The Quiet Concert: December 2013

Ashley's 2013 End of Year Book Survey

Thanks to Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner for hosting this great End of Year Book Survey! Nicole modified it slightly and tried really hard to feature a different book for each question so I copied her! So without further ado..

1. Best Book I Read In 2013?

I have a couple of favorites but it would be a close tie between Champion by Marie Lu and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare!

2. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell! I am not a huge contemporary fan but I decided to give it a shot and I LOVED it.

3. Book I read in 2013 and recommended to people most in 2013?

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer! I love fairy tales so it is not surprising that I recommend re-tellings to others.

4. Best series discovered in 2013?

The Jessica Darling Series by Megan McCafferty! I power-housed the whole series in about a month. A close second is Penryn and the End of Days by Susan Ee.

5. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
The Jessica Darling Series and Fangirl Both were contemporary books but so well written I devoured them.

6. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
Champion by Marie Lu. That ending.

7. Favorite cover of a book read in 2013?

8. Longest/Shortest Read?
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare -Longest
Crash by Lisa McMann -Shortest

9. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. Now one of my all time favorites.

10. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi. I just want to jump right back into the world of Perry and Aria.

11. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?
Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton I thought it was a fantastic debut and had so a unique concept.

12. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had Me Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It?
The ending in Requiem by Lauren Oliver. I just felt so disappointed!

13. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc)?
Friendship: Will and Jem ( The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare) A powerful and beautiful friendship
Romantic: Will and Tessa (The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare) AHHHH <3 nbsp="" p="" team="" will="">Family: Annie and Fia (Mind Games by Kiersten White) The love Fia has for her sister carries the story.

14. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?
Mind Games by Kiersten White. While I did no really like her Paranormalcy series, I thought Mind Games was a great read.

15. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else?
Angelfall by Susan Ee! I picked this up after seeing it on so many blogs and it was one of my favorites!

16 Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?
Dystopian/Paranormal. I think?

17. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Roar in Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi. He is fantastic.

18. Best 2013 debut you read?
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill.Well done and intense time-travel story.

19. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner. The space world and eerie world that Lilac and Tarver get stranded on is perfectly described and easily visualized.

20. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?
Two Lies and a Spy by Kat Carlton. I loved the family spy story, it was fun and a quick read!

21. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?
I almost never cry when I read but I will say that Champion by Marie Lu almost made my cry.

*22. Best book read in 2013 that I haven't yet mentioned?

The Program by Suzanne Young

Well I think that covers most of my 2013 favorites! Do you agree with any of my choices? What are your favorites?

December 2013 Recap

CHRISTMAS
Nicole finished her first semester of graduate school and then left the country to celebrate!
Ashley got to watch her brother graduate college :)

Happy New Year everyone!

Stacking the Shelves (52)- Dec 28th

Stacking the Shelves - hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews features books that you bought, borrowed, rented from the library, received for review, etc.

This is what for Christmas:

My favorite/only brother got me books for Christmas! I have read Legend by Marie Lu but wanted it in hardback for my collection :) I am super excited for My Name is Rapunzel and The Book Thief!

Nicole and I both participated in The Broke and The Bookish Secret Santa Book Exchange. I LOVED everything I got! It was such a fun idea and I am super happy I participated. I got A Christmas Story ornament which is kinda funny because I just got around to watching that for the first time THIS year. Terrible I know! Sour candy which I love and a cute pen. Book wise I got The Scorpio Races and Eleanor & Park, both books I have read and loved. I just did not own them yet and really wanted my own copies!
Thank you, Megan! YA? Why Not?

What books are stacking your shelves??

MINI-REVIEW- Brooke (Under the Never Sky #2.5) by Veronica Rossi

Title: Brooke
Series: Under the Never Sky #2.5
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: November 26th 2013
Pages: Kindle 82 Pages
Source: Bought

Summary from Goodreads:
Set just before the events of Into the Still Blue, the conclusion to Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky trilogy, this breathtaking novella is a satisfying stand-alone for new readers as well as an exciting glimpse at favorite characters from the trilogy. Pulsing with romance and danger, Brooke will leave readers desperate for the conclusion to this epic and unforgettable saga.

The only fight she can't win is the one for Perry's heart. Following the stunning climax in Through the Ever Night, the Tides have been forced to seek shelter from the Aether storms in a dismal, secluded cave. But Brooke's memories of the cave go back much further, to when she and Perry used to come here together. That was before Perry fell in love with Aria and before Vale's dealings with the Dwellers altered the course of the Tides forever.

Now, with her sister back from a haunting year in captivity and Aria lying unconscious in the sick bay, Brooke struggles to put the pieces of her life back together. Without Perry, who is she? And what is her role in this frightening new world? As these questions swirl about her, an old threat to the Tides resurfaces, and Brooke is forced to put the lives of her people before her own. But in taking this step outside of herself, Brooke may finally discover what she truly wants.

The new perspective. I really enjoyed hearing the story through Brooke's point of view
I liked how Brooke evolved and changed through the story. She had such honest and harsh feelings made me hate her and like her at the same time.
The story was well developed for a novella. Of course I wanted more but I did actually feel like the novella added to the series.

Nothing :) It was a great short story
I do wish I had read a recap though. There is no summary, the story jumps right in.

I cannot wait for Into the Still Blue! If you want to read a story from Brooke's perspective and jump back into the Aria and Perry's world then I highly recommend!