I’m taking one final look back at 2013. I was browsing my goodreads stats from my challenge and was pretty impressed with how my scores and selections looked. I’ve been working on being more critical about what I read and how I rate it (I have a tendency to be overly kind with my ratings, and months later will often lower the score to a more realistic one). The bulk of my books were four star books, but I attribute that to being critical about what I pick up – usually based on good reviews or simply knowing the author/genre is something I will probably like. I gave out one one star review, but I had no choice in that, I had to read it for a committee. I gave out eight five star reviews, all of which are included below and denoted by an asterisk*.
2014 will bring a few changes to my reading habits, as well as my blog, but more of that later. For now, my stats and top book picks for 2013:
2013 Reading Stats:
- 40 Adult books, 10 of which were non-fiction
- 8 Children’s books (Plus tons of picture books not logged)
- 49 Audio books
- 13 Graphic novels (Adult & Young Adult)
- 91 Young adult books
- Longest book: The Passage, by Justin Cronin
- Oldest book: The Island of Dr. Moreau, by HG Wells, published 1896
Adult Fiction:
Best Novel: The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani*
Runner Up: Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
Best Action/Adventure: The Passage Series by Justin Cronin
Runner Up: Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End by Manel Loureiro
Best “Why did I wait so long to read it?!?”: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern*
Runner Up: The Bone Season, by Samantha Shannon
Best SF Series Conclusion: MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood
Best SF: Lexicon by Max Barry
Adult Non-Fiction
Best Book with the Most Personal Impact: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Best & Most interesting NF: Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach
Runners Up: Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight by M.E. Thomas
The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards by William J. Broad
Young Adult:
Best Bridge (second) Book: Star Cursed (The Cahill Witch Chronicles, #2) by Jessica Spotswood
Best NF: Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Best YA literary pick: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan*
Runner Up: In Darkness by Nick Lake*
Best Series Conclusion: United We Spy (Gallagher Girls, #6) by Ally Carter*
Runner Up: Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) by Cassandra Clare
Best Series Debut: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Best Surprise Series: The Selection & The Elite, by Kiera Cass
Best Dystopia: Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner*
Best Realistic Fiction: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Runner Up: If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
Children’s:
Best NF: A Little Book of Sloth by Lucy Cooke*
Best Mid-series Book: The Unseen Guest (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, #3) by Maryrose Wood
Best Trilogy Start: The Ascendance Trilogy (The False Prince and The Runaway King) by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Best Stand Alone Chapter Book: Ungifted by Gordon Korman
Best Picture Book: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown
Audio Books:
Best Children’s: The Unseen Guest (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, #3) by Maryrose Wood, read by Ketherine Kellgren
Best Young Adult: Shadow & Bone, by Leigh Bardugo, read by Lauren Fortgang
Best Adult: The Night Circus, by Erin Morganstern, read by Jim Dale*
Graphic Novels:
Best YA GN: Boxers & Saints: by Gene Luen
Best Graphic Novel: Hark! A Vagrant, by Kate Beaton*
Best Series: American Vampire by Scott Snyder
Biggest Surprise GN: The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear by Robert Kirkman
Most Confusing Series I Just Can’t Get Enough of: Morning Glories, by Nick Spencer
Backbends and Bookends 