2014 End of Year Book Survey

2014 Reading Stats:

Amber:

Number of Books You Read: 106 right now. It’ll probably stay this way because The 100 has ruined my reading mood.

Number of Re-Reads: I haven’t re-read anything because I suck. OH! WAIT! I started to re-read The Saga of Darren Shan and therefore I have re-read three.

Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary, with fantasy close behind.

Tatum:

Number of Books You Read: Umm, at the time of writing this, 145 according to GR.

Number of Re-Reads: I reread Harry Potter early this year, and that’s pretty much it. Oh wait no, I reread The Raven Boys and The Dream Thieves in preparation for Blue Lily, Lily Blue, which was fun and not at all traumatizing.

Genre You Read The Most From: Don’t have the faintest clue. Fantasy? Historical Fantasy? Urban Fantasy? Lots of fantasy. Everything is fantasy if you try hard enough.

Best in Books:

Best Book You Read in 2014

Amber: Why would you do this to me? Every year, Jamie, EVERY YEAR. My favourite contemporary would be Far From You by Tess Sharpe, and my favourite fantasy was The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson. Honourable mentions to More Than This and Dark Places. Also The Book Thief and Code Name Verity. Also Heir of Fire. I can’t do this.

Tatum: Oh my god, this is a terrible question to have to answer. I have so many books I could answer with *sobs* I think I’m gonna stick with the two books that really kind of made my year in terms of reading exemplary fiction – The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. If there was a way to marry a book I would do it for these two, I’m not even joking.

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going to Love More but You Didn’t

Amber: Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo. Fuck everything.

Tatum: The Child Thief by Brom :(((( I was SO EXCITED about a Peter Pan retelling that promised to be dark and horrifying, and in some ways this book really delivers but the overall story was just…not what I envisioned for a darker Peter Pan adaptation. I’m totally in the minority with this opinion though so I really hope Amber, who I gave my copy to, loves it.

Most Surprising (in a good or bad way) Book You Read in 2014

Amber: Easy by Tammara Webber because I only bought it because it was $5 in Barnes & Noble. I should have known though, because Webber’s other books are fantastic.

Tatum: I was kind of overwhelmed by how subversive and intelligent Beauty Queens by Libba Bray was? Ilu Libba Bray, never stop. In a bad way…The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. NO PERCY NO CARE, SORRY NOT SORRY.

Book You Pushed the Most People to Read (and they did) in 2014

Amber: For a second there I thought we were talking about TV shows and I was going to shout about The 100 (I’M UP TO 31 PEOPLE) but for books I would say Far From You.

Tatum: NO-ONE LISTENS TO ME NO-ONE TRUSTS ME I HATE ALL OF YOU

Amber: That’s just rude, I listened to you with Code Name Verity and The Book Thief. Stop whining.

Best Series you started in 2014? Best sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014

Amber: The best series that I started was Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I’ll finish it eventually, hopefully this month, and then I predict Hero of Ages being the best series ender.

Tatum: Oh, I think the one I’m looking forward to continuing the most, apart from Omens by Kelley Armstrong, would be the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix. Sabriel was super cool, you guys. Best sequel…probably The FitzOsbornes in Exile. I love that trilogy so much and more people need to read it and come talk to me about it, okay. Best series ender? I haven’t read Blood of Olympus yet and lbr it most likely wouldn’t be on my list anyway due to the above NO PERCY NO CARE mantra I live by but dude, Percy Jackson & The Last Olympian killed me dead.

Favourite New Author you discovered in 2014

Amber: Brandon. Sanderson.

Tatum: Abigail Haas, who wrote Dangerous Girls i.e. that one time a book nearly gave me a panic attack multiple times. Also Gillian Flynn. MOAR FEMALE VILLAINS PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

Best Book from a Genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone

Amber: What’s a comfort zone? I read an X-Men comic and it was shit so does that count since it’s the only one?

Tatum: I don’t have a comfort zone I’ll read anything I’m hard as fuck, mate

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year

Amber: THE FINAL EMPIRE BYE

Tatum: THRONE OF GLASS ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO HEIR OF FIRE. Wow, that was easy.

Book you read in 2014 that you are most likely to reread next year

Amber: Heir of Fire because it needs to be done.

Tatum: Harry Potter. I mean, what. Umm, also probably Throne of Glass etc before the next book is released and ditto for The Raven Boys etc.

Favourite Cover of a Book you read in 2014

Amber:

Tatum: I think it might actually be the cover for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets to the Universe tbh. I don’t know, I just haven’t loved many covers this year.

Most Memorable Character of 2014

Amber: Kelsier from The Final Empire, and Aelin from Heir of Fire.

Tatum: Bellamy Blake what I didn’t say anything * coughs* No, I just really fell deeply in love with Percy Jackson and Celaena Sardothien (and even more so with Aelin Galathynius tbh) this past year. The most wonderful protagonists since Harry Potter, who will always be Number One in my heart.

Most Beautifully Written Book of 2014

Amber: I’m gonna have to say The Book Thief. I don’t have quotes because I’m too scarred to look them up.

Tatum: I couldn’t pick just one, that’s too hard. So…

“It’s easy to convince men to love you, Puck. All you have to do is be a mountain they have to climb or a poem they don’t understand.”

The Scorpio Races because, duh. It’s my favourite book of the year and definitely right up there with all my time favourite books; the prose is stunning and so, so evocative.

“One by one, like shadows emerging from the mist, they appeared. The faces of the people she had loved with her heart of wildfire.”

Sarah J. Maas writes the most exquisite prose, and some of the lines in Heir of Fire especially are absolutely devastating. She is amazing, and I think so underrated in this respect.

“You fainted and I caught you. It was the first time I’d supported a human. You had such heavy bones. I put myself between you and gravity. Impossible.”

 The Vintner’s Luck by Elizabeth Knox. It’s about angels falling in love with ordinary men, with prose that often reads like poetry. Basically I wanted to die for like the whole book.

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.”

 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is a gorgeously written book about magic, love, and the coolest circus ever. I gave the book itself a three star rating but the prose on its own is gorgeous.

Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

Amber: Far From You because it’s beautiful.

Tatum: More Than This by Patrick Ness as well as A Monster Calls, also by Patrick Ness. Basically he is the bane of my life.

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

Amber: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. I saw the movie years and years ago and then I bought the book shortly after. What’s wrong with me?

Tatum: Nothing really this year tbh. I read a few Classics, does that count?

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?

Amber: KISS ME, HARDY! Kiss me, QUICK!

Tatum: HAHAHA THIS IS MY FAVOURITE QUESTION PREPARE YOURSELVES

“And I have tried to forget him, I have tried to convince myself that it was just one of those things, but it’s difficult to do that when my body is standing here, eight feet deep in the earth of northern France, while my heart remains by a stream in a clearing in England where I left it weeks ago.” – The Absolutist, John Boyne

“Stories don’t always have happy endings.”

This stopped him. Because they didn’t, did they? That’s one thing the monster had definitely taught him. Stories were wild, wild animals and went off in directions you couldn’t expect.” – A Monster Calls, Patrick Ness

“In the hall stood Richard Campbell Gansey III in his school uniform and overcoat and scarf and gloves, looking like someone from another world. Behind him was Ronan Lynch, his damn tie knotted right for once and his shirt tucked in…Now that he stood directly beside Adam, not looking at him, Adam could see that he was a little out of breath. Ronan, behind him, was as well. They had run.

For him.” – Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Maggie Stiefvater (I could’ve quoted the whole book ohmyGOD)

“She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.” – Heir of Fire, Sarah J. Maas (same about quoting the entire book. EVERYTHING HAPPENS SO MUCH)

“He is slow, and the sea sings to us both, but he returns to me.” – The Scorpio Races, Maggie Stiefvater

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

Amber: The longest one was The Way of Kings at 1008 pages (UK edition) and the shortest was Saga Volume 3 at 144 pages.

Tatum: My longest book this year, at an absolutely tragic 819 pages is The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. My shortest is We Should All Be Feminists by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie, at 64 pages.

Book That Shocked You The Most

Amber: THE FINAL EMPIRE because how dare you

Tatum: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov because of fairly obvious reasons. Still one of the best novels I’ve ever read though.

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

Amber: HAHAHHAHAHAHAH. What a great question. I’m going to go with both Celaena and Rowan from Heir of Fire and Vin and Kelsier from The Final Empire. Quit your judging! I can feel it from here. I must also add Maddie and Verity from Code Name Verity.

Tatum: BELLAMY/CLARKE *coughs* what. It’s a book too! Adam/Ronan because he! bought! him! hand! lotion! Very upset about Adam’s Shitbox SINGALONG too /sobs for a thousand years. Percy/Annabeth (seaweed brain <3), and although I really enjoyed the Chaol/Celaena development it was ultimately Rowan & Celaena that stand out as the best relationship in the series for me.

Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Amber: LIESEL AND MAX even though I totally shipped it in a “she needs to marry him when she’s older” way.

Tatum: Totally justified in repeating Rowan/Celaena because BEST FRONDS who claim each other ‘to whatever end’, and also the Ronan/Gansey/Blue/Adam/Noah FRONDSHIP because they’re all in love with each other and it’s amazing. Can’t forget too the FitzOsborne family being fabulous together.

Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Amber: Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson because I completely connected with Emily.

Tatum: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, bane of my life. OH, and also Omens by Kelley Armstrong.

Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure

Amber: People don’t pressure me, I pressure them.

Tatum: Serious toss-up here between Throne of Glass and Far From You, two books I really only read because Judith and Amber wouldn’t leave me alone.

Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

Amber: Kelsier from The Final Empire hahahaha we’re getting married.

Tatum: Sean Kendrick from The Scorpio Races. The trouble with reading YA is that the dudes are like baby ages to me now. I find myself wanting to ruffle their hair a lot? Babies.

Best 2014 debut you read?

Amber: Far From You!

Tatum: THE MARTIAN BY ANDY WEIR WHY HAVEN’T ALL OF YOU READ THIS ALREADY

Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Amber: The Way of Kings. Mistborn was also awesome but the world in The Way of Kings is much more vast and complicated. At least, it seems that way. Maybe I can answer with both. Both is good.

Tatum: HAHAHA, this one’s easy. The World of Ice and Fire because dude, it opens up the history and lore of ASOIAF so much. Dragons tbh.

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

Amber: Do I ever read fun books?

Tatum: The Percy Jackson series is so funny and sweet; each book was so enjoyable to read.

Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?

Amber: ALL THE BOOKS I CRY OVER EVERYTHING LEAVE ME ALONE

Tatum: I literally cry over everything I read. It doesn’t take much tbh.

Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Amber: Far From You. Why isn’t everyone reading it?

Tatum: A Breath of Frost by Alxyandra Harvey. It’s a historical fantasy about girls being wonderful together and I loved it.

Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Amber: Code Name Verity. FML.

Tatum: A Monster Calls fricked me up. I cried pretty much all the way through the book. Also The Green Mile by Stephen King. I was not prepared.

Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?

Amber: The Savages. It was certainly… interesting.

Tatum: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. It’s about sexual identity amidst a giant maneating insect infestation! Everyone looking for queer narratives should be looking this author up; he is amazing and I’m on a mission to get through all his books over the coming year. 

Book That Made You The Most Mad?

Amber: Ruin & Rising. I haven’t been this angry over a book in a long time.

Tatum: Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo.

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

New favourite book blog you discovered in 2014

Tatum: *waves to Ellis’s old blog*

Favourite review you wrote in 2014

Tatum: I don’t know, I have a favourite post but I don’t know about review. Someone ask Amber for which review of mine was the most popular!

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

Tatum: HELLO HAVE YOU READ MY BOOKS IN MOTION POST ON THE 100 BECAUSE I THINK YOU SHOULD. AND THEN YOU SHOULD GO AND WATCH IT Y/Y

Best event that you participated in

Tatum: YALC was awesome.

Best Moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

Tatum: The Great 100 Breakdown 2k14. I’ve met so many amazing people because of The 100 and it’s been the most fun I’ve had all year.

Most Popular Post this year on your blog?

Tatum: AMBER HELP ME OUT HERE

Post you wished got a little more love?

Tatum: Have you all read my post about The 100? I think you should all read it and then watch it yes good thank you

Best bookish discovery?

Tatum: I don’t have one, I don’t think.

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

Tatum: Hells yes I did. I totally completed my GR 2014 Reading Challenge, exceeded my Chunkster Challenge by like 10 extra books and also finished my Classics Challenge *pats self on back*

Looking Ahead

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

Amber: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I will read you and I will love you.

Tatum: I don’t know about ‘Number 1’ but definitely a priority for me will be finally reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I think I bought it like two weeks after it came out and it’s just…been…sitting on my bookcase…ever since…

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?

Amber: THE SEQUEL TO HEIR OF FIRE I CANNOT HANDLE THIS SUSPENSE

Tatum: The next book in the Throne of Glass series, the last book in The Raven Cycle (SOBS) and Lair of Dreams if Libba Bray ever gets round to finishing it.

2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Amber: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. A Rome-like world. Please, give it to me now.

Tatum: Um, I don’t know? I glanced through a list and The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace looks kind of interesting? Also liking We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach. It sounds like a Bellarke AU and I’m down for that.

Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

Amber: If I actually thought that The Winds of Winter was a possibility for next year, that.

Tatum: I am also putting The Winds of Winter on my list but I am choosing to be optimistic. It is Christmas, the season of miracles! I feel like I’m gonna repeat myself a bit but I don’t care, I really want Lair of Dreams and the next book in the Throne of Glass series already. Series ender? THE LAST BOOK IN THE RAVEN CYCLE /IF I DIE YOUNG BURY ME IN SATIN LAY ME DOWN IN A BED OF ROSES SINK ME IN A RIVER AT DAWN SEND ME AWAY WITH THE WORDS OF A LOVE SONG/

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

Amber: I need to get my damn TBR pile down because it’s enormous and it’s annoying me. Also, I want to get through all of my review copies and have a completely clean slate. I have decided that I prefer reading what I want instead of forcing myself to try review copies that were sent unsolicited, or that I am no longer in the mood for.

Tatum: I have no idea although I am in agreement about the state of my TBR pile. It’s embarrassing, I am an embarrassment.

A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone

Amber: Liars Inc. by Paula Stokes is pretty good.

Tatum: None of the ones I’ve read have been anything more than okay, sadly.

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The End of Year Book Survey was invented by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-Turner!