Yes, I know, it’s been quite some time since I posted.  Life has got away with me.  2017 wasn’t the greatest reading year for me; I really struggled to meet my GoodReads reading challenge of 80 books, and just squeezed in by the skin of my teeth. This post is based on a survey that Jamie of the Perpetual Page Turner came up with last year.  there are some great questions here to review my reading year, so I’ll give it a go again this year.

Reading Stats

Number Of Books You Read: 81 books
Number of Re-Reads:   Six I guess?
Genre You Read The Most From: YA fantasy

Best in Books

1. Best Book You Read In 2017?
This would be The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland.  This book’s concept combines time travel, witches, history and shadowy government organisations into an incredible story.  It’s rather hard to describe.  I loved everything about it.  The premise, the writing, the strong and fascinating characters, everything.  This is one I would recommend listening to in audiobook format.  It is narrated by a full voice cast who really brings the story to life.  I certainly recommend this book, expecially the audiobook format. 

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Invictus by Claudia Gray.  I’ve loved most of Gray’s books, so I was somewhat disappointed that this book just didn’t grab me for some reason.  Pity. 

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? 
Here I’ll say Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare.  Given my (few) gripes about her ending to The Mortal Instruments, I was pleasantly surprised to see that she went the way she did.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)
This would be Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stane.  No, that is not a typo.  Philosopher’s Stane is the Scots language version of Harry’s story.  Translated by Matthew Fitt, this was a real walk down memory lane.  The translation is truly inspired.  Diagon Alley becomes the Squinty Gate and the Sorting Hat becomes the Bletherin Bunnet.  Brilliant.  Of course, if you don’t speak Scots, this may not be for you…

5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?
Series starter: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.  I received an eArc of this book, and will almost certainly do a review.  It’s definitely worth reading.
Sequel: Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare.  Honestly, Clare can’t put a foot wrong.  I love these books
Series Ender.  Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb.  Sniff.  Hurts too much to say any more 

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?
Nicola Yoon.  I read both Everything, Everything and The Sun is Also a Star and loved both of these.  Wonderful characters and writing. 

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity by David Allen.  Since I moved to a new role last year, I’ve been trying to become more productive and Allen’s GTD system is deceptively simple.  I’ve really enjoyed learning more about it. 

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
I’ll be honest here, given the poor reading year I’ve had there have been very few books that had me running to grab them every spare moment.  The closest I came to this was probably Kevin Hearne’s A Plague of Giants (awesome read) or Brandon Sanderson’s Oathbringer whose 1242 pages went surprisingly fast.

9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Possibly Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale before series 2 is aired.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017? 
Strange the Dreamer.  Gorgeous 

11. Most memorable character of 2017?
Nona Gray of Mark Lawrence’s Red Sister.  I’m really intrigued by her and look forward to reading more about her.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?
Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb.  Of course, I’m now so invested in these characters by now that anything Hobb wrote would be layered with so much meaning. 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017?
Here I’ll go with Getting Things Done by David Allen.  It really made me think about my productivity and my efficiency.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read? 
Pass 

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017?
That final scene in the quarry of Assassin’s Fate.  Sob.
Honorable mention:  The Twelfth Doctor “Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind. Doctor – I let you go”  Sob. Capaldi’s delivery was perfect.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?
Shortest book: Christmas Present by Jodi Taylor at just 41 pages
Longest book: Brandon Sanderson’s Oathbringer at a whopping 1242 pages or 55 hours of audiobook.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling.  I did NOT expect that ending.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Fitz and the Fool.  Always

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
For this one I’m going to go to television: Twelfth Doctor and Bill. Wonderful partnership.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

21. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?
Bayek from Assassin’s Creed Desert Oath.

23. Best 2017 debut you read?
Mmmmm I don’t think I read any debuts this year.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Artemis by Andy Weir.  Made me want to visit the Moon.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  Another audiobook recommendation.  Rowling’s humour and magic really comes across in this book and Redmayne’s delivery is perfect.  So often when listening to this book I found myself giggling out loud.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?
Assassin’s Fate, but I knew that going in.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.  I hope more people discover it.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Assassin’s Fate.  Again I knew that going in.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.  I am not aware of any other book that combines time travel, witches, history and shadowy government organisations!

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
The Core by Peter V. Brett.  I’d been looking forward to this so much and the pacing was so slow and the ending so rushed.  

Your Blogging Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2017?
Pass

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2017?
My review of Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Fate

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
We have a new Doctor!! My discussion of the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
None 🙁

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2017? 
I received an eARC of Assassin’s Fate.  I literally screamed out loud when I read the email! 

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Last year I moved to a new role at work, one which takes a lot of time and energy.  It has left me with much less time and energy for reading which is a real shame.  My blogging has been very sporadic of late due to this.  Also, I’ve not been able to take as much pleasure in it as I would like.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
I’m happy if people read any of my ramblings!

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Amazon Echo’s Alexa and her Audible integration into my life.  It is so nice to be able to control my audiobook playback by voice.  

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Yes.  By the skin of my teeth I completed my GoodReads challenge of reading 80 books in 2017.

Looking ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?
I am planning on completing three series:  Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles and Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?
Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare.

3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Pass

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?
Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare. 

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?
I will probably take a bit of a break from blogging in 2018.  I’m finding the pressure to write regular blog posts is robbing the activity of much of its fun.  I will probably only write when I feel I have something I wish to write about. 

6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone: 
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.  Enjoy. 

Thanks for reading – let me know in the comments what your favourite books of 2017 were and which ones you’re most anticipating for 2018.