Year in Review: 2010

First spotted this survey, created by The Perpetual Page Turner, over at  Consumed by Books, and I thought I'd take a whack at it.  Some of these things are covered in other posts, so I'll try to keep those parts brief.

1. Best book of 2010? I have a whole post devoted to my top 10 of 2010, but I don't pick a favorite in it.  Part of that was because it's so hard.  I did read a lot of good books that are going to really stick with me, like Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall or Cath Crowley's A Little Wanting Song.  But I think the 2 (one adult, one YA) that win are The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood and How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.  Both really went above and beyond for me (and both are dystopian-ish -- go figure... ;p  )

2. Worst book of 2010? and 3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010?   Hush, Hush.  Without hesitation.  Sure, I've read worse in my life, and there were a few things I (fleetingly) enjoyed about it, but really, it is one of those things that just stands out in my mind as beyond disappointing.  It's almost offensive, how disappointing that book is.

4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010?  Well, I already mentioned Before I Fall, which I was sort of expecting to be disappointed in; same is true of The Lightning Thief, which was just lovely.  I really, really adored both books and didn't want to put either down, even though I needed a big push to pick either up in the first place.

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010? I've recommended Soulless by Gail Carriger a lot since I first read it, and recently got my book club to read it.  It was one of the few unanimous reads we've ever had -- everyone loved it!  I've also recommended A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley a number of times, and I always recommend Oryx and Crake/The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood and Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.

6. Best series you discovered in 2010? Percy Jackson and the Olympians was one of the bandwagons I wish I would have jumped on sooner.  I also just started reading the Morganville Vampires series and am loving it.  Let's put it this way -- reviews of the first 4 books are coming up!

7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010? Before I read Delirium, I would have said Lauren Oliver, but now it's 50/50 with her, so who knows?  But definitely making the list are Gail Carriger, Carrie Ryan, Brenna Yovanoff and Cherie Priest, with plans to read more Jessica Day George, Rachel Caine and Cath Crowley soon.

8. Most hilarious read of 2010? Soulless definitely has it's moments, as do the rest of the series (so far), Changeless and Blameless.  A Little Wanting Song is pretty funny, too, as evidenced in the bit I read for my teaser.  Or, it's funny to me, at least.

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010?  There have been a few.  Of course, Mockingjay.  That was a read all night, partly because I just had to, and partly because I didn't want any spoilers. Also The Replacement definitely got its hooks into me.  Most surprising would be the Morganville Vampires books, which are like crack.  I furiously read through one and immediately pick up the next...

10. Book you most anticipated in 2010? I was waiting breathlessly for Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet -- I even ordered UK copies of each so I'd get them earlier -- and wouldn't you know, I have yet to read either?  I'm so worried they'll disappoint me, it's ridiculous.  I need to just take the plunge already.


11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010? I loved the cover for Hush, Hush -- just not anything else.

12. Most memorable character in 2010? Oh, lord.  There have been some good ones.  I particularly loved Flavia deLuce from The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and the lass from Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow.  As well as 1/2 the cast of the Parasol Protectorate series (ie Soulless, et al).

13. Most beautifully written book in 2010? Before I Fall, How I Live Now, and A Little Wanting Song.

14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?  Before I Fall.  This needs no explanation for those who have read it, and there is not explaining for those who haven't.

15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read?  The Lightning Thief, which had been recommended to me by a trusted friend for some time before I read it.  Also, the Protector of the Small series by Tamora Pierce.  As fiercely as I loved the Alanna books as a kid, why did I wait so effing long to read more of her?



So there you have it.

There's also a section devoted to blogging in the survey, which I'm going to save for another day [translation: I may or may not do it], which you can check out at the Perpetual Page Turner, if you're so inclined.
I'd love to hear your answers!