It's time for one of my favorite events of the year....
It's Perpetual Page Turner's 10th Annual End-of-the-Year Reading Survey!
**2019 READING STATS**
Number Of Books You Read: 415 books
Number of Pages: 74,204 pages
Genre You Read The Most From: Children's Picture Books
1. Best book you read in 2019?
Moby Dick. Moby Dick and I spent a wonderful month together last year, and I will never forget it.
2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith
The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did)?
The Body by Bill Bryson
5. Best book in a series you read in 2019?
The Wicked King
6. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read and greatly enjoyed?
Moby Dick Classics Illustrated Comics
Moby Dick Classics Illustrated Comics
7. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Salt to the Sea by Ruth Sepetys
18. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2019?
The Goldfinch
The Goldfinch
9. Most beautifully written book read in 2019?
The Night Circus
The Night Circus
10. Most thought-provoking / life-changing book of 2019?
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel
11. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2019 to finally read?
The Night Circus and The Goldfinch
The Night Circus and The Goldfinch
12. Shortest & longest book you read in 2019?
Shortest book: Where Birdie Lives (14 pages)
Longest book: Don Quixote (1,076 pages)
13. Book that shocked you the most?
Half-Earth: Our Planet's Fight for Life
14. Favorite book you read in 2019 from an author you’ve read previously?
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
15. Best book you read in 2019 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else/peer pressure/bookstagram, etc.?
Pachinko
16. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read?
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
17. Book that made you cry in 2019?
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11
18. Hidden gem of the year?
Poldark by Winston Graham
19. Most unique book you read in 2019?
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate
1. Favorite post you wrote in 2019?
This year I became the host of Sunday Salon. I look forward to the weekend each week, seeing who stops by and links up and leaves a comment, and I love to visit all the blogs I can to see what others are up to. I know there are many other wonderful blogging link-ups out there, and I feel so happy when you choose to stop by and join in the conversation.
3. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?
No way to choose a favorite! I loved Paris in July, the Moby Dick Readalong, Inprint Margaret Root Brown Reading Series, My Own Books Reading Challenge, Dewey's 24-Hour Readathons, Women in Translation Month, Summer #bookaday Challenge, Texas Book Festival, Multicultural Children's Book Day, the Cybils Awards, Texas Library Association Conference, 24 in 48 Readathon, Thankfully Reading Weekend, and Nonfiction November.
5. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
I've read good books.
I haven't read many great books.
I want to read more great books.
I've read good books.
I haven't read many great books.
I want to read more great books.
6. Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
What Happened to My America? And How Can We Fix Things?
7. Posts you wished got a little more love?
Here are some of my favorites:
1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10!: Book Titles with Numbers in Them
8. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I found many, many fun book events this year. (See #3 above).
I found many, many fun book events this year. (See #3 above).
9. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I made progress on my challenges.
1. One book you didn’t get to in 2019 but will be your number one priority in 2020?
War and Peace.
Oh dear.
2. Book you are most anticipating for 2020 (non-debut)?
Kindness and Wonder: Why Mister Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever
Kindness and Wonder: Why Mister Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever
3. 2020 debut you are most anticipating?
I'm still waiting for The Queen of Nothing. Sigh.
I'm still waiting for The Queen of Nothing. Sigh.
5. What do you hope to accomplish in your reading/blogging life in 2020?
Read and review everything I read in 2020.
Read mood-boosting books.
Read (eek) War and Peace over the course of a year.
Invite more thoughtful readers/bloggers to join Sunday Salon.
Read and review everything I read in 2020.
Read mood-boosting books.
Read (eek) War and Peace over the course of a year.
Invite more thoughtful readers/bloggers to join Sunday Salon.
Join this year’s hosts Girlxoxo and Traveling with T for our annual #AMonthofFaves blog event – a fun way to recap the year that was (Estella’s Revenge is taking a hiatus for this year). We have a schedule of topics planned out, so feel free to join in anytime for some or all of the topics. There will also be a link-up on our blogs so that we can all stop by each other’s posts to leave comments, high fives, good vibes and well wishes.
Salt to the Sea was one of my favorites last year. I liked The Goldfinch, too. Good luck with War and Peace! I don’t think I’m brave enough for that book.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I'm terrified to try War and Peace. I already tried and failed once.
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ReplyDeleteGreat survey; I love doing it and reading other bloggers' entries. I also loved Salt to the Sea (I'm just staring her latest, Fountains of Silence). And, I am amazed that you are going to read War and Peace; I can't wait to follow your progress.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see if I can make it through War and Peace. I look forward to seeing what you think of Fountains of Silence.
DeleteI love this survey and will probably borrow some of the prompts for my end-of-year post.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about Lori Gottlieb's book. I was so surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did! I bought The Body for my husband and will get to it once he finishes. Thanks for the nudge. :) I also agree about The Night Circus. Such a beautiful novel. It's one I want to listen to one more time. I tried The Flatshare, but couldn't get into it so it went back to the library this morning. Might have been a timing issue. While at the library, I snagged a copy of The Only Plane in the Sky. It will probably be my first read of 2020. Adding Salt to the Sea to my list now that I've read your post and the comments. :)
Happy New Year, Deb! May 2020 be filled with awesome books.
And may we always be able to share ideas for good books.
DeleteI love the cover of Moby Dick which you shared. I am so glad you enjoyed your experience reading it, Deb. That was quite an undertaking and it makes it even more worth it when you enjoyed the journey. I have yet to read anything by Holly Black, but I do want to. Like so many, I have a long must read list. LOL Quite a few of the books you mention here are on that list. I am glad you liked Night Circus. I love that one. I hope to read The Starless Sea this year. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are hosting The Sunday Salon now. I may not participate as regularly as I like, but I do enjoy seeing what everyone is up to as well. Thank you for taking it over!
Have a Happy New Year!
I like that you read The Night Circus shortly before The Starless Sea arrived. I went back and read your post about Moby Dick - very inspiring! I am fascinated by whales but not particularly interested in classics...it may be some years before/if I decide to tackle that one. I did enjoy reading In the Heart of the Sea. I hope War and Peace goes even just half as well as Moby Dick for you!
ReplyDeleteLove the survey. Maybe I will try to do something similar. I am not familiar with many of the best books. I did finish Moby Dick with the read along, but to call it the best book...no way. The writing is special, I must admit, but waiting for the big fish...I will not do any spoilers here.
ReplyDeleteLoved Donna Tartt's The Secret History, have had The Goldfinch on my ipad for years. Maybe time to dig into it.
As for Poldark...what is not to love? I have read 6 or 7 of the books in the series. They are some of my favourite books.
It's fun to think about what you have read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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