2016 End of Year Book Survey

Welcome to my Big Book Survey for 2016!

Number Of Books You Read: 91 (goal of 80)
Number of Re-Reads: 11 
Genre You Read Most: LGBT/Criticism

Best Book You Read In 2016?

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, A Writer’s Diary by Virginia Woolf, and The Nix by Nathan Hill. 

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

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

Deep Lane: Poems by Mark Doty. I don’t read poetry very often, but this collection was fantastic. I enjoyed it more than Milk and Honey, which I also read this year (and liked)

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

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. 

Best series you started? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

I think the best series started this year is the Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin (A Wizard of Earthsea is the first book, and the only one I’ve read so far). Half Lost (The Half Bad Trilogy #3) was the best series-ender — one of the best YA books I’ve read in a long time, actually. I think the best sequels* have been from the Saga series, but I also read the entire March trilogy by John Lewis, which was incredible. 

Favorite new author you discovered?

Frederik Backman and Adam Silvera.  

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

Speakers of the Dead by Aaron J. Sanders was a fantastic mystery novel whose hero/protagonist is Walt Whitman. Such a cool book & concept, and well-written! I think it’s going to be a series – if so, I look forward to the next one. 

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

The Long Walk by Stephen King (not really action-packed, but definitely thrilling). 

Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

 I don’t plan on re-reading any of my 2016 books next year. 

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most memorable character of 2016?

Ove from A Man Called Ove. 

Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

 The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller or Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin (re-read)

Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?

Between the World and Me, or The Fire This Time, or Just Mercy. 

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read? 

It by Stephen King.

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?

“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.” ― Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?

Three Early Stories by J.D. Salinger (74 pages)

It by Stephen King (1,156 pages)

Book That Shocked You The Most

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Achilles and Patroclus from Song of Achilles. 🙂 

Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Ta-Nehisi Coates and his son, Between the World and Me (non-fiction)

Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

A Writer’s Diary by Virginia Woolf

Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

Probably Baz from Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On. 

Best 2016 debut you read?

Speakers of the Dead by J. Aaron Sanders

Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Game of Thrones universe by George R.R. Martin 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Grace Without God by Katherine Ozment

Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou; Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates; March by John Lewis. 

Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Probably John Lewis’s March, which is about the birth of the Civil Rights movement in the United States. Not because I didn’t like it (it’s an excellent graphic novel trilogy), but because I’m 1) ashamed at that part of history (like many others) and 2) incredibly angry that we’re still fighting such battles today. 

New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016? 

Oops – none…. Haven’t had much time to explore! Any recommendations?

Favorite review that you wrote in 2016? 

I didn’t get many reviews written this year, but I did do a set of mini-reviews on books re: the craft of writing: Writing On Writing.

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

On Angels and Demons and the Rest of Us

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

The Literary Others

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016?

Hold(en) Me Closer: A Reader’s Journey

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

 

 

 

 

 

Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Dementors in America

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

It’s not exactly a new discovery, but I’m obsessed with Litographs! 

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

Let’s see, I had to update my Goodreads challenge goal three times, because I kept “winning” that one. I also hosted/participated in The Literary Others reading event again this year, and managed to read everything I had planned (5 books). I failed at the Classics Club reading list again, though. 

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

Probably Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I guess which ever Rick Riordan book is coming out? There’s also a new Cleo Coyle book coming out in January — I have only read the first in her long series of  “Coffeehouse Mystery” novels, but every time a new one releases, it makes me want to go back and read more of them. Maybe this will be the year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

Whoops. See above. 🙂

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

I hope to be able to find time to actually blog/review again.

A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Hmmm…. Don’t think I’ve gotten any 2017 releases!