books, hands down.

1984

by George Orwell

I must say, I'm not easily frightened when it comes to books, but this one scared the crap out of me. I don't think George Orwell could've crafted a nightmare any more thoroughly. If I was an author I'd be so afraid of giving my book a year for a title, especially if that year isn't too awfully far into the future, but 1984 is far from dated; it's still sparking discussions and concerns long after its birth and futuristic date. Not only is our technology getting eerily similar to what's described in 1984, but no matter what time period we live in, the power of individual thought will always be praised and should never be taken from anyone.

A Million Suns

by Beth Revis

Another book that took me far too long to get around to reading. I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Across the Universe, and A Million Suns lived up to the hype. Just when we think we've understood what's going on aboard the spaceship Godspeed, Beth Revis metaphorically slaps us in the face and challenges everything we knew by thickening the mystery. It's just as action-packed as the first one, too, and has a way of making me so nervous for our main characters Amy and Elder. I loved it!

 

Shades of Earth

by Beth Revis

 

The final book of the Across the Universe trilogy. Shades of Earth is by far the most different of the series, but I enjoyed it all the same. Tons of action, tons of mystery, and bits of romance - what's not to like? I loved every single book in this trilogy equally, easily making it one of my favorites. It's something that both guys and girls can enjoy; I highly recommend it to any sci-fi fan.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

by Zora Neale Hurston

 

I picked up this one solely because a teacher recommended it, so I didn't really know what to expect before picking it up with the exception of some really solid writing. The dialogue of the characters is a bit difficult to get used to, but the narration itself is gorgeous, and I've never read a story quite like this. It follows a woman named Janie who never seems to find a perfect relationship, until she meets Tea Cake, who sees her as more than someone to work or just stand around and look pretty all day. I don't want to give anything away, but I've never read anything where characters happen to be in certain circumstances, particularly where nature is concerned. I actually cried a little bit at the end. Their Eyes Were Watching God is definitely an underrated classic.


Feel free to let me know what you think of my selections and pass on any recommendations based on what I've listed for 2014. Hopefully you also read a lot of fabulous books this year - let me know what you enjoyed the most in 2014!

Top 20 Musical Singles of 2014 Countdown

Last year I counted down my top thirteen of 2013, and as another year has come and gone, it is time again to count down the best singles of the year. (I don't do non-singles because I tend to prefer them and we'd be here for another year.) 2014 was an amazing time for music (especially for any fans of female-fronted metal) so I decided to expand the list size to 20 singles. Let me tell you, I changed my mind about which song to include as the final single at #20 about ten times (and I even considered making this a top 25 post), but right now I'm confident. A large range of genres is incorporated since I tend to listen to bits of everything, such as symphonic metal, alternative, indie, rock, pop, electronic, classical crossover, rap... and whatever genre Seinabo Sey is. No matter who's reading this, I imagine you'll find something you like. (Except for country fans - sorry!)

 

20
"Fancy" - Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX
I ABSOLUTELY HATED THIS SONG. I hated it beyond belief. But remember how Emma Stone hated "Pocket Full of Sunshine" in Easy A but kept singing it literally all weekend until she obviously felt differently? That's a perfect depiction of my relationship with this song. One minute I hated it, then I was singing Charli's chorus in the shower, then before I knew it I was blaring my car's speakers having some sort of jam sesh as I was driving to the grocery store. Furthermore, this video is adorable; I love that it throws back to Clueless and Iggy's hair is fabulous.



19
"I Forgive (But I Won’t Forget Your Name)" - Lacuna Coil
 "I Forgive (But I Won't Forget Your Name)" is one of the more mellow Lacuna Coil singles though it isn't a ballad. Cristina Scabbia really owns the song's chorus and pre-chorus (which, sadly, is only present before the second chorus) with her strong vocals, and of course, with the fact that the vocal lines are quite catchy in these sections. It's just a great rock track overall; most fans of the genre will be quite content with it.

18
"Victims of Contingency" - Epica
 Metal fans, ever hear a guitar riff and think "OMG WHAT IS THIS AMAZING THING THAT'S HAPPENING TO MY EARS?" That was my thought process as I heard the heavy intro to this song. This Epica track features Mark Jansen growling in the verses with Simone Simons (and the choir) coming in between his lines and dominating the chorus. Keep in mind that if this is your first Epica experience, try not to mind some of the awkward arm movements in the video.

17

"The Heart Wants What it Wants" - Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez has the ability to really impress me with her catchy music, and she did it again in a whole different way with the raw "The Heart Wants What it Wants," which deals with her complicated relationship with renowned douchebag Justin Bieber. Hence, it's an emotional track with catchy vocals and a great instrumental. Gomez is certainly not the first woman to feel as this song describes, and unfortunately she won't be the last.

 

 

16

"Big Bad Wolf" - In This Moment

 In This Moment is the only band I can say I have followed throughout the entirety of their career right from the start in 2007, and unfortunately I'm overall extremely disappointed in them for their latest release, Black Widow, but I did really enjoy the second single "Big Bad Wolf." The vocals in the verses are unconventional and off-putting at first, but in the grand scheme of the song, I don't care. Maria Brink sounds invincible, whether she's half-muttering "Even in these chains you can't stop me" or completely screaming "PIG!" Plus, the chorus is incredibly catchy and always has me bobbing my head along.

(The video, however, is the epitome of what I don't like about Black Widow: it's not interesting and overuses sex and horror to the point that they're trying WAY too hard. I realize I'm hating pretty hard right now but I just had to spit that out.)

 

 

15

"Shake it Off" - Taylor Swift

 Taylor Swift is awesome. There, I said it. I liked some of her past country singles, and I really love her new pop direction as well. "Shake it Off" is just so carefree and fun... I have spent many a time in my car having a major jam session to this single every time it came on the radio. It's utterly infectious and makes me so happy with all of its prominent brass instruments and catchy vocals!

 

14

"A Lifetime of Adventure" - Tuomas Holopainen

 "A Lifetime of Adventure" is the beautiful first single from Tuomas Holopainen's (keyboardist and primary songwriter of Nightwish) concept album The Life and Times of Scrooge. With a light, classically-oriented instrumentation and whispy female vocals, this single really could've been on a Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack. It's perfect for winter. And if you don't like too much classical instrumentation, have no fear, there's a guitar solo for the last minute and a half.

 

 

13

"Hard Time" - Seinabo Sey

 I discovered "Hard Time" through a promo for the current season of Mob Wives, and apparently it was on an episode of Teen Wolf (I'm so far behind on that show it's ridiculous)... I was destined to find it somehow. And honestly, with its relaxing (yet sort of dark) vibe I'm surprised it isn't more popular by now. It manages to sound both classy and badass all at the same time, and I love it!

 

12

"Drop Dead Cynical" - Amaranthe

 "Drop Dead Cynical" is one of those songs that I thought I didn't like, but at one point I thought to myself "Why is this song always in my head? Why do I enjoy it being in my head when I don't like it?" From that point on I realized that it was freaking awesome. I know a lot of metal fans like to hate on Amaranthe because they use synths, but I love the combination of elements they use. I'm so excited that this energetic single is giving them recognition.

11

"And We Run" - Within Temptation ft. Xzibit

If you read my review of Within Temptation's Hydra, you're probably confused right now. I didn't like "And We Run" that much when I first heard it, but it slowly grew on me with its seemingly rushing piano line, gorgeous chord progressions, Sharon's vocals, and yes, even Xzibit. I wasn't into his rap styles at first, but the more I heard the song, the more I got it and understood how he really does fit this song. Weirdly enough, what was once my least favorite part is now my favorite: "Don't blink, you'll miss it / Lift up your head / We gotta get gone / Yeah, we outta here." Plus, the music video is fantastic; it's one of my two favorites of the year.

 

10

"Nightfall" - Xandria

The symphonic metal band Xandria has been on my radar ever since Dianne van Giersbergen joined. People were ecstatic about her vocal abilities and I had to see what all the hype was about. As it turns out, her voice gets all the credit it deserves, and form what I've observed so far, so does the music. "Nightfall" is an epic single, particularly with the operatic and choral chorus: "Here it comes / The story / Of mankind's final glory / Into the nightfall."

9

"Centuries" - Fall Out Boy

 So one day I was listening to the radio and this magic filled my ears... It was this song. Although I don't talk about them much on this blog, I've really loved Fall Out Boy's music throughout the years, but "Centuries" definitely stands out as a highlight of their career. The piano line of the first couple choruses creates so much anticipation, and I absolutely love that they sampled Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner." A lot of people are really entranced by the music video as well, but I don't find it to be quite as amazing. The song itself is obviously a different story; it's wonderful.

8

"The Power of Love" - Various Dutch Metal Artists
The Netherlands is the home of several talented metal artists, and in order to get people to donate to the Red Cross this holiday season, they treated us with a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "The Power of Love." With so many amazing musicians involved, the cover turned out to be very bold. There's a choir, several vocalists of all types, from Dianne van Giersbergen's operatic high notes to George Oothsoek's growls and almost everything in between. I'm very happy with how it turned out.

7

"Best Friend" - Foster the People
This single helped define my summer. "Best Friend" was on repeat for a couple of solid weeks, and once in a while it gets stuck in my head. Even though it's different that a lot of what I listen to, I'm so drawn to this song, not only for the lyrics that seem so random at first ("When your best friend's all strung out...") and the weird-but-awesome video - those verses are genial and catchy.

 

6
"Nothing Stands in Our Way" - Lacuna Coil
Lead single "Nothing Stands in Our Way" is one of my favorite songs from Lacuna Coil's latest album Broken Crown Halo. The band truly does sound invincible with its powerful riffs and fierce vocals from Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro. To this day, it's still hard for me to listen to this song and not bang my head a little, especially when the chorus breaks down and pulsates for the middle eight. And Scabbia's last line? Perfect.

5

"Unchain Utopia" - Epica

 "Unchain Utopia" is the melodic (though still heavy) second single from their masterpiece album The Quantum Enigma. The choir dominates the powerful chorus and Simone Simons' pretty voice takes control of the verses, but in the final chorus, she gets to show off and it sounds incredible: "We won't succumb to your deceiving games / Conquer the insane / Time to free ourselves once more from the ball and chain." Go figure, Epica made another amazing song.

4

"The Mute" - Radical Face

Radical Face is one of the most underrated artists out there, so if you haven't heard his music yet, you need to. If you haven't heard "The Mute" yet, you need to, because it's remarkable. Every time I hear it, I love it a little more. The music video is one of my two favorites this year - and it's homemade by Radical Face and his friends and family. The video truly fits the song, for they're both simple, but they're so well done and oh so indie.

 

3

"Chandelier" - Sia
 Sia has worked on some great pop songs throughout her life, whether she was just writing for other artists, singing with other artists, or producing her own solo material. I'm sure many would agree that "Chandelier" is one of the best songs of the year and one of her personal best tracks. Sia's songwriting ability and vocal ability both shine - because we all know the explosive chorus of this song is NOT easy to sing (seriously, this single should have come with a warning label: Do not try this at home). This is definitely my favorite pop song of 2014. I just let it play and let loose (though not with as much enthusiasm and talent as the girl in the video... her performance was just as amazing).

 

2

"The Rains of Castamere" - Jackie Evancho

Jackie Evancho blew the world away on America's Got Talent with her gorgeous voice, and she did it again with the Game of Thrones cover of "The Rains of Castamere." Fans of both her and the fantasy series were raving over this single when it was released, for it is an extremely impressive cover in ever way, shape, and form. The instrumentation is beautiful, her voice is beautiful... It's an incredible first single that will undoubtedly stand out as one of the best of her career. Rather than show off her higher notes, Evancho shows the world she can hit haunting low notes as her voice has matured even more since her debut.

1

"The Essence of Silence" - Epica
 Lo and behold my favorite single of the year, "The Essence of Silence." This powerhouse is the lead single from The Quantum Enigma and it's utterly flawless. The verses are exemplary of beauty and the beast contrasts as the two vocalists sing every other line, with Simone Simons at her operatic best and Mark Jansen on growls and screams. Heavy riffs fill the song but the band's classical element is definitely still there with strings, choir, and piano making appearances throughout (especially that piano line in the second verse - perfection). I was stunned when I first heard it and I still love it just as much - what an amazing track!

 

 

...and that's a wrap! Let me know what you think of my list and tell me what some of your favorite singles (or just songs in general) were this year - I'd love to know! As usual, I'll be posting a Best Books list and a book-related survey sometime soon.

 

Here are my 2013 music links, if you're interested:

Top 13 Singles of 2013 Countdown

Songs I Excluded in 2013

(I made this Excluded post because there were a lot of fantastic songs in 2013 that I either didn't find in time or forgot about and I wanted to acknowledge them in some way... but I'm never doing this again because you know what I did? I forgot songs to put on it and remembered a month later. FAIL.)