Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

The first quarter of the year is behind us. Hopefully you're all doing well with your challenge and remembering, of course, the golden rule. Have fun!

It's time for some wrap-up of your reads. Let's give awards to them! Using your reads from January, February, and March, choose a winner for each category. If you don't have a book for every category, just do the ones you can/want to. It's all for fun.

Categories:
Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.
Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not).
Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others.

Do feel free to use any books from any challenge or side read that you read in the months of January, February, and March.

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
The Emperor's Soul

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
The Witches

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.


Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not).
Botanicaust, not a friendly place but I'd like to visit all the societies :)

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
Homegoing

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
The Complete Maus

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
Les silences de Thalès

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
Senlin Ascends

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
Marissa Meyer (I really enjoy the Lunar Chronicles)

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
Botanicaust, not a perfect series but it's compelling so I've already read the 1st two books and I'll read the 3rd this month.

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others.
You're Welcome, Universe

READER'S CHOICE AWARDS:


Breakout Read: Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
Biggest Let Down: Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse #1) by Charlaine Harris
Best Dressed: World After (Penryn & the End of Days, #2) by Susan Ee

Best Characters: Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett
Best Place: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Best Story: Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood
Best Feelings: Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
Best Love: -
Best Shock: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Best Author: Kent Haruf
Best Series: In Death Series by J.D. Robb
Best Read: Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

+1:

Best Laughs: Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

Breakout Read: Salt to the Sea
Biggest Let Down: Caraval
Best Dressed: The List
Best Characters: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Best Place: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Best Story: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Best Feelings: Flowers for Algernon
Best Love: Eleanor & Park
Best Shock: The Girl with All the Gifts
Best Author: Fredrik Backman, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Best Series: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Best Read: That would be a tie between The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.


Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictional or not).
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
no real shocks this time

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
Nicola Yoon

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others.
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Breakout Read: Salt to the Sea
Biggest Let Down: Ready Player One
Best Dressed:
might not be the prettiest but its very ominous and intriguing!
Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
Best Place: Dubliners
I would absolutely love to go to Ireland ... (But sadly this book wasn't much of insight into the place that i wished it would be).
Best Story: The Woman in Cabin 10
Best Feelings: All the Bright Places
Best Love:
Best Shock: Behind Closed Doors
Best Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
Best Read: The Invention of Wings

I have to say that overall, my first quarter was generally pretty underwhelming. I purposely tried to knock out some of the books/prompts that I was least looking forward to, so I think that may be why.

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
Homegoing. I was nervous to try this so soon after I'd read The Underground Railroad, which I didn't really enjoy much. For some reason, these two books became very linked in my mind, to the point where I assumed they would be very similar. I ended up really loving this book.

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment
On that same note, I would have to go with The Underground Railroad. I was expecting to love this book because of all the hype around it, and I was very disappointed that I just couldn't get into it. I liked the concept, but I had a really hard time getting into the author's writing style, and it took me way too long to get through.

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover
. I love the Victorian style cover.

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of
Nimona. It took me a little while to get into the story at the beginning, but once I got going, I was hooked. I loved the dynamic between Nimona and Ballister, and I would love to see more of their adventures.

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictional or not)
Scarlet. As difficult as I think it might be to live in a world controlled by the Lunars, it also seems like a pretty interesting place.

Best Story: A book with a great storyline
Everything I Never Told You. For me, this book was actually more about the characters than the plot itself, but I still think it had an interesting storyline.

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional
I think as a whole, Homegoing. However, I also have to mention the first few pages of The Way I Used to Be, which literally gave me a panic attack to the point that I had to put the book down for a bit before continuing. The scene was just too disturbing for me.

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book)
Not too many strong romances in the books I've read so far, but possibly the romance(s) in Her Dark Curiosity. For most of the book, it was still a love triangle but I actually liked both of the prospects, although in different ways.

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise
Nothing too shocking really comes to mind, although there were a couple of moments in Feed that might qualify.

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with
Celeste Ng

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more
Her Dark Curiosity. Only one book left in the series, but I can't wait to read it!

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others
Homegoing or Everything I Never Told You. Honourable mention to Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened!

Breakout Read: The Caine Mutiny
Biggest Let Down: The Girl on the Train
Best Dressed: Prince of Thorns
Best Characters: Ancillary Justice
Best Place: Inferno
Best Story: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons
Best Feelings: Of Mice and Men
Best Shock: Ancillary Justice
Best Author: Ann Leckie
Best Series: Inferno
Best Read: Ancillary Justice

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein.
I expected it to be decent but maybe too sappy for me. I was surprised it was very well written and not too emotionally draining.

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
Nitro Mountain: A novel, by Lee Clay Johnson.
I thought it would be a gritty, well-written Southern gothic novel. It honestly grossed me out and had really unrelatable characters who were too stereotypical to feel authentic.
Annihilation, by Jeff Vandermeer.
Lots of atmosphere, no cohesive plot.

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.

Commonwealth, by Ann Patchett.

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller.
I really like Miller's Achilles and Thetis.

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictional or not).
Fingersmith, by Sara Waters.
I always enjoy visiting Waters's lesbian Victorian England.

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
Commonwealth, by Ann Patchett.
Made real-life family issues super compelling.
All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr.
Complicated dual story line that fits together like a puzzle.

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein.
Dog books always punch me right in the gut.

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
Fingersmith, by Sara Waters.
Cute and complicated same-sex couples.

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
Fingersmith, by Sara Waters.
One of the craziest twists I've ever read.

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
I really enjoyed two new to me authors: Ann Patchett and Margaret Atwood.

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
The Likeness, by Tana French.
Better than Into the Woods, with a more satisfying ending.

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others.
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein.
Commonwealth, by Ann Patchett.
The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller.

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
The Thirteenth Tale
Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
Yellow Crocus
Not the worst book I read, but it was the biggest let down. I had expected more.
Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.
The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictional or not).
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict
Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
The Nightingale
Before I Go to Sleep
Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
Me Before You
Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
The Little Paris Bookshop
Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust
Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
The Thirteenth Tale
Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
The Prisoner of Heaven
The first book in the series was the best. The author seems to have lost his poetic, descriptive language a little more with each installment, but I loved the first book to the point that I keep reading them, hoping for another like it!
Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others. The Thirteenth Tale

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations. The Passage by Justin Cronin
Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment. Harmony by Carolyn Parkhurst
Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of. Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not). Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Best Story: A book with a great storyline. Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book). Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride by Lucy Knisley
Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with. Noah Hawley
Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more. The Passage by Justin Cronin
Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others. Hard to choose just one - Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

Breakout Read: The Girl with the Wrong Name: I picked this one randomly from the library, so I had no expectations. But it was really enthralling and I read it in one day
Biggest Let Down: This Is Where It Ends
Best Dressed: The Sun Is Also a Star
Best Characters: Small Great Things
Best Place: The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper
Best Story: Small Great Things
Best Feelings: After I Do
Best Love: The Last Letter from Your Lover
Best Shock: Small Great Things
Best Author: Jodi Picoult
Best Series: Wonder : not a true series, but there are some follow ups)
Best Read: Small Great Things

I was truly impressed with Small Great Things and Jodi Picoult that is was hard to pick some of the other books I read for the categories.

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.
by Ruta Sepetys

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not).
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
No nominees

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with
Liane Moriarty

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
Flagermusmanden by Jo Nesbø (re-reading)

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

I tried picking different books for each category but A Monster Calls made me cry like no other book and it is definitely the best book I've read these last months.

Breakout Read: Le Grand Marin by Catherine Poulain (Hope it will be translated in English soon!)

Biggest Let Down: Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferris

Best Dressed: Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees by Franck Prévôt and Aurelia Fronty

Best Characters: The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny

Best Place: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim (set in Portofino, Italy)

Best Story: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Best Feelings: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Best Love: N/A

Best Shock: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

Best Author: Catherine Poulain

Best Series: The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny

Best Read: Le Grand Marin by Catherine Poulain

Breakout Read: The Room by Jonas Karlsson - I did have high expectations for this one, but not nearly high enough!

Biggest Let Down: Shōgun by James Clavell - what an unnecessary slog. Also not a fan of retconned history.

Best Dressed: The Witches by Roald Dahl



Best Place: Fucking Mars Ya'll - The Martian by Andy Weir. Barely beating out Castle Rock, Maine.

Best Story: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons by Stephen King

Best Feelings: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. I shed real tears on this one (at least two). The scene where the chauffeur describes his old car's steering wheel...

Best Love: Chthon by Piers Anthony - wow is that a messed up answer. But as unconventional as it may have been, and as much as I might have disapproved of the pairing. I'll admit that it was well written and believable.

Best Shock: Cujo by Stephen King - one really shouldn't have expectations with King. There is no turn he won't make. But I wasn't expecting this one.

Best Author: I'll have to give this to Dame Agatha Christie. I read one book by her in January, and only one book was on the plan. But by the end of February, I had read two more.

Best Series: Dirk Gently Series by Douglas Adams - that seems like cheating, but its about the only series I read from this quarter.

Best Read: The Room by Jonas Karlsson - this was my only 5 star book this quarter. So, it really is no contest. but it's also the best book I've read since 2013.

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray It was long and I thought I'd get tired of reading this historical fiction book about Patsy Jefferson and Thomas Jefferson. I didn't.

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
What Makes Olga Run?: The Mystery of the Ninety-Something Track Star Who Is Smashing Records and Outpacing Time, and What She Can Teach Us About How to Live by Bruce Grierson I liked it but a bit too much research.

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.
Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan So simple but I like it.

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not).
Howards End by E.M. Forster In an English village.

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin Does a little boy really remember a past life?

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
The Forgetting Time

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn Veronica and Stoker have potential.

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
Donna Tartt Beautiful.

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
I might read the next Veronica Speedwell book by Deanna Raybourn

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the other
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- A future classic, I think.

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations. Nil by Lynne Matson

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover. The Crown by Kiera Cass

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not): Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Best Story: A book with a great storyline: Misery by Stephen King

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book): Cinder by Marissa Meyer (again)

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise: I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with: Nicola Yoon

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations. Flowers for Algernon
Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment. Illuminae
Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.
Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of. The Help
Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not). Jurassic Park
Best Story: A book with a great storyline. We Were Liars
Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional. Me Before You
Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book). The Saint
Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise. We Were Liars
Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with. Jojo Moyes
Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more. The Saint
Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others. Me Before You

I love this idea! I tried to use a different book for each category otherwise I would've put Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye for nearly everything!

Categories:
Breakout Read: Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye.
Biggest Let Down: Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins.
Best Dressed: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screen Play by J.K. Rowling
Best Characters: Riddle of Green by Isobelle Carmody
Best Place: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Best Story: Sister Heart by Sally Morgan
Best Feelings: Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
Best Love: Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder
Best Shock: The Drowned Kingdom by Kate Forsyth (There was a twist that I probably should've seen coming but it really surprised me!)
Best Author: Isobelle CarmodyIsobelle Carmody
Best Series: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Best Read: Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

Breakout Read: The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Biggest Let Down: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Best Dressed: Josh Malerman
Best Characters: Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Best Place: Betrayals by Kelley Armstrong
Best Story: The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Best Feelings: The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Best Love: Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase
Best Shock: Ten by Gretchen McNeil and Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
Best Author: Anne Bishop
Best Series: Written in Red (The Others) by Anne Bishop
Best Read: Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

Breakout Read: The Cuckoo's Calling
I wasn't really expecting much from this, but it turned out to be my favourite book so far this year.

Biggest Let Down: The Hairdresser of Harare
I only had two books that I didn't really enjoy, and the other I had low expectations of anyway, so this was the only choice.

Best Dressed:


Best Characters: Top Secret Twenty-One
Since I've read over 20 in the series, I obviously can't get enough!

Best Place: Daughter of Smoke & Bone
I loved Prague so much in the book that I added a visit onto a recent trip to Europe.

Best Story: London Falling
This was a tricky one to choose, but I think this was the most unique story, so it's the winner.

Best Feelings: A Monster Calls
I've read a lot of books that made me cry this year, but I think this had the most tears.

Best Love: Top Secret Twenty-One
I wanted to be grown up and say the main character and his wife in The Kite Runner, but really it's just a contest between Stephanie and Morelli or Stephanie and Ranger.

Best Shock: My Sister's Keeper
I'd say biggest shock, rather than best. It was not a good shock.

Best Author: Robert Galbraith
I'm not a Harry Potter fan, so I'm extra-impressed by how much I loved this.

Best Series: The Cuckoo's Calling
I would've started The Silkworm immediately on finishing this, if I had it.

Best Read: The Cuckoo's Calling
Most of the books I've read so far this year have been fantastic, but this one came in right at the end of March and stole the title.

Breakout Read: His Majesty's Dragon
I'm usually not into fantasy, and I give dragons a particularly wide berth, but I absolutely loved this book!

Biggest Let Down: Oreo
This came highly recommended by a friend whose taste usually overlaps with mine. I can see its merits, but boy howdy did I hate it.

Best Dressed: Other-Wordly: Words Both Strange and Lovely from Around the World
Gorgeously illustrated throughout.

Best Characters: The Garden of Small Beginnings
The characters in this book pulled off the rare trick of being genuinely likeable while also seeming realistically prickly and interesting.

Best Place: Binti
The world-building in this book was astounding.

Best Story: His Majesty's Dragon
The Napoleonic Wars + sentient fighting dragons = one very fun read!

Best Feelings: My Mrs. Brown
I openly wept through the last chapter of this book.

Best Love: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
Reader, I swooned over Monty & Percy, and I feel very sure that you will, too.

Best Shock: No Fond Return of Love
Substituting "biggest" for "best," there is a moment roughly halfway through this book when I was jarred out of an otherwise very enjoyable reading experience by an instance of casual racism with which the author seemed to find no fault. It is pretty much the only thing I remember about the book. Not a good shock at all, but certainly a shock.

Best Author: Naomi Novik, author of the Temeraire series.
She has a really impressive command of style and plotting.

Best Series: His Majesty's Dragon
There are 9 books in this series, and I've read 5 of them since mid-February.

Best Read: His Majesty's Dragon
This isn't my highest-rated book of the year so far, but it's clearly the one that's made the biggest impression.

I love this idea! It's prompted me to think back over everything I've read this year so far which reminds me how many really good books I've read.

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
The Sellout by Paul Beatty

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.


Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not).
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
The Green Road by Anne Enright

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
A Spring Affair by Milly Johnson

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
Margaret Atwood

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
The Miss Marple series by Agatha Christie

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others.
This is such a hard decision...I'd probably say it's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
The Stranger

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.
Nimona, I love the artwork so much

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
Homegoing

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not).
Red Rising, Mars man!!

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
Dark Matter

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
Flowers for Algernon

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
The Rosie Project, I find them really cute.

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
Dark Matter, a one point I was in my car yelling "what?? WHAAAAT???" haha

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
J.K. Rowling in the The Silkworm

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
The Stormlight Archives, I read the second book, Words of Radiance and can't wait to read more.

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others.
Red Rising blew me away

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler. A book about two of my least favourite things, time travel and slavery, but it was absolutely incredible. I had really high hopes for it, and it exceeded them.

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
Winter by Marissa Meyer. The series started out so strongly, but then I feel got lazy and sloppy, and I found this to be bloated and a complete let down.

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.
I read mostly on my Kindle this quarter, but I loved this one so much (and the art) that I want to buy a hardcover copy.



Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
The Oedipus Cycle: Oedipus Rex/Oedipus at Colonus/Antigone by Sophocles, so much so that I read the three plays in about twenty-four hours.

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictional or not).
Definitely Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Manderley was a character, for sure. Her descriptions of the house were so evocative and haunting.

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
Kindred again. It had me gripped from start to finish.

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
Oh dear God, it could only be A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. I read it in one sitting (well, technically I was lying down) and it absolutely broke my heart.

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
The books that I read with romance in them were terrible (either the books, the romances, or both), so I will go either for the love between son/mother in A Monster Calls, or between Antigone & her father, Oedipus in Antigone.

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden. I truly had no idea of the extent of the atrocities against the Korean people in North Korea. It's horrifying.

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
Daphne du Maurier. I absolutely loved her writing in Rebecca, and I'll definitely be seeking out more of her books.

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
I guess I will say The Two Towers, only because I can't wait to have actually finished the trilogy so I can cross it off my list. The writing and world building is amazing, but I just don't love them.

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others.
It's a three way tie. Rebecca, Kindred, and A Monster Calls. All so different, but all just brilliant. I can't decide!

I have done so little reading this year, I don't have much to choose from, but I'll see what I can fit in :-(

Categories:

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I expected this to be interesting, but I'm not a big non fiction reader so I was really surprised that I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!!

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.The Perks of Being A Wallflower I need to watch the movie, I feel like I will like it so much better. The book? Meh.

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.The Little Paris Bookshop. Pretty cover. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it , I could have used this one for "Biggest let down" I wasn't a fan, but I think thats because it wasn't what I was expecting.

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands. Loved these kids , this is almost a tie with Unbroken for Breakout Book.

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not).Cathedral of the Wild: An African Journey Home. This took place on an African Game Reserve, and I wished I could view the scenery.

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.Close Your Eyes, Hold HandsChris Bojahlian is my fav. author. I pretty much love everything he writes and this was no exception

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.Close Your Eyes, Hold HandsListening to what these characters went through- I got the feels. I really didn't want it to end. Or maybe I was really really hoping for a different ending.

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).????? No real romance going on here, so I'm going to say the love between Wilbur and Charlotte in Charlotte's Web. Kind of a tear jerker.

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise. Most Definitely Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, I've read so much WWII fiction, I really didn't want to go there again. but this was a whole other side of the story. I was enraged and sickened by what happened to our soldiers in the camps in Japan. I had a lot of jaw dropping, stomach turning, angry moments with this one.

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.Laura Hillenbrand, this girl can write Non Fiction!!!! It was like reading a novel. Not dry at all.

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more. UGH! only series book I read was Odd Thomas and I won't be picking that up ever again.

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption with Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands coming in a very close second.

Hopefully next quarter I'll read more and have more choices.

I'm a little behind in doing this. I was thinking they all had to be written in 2017.
Categories:
Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations. 41: A Portrait of My Father - It was great on audio because W narrated it and it was surprisingly funny in parts. I learned a whole lot about his Dad. I'm not a republican or democrat - I just like learning more about the presidents.
Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment. Bird in Hand and
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover. The Handmaid's Tale
Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of. The Book Thief
Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictional or not). City of Ashes
Best Story: A book with a great storyline. The Book Thief
Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book). Persuasion
Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise. The Handmaid's Tale
Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with. Margaret Atwood
Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more. City of Ashes
Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others. The Handmaid's Tale

I feel like my second quarter is going a lot better in book choices. I kind of reached for the shock. I feel like I have some better shocks in my second quarter so far! I edited this because I forgot how disappointed I was in Hidden Figures. I'm sure the movie will be better.

Breakout Read: It’s a tie between The Grass is Singing and The Wall. Both with difficult subjects, both beautifully written. I kind of expected The Grass is Singing to be good, The Wall I had zero expectations about before reading it, so maybe that really is the one.

Biggest Let Down: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2. BUT, definitely not a total disappointment, I quite enjoyed the book and it was a quick read. It just wasn’t as good as the rest of the series, however I did not expect that either.

Best Dressed:
Beautiful cover in line with the book as well.

Best Characters: Nei og atter nei. Interesting caracters that I believed in. I thought that the subject of the book was “used up” in other books, turns out there is always room for something new.

Best Place: The Grass is Singing

Best Story: Tie between Peer Gynt and The Grass is Singing

Best Feelings: The Wall. The atmosphere of the book were really good, even though there was not much going on, it threw me in, and I grew quite fond of the life in the forest and the animals.

Best Love: Well, not many lovestories in the books I read this quarter, definitely more heartbreaks, both in Nei og atter nei and Willful Disregard. Both of them were good though.

Best Shock: None comes to mind, although there were quite some shocking scenes in The Grass is Singing.

Best Author: Tie between Roy Jacobsen and Marlen Haushofer. Both really well written.

Best Series: Only read one book as a prequel to the first one, as the series only contains these two books so far. But both books were really good, the writing and the storyline is amazing. The book is Hvitt Hav.

Best Read: Hard to decide, many good books this quarter. But maybe The Wall by Marlen Haushofer was the one that stood out, just because I knew nothing about the book or the author before reading it.

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation into Space

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.
The Girl in the Garden

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictional or not).
The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
A Thousand Nights

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
Saga, Vol. 1

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
The Art of Being Normal

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.
Rupi Kaur

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
Labyrinth Lost

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment.
I'm aware that I'm in the minority on both of these, but
It Ends with Us and The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover.
I'm not really a visual person and I think that's evidenced by the fact that in 85 books read since the beginning of the year, there's not a single cover that made me go oooh! lol

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of.
Roses of May

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictional or not).
I wasn't particularly impressed with the book but the location is amazing!
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

Best Story: A book with a great storyline.
Really tough choice; I can't choose between
Small Great Things and The Butterfly Garden

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional.
Not many books do this for me, but I have two, both of which I've mentioned for other awards here also:
Roses of May and A Little Life

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book).
Can I choose something that's love but not romance? Because
Notes to My Mother-in-law is a gorgeous little book which shows so clearly (and with great humour) the author's affection for her mother-in-law.

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise.
A Little Life

Best Author:An author whose writing you really clicked with.
Pretty damned impressed with both Hans Fallada and Irène Némirovsky

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
In the Woods

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others.
A Little Life stands on its own among not just the books I've read this year, but among the books I've read ever.

A few disappointments in the first 3 months but here goes -

Breakout Read: The Girl on the Train
I'd seen mixed reviews so wasn't sure about it but really like it and gave it 4 stars
Biggest Let Down:
Afraid there are a few ( a trend that continued in April) but really disappointed with The Princess Bride as its such a good film
Best Dressed
The Velveteen Rabbit
Best Characters: American Gods but some characters more than others!
Best Place: Death and What Comes Next
I would love to live on Discworld
Best Story: Life of Pi
Best Feelings: A Monster Calls
Best Love: 'A book with a romance worth swooning for'
Tricky one as I don't really read romance! The relationship in 11.22.63 is well written ( unsurprisingly) but have to say the way Carrie Fisher talks with such admiration and respect about her ex husband Paul Simon in Wishful Drinking is very poignant
Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop -
Sadly nothing really did exept 11.22.63 ( but I expected to be shocked!) and I didn't expect the ending of My Cousin Rachel
Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with
A few of my reads have been authors I've read before so don't feel that counts for this, of the 'new' authors Emma Donoghue ( Room)
Best Series: - I only read one book in a series - Amazing Disgrace which is the second in a series of three. Really like the first one, not so keen on this one but will probably read the third one day.
Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others. Easily
11.22.63
I've had this on my TBR for a long time but haven't read because 1) It's so long! 2) It's Stephen King and I was scared! 3) I really wanted to like it but thought I might not (for the reasons in 1 and 2, and there are some negative reviews on Goodreads) I needn't have worried ! 5 star read ( the only other was Room)

Glad to see you liked 11.22.63, Carolyn. I've never read Stephen King so this may be my first! I'm adding to to my TBR.

Katie, Geneva isn't in the Alps, but at 400 m over the sea in a flat valley ;) I don't know what your book is talking about, but as a Swiss that would certainly piss me off haha

Breakout Read: The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act

Biggest Let Down: Poison Ivy Cycle of Life and Death TP

Best Dressed:


Best Characters: Winnie-the-Pooh

Best Place: The Two Princesses of Bamarre

Best Story: Flowers for Algernon

Best Feelings: Flowers for Algernon

Best Author: A.A. Milne

Best Series: The Wicked + The Divine

Best Read: Winnie-the-Pooh

Breakout Read: The Hate U Give & The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Biggest Let Down: The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
Best Dressed: American Street

Best Characters: The Hate U Give
Best Place: American Street & The Two-Family House
Best Story: The Hate U Give
Best Feelings: A Piece of the World
Best Love: The Magnolia Story because it's real life!
Best Shock: Sarah's Key
Best Author: Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) & Michael Eric Dyson (Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America)
Best Series: No series this quarter.
Best Read: The Hate U Give

Breakout Read: Viper Wine
Biggest Let Down: Stranger in a Strange Land
Best Dressed: The Orchardist
Best Characters: News of the World
Best Place: Station Eleven & Another Brooklyn
Best Story: The Havana Room
Best Feelings: Another Brooklyn & Silence
Best Love: Crossing the Plains with Bruno
Best Shock: The Risen
Best Author: Hermione Eyre Viper Wine & Roberto Bolaño 2666
Best Series: N/A
Best Read: Viper Wine & 2666

I started this challenge in October, but managed to fit the bulk of the books I've read this year into the groups categories.

Breakout Read: Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff. This was a far more fun than I expected it to be!

Biggest Let Down: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. I had very high expectations for this book. It wasn't awful, and it did have its moments, but it just didn't do it for me.


Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami


Best Characters: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal I loved these characters.


Best Place: Has to be Wind Up Bird Chronicles, again!
Best Story: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Euginides. I loved this story of a family of sisters as told by an onlooker.

Best Feelings: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.

Best Love: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. This is more of a bro-mance, but the friendship in this book is really touching.

Best Shock: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Interesting how the unreliable narrator puts everything together at the end.

Best Author:
Best Series: No Series read during this quarter.
Best Read: The Wind Up Bird Chronicles. No doubt about it!
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Breakout Read: A book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations. . A Bridge Too Far

Biggest Let Down: A book you thought would be brilliant but was a total disappointment. Black Blood

Best Dressed: The book with the most attractive cover. The Fifth Petal

Best Characters: A book with characters you couldn't get enough of. Concealed in Death

Best Place: A book that was set in an interesting place (fictionnal or not). Eight

Best Story: A book with a great storyline. The Roses Underneath

Best Feelings: A book that made you really emotional. Lost at sea, found at Fukushima

Best Love: A book with a romance worth swooning for (does not have to be a romance book). The Bride

Best Shock: A book that made your jaw drop in surprise: little girls lost

Best Author: An author whose writing you really clicked with.Sara Blaedel

Best Series: A book from a series you either can't get enough of or can't wait to indulge in more.
Isaac Bell Adventures by Clive Cussler

Best Read: The book you read in January, February, or March that topped all the others. MacArthur's Spies: The Soldier, the Singer, and the Spymaster Who Defied the Japanese in World War II