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End of Year Reading Survey--2018

One of my favorite pastimes this year has been reading and discovering blogs written by people who love reading books as much as I do. Recently I found the following reading survey that was shared on  The Perpetual Page Turner. I thought there were some neat and thought-provoking questions on this survey and took some time to reflect on my reading in 2018.

BEST IN BOOKS 

Best Book You Read In 2018? It is a tie between A Man Called Ove (Backman) and The Kind Worth Killing (Swanson).

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?  The Tattooist of Auschwitz--I really wanted more depth to the story or more background into the people's lives.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  I'm going to say The Nightingale for two reasons. First, it was the first book I listened to on Audible. I did not think I would like to listen to audio books as much as I do. Second, I have stayed away from Kristin Hannah for a few years, so it was nice to go back to her somewhat epic stories.

Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)? Well, I pushed several people to read The Kind Worth Killing, but I also recommended Just Mercy (Stevenson) to our church book club. 

Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? I did not start a new series (that I am aware of) this year. I was greatly anticipating Still Me (Moyes) because I loved the first two books in the series. It did not disappoint, and I am satisfied with how Louisa's life turned out. 

Favorite new author you discovered in 2018? Frederik Backman (new to me!) 

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

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year? The Kind Worth Killing

Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year? I don't usually reread books, and I do not foresee rereading any of the ones I read in 2018.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018? One Day in December (Silver)

Most memorable character of 2018? Tie--Ove & Eleanor Oliphant

Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018? Tie--Just Mercy (Stevenson) & Girl Wash Your Face (Hollis)

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read? A Man Called Ove

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?

Shortest--Let Me Finish! (Le)

Longest--The Nightingale

Book That Shocked You The Most? Behind Her Eyes (Pinborough)

OTP OF THE YEAR (OTP = one true pairing)? Laurie & Jack in One Day in December (Silver)

Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year? Ove and the young girls who are his neighbors.

Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously? Tie--Still Me (Moyes) and Louisiana's Way Home (DiCamillo) 

Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.: Tie--We Were the Lucky Ones (Hunter) & The Kind Worth Killing (Swanson)

Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018? Tie--Jack in One Day in December or Drew in The Wedding Date (Guillory)

Best 2018 debut you read? Tie--The Wedding Date (Guillory) & One Day in December (Silver)

Best World building/Most Vivid Setting(s) You Read This Year? We Were the Lucky Ones (Hunter)

Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read? Tie-- One Day in December The Wedding Date (Guillory)

Book That Made You Cry in 2018? A Man Called Ove (Backman)

Book That Crushed Your Soul?Just Mercy (Stevenson)

Most Unique Book You Read In 2018? I'm going to say One Day in December (Silver) because there are truly no bad, unlikable main characters in this book.

Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)? The Hate You Give (Thomas) because even when characters/people do the right thing, it doesn't mean that things will all turn out ok. Also, it is a sad testament to the times in which we live.

book-blogging

New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2018? Modern Mrs. Darcy

Favorite post you wrote in 2018? When One-Shot PD Isn't Working: Supporting Literacy Teachers Around Guided Reading

Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2018?

Me with Santa Bruce at NCTE

Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events,  etc.) Author signings with Matt De La Pena & Loren Long, Lisa Wingate, and all of the author panels at ILA and NCTE. 

Most challenging thing about your reading life this year? Not being able to read after my dad's death (lack of focus/concentration and short term memory issues).

Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)? Listening to books on Audible, finding podcasts such as "What Should I Read Next", and Modern Mrs. Darcy.com.

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year? Yes, I surpassed my Goodreads goal.

looking-ahead-books-2015

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019? Beartown by Backman

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)? Sarah Addison Allen's latest 

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019? Blog and Instagram 


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