Book and Writing Insanity Linkup

Over at the Notebook Sisters, Cait and Mime are hosting a link-up. Link-ups are awesome and loads of fun. Especially when they are about books and writing.

Here's the book half.

1. What was your overall favourite book this year? (Yes. Pick one.)

           Really? One?  Does The Book Thief by Mark Zusak count even though I still have a hundred pages left?

2. Favourite debut(s)? (Author must have been first published in 2013.)

           Uh, I'm not sure I read a debut this year.

3. Which books did you reread this year?

           I don't think I reread any. I did make an attempt to reread The Hobbit, but I ended up skimming to the part where Bilbo plays the game of riddles with Gollum.

4. Favourite cover(s) this year!


5. Worst cover(s)?

           I guess I didn't read many poorly covered books.

6. What self-published books did you read this year?

           Um, I don't think I read a one. It seems I'm failing at this link-up.
 
7. Which book(s) gave you a massive hangover?

           The Knight by Steven James! Oh, such a wild ride.

8. Best standalone you read?

           Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby. I love the characters. The world. The words.

9. Biggest book(s) you've read this year?

           The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. That took forever.

10. Book(s) you followed the hype for and then loved!

          The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I am so loving it.

11. Most disappointing book(s) you read this year?

            Perhaps The Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan, because I wanted so much more from the writing. And Peak by Roland Smith, only because the middle sagged.

12. Favourite leading-female character?

          Just one? Okay, Solvieg from Icefall. I relate to her in so many ways.
 
13. Favourite leading-male character?

           Definitely Patrick Bowers from The Knight.

14. Best romance(s)?

           Ugh, what do I know of romance? Seraphina.

15. What book(s) hit the DNF list? (Did not finish.)

           Most of these are only on the DNF list because I went through a phase when I just couldn't read anything. I'm blaming The Knight and its hangover.

The Bishop
Guitar Boy
The Hobbit
The Two Towers
Long Lankin
Sunset (I mourn that I could not finish that book)
And other books whose titles escape me.

16. What book(s) did you read out of your comfort-zone?

           Seraphina. I am so glad I read it too. Some of the most beautiful writing. Excellent characters. Good story. And dragons! Got to love the dragons.

17. Which author did you read the most from?

            I only read two books from the same author. John Flanagan.

18. Top 5 books you'd recommend from all the books you've read this year?

The Knight by Steven James
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
The Fellowship of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (I can sneak it since I haven't quite finished it, right?)

19. How many books did you read this year all up?

           Math? *sigh* I don't know. I guess about ten or so. School and work really slows one's book intake.

20. What's a book you're hugely excited for coming out in 2014?!

           I don't know. What should I be excited about?
          

A pitiful epiphany

             Finding words in the Great, Blank Nothing and getting them to stick to paper (or virtual paper) is more difficult than most people think. It also comes with a lot staring into the Great, Blank Nothing (or just staring to normal people).

National Author's Day

           I just found out that today is National Author's Day in America. It was created to celebrate and thank American authors. Here's a link to some more information on it.

           Some of my favorite American authors.

Suzanne Collins

           Do I need to explain? Everyone knows who Collins is. Her books have inspired some of my own ideas. Because of her books, first person narration refused to leave my head so now I'm determined to give it a try some time. And come now- The tension! The suspense! The characters. The Hunger Games is a wild ride.

Veronica Roth

           The Divergent trilogy is one of my favorites. The concept. Her writing style. The wonderful characters. I cannot wait to read Alleigant (forgive me if I've spelled it wrong). The dystopian genre is something I can't wait to explore myself one day.


                                                  

 George Bryan Polivka

           I would be ecstatic if you've heard of him. He wrote The Trophy Chase Trilogy, and its prequel Blaggard's Moon. I've been wanting to reread these books for a while. Granted, there is head-hopping. I read Polivka before I knew what head-hopping was. Before I knew anything about writing. He's a big reason why I write. And why I write fantasy.




Sibella Giorello

           I love geology. And maybe I don't write mysteries (one day. . .), but I love to read them. Giorello has them together. . . in the same book? Why didn't someone think of this before? I love everything about her Raleigh Harmon books. The humor, the characters, the mystery. Forensic science, people! What can be better? She's also one of the few authors who can pull off a Christian protagonist without a cliched, 'preachy' book. I applaud that. It's so hard to find. She inspires me.

           This is the abridged list.

           What about your favorite American author?