Best Books in 2012

Best In Books 2012

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

I think I might have broken the rules here...

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

I don't know if I was super-excited about anything. But I grabbed a lot of books of the shelf and didn't enjoy them though. I didn't finish Daughter of Smoke and Bone, for example. I expected the last Maximum Ride to be dreadful (at least I can say I called it). This is the year I give up on James Patterson for good (New Years resolution #1: No more James Patterson.).

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

Legend by Marie Lu... I pulled it off the shelf because I liked the cover, and ended up reading in twice and then buying it.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. I'm on the third re-read. I really should just buy the book.

 4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange trilogy. I had to lend them out to people and worry over whether or not they would get eaten... I do that sometimes (do I have control issues? maybe...)

 5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

Can it be a trilogy? If so, then Legend by Marie Lu and the Razorland trilogy by Ann Agguire.
If not: the Agency by Y.S. Lee

 6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Y.S. Lee (author of the Agency). Marie Lu (I've already mentioned her debut, Legend). 

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

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (I think it was this year, though I have a feeling it might have been last year). I don'r typically read realistic fiction, but I really loved it. I managed to get the old cover when I bought it too (I really don't like the new printing cover).

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

I'm going to have to say Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian. I threw my self into reading this one with a desperate, desperate need to finish. I was in Belize with almost no Internet (I had a long battle getting the book to download), and while everyone else was sightseeing I was locked in a hotel room frantically trying to reach the end. I'm just a little in love with the series. That, and Enclave by Ann Agguire.

 9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

A lot of them. I often almost obsessively re-read.

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

Go figure. It's a kid's book. 

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 

I don't know. There were a lot this year... a lot. Right now the ones that come to mind most are most of the Artemis Fowl cast (like I said, I love the series), Kelley Winslow from Wondrous Strange (I don't even know why, I just find her fun to read, though I can only visit her in re-reads now), and for some bizarre reason, William Herondale from Infernal Devices (probably because I just finished Clockwork Prince, though, and the boy got rather brutal treatment in the last fifty pages-or more like 150 pages... even if he kind of got on my nerves a lot).

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

Hmm... I loved Michael Scott's story telling in the Enchantress.

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

None that come to mind. I didn't read anything that was really profound this year. Though I did re-read Fat Cat by Robin Brande, which always makes me think. And go off of chocolate. And make my own pasta.

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

Fine. I'll say it. Infernal Devices. There, I said it (I hope you're happy K.B.). In spite of how much I complained and ranted and bashed the books (and disliked the covers), I actually kind of liked them a lot. 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 

Are you sure you want to ask me this? I have a habit of quoting that makes some people want to kill me...

 16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

Heart of Darkness was both the longest and shortest book I read. It was painful to read (says the girl who read Lord of the Rings before she turned 16), but was an incredibly small book. If you're talking length, Heart of Darkness was the shortest. And Inheritance was the longest.

 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. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

The end of The Mark of Athena. I think the entire fandom has decided that Rick Riordan is trolling us.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

...*is stuck*...

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

You've got to be getting tired of this by now, but Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian, and Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Enchantress. Also, the Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Dash and Lily's book of Dares. It's the only book I read solely on somebody else's recombination, without even reading the blurb (does Goodread's book club count?).

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

Just one? I'm going to have to cheat here. For non-fiction: Your Inner Fish. For fiction I'd love to try Jane Eyre (good luck, self), since I feel like I need to give classics another chance. 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

Prodigy by Marie Lu, Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, and book 4 of the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

Consistency! And the whole reviewing thing. I need to work on that, don't I?

Top Ten Books I Keep Saying I'll Read

...but may secretly be lying. Alternately: In Which Kelly Needs To Toughen Up and Read These Books

Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I know people love them. I know they have excellent reviews. They're recommended for people who've read what I have. And I have no idea why I'm having such a hard time thinking about reading them. It's very strange. I think it may have something to do with the concept.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
A friend of mine sings praise for this book (so I keep saying that I will read it at some point), and again, it has excellent reviews. But I read the blurb and think "great, another love triangle in which I am not liable to care in the slightest about the participants". Also, I'm not crazy about assassins.

The Maze Runner Trilogy and the Scorch Trials by James Dashner. 

These I really do believe I'll read at some point. I don't know why I haven't yet, I just keep putting it off for some mysterious reason.

The Cite of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
A friend really wants me to read this. I keep saying I will, once I finish the pile of books I'm reading now. The issue is that I keep adding to that pile, so it never gets read. It also happens to be part of a series, though she doesn't know that (I've done my research).










Reached by Ally Condie
I've made the executive decision that this counts. Because I keep saying I'll finish it, but am still trying (and failing) to do so. I think it might be because I realized I don't much care for any of the characters.







Looking for Alaska by John Green
 This is another I truly believe I will one day soon get around to reading. I'm just a procrastinater.

Micro-reviews

Because I'm too lazy to do actual reviews... though maybe I'll do full length for a couple at some point... maybe...

Crewel by Gennifer Aldin
This book was read while I was kind of overwrought- I was stealing moments in order to read anything at all, and, while this was a book I had decided I would read immediately, I kept drifting away to others. I just wasn't captivated. I actually forgot the heroine's name one time- I couldn't connect with her, and I don't really know why. The concept is interesting: there are girls who can weave the fabric of the world, and control destiny (crewel is actually a kind of wool thread). But my mind just wandered.There were moments I felt I should be sympathetic to the female lead, but I just wasn't (and I can get very into my characters- the last Artemis Fowl pretty much put me through a condensed version of all of the stages of grief... and then brought me back), but I was unflinching at this one, even when she was forced to mutilate her own fingers weaving razor-sharp thread. I just couldn't attach myself to any of the characters.


Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
I don't know how I feel about this book. I think I wouldn't like it, but I kind of do anyway (does that make sense? no, I don't think it does). It's a lot of things I don't like in a book- steampunk just to be steampunk, a budding love triangle, French vampires named Camille (seriously, what is with people naming French vampires Camille, is there no other available name?) but now I'm nitpicking. But I don't hate it- actually, I kind of liked it. This isn't my first foray into Cassandra Clare's work, I gave Mortal Instruments a go but didn't get into it (please don't kill me with pitchforks). I get the sense that the characters will grow on me in spite of myself, and as soon as I finished Angel I rushed out to get Prince. The banter I found highly amusing (I do so enjoy banter), and I am curious about the plotline. No opinion on the love triangle except this: if Tessa is a warlock, she's immortal right? and both of the boys aren't (and Jem is kind of dying), so how would a relationship work anyway (unless she's not a warlock... or not a normal one... or something... I'm just confusing myself more here... (she talks to Magnus Bane at some point in City of Glass, and apparently Church the cat is in Mortal Instruments too)... I really should just read Mortal Instruments... and my habit of the overuse of  the ellipsis rears it's ugly head ). Anywho, I'm partway through Clockwork Prince now, and forseeing much angst in the future. And I know I'm totally going to get attached.



Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
I read this one a while ago... while babysitting (not out loud). It was hard to put down... though it had do get put down a lot, weing as there were children to be babysat (whose idea was the term "babysitting" anyway?) I remember that I was really glad when I finally got the kids to sleep so I could read in peace for a couple minutes. And even a while after (it has been a while... I read it in February... though there was a re-read), I still remember the most of the characters and some random things (Aria smells like violets, and Perry is short of Peregrine), which I don't always do. Through the Ever Night comes out in January if I'm not mistaken (I do that sometimes).


And that's all for now. I'm off to go read more of Clockwork Prince.

Top Ten Books I Read In 2012

In no particular order...and I've kind of lost track of when I read some of these, so we'll say late 2011 to 2012.

Legend by Marie Lu
I pulled this one off the library shelf when it was brand-new and shiny. I was on a bit of a dystopian kick at the time, so it fit the bill. Its one of those books I was surprised I liked as much as I did- so much that I bought a copy, and am counting down to the rest of the trilogy. Prodigy (book 2) comes out in January.








Artemis Fowl: The Last Gaurdian by Eoin Colfer
I'm completely smitten with this series (I don't usually do smitten, believe me). There's just something about it that I adore.This is the last one in the series, and it came out on July 10th. I remember the release because I was travelling (in Belize), and had to buy the e-book (though I now own the hardcover as well). I was a bit of a homesick mess when I read it, but I think it helped to keep me sane (while causing me a lot of stress, simultaneously). Thank you, Eoin Colfer, for an awesome series. I will love it forever.
My Review is here.





The Enchantress by Michael Scott
One of my top fantasy books of the year, hands down. This is another series that I love, and it's a really wonderful world he creates. A bit on the confusing side (in one of the plot lines), but it really is a great story.
Full review here.








 The Time Travelers by Linda Buckley-Archer
Even though I'm technically close to exceeding the age-range for teenage literature, I'm still a little in love with childrens' fiction. Seriously. There's just so much imagination in them, which I wish I found more in teen literature more often (it can be kind of formulaic sometimes). This was a birthday present, and I ended up buying the other two books in the trilogy on faith (and because I'm OCD about having a full series). I know some people didn't like it-it almost seems as if you loved it or you hated it. I liked it.
P.S. Look at the cover in full size. I adore the cover so much it's probably a little strange (all the covers in the trilogy are lovely, actually).

 Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
I'm going to be straight with you- before this series, I didn't really like Scott Westerfeld's writing. I read Uglies, Pretties and Specials, and I couldn't make it through Extras. There was just something I couldn't get through. But the Leviathan trilogy blew me away (not literally). It's such a wonderful steampunk trilogy. It isn't steampunk for the sake of being steampunk, the gears and the beasties (only makes sense if you've read the books) are truly an important part of the story. The story wouldn't exist without them.


Traitor in the Tunnel by L.S. Lee
It was going to be the end of the trilogy, but apparently the author is working on a fourth- she says that she's not quite done with Mary and James quite yet. I would love to get my hands on an ARC of book four whenever it gets released. It's a great book... Its one of the best portrayals of Victorian London that I've ever come across- very raw. And I loved it. It's actually on my Christmas list.







Enclave and Outpost by Ann Aguirre
Like I said, I'm on a dystopia kick. It's a wonderfully fast paced (in Enclave), and more character driven in Outpost. I'm looking forward to Horde, which is set for release in 2013. It's a good contrast for Legend, much grittier and more dangerous- there's not much politics here. It isn't a zombie book (I haven't found any that appeal to me), but there are carnivorous creatures rather like monsters.