Hope that people are having a nice holiday season. I’m over in AZ as usual, spending time with the family (Christmas with my dad’s family, Hannukah with my husband’s) and eating lots and reading a bit too.
I’m not sure I’m going to have much time this week to work on reviews, so this is a good week to join the Faves of TwentyEleven that inkcrush is hosting.
OK, here are the rules basically: choose what books that you’ve read this year that fits each of the categories that Nomes has created. And do what you want (make new categories, answer just the ones you want to.. etc)
Here I go:
1. favourite book read in 2011
Unsticky by Sarra Manning! I wonder if people are sick of me talking about this book? Because I sure feel like I am repeating myself over how great it is. I was obsessed over it after I read it. Obsessed. So it also gets the always recommending this book award too.
2. most powerful book
Raw Blue by Kirsty Eager – Did I cry a little bit reading this? Maybe. That ending makes you feel reborn.
3. brilliantly funny
Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood. I think this book was so great because its funny while Dan, its protagonist, is going through a bad time. The ability to laugh when times aren’t so hot..I like.
4. best ache-y, heart-breaking, tear-jerker read
Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park: since I’m quite the softy, I avoid those books where I know I’ll be crying like a baby. Therefore, so not many books I read this year were vying for the award in this category. This won easily because there’s one bit in this book that just GUTTED me. Just thinking of one particular line makes me feel a bit misty. But things got better, which is good for my heart. This is also my vote for best under-appreciated, hidden gem book.
5. delicious rainy day comfort read
Julie James is my comfort food, so A Lot Like Love was my comfort read of the year (although Sarah Addison Allen’s The Sugar Queen was also a contender).
6. the beautiful prose award
There was something so lovely and poetic about the prose in Robin McKinley’s Chalice. Like being transported into a hazy dream place where you have bees as best friends.
7. most atmospheric and vivid setting
I just finished reading The Scorpio Races this weekend, and @#*$&!!! Amazing. I think it actually be my second favorite book of the year. Depending on my mood, it might be my favorite. A review will come. In the meantime. Thisby! What a place. What people. Most atmospheric and vivid setting, yes, it wins it.
8. i-so-want-to-go-there award
After reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I wanted to go to Prague immediately. This is what I said in my review: “Prague is described wonderfully. I’ve never been there, but I want to see its old streets that are “a fantasia scarcely touched by the twenty-first century […] it’s medieval cobbles once trod by golems, mystics, invading armies”. ” Would love to go there, sit in a cafe, and have some good goulash.
9. most original and imaginative
This is a very easy category to decide which book I’d nominate. Chime reminds me of how I felt reading Alice in Wonderland for the first time. There’s a little bit of disorientation when you first go in, but figuring out the rules is a lot of fun.
OK, now my brother’s dog has decided my hand needs to be petting him, and not typing, so I’m stopping at 9 books (typing one-handed is slow going but Milo keeps looking up soulfully when I stop). To check out the books I chose midway through the year, check out my Sharing The Awesome post.
specficromantic
reviews by a speculative fiction romantic
specficromantic 
Okay, this post is making me laugh because I’ve read all of the books mentioned in it! I think another fist bump is in order. You can keep recommending Unsticky because I loved it too so I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of you mentioning it over and over again. Have you seen Sarra Manning’s Christmas gift (excerpt of Nine Uses for an Ex-Boyfriend)? It makes me happy that The Scorpio Races is included in this list! Sigh, loved that book. Also, Daughter of Smoke and Bone even though I remember you didn’t love it. Both Julie James and Sarah Addison Allen are comfort reads for me so I agree with your choice. Yay, you have a Robin McKinley in this list! Can’t wait to read more of her work, I think she has a new book coming out in 2012 (but not the sequel to Pegasus).
*fist bumpage*.
No, I didn’t see that Sarra Manning excerpt! Will be over there checking it out ASAP. Ah, well, not surprised you’ve read them all.. we have similar tastes. Hey, did you ever buy any Robin McKinley autographs and things for the Arcadia bells charity? I am still waiting for what I bought. Figured it would be a while, but getting worried.
No, I didn’t get to buy anything but I regretted it! I should have bought a book with doodle or something. Oh you haven’t received the package yet? Yeah, she did say it would take a while because she has to go through so many doodles. What did you order?
I bought a copy of Rose Daughter (the making of booklet), a doodlier doodle and a couple of plain ol’ signatures. The plan is to put them in my copies of her books! So now it’s been 2.5 months and I’m in that “should I ask? Or give them more time?” phase. Ug. I hope it wasn’t lost in the mail. I’ve had a couple of things get lost this year, and it’s *really* ticking me off that it’s happening. In all my life, I think I’ve had one package go astray.. over 10 years ago. Suddenly 2 packages going missing and now possibly this? Grrrr!
Wow, you ordered several items! *jealous* I really should have gotten something, even just a doodle or some signatures that I can insert in her books. Maybe you can contact them and just inquire about the status? I hate worrying about stuff that get delivered in the mail, especially since the local post system isn’t that reliable.
I’m going to check my mailbox when I get home (tonight) and if there’s still nothing, I’m sending a note asking if/when things were mailed. 😦 I actually hope they haven’t been mailed or mailed recently, because I hate the idea I’m never getting what I paid for.
I love Flat-Out Love’s category! But now I’m dying to know what the line is…!
It’s that scene. That killer scene. Matt says, “There was more to me”, and I am verklempt.
Ah, that was one of my favorite scenes to write. I went through plenty of tissues!
Note to self: read Unsticky, The Scorpio Races and a Julie James novel next year. Also, borrow Raw Blue from Chachic.
Haha. At least I know I have Flat Out Love in my TBR already — can’t wait to get started on that since almost all blogs I’ve read with this list has that one on it. 🙂
Yes, those are the notes you should be making! 😀
Oh yay that Flat-Out Love is on the TBR! I hope you like it.
FLAT-OUT LOVE, eh? Hmm . . . you and your ways.
Made me happy to see CHALICE on this fine list. And, of course, my feelings on UNTSICKY, RAW BLUE, and THE SCORPIO RACES go without saying. *sigh*
I think you should consider it. Mm hmm. BOTH Chachic and I loved it.
Oh man, THE SCORPIO RACES. What a book. I’m still in the good book afterglow.
I keep seeing “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” on almost every book blog I follow. Especially, the favorite lists. I think I’m going to have to read it!
Oh yes, DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE was well loved. I think I was one of the few that didn’t *love* it (the romance was one I had trouble connecting with, but I have hopes for the future because things aren’t done yet). I do agree that the writing (and setting!) was so lovely. I think you should check it out.
We loved Six Impossible Things too. So funny. And we have Scorpio Races on our TBR pile so it is now closer to the top of our pile given you loved it so much.
Here is our list
http://smallpuddles.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/faves-of-twenty-eleven-the-books/
Oh my goodness, THE SCORPIO RACES is my recent obsession. I’m just.. bowled over by how good it was. Really hit all that I look for in romance and storytelling. I’ll be sure to check out your list, ASAP!
oi! we share a little bundle of favourtie here 🙂 so pleased to see some Aussie stuff one htere.
also, EVERYONE i love (in bloggy land) is RAVING about the scorpio races. i have NO idea why I havent read it already (embarrassingly, it is on my kindle, just sitting there…)
x Nomes
I really loved THE SCORPIO RACES so of course I want people to read and love it too, but I also think.. if you force a book, it could ruin the experience. Plus the hype can turn a person off. So.. read it when you’re ready for it!