2018 End of the Year Book Survey

It was an interesting year for reading for me. I found some absolute gems, but read some forgettable ones too. For the first time in quite a while I was lacking in the classics department, though I did finally conquer Ulysses! This was also a banner year for new releases from favorite authors of mine. Some were beautiful (Bridge of Clay), some were disappointing (Nine Perfect Strangers and The Clockmaker’s Daughter), and The Labyrinth of Spirits provided closure to one of my favorite series (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books).  

Audiobooks have continued to be a lifesaver for me as I balance life with a toddler. We’re expecting a new kiddo in the Spring and so I’m sure that side of things will be even trickier next year. I maintain that even when life is crazy and you’re exhausted by work/kids/pregnancy/life you can still find time to read if it’s important to you. During my most hectic times I’ve learned that sometimes a comfort reread is just what I need. Other times it’s a brainless fiction story that won’t ask me to think too much. That’s ok! As long as I’m still reading, I’m happy.

Any books I reread this year are not eligible for this list. I also didn’t count the piles upon piles of children’s books I read, except to list a couple favorites. I also don’t limit myself to one book per answer if there are two or three that are a perfect fit.

Number of Books You Read: 142

Number of Re-Reads: 9

Genre You Read The Most From: Total mix of genres this year: classics, YA, fantasy, nonfiction, etc.

1. Best Books You Read In 2018?

Classics — The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Island of Dr. Moreau

Historical Fiction — Love and Ruin 

Mystery — Lethal White (A Cormoran Strike Novel)

Literary Fiction — Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

Nonfiction — All the President's Men, American Wolf, The Day the World Came to Town, I'll Be Gone in the Dark, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake

Fantasy — Circe, the Grisha trilogy 

Play — Henry IV, Part 1 and Birthday Candles

Poetry — Milk and Honey

YA — If You Come Softly,  An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

Science Fiction — Sleeping Giants (The Themis Files), the Red Rising series

Children’s — Anatole, Where Is the Green Sheep? and Little Owl's Night

Graphic Novel — Displacement, Bones

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

How to Stop Time, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Crazy Rich Asians (loved the movie version of this one though!)

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

The Rules of Magic, I had very low expectations for this Practical Magic prequel, but I was pleasantly surprised to find wonderfully drawn characters.   
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Sleeping Giants 

5. Best series you started in 2018?

Grisha Trilogy and Red Rising

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?

Leigh Bardugo 

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

Reading People, a fascinating look at how personality types can impact the way we approach things.

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

Bird Box and the Red Rising Trilogy

9. Book You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

The Red Rising trilogy (are you seeing a trend? It was SO good!)

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?

Uncommon Type and Loving vs. Virginia

11. Most memorable character of 2018?

Sevro from the Red Rising trilogy and Uncle Hal in The Witch Elm 

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?

Circe and Bridge of Clay

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?

Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, so many incredible women that I hadn’t heard of! I had so much fun reading it to my daughter.

Ulysses, this one was a struggle for me. But I got a lot out of it and I loved seeing the impact it had on censorship and literature.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read?

A Wizard of Earthsea, planning to continue reading this quartet in 2019.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?

“I still find a long walk through an unfamiliar neighborhood teaches me more about what’s new and exciting than any number of hours of television can.” -Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

“Really, every time a person said good-bye to another person, they should pay attention, just in case it was the last time.”- When Will There Be Good News?

“What I really love about travel is that it takes us outside ourselves... it unhomes you. And allows you to see possibilities for change, growth, a new life.”- An Age of License

“At the time I was just a kid and life was still a few sizes too big for me.” The Labyrinth of Spirits

“It’s silence was something awesome—an enormous playground for the guilt to wreak havoc, to work him over.” - Bridge of Clay

“A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue. That’s why there are so few good conversations: due to scarcity, two intelligent talkers seldom meet.” - Music for Chameleons

“I don’t believe that blood makes a family; kin is the circle you create, hands held tight.” - An American Marriage 

“I suppose that is what every man must tell himself in war. That there will be an end, and when it is done, enough of himself will remain. Enough to be a father. A brother. A lover. But we know it isn’t true. Don’t we, Darrow? War eats the victors last.” - Iron Gold 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?

Kindred Spirits: 41 pages & Ulysses: 816 pages

17. Book That Shocked You The Most?

Bridge of Clay and Morning Sun  

18. Favorite Couple?

- Nate and Bronwyn in One of Us Is Lying 

- Max and Ory in The Book of M 

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of The Year?

- Auggie and Jake in Wonder 

- Flavia and Dogger in The Grave's a Fine and Private Place

- Fermin and Daniel in The Labyrinth of Spirits

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From an Author You’ve Read Previously?

Force of Nature and Circe 

21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A

Recommendation From Somebody Else?

If You Come Softly and The Music Shop

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?

Jesse from Out of the Easy

23. Best 2018 debut you read?

The Book of M

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

Circe 

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

Smile: The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland. This one just gave me hope. On such a dark day, the world was still full of selfless people willing to help complete strangers.

Most Fun: The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries, Emma Thompson is hilarious and I wish we were friends.

26. Book That Made You Cry in 2018?

- American Wolf, I don’t handle animal deaths in books very well.

- One True Thing, a Mom dying of cancer hits a bit close to home for me.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

I Am, I Am, I Am 

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Under the Banner of Heaven, the book is well written, but the real events are just awful.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?

Sleeping Giants, loved this one! Even the way the author approached the story telling was unique. We see it all happen through interviews conducted by a nameless man. I would highly recommend the audio version of this one.

30. Book That Made You the Maddest?

All the President’s Men, excellent book, just a little too close to our current situation. 

Thanks to Perpetual Page Turner for once again hosting this survey! It’s always so much fun to look at everything I read throughout the year and think about what I loved/hated. 

Photo by me.