2015: Year in Review

I enjoyed answering Jamie's (The Perpetual Page Turner) End of the Year Survey in past years and decided to join in again this year.  I did alter some of the questions and subtracted a few to make it my own.

Some fun meaningless statistics:
(Much of what I read was falls under more than one genre. Here, I count them under the genre I most identified with the book).

Crime Fiction (mysteries & thrillers) - 26*
Fantasy - 11*
Paranormal Romance - 7*
Contemporary Romance - 7*
Historical Fiction - 7*
Contemporary Fiction - 12*
Poetry - 3*
Nonfiction - 3*

Of those, 2 were Graphic Novels.
Of those, 3 were labeled as Young Adult.
Of those, 2 were audio books.

63 of the 76 books I read in 2015 were written by women.

Month I Read the Most Books: October (11)
Months I Read the Least Books: March (3) & April (3)

Number of books with "Girl" in the title: 4

1. Best book read in 2015?

Tuesday I shared my Top Ten Books Favorite Books Read in 2015. At the top of the list was a book I have re-read a handful of times: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I am happy to say it remains one of my all-time favorite books to this day.

2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?

A book that turned out to be disappointing was Bearing It All by Vonnie Davis. I enjoyed the other two books in the series which I read earlier in the year, but this one just fell flat for me.

Another is Lena Coakley's Worlds of Ink and Shadow, which I had high hopes for as I loved her other book.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2015?

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I wasn't sure this book would be for me, but I ended up loving it (I listened to the audio version).

4. Book you read in 2015 that you recommended to people most in 2015?

A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman was probably my most recommended book last year. That and Sharon Bolton's Little Black Lies. If you haven't read either one, you really must. Don't wait.

5. Best series you discovered in 2015?

The Others series by Anne Bishop. I read three books in the series and there are no words to express just how much I love this series.

6. New-to-me authors you discovered in 2015 and hope to read more by?

This year, my number of new-to-me authors out-numbered the authors I had read before. And nearly all of them I would like to read more by. These are just the top twelve that I look forward to revisiting in the future, but are by no means the only ones:

Tessa Arlen
Virginia Boecker
Sharon Bolton
Jennifer Chiaverini
Paula Hawkins
Catriona McPherson
Amy Stewart
Art Taylor
RaeAnne Thayne
Lauren Willig
Cat Winters
Rich Zahradnik

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone?

Wet Silence: Poems About Hindu Widows by Sweta Srivastava Vikram was a beautiful and moving collection of poems. I also really enjoyed Rebecca Foust's Paradise Drive, which was both witty and real. I do not often read poetry, and reviewing poetry falls way outside my comfort zone. I always feel as if I will miss something in the meaning.

8. Most unputdownable book of the year? 

Hidden by Karen E. Olson. I could not stay away from this book once I started reading it.


9. Most action-packed books of the year?

Both A Fistful of Fire by Rebecca Chastain and Shady Cross by James Hankins were nearly nonstop action. So much fun!

10. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read In the Next Couple Years? 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

11. Most memorable character of 2015? 

Ove from A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman who, although a curmudgeon, was such a sweetheart, and Cara from Alexandra Sokoloff's Huntress series because, although she plays outside the lines, she is extremely resilient, fights for the vulnerable, and is one kick-ass woman.

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

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Despite numerous and rather emphatic recommendations, I did not read this one until it arrived on my doorstep through my Postal Mail Book Club. I had no more excuses. I ended up really enjoying it, even though I wasn't completely thrilled with the end.

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

Investigative Reporter Coleridge Taylor from Last Words and Drop Dead Punk by Rich Zahradnik because he is a stand up guy. Troubled, yes, but he pursues the truth regardless of whether it means he will get the story, and he has a good heart.

14. Hidden Gems Of The Year? 

Magic of the Gargoyles by Rebecca Chastain ~ This was such a great novella. I hope there will be more, full-length books featuring these characters.

Also, On the Road with Del & Louise: A Novel in Stories by Art Taylor, which made me laugh and and wish I could visit longer with his characters.

15. Book That Nearly Crushed Your Soul? 

A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding by Jackie Copleton. While this novel has a message of hope, it was still an extremely devastating novel in many ways. 

Another book that fits this category, but in a different way, is Jan Ellison's A Small Indiscretion, which left me with such a heavy feeling at the end. It wasn't because of the ending, but rather the entire tone and subject matter of the novel. It took me a few days to shake the impact this book had on me. 

16. Book Most Beautifully Written?

I was really struck with the writing of Cecily Wong's Diamond Head. Such a wonderful book that brought me to tears.

17. Top five favorite covers of a books you read in 2015?

Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman by Tessa Arlen

The Uninvited by Cat Winters

The Child Garden by Catriona McPherson

The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan

Wet Silence: Poems About Hindu Widows by Sweta Srivastava Vikram

18. Shortest and longest book you read in 2015?

Longest: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (546 pgs)
Shortest: Joy Street by Laura Foley (48 pgs)

19. Favorite book you read in 2015 by an author you’ve read previously?

Several actually made my top ten list this year: 

• The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy
• Hidden by Karen E. Olson
• The Others series by Anne Bishop
• Behind Closed Doors by Elizabeth Haynes

20. Genre you read the most from in 2015? 

Crime Fiction (are you really surprised?)

21. Best worldbuilding/most vivid setting?

The Others series by Anne Bishop wow'ed me.  The world Anne Bishop created  was so well done; I hated to leave.

22. Which book made me smile and smile and smile?

A Cold Christmas Creek Story by RaeAnne Thayne. Most of my Christmas-themed books this year probably would fit in this category, but this particular one by Thayne especially.

23. Book that made you cry?

What book didn't make me cry?  I'm such a cry baby. It would be easier to answer this question if you asked me what book didn't make me cry. Seriously.


24. Book that made me laugh myself right off the couch?

Sandra Boynton's CHOCOLATE: The Consuming Passion. This was such a funny book. The section on white chocolate was one of my favorites. 

25. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of 2015?

I failed miserably at my goals this year. I do not know why I even make them.

Reading Goals:
Read more nonfiction - I read two as compared to none the previous year. In a way, I suppose that counts. Still not great though.
Read more diversely - This didn't happen either, at least not as much as I would have liked--although I did keep track this year, whereas in previous years, I did not. One step closer.
Re-discover favorite authors - A few, but not the way I had in mind when I made this goal.
Catch up on at least three favorite series - Yeah, no. I did start a couple new series I'm all caught up in, if it matters.
Read a book whose author's surname begins with an X. - Another no.

Blogging Goals:
Make Mouse's Corner a more regular feature on my blog, including guest posts from authors, fellow bloggers and readers on topics related to children's books and reading. - I think I posted fewer Mouse's Corners this year than last. Best laid plans and all that, right?

One good thing that came out of 2015, was the Postal Book Club I joined. I do not seem to do well when it comes to group reads, but I had no problem keeping up with the Postal Book Club picks, and I had such fun. Each member selects a book and mails it along with a journal at the end of December to their specified person on the club member list. We have two months to read the book, journal our thoughts, and then we mail the book to the next person on the list. I read some wonderful books this year as a result:

Be Safe I Love You by Cara Hoffman (my pick)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger 
The Lovers Set Down Their Spoons by Heather A. Slomski
The Time Traveler's Wife  by Audrey Niffenegger
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 


26. Looking ahead to 2016, do you have any goals for reading or your blog? Or life in general?

I joined two challenges (What's In a Name? Reading Challenge and Clean Out Your E-Reads Challenge) as well as The TBR Triple Dog Dare for this next year. Both the Dare and COYER will have me focusing on getting caught up with my review books that are sitting on my TBR shelf for at least the first three months of the year. Hopefully I can get a lot accomplished during that time. Mostly though, I am looking forward to reading some great books.

Reading and Blogging Oriented Goals:
1. Keep track of last sentences in 2016.  While first sentences can play a significant role in drawing a reader in, the final sentence also plays an significant role. It is our last impression of the book. I am still on the fence about posting them on my blog (if I did, it would be in an end of the year last sentence type post--not meant to be included in my "Bookish Thoughts" posts). I would not want to spoil a book for anyone.

2. Make more time to read. I hope to do this by turning to a book instead of spending too much time on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. You will still find me in both places, but hopefully (for my sake) not as much. I also want to pick reading over spending an hour playing Sudoku or CrossMe or some such game on my phone or tablet. At least most of the time. I get that sometimes my brain needs to do some brainless (or near brainless) activity. My goal is to really make better use of any possible reading time I have. (Notice how I did not mention television and Netflix? Yeah, I'm not ready to go there yet.)

3. Make Mouse's Corner a more regular feature on my blog. I would also like to start tracking what I read with my daughter, but I am not sure I want to make that piece an actual goal. It's just something I want to work towards.

As for life goals . . . Well, there's the usual. Eat better, lose weight. Those seem to be ongoing battles, er, goals.

**                              **                              **                              **                                

This year has been one full of challenges as well as the building of good memories. I am excited and a lot nervous about what 2016 will hold for me and my family. In some ways, it has already gotten off to a rocky start and will prove to be a challenging year. On the more bookish front, I am excited and not even a little bit nervous about what the New Year will bring. I hope you will join me for another year of book talk, commiseration and celebration of life. 

Thank you for the support you have given me this year and in the many before it. I am glad to share my bookish journey with you and look forward to continuing to be a part of yours.

Happy New Year!

Mouse & Parker Waiting for 2016

---

© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.