1. Ten favorite books read in 2012?
- The Woman In The Dunes by Kobo Abe
- Me Before You by JoJo Moyes
- Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
- Room by Emma Donaghue
- I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
- Shadows on The Rock by Willa Cather
- The Thief by Fuminor Nakamura
- Eugenie Grandet by Honore de Balzac
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
2. Most disappointing book?
- The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky (because I don't believe he succeeded in portraying a truly good soul as he intended)
3. Most surprising book of 2012?
- Room by Emma Donoghue
4. Book(s) you recommended to people most in 2012?
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
5. Series which took you by surprise in 2012?
- still can't believe the success of Fifty Shades of Grey and the like
6. Favorite authors you discovered in 2012?
- Pauls Toutonghi for Evel Knievel Days
- Charles Dubow for Indiscretion
7. Most thrilling book in 2012?
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
8. Book you most anticipated in 2012?
- In One Person by John Irving
9. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
- The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata
10. Most memorable character in 2012?
- the collective voice of the immigrant women from Buddha in The Attic
11. Most beautifully written books read in 2012?
- Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
- State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
12. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?
- Christmas Stories from Everyman's Library
13. Book you can't believe you waited until 2012 to finally read?
- Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
14. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2012?
- "If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking." ~Haruki Murkami (Norwegian Wood)
15. Authors which you would like to read more of in 2013?
- Raymond Carver
- Ali Smith
16. Books that had a shocking ending?
- Defending Jacob by William Landay
- Shutter Island by Dennis LeHane
17. Best new online source to discover books or list those you love?
18. Best classic read in 2012?
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
19. Best children's book read in 2012?
- Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
20. Best translated work you read in 2012?
- The Woman In The Dunes by Kobo Abe
21. Favorite book review of the year which you wrote?
- Surprised by Joy by C. S. Lewis (coming December 20, 2012)
22. Any titles you abandoned in 2012 but might read in 2013?
- Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
23. Any challenges you completed in 2012?
- Japanese Literature Challenge 6
- Venice in February
- Paris in July II
- Historical Fiction Challenge
- A More Diverse Universe Challenge
- Once Upon A Time VI
- RIP VII
- Dickens in December
24. Any read-alongs you completed in 2012?
- The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
25. Blogging plans for 2013?
- To keep from turning my joy into a job by feeling compelled to do more than I love.
I still laugh about a male relative coming to see my new apartment, seeing a Persephone on the coffee table, and expressing great surprise that a "person like me" was reading Fifty Shades of Grey.
ReplyDeleteI'm inspired by your list. In an odd way, I think it says something nice about we two that our lists would have almost no books in common!
Merry Christmas, B, and happy new year most of all.
I'm glad you think it says something nice about us that our lists don't have much in common; what I think that says, though, I'd you're awfully sweet to come see what I'm thinking about what I've read!
DeleteI look forward to reading your 'favorite book review of the year'! Glad you gave me the chance to read together with you. Shutter Island I saw the film, quite surprising ending yes. Best Classic too, Anna K., I agree. My view may differ from you regarding Room though. I've enjoyed reading through your list. Thanks for sharing, Bellezza.
ReplyDeleteArti, it's fun that we read so much together this year! As I looked over my list for the year, I don't consider it one of my best years of reading. I mean, there weren't a whole lot of books I was absolutely crazy about. I think I read more for others than myself in 2012. I'm going to make a concerted effort to read more slowly, and chose more carefully, in 2013.
DeletePart of why I was so moved by Room, a novel I never wanted to read but my friends chose, is because I listened to it on audio. I'll never forget the impact those voices made in telling their story.
Very nice. If I had read the Balzac or the Tolstoy this year, they would be in my top ten, pretty much no matter what else I might have read.
ReplyDeleteI should try that Cather novel - Quebec City and its history are fascinating.
How can one go wrong with the classics? I so love Tolstoy. His Christmas story "Where Love is, God is" has impaced me deeply this year.
DeleteWhen I was in high school, required to read My Antonia I had little appreciation for Willa Cather's writing. Shadows of the Rock was exquisite, and now I'll probably pick up My Antonia in 2013.
Looking forward to discussing Little Women with you in early January. xo
This is a thoughtful post, Bellezza, a good way to remember how your reading affected you over the past 12 months. I'm planning on doing something similar soon, an annual "first lines" meme which will create a collage of my year in reading.
ReplyDeleteA 'first lines' meme sounds wonderful! I can't wait to see what you come up with.
DeleteA wonderful list comprising a couple of favourite J-lit writer, some great Russians & at least one poet. As to Riffle am on it, but with reservations at this moment.
ReplyDeleteI want to be your friend on Riffle; let me figure out how to do that (if you'll accept? ;). I was surprised at first, then not so much, to see the Japanese lit on my list. Now I'll have to go back and search out the poet...
DeleteI'm following you on Riffle, so should be easy to find & have managed to set up 3 lists (so far :-) )
DeleteI can't believe it took you so long to read Norwegian wood either :p But I'm so glad you did!! Love that book!! And I so agree with you on Room and The Night Circus! They're the only two I've read on your top ten but I thought they both were fantastic. Oh, and I'm listening to Flight Behavior on audio right now and it's READ by Kingsolver herself!!! I'm LOVING it Bellezza!!! Totally agree with you…what a gorgeously written book. I see awards coming her way for that one!
ReplyDeleteI think Norwegian Wood would have made my top ten if there weren't other Murakami's I've enjoyed more. I actually think I prefer his magical realism tales, although Norwegian Wood had absolutely wonderful quotes.
DeleteI can't imagine how wonderful it would be to listen to Barbara herself read Flight Behavior. That book is lyrical, and we'll have to talk about the end when you get there. I want to know if you agree with Dellarobia's choice.
This is a wonderful list and if I hadn't decided to buy less books as of NOW (until tomorrow) - it would not only make me note a lot on my list but place a few orders as well. I will have to read Norwegian Wood finally as well.
ReplyDeleteI think I will organize a few events less next year and visit some more. I can really relate to your last point. I think joy started to turn into a job.
I hope you're not too much on an emotional rollercoaster regarding your son (I saw your comment on Litlove's site). I wish him and you all the best.
Caroline, I know the whole "I'm not buying any more books ever again" idea as one looks around one's house and realizes there are more than will ever be able to be read in 2013. Perhaps your library has Norwegian Wood? :)
DeleteI've been interested in your reading events, particularly the German lit one. I can't participate in any War challenges, though, with my son joining the Marines. It's just too scary for this mother. Thanks for your well wishes, though.
Bellezza I already own Norwegian Wood. :)
DeleteSo maybe this January for your and Tony's challenges.
I understand your hesitation regarding the Literature and War challenge.
I really like the mix of books you have in your top 10 and it's interesting to see that throughout your survey Japanese lit really stands out. I might try the Japanese Literature Challenge 6 (will there be one?).
ReplyDeleteHi Alex, the JLC6 is currently running and can be found here: Japanese Literature Challenge 6. It ends January 30, though, so perhaps you won't have time? I'd love it if you could squeeze in one title... :)
DeleteSeveral of my favourites in your top ten list, including Willa Cather (just anything she wrote, ever) and Eugenie Grandet. I also really enjoyed Room when I didn't expect to at all. I love the list of questions here - such a great way to cover the experience of the year's reading. And it has been so very nice to get to know you this year, Bellezza. I'm already looking forward to hearing all about your reading in 2013!
ReplyDeleteWasn't Room a surprise? When there was all the hubbub about it earlier I though to myself, "I will never read a book on such a subject." And yet, Donaghue made it more than bearable. I love the relationship she drew between mother and son despite their trauma.
DeleteI loved your way of categorizing your best of 2012 into genre. You mentioned so many I hadn't read.
It is great to see that The Thief is on your list. I plan to read that over Christmas. I also enjoyed Woman in the Dunes - such a weird book. Have a wonderful Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThe thing I liked best about The Thief was the way the author brought up the issue of fate. Throughout the novel, the reader wonders, "Is being a thief almost inevitable for this character?" It's very interesting, as the Japanese so faithfully write, like The Woman in the Dunes bringing up the idea that perhaps we're trapped by our own faults.
DeleteI love all these year end surveys but they make my wish list grow so much!
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the dangers of reading them!
DeleteI assume you read The Thorn Birds for the first time in 2012. Surprised that didn't make your top ten list. I read it soon after it was first published. I thought it staggering, still do.
ReplyDeleteActually, I read The Thorn Birds when it first came out in the late 70's. Where I once found it staggering, I now was merely impressed. So much depends on one's age/place in life when reading.
DeleteOoh, I should read more Balzac. I love the fact that about half your list has me nodding enthusiastically and the other half I don't really know much about, it's a nice overlap of the Venn circles. :)
ReplyDeleteI myself was surprised by the eclectic quality of my reading this year. While I enjoy books from all genres and translations and years, this list seems to really show how all over the map I am. ;)
DeleteThat was fun reading! I can never talk myself into doing an end-of-year report till the year is completely over -- and last year, I actually never got around to it. I guess I should go ahead and start working on mine, so there's less to do after the new year.
ReplyDeleteI know, Bookfool, it is a bit early to post such a survey. Yet, I don't know how much I'll continue in my reading endeavors for 2012. At this point, I'll be lucky to fit in a Psalm!
DeleteJust checking out Riffle at the moment. I love your list, it's so interesting to read everyone's thoughts on books read in 2012.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post. I share the same goal for next year when it comes to blogging. Happy Holidays.
ReplyDeleteYay that you liked Night Circus a lot! Room was a case of 50-50 for me, but Crooked Letter is high up on my wishlist. Love the categories in this post!
ReplyDeleteYour review suggests a colourful and interesting reading year 2012. This list is impressive! "Norwegian Wood" is firmly placed on my reading list now. I'm still making up my mind about Morgenstern's "The Night Circus" which I already finished three months ago.
ReplyDeletea great selection of what you have read this year ,all the best stu
ReplyDeleteneat! here is mine, with some variations in the format, and pies and charts. we have books in common: http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/01/03/year-of-reading-2012/
ReplyDelete