Dec 31, 2020

Challenges Monthly Wrap-up: December

CHALLENGE 1: 2020 New Release Challenge

Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong (2/4/20)
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black (11/24/20)
A Thief Among the Trees by Sabaa Tahir, Nicole Andelfinger, Sonia Liao (7/14/20)


Total New Releases Read: 39/25



CHALLENGE 2: Print ONLY 2020 Reading Challenge


Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong
Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black
Belle Takes Flight by Kathy McCullough
A Thief Among the Trees by Sabaa Tahir, Nicole Andelfinger, Sonia Liao

 

Total Print ONLY Books: 49/45--really more if you count all the little reads I did today



CHALLENGE 3: 2020 Discussion Challenge

A Disney Rant
Another Disney Rant

The Black Cat Blue Sea Award
The Goodreads Choice Awards
The Dark Side of the Santa Clause
Why I'm Not a Good E-Book Reader
My Life in Books Tag
2020 End of the Year Freak Out Tag
The Festive Christmas Book Tag
End of the Year Book Tag
Christmas Traditions

 

Total Discussions: 42/25



CHALLENGE 4: Beat the Backlist 2020 Reading Challenge

Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong (2/15/19)
Belle Takes Flight by Kathy McCullough (7/3/18)


Total Backlist Reads: 34/20



CHALLENGE 5: 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge

NONE this month (that can be recorded)


Total Series Finished: 22/15






11th Annual End of the Year Survey

It's time for Jamie at The Perpetual Reader's Annual End of the Year Survey! Jamie created this survey back in 2010 and I've been doing it for probably more than half of that. Those early blogging years (of mine) were scary. 

It's the time of year when we reflect back on all we read in the year! I love doing this survey, though with the deproved Blogger, I'm sure this post will take me hours past my usual hour or so with Blogger Legacy. Let's have at it!

*The headers were all borrowed from Jamie* 


Number Of Books You Read: 88
Number of Re-Reads: 1
Genre You Read The Most From: Paranormal (didn't break down into age levels)


1. Best Books You Read in 2020:

 

 

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

It just wasn't what I had hoped for. Biggest disappointment of the year.


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



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

 


5. Best series you started in 2020? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender of 2020?

 



6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2020?

I know this is an older book/author, but oh wow did I enjoy this series!

 

 

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

I don't usually read historical fiction books, but since this was "vampire-ish" I was eager to give it a try. It wasn't too bad either!



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

And yet 704 pages wasn't long enough!



9. Book You Read In 2020 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

 

I don't re-read books too much anymore.



10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2020?


11. Most memorable character of 2020?

Grace is a freaking GARGOYLE! How cool is that?!



12. Most beautifully written book read in 2020?


 

 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2020?


 

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2020 to finally read? 


15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2020? 

"A good book was its own brand of magic."



16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2020?

A Thief Among the Trees 144 pages
House of Earth and Blood 803 pages


17. Book That Shocked You The Most


 

 

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


Ian & Veritas



19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year


Rachel/Ivy/Jenks 


20. Favorite Book You Read in 2020 From An Author You’ve Read Previously


 I read a lot of her Tracy Deebs books in the past and I am in love with this new series of hers!




21. Best Book You Read In 2020 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

I think I found this one Instagram. It ended up being so-so sadly.



22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2020?


 I...I think I might be Team Hudson!



23. Best 2020 debut you read?


 

 

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


 

 

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


 

 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2020?


 

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?


 

 

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

 



29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2020?

This one alternated by telling the story in the present and then going back to before at the beginning of the adventure when the chaos was brewing and happening! Once we got caught up it was all present reading! Trippy, but unique!



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

Don't get me wrong I did really enjoy this one, but it just felt unnecessarily long. Like the publisher gave her free reign because her name has gotten so big.



1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2020?

I follow so many people at any given rate I can't recall who I followed this year.



2. Favorite post you wrote in 2020?

I guess I enjoyed writing one of my typical rants on books and things. This one was on cover changes on the final book.



3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2020?



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


Weird to think I did attend THREE events this year before the shutdowns began. One of the first signings of this crummy year involved Brigid Kemmerer! Ironically, out of the three events I attended, I did meet all the authors previously, but it never stops me from going again!




5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2020?

I guess in November when I finally finished my last challenge...ironically the one that kind of disappeared from the blogosphere, but oh well!



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

Adjusting my reading schedule to my new job. But a totally acceptable challenge since I'm no longer job stressed!

 

 

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

 I honestly never look at those stats! I guess it would be a Waiting on Wednesday post or maybe my Creeptacular Giveaway one!

 

 

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

 I guess just any of my reviews. I guess since I'm not on Facebook and cross-posting there or whatever my posts don't get a lot of attention.



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


 

Brassington Hollow on Etsy! She makes bookish pillows that are just awesome! I still haven't placed an order yet, but hopefully will in 2021!



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

Yes! All were accomplished and even surpassed! 





1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2020 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2021?

 


2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2021 (non-debut)?

 


3. 2021 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?


 

 

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2021?


 Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco



5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2021?

Dare I say, to read more of my TBR books? I did pretty good with this this year!



6. A 2021 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

 

Tales from the Hinterland was exactly what I wanted back in The Hazel Wood! The stories of the characters that were met! Totally awesome!