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Sunday, January 1, 2012

Best of 2011

Well, looking around the blogs, it appears that everyone has already been putting putting up there Best of 2011, so once again I am late to the party. O.o. But, hey it snowed last night! Can I be blamed for watching out my window instead of writing a blog post? Can I? Huh? Huh?

I managed to read 138 books in 2011, past my original goal of 100 and then past my second goal of 135. They are listed here on the blog up top if you're looking for some recommendations - anything with an asterisk or double asterisk. I think I'll have to cut back some this year though because I really need to write more, so I'm setting my reading goal for 75. It feels like such a pitiful little number, though I suppose if I get another book written it will be worth it. So anywho, here is a rundown of my stats and then my Bests lists. Hope you find something new to check out.

Stats:
Paranormal/urban fantasy: 39
Dystopian: 12
Contemporary: 71
Historical: 5
Science Fiction: 4
Fantasy: 3
Aussie (gets its own category cuz there's so many): 10
Novel in verse: 2
Adult: 0!!!
middle grade: 2
Indie/self-pub:  8

Once again I had far more contemporary than anything else, even though neither of the books I'm currently writing fits into these categories. I really envy contemporary writers. The ability to take a simple story idea and write with striking prose and voice without relying on the back up of a "unique" concept really floors me. I wish I were as good. Still, I think that I need to back off a bit with these and focus on some other areas that I'm not as familiar with such as: Historical, Science Fiction, Middle grade, Classics,
Novels in verse and plain old fantasy. I also have quite a few series on my re-read list that I've been meaning to get to such as the whole Hunger Games series.

And now for the awards...

Books with serious "teen" issues that I recommend: 



Hate List - school shooting
Raw Blue - don't want to say because it will spoil the book!
This Gorgeous Game - stalking
Split - domestic violence




Best paranormal (concept) White Cat by Holly Black
Best paranormal (writing) Nightshade by Andrea Cremer


Most moving contemporary:  Raw Blue by Kirsty Eager
Best off-beat contemporary:  Guitar Highway Rose by Brigid Lowry
Most tension filled contemporary:  The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams



Strongest female protagonist: Quintana from Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta



Best boys: too many to choose from!! Let's see there was Tom from The Piper's Son - too sexy. Adam from Where she Went was tortured in a good way. Jonah Griggs from Jellicoe Road was so serious, and Prince Brigan from Fire who is both dashing and dreamy. I could go on and on...


Best Dystopian Divergent by Vernonica Ross


Best overall YA: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Finally, this is my list of favorite new authors that I vow to check out more from: 

Kirsty Eager
Bethany Griffin
Stephanie Perkins
Nina LaCour
Nina de Gramont
Jennifer Donnelly
Leila Sales
Kirsten Hubbard
Suzanne Young
Holly Black
Tom Leveen

How about you? Have you read any of these? Any that you think I really really need to add to mile-long TBR list this year?

4 comments:

Speech Delay Mamma said...

I need to read Jellicoe road!! Great list :)

Bidisha said...

I love your list, especially the list of new fave authors. Loving that there are so many contemps here :)

Rachael Allen said...

Great list!!! I loved the new authors to check out section. And I seriously need to get on it and read Raw Blue already. I've heard so many great things about that one.

Nomes said...

LOVE all your stas.

LOL @ no adult books ~ it doesnt matter, hey. So much YA goodness around...

I am thinking maybe I should give hate list a go... hmm...

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