End of the Year Book Survey 2015

This is my second year doing Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner's end of the year book survey. This is such a fun way to recap the reading year.

Number Of Books You Read: 102
Number of Re-Reads: 54
Genre You Read The Most From: Classics 

1. Best Book You Read In 2015?

• Fiction- Beowulf by Unknown 
• Non-Fiction- The Valley of Vision by various Puritans 
• Re-Read- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t? 

A Room with a View by E.M. Forester- I liked it but I didn't love it like I thought I would. 

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

I was surprised at how much I loved Mysterious Island. It is definitely one my favorites of Jules Verne's novels. 

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Emma.... Because I had a read-along. :) 

 5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

I finished two series this year... C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy and the Little Britches series by Ralph Moody. I loved them both but I think That Hideous Strength from the Space Trilogy was the best. 

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?

Leif Enger 

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

That Hideous Strength- Sci-fi. 

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Gone With the Wind actually. It wasn't action packed or thrilling but I couldn't put it down for sure when though it was incredibly long! 

 9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

I don't normally re-read a book the year right after reading it for the first time but I think that The Valley of Vision is one I could re-read next year and may actually do. 

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

So this isn't the cover of the translation I read but it's the cover of the translation I now own so we're going with it. ;)

11. Most memorable character of 2015?

Scarlette O'Hara. I don't like her but she's definitely memorable. 

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?

I read a lot of beautifully written books this year. I remember commenting on beautiful writing in several of my reviews. I think maybe All Quiet on the Western Front will be the winner though. 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?

The Valley of Vision for sure. If you haven't read this book then you need to! 

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read? 

A lot but most definitely Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. 

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015? 

I'm supposed to choose? 
From a first time read- "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train."- The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde 
From a re-read- "If I loved you less I might be able to talk about it more."- Emma by Jane Austen 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?

Longest- Gone With the Wind- 1037 pages
Shortest- The Fearsome Inn- 46 pages 

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

I'd seen Rebecca before reading the book or else it would definitely have been Rebecca. I think I'll go with Beloved by Toni Morrisson. 

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

I hate that term but here goes.
First time read- Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.... They deserve each other and I've said this once and I'll say it again... Scarlett finally married the right man for her and she never realized it until too late. Get with it Scarlett! Granted she doesn't deserve a happy ending but boy if you get it handed to you on a platter take it!
Re-Read- Emma Woodhouse and Mr. Knightley.... obviously. 

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The family relationships in Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. 

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis 

21. Best Book You Read In 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

I don't succumb to peer pressure! ;) I'd go with Armadale and No Name by Wilkie Collins.  

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?

Besides Mr. Knightley? ;) All the ones I can think of actually are from re-reads. There weren't any great romances in the books I read this year. Newest though.... Mr. Knightley isn't new. I'd say Nat Bowditch from Carry On Mr. Bowditch. How did I not love this guy before? Genius, sweet, kind, funny and did I mention genius? :) 

23. Best 2015 debut you read?

I didn't read any 2015 debut novels this year. 

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Beowulf! 

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Betsy-Tacy and Betsy-Tacy and Tib. They're just so sweet! :) 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?

Rilla of Ingleside. I don' cry over books but I almost cried when re-reading this one. Walter.... enough said. 

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

None of the books I read this year crushed my soul in the sense that they left me devastated. Some of them crushed my soul in that they were awful to read.... *cough* Gulliver's Travels *cough*

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?

Beowulf and in that same vein Boys of Blur, which has hints of Beowulf in it. 

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

As mentioned above.... Gulliver's Travels... I hated it and I'm mad I took the time to RE-read it. 

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?

Meanwhile in Rivendell! I know I've mentioned it a lot before on the blog but seriously... check it out! 

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?

I like my reviews of Beowulf, Gone With the Wind and The Brothers Karamazov. 

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

I love the Emma read-along posts! There were some where we had a lot of great discussion, especially the first couple! 

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

I love Top Ten Tuesday and Bout of Books! 

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?

Being able to re-read so many of my old favorites, finding copies of The Silmarillion and The Children of Húrin at a used bookstore and participating in the Broke and Bookish Secret Santa. 

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Keeping up with writing reviews. 

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

It seems it is my post Me and My Music. :) 

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I really like my TTT Book to Movie Adaptations post. 

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

I found a wire spinning shelf at Goodwill that saved me from having to figure out my lack of bookshelf space (for the present that is). 

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I completed all of them.... and it was no easy task either! 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?

Being a classics lover I don't read many new books. I can't think of any off the top of my head that are coming out next year that I want to read. 

3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

See above. 

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?

See above. 

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?

I want to be better at replying to comments right away. 

6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Once again see above. :)


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