Looking Back at 2011

Well, 2011 has been insane for me - outside of book blogging and reading... Which means I've pretty much failed on the blog-side of things. My excuses are as follows: Wedding. Moving. New Job. Easy as that. I'll try not to mention those things too often in this post :).
But I figured I'd still look back at the books of this year and start with a nice, clean slate.

Okay, so I participated in the 100 Books in a Year challenge hosted by Book Chick City. And... I failed that one. I read 85 books this year. I thought about padding it with some quickie graphic novels, but I didn't. Which is why you should be proud! Ahem. I'll be giving this one another try in the next year - I was successful a year ago, so I know I can do it.

I also participated in the Historical Challenge through YA Bliss. I didn't finish this one either. I'm not sure I'll do this one again. It was fine and all, but I'm not going to force myself when there are less historical books that come out in a year.

And lastly, I participated in the Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren. You'll be proud to know that I actually finished this one! YAY! Well, it's not that difficult because I love reading things by new authors. But, that was one that I did finish and I'm excited to get started on it again for 2012!
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Last year, I filled out the End of Year survey and I was excited to see it around again! This is hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner - check that out. And here's the survey:
1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

I really have a hard time narrowing this down. So I'm going to give you a few options:
Dystopian: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Realistic: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Sci-Fi: Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Re-told Fairy Tale: A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
Fantasy: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Urban Fantasy: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

I have two:
Awakened by PC and Kristen Cast - it's #8 in the series and I really should have stopped a few books ago. I'm done now though.
Hades by Alexandra Adornetto - I loved the first book, Halo... but there was something lacking in this second book.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
I was expecting a fluffy chick-lit book... and it was so much more. Loved it!

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

Hands down:
Divergent by Veronica Roth
If you haven't read it yet, you're missing out.

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

I knew of it before 2011, but I finally read them:
The Wake series by Lisa McMann

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

Stephanie Perkins
Veronica Roth
Anna Sheehan
Lisa McMann

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

My only comfort zone is really fiction... and YA. And I didn't read any nonfiction (except graphics), so I'm not sure that I have an answer for this one.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

For me it was Last Sacrifice and then Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?


I specifically read this book for the cover.
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross








11. Most memorable character in 2011?

Sydney from Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?

Absolutely, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I know everyone read this a year ago or more... but I was very impacted by this story. And I've recommended it up and down to anyone who hasn't gotten to it yet.
And I would also include XVI by Julia Karr. There were some intense topics covered in this one and what things would be like if. I really enjoyed it.

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

The Wake series by Lisa McMann
People had talked about it for years and said how wonderful it was. I shouldn't have waited - they took no time at all to read!
Same for 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?

I'm really bad about writing down quotes and things that I read. Perhaps I'm just reading too fast. I'm not sure. But I'll have to pass on this question.

16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?

To be honest, I don't re-read much. And especially when I'm counting the things I'm reading toward a challenge. That being said, I probably will want to reread Divergent by Veronica Roth before the next book comes out!

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!

Geez. Every fantastic book that ended on a cliffhanger?! No, I think one that I really talked about with people was pretty much all of 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I could not believe the story and how things turned out. It just blew me away and I had to share it.

Now... on to a bigger and better 2012!!

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
ISBN: 9781416975885
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Released: December 06, 2011
Page #: 498
Source: My public library

Summary:
"In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street - and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister knows their every move - and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will - the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart."
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First Lines:

"The fog was thick, muffling sound and sight. Where it parted, Will Herondale could see the street rising ahead of him, slick and wet and black with rain, and he could hear the voices of the dead.
Not all Shadowhunters could hear ghosts, unless the ghosts chose to be heard, but Will was one of those who could."
Page 1
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Review:

If you have read my review of the first book in this series (Clockwork Angel), then you will know that I already love it and got my hands on Clockwork Prince as soon as it was possible.

This is the continuation of the first book - in that it picks up right after that one left us. It's Victorian London and Tessa is fully living with the Shadowhunters and becoming one of them (well, as much as she can). They have become her family. But one person in the Shadowhunter world threatens to take all of that away. They are tasked with finding the Magister and freeing the world of him... if not, the Institute would be taken over by - effectively - the bad Shadowhunters. Not good. With all of this happening, Tessa also gets bitten by the lurve bug. It's dramatic :).

Okay, so this book has way more romance in it than I remember the first book having. Do you see me complaining? No. Not at all. There were a few scenes (ahem) that I may or may not have read a couple of times. Whew! Are my cheeks flushed? Anyway, it's really well written and I love that the author gives us just enough detail to get imaginative. Was I pissed at points when I decided that Tessa was falling for the wrong guy? Yes. Yes, I was. But I think I'll be okay... maybe. It all depends on what happens in the next book.

One thing I really enjoyed was getting to know some of the many characters better. Sophie, Charlotte, Jessie, and even some of Henry. The author did a great job introducing some new characters as well. I'm very interested to hear more about Gideon and Gabriel - scorned brothers of the bad Shadowhunters. yay for drama! And I love that their new cook only sings crazy Irish ballads about murder and death. What a great detail!

There were a few things about this story that surprised me. I didn't realize it was going to be quite so heavy - in the topic arena. So much discussion of family and how they were each raised. I liked getting some of that background. I think it helped me love the characters that much more. There are a few mysteries revealed, and some you're given a few more clues about. Each one that came around, I was more impressed how the author handled them.

I know that these books are huge - page-wise - but I really flew through this book. I had to find out who Tessa would end up with and whether they would still have a place to live. I was all in. The first novels by this author don't have quite the same effect for me... but I recommend just about everything she does. I haven't been disappointed yet.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Bookpeople's Blog
Fictitious Delicious
Bookalicious
Rhiannon Paille
Mindful Musings
Penny Reads
The Reader Blog
Sophistikatied Reviews

Waiting on Wednesday (85)

Waiting on Wednesday" is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Here's what I'm waiting on this week...

Dead to You
by Lisa McMann
To be released: February 07, 2012

Summary from Barnes and Noble:
"Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable..."

I loved the Wake series by Lisa McMann - and I know this book is going to be just as awesome. It has a heart-wrenching premise (just like Wake) and it sounds like there there's a tad bit of a mystery. What more could you want? I'm definitely excited for this one.

What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (84)

Waiting on Wednesday" is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Here's what I'm waiting on this week...

Getting Over Garrett Delaney
by Abby McDonald
To be released: January 24, 2012

Summary from Follett:
"Seventeen-year-old Sadie Allen has spent the last two years pining for her best friend, Garrett, but when he heads off to literary camp for the summer without her, she decides to kick her unrequited crush for good, with the help of her co-workers, another boy, and her own summer twelve-step program."

This book sounds 100% adorable. I could really use a book like this right now. Soemthing light, fun, and hilarious. I don't think I've read the other books by this author, but I definitely am interested in this one. Aren't crushes the worst?! :)

What are you waiting on this week?

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Title: The Girl in the Steel Corset
Author: Kady Cross
ISBN: 9780373210336
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: May 34, 2011
Page #: 473
Source: My public library

Summary:
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch...

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help - and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on - even if it seems no one believes her.
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First Lines:

"The moment she saw the young man walking down the darkened hall toward her, twirling his walking stick, Finley Jayne knew she'd be unemployed before the sun rose. Her third dismissal in as many months."
Page 9
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Review:

There are times that I really want to get more into steampunk books... but there is some part of me that has a hard time re-learning history with machines/robots in it. I've had this problem before, so I'll try not to let it color my view of this book.

We have a girl - Finley - who is abnormally strong and sometimes forgets herself. Meaning, she has a whole other side. Think Jekyll and Hyde (in fact, that is referenced in the book as well). Her two sides like two different boys - both powerful in their own worlds. She falls into the lives of Griffin and his friends, who are figuring out what is making people so different. And there's someone who is using their power for evil. So there's mystery, intrigue, lurve, robots, and historical characters. Well, one really... Queen Victoria. Which was an interesting thing to throw in.

Honestly, I picked up this book because of its cover. How pretty is it?! And it speaks of a strong woman, I think. And strong, she is - stronger than most men in any age. But that's all physical strength - her mind is a bit of a mess at first. But you also have another strong woman character in this story, Emily. She's basically a robot genius and comes up with things no one could imagine. She really makes this story interesting for me and I wish we could have more about her. There's a lot more going on with her and you only get a taste of it.

Speaking of which, there's a lot going on in this one book. You've got characters trying to figure out who they even are and where they came from. You have characters that are just now joining the group and you learn very little about their backgrounds (see: Jasper and Finley). There's a villain who you only see enough of to hate him. There is the beginning of a love triangle that is only touched on. And a lot more...

The whole book starts about Finley and her affliction (if that's what you want to call it) - one that makes her lose herself. And you hear a lot about her struggle and how her life has been and what she's dealt with. You also get the feeling that this is something she has a really hard time with. I mean, who wouldn't - if your other half started taking over large chunks of your life. But about halfway through the book, it's like things are magically cured. Ta da! No more problems! Now you're just strong and awesome. I think it was a little abrupt for me. And if she was cured so suddenly, I wished for some more talk of adjustment to her new life. I dunno, I just missed Finley in the last half of the book - when we were fighting villains instead (and learning of other romance triangles that never resolve).

Of course, this book is left open-ended, and it's called part of the steampunk chronicles. The author's website says the next book will be out in summer '12. I hope there is even more development of these characters and their strange relationships. I look forward to reading this one, for sure. I'm crossing my fingers that this second book will be fantastic.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Feeling Fictional
A Fangirl's View
Geek Mom
The Small Town Book Blog
Refracted Light
Bookshelf Banter
On a Book Bender