A bit late, but: 2012 in Books
If you feel up for it...
Overall - best books you read in 2012?
The Watch that Ends the Night -Allan Wolf
The Scorpio Races -Maggie Stiefvater
The Perilous Gard -Elizabeth Marie Pope
As always, The King of Attolia -Megan Whalen Turner (reread)
More about these all - Later!
Best series you discovered in 2012?
I don’t think that any series I began in 2012 really deserve a place under this heading. I did read the initial books of several new YA trilogies, nothing of stunning brilliance, though. The most standout would be Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman, a very odd, somewhat unique story about a girl with telepathic abilities who is half dragon.
Most surprising (in a good way) book of the year?
Probably The Wicked and the Just, by J. Anderson Coats, a historical fiction novel about two very different girls living in Wales during a [one of the many] turbulent period in that land’s medieval history. I brought it home from the library as a quick fluff read upon perusing the cover blurb. I was very impressed. There is some pretty strong content in this book (for a YA), but for an older reader it is well worth the read. Themes of social and colonial justice, personal rights, and abuse thereof are dealt with in an intense way.
Most disappointing book/Book you wished you loved more than you did?
I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith. The first half was sheer delight - whimsical and entertaining. I laughed like crazy. But then Cassandra falls into unrequited love and almost the rest of the book is her moping around and being overly dramatic. The ending was underwhelming after reading through all that.
Book you recommended most to others in 2012?
Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys, and The Watch that Ends the Night, a novel in verse by Allan West.
Best book that was outside your comfort zone/a new genre for you?
Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis. Whew, that was intense. I had to think a lot more than is required for most of my reading. :p I know I didn’t understand most of it, but that’s what rereads are for! I’m so glad to finally have read it.
Favorite author you discovered this year?
That would be Elizabeth Marie Pope. Too bad she didn’t write much. :P Her writing style can be both luminous and down-to-earth, and I love Kate and Christopher (singly and as a couple! :D ).
Author you read the most in 2012:
I diversified my reading a lot this year - my most-read author of 2012 is Georgette Heyer, of whose work I read just three novels.
Most thrilling, unputdownable book of 2012?
I think I stayed up till 2am reading Shatter Me, by Tehereh Mafi, which (once it got going) was pretty fast-paced. Unfortunately, no matter how close on her tail the enemy were, the MC could always find the time to drool mentally over or make out intensely with her guy. That (and a few other issues) kinda canceled out the unusual writing style and occasional beautiful descriptive work. I don’t recommend it.
Book you most anticipated this year?
The only one I really anticipated at all this year was Princess of the Silver Woods, by Jessica Day George. It was all right - better than Princess of Glass, but not nearly as good as the first one.
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
Rereads aside (The Queen of Attolia!) It would be the complex cover for Patricia McKillip's Winter Rose. In this case I enjoyed the cover more than the book.
Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
The Perilous Gard - clear, sharp, crisply beautiful, and intense.
Most memorable character?
Cam Attling (The Returning, by Christine Hinwood), a quiet young man struggling to pick up life again after coming back from war an amputee. His story is in some ways similar to that of everybody’s favorite Thief, but with fewer tantrums and less romance. ;D
My other choice is a bit of free interpretation of the word “Character” - the capaill uisce of Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races. I won’t be forgetting those volatile creatures in a hurry! They are entirely fascinating.
Most annoying character?
The titular character of Georgette Heyer’s Venetia. She was intensely annoying - why on earth did she fall for that disgusting man?! His behavior was unsurprising, and did improve later in the story, but that was after she’d become enamored. I have no patience with a girl who lets herself be won over so easily by a man who feels he can assault anyone he pleases. Grrr.
Favorite couple:
Christopher and Kate from The Perilous Gard. They rely so much on each other but keep their own strength of personality. She’s always there when he needs help, while he tries to hide how thankful he is and how much he cares by complaining about her constantly. How sweet. :P
Book I read but had already forgotten:
The Regatta Mystery, by Agatha Christie, and Lady Susan, by Jane Austen (embarrassingly enough)
Book that had a scene that left you reeling and dying to talk to someone about it?
There’s a few of those! While Still We Live (Helen MacInnes) was especially intense right around the siege of Warsaw. I was thankful that my sis read Mara, Daughter of the Nile (Eloise Jarvis McGraw) immediately after me so we could squeal together. Ditto for The Perilous Gard (Elizabeth Marie Pope). The ending of The Mark of the Horse Lord (Rosemary Sutcliff) definitely left me reeling.
Series you gave up on in 2012?
Four trilogies, of which I had read the first one or two novels but could not hold my interest: Shatter Me (Tahereh Mafi), Divergent (Veronica Roth), Eve (Anna Carey), and Matched (Allyson Condie). Cliched, overwrought, or boring.
One book you didn’t read this year that will be your #1 priority in 2013?
Wellll - I purchased a book, Lost, by Jacqueline Davies, just before Christmas because it looked pretty, had good reviews, and was on sale. I'm actually working on it right now. Also, Cinder, by Marissa Meyer, is supposed to be a unusually unique fairytale retelling. I had it on hold at one point, but then Les Mis entered my life and pushed all else out the back!
New book you are most anticipating for 2013?
I guess probably Prodigy, the next book in the Legend trilogy by Marie Lu. There's also a book called Frost, by Kate Ellison, which I am interested in (released last year, I think. However, I am anticipating clearing my reading list to the point where I feel safe ILLing it. ;P ) It's yet another YA dystopian, but it sounds at least slightly different from the majority. The setting - a colder future Earth - is at least different from the run-of-the-mill heated Earths in most dystopians. Also, it's about a girl trying to run a farm and look after her siblings. I like that.
Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2012?
"There is a determined though unseen bravery, which defends itself foot to foot in the darkness against the fatal invasions of necessity and of baseness... Life, misfortunes, isolation, abandonment, poverty, are battlefields which have their heroes; obscure heroes, sometimes greater than the illustrious heroes."
Victor Hugo in Les Miserables
Book that had the greatest impact on you this year?
Life-affecting wise? I'd say God's Smuggler, by Brother Andrew, and Safekeeping, by Karen Hesse (it really fights the tendency we all have to take our blessings for granted). And Les Miserables. Again, I technically finished that one this year. Which means I can go on and on about it for my 2013 reading summery, too. :D I'm sure y'all are looking forward to that.
The first book you read in 2012?
Empire of the Summer Sun (by S. C. Gwynne) - a non-fic about the Cheyenne Indian wars. It was intense.
The last book you finished in 2012?
For the Love of My Brothers, by Brother Andrew. It's the sequel to God's Smuggler.
As originally seen on my tumblr. :P