2018 Posts I've Posted So Far:
2018 Releases That You Should Check Out! (Part 2)
A Walk Through My 2018 Ratings & Genres
Bible Plans on the App That I Recommend (Ones I Did in 2018)
**2018 READING STATS**
Number Of Books You Read: 121 books!
Number of Re-Reads: 4 (which is more than I usually do and this is thanks to audiobooks!)
Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy (combined YA and adult)
1. Best Book You Read In 2018?
These are my TOP three reads of the year in actual ranking, but I'm also listing them like this because these are my favorite genres- fantasy, horror, and Christian living.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I have a lot of disappointing books in 2018, but I'm doing a post on that. Here are my top two biggest disappointments for a sneak peek.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
My whole year was surprising in terms of reading. I picked up so many books I thought I would just like only to be blown away. This is the definition of surprising book. Horrifying, guttural, and chilling. This book stuck with me in a way that no other book did in 2018.
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
Hi, I am a book pusher. My fall book push was You. My spring book push was The Hate U Give. Gerald's Game is my King book push for the year. Uninvited was the book push I talked about all the time to any Christian woman I could. I book pushed The Sun Does Shine in my social justice education. Pretty Girls was my weird niche for weird people book push. An American Marriage was my book push for book I didn't expect to love as much as I did.
5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?
Best Series Started:
Best Sequel:
Hands down the best sequel I've read all year. This was fantastic. It blew so many sequels out of the water. I read a lot more than usual, but I refuse to put them on this list because they pale in comparison.
Series Ender:
Child of the Prophecy destroyed me, but it was FANTASTIC. The Last Star delivers and blew me away (slight pun).
Child of the Prophecy destroyed me, but it was FANTASTIC. The Last Star delivers and blew me away (slight pun).
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?
Lysa TerKeurst is my favorite writer, speaker, and author that I've discovered in 2018. Proverbs 31 Ministry is such a fun part of my devo time.
Karin Slaughter is my new favorite author whose books I just had to get my hands on.
Riley Sager- I'm sold and will check out all his books.
A.C. Gaughen- I was apprehensive of her other books, but Reign the Earth convinced me to check out her backlist (which I will get to!)
Rachel Hartman- I've heard about her, but I didn't think I'd love her. I was WRONG.
Angie Thomas- What a woman and writer! I love her because she goes there and that's so important for literature for teens.
Christina Henry- The Mermaid destroyed my soul and I will hunt down her books because OMG.
Paul Tremblay- His books are dark and I know I will love his other stuff.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Before 2018, I didn't read Christian nonfiction, but that's changing in 2019!
Anne Frank Remembered is one of the best memoirs I've ever read and I read so many I really enjoyed this year. Before I listened to audiobooks I never read memoir, but I discovered I love them!
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Action-Packed/ Thrilling
Unputtdownable
9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
I would actually reread a vast portion of the books I picked up, but not in 2019. More so down the road. A lot of what I read in 2018 is meant to be read and digested for years before being picked up again. I did just finish my first reread of 2019 and it was from a 2014 read.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?
So many beautiful covers. Not all of these books were great reads, but their covers are still gorgeous and need to be celebrated!
11. Most memorable character of 2018?
So I read so many incredible characters this year and here are the most memorable:
Joe from You is the definition of memorable character. He has all the factors and characteristics of an unsettling human being and he is a character that I will always remember.
The Torrance Family (Jack, Wendy, and Danny) from The Shining. What a family dynamic. An alcoholic, a mother who feels unfit, and a boy with psychic abilities. Danny was my absolute favorite of the bunch.
The Overlook Hotel from The Shining is probably one of the creepiest non sentient beings I encountered in 2018. This is a place that shouldn't be able to think for itself, but clearly can.
Liadan & Bran from Son of the Shadows stole my heart. The whole cast from Sevenwaters has my soul entwined in theirs. I love these people so much. I can't even begin to express my love for all of them. It was amazing to see Sorcha, Red, Finbar, and Connor again.
Jessie Burlingame from Gerald's Game. I will never forget this woman and her backstory. My heart aches every time I think of this novel and am recounted with the graphic images of her past. She is a character I weep for.
The Carters from the Hate U Give are another memorable family. I absolutely adored following them and learning more about these characters.
Ray Garraty from The Long Walk makes my feet hurt. That poor sole soul. This is a character who has one of the most interesting deterioration due to his circumstances.
Romy Grey from All the Rage has this deep rage that is quietly bubbling and waiting to break free. Her rage is the rage of all rape victims who are not believed and I love her.
Sally Horner from Rust & Stardust is one of my all-time favorite fictionalized characters. Wow. She is such an innocent and trusting soul. My heart hurts for her and the trauma she was forced to experience.
Jimmy "Snowman" from Oryx and Crake is one of the most unlikable and yet memorable people I've come across all year. He's horrible, but he steals the show and without his stunning introspection, honesty, and fear to drive this narrative the story would have failed.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?
I can't even give you a solid answer because I read some beautifully written books this year, but if I had to choose only one, it's this one:
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?
Thought-Provoking:
Life Changing:
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read?
On my Bookshelf for TOO LONG:
TBR OLDIES:
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?
"Because 'slut' was just too humanizing, I guess. A slit's not even a person. Just an opening."- All the Rage by Courtney Summers (because I read it recently and those quotes hit me hard)
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
In order of how shocking I found them!
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Bran and Liadan are my OTP of the year. OMG MY HEART.
Runner Up:
Shalia and Galen from Reign the Earth. The steam and the swoon. So much swoon.
My Biggest OTP Hope:
Nesta & Cassian from ACOFAS
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
The Losers Club from IT. This is the ultimate friendship group. I absolutely love all of them, their individual personalities, their interactions with each other, and their lust for adventure.
Danny Torrance and Dick Holloran from The Shining This friendship warms my soul.#ShineOn
Light and Ryuk from Death Note I love this dynamic so much (especially when thinking about how the series ends).
Fainne and everyone from Sevenwaters, Ciaran (her dad) from Child of the Prophecy I love Sevenwaters and when Fainne goes there to take down the family it broke my heart. But the dynamic and relationship that was built stole my heart. Also I love Ciaran. My heart still hurts over his love for Niamh and how it went.
Amelia and P.T. Barnum's family from The Mermaid. I love a good friendship and the way the kids look up to and love Amelia. My heart.
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Besides Stephen King, I'm going to choose Salt to the Sea which blew me out of the water (eh, poor word choice). I love this one more than Sepetys' debut novel!
21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:
Friends in Real Life:
BookTubers:
Pretty Girls from ChapterStackss I always respect and usually add Katie's recommendations in the thriller and horror genre! This was a spot on recommendation!
Big Little Lies from Peter Likes Books Peter absolutely loves and raves about this novel. It was on my TBR, but really Peter made me excited for it. It delivered!
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle from BookswithEmilyFox I remember when Emily talked about this on her channel, I was so excited. I was even more excited when I was approved for it on Netgalley. Sadly, this is one of my biggest disappointments of 2018.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?
Bran has my heart!
I also got my Scottish fix in Callum MacCreath. What a man. No other HR lead held up to the standard he set this year.
Galen is a sweetheart and Commander of the royal gaurds in the kingdom. He is so swoony.
23. Best 2018 debut you read?
The 2018 debuts I read were all mediocre, but this memoir stood out!
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
@ Sevenwaters trilogy There is no better place than Sevenwaters. (fight me)
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018?
I'm a crybaby. So all the books. Literally probably almost books I read this year had me crying. Unless I rated them low, but even then... maybe?
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
The Mermaid has 1,982 ratings on GR.
Reign the Earth has 2,672 ratings on GR.
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror has 3,412 ratings on GR.
Rust & Stardust has 3,499 ratings on GR.
Tess of the Road has 4,037 ratings on GR.
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
See all books listed in previous questions. I have a crushable soul.
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?
When I hear the word unique, I immediately think of Gaiman.
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
These characters and their actions made me so mad I almost DNFed it because the turmoil was too much for my soul. Of course, I naturally love it and it a 4.5 star-rating.
1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2018?
So many blogs and BookTubers!2. Favorite post you wrote in 2018?
A Journey into Social Media Fasting (How I Read More in a Month)January-June 2018 Releases That You Should Check Out!
Couples I Shipped and Didn't in 2017
All my wrap-ups!
3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2018:?
This is me standing in front of Hogwarts before Christmas. My dream came true all because my school's football team went to the Orlando Bowl Game and I had to be there because of my contract. I have never been so blessed to have been under a contract in my life.
4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is amazing, but it's even more amazing if you get to see a light show on Hogwarts castle. I was also there with my some of my Life Group and it was spectacular.
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?
Being a more consistent blogger and reviewer. I'm still not great, but I have gotten so much better. This is shocking because I'm a very busy person.
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Finding time in the fall semester was tough. I'll be honest. I barely blogged, read, or wrote reviews. I wrote to God and did devotionals, so I wrote, but not everyday.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Most Commented On:
Most Viewed:
The Merry Spinster Review with 117 views!!
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
I wish that I had more interaction and commenters. I try to comment on as many blogs as possible if I have something to say, but I am not good at having as social media presence in connection to this blog and because of that it suffers.
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
2018 is the year my love for Mardel's blossomed. I love that store!
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Yes! I completed all of my goals except one.
I wanted to finish at least three series! (I actually finished four)
I wanted toread five sequels! (I read 11! Who is this sequel reading machine?)
I wanted to read four short story collections! (I read six.)
I wanted to read three classics that were not Stephen King! (I read 19!)
I wanted to read the books I posted on end of the year survey last year! ( I read 7/18)
I didn't read five SK novels (only four and I was reading one at the end of the year which I finished at the beginning of 2019!)
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?
I have so many. I'm actually making a list of books I want to try to read this year.
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?
3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019?
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?
I want to continue posting regularly on my blog and on YouTube. I want to be more consistent with my Netgalley ARCs and read some of my backlist titles. I want to just have fun! I also want to incorporate more of my relationship with God onto the blog!
6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):
Out of the three I've read so far, this is the best!
I'd love to read you 2018 End of the Year Survey! Please leave your link down below if you participated! If you didn't participate, answer one question from the survey down below in the comments!:)
121 books is great! And I love finding others who mostly read fantasy XD I really wanted to read The Diviners, so I'm glad to see it made so many awesome categories in the post. I'm also looking forward to Wicked Saints and The Candle and the Flame! And I've always loved the covers for Paper Magician and Night Circus, though I haven't read the latter. I love your Hogwarts picture!
ReplyDeleteIt's my biggest reading year so far! Yes, The Diviners is fantastic. I can't recommend it enough! I hope you can pick it up soon! Wicked Saints and The Candle and the Flame look so good! I hope you get to them in 2019 as well. Those covers are so stunning, aren't they? Thank you so much!
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