2017 Book Survey
I was thinking about ideas for new posts in December when I came across this end of the year reading survey. It seemed like a neat idea to look back over the books I read this year and share my results with you!
If you’re looking for more, head on over to Perpetual Page Turner’s blog for her linkup. Lots of other bloggers will be adding their results over the next month. Join in with a comment here too!
(Update – I’m halfway through and having a ton of fun deciding on my answers for each question. Also, thank goodness for Goodreads keeping track of my 2017 titles)
Number Of Books You Read: 86
Number of Re-Reads: 13 (Half are Harry Potter, naturally)
Genre You Read The Most From: Literary fiction?
1. Best Book You Read In 2017?
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (books, letters, WWII, romance – so many features I love all in one book)
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Hidden Figures – I can’t believe I’m saying this but the movie is much better.
3. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
Out of the books I actually read this year, Ready Player One. A whole two people! This is an nerd’s dream. Keep an eye out for the movie coming in March 2018.
4. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?
Garden Spells (#1) and First Frost (#2)
5. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?
Jenny Colgan – I’m currently devouring everything she’s ever written. I can’t get enough of the sweet stories and bakery/café/chocolate shop settings.
6. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
V for Vendetta – graphic novel!
7. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Stardust – This was my first Neil Gaiman and still my favorite. I had no idea what to expect, but this adult fairy tale was enthralling.
8. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?
The Bookshop on the Corner (picture of bookshelves)
9. Most memorable character of 2017?
Britt Marie – from Britt Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman
10. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?
I’m usually not a fan of books described as “beautifully written” since I associate them more with long-winded and unnecessarily descriptive. However, I’ll fit I Capture the Castle into this category. It felt like reading a Jane Austen story but through the eyes of a teenager.
11. Most Thought-Provoking Book of 2017?
The Big Short (also highly recommend the movie)
12. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read?
Emily of New Moon – By the author of Anne of Green Gables, I wish I had discovered this as a kid.
13. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?
Longest – The Wise Man’s Fear (Book #2 of the Kingkiller trilogy by Patrick Rothfuss – clocking in at 994 pages)
Shortest – A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams – only 102 pages
14. Book That Shocked You The Most
Ken Follett – Winter of the World. Aptly portrayed the horrors of WWII.
15. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Harry Potter series – I can’t have a book list without giving HP some love. I’m probably upward of six times through the series, but I’ll keep coming back to it again and again.
16. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?
Simmon – From The Name of the Wind (he’s sandy haired, hopeless with women, smart, sweet, and a wonderful friend to Kvothe. I’m 100% rooting for him and Fela)
Lennox – The grumpy Scottish farmer from The Bookshop on the Corner
17. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
The Name of the Wind – Rothfuss created a fascinating fantasy world and I want nothing more than to jump in and start studying at the University.
18. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Little House on the Prairie Series – Nothing like the nostalgia of returning to books you read as a child.
19. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?
The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin – Oh man, big fat tears at the end of this one
20. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Delicious by Ruth Reichl – Reichl is probably better known for her autobiographic foodie memoirs, but her novel is wonderful.
21. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?
Reading People by Anne Bogel – I’ve followed Anne over on her blog Modern Mrs Darcy for years now, so I was thrilled to see she wrote a book. I’m not normally a nonfiction read nor do I have much interest in personality types, but her book is fascinating! I particularly found the introvert/extrovert and Myers Briggs sections insightful.
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2017?
High Shelf Esteem – Kristen always finds fun bookish articles around the web and mixes in book lists and posts with general lifestyle posts.
2. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
I wish! Someone tell me how to find these…
3. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Book Club Suggestions – Great if you’re looking for next year’s reads!
4. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I can support my library through AmazonSmile! If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, check out whether you’re library is one of the nonprofit organizations available. A small portion of each purchase is donated directly.
Share your answers to some or all of these book survey questions in the comments below!
*Disclosure – I receive a small commission for any books purchased through my links above. Thank you for supporting my blog!
1. Best Book You Read In 2017?
The Lies of Locke Lamora – much better than I thought it would be. Though about to finish Words of Radiance and that might beat it out.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The Magicians – All this hype for it and it was truly awful.
3. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
Either Cujo or the King Killer Chronicles, both Rachel has read.
4. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?
Series: The First Law Trilogy
Sequel: Before They are Hanged
Series Ender: I only read two and between Harry Potter and First Law series, I give it to First Law, the book Last Argument of Kings
5. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?
Joe Abercrombie
6. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Harry Potter series, I don’t read a lot of children books
7. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Ehh…. I don’t really reread things
9. Most memorable character of 2017?
Monza Murcatto of the book Best Served Cold
11. Most Thought-Provoking Book of 2017?
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
12. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read?
The Dark Tower Series
13. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?
Longest – The Dark Tower: 1050
Shortest – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: 206
14. Book That Shocked You The Most
House of Chains by Steven Erikson – can’t go into it without spoiling the ending…
15. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
The Dark Tower by Stephen King or House of Chains/Mightnight Tides by Steven Erikson
17. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Toss up really between King’s Dark Tower series (though it wasn’t as worldly at the end), Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive series and Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen.
18. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
The Lies of Locke Lamora
19. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?
I would never admit to this
20. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
First Law series
21. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?
Words of Radiance – haven’t finished it yet (will before the end of the year though) but Sanderson knows how to write good old fantasy, with some pretty unique twists.
This is a fun little quiz! I am such a sucker for end of the year countdown/lists. I think my favorite book of this year was The Hate U Give (but there were a ton of good ones this year!)
I’ve never done an end of the year list/quiz before but it’s certainly going to become a tradition! I’ve heard lots of good things about that one so I’m eager to read it.
Thanks so much for the shout-out! I really enjoy your blog as well 🙂
What a fun way to reflect on a year of reading! I found myself nodding along with a lot of you answers, particularly Harry Potter. That’s a world and a series that I just can’t stop going back to. Here’s to more great reading in 2018!
You are like my soul sister. I love Jenny Colgan, and I’m a Neil Gaiman super fan! I’m linking over from Modern Mr.s Darcy, and I linked my review of Jenny Colgan’s Christmas at Little Street Bakery.
I have read a few Jenny Colgan books before, she is fabulous! 🙂 Sounds like you’ve had a good reading year!
Harry Potter is always the perfect re-read! It’s been about three years since I did it so it’s way past time! I’m very much a Hufflepuff…
I can’t wait to take my son to see Ready Player One. I think he’ll love it.
I love your book survey! Although I didn’t read it this year, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Ready Player One. Totally didn’t think it was going to be my kind of book. I watched the movie Hidden Figures and didn’t realize it was a book until after. Doesn’t seem like a book that I’d enjoyed reading but I really liked the movie. I finally finished the Harry Potter series this year!!
I’ve heard that about Ready Player One from a few people. It’s always fun finding a gem outside of your normal reading genre : )
What a fun survey!! This was the first year in a long time that I didn’t read Harry Potter again, but will for sure read it again in 2018.
These are awesome prompts! I would need to sit for a while to think through them. I am going to bookmark and do just that.
These are great prompts!
I’m very much looking forward to Ready Player One.
Fun survey.
Little House on the Prairie is my favorite set of books, ever.
I read a couple Jenny Colgans this year, and I do appreciate the quaintness.
oh i love reading this survey on jamie’s blog but i’ve never done it. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one of my all time favourites, so yay that it was your favourite this year! i really liked ready player one and can’t wait for the movie. Stardust is one of my favourite movies – I know, I know. I didn’t know it was a book when I saw the movie, but I read the book a couple of years ago and I think they are different enough (just a smidge) so that I can love each on their own merits and I prefer the movie (gasp). The Mountain Between Us was SO good. I totally cried too.
I’m super excited to see the Ready Player One movie too. It looks like it’ll be mainly an action movie but it should be neat seeing different parts of the story come to life.
I LOVED Ready Player One and I was absolutely floored that I did! I kind of still am, for sci-fi is not a genre that I typically read. I recommended it to several people myself!
Great post! I enjoyed your “survey” approach. Visiting from SUYB.
I can’t believe I’ve never come across your blog! It sounds like we have a lot in common, reading-wise (although I couldn’t make it past the first 1/4 of READY PLAYER ONE). I also discovered Jenny Colgan this year through THE BOOKSHOP ON THE CORNER. I haven’t read any others by her yet, but I’m definitely planning to. I also re-read the first Little House book this year. It’s been a long time since I read STARDUST, but I loved it when I read it.
I’m adding your blog to my Bloglovin’ list so I can keep it on my radar.
Happy New Year!
Ready Player One was awesome and I’m dying for the movie! Happy New Year!
I also read Guernsey and thought it was lovely. So excited for the movie version this year. Glad to see someone else loves Sarah Addision Allen. Garden Spells is so lovely. I have the sequel, but need to re-read first it’s been 5 years! If you haven’t read The Peach Keeper or The Sugar Queen I recommend those! I read her other two (Lost Lake? and The Girl Who Chased the Moon) as well, but didn’t love them quite as much. Still worth a read. I love her magical realism. I read bookshop on the corner by Colgan and it fell a little flat for me. Tempted to try her other books anyhow though! I read Stardust recently, I enjoyed it… but like the movie version better… (shame! I know!). I started reading more graphic novels in 2017. I highly recommend Saga. I don’t really read a lot of graphic novels, and sci fi isn’t my go-to genre. but it was fantastic. Just be ready for super mature content. It’s a bit off the wall, but I loved it. I also read Piper by Jay Asher at the end of the year and enjoyed it. It’s more YA, but I found it fun to read. 🙂 Glad that you had a great reading year! XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
The Peach Keeper and Sugar Queen are definitely on my list! I’m extra excited to read them now. Thanks for the tips about graphic novels too. The YA one in particular sounds promising.