2013 End-of-the-Year Roundup

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We are doing things a little different than we did last year for our 2012 Roundup. This year we are following a survey meme originally done by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner that we discovered through one of our very best blogger friends, Another Novel Read. Let’s give it a go!

Best Book You Read In 2013:

Justine: Definitely Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. Video review with both Amanda and me to come! This book had so many moments that stuck with me, I laughed, cried, and had shivers because the emotions were so palpable.

eleanorgraphic Amanda: I think I should be able to choose both a non-fiction and fiction book and this is my answer to the question on our blog so I’m setting my own rules!! I choose What We Talk About When We Talk About God by Rob Bell and Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood. My non-fiction book totally revolutionized by way of thinking about God and opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about spirituality. I also was completely smitten by Star Cursed. Read my review if you don’t believe me!

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

Justine: Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Mayberry. It’s on my DNF list.

Amanda: Requiem by Lauren Oliver. The series finale that has made me scared for all other series finales.

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

Justine: The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski. I thought it was going to be typical and really surprised.

Amanda: Beyond Parallel by Matthew Turner. I really enjoyed this book and it’s definitely the best self-published book I’ve ever read.

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

Justine: Crash by Nicole Williams. It has surprising depth that makes it easy to recommend.

Amanda: I recommend The Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey to many and it’s actually borrowed out right now

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

Justine: Just One Day by Gayle Forman.

Amanda: The Cahill Witch Chronicles by Jessica Spotswood (includes Born Wicked and Star Cursed). I can and have gone on for pages and eons about this series. Thank you, Jessica!

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

We both said at the same time: Rainbow Rowell.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Justine: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters.

Amanda: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. The first book on atheistic “theology” I’ve ever read but I enjoyed it.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

Justine: Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead.

Amanda: Don’t Look Now by Michelle Gagnon. I didn’t care for the first one is this series but really enjoyed the sequel.

9. Most memorable character in 2013?

Justine: Eleanor from Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell.

Amanda: Kate from Gold by Chris Cleave. There’s something about her that is the perfect balance of the most rootable character that isn’t so sticky sweet that she rots your teeth out.

10. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?

Justine:

From Unravel Me by Tahera Mafi.

Amanda:

“I don’t like you, Park,” she said, sounding for a second like she actually meant it. “I…” – her voice nearly disappeared – “think I live for you.”
He closed his eyes and pressed his head back into his pillow.
“I don’t think I even breathe when we’re not together,” she whispered. “Which means, when I see you on Monday morning, it’s been like sixty hours since I’ve taken a breath. That’s probably why I’m so crabby, and why I snap at you. All I do when we’re apart is think about you, and all I do when we’re together is panic. Because every second feels so important. And because I’m so out of control, I can’t help myself. I’m not even mine anymore, I’m yours, and what if you decide that you don’t want me? How could you want me like I want you?”
He was quiet. He wanted everything she’d just said to be the last thing he heard. He wanted to fall asleep with ‘I want you’ in his ears.”

Well there were this and bunch more questions in the original post but we’re ready to party, so see ya later 2013 and hello 2014!