Friday, December 31, 2010

Best of 2010 in Books



Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner created this awesome end of the year survey about books. If you've been online recently, I'm sure you've noticed tons of bloggers participating. Here are my responses :)

1. Best Book of 2010?
Oh, are you really going to make me choose? This is going to be difficult. I guess I'd have to go with Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Something about it reached down deep and touched me. I was already in love with the first two books, but this breath-taking sequel took my adoration to a whole new level. Beautiful. 

2. Worst Book of 2010?
The worst book I read this year was probably The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb. Bleh, I could not stand that book. The slow pace and the black-and-white characters drove me insane. Not to mention that the synopsis promised a tale of forbidden romance. Let me tell you, there was NO romance worth reading about in that book. 

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010?
Pegasus by Robin McKinley. The cover is breathtaking, but the story itself was rather dull in my opinion. It moved so slowly, and the main character wasn't my type. I had such high hopes for the book, but it fell flat for me.

4. Most Surprising (in a Good Way!) Book in 2010?
I think I have to go with Under My Skin by Judith Graves. It didn't look like much, but I decided to give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised with the book. Action-packed and romantic, this was a novel I thoroughly enjoyed. 

5. Book You Recommended Most to People in 2010?
I recommended The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting to quite a few people this year. Most of my friends enjoy a creepy, spine-chilling novel such as this one. Not to mention the incredible romance :)

6. Best Series You Discovered in 2010?
This is a hard one. I found so many amazing series this year. One of my favorites was The Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong. This was an incredible, addicting trilogy that I adored. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Kelley Armstrong, and her dedication to writing made me appreciate her novels even more. 

7. Favorite New Authors Discovered in 2010?
Lisa McMann, Jennifer Laurens, Suzanne Collins, Kimberly Derting, Kelley Armstrong, Alexandra Adornetto, and so many others! My list is so long. 

8. Most Hilarious Read in 2010?
I was cracking up the entire time I read My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day. That book just makes me happy :)

9. Most Thrilling, Unputdownable Book in 2010?
Another tough one. Is it alright if I name a series? Because I read the Dream Catcher series by Lisa McMann within a couple of days. I loved them. The characters and plot were so emotional. I couldn't get enough!

10. Book You Most Anticipated in 2010?
I anticipated so many of this year's books. My top three would probably be Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong, and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. 

11. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2010?
There are so many beautiful covers to choose from, but my favorite is probably Halo by Alexandra Adornetto. I adore this cover. The angel's wings, golden sunlight, characters' silhouttes, and font are gorgeous. 

12. Most Memorable Character in 2010?
Oh my. Not to mention The Hunger Games series again, but seriously, Katniss is one of the most amazing heroines I've ever read about. Her strength and intellect made me respect her. Katniss is just one of those characters that will stick with me for a long time. 

13. Most Beautifully Written Book in 2010?
While I think all of my favorite books are beautifully written, Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens was probably the most emotional, beautiful book I've ever read. Loved, loved, loved it. 

14. Book That Had the Greatest Impact on You in 2010?
Probably Change of Heart by Shari Maurer. The thought of living life day-to-day, never knowing if you will live to see the next year, was terrifying. The moral of the story inspired me to embrace every day. You never know when your life will change. 

15. Book You Can't Believe You Waited UNTIL 2010 to Read?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I cannot BELIEVE I let this one gather dust on my shelf for so long. I was hooked from the very first sentence. \

Well, that's pretty much 2010 in review. Reading-wise, that is. I cannot wait to see what amazing new stories and characters 2011 will bring. 

4 comments:

danya said...

Yay for the Hunger Games! I know what you mean about Pegasus - I didn't manage to get very far into it before it had to be returned to the library, but the bit I did read was a very slow beginning. The cover is gorgeous, though.

Jen Bigheart said...

Good Best Of Amber! We read a lot of the same things. You didn't like Fetch that much? Hmmm, bummer. I liked it, but I knew it was more a MG book than YA. I loved Certain Slant of Light by the same author.

My daughter's favorite author is Kelley Armstrong - she is amazing! Check out her adult books too!

Stop by and see my list. We may disagree on Halo. ;)

Jen

Shari Maurer said...

Wow--so honored and pleased that you enjoyed "Change of Heart" so much. Thanks!

Eliza Mellark said...

I love your list! I completely agree with everything you put about The Hunger Games. Katniss is an incredible character! She is easy to relate to, but she also goes through so much while staying strong. She is hard not to like. Okay, I think Halo has one of the most amazing covers I have ever seen!
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