Your Reading Recap 2011

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

End of the Year Reading Recap 2011

Share with us an overview of your reading adventures in 2011. Here are some suggested questions for you:

1. How many books did you read this year? Did you meet your goal? Did your reading for this year surprise you in some way?
2. What categories of books did you read? Feel free to add/delete any categories to reflect your own reading:
a. Historical Romance
b. Paranormal Romance
c. Urban Fantasy
d. Category Romance
e. Horror
f. Mystery/Suspense
g. Non-Fiction
h. Epic Fantasy/Non-Urban Fantasy
i. Children’s/Juvenile Fiction
j. Young Adult Fiction
3. What were your favorite books this year?
4. What was your absolute favorite book? Why?
5. Any surprise favorite books out of your reading? Why?
6. Did you read any new genres this year?
7. Any reading disappointments? Why?
8. Any books you thought you’d like but didn’t?
9. Who are your favorite authors this year?
10. Did you glom any authors this year?
11. Who are the new authors you discovered this year?
12. Any authors you’re giving up on after disappointments this year?
13. Did you discover some new favorite characters and which ones if yes?
14. What was the most unique storyline you encountered this year? Was it a success?
15. What are your goals for next year? List as few as one and as many as you’d like.
16. Anything else you want to say about your reading in 2011.
17. What will 2012 represent as far as literary ideas for you? For example: 2012 is The Year of Paranormal Romance.


I hope that you had a good reading year. Good books are such a blessing, and I hope that you truly experienced the joy of good reading in 2011. May 2012 be an even better literary year for you!

[Rachel the Book Harlot]

How many books did you read this year? Did you meet your goal? Did your reading for this year surprise you in some way? What categories of books did you read?

I had a pretty good reading year in 2011. :) Although, I didn't have a chance to read as many books as I would have liked since I work and attend university so free time is limited. :( I also tend to re-read old favorites (BDB, SSN, etc) whenever I have down time. I'm so happy to be off for the next month and have time to myself again! It's so nice to be able to snuggle up with a book or two.

Many of my fave authors/series released a book this year: Jeanine Frost (Night Huntress), J.R. Ward (BDB), Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse Novels), GRRM (GOT/ASOIF). I also branched out from my normal PNR and UF to other types of romance such as Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Romantic Suspense. I also read some High Fantasy. For me, this exploration/branching out has been the best part of 2011!

I read approx. 43 new fiction books this year. This does not include re-reads and non-fiction books which I didn't list on GR so I lost track of how many. lol I didn't really have a goal in mind this year.

What were your favorite books this year?

My faves were: Game of Thrones, A Storm of Swords (cried like a baby for days because of this one), A Feast for Crows (all written by GRRM), Beloved Savage by Sandra Bishop(this one was a real surprise), and Angelfall by Susan Ee.

What was your absolute favorite book? Why?

My absolute favorite book was Angelfall by Susan Ee. This book blew me away!!! A real surprise since it is YA and I usually stay away from YA. I have been forcing friends to read it. lol Just amazing - unpredictable, raw, gritty, compelling, moving, and wonderful. Yep, I think that about covers it. :D

Any surprise favorite books out of your reading? Why?

Surprises would be a) Angelfall because it's YA and I stumbled on it purely by accident and b) Beloved Savage by Sandra Bishop because I thought it was going to be a cheesy romance but it turned out to be the furthest thing from that. It was beautifully written and the story was beautiful, compelling, and moving.

Any reading disappointments? Why?

Unfortunately, the greatest disappointment for me this year was Lover Unleashed by Ward. I hate to say that because I adore Ward (and I adore this series) but the book had quite a number of issues I couldn't get past. Of course, in the end it doesn't matter because I will follow Ward until the end! :D

Any authors you’re giving up on after disappointments this year?

Unfortunately, I gave up on the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill. I was very disappointed by a turn the series took so I opted out. I might pick it up again once the series is completed.

What was the most unique storyline you encountered this year? Was it a success?

I think for me it was the storyline of Angelfall. I loved that the angels are our enemies - here to wipe out the human race. I also loved that the author didn't pull any punches with the story - no one was safe in the world she created. It's quite brutal and savage.

What are your goals for next year? List as few as one and as many as you’d like.

Well, I'd really love to participate in some challenges next year. It seems like a lot of fun. I also have a personal goal to continue branching out of my PNR comfort zone into other romance subgenres.

What will 2012 represent as far as literary ideas for you? For example: 2012 is The Year of Paranormal Romance.

Gosh, I don't know! I guess 2012 will be The Year of Exploration. lol

[Desiree M ~*~*~]

1. How many books did you read this year? Did you meet your goal? Did your reading for this year surprise you in some way?

96 and 11 of them were rereads. I met and exceded my reading goal. The only thing that surprised me was the amount of books I read this year.

2. What categories of books did you read?:
a. Historical Romance
b. Paranormal Romance
c. Urban Fantasy
d. Contemporary Romance & Romantic Suspense
e. Horror (all in YA)
f. Young Adult Fiction

3. What were your favorite books this year?



4. What was your absolute favorite book? Why?

This is really hard because I loved all the books above. With that said, I absolutely loved Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews. There was an excellent balance of action, humor, Pack politics, other faction politics, and romance along with great character development, and wonderful characters.

5. Any surprise favorite books out of your reading? Why?

Simply Irresistible, I'm not a huge contemporary romance fan but I was pleasantly surprised. It was sweet, sexy, heart-warming, funny, and had an interesting family dynamic.

Changing the Game - I hated Liz in the previous book so I was expecting to not be fully invested in her story. However I ended up loving it more than the previous one.

6. Did you read any new genres this year?

No new genres this year.

7. Any reading disappointments? Why?

A few disappointments this year. Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward - This series, for the last 5 books, have been very hit or miss. And this recent one is quite possibly going to be the last one for me. Didn't care about many of the old characters, didn't give a crap about the new ones, and the dialogue just bugged me.

Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon - I waited for this book since Zarek's book and it killed me when the romance of Sundown & Abby was lacking.

River Marked by Patricia Briggs - There was a lot of characters telling stories but very little action. I loved the moments with Adam and Mercy but much of the moments involving the water monster and the telling of what the water monster was/did was boring. Which is not what I expect of a Mercy Thompson story.

8. Any books you thought you’d like but didn’t?

Beastly, I love the Beauty and the Beast tale and I usually love reworkings of it but this was unimpressive.

9. Who are your favorite authors this year?

Ilona Andrews, Julie James, Kresley Cole and Lisa Kleypas.

11. Who are the new authors you discovered this year?

Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, Julie James, Sarah MacLean, Elizabeth Hoyt, Nalini Singh, Shelly Laurenston, Jaci Burton, Catherine Anderson, and Jill Shalvis.

12. Any authors you’re giving up on after disappointments this year?

J.R. Ward - I can't put my faith in her anymore. I've been burned one too many times with the BDB series. The last installment I liked was Rehv's book, the last installment I loved was Z's book. Vishous's disappointed me, Phury's I hated, and JM's & Manny's had only a couple storylines I liked but most of the storylines (including the main SL's) annoyed me and I didn't care, I also didn't care about the new characters being introduced. After LU I really think I'm done with not only the series but the author too.

Shannon McKenna - I read 2 books by her this year and both I was unimpressed with. I wanted the stories to end before the author was ready for them to end.

13. Did you discover some new favorite characters and which ones if yes?

Yes. Kate Daniels - I cannot get enough of her.

15. What are your goals for next year? List as few as one and as many as you’d like.

Reading 85 books, Finish reading the Night World Series (which I meant to do this year), Read more Christopher Pike books (I loved many of his books while growing up and I want to read them again), and Read at least 1 book by 5 new authors.

[Lady Jaye]

1. How many books did you read this year? Did you meet your goal? Did your reading for this year surprise you in some way?
I read about 185 books this year, exceeding my goals. PNR/UF caught me by surprise. I read my first one this year and didn't look back. They are now my two favorite sub-genres.

2. What categories of books did you read?
I read
Historical Romance
Paranormal Romance
Urban Fantasy
Category Romance
Non-Fiction
Children’s/Juvenile Fiction
Young Adult Fiction

3. What were your favorite books this year?
Ilona Andrews' books. I love them to pieces. I think I am caught up on all their book. And Nalini Singh's books

4. What was your absolute favorite book? Why?
Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh. Every single thing about this book worked for me I loved spending time with Hawke!
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews. My favorite of the Kate Daniels books. The pacing, the characters, the story just blended together to make an even fantasticer book than usual :D
If I Die by Rachel Vincent. This one ran me through the emotions washing machine. Every possible emotion there was I felt by the time i was done.
Blood Bound and Hunting Ground Patricia Briggs. Werewolf stories. Really well-told :D.


5. Any surprise favorite books out of your reading? Why?
If I Die I didn't expect this book to make me feel the way it did. At all.

6. Did you read any new genres this year?
Yes. I discovered PNR and UF this year (Amen!)

7. Any reading disappointments? Why?
Not really. I have spent so much time discovering this year, it seems I haven't had time to be disappointed.

8. Any books you thought you’d like but didn’t?
Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison. SUCH a let-down after Dragon Bound's awesomeness. Tiago was such a horrible character and Niniane was such an idiot. It didn't live up to its promise. At all. And I auto-bought it, which added to the pain. In fact, even the 3rd book in that series was something of a let-down.

Don't shoot me, but KMM's Fever series. I don't like Mac - she's an idiot. Barrons is an ass, and the pontificating is annoying.

9. Who are your favorite authors this year?
I bow down at the altar of Ilona Andrews.
Nalini Singh too.

10. Did you glom any authors this year?
Ilona Andrews (I know, I know. It's a bit one-note), Nalini Singh, Patricia Briggs, and Rachel Vincent.

11. Who are the new authors you discovered this year?
Um... Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Rachel Vincent, Patricia Briggs, and just about every PNR/UF book I read this year.

12. Any authors you’re giving up on after disappointments this year?
I know I won't pick up another LKH book. I might also give up on Keri Arthur and books by Allyson James.

13. Did you discover some new favorite characters and which ones if yes?
Um, well. Kate Daniels. Curran. Hawke! Samuel (from Patty Briggs' books)

14. What was the most unique storyline you encountered this year? Was it a success?
Rachel Vincent's soul screamers series. I haven't ever read books featuring banshees before; or reapers, or nightmares, or any of the creatures she has in her books and the storytelling is awesome. It works very well.

15. What are your goals for next year? List as few as one and as many as you’d like.
Read more PNR/UF.
Try to read ~200 books.


16. Anything else you want to say about your reading in 2011.
Finding Goodreads, and groups here and all the nice people on here has made reading even more fun than it used to be!

17. What will 2012 represent as far as literary ideas for you?
Just exploring PNR/UF should be enough. I'm a baby in this genre, and there's so many great series and authors that everyone else knows of that I need to catch up on!!

I hope 2012 brings us all more and better things. happy reading, everyone!

[Rachel the Book Harlot]

I love this thread! I love reading the recaps. :D

[Kristy]

1. How many books did you read this year?
I read 58 new book this year. Then I reread a lot of books to refresh my memory.

Did you meet your goal?
No I originally attempted to read 100 books though I knew that would be a stretch but I'm still pretty happy with how much I read.

Did your reading for this year surprise you in some way?
Yes it did because some series I thought I was into I just could not finish or get into the most recent books. Some I still have sitting on my night stand begging to be read but they are just not what I'm in the mood for. If that makes sense. It also surprised me because I have read different genres of books and have expanded to “normal” romance books rather than just paranormal, sci fi fantasy and YA books.

2. What categories of books did you read? Feel free to add/delete any categories to reflect your own reading:

b. Paranormal Romance
c. Urban Fantasy
d. Category Romance
f. Mystery/Suspense
j. Young Adult Fiction

3. What were your favorite books this year?
Laura Griffin's Snapped was my #1 favorite for any type of romance novel.
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead was my #1 favorite for YA book.

There are other but these just come to mind immediately.

4. What was your absolute favorite book? Why?
My favorite book this year was Snapped by Laura Griffin.
My reason for loving this book was Sophie showed up in Laura Griffin's second book series and I fell in love with her attitude. Here I am you owe this to me and you will give it to me. Then in one split second everything changes and she becomes a completely different person. The hero in the story is a complete hottie but his name has slipped my mind. He also frustrated me a lot in the sense that he needed to be slapped upside the head or pistol whipped for being an idiot. But you fall in love with the characters. I also just enjoy the writers books as well.

5. Any surprise favorite books out of your reading? Why?
Yes, Millie's Fling (sorry no dangerous heros here) By Jill Mansell.
I received this book free on Barnes and Noble on nook. I didn't think I would enjoy it because it was not paranormal romance no vampires werewolves or witches oh my! When I read it the humor was so funny. You wanted to cry, laugh, and punch the main character for being who they are. It had everything I enjoy. This led me to read the rest of her book I could get on nook.

6. Did you read any new genres this year?
Suspense Romance

7. Any reading disappointments? Why?

Lover Unleashed By J R Ward was the biggest disappointment for me. I couldn't wait to read more about Manny and Payne. But the book consisted of more of V and Jane. To me that is not ok. Manny and Payne were barely featured and when they were their story was cut short. You really did not get to see the relationship grow as you did with earlier characters. I wanted to see and feel the love and it was not received. This will not deter me though from reading Thor's book and other future books though.

8. Any books you thought you’d like but didn’t?
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

9. Who are your favorite authors this year?
Laura Griffin, JR Ward, Lora Leigh, Richelle Mead, Nalini Singh, Veronica Roth

11. Who are the new authors you discovered this year?
Veronica Roth, Laura Griffin, Jill Mansell

12. Any authors you’re giving up on after disappointments this year?
Yes. I've officially giving up on the HON series by PC and Kristen Cast. I have also officially given up on the Blue Blood by Melissa De La Cruz.

14. What was the most unique storyline you encountered this year? Was it a success?
Divergent by Veronica Roth. There has been debate on this book and how it could be just like hunger games and so on. Well I have to beg to differ. This book makes you feel so many different things and make you think. What would happen if we hit 16 and then we had to choose to stay with our family or go to a completely different lifestyle and forget the past not only that fight to stay where said person has chosen to go. If you fail you don't have anything. I feel this story was a success in my eyes. I enjoyed it a lot.