Well, it appears that I took another unintended break from blogging over the holidays – I always underestimate just how busy I’ll be at this time of year! But it seemed a good idea to come back with a look back at the past year of reading, a good way to wrap it up and start 2019. Thanks to Jamie at Perpetual Page-Turner for the 9th annual End-of-Year Book Survey! Head on over to check her out and join in the fun, if you haven’t already.
1. Best Book You Read In 2018?
Definitely can’t pick just one. These three seem to stand out the most for different reasons. Warlight has just stuck with me, and months after I read it I still feel a very strong sense of being in its world when I think of it. Life Among the Savages was very relatable to my life now as a mom, but also was just the book I most enjoyed reading this year. And Another Brooklyn really took me by surprise – I was expecting a YA book that might have some emotional impact, but that would largely be teenagers dealing with teen issues. It turned out to be so, so much more than that and was amazingly beautiful.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I had heard so much about Donal Ryan before going into this book. I’d even heard positive feedback about this book in particular. Then it got nominated for the Man Booker Prize, further increasing my anticipation. So I went into it with such high expectations that I guess it’s not surprising that it didn’t live up to them. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good book. I even get why it was on the Man Booker longlist. But for me, as a reader, it wasn’t a book I enjoyed reading. I picked it up each evening with a sense of not wanting to give up on it, but also not really wanting to finish it. I slogged through the middle section and found myself skimming. And I still don’t really understand why. I acknowledge that the writing was very good, and I even think that his ability to capture Irish life was excellent. But something about it just failed to draw me in. I didn’t become attached to the characters and I didn’t really care to learn more about their lives. I can’t explain my feelings about this one, but it definitely wasn’t what I expected it to be.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
I expected this to be a somewhat saccharine, cheesy, easy read. But it actually had a lot more depth than I anticipated, and dealt with a lot of capital letter Issues. It wasn’t perfect, but it far exceeded my expectations going in, and has a lot more insight into the human condition and what it means to try to heal from a damaging childhood than I would have looked for going in. Worth checking out!
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
Both of these got a few recommendations from me, and I know a couple of people did pick them up (though I don’t know how much my recommendation played into them doing so). They’re also two of this year’s books I’d recommend you check out, if you haven’t already. I felt like Warlight got a lot more shade than it deserved, and though I hesitate to say it for fear of seeming like a book snob, I do wonder if some of its detractors really got what Ondaatje was trying to do in creating such an unreliable narrator and by not definitively answering every question. Then again, maybe I’m the one who doesn’t get it, and maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about. But I think it definitely has a lot to recommend it, and I found it to be a unique structure and a beautiful portrayal of the fallibility of memory and how we all try to adjust our perceptions and understand our parents as we become adults ourselves. Normal People, though it hasn’t stayed with me as much, is another book I’m really glad I picked up this year. It’s not a difficult read, but it packs a serious punch and will definitely leave you with lots to think over!
5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?
I didn’t really read many series books this year, but I did circle back to good old Agatha Raisin, and I read a few of her more recent exploits. As enjoyable as I remembered.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?
I only read one book by her this year – in fact, I’ve only ever read one of her books – but I think the book that most intrigued me and had me wanting more was Shirley Jackson’s Life Among the Savages. I loved her honesty, her self-characterization and how she was fallible but had such a great sense of humour about the day-to-day mishaps of motherhood. It helped me find more levity in my own experiences and for that I will be forever grateful.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I don’t really have one of these this year. I mostly read within my comfort zones, and the one or two books I read outside them didn’t really stand out to me.
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
This was one of the most recent Agent 21 books by Chris Ryan, and it definitely kept the suspense going. It introduces a new character, and I really enjoyed his journey and training. It was refreshing to be in the same world as the Agent 21 books, but sort of adjacent to the usual story. Great pacing, unputdownable.
9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Every mother should read this book. It will make you feel less alone in the tedium, frustration, terror and joy of motherhood. It’s such an intense time, and it will make even the most capable woman feel like they have no fucking clue what is going on most of the time. But this book brings some levity to the situation, and shows that with a lot of love and a generous helping of wry humour, we can get through it and, hopefully, raise some decent humans in the process.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?
I mean, just look at it. It’s shiny, too.
11. Most memorable character of 2018?
I don’t really have an answer for this one. None of the characters I read this year really stood out to me – plots and writing did, but not characters. If I’m allowed to include memoir, then again with the Shirley Jackson.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?
I read this ages ago so I barely even remember what it’s about, but I remember being totally bowled over by the writing, and feeling like it was a breath of fresh air. It’s a very quick read, but one that will make you feel.
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?
This one brought back a lot of nostalgic memories and made me really think about the nature of relationships, about how we perceive ourselves and those we love, how our backgrounds help or hinder us as we try to navigate the world, and how even the most intelligent can struggle to feel worthy of success.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read?
I don’t have a book for this, but I do have an author – Michael Ondaatje. I have heard wonderful things about him for as long as I can remember, particularly since I’m Canadian. I think I was a bit intimidated and worried that I wouldn’t be able to appreciate his work, but I actually loved Warlight. I am definitely glad I finally gave him a shot.
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?
I didn’t note any down, but I know I marked several in Michael Ondaatje’s Warlight and Jacqueline Woodson’s Another Brooklyn.
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?
If I don’t include picture books, Another Brooklyn was the shortest book I read this year, while the longest was One Day in December.
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
None. I mean I read a few thrillers, and of course they had some twists since that’s the point, but none stood out as being particularly extra twisty. Nothing like Gone Girl, that’s for sure!
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Meh, not really my thing. I only read one book that had a major romance (One Day in December), and it was not one I particularly rooted for.
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Again, none that particularly stand out.
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
But really just because it’s one of the only ones I read this year by an author I’d read previously.
21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:
My mom recommended this series to me because she knows I’ve been having a rough time. The first one was hard as it involves two young girls going missing (as a mom now, missing kids are super hard for me to handle), but it was worth the effort to get into, and I’ve read three in the series now. I like the protagonist – she’s plump, a terrible housekeeper, isn’t in a relationship, but is wicked smart and very good at her job. I like that she’s not perfect, nor is she a failure because of that fact. In short, she’s a real person. Like.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?
I don’t do fictional crushes.
23. Best 2018 debut you read?
None.
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
I felt like Ondaatje actually pulled me into the post-war London landscape, and I could see and feel the textures of the buildings as I shadowed his characters through its streets.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Tragicomic, to be sure, but still. Very entertaining, very relatable, and helped ease the weight of responsibility I often feel is crushing me as a mom. Definitely worth picking up.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018?
As a whole this book really didn’t impress me as much as I thought it would, but some stuff happens to a family in the first section that definitely had me upset.
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Yep, I’d say that description works here. Again, not my all-time favourite book, but more literary and serious than you’d expect from the cover.
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Again, nope.
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?
I wasn’t a huge fan of this book, but it did have a unique structure and presented the main character in a way I’ve never encountered before.
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
(Spoiler alert: I didn’t really like it.)
1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2018?
Hmm, this is a hard one. I have watched a lot of BookTube this year. I did a post about some of my faves, but if I had to pick just one that stands out this year, it would probably be BookAxe. I love their week in books videos and find that my tastes jive well most of the time.
2. Favorite post you wrote in 2018?
Ugh who knows. None really stand out. This wasn’t a year I focused on creativity, so my posts haven’t been groundbreaking. I have had some ideas, but no time to put them into practice.
3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2018:?
Hmm, maybe this one:
4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?
The only bookish “event” I did this year was a half-hearted attempt at a readathon.
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?
Probably getting to interact with a few of the BookTubers I really love.
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Time. Energy. Toddler.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
I think it was my Women’s Prize for Fiction | 2018 Longlist Predictions post.
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Again, none stand out to me!
9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I don’t know what I really discovered this year. It felt very much like a year of sticking to well-worn pathways rather than one of discovery.
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Just my Goodreads challenge – I set it low, but I still barely made it!
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?
I have so many books I wanted to read in 2018 and didn’t get to. Some of these I even started but didn’t manage to really get my teeth into. There are more, too, these are just the ones I came across first. If only I had more time! I’d love to hear which of these you guys really loved – and if there are any you would recommend picking up first! I think the top on my list right now are This Is Going To Hurt, Home Fire, Washington Black, Beirut Hellfire Society and Transcription. But that will likely change tomorrow.
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?
I don’t know much about the first three of these, just that The Art of Leaving was featured in a recent issue of Quill and Quire and sounded intriguing, I’ll read anything Bill Bryson writes, and despite still not having made it through The Night Circus, I have a feeling I’m going to love Erin Morgenstern. On the Come Up has been on my TBR for over a year now, because I adored The Hate U Give and want to support Angie Thomas.
3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Golden Child is the next release for Sarah Jessica Parker’s imprint, and I actually think she has interesting taste in books, so it’s on my list. Fleishman Is In Trouble just sounded like my kind of thing.
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019?
I don’t think I’m up-to-date on any series at the moment, so even those I’m reading that have new installments coming out won’t matter to me since I won’t be able to read them for some time anyway!
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?
Actually read and blog!!
6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):
Unfortunately not applicable as I’ve not been requesting ARCs for a while. I can barely manage to finish a book that has no pressure attached to it!
So that’s my yearly summary of my reading life. It’s a little same-y and boring this year, partly because I have so little energy to put into my posts (including this one) so they’ve followed very familiar themes, and partly because I’ve read so little that my answers overlap more than I would like. But hey, you’ve gotta work with what you’ve got, right? It’s still better than nothing, and definitely better than the last year or two! I’d love to hear from you guys – what were your most and least favourite books read in 2018? Which 2018 books do you think I definitely need to try and circle back to? If you’ve also completed this post feel free to link it down below and I’ll come check it out!
