poppyshake Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 The BCF Book Awards 2011 We did this last year for a bit of fun and so I thought I'd resurrect it. What is? (just skip those that don't apply) ... Your favourite read of the year? Your favourite author of the year? Your most read author of the year? Your favourite book cover of the year? The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? The book that most disappointed you? The funniest book of the year? Your favourite literary character this year? Your favourite children's book this year? Your favourite classic of the year? Your favourite non-fiction book this year? Your favourite biography this year? Your favourite collection of short stories this year? Your favourite poetry collection this year? Your favourite illustrated book of the year? Your favourite publisher of the year? Your favourite audiobook of the year? These awards are based on your reading so the books don't have to have been published in 2011. I'll have to think it through first, one things for sure I know, like last year, I'll be hard pushed to stick to one answer per question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 This is based on my reading from 1st January to date (6th December) Your favourite read of the year? - Room by Emma Donoghue Your favourite author of the year? - Philippa Gregory Your most read author of the year? - Julia Golding Your favourite book cover of the year? - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Michael Cordy – The Colour of Death (I read less than one page!) The book that most disappointed you? - Audrey Niffenegger – Her Fearful Symmetry (after eloving The Time Traveler's Wife, this was a HUGE let-down!) The funniest book of the year? - Chris Riddell – Ottoline and the Yellow Cat (Ottoline 1) Your favourite literary character this year? - Cato and Macro from Simon Scarrow's Romans series Your favourite children's book this year? - Frances Hodgson Burnett – A Little Princess Your favourite classic of the year? - Frances Hodgson Burnett – A Little Princess Your favourite non-fiction book this year? - N/A Your favourite biography this year? - N/A Your favourite collection of short stories this year? - N/A Your favourite poetry collection this year? - N/A Your favourite illustrated book of the year? - Chris Riddell – Ottoline Goes to School (Ottoline 2) Your favourite publisher of the year? - No idea! Your favourite audiobook of the year? - N/A Honourable mentions to the following books rated 5/5: Frances Hodgson Burnett – The Secret Garden Cornelia Funke – Inkheart James Long – Ferney And the following, rated 4/5: John Boyne – Crippen Kevin Brookes – iBoy Sarwat Chadda – Devil’s Kiss (Devil’s Kiss 1) Elizabeth Chadwick – Shadows and Strongholds Cornelia Funke – Inkspell (Inkheart 2) Julia Golding – Cat Among the Pigeons (Cat Royal 2) Julia Golding – Cat O’ Nine Tails (Cat Royal 4) Seth Grahame-Smith – Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter Philippa Gregory – The Red Queen (Cousins War 2) Douglas Jackson – Caligula (Transworld Book Group) Tove Jansson – Finn Family Moomintroll Jeanne Kalogridis – The Borgia Bride Daniel Keyes – Flowers For Algernon Malinda Lo – Ash Stuart MacBride – Shatter the Bones (Logan McRae 7) Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons – Watchmen (Graphic Novel) Erin Morgenstern – The Night Circus Terry Pratchett – I Shall Wear Midnight Steven A. Roman – Blood Feud (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Book 1) Simon Scarrow – The Legion (Romans 10) Nicholas Sparks - The Notebook Cody Young – American Smile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) This is again based on my reading up to and including today: Your favourite read of the year? Into the Darkest Corner: Elizabeth Haynes Your favourite author of the year? I don't really have favourite authors, just favourite books. Your most read author of the year? Arnaldur Indridarson Your favourite book cover of the year? Most of my books have been Kindle editions, so the cover doesn't relaly figure - from the paper ones I have read though, probably Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? None, I rarely, if ever abandon books. The book that most disappointed you? Throwaway by Heather Huffman The funniest book of the year? Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks Your favourite literary character this year? Probably Deo, the central character from the book (which is actually a true story) that I have jist finished. He is/was a Burundian refugee fleeing from the genocide in his country to the United States. Your favourite children's book this year? I don't have children, so don't read this type of book. Your favourite classic of the year? Independent People by Halldor Laxness. Your favourite non-fiction book this year? Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder Your favourite biography this year? I don't read biographies. Your favourite collection of short stories this year? Ditto Your favourite poetry collection this year? Ditto Your favourite illustrated book of the year? Ditto Your favourite publisher of the year? The book is to me more important than who publishes it, and I very rarely take notice of who the publisher even is! Your favourite audiobook of the year? I don't buy audio books My honoury mentions (5 stars) Independent People: Halldor Laxness Round Ireland With a Fridge: Tony Hawks The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: Rebecca Skloot Girls of Riyadh: Rajaa Alsanea The Guardian Angel's Journal: Carolyn Jess-Cooke The Road to Wanting: Wendy Law-Yone Before I Go to Sleep: SJ Watson Into the Darkest Corner: Elizabeth Haynes The Life of Pi: Yann Martel Tiny Sunbirds Far Away: Christie Watson Strength in What Remains: Tracey Kinder and 4 stars Girl in Translation: Jean Kwok The Drowning People: Richard Mason Out Stealing Horses: Per Petterson The Book of Lies: Mary Horlock Between Shades of Grey: Ruta Sepetys The Kindest Thing: Cath Staincliffe The Storm Before the Calm - Conversations with Humanity Book 1: Neale Donald Walsch Edited December 6, 2011 by Talisman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Your favourite read of the year? The Thunderbolt Kid --Bill Bryson Your favourite author of the year? Stephen King, mainly because the 11/22/63 book would have been quite a bit to chew off,and lots of research to know all he did on the subject. Your most read author of the year? Guess it'd be Bryson, because I read 3 of his this year . Your favourite book cover of the year? Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? The Boston Strangler -- DRY The book that most disappointed you? See above The funniest book of the year? gotta go with Bryson again --- probably Notes From a Small Island Your favourite children's book this year? I'll just toss out any Dr Seuss. I don't read kids books anymore,but my grandson LOVED every Dr Seuss book when he was small . Your favourite classic of the year? Not sure I read a Classic this year (shame on me), but all time favorite classic would be The Count of Monte Cristo. Your favourite non-fiction book this year? AT HOME Your favourite biography this year? TRUE COMPASS ( Ted Kennedy) I left off the others since they didnt fit anything I read . I'll have to toss out Best Book by an unknown author (to me) One Foot in Eden by Ron Rash ... wow, it was so good. One where you just KNOW something really terible will happen,but not what or when . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Your favourite read of the year? 'Neverwhere' by Neil Gaiman Your favourite author of the year? Neil Gaiman Your most read author of the year? Jasper Fforde Your favourite book cover of the year? 'The Small Hand' by Susan Hill The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? N/A The book that most disappointed you? N/A The funniest book of the year? 'One Of Our Thursdays Is Missing' by Jasper Fforde (You just have to read a bit with Mrs Malaprop) Your favourite literary character this year? Shadow from Neil Gaiman’s ‘American Gods’ Your favourite children's book this year? 'I Shall Wear Midnight' by Terry Pratchett / 'Darke' by Angie Sage Your favourite classic of the year? 'Day Of The Triffids' by John Wyndham (the closest I got to a classic!) Your favourite non-fiction book this year? 'Anglo-Saxon FAQ’s' by Stephen Pollington Your favourite biography this year? N/A Your favourite collection of short stories this year? N/A Your favourite poetry collection this year? N/A I haven’t read any new collections, just dipped into favourites. Your favourite illustrated book of the year? I received (and adore) Kit Williams ‘Masquerade’ Your favourite publisher of the year? N/A Your favourite audiobook of the year? Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie read by Lyndam Gregory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted December 6, 2011 Author Share Posted December 6, 2011 Your favourite read of the year? I can't split them, it would be between To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf and Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson. Your favourite author of the year? Virginia Woolf. Your most read author of the year? That would probably be Virginia again. Your favourite book cover of the year? The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? I didn't abandon any but the one that was temporarily abandoned was The Ambassadors by Henry James. The book that most disappointed you? Chris Priestley's The Dead of Winter but only because I had sky high hopes for it. The funniest book of the year? Skippy Dies by Paul Murray (which was also one of the saddest) and The Brontes Went to Woolworths by Rachel Ferguson which was just bonkers Your favourite literary character this year? For the second year running, it has to be Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next Your favourite children's book this year? The Book of Lost Things by John Connelly. Your favourite classic of the year? Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky .. hard going but rewarding. Your favourite non-fiction book this year? The Complete Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby. Your favourite biography this year? The Iris Trilogy by John Bayley & Stuart : A Life Backwards by Alexandra Masters. Your favourite collection of short stories this year? I've only read one collection but they were brilliant .. Tales of Terror from the Tunnels Mouth by Chris Priestley. Your favourite poetry collection this year? For the second year in a row I haven't read any Your favourite illustrated book of the year? The Windvale Sprites by Mackenzie Crook (and illustrated by him) and Tales of Terror from the Tunnels Mouth by Chris Priestley (illustrated by David Roberts) Your favourite publisher of the year? Vintage Books ... I love their style. Your favourite audiobook of the year? The Master by Colm Toibin narrated by William Hope .. a fictionalised account of the life of Henry James. Honourable mentions: Beloved by Toni Morrison The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer Flush by Virginia Woolf the Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman Also Excellent: The Diary of a Nobody by George & Weedon Grossmith Along the Enchanted Way by William Blacker Mr Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt King of the Castle by Susan Hill Moby Dick by Herman Melville The Bell by Iris Murdoch Dear Mr Bigelow by Frances Woodsford The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Once in a House on Fire by Andrea Ashworth A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff My Dear I Wanted To Tell You by Louisa Young A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isandriena Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Your favourite read of the year? - The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins Your favourite author of the year? - Kathryn Stockett Your most read author of the year? - Richelle Mead Your favourite book cover of the year? - Lullaby - Claire Seeber The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? - City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare. It was so extremely disappointing after reading a brilliant 1st book, that I found it impossible to finish, it was terrible. The book that most disappointed you? City of Fallen Angels The funniest book of the year? - Not sure Your favourite literary character this year? - I really loved Skeeter in The Help Your favourite children's book this year? - Not read any children's books Your favourite classic of the year? - I find classics hard to read Your favourite non-fiction book this year? - Fiendish Killers, it's a true crimes book Your favourite biography this year? - N/A Your favourite collection of short stories this year? - N/A Your favourite poetry collection this year? - N/A Your favourite illustrated book of the year? - N/A Your favourite publisher of the year? - God knows, I don't pay attention to the publishers Your favourite audiobook of the year? - N/A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) Your favourite read of the year? The Crimson Petal and The White by Michel Faber Your favourite author of the year? Ali Smith Your most read author of the year? Michel Faber and Jasper Fforde (6 books by each) Your favourite book cover of the year? Other Stories and other stories by Ali Smith The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Devoted Ladies by Molly Keane The book that most disappointed you? The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman The funniest book of the year? For Richer, For Poorer: A Love Affair With Poker by Victoria Coren Your favourite literary character this year? Todd from the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness Your favourite children's book this year? Nicholas In Trouble by Rene Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé Your favourite classic of the year? Taken a year off the classics - planning a bumper year next year though! Your favourite non-fiction book this year? For Richer, For Poorer: A Love Affair With Poker by Victoria Coren Your favourite biography this year? Haven't read any Your favourite collection of short stories this year? Free Love and other stories by Ali Smith Your favourite poetry collection this year? Haven't read any Your favourite illustrated book of the year? Raoul Taburin Keeps A Secret by Jean-Jacques Sempé Your favourite publisher of the year? Phaidon Your favourite audiobook of the year? Jeeves in the Offing by P. G. Wodehouse Honourable mentions: Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith (a re-read of one of my favourites, but the most joyous novel I've ever read) Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy (wonderful first novel from a writer of exquisite short stories) Witch Child by Celia Rees (stumbled across in the Kindle store and turned out to be one of my favourite books of the year) Edited December 6, 2011 by chesilbeach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Your favourite read of the year? Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes Your favourite author of the year? Probably JK Rowling, just for introducing me to the world of Harry Potter. Your most read author of the year? JK Rowling and Stephen King Your favourite book cover of the year? I've mainly read Kindle books this year, and of the paper books I have read, none of the covers have stood out. The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? The Lacuna - Barbara Kingsolver. A real shame. I had such high hopes for it. The book that most disappointed you? The Zombie Survival Handbook - Max Brooks The funniest book of the year? I don't think I've read any really funny books this year. Oh hang on, I just finished Packing for Mars, and that had some funny bits in it. Your favourite literary character this year? The main character in Eleven. Your favourite children's book this year? The Harry Potter series. Your favourite classic of the year? The Picture of Dorian Gray. Your favourite non-fiction book this year? A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson Your favourite biography this year? Didn't read any. Your favourite collection of short stories this year? Didn't read any. Not really a fan of the short story format. Your favourite poetry collection this year? I don't 'get' poetry. Your favourite illustrated book of the year? A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson Your favourite publisher of the year? No idea! Your favourite audiobook of the year? I haven't listened to any. Honourable mentions: Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn, for it's originality Red Leaves by Thomas H Cook for such a moving story. Eleven by Mark Watson. Such a likeable story and character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 (edited) Probably the only good thing about not reading many books this year is that these questions will be slightly easier to answer. Your favourite read of the year? The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Night by Elie Wiesel and The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery Your favourite author of the year? Jonathan Safran Foer - a new author to me and a brilliant writer. Your most read author of the year? Lois Lowry (3 books from the Anastasia series) Your favourite book cover of the year? Tales of Terror from the Tunnel's Mouth by Christ Priestley (see Poppyshake's pic above), A Wild Ride through the Night by Walter Moers, Ariel by Sylvia Plath and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? The Ambassadors by Henry James - so difficult to get into! The book that most disappointed you? Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. It was good, but not great. The funniest book of the year? Anastasia at Your Service by Lois Lowry Your favourite literary character this year? Behemoth from The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, Alexander Purchov from Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, Anastasia from Lois Lowry's Anastasia series and Huck Finn from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Your favourite children's book this year? The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Your favourite classic of the year? Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Your favourite non-fiction book this year? Freakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner Your favourite biography this year? Shakespeare by Bill Bryson Your favourite collection of short stories this year? Tales of Terror from the Tunnel's Mouth by Chris Priestley Your favourite poetry collection this year? Ariel by Sylvia Plath Your favourite illustrated book of the year? A Wild Ride through the Night by Walter Moers and Watchmen by Alan Moore Your favourite publisher of the year? Vintage Your favourite audiobook of the year? I don't listen to audiobooks. Edited December 7, 2011 by Kylie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethany725 Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Fun! Here are mine: Your favourite read of the year? Room -Emma Donoghue Your favourite author of the year? Lisa Scottoline emerged as a new fave for me. Your most read author of the year? Suzanne Collins, since I read her trilogy Your favourite book cover of the year? Revolution -Jennifer Connolly The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Slammerkin -Emma D. The book that most disappointed you? Mrs. Peregine's Home for Peculiar Children -Ransom Riggs The funniest book of the year? I guess Summer Rental -Mary Kay Andrews. Didn't read many funnies! Your favourite literary character this year? Daniel in The Violin of Auschwitz Your favourite children's book this year? Is "Mockingjay" considered children's? Your favourite classic of the year? N/A Your favourite non-fiction book this year? The Glass Castle -Jeannette Walls Your favourite biography this year? N/A Your favourite collection of short stories this year? N/A Your favourite poetry collection this year? N/A Your favourite illustrated book of the year? N/A Your favourite publisher of the year? ? Your favourite audiobook of the year? Not too good w/audiobooks.. My mind wanders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Your favourite read of the year? Gosh, so hard! Probably A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry Your favourite author of the year? This is hard as I read so many different authors, but possibly John Wyndham - I definitely want to read more of his! Your most read author of the year? Agatha Christie (2) and George Orwell (2) (by the time I finish my current read!) Your favourite book cover of the year? The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez. I just couldn't get into it - I think I wasn't in the right frame of mind - but I will probably try again in 2012 The book that most disappointed you? The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery I know several people (here and elsewhere) who adore this book but it just left me feeling a little ambivalent. The funniest book of the year? Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson - a real 'chuckler'! Your favourite literary character this year? Gosh, this is a tricky one! Probably Major Pettigrew from Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson Your favourite children's book this year? Montacute House by Lucy Jago Your favourite classic of the year? The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy Your favourite non-fiction book this year? As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee Your favourite biography this year? The Beginner's Guide to Acting English by Shappi Khorsandi Your favourite collection of short stories this year? I haven't read any Your favourite poetry collection this year? Poetry Please! (Everyman's Poetry collection) Your favourite illustrated book of the year? The Twelve Days of Christmas, and also A Christmas Carol, both illustrated by Quentin Blake (whom I love!). I haven't read the latter yet this year, but I have flicked through already to look at the beautiful pictures. Your favourite publisher of the year? Penguin - the majority of my books this year have been published by them. Your favourite audiobook of the year? I've only listened to one (but thankfully I loved it!) - An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde (I hope you'll forgive me for adding a category) Book you finished, but really didn't enjoy?! Stones of Bobello by Edwar Al-Kharrat. I only finished this as a) it was short and b) it was for my World Challenge. It was so dull! Honourable mentions to... The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps by Michel Faber The Outcast by Sadie Jones (re-read) Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson Silas Marner by George Eliot The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam by Lauren Liebenberg The Screaming of the Innocent by Unity Dow The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F Scott Fitzgerald The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham Waiting by Ha Jin The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson A Parcel of Patterns by Jill Paton Walsh Black Swan Green by David Mitchell Kiss of Death by Malcolm Rose Yes Man by Danny Wallace The above all rated 9 or 10 and, more importantly, have stayed with me! Thanks, Poppyshake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Your favourite read of the year? Guy Gavriel Kay's The Lions of Al-Rassan, just a wonderful, wonderful stand-alone historical fantasy. Honourable mentions to: Bernard Cornwell's The Winter King, an awesome read but first in a trilogy so may be surpassed! Dan Simmons' Hyperion - just brilliant. And Steven Erikson's The Crippled God, the tenth and final book of his 'Tales of the Malazan Book of the Fallen', which was a fantastic conclusion to my favourite series, but obviously difficult to judge on its own merits. Your favourite author of the year? Guy Gavriel Kay tops the list. Also Steven Saylor and Neal Asher, and Bernard Cornwell is coming up fast on the rails ... Your most read author of the year? George RR Martin, all but one of which were re-reads. Otherwise, of the first-time reads there are several authors of whose I've read three books each. Your favourite book cover of the year? This is a problem if you're using a Kindle Otherwise, probably the SF Masterworks hardback edition of The Time Machine: The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Endgame by Matthew Glass. The blurb and cover gave the impression it was some action-packed Clancy-esque thriller, but it was all politics instead. The book that most disappointed you? A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin. Yawn. Has managed to drop Martin in my opinion considerably, and has almost put me off the idea of reading the future books, or even watching anymore of the tv series! The funniest book of the year? I think The Sisters Brothers made me chuckle the most, or one of the Dresden Files books. Tim Willocks's The Religion was hilarious, but not intentionally so ... Your favourite literary character this year? Ammar ibn Khairan from The Lions of Al-Rassan. Your favourite classic of the year? The Three Musketeers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy Reader Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 (edited) Your favourite read of the year? Looking back at the books I have read this year there is nothing that stands out as being something I would treasure forever but I will say Toast Nigel Slater mostly because it is a book that I had avoided because I didn’t think I would like it, but I did it was quite touching in places and I have new respect of the man himself (I always dismissed him as being a bit wishy washy) Your favourite author of the year? I have 2 Jasper Fforde who I had never heard of before and am really glad that he and I have now been introduced and Agatha Christie who I had obviously heard of and had been meaning to read for some years just to give it a go and now I am hooked. Your most read author of the year? Agatha Christie wins this title with (6 books) with Japser Fforde and Janet Evanovich came in a close second with 5 books each Your favourite book cover of the year? Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? I haven’t (yet) abandoned any books this year but I did finally finish Charles Dickens Our Mutual Friend which I nearly abandoned many many many times The book that most disappointed you? The Red Queen Philippa Gregory. I adored the Tudor series and a few other of her books but for some reason I just didn’t like the White Queen nor this one, I cannot explain why I don’t like them and I really wish I could. The funniest book of the year? Friends Like These Danny Wallace. I still randomly chuckle to myself remembering snippets from this book. Your favourite literary character this year? Thursday Next and Stephanie Plum I just cannot decided which one I would like to be more. Your favourite children's book this year? Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It was my favourite of the 7 books the first time I read them and its shaping up to be my favourtie again on my re-reading of them Your favourite classic of the year? Not many classics to choose from and those that I did read I wasn’t that impressed with so by default the modern classic of To Kill A Mockingbird wins Your favourite non-fiction book this year? Not many to choose from but I will say both the Chris Evans autobiography’s Your favourite biography this year? Both the Chris Evans biographys. I read 5 bio’s in total this year and I enjoyed them all (normally I avoid them) but I will go with Chris’s books purely because of the positive upbeat nature of them and a surprising (for him) lack of self indulgence. Your favourite illustrated book of the year? A couple of the Thursday Next books had illustrations in them so I will go for them. Your favourite collection of short stories this year? N/A Your favourite poetry collection this year? N/A Your favourite publisher of the year? N/A Your favourite audiobook of the year? N/A Edited December 7, 2011 by Easy Reader Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Janet Wasn't a Fine Balance absolutely wonderful ? Terrible in spots, heartbreaking ,but SO good . Great choice !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 It was amazing! So vibrant and full of colour and life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Janet Yes, it surely was. India has always been a country that fascinates me. They have so many religions, different "shelves" people are on ,(for lack of a better term,) based on their financial standing, family name, etc . One of the ultrasound employees at my hospital is from India ,so she tells me about life over there and some of the beliefs they have. She actually has the little elephant statue in her pocket that she places on top of the computer screen as she does my tests. I may be wrong,but I think she calls it Vishnu .Does that sound right ? She tells me Vishnu will be with us during the test and he will watch over me. She is such a sweetheart,and so thankful she got to live here .She values education so much,where lots of people over here just consider it a CHORE that must be done,to get an education. I am always on the lookout for more books about life in India .Do you know of any more that would be as good as the Mistry books ? I also read his one after Fine Balance ... can't think of the name of it offhand. I think it had the word Family in it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Julie, it's really frustrating, but I started a thread about books set in India a while back, as I also love reading about life there, and we had a whole load of recommendations in it, but now I can't find it. I'm sure I started it, but I've searched right through the forum and can't find it. Anyway, I would definitely recommend A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala is also one of my favourite authors who writes about India. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Thank you kindly, Chesilbeach -- I'll defintiely be on the lookout for those too. I don't think I have either of those ,but I may be able to locate them at our library . What about Sea of Poppies ? I'm not even sure where it was set,but I'm thinking India . I think I saw it last time I was there looking around. I don't go too often,since my bookshelves here are jammed full . Thanks for looking for the link to the other area with the India books. This group has so many pages I have missed out on, I havent attempted to read through them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 I have Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh on the shelf waiting to be read (it's the first of a trilogy), but I have read his first book The Glass Palace which is set more in Burma, but partly in India, and it was fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Thanks Chesil -- I think I'm gonna run over and pick up Sea of Poppies. I did look online and they have it the next town over,so I'm gonna make a quick run over and get it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Your favourite read of the year? - I have read quite a few good books this year, but for me this year it would have to be The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne Your favourite author of the year? - My favourite author this year would have to be Neil Gaiman, only discovered him this year! Your most read author of the year? - JRR Tolkein, I read The Hobbit and also The Lord of the Rings Trilogy this year Your favourite book cover of the year? - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? - I didnt really abandon a book, more skim read and this was The Group by Mary McCarthy The book that most disappointed you? - A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving The funniest book of the year? - How To Kill Your Husband by Kathy Lette, this is such a funny book! ]Your favourite literary character this year? - Frodo, from The Lord of the Rings Your favourite children's book this year? - I didnt read many childrens books, but my favourite is Five on Finniston Farm by Enid Blyton Your favourite classic of the year? I only read one classic this year and really didnt like it, this was The Ambassadors by Henry James ]Your favourite non-fiction book this year? - The Nazis: A Warning From History – Laurence Rees Your favourite biography this year? - I didnt read any this year Your favourite collection of short stories this year? - didnt read any Your favourite poetry collection this year? - didnt read any Your favourite illustrated book of the year? - didnt read any Your favourite publisher of the year? Transworld Your favourite audiobook of the year? didnt listen to any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursenblack Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Your favourite read of the year? Room by Emma Donoghue (difficult to choose among many favs) Your favourite author of the year? Laura Whitcomb author of A Certain Slant of Light Your most read author of the year? Ann Brashares author of the Traveling Pants series & Agatha Christie Your favourite book cover of the year? Illyria by Elizabeth Hand The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? The Secret Country by Pamela Dean The book that most disappointed you? A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan The funniest book of the year? Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris Your favourite literary character this year? Lillian Arrington from The Girl in the Lighthouse by Roxane Tepher Sanford Your favourite children's book this year? Darkwood by M. E. Breen Your favourite classic of the year? Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (my favorite novel) Your favourite non-fiction book this year? din't read any Your favourite biography this year? didn't read Your favourite collection of short stories this year? Everythings Eventual by Stephen King Your favourite poetry collection this year?didn't read any Your favourite illustrated book of the year? My new copy of Wuthering Heights is illustrated Your favourite publisher of the year? I have no idea Your favourite audiobook of the year? didn't listen to any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Your favourite literary character this year? Shadow from Neil Gaiman’s ‘American Gods’ Such an excellent choice Chrissy, I couldn't help but love Shadow as well. I also really need to read Neverwhere. Your favourite classic of the year? The Picture of Dorian Gray. It always pleases me to see this on people's lists, so glad you enjoyed it bobblybearr; it's one of my favourite books ever. The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez. I just couldn't get into it - I think I wasn't in the right frame of mind - but I will probably try again in 2012 Ah this is such a shame, Janet, I do hope you have better luck with it next year. One of my favourite books of the year! I'll post my answers a little later after I've had a bit of a think, these are always so tricky! Thanks for posting the questions poppyshake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 The book that most disappointed you? A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan Oh no, I'm reading this now. Only read the first chapter but it seems ok so far. I hope I enjoy it more than you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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