Monday, December 29, 2014

2014 Rewind

The thing that sticks out the most in my head book-wise about 2014 also irks me, so I'll get that out of the way first, like ripping off a Band-Aid. I failed my Goodreads reading challenge. I only missed by a few books, too; I would have rather missed big than by a small margin. I know that not reading a certain number of books in a year is far from tragic, but as a perfectionist, failure on any scale is still failure. I think my biggest enemy in trying to fit reading into my life this year was letting too much stuff that wasn't really a priority take over. I don't break out of habits like that easily, but looking back on how many times I put off the very thing that's such a huge source of happiness in my life, I've realized that I shouldn't feel guilty about sitting down and doing nothing but reading for a while. So, more guilt-free reading time is in order for 2015.

The bookish highlight of the year for me was meeting Maria V. Snyder and getting my copy of Poison Study signed. It was a moment of pure book nerd heaven.

My list of favorite books that I read in 2014 is rather short given that overall I didn't read as many books as I have in years past. But let me tell you, I loved the following books with all of my heart. They're the crème de la crème for me, the titles that left me awestruck and consumed by thoughts of nothing but these books and their characters. Yes—they were all that good.

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

That this would be my favorite read of the year required zero thought on my part. I'm practically crying just thinking about this book and Blue and the Raven Boys.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Another wrecker of emotions, but in the best way possible. I will not think about that ending, I will not think about that ending . . . .

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

To my friends who haven't gotten to this one yet, you really need to. If you've read The Infernal Devices, then you really need to read CoHF. Posthaste!

The Darkest Minds Series by Alexandra Bracken

I read the whole trilogy this year, and it was freaking awesome. One of my all-time favorite dystopian series.

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Goodbye, Warner. I shall never forget you because that's just. Not. Possible.

Soulless by Gail Carriger

I just read this a few days ago, and how I loved it! It's funny, it has an amazing heroine, it's set in Victorian London, and it has a hot, Scottish werewolf. Do you really need more convincing?

I say this often, but that's because I can't say it enough. It's been another fantastic year talking about books with you, and I wish you all the best for 2015!

❤ XOXO ❤

6 comments:

  1. Yes Blue Lily!! I just started The Raven Cycle this year and I'm now totally caught up AND IN LOVE. Why did I not start this series sooner? And Blue Lily especially was just SO FREAKING GOOD. I don't know how we're expected to wait for the fourth book. I feel like I'm going to explode with anticipation. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

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    1. I COMPLETELY understand how you feel! I kind of wanted to cry when I finished BLLB because then the wait for the next book started all over again! Glad that you're loving The Raven Cycle, too! :D

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  2. I've been meaning to read Soulless! I'm glad it was so great for you!

    Yes, definitely you shouldn't feel guilty taking some time out to read. I hope you smash that GR challenge next year. :) I didn't read nearly as much as I did last year and I want to make it a priority to read more in 2015. If only to cut my TBR list down a little. :)

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    1. I think you would really enjoy Soulless! It reminds me so much of a Jane Austen novel- but with paranormal creatures!

      Yay for making reading a priority in 2015! That's one of my biggest goals for the new year. My TBR pile definitely needs to be whittled down significantly, lol.

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  3. Holy crap, you met Maria V. Snyder?!?!? I"m both happy for you and jealous I wasn't there :).

    I can understand what you mean by feeling guilty when you start reading, it's kind of happening to me. I'll sit down and start reading and everything else I could be doing, should be doing, instead flashes through my head and it's hard to just keep on reading. But its okay to do something that you like doing instead of doing things you probably should be doing, because its your life and if you don't do something you love then it will probably be a boring life. Or at least that's what I'm trying to tell myself.

    Ignite Me was on my favorites list to. I finished a lot of good series this year, but the Shatter Me trilogy was the one I was most sad to see end.

    Happy 2015 reading :D

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    1. I will most definitely miss Warner; he's one of the most compelling characters I've ever read about!

      I realized that sacrificing reading time for things that really weren't all that important was making me really unhappy. Just knowing that I'm going to dedicate more time to reading makes me feel better. :)

      I hope you have a wonderful 2015 in books, too! :D

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