2023 End of Year Book Survey

Holy guacamole, this little blog of mine is ten years old! Where the hell did that time go? On reading books, apparently.

As is customary by now, I’m celebrating the new year with an end of year book survey. I usually have this written and ready to go days in advance, but I plum forget about it this year, so I’ve only just managed to slap this together in time! I suppose it helps that I haven’t got an unmanageable pile of books to choose from, just an easy baker’s dozen.

Without further ado, onto the books…

2023 Reading Stats

Number of Books You Read: 13
Number of Pages: 3873
Genre You Read The Most From: Science fiction

Best in Books

Best book you read in 2023?
Several strong contenders, but I’m going to choose Cosmoknights, because just thinking about that books gets me excited, I absolutely adored it.

Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
Hmm, Acceptance. I had loved the first two books in the Southern Reach trilogy, and while I did enjoy the third one, I just didn’t love it as much. Which was sad.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Square Eyes. I bought it on a whim quite a while ago and it had been sitting on my shelf since. I finally decided to read it, with no real expectations, and it was so good! A lot of thought-provoking and important themes which I hadn’t anticipated.

Book you “pushed” the most people to read?
I am still pushing people to read Frontier and Cosmoknights. Everyone needs more space gays in their life.

Best series you started in 2023? Best sequel? Best series ender of 2023?
As I’ve only recently finished it, I’ll say A Memory Called Empire as the best first in a series, mostly because it’s fresh in my mind and I’m keen to read the next book.
Best sequel has to be The Trials of Koli, still obsessed with this series and am itching to read the last book—soon.
And the only series ender I read was Acceptance, so that wins by default!

Favourite new author you discovered in 2023?
It has to be Grace Curtis. I’ve read both her books via advanced reading copy, have been eager to buy them (paperback when?), and already can’t wait for her next book.

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Hmm. I’ll say The Two Doctors Górski. While it was science fiction, it was more on the psychological and fantasy end of sci-fi. It was also hugely character-driven, which I enjoy but don’t read a lot of.

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
I’ve got to go with Cosmoknights (and the sequel). Definitely action-packed and thrilling. I could easily have not put the books down and read them swiftly in one go, but I made sure I paced myself a little to savour them a bit.

Favourite cover of a book you read in 2023?
There are quite a few gorgeous covers this year, but it has to be Frontier. The colours, the negative space… give this cover a frame.

Book you read in 2023 that you would be most likely to re-read next year?
I can’t keep saying Cosmoknights, but… whenever the third in the series comes out I will likely make short work of re-reading the first two before diving in.

Most memorable character of 2023?
Bob Comet and all his friends at the senior centre from The Librarianist. I’d hang around with them any time, they’re hilarious.

Most beautifully written book read in 2023?
Oh, I’m going to say The Tower in the Sea. It’s a graphic novel and the art is literally beautiful, but it’s also just the mood of the story. Beautiful in all the ways.

Most thought-provoking book of 2023?
On a personal level, I’ll say The Stranding, and on a philosophical level I’ll say A Memory Called Empire.

Book you can’t believe you waited until 2023 to finally read?
It has to be Square Eyes, simply because it’s been sitting on my shelf the longest!

Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2023?
Once again, I have been lax at keeping track of my favourite quotes this year, but of the ones I did share to my tumblr, my favourite would be…

“Bob had long given up on the notion of knowing anyone, or of being known. He communicated with the world partly by walking through it, but mainly by reading about it.”

Patrick deWitt – The Librarianist

Shortest & longest book you read in 2023?
Shortest: The Tower in the Sea at 97 pages
Longest: A Memory Called Empire at 462 pages

Book that shocked you the most?
Oh, it has to be Floating Hotel, because I did not see the ending coming… and I love it when that happens.

Favourite non-romantic relationship of the year?
Perhaps because it’s fresh in my mind, but I loved the close, easy friendship between Three Seagrass and Twelve Azalea in A Memory Called Empire, and how it was portrayed through the eyes on the main character, from the outside, who wished she had a friendship like that.

Favourite book you read in 2023 from an author you’ve read previously?
There are a couple of authors I’ve read multiple books by this year, but as it was the first year I’ve read them, that kind of feels like cheating. So I’ll say The Trials of Koli, mostly because I am super keen to read the next book in the series!

Best book you read in 2023 that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else?
A Memory Called Empire, which I read almost solely because my partner absolutely loved it.

Best world building/most vivid setting you read this year?
There were many great books doing some amazing world-building that I read this year, but my heart is saying Floating Hotel. The ease with which Curtis built not only the world inside the hotel, but the snippets of worlds on planets they passed and the worlds within each of the characters. It was exquisite.

Book that put a smile on your face/was the most fun to read?
Cosmoknights, all damn day. Such a fun read!

Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2023?
I don’t think any made me cry this year? Which is kind of surprising, because I’ll cry at anything. But A Memory Called Empire almost made me cry.

Hidden gem of the year?
Probably The Tower in the Sea, as not as many people have read it.

Book that crushed your soul?
I’ll have to say The Stranding, because of where my mind was at during the time I read it and because it’s pretty depressing overall, I can’t lie!

Most unique book you read in 2023?
I have to say The Two Doctors Górski, because it deals with concepts and themes I haven’t often come across.

Book that made you the most mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
The Stranding… because I did not agree with choices the main character main and she made me angry.

Blogging Life

Favourite post you wrote in 2023?
I didn’t have one last year, as I’d only posted book reviews. I have the same issue this year, except I can do what I wanted to last year and say my 2022 End of Year Book Survey!

Favourite bookish related photo you took in 2023?
Scrolling through my instragram, the book photo that pleases me the most aesthetically is this one of The Trials of Koli…

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Remembering that I post my end of year survey on the 1 January and scrambling to get it written and ready on the 31 December. I’m usually much more organised than this!

Best bookish discovery?
This tiktok video, because it spoke to my soul. Floppy book supremacy!

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I set myself a goal of 12 books. One a month. I thought it would be an easy goal. And it was, to some degree. Several of those where short and/or graphic novels. And when I met my goal I ground to a halt for a couple of months. But, with having only dragged myself out of a reading slump last year, I think I’m not doing too badly.

Looking Ahead

One book you didn’t get to in 2023 but will be your number one priority in 2023?
The final book in the Ramparts series. I was hoping to at least start it at the tail end of this year, but unfortunately I didn’t.

Series ending/a sequel you are most anticipating in 2023?
See above! Can’t wait to complete the Ramparts trilogy early next year!

One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging life in 2023?
No goals this year. Status quo will be good. Read and review. Anything else is a bonus.

2022 End Of Year Book Survey

It was nine years ago today I started the little blog of mine. I have acknowledged the mile stone most years with this end of year survey. Most years, because the last two—2020 and 2021—I didn’t read much at all and it simply seemed pointless. But I’ve been back on the reading horse, and having read enough to cobble together some answers this year, I wanted to bring the survey back!

This survey was originally started by The Perpetual Page Turner, who seems to have also abandoned it in recent years. But the questions live on. As I’ve done previously, I’ve taken the questions that spark joy and left the rest.

It’s fun to think back on the books I’ve read and look forward to my reading goals for the future. Hit me up in the comments and let me know if you’ve done any end of year review too!

2022 Reading Stats

Number of Books You Read: 13
Number of Pages: 3206
Genre You Read The Most From: Science fiction

Best in Books

Best book you read in 2022?
This is a horrible question this year because I read so many amazing books. Like, literally no duds. But. I will choose The Book of Koli because it got me so hyped and excited and just bursting with “I love this book!” feelings. (Also because I’m going to use my other favourite book for another question they would have drawn for.)

Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
Probably Disturbing the Beast, simply because, as with almost every short story collection, there are some I just didn’t like or relate to.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Gender Queer, only because I hadn’t quite expected to relate to some of it that much.

Book you “pushed” the most people to read?
I don’t think I’ve been pushing any of the books, but if there was one book I’d recommend everyone read, it’d be Gender Queer. Even if you can’t relate to it, it will help you understand some of the feelings other folk have about their gender.

Best series you started in 2022? Best sequel? Best series ender of 2022?
Best series I started is 100% The Book of Koli, I can’t wait to dig into the rest of that series. The only mid-series book I read was Terrible Means, which I loved and look forward to continuing with the next book. And the only series ender I read was Monster of Men, which I enjoyed and am glad to have completed!

Favourite new author you discovered in 2022?
Hmm. Although I have a few books by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation is the first of his books I’ve actually read. I see why he’s a popular science fiction author and I’m keen to read more of his work.

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I guess Kiki’s Delivery Service. I can’t even enjoy YA fiction any more, let alone middle grade, but for Kiki I made the exception and I loved it.

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Honestly, not loads of them were. Though some included war and adventure and escape, the tone of the books as a whole was pretty chill and more philosophical (which I am a big fan of, apparently). So I’ll have to go with Dracula. The Polycule™ literally racing across the world in pursuit of the count was pretty action-packed and thrilling.

Favourite cover of a book you read in 2022?
Annihilation, for sure. I’ve had my copy of this book for a few years now and I love it. I really appreciate that the title and author text is small and subtle. I love the simple but striking design. I was also devastated when, after reading and loving it, I found I could no longer find the sequels in the same design! Nooooo!

Book you read in 2022 that you would be most likely to re-read next year?
I don’t re-read books often (so many books, so little time, etc.), but I would be likely to pick up Dinosaur Therapy and read a few comics or a section when I need a little pick me up.

Most memorable character of 2022?
My good friend Jonathan Harker and his emails about that strange chap, Count Dracula, obviously.

Most beautifully written book read in 2022?
Can we call it a tie? Terrible Means for its literal beauty in the artwork and To Be Taught If Fortunate for its beautiful words that had me crying every single day I was reading it.

Most thought-provoking book of 2022?
The Sundial had some pretty big philosophical talking points about life and the end of the world and if and how a person can change.

Book you can’t believe you waited until 2022 to finally read?
Kiki’s Delivery Service, honestly. I’ve loved the film for many years, I don’t know why I forgot the book existed.

Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2022?
I usually keep track of notable quotes from the books I read on my tumblr, though as I’ve been getting back into reading during the second half of this year I haven’t shared as many as usual. Because I know there would have been plenty in loads of the books. However, from the ones I have taken note of I’ll go with this one…

“Well,” Fancy said slowly, “you all want the whole world to be changed so you will be different. But I don’t suppose people get changed any by just a new world. And anyway that world isn’t any more real than this one.”

Shirley Jackson – The Sundial

Shortest & longest book you read in 2022?
Shortest: Binti at 90 pages
Longest: Monsters of Men at 603

Book that shocked you the most?
Hmm. I’m going to say Black from the Future, for one story in particular that legitimately surprised me (in a good way!) at the end. I loved it.

Favourite non-romantic relationship of the year?
Van Helsing and Mina Harker in Dracula. Icons supporting icons, the rest of the characters would all be dead if not for them.

Favourite book you read in 2022 from an author you’ve read previously?
Remember when I had trouble picking a favourite book for the year? Well the book I chose is by an author I’ve read previously. So for this questions I’m saying To Be Taught If Fortunate, which is also my favourite book I read this year and is also by an author I’ve read previously. Check mate, silly book survey!

Best book you read in 2022 that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else?
I’ll say Dinosaur Therapy, as it was a gift from a friend. I read the comics sporadically in bursts and it was a wonderful way to enjoy the book over a longer period of time.

Best world building/most vivid setting you read this year?
There were so many, so this is hard to choose, but I’ll give a shout out to Binti because it fit such an incredible amount of amazing world building in a mere 90 pages.

Book that put a smile on your face/was the most fun to read?
It has to be Kiki’s Delivery Service. It is pure light and joy and happiness.

Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2022?
To Be Taught If Fortunate, 1000%. I cried every time I picked that book up and I loved it.

Hidden gem of the year?
I’ll say Disturbing the Beast, because apparently it’s the book on the fewest people’s bookshelves!

Book that crushed your soul?
Maybe Monsters of Men, simply because it deals with some heavy concepts and left me overthinking about war and power and how those in charge are often looking out for their own interests over that of the general population.

Most unique book you read in 2022?
I love this question. I think Terrible Means, because it is so quietly beautiful. Both in terms of the gorgeous artwork and the tragic environmental story slowly unfolding in the series.

Book that made you the most mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
I have to say Monsters of Men, just because the characters didn’t really learn from previous mistakes and that was really bloody frustrating.

Blogging Life

Favourite post you wrote in 2022?
All my posts in 2022 were reviews, so it’s hard to say. I usually love writing reviews for books I don’t like, but I’ve only read bangers this year. I want to say this post, but it’ll be posting the first day of 2023, so I guess I can’t.

Favourite bookish related photo you took in 2022?
Book about space travel. Galaxy dungaree backdrop. What’s not to love? It has to be this one of To Be Taught If Fortunate:

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
I’ve read more this year than I have since I hit my slump, and I think the biggest challenge was embracing that and having fun reading books again without putting pressure on myself and fucking it all up. I think I did okay, and seem to have hit a point where I’m reading for the simple joy of it again.

Best bookish discovery?
Linked to getting my reading mojo back and reading for the joy of it, I was introduced to a method they use when choosing books to read which I think I’m going to adopt to some degree. It’s checking Goodreads and/or Storygraph, and only considering reading a book if it has an overall rating of 4 stars or above. I think it’s a really great idea to aid narrowing down potential reads without feeling overwhelmed by the amount of books that exist. I now use this in conjunction with other factors (I still check the negative reviews too, for example).

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I set myself the low-low target of six books. With how little I’ve been reading in recent years even that felt lofty at the time. One book every two months was still more than I had been managing. But the second half of the year I found the joy again, and I smashed out 13 books in total. I’m so chuffed!

Looking Ahead

One book you didn’t get to in 2022 but will be your number one priority in 2023?
I’m very excited about a number of books, but probably my most anticipated is Red Sister, the first of Mark Lawrence’s Book of the Ancestor series. I’ve loveloveloved two previous series by Lawrence (The Broken Empire and The Red Queen’s War), and can’t wait to jump back onto this world and his words.

Series ending/a sequel you are most anticipating in 2023?
I’m very much looking forward to continuing with THREE series in 2023. Ismyre, The Southern Reach, and Rampart. I’m thoroughly enjoying all of them so far.

One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging life in 2023?
Just… to keep the joy of reading alive in my soul. I’ve got it back, but it still feels delicate. So, yeah, to keep reading. And maybe also hopefully maybe no pressure though fingers crossed I’ll give it a go writing some non-review posts for the blog. I see Top Ten Tuesday is still going, so I’ll dip my toe into that. I have a few ideas of topics I would like to write about. And I mean, this post counts, right? Yeah. Go me! Let’s have it, 2023!

2020 End of Year Review

Title: 2020

Summary: A bit of a mess.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5

Review: January 1st is the anniversary of when I started this blog. January 1st 2021 marks Marvel at Words’ eighth birthday. It has been tradition on the blog to mark the occasion and start the year with an end of year survey, going over the books I’ve read and bookish accomplishments over the last 12 months. Thing is, 2020 was a bit of a mess, all told—I’m sure everyone reading this can relate—and I just… didn’t read books.

I can’t really articulate why I didn’t read books. I was just not in the mindset for it. I didn’t even manage to finish a book before things really started kicking off with the virus and lockdown, let alone in the midst of it all. I just found it impossible to fully let the real world go and immerse myself into the fictional world on the page. I started several books, but didn’t get very far with them at all before abandoning them.

My one saving grace was Northern Lights and its audiobook. The one, single book I read in 2020. But even that took me an immense amount of time to get through, compared with how long it has taken me to read books in the past. I listened to one or two chapters a week, mostly while also occupied with pages in a sweary colouring book. Although I did finish it, in many ways it still felt like a chore.

I didn’t buy very many books at all in 2020 either, which means there will be no 2020 book buying analysis coming. I bought a staggeringly grand total of five books in 2020. Even with that low number, as I only read one book, my to-read pile has continued—albeit slowly—to grow.

While there is not much bookish-related activity to look back on in 2020, I thought it would be good to set some bookish intentions for 2021. I refuse to continue to not read books. Books are things that have brought me so much joy in the past, and I am determined to reclaim that. While I cannot force the reading mojo upon myself, I will do what I can to encourage it, rather than giving up on it altogether. And so my intentions are simple and few:

Read six books – I set myself what I thought was the low-low goal of 12 books in 2020. One a month, I though. Easy peasy, I thought. Six books in 2021 feels like a mountain compared to the one book I did manage in 2020. But it’s a mountain I am motivated to climb. I am putting no pressure on myself as to what kind of books or the speed at which I should be reading them. I want the focus to be on enjoying the act of reading, rather than the number or variety of books.

Write six stories – This is a complementary goal to the reading. If I’m not feeling in the right mood to read, perhaps I can feel motivated to write. So, six stories. As short and silly and pointless as they want to be. Because as much as I want to read words, I want to be making them as well. And I want to share them here. As with the reading, I’m putting no pressure on myself. These stories can be about anything, as as short or as long as the muse makes them.

That’s it. Those are my intentions. Minimal, low-pressure, and hopefully high-fun. Because that’s my intention for 2021… to find the joy in things again.

2019 End of Year Book Survey

The first day of the year is the anniversary of this little old blog, and today it turns seven years old. I’ve always posted this survey as a way of marking the occasion and feeling proud of another book blogging year in the bag.

In 2019 I had big ambitions, but didn’t stretch far enough for them. That’s fine. I didn’t give up on things completely, and instead I put my focus in other places. I read 22 books, six of which were short comic books. I wasn’t hugely active in the bookish community this year. So removed a few more questions from this survey than usual, because it seemed easier than fumbling for answers I just don’t have.

Thanks, as always, to The Perpetual Page-Turner for hosting this annual shindig. Drop me a comment below and let me know if you’ve done this survey too!

2019 Reading Stats

Number of books read: 22
Number of re-reads: 1
Genre read most: Science fiction just pipped it with 10, but fantasy was a close second with 8. Or we could just say SF&F with 18?

Best in Books

Best book you read in 2019?
A lot of strong contenders this year. Lots of fours stars. But there were only a could of books I gave five stars to, so the title of “best” has to go to The Motherless Oven.

Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
Sadly, Record of a Spaceborn Few. Still a lovely book in many ways, but I didn’t have the all consuming love for it that I had for the first two in the series.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Maybe House of Many Ways, because I’d been a little disappointed with Castle in the Air and so had put off reading it, but it was wonderful!

Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did)?
I didn’t really push any books on people this year, though my partner finally started the Wayfairs series and has devoured them, so I’m quite chuffed about that.

Best series you started in 2019? Best sequel of 2019? Best series ender of 2019?
Started: The Motherless Oven, obviously.
Sequel: The Ask and the Answer. I can’t believe how quickly I read that.
Ender: The Wheel of Osheim. Gosh, I still miss Jalan and Snorri so much.

Favourite new author you discovered in 2019?
Probably B. Mure. I was captivated by Ismyre and can’t wait to read the next two books in the series later this year.

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I think I stayed pretty firmly within my comfort zone this year, with only two outliers. Of those two, I preferred Little Fires Everywhere.

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
The Shining. Because even though I’ve read it before, I couldn’t get enough of it. I put it down, but only for a short reprieve from the tension!

Book you read in 2019 that you would be most likely to re-read next year?
As a rule, i’m not one for re-reading books. But if I had to revisit one of them, I’d have to choose Ismyre for its quiet, beautiful, calmness.

Favourite cover of a book you read in 2019?
If this book gets no much other love from me, it will certainly get the best cover… it’s the reason I bought it, after all! No Matter the Wreckage.

Most memorable character of 2019?
A tough one. There were some wonderful characters, but no one stands out and says, “Pick me!” But i’m going to pick Charmain from House of Many Ways, because she was fun, and lovely, and stubborn.

Most beautifully written book read in 2019?
Definitely Ismyre. It’s beautiful visually, but the story is also beautifully soft and quiet and wonderful.

Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2019?
Hmm. The Motherless Oven was definitely a thought-provoking series, trying (if you want) to figure out the deeper, hidden meanings behind the seemingly random parts of the world.

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2019 to finally read?
Has to be Doctor Sleep. I bought it as soon as it came out in paperback, but it wasn’t until I saw the trailer for the film in October that I thought, “Shit, I should read that!”

Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2019?
I can’t decide—it’s a tie:

Everyone’s lost. Any direction will take you where you’re going. You just have to hope that’s where you want to be.

Mark Lawrence – The Wheel of Osheim

What was better – a constant safeness that never grew and never changed, or a life of reaching, building, striving, even though you knew you’d never be completely satisfied?

Becky Chambers – Record of a Spaceborn Few

Shortest and longest book you read in 2019?
Shortest: The Goddess Mode comics, which were about 20-30 pages each.
Longest: The Wheel of Osheim at 672 pages.

Book that shocked you the most?
Even That Wildest Hope, because it was very weird, and I love that shit; I never knew what to expect!

OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship!)?
I have to choose Todd and Viola from The Ask and the Answer. It’s not necessarily a romantic relationship, but their connection, trust, and belief in each other is unshakable and I love them for it.

Favourite non-romantic relationship of the year?
Jalan and Snorri in The Liar’s Key and The Wheel of Osheim, obviously. BFFs for liiiiiife!

Favourite book you read in 2019 from an author you’ve read previously?
Rocannon’s World, because Ursula le Guin is flawless.

Best book you read in 2019 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?
The Goddess Mode series. My partner bought them for himself as they were released and he thought i’d enjoy them… which… yeah, I did.

Best 2019 debut you read?
Not sure how many debuts I did read, but the best has to be Even That Wildest Hope, because I love to read something different!

Best world building/most vivid setting you read this year?
The will always be Becky Chambers, and this year that’s Record of a Spaceborn Few. While I didn’t love it as much as previous books, that wasn’t for lack of incredible world building.

Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read?
I’ll say Women of Wonder, because it was great to read female-written science fiction short stories, and because in there were some aspects that haven’t dated well, but it was almost more interesting for that.

Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2019?
Oh, The Ask and the Answer, no question. Sobbed my heart out a couple of times.

Hidden gem of the year?
Ismyre. It’s just. So. Freaking. Lovely.

Book that crushed your soul?
No Matter the Wreckage crushed the part of my soul that wants to fall in love with poetry…

Most unique book you read in 2019?
Most certainly Even that Wildest Hope. It was like nothing I’d ever read before, and while I didn’t love every story in the collection, every story stayed with me in some way.

Book that made you the most mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Okay, I’ll say Goddess Mode, because we got them individually as they were released and they are full of adverts and urgh.

Blogging Life

Favourite post you wrote in 2019?
My Book vs Film post about The Shining, because I had a lot of fun with that, putting my film degree to some use, finally!

Favourite bookish related photo you took in 2019?
Another tie, because I really love both of these photos so much… Little Fires Everywhere and House of Many Ways:

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Mid-year I got a new job which freed up some time for me, and I really wanted to use that to do more with my blog. But I felt the pressure a little too much, as well as taking on other commitments, and if anything I’ve actually done less with my blog. Which is disappointing, but on wards and upwards.

Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
By views: The Wheel of Osheim
By comments: Record of a Spaceborm Few

Post you wished got a little more love?
Book vs Film: The Shining, because I enjoyed writing it and I want to make it into a series.

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
My Goodreads reading challenge, but that’s it.

Looking Ahead

One book you didn’t get to in 2019 but will be your number one priority in 2020?
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham and Sea of Dust by Robert C Cargill have been near the top of my to-read pile for ages, but kept getting pushed down in favour of other books, so I’m going to try to actually read them this year!

Book you are most anticipating for 2020?
Can’t wait to get a paperback copy of To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers when it’s released in April.

One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging life in 2020?
Just write more. I wrote very few non-review posts in 2019, which is fine, but I want to pick them back up again 2020.

2018 End of Year Book Survey

Today, January 1st, is six years since I created this blog of mine. It never ceases to amaze me that I’ve kept it going consistently over all that time. Every book I’ve read, reviewed here for my own posterity and, hopefully, others’ enjoyment. I always mark the occasion with this end of year survey, and my previous years have been 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017… that list will become unmanageable in a few more years.

As I’m sure most people are aware, this survey was created and is hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner, and as usual, I’ve stuck to only the relevant questions for me, my reading life, and my blogging style.

Please do leave me a comment if you’ve read any of these books, to recommend any blogs or bookish folks to follow, and to link me up to your own survey! Hello 2019—let’s do this!

2018 Reading Stats

Number of books read: 21
Number of re-reads: 0
Genre read most: Science fiction (surprising exactly no-one), closely followed by horror and (surprising at least myself) contemporary.

Best in Books

Best book you read in 2018?
I have to choose Places in the Darkness, because it’s one of my favourite authors writing my very favourite genre. How was I not going to absolutely freaking love this book?

Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
Oh, without a shadow of a doubt The City of Mirrors. After five-star loving the first two books in the series, and even after having heard not-great things about the third, I still went in with high hopes. Safe to say those hopes were obliterated.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Has to be Milk and Honey. As someone who wants to love poetry, but often finds it difficult, I was so, so happy to find I absolutely adored this book with a fiery passion.

Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did)?
I definitely prodded a couple of people into reading The Boy on the Bridge, which is good, because that book is brilliant.

Best series you started in 2018? Best sequel of 2018? Best series ender of 2018?
Started… probably The Prince of Fools, the first in The Red Queen’s War series, because I always forget just how much I unabashedly love Mark Lawrence’s effortlessly hilarious and casually genius writing.
Sequel… I’ll have to say The Word for World is Forrest, even if it did take me several bloody years to get around to it—it was worth the wait!
And I think the only series I finished was with The City of Mirrors, so it unfortunately wins by default.

Favourite new author you discovered in 2018?
I think i’ll have to say Celeste Ng, because I was just blown away by Everything I Never Told You and I can’t wait to get cracking on Little Fires Everywhere.

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
The Princess Diarist was way out of my comfort zone, because I don’t think I’ve ever read a straight up memoir before… only more diary/anecdotal/story type memoirs. But it was great, especially buddy-reading it with a friend.

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
A few strong contenders for this one, but I’m going to choose The Knife of Never Letting Go. Almost every chapter ended with an enticing hook into the next and the chapters were short enough that it was so easy to just… keep going.

Book you read in 2018 that you would be most likely to re-read next year?
Definitely The Outward Urge, and simply because I’m contemplating my second Wyndham-themed tattoo!

Favourite cover of a book you read in 2018?
Oh, so many great covers this year! However, the one that stands out, with my love of simplicity, artwork, and negative space, is Milk and Honey.

Most memorable character of 2018?
I’m going to cheat a little and say the trio of characters—Antonia, Katherine, and Kitty—from Three, because technically they all began as the same person…

Most beautifully written book read in 2018?
Face. Not only is the storytelling and concept beautiful, but so is the art work.

Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2018?
Hmm, I always struggle with this question. Let’s go with Banthology, because not only are the stories well-told and fantastically written, they reflect and represent genuine struggles and political issues.

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read?
Don’t know, really, but I guess The Knife of Never Letting Go has been on my shelf for a while.

Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2018?
Having read through my favourite quotes on my tumblr, there were several wonderful and meaningful ones I could choose… but instead I’m going with the one that makes me laugh the most.

Malcolm was bored by the conversation and excused himself to search for something to steal. Finding nothing, he moved to the kitchen to replenish his vodka. He located the bottle in the freezer; just beside this was a hefty, flesh-coloured, frost-coated dildo. He stared at it a moment, then poured himself a vodka and returned to the dining room. Soon Mme Reynard excused herself to use the bathroom; in a controlled voice, Malcolm told Frances, “Go look in the freezer.”

Patrick deWitt – French Exit

Shortest and longest book you read in 2018?
Shortest: Banthology at 70 pages
Longest: The City of Mirrors at 761 pages

Book that shocked you the most?​
Maybe Horrorstor, because I didn’t expect it to be so funny, but also so genuinely creepy—and still really good!

OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship!)?
Romantic relationships were really not at all the focus of any of the books I read this year and I am super chuffed with that!

Favourite non-romantic relationship of the year?
Okay, this one will have to be a tie between unlikely travel and adventure companions Jalan and Snorri in Prince of Fools, and the magnificent mother/son duo Frances and Malcolm in French Exit.

Favourite book you read in 2018 from an author you’ve read previously?
Quite a flipping few! As I chose it as my favourite book of the year, I suppose I should go with Places in the Darkness by Christopher Brookmyre.

Best book you read in 2018 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?
I’d seen The Vegetarian all over instragram, and after being vegetarian for over 15 years (before becoming vegan) the peer pressure broke me and I picked it up. Worth it, though!

Best 2018 debut you read?
Undoubtedly Everything I Never Told You. I didn’t know what to expect from the book, and it was freaking fantastic.

Best world building/most vivid setting you read this year?
Despite other issues I had with the book, the world and setting in Station Eleven was fascinating and unique and I would read more stories in this world in an instance.

Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read?
Oh, has it be Instruction Manual for Swallowing. A collection of wonderful and bizarre short stories that were just a joy to spend some time in.

Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2018?
I just counted and at least seven books made me cry. So, there’s that. Most memorable was probably The Twelve, as it managed to get me invested in a group of people in a historic timeline that I knew would all die.

Hidden gem of the year?
Three—no where near enough people will have read it. It’s really a wonderful book, in concept and writing.

Book that crushed your soul?
Ha. The City of Mirrors, because I had bloody loooooved the first two books in the series, and then that was a flaming pile of shite in comparison.

Most unique book you read in 2018?
For sure it’s Horrorstor. I’ve never read anything like that before, and it is surprisingly very well executed. The details of the actual book and how IKEA-catalogue like it is are incredible.

Book that made you the most mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
The Princess Diarist, because it turns out Harrison Ford is a massive wanker.

Blogging Life

New favourite book blog/bookstagram/youtube channel you discovered in 2018?
I’ll be honest, I’ve been pretty bad at the social aspect of blogging this year (not that I was great at it in years previous)… so I really don’t have one. Link me some I should check out in the comments, please?

Favourite post you wrote in 2018?
Stories: Short & Sweet, because I love short stories, but I know a lot of people don’t. I wanted to share why I love them, how they’re different to novels, and what makes them so unique and fantastic.

Favourite bookish related photo you took in 2018?
First place goes to this one of The Word for World is Forest:

But an honourable mention has to go to this one of Face (with thanks to my partner for taking the photo and lining it up so flipping perfectly!):

Best bookish event that you participated in?
Sort of my own event/blog series, but I’ve loved visiting and documenting the bookshops of cities I visit. So far I’ve done Brighton and Edinburgh, and I have a Cardiff one to write and post. It brings an extra level of enjoyment from and reason to visit bookshops (other than buying more books!).

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?
Oh dear, as simple and flustering as it is… when Christopher Brookmyre liked and retweeted my review of Places in the Darkness.

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
The social aspect. I find it very difficult to find the time to read and comment on as many other blogs and photos as I would like, especially when I’m already scraping together the time to read, review, and write posts myself. I don’t know how other bloggers manage it.

Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
By views: Edinburgh Bookshops, by comments: On Giving Up.

Post you wished got a little more love?
Fifty Shades of Blackout Poetry, because it was so much fun, and I would love to know what other people made of it, and to see other people’s blackout poetry creations!

Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Is it a discovery if it’s something I’ve discovered I enjoy doing? Let’s say yes. Because this year was the first time I really bothered posting about my blog on instragram. I’ve been a bookstagrammer for a few years now (amongst my other photos—mine’s an eclectic account!), but hadn’t really bothered to promote my blog there. For whatever reason, that changed this year. And I really love taking photos of the books I’ve read to post there and share my thoughts on them.

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Only my goodreads reading goal. Which seems to go down each year, but for me, so long as I read 20 books or more, I’ll be satisfied.

Looking Ahead

One book you didn’t get go in 2018 but will be your number ome priority in 2019?
The second book in the Red Queen’s War trilogy—The Liar’s Key. I meant to get to it this year, but it’s going to be my first book of 2019 and I can’t wait!

Book you are most anticipating for 2019?
Anything written and released by Patrick deWitt, Becky Chambers, Christopher Brookmyre, Rupi Kaur…

One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging life in 2019?
Setting up some sort of posting schedule. I’m ruminating on it currently, but I’d like to have one to help keep me organised and motivated. I also want to include posting my own short stories in that schedule… eep.

2017 End of Year Book Survey

January 1st marks the anniversary of my starting this silly little blog, and every year since, on the first day of the new year, i complete and post this survey. I’ve done 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 – this is year five. Other than the 12 year relationship i’m in, this is the most committed i’ve ever been to something, i think. A scary, but warm-feeling inducing thing to realise. Here’s to year six, i guess!

As always, this survey is put together and hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner, and as with previous years, i’ve simply omitted any questions that don’t work for me and my own style of reading, writing, and blogging. Feel free to leave any comments, if you’ve read or want to read any of these books, and point me towards your own completed survey, if you’ve done one! Happy 2018!

2017 Reading Stats

Number of books read: 22.5
Number of re-reads: 1
Genre most read: Graphic novels – more than twice any other!

Best In Books

Best Book You Read In 2017?
It’s seriously hard to choose this year! There are three very strong five-star books fighting for this position. I think, being fair, it has to go to IT, as that’s one of my favourite books ever…

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Sad to say, The Power. It was a good book, but from things i’d heard m expectations had been pretty astronomical. It was a real shame.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
As a random little impulse buy at the till, The Practical Implications of Immortality was surprisingly wonderful.

Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
I pushed Nimona so hard I actually bought a copy for someone for their birthday. Everyone, read it!!

Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?
I try not to be reading too many series at once, but I did start the Dr Power series with The Darkening Sky which was great. Best sequel by far was A Closed and Common Orbit (which was one of my favourite books this year generally). And I didn’t finish a series!

Favourite new author you discovered in 2017?
I read my first book by Patrick Ness this year, despite having several on my shelves. I look forward to reading them!

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Poetry is really not my thing for some reason, but I keep trying, and this year I really loved Graffiti (and other poems).

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Bird Box was pretty unputdownable; it was an easy read, but certainly tense in a what’s-going-to-happen way.

Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
With so many books to read, I don’t often re-read, but I might be tempted to pick up and flick through Internal Wilderness.

Favourite cover of a book you read in 2017?
Minimal, art, negative space, and crying out for a frame, it has to be Seasons:

Most memorable character of 2017?
For all it’s imperfections, The Power had a lot of great characters, and Roxy is far and away my favourite.

Most beautifully written book read in 2017?
No doubt – The Wendy Project. The art and narrative, and the use of colour was just breath taking and meaningful in so many ways.

Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017?
For thought-provoking definitely A Closed and Common Orbit – it took already stimulating and often controversial concepts and put new and interesting spins on them. I loved it!

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read?
The Road Through the Wall, but then i’m pacing myself with authors I adore who I know won’t be writing any more books.

Favourite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017?
This quote, oh gosh. I start crying just thinking about this quote.

“And if, one day,” she said, really crying now, “you look back and you feel bad for being so angry, if you feel bad for being so angry at me that you couldn’t even speak to me, then you have to know, Conor, you have to know that it was okay. It was okay. That I knew. I know, okay? I know everything you need to tell me without you having to say it out loud. All right?”

– Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?
Shortest: Seasons is 24 pages
Longest: IT is 1376 pages

Book That Shocked You The Most?
I’ll say In the Flesh, because I disliked the last Clive Barker I read so much I wasn’t ever planning on reading him again. This one was great though; he’s a much better short story teller!

OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)?
Philippa Rice and her partner, as illustrated in all her wonderful comics in Soppy ♥

Favourite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year?
The one between all the kids in IT. I hadn’t realised until re-reading it this year how much all those kids have influenced me since I read the book a dozen times when I was their age. I love them.

Favourite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?
Definitely A Closed and Common Orbit. I’m sighing with happiness just thinking about that book/series.

Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure?
I don’t think I read any books that were recommended to me this year… oops?

Best 2017 debut you read?
For debuts I have to say Mystery Circus because I need the next instalment already!!

Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Oh, so many! I’ll say The Road Through the Wall, for how well it captured the world and lives of the people living on Pepper Street.

Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Nimona, without a shadow of a doubt. So much joy!

Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?
I sobbed my heart out reading A Monster Calls.

Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Dockwood was a delightful hidden gem of a book. So peaceful and quite and unassuming, but stand out for that.

Book That Crushed Your Soul?
I’m not sure I get what “crushed my soul” is supposed to mean, but Ariel was so bad my soul was crushed with confusion and disappointment, so…

Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?
The Popshot magazines are awesomely unique in the way they combine short stories, poetry, and art. The Hope Issue, which I read this year, was no exception.

Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
As much as I enjoyed it overall, I was pretty mad with Black Widow, as it was far, far too reminiscent of Gone Girl for my liking. I know Brookmyre is better and more original than that.

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

New favourite book blog you discovered in 2017?
I won’t lie, I have not improved on the whole reading other blogs and interacting with folk thing. But S. J. Higbee over at Brainfluff is a lovely person with a wonderful blog!

Favourite review that you wrote in 2017?
Reivews of books I didn’t really like are often my favourite, and Ariel is no exception. My interpretation and evaluation of the poems still makes me laugh.

Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
It was nice to know I wasn’t alone in regards to Why I Skip Straight to the Negative Reviews.

Best event that you participated in?
In May I took part in a read along for IT, which was pretty fun. Some photos I posted on my instagram can be found here: [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2017?
Finally loosening up a bit with this blog and posting some other things, like meta and discussion posts, and memes, and highlights. I haven’t done as many as I’d wanted, but I’ve definitely made a start!

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Getting stuff done—writing the posts and reading the books. I branched out a little this year, but I want to do more!

Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
By views: Graffiti (and other poems), by comments: IT.

Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Any of my meta and discussion posts, but especially Horror vs Sci-Fi, as they are my two favourite genres and it would have been great to talk about them more with people.

Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I’m going to say Passion Planner, because i’ve been using one for all of 2017 for the first time and I love it. It’s not specifically reading related, but it is technically a book, and it’s helped me be more organised and motivated in terms of reading, blogging, and life-ing this year.

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I met my goodreads reading goal—matching last year’s total. Not very high, but does include a couple of rather long ones!

Looking Ahead

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?
As soon as I finish my current book, i’ll be reading The Princess Diarist as a read along with a friend!

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018?
Patrick deWitt’s next book, French Exit, comes out in 2018!

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?
Same as it was last year: Post more things, more often.

Save

2016 End of Year Book Survey

This is my fourth time completing this end of year book survey (2013, 2014, 2015). As always, posting on the 1 January marks the anniversary of me starting this silly little blog. FOUR YEARS! It some how seems like no time at all and all the time in the world simultaneously. I love this bookish blog of mine, and i have hopes (and plans!) to do more with it in the coming months and years.

This survey is put together and hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner, and as with last year, i’ve just omitted any questions that don’t work for me and my own style of reading, writing and being. Feel free to leave any comments, if you’ve read or want to read any of these books, and point me towards your own completed survey, if you’ve done one! Happy 2017!

2016 Reading Stats

Number of books read: 22.5
Number of re-reads: 0
Genre most read: Science fiction

Best In Books

Best Book You Read In 2016?
Without a shadow of a doubt: A Long Way to A Small Angry Planet.

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I’m sad to say it was Castle in the Air. I loveloveloved Howl’s Moving Castle, but the sequel wasn’t what I expected, and I just didn’t love it as much.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Definitely Why I Write, because while I thought it would be a simple little read about writing, I got a hell of a lot more, and I LOVED it.

Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
I bought a friend a copy of A Long Way to A Small Angry Planet for Christmas, because I think she’ll enjoy it, and i’m still trying to bully convince my SO to read it.

Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?
I don’t read a lot of series, so by default the answers are A Long Way to A Small Angry Planet, Castle in the Air and Emperor of Thorns, respectively.

Favourite new author you discovered in 2016?
Has to be Becky Chambers—I can’t wait to read more from her.

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I don’t read so much non-fiction, so i’ll say We Should All Be Feminists ♥

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Through the Woods was very moreish in several ways. It was interesting stories well-told, the art was gorgeous, and the horror/mystery kept me reading to find out what was happening.

Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Why I Write. It’s short, brilliant, relevant and informative. I’m pretty sure i’ll at least be re-reading sections for quotes and inspiration.

Favourite cover of a book you read in 2016?
I love covers that are simple, striking, with negative space, so it has to be Slaughterhouse Five:

Most memorable character of 2016?
Oh, Mr Olderglough from Undermajormono Minor. What a straightforward, quirky fellow. I loved him.

Most beautifully written book read in 2016?
With beautifully written short stories an accompanying beautiful artwork, this one has to be Popshot Magazine: The Adventure Issue.

Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?
Why I Write. This book inspired me significantly this year. In terms of writing generally, but also in my motivations with my writing. It also engaged me in politics in a way nothing else ever has (that’s not to say i’ve been disengaged with politics, only that this book engaged me in an entirely new way and re-engergised me).

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read?
It always surprises me when I sit on a Christopher Brookmyre book for so long: Dead Girl Walking.

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

Nothing in the media provides pleasure as reliably as books do—if you like reading.
And a good many people do. Not a majority, but a steady minority.
And readers recognize their pleasure as different from that of simply being entertained. Viewing is often totally passive, reading is always an act. Once you’ve pressed the On button, TV goes on and on and on… you don’t have to do anything but sit and stare. But you have to give a book your attention. You bring it alive. Unlike the other media, a book is silent. It won’t lull you with surging music or deafen you with screeching laugh tracks or fire gunshots in your living room. You can hear it only in your head. A book won’t move your eyes for you like TV or a movie does. It won’t move your mind unless you give it your mind, or your heart unless you put your heart in it. It won’t do the work for you. To read a good novel well is to follow it, to act it, to feel it, to become it—everything short of writing it, in fact. Reading is a collaboration, an act of participation. No wonder not everybody is up to it.

– Ursula Le Guin ‘Staying Awake While We Read’ (from The Wild Girls, Plus…)

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?
Show Me the Map to Your Heart & Other Stories is 36 pages
The Passage is 963 pages

Book That Shocked You The Most
The Scorch Trials surprised me by how BAD it was. I slogged through half of it before having to give up.

Favourite couple of 2016
Rosemary/Sissix from A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet for the representation alone: Same sex, interracial and polyamorous ♥

Favourite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Lucy/Mr Olderglough from Undermajordomo Minor. Their conversations were highlights for me. I could have read a whole book of them alone.

Favourite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Undermajormono Minor. And now I sit and wait patiently for deWitt to write another book. *twiddles thumbs*

Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure
Popshot Magazine: The Adventure Issue, which wasn’t technically a recommendation, but was bought for me on a whim by my SO.

Best 2016 debut you read?
A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet ♥

Best World building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Emperor of Thorns, and more generally the Broken Empire Series as a whole. So many little throw away details amongst the larger image of the world—i only want to know MORE.

Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
For all it wasn’t the utter delight it’s predecessor was, Castle in the Air was still silly, light-hearted fun that made me laugh out loud on a number of occasions.

Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?
I’m currently still reading it, but when I started it (in 2016!) The Passage’s very first freaking chapter had me sobbing.

Hidden Gem Of The Year?
An impulse by at the till in my local comic shop, Show Me the Map to Your Heart and Other Stories is absolutely lovely.

Book That Crushed Your Soul?
The Scorch Trials–in a BAD way; I wasn’t sure my soul was going to survive.

Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?
The Girl in the Road was, in small, subtle ways, not quite like other books.

Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Fragile Things, because I love short stories, but I don’t think they’re Gaimen’s strong suit. And it made me mad because it should have been BETTER.

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

New favourite book blog you discovered in 2016?
None, because I have been a terrible blogger this year; not posting much myself and barely reading or commenting.

Favourite review that you wrote in 2016?
The Girl on the Road. Reading it back, I think I really encapsulated the issues I had with the book and ways I think it could have been better, while still highlighting the aspects I enjoyed about the book.

Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
This or That revealed some interesting similarities and differences between people’s reading preferences.

Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
I’m currently, and have been for a few months now, having fun taking part in monthly photo-a-day challenges on instagram. Fine me at Wendleness!

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016?
Getting to know a bunch of lovely people over on instagram, and finding it far easier to interact and make connections over there.

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
I had a pretty deep slump this year, in reading and therefore also in blogging. I just didn’t read at my usual speed, I felt unmotivated. I’m actually surprised I made it to may reading goal (even after I lowered it!).

Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
By views: No Monsters Allowed, by comments: Bookish Resolutions.

Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Why I Write, because I loved that book and wanted to write another post, quoting lots and linking it back to the state of politics today. I never got around to it…

Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Prudence and the Crow!! ♥

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Yes, by the skin of my teeth, and after lowering my goal, I met my 2016 goodreads reading challenge.

Looking Ahead

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?
All the books that I currently have lent to me, so I can make sure I give them back!

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?
A Closed and Common Orbit. There’s not book or author I love enough to buy in hardback, but I am so excited for this to come out in paperback this year!

Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?
The Boy on the Bridge (prequels counts, right?).

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?
It’s my plan to post more, more regularly, and possibly start posting some original short story fiction. HOPEFULLY.

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Book Spine Poetry

I loved this idea when i saw Rosemawrites do it over at A Reading Writer, and i just had to give it a go myself.

The idea is to browse your bookshelves, pull down any inspiring titles and pile them up until their spines write little poems. It was both harder and easier than i thought! For random silliness that makes no sense, it’s great fun. Except for all my weirdness, i do still like things to work. How do you think i managed?

This really was an interesting and enjoyable thing to do with my books, and i heartily encourage everyone to try it. Feel free to leave me your best book spine poems in the comments, or make your own post and tell me about it.

Books + creativity = ♥

We
Explorers of the New Century
Return
Deeper

Florence & Giles
Free Fall
off the map
The Two of Them
Alone Against Tomorrow

The Doors of Perception
A Sense of Wonder
Wild Abandon
Bedlam

This or That

I actually have plans for some deep and meaningful (or, at least more focused and involved) posts about a few different topics, but I haven’t actually written them yet. You can have this for now.

I pinched this from the lovely Zezee, who i apparently disagree with on a lot of these questions! Regardless, it seemed like a light, fun meme-thing to do of an evening. So did it.

Reading on the couch or on the bed?
Bed, because I read right up until my eyes are heavy and then I fall asleep. I sit up in bed to read, because holding a book above your face is hard. But a quick shuffle and i’m horizontal and ready to snore.

Male main character or female main character?
Female, because I want more of them. I want more female characters, female authors and more females, everywhere, in everything, generally.

Sweet snacks or salty snacks when reading?
Salty, but only because i’m a savoury person. Also, it has to be finger food, because I will not be putting my book down. Also a warm drink, like tea or hot chocolate. Thank you.

Trilogies or quartets?
I have no strong feelings. I’m generally a little hesitant about starting any series, because it’s a commitment, and if I don’t read them quick enough i’ll forget details… So, generally I stick to stand alones, unless the synopsis is so amazing I can’t not read it, or unless I start reading before I realise it’s a series.

First person point of view or third person point of view?
Generally third person. I love first person when I really connect with the narrator, but it can be hit or miss. Third person is generally safer.

Reading at night or in the morning?
I sometimes read in the morning, if I have time. I always read at night before bed. And often i’ll read on the bus to and from work. In terms of this or that, though, it’d be at night.

Libraries or bookstore?
I like second hand or charity bookshops. I love not knowing what books i’ll stumble across. I love pre-read (and pre-loved) books; the idea that they’ve had a life before I got my hands on them. I love books that have been written in. BUT, I am also trying to use my local library more by pro-actively searching their catalogue for books I don’t own but want to read.

Books that make you laugh or make you cry?
Laugh. 100%, laugh. Either way, I love books that reach me on an emotional level, but I much much prefer to be laughing than crying.

Black book covers or white book covers?
Neither, either, both. Whatever suits the book, really. Though, saying that, when faced with with the two Doctor Sleep covers below, I did buy the black, so.

Character-driven or plot-driven stories?
Plot. I can enjoy character-driven books, but they are the exception rather than the rule. There a certain authors I will seek out if I want a character-drive story. Most of the time, I need some serious plot. I like twists and foreshadowing and challenging situations. Plot.

I’m not going to be tagging anyone, but if you fancy answering some silly questions, feel free to nab these ones or answer them in the comments. What do we agree on, and what are we going to fight about?

Book Hauling

I’ve decided i’m being too careful, too precious and too controlled with this blog. I don’t post much save reviews and memes and TTTs for fear of posts not being “good enough” or something. And it’s a load of crock. I have a “random” category for a reason, and i’m going to start using it.

And so, this post.

One of my recent bookish resolutions was to buy fewer books. So of course i’m going to talk to you about the newest books that have come into my possession! I decided it would be nice to have accompanying photos, so broke out the 50mm lens, a bunch of fairy lights and some props. AM I DOING IT RIGHT?

Now, not all of these are books i bought. Some were Christmas presents, some are borrowed, and yes, some i did buy… but not that many, i swear!

Undermajordomo Minor is a book that’s been on my wishlist since before it was released. That so very rarely happens; i’m not one to chase new releases or request advanced reading copies or anything like that. But Patrick deWitt is apparently an exception. This is his third book, and i adored his first two. Adored them enough to click “to read” on his third without even reading the synopsis. He is a witty, entertaining and readable author. The fact he sticks to short chapters really, really helps too (must keep reading!). This was a high priority on my wishlist, and happily my parents got it for me for Christmas. Bless them, they had no idea what they were buying, but they knew it would make me happy. I’m very much looking forward to getting stuck into this one!

I’ve only read one or two Charles Dickens, many years ago at school. I don’t really remember them at all, but what i do remember is one of my teachers recommending i read The Pickwick Papers. I never did read it, but for some reason it stuck with me all these years. Stuck enough for me to add the book to my Classics Club challenge. This book has been lent to me by my mother-out-law, who owns an entire Charles Dickens collection. I’m fearful of cracking its beautifully untouched spine, but not enough to stop me from reading it. I’m making this book a priority in the first half of the year, both to get it ticked off my classics list, and to get it back to its owner.

The Scorch Trials has been on my radar since i finished The Maze Runner. I wanted to give it a go, because i very much enjoyed the story of the first book and am interested to see how it continues. However, i wasn’t so keen on the books that i was going to rush out to buy the sequel. Serendipity did its thing, and i found this copy, in excellent condition, in a secondhand shop on new year’s day for one single measly pound! I couldn’t not buy it! I’m saving this for when i need a light, easy and quick read, where i know what to expect and am prepared for the poor quality writing.

The third and final book in the Howl’s Moving Castle trilogy, i had The House of Many Ways on my wishlist and received it for Christmas. I haven’t yet read, though do own, the second book, Castle in the Air. I loved the first book so so much, and it was such a joyful lighthearted read, that i’m sure it won’t take me to long to get through the two sequels. I’m sure i’ll be able to finish the series this year, if i choose to prioritise them; i’ll certainly be finishing this series before starting on any new ones!

I’d never really given much thought or notice to Wodehouse until recently, when i read some of Annie’s favourite Wodehouse quotes over at Curious Wren. They were an utter delight and i knew i had to get my hands on some Wodehouse fairly swiftly. I hadn’t known where the hell to start though; the man wrote a lot of bloody books!

The decision was taken out of my hands when in that same secondhand shop on new year’s day i spotted a mint condition copy of Full Moon, again for the bargainous price of £1.00. I snapped it up, only later looking up which number of which series it’s from–seventh book in the Blandings Castle series. Me being me, i can’t jump into a series at book seven, so i promptly order the first book in the series, Something Fresh, to begin the series proper.

I watched the I, Robot film years ago not long after it came out. I liked it well enough; it had an interesting sci-fi theme, posing some interesting questions and with a bit of action to boot. But still, it was a shiny hollywood film, playing it too close to bland and safe. From what i’ve heard, the film took one aspect of the book and ran with it in a different direction. So, i’m hopeful that a) the book will still hold surprises for me and b) will be far and away more interesting, dark and thought-provoking in comparison to the film. Also, check out that amazing cover! Really, that’s the sole reason i bought it; i didn’t want to miss out on the book cover perfection.

Best for last? I do have the biggest, comfiest soft spot for John Wyndham. He is without a doubt, and with a couple of regretful second-placers, my absolute favourite. I’m still buying and working my way though his books, because i just… never want them to end. Consider Her Ways is a collection of short stories, and if it’s anywhere near as good as The Seeds of Time (of course it will be, pfft), then i will be deliriously happy. I’m a big fan of short stories and the biggest fan of John Wyndham, so when the two cross over, i get bookish perfection. This has been on my wishlist for a little while (pacing, pacing), and i was lucky enough to get if for Christmas this year. The warm comfort i feel inside at the unread Wyndham books on my shelves is a special one. The best kind of anticipation.

And with that, i hope to not buy another book for a good long while! I shall stop looking for books to add to my to read list, i shall not browse Wordery.com or my own wishlist, i shall not step foot inside a bookshop without good reason (like buying for someone else!). I shall not buy books!

Sigh. Even Dave isn’t buying it.