Sunday, December 9, 2012

2012 End of Year Book Survey


So, my blog has mainly consisted of book reviews and some memes (although I've been slacking a little).  I've noticed it's lacking a little with showing my personality.  I guess I'll have to remedy that with some personal posts about books, ;p

This End of Year Survey is hosted by Jamie at the Perpetual Page Turner.  Don't forget to check out the linky on her survey page to check out other bloggers' responses.  Now hopefully, you'll gain some insight about some of my favorites this year.

Best in Books 2012

1.  Best book you read in 2012?  (You can break it down by genre if you want)

 Agggg....  I can't pick just one...



Okay.  So Richelle Mead is currently my favorite author.  And so many people have read her YA Vampire Academy series but they always say they've never heard of her Storm Born series.  And while I think Adrian is super hot, Dorian's even sexier.

Shadow and Bone.  I was not expecting that story at all.  It blew my mind away, and I had to locate the pieces afterwards.  I also realized that I have a thing for dominating men in books.  Don't know why.

Patricia Briggs is another of my favorite authors.  I loved her Mercy Thompson series, but it feels like it's going downhill for me.  Meanwhile, the Alpha and Omega series is picking up.

2.  Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn't?


Two books I was totally looking forward to, and they just fell flat for me.  The first made me realize that I don't really care for zombie books.  Or I just don't care for suicidal girls (I'd never make it as a counselor).  The second put me to sleep on multiple occasions.  And while the first had many unexpected death scenes and the second made me very teary-eyed at the end, I felt they just couldn't redeem themselves enough...

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


So The Hunt kept me captivated all the way until the book ran out of pages.  Then I immediately threw it out the window for ending so abruptly (the window wasn't open though, so it just made a loud thud). And Croak was such a cute book.  You wouldn't think of grim reapers as being cute, but they are.

4.  Book you recommended to people most in 2012?


Across the Universe by Beth Revis

The first I recommend to all of my cyber friends.  The second I recommend to all of my real-world friends.  Why?  Because it feels like everyone in the blogging world had already read Divergent when I finally picked it up.

5.  Best Series you Discovered in 2012?



Okay, so I classify favorite series as having read more than one book (otherwise you're just liking the book - not the series).  So considering most books I read this year were the first in a series, I didn't have much to go off for this one.  Luckily, the only series I've read this year happened to be one I really enjoyed (even though I think the second one wasn't as good).

6.  Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

I can't really say they're favorites yet, but they've definitely caught my eye...

Julie Kagawa
Brodi Ashton
Amanda Hocking
Lauren Oliver
Jessica Spotswood

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


Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

I kind of quit reading contemporaries after realizing that I just wasn't enjoying them as much as everyone else.  But this one was a whirlwind to read.  And while I don't plan on reading the second in the series, I would recommend this book to all YA readers.

8.  Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?



Yeah, I'm pretty sure I read this in one sitting.  All people who've read it should know why.  For those that haven't read it, be prepared to spend some hours with it because you won't want to put it down.

9.  Book you read in 2012 that you are most likely to re-read next year:

Umm...  I don't usually re-read books.  I just don't have enough time...

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



The colors are just so vibrant.  I must have a thing with red...

11.  Most memorable character in 2012?



Take a good look at the book cover; that's Cam.  Anyone who's read this book should understand why I picked him (or maybe they didn't like the book as much as I did).

12.  Most beautifully written book in 2012?



This was a hard one for me.  And this series definitely flows well for me.  It's like you're on a beautiful ride for four hours that you don't want to end.  But all too soon, it does...

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

Umm...  So when vampires and werewolves start walking the earth, I'll work on answering this question.

 14.  Book you can't believe you waited until 2012 to read?



Refer to all of my other mentions for this book.  Also, you'd think I learn from this one that I must read the second now (but I've yet to do this).

15.  Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2012?

Okay, so I'm not very good at remembering quotes that I loved.  I definitely sticky note them, but I don't really do much with them after that.  How do you guys manage to save all of your awesome quotes and recall them from memory so easily??

16.  Shortest and longest book you read in 2012?



The Diviners literally rocked my socks off.  That's definitely one that had me at the edge of my seat.  Wait a second, didn't we already pass a question that was along those lines?

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.



I love this series.  And you'd think I'd have figured out the plot by now, but I haven't.

18.  Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc.).


Myrnin and Claire in Last Breath by Rachel Caine

My favorite book in the series.  It's also the eleventh for those who aren't familiar withe The Morganville Vampires series.

19.  Favorite book in 2012 from an author you read previously.



Again, favorite author...

20.  Best book you read that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else:


Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

I only picked this up after seeing all of the marvelous reviews.

Looking Ahead...

1.  One book you didn't get to in 2012 but will be your number 1 priority in 2013?


Insurgent by Veronica Roth

If you haven't figured out already, I'm a slacker.  A slacker who has no excuses...

2.  Book you are most anticipating in 2013?


Omens by Kelley Armstrong

I just barely heard about this new series.  And Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, so I'm curious about this one.

3.  One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2013?

Spend more time blogging.  More time leaving comments.  Saying hi to all of my internet buddies.  I know you're out there somewhere...
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Saturday, December 8, 2012

manda-rae's Haul

Stacking the Shelves consists of books we received in the last week, hosted by Tynga's reviews.

This past week has definitely put me in the mood for Christmas.  I signed up for a couple of Secret Santas and Christmas card exchanges.  They were so much fun, but I kind of got lost in my organization...  Also, we received a live baby Christmas tree this past week from my family.  It's about a foot tall and will be planted outside sometime next Spring.  I'm kind of excited.  But enough of my fun week, I want to hear from you guys...

Gifted:


  • From Inklings Read, part of The Broke and Bookish Secret Santa Exchange
    • Crewel by Gennifer Albin
      • Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
        • When I first opened up the package, my eyes jumped from the goodies immediately to the book.  And a huge grin erupted.  I've been dying to read this book.  And now I'm going to...
    • Virals by Kathy Reichs
      • Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
        • After pulling out the first book, I thought, "Wait a second, there's another book here."  And then I noticed which one it was.  That grin turned into a sloppy happy dance.
    • Bookmarks, Chapstick, Card
        • I love it all!!!  Especially the note on the card envelope.  Thank you Sarah for the books and goodies!
  • Holiday Card Exchange hosted by Turning the Pages

manda-rae's Past Week


Giveaways:
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Thursday, December 6, 2012

Watering Heaven by Peter Tieryas Liu


Genre:  Adult Short Stories

Description (taken from Goodreads):
What would you do if you found out your girlfriend laid an egg every time she had sex? Who would you be if you were invited to a party in Beijing but had to make up a brand-new identity for six weeks? Peter Tieryas Liu's Watering Heaven is a travelogue of and requiem for the American dream in all its bizarre manifestations and a surreal, fantastic journey through the streets, alleys, and airports of China. Whether it's a monk who uses acupuncture needles to help him fly or a city filled with rats about to be exterminated so that the mayor can win his reelection bid, be prepared to laugh, swoon, and shudder at the answers Liu offers in this provocative debut collection.

This book is a collection of bizarre short stories.  Some of them don't make sense, but they do seem to have a common theme about our dreams of being happy or doing the right things in life.  I kind of want to equate this book with going into an art museum and looking at the beautiful paintings all while thinking, "I don't get it."  It's art and a lot of people are going to pull different meanings out of the stories, sometimes different than what the author intended.  So if I butcher it with some of my thoughts, you'll have to go read it and tell me where you disagree with me.

Like I said, the stories are a little bizarre and weird.  We have egg-laying girlfriends, a couple that creates their own rules for basketball, a Franz Kafka-like story, and a fight to protect the rats (which I 'd totally not be on this side of the fight).  It seems all of the stories center around what's worth living for.  We are lonely creatures that need to know and love people.  And we shouldn't be too busy to enjoy our friends and listen to the small things in life.

There were two things that stood out for me.  One was how odd it was that the one company that most of the people worked at wasn't a very good company.  It's like they're all working towards the common goal of living the American dream except when they're at work.  The company that they work for is totally against the American dream, and it was interesting to see how some people just stood by and let it happen while others tried to fight it.  Secondly, there's a story where a lady is in love with the guy's fingers and wants to take a mold of them.  Bizarre on the surface, I know.  But since I have weird fingers (affected by amniotic band syndrome), I am someone who notices people's hands immediately after I look at their face (sometimes before).  So it stuck out for me.

Favorite quote:
     "What are you thinking about?" she asked.
     I told her everything.  Concluded by saying, "You love my fingers, but I hate your eyes."
     "Why?"
     "Because they found me when I wanted to be lost."
          ~ Watering Heaven, p 84

This is a book I would tell someone to carry around with them in their bag and pick it up when they have a spare second.  Read a story at a time, don't try to read the whole thing at once.  It's written art and sometimes you'll be left either questioning things, amazed, or a little confused.


Thanks goes to Peter Tieryas Liu for providing me a review copy.
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Monday, December 3, 2012

Giveaway: Book Lover's Holiday Hop


Hey there!  You must be a book lover if you're on my blog.  And that means you're in luck because I am offering one of my readers a book of choice from Amazon/TBD (not to exceed $15).

To give you an idea of some great books out there, I've listed some of my recent favorite books this year...
Note:  You are not limited to these choices, they're here to give you an idea of what you could choose.

The details:
  1. This contest is open to everyone (international included - as long as The Book Depository/Amazon ship to you).
  2. Entrant must be 13 years of age or older.
  3. Giveaway ends on Monday, December 10.
  4. You can enter via the Rafllecopter form below.  Ways to enter include:
    1. Follow my blog via GFC/Linky.  Leave how you follow and your user in the Rafflecopter comments section.
    2. Tweet about the giveaway.  Leave a link to your tweet in the Rafflecopter comments section.
  5. Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond with logistics.

Other giveaways open at manda-rae reads a lot:
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Saturday, December 1, 2012

manda-rae's Haul

Stacking the Shelves consists of books we received in the last week, hosted by Tynga's reviews.

Anyone else excited for Christmas?  I'm going to do some more Christmas shopping today and then finish my book.  My book is due today at the library, so I will finish it (yeppers).  Hope everyone has an awesome week!

From the Library:

  • Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
    • Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
      • You know how books get released, and you think, "Yes, I absolutely need to read that one."  And then you don't, and now your chance comes to read it eons later.  And you wonder, "Hmm, what's this?"  And then you read the synopsis and get excited all over again.  Yeah, I'm going to read this book soon...

manda-rae's Past Week

Reviews (hey, I actually got three in this week):

Giveaways:
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