2014 End of Year Book Survey

This is our first time participating in the End of Year Book Survey hosted by Jamie at the Perpetual Page-Turner, and y'all--we're SO EXCITED to share our answers with you!! This has been the most time-consuming post we've put together so far, but I'm glad we have a place to come back and reflect on our year in books, and see how our reading lives change (or don't change) over time. We also got to highlight a few books we haven't reviewed on the blog yet - so be sure to scroll through all four sections. You might find your next favorite read! ;)

2014 Reading Stats

Number Of Books Read

Jenny: 284

Lesley Anne: 33 (Yes, I am more than embarrassed to write that after Jenny's answer).

Number of Re-Reads

Jenny: Too many to count. I re-read a lot of books.

Lesley Anne: I'm surprised I only re-read two books in 2014! I re-read Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Genre You Read The Most From

Jenny: Fantasy

Lesley Anne: Fantasy (13 books)

Best In Books

1. Best Book You Read In 2014?

Jenny: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Lesley Anne: Ha, like I'm going to pick just one! I decided to split mine up into a few categories since I can't pick a favorite favorite.

-Classic: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
-YA Fantasy: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
-Non-Fiction: Orphan Justice: How to Care For Orphans Beyond Adoption by Johnny Carr
-Adult Contemporary: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Jenny: Hild by Nicola Griffith and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Lesley Anne: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Clearly from my answer about my most-read genre, I am all about some fantasy. But this one just really missed the mark for me. This series is touted as one of the best YA fantasy series out there, so perhaps I'll give it another try in print since I tried this one as an audiobook first.

3. Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book you read in 2014?

Jenny: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. Surprising in a good way!

Lesley Anne: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I am not even lying to you when I say I almost had to pull over and throw up on the side of the road because of a certain situation while listening to this audiobook. So yes...surprising in a BAD way.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?

Jenny: All of Sarah Addison Allen's books. They have been making the rounds among my people.

Lesley Anne: Ditto. Now that I've read both The Peach Keeper and The Sugar Queen, I will unashamedly push any Sarah Addison Allen book, especially on those who love adult contemporary romance!

5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?

Jenny: Series Started - Seraphina by Rachel Hartman and The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. Best Sequel - Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs. Best Series Ender - Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers.

Lesley Anne: The best series I started in 2014 is the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I loooove this series. I'll admit the first book, Throne of Glass, wasn't that stellar, but Crown of Midnight really elevated everything for me (and is the Best Sequel I read in 2014). The best series ender I read last year would be Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?

Jenny: Ilona Andrews and Sarah Addison Allen.

Lesley Anne: I have to go with the Sarahs: Sarah J. Maas and Sarah Addison Allen.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Jenny: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Lesley Anne: Orphan Justice: How to Care for Orphans Beyond Adopting by Johnny Carr. Even though I enjoy non-fiction, it's not what I pick up first when I have time to read, and I haven't read a lot of non-fiction on orphans and adoption. Even though it was a bit out of my comfort zone, I'm really glad I read this one that covered a myriad of topics from international adoption and the U.S. foster-care system to HIV/AIDS and human trafficking.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Jenny: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Lesley Anne: Based solely on being action-packed and thrilling, The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read This Year?

Jenny: Too many to name. Like I mentioned earlier, I love to re-read books.

Lesley Anne: I've ordered The Assassin's Blade and Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas with my Christmas money, so I'll most likely re-read Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight this year (especially considering the fourth book in the series comes out in September!).

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?

Jenny: Possession by A.S. Byatt

Lesley Anne: There are soooo many covers I loved from books I read last year, but the girly girl in me wins this one with The Selection by Kiera Cass.

11. Most memorable character of 2014?

Jenny: Silhara from Master of Crows by Grace Draven.

Lesley Anne: I have to go with Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. How can you not?! And an honorable mention goes to The Darkling from the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

Jenny: Possession by A.S. Byatt

Lesley Anne: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Even though the circumstances of the novel weren't that beautiful, the way Kent crafted her words was so haunting and unforgettable.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

Jenny: Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey and Medieval Exegesis by Henri de Lubac

Lesley Anne: I don't want to give anything away, but it's pretty much impossible to read Me Before You by JoJo Moyes and not have a strong, thought-provoking response to it. I wouldn't say that it changed my life, but it definitely gave me a lot to think about after I turned the final page.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read?

Jenny: The Lord of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkien

Lesley Anne: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?

Jenny: “Now and then there are readings that make the hairs on the neck, the non-existent pelt, stand on end and tremble, when every word burns and shines hard and clear and infinite and exact, like stones of fire, like points of stars in the dark—readings when the knowledge that we shall know the writing differently or better or satisfactorily, runs ahead of any capacity to say what we know, or how. In these readings, a sense that the text has appeared to be wholly new, never before seen, is followed, almost immediately, by the sense that it was always there, that we the readers, knew it was always there, and have always known it was as it was, though we have now for the first time recognised, become fully cognisant of, our knowledge.” A.S. Byatt, Possession

Lesley Anne: "Books can be possessive, can't they? You're walking around in a bookstore and a certain one will jump out at you, like it had moved there on its own, just to get your attention. Sometimes what's inside will change your life, but sometimes you don't even have to read it. Sometimes it's a comfort just to have a book around. Many of these books haven't even had their spines cracked. 'Why do you buy books you don't even read?' our daughter asks us. That's like asking someone who lives alone why they bought a cat. For company, of course." Sarah Addison Allen, The Sugar Queen

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2014?

Jenny: Shortest - Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis. Longest - The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

Lesley Anne: Not including novellas, the shortest would be The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (181 pages). The longest - Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (488 pages).

17. Book That Shocked You The Most (Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

Jenny: Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers

Lesley Anne: I'm going with Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo. I loved this one in particular because the shocking moments weren't there for shock value alone. Everything that happened had a meaning, and I thought it was an excellent conclusion to this series!

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Jenny: Anna and Charles from the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs.

Lesley Anne: Chaol and Celaena from Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Jenny: Too many to count. Tight friendships are my favorite.

Lesley Anne: Marianne and Elinor from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Even though they are different in every way, they still show such deep love and affection for each other. I love these two sisters!

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Jenny: This question is redundant. See any of the questions, more or less, that I've answered previously.

Lesley Anne: Although I wouldn't say it was her best work, I have to go with Ignite Me by Taherah Mafi.

21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Jenny: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen. Thanks, Lesley Anne!

Lesley Anne: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Both Hannah and Brenna recommended this one to me, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance!

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

Jenny: Robbie from The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley.

Lesley Anne: Gotta love me some STURMHOND from Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo!

23. Best 2014 debut you read?

Jenny: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Lesley Anne: The Nesting Place: It Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful by Myquillyn Smith.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Jenny: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.

Lesley Anne: Even though it was a re-read, I have to go with The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Setting, and the histories of the various peoples involved in Bilbo's journey, played a vital role in the book, and to describe the setting and world-building as vivid would be an understatement. For any question like this, Middle Earth pretty much always wins in my book. ;)

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Jenny: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Lesley Anne: Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews. My sister and I listened to this in the car on the way down to a bachelorette weekend in Savannah (of course!), and we were literally laughing out loud at the main character's commentary and the ridiculous situations she found herself in.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?

Jenny: The Locust Effect by Gary Haugen

Lesley Anne: Most definitely Orphan Justice by Johnny Carr.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Jenny: Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier.

Lesley Anne: How To Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur. Our small group went through this book over the summer and fall last year, and the things I learned about the inductive method will forever change the way I study my Bible and interact with God's word. So grateful for reads like this!

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Jenny: Grendel by John Gardner.

Lesley Anne: This may not be what was meant by this question, but the quality of the writing in The Selection by Kiera Cass pretty much crushed my soul. In a bad way. (I know most soul-crushing things are bad--but you know what I mean).

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?

Jenny: Unsure

Lesley Anne: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I think we've established the fact that we think Sarah Addison Allen's books are special, but the characters and magical realism in this particular SAA novel stood out as different to me.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Jenny: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan.

Lesley Anne: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. The "twist" at the end. Don't even get me started.

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

1. Favorite review you wrote in 2014?

Jenny: The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley.

Lesley Anne: It's a close tie between my review of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent and The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen.

2. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

Jenny: Musings: God as Other

Lesley Anne: Even though I'm having to give myself more time to complete this challenge, I loved my introduction post for The Austen Project.

3. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

Jenny: Top Ten Tuesdays hosted by the Broke and the Bookish.

Lesley Anne: Looking back on 2014, I'm surprised I didn't participate in any author signings or events last year! There were a few I really wanted to attend, but just didn't work out with my schedule. I really want to make this more of a priority this year! Lest I leave you empty-handed with my answer, though, ARC Parties with Margot and Audrey from Epic Reads are always a fun virtual event to attend. It's impossible to watch one of their videos and not feel some kind of excitement about books. Their enthusiasm for reading is so contagious!

4. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

Jenny: When someone would tell me they loved a book recommended on the blog.

Lesley Anne: Most definitely starting a book club! It has been so much fun and also a lot of hard work, but I'm glad we found a way to bring this eclectic group of girls together!

5. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Oddly enough, the most popular post on our blog last year had nothing to do with books at all. Jenny's post on her Kitchen Renovation got the most love, without a doubt!

6. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Jenny: Any of the book reviews. People don't want to seem to read a book review lol. Also, Musings: Christmas Hymns.

Lesley Anne: I agree with Jenny on the need for our reviews to get a little more love! I would also add my monthly recap posts, since they are so time-consuming to put together.

7. Best bookish discovery (book-related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Jenny: Parnassus Books in Nashville!

Lesley Anne: As someone who has a long commute to and from work everyday, Librivox has been a sort of saving grace. Librivox provides free audiobook downloads for books in the public domain (aka classics). This is how I read Anne of Green Gables, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park last year!

8. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Yes, but we will blog more about that later. :)

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

Jenny: Innocence by Dean Koontz.

Lesley Anne: Sabriel by Garth Nix.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?

Jenny: First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen.

Lesley Anne: There are so many! Since I have to pick, I'll go with A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. CAN'T. WAIT.

3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Jenny: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan.

Lesley Anne: Even though it has already been released, I'm still anticipating reading Colleen Oakley's debut novel, Before I Go. It sounds authentic and heart wrenching and oh so good. The main character is married and in her late twenties, and the novel is set in Athens, GA. So much to relate to from the onset!

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

Jenny: Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman.

Lesley Anne: I'm excited for The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon, The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutoski, and The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. I own but haven't read the first book in all three of these series, so maybe the release of these sequels will be my motivation to finally read the first books!

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

Jenny: JOIN A LIBRARY.

Lesley Anne: So many things! But most of all, I want to remember to enjoy the experience of reading, and not pressure myself too much when it comes to reading and blogging. Here's to a GREAT year in 2015! 

Get To Know Us From A to Z

Hello, and thanks for stopping by our first post! We are Lesley Anne and Jenny, BFFs, who also happen to have a slightly pathological obsession with reading. We are so excited to have a space where we can share our love of all things bookish together, and we can't wait to get to know all of YOU! 

We thought a fun way to introduce ourselves would be to fill out Jamie's A to Z Survey that she posted earlier this year. If you are game for a post of the long variety, grab your favorite warm beverage (in our case, tea!), settle in, and let's talk books! (P.S. You'll have to excuse the mess, as our blog is still under construction. Hopefully things will look a little more coherent around here soon!). Without further ado...

     

Author You've Read the Most Books From:

Jenny: Carolyn Keene. I devoured my mom's Nancy Drew books when I was younger. I read all 65 at least twice (I think it is safe to say reading has been a lifelong obsession). In case that doesn't count because Carolyn Keene is a pseudonym used by many authors, Francine Rivers and C.S. Lewis are the next in line.

Lesley Anne: For me it would be Robin Jones Gunn. According to Goodreads, I’ve read 23 of her books! I was so obsessed with her Christy Miller series in middle school, and really enjoyed reading the Glenbrooke series later in high school. Melody Carlson and Francine Rivers tie for second at 8 books each.

Best Sequel Ever:

   
Jenny: I know it's a cop-out, but Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It is every bit as good as the first one.

Lesley Anne: If Chamber of Secrets doesn't count, then this one definitely doesn't! But whatever, I'm feeling rebellious. I’m going to say Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This was my favorite book of the series, and definitely my favorite of the movies.

Currently Reading:

Jenny: A Thousand Plateaus by Giles Deleuze + Felix Guatarri, The Romance of the Rose by Guillaume de Lorris + Jean de Meun, and Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (It's the end of the semester, so not a lot of fun reading at the moment!).

Lesley Anne: I'm so ADD right now in what I’m reading. I’m listening to The White Queen on audiobook, reading Allegiant on my Nook, and reading the print version of Game of Thrones. Normally I don’t juggle three books at a time, but I haven’t felt a strong connection to any of these, thus my lack of focus.

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Jenny: Hot tea. Preferably chai, but I am not too picky.

Lesley Anne: It's like Jenny and I are best friends or something. Chai tea, forever and always.  

E-reader or Physical Book:

Jenny: Generally, I do not care. If it is a book for class, I prefer a physical copy so I can write in it. 
 

Lesley Anne: Both! There are pros and cons to each, but obviously physical books will forever be my first love. Nothing can beat that bookish smell and the feeling of turning a page. 

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Jenny: This one is really difficult. I think I would probably have dated Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing. I really, really love witty, snarky repartee and it doesn't get any better than Beatrice and Benedick.

Lesley Anne: Not that I dated anybody with silver hair who also happened to be addicted to a debilitating drug (yuck!), but it would probably be Jem from the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare. Jem is an all around nice guy who is also (somewhat) athletic, musical, and sentimental. Perfectly describes those poor fellas I dated in high school!

Glad You Gave This Book a Chance:

Jenny: The Emperor's Edge series by Lindsay Buroker. The first one was free on Amazon and I have since read pretty much everything she has written.

Lesley Anne: The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak. There is so much pressure to love this book, and I was afraid to start reading it and just not get it. And there was a point where I was seriously ready to walk away. Then I stuck it out and the last 50 or so pages just blew my mind. Such a beautiful, beautiful book.

Hidden Gem Book:

 Jenny:  The Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer. I found it at a flea market in Murphy, NC earlier this year. This is a Regency romance in which the hero.... antihero? is a pompous, spoiled brat and the heroine is sensible and stubborn. She might or might not have to shoot him early on in their acquaintance...

Lesley Anne: Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis. I know this is a pretty popular book in the Christian nonfiction world, but I think it deserves more attention outside of that! Katie's story is one that will forever change your life after reading it, no matter your religious preference. I read it on the beach this summer and was so thankful I had my sunglasses on while reading - it had me sobbing! 

Important Moment In Your Reading Life

Jenny: Coming across comparative literature classes as an undergrad. I was introduced to all sorts of works I would not otherwise have read. They also taught me to appreciate all types of literature, even if I do not like a work personally.  

Lesley Anne: Discovering book blogs! After experiencing a major reading slump throughout college and a little bit afterward, discovering book blogs really breathed life back into the experience of reading for me. They made me fall in love with books all over again! (Special shout out to Hannah at So Obsessed With...it all started with hers!). I’ve read more books this year than I have in a long time, and I am so glad to be a part of this community now.

Just Finished:

Jenny: Allegiant by Veronica Roth, Mysteries of the Middle Ages by Thomas Cahill, and Yvain by Chretien de Troyes.

Lesley Anne: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi. It’s probably a dangerous thing to polarize myself by picking a side in this oh-so-controversial love triangle, but I really enjoyed this novella from Warner’s point of view. It left me wanting to read more from his perspective! I seriously cannot wait for Ignite Me to be here. I need that thing. NOW.

Kinds Of Books You Won't Read

Jenny: Erotica- I'm a "less is more" kind of gal. I also loathe the "big misunderstanding" trope. It makes me mad every time. Why can't people just communicate?!

Lesley Anne: I have pretty eclectic taste when it comes to books. For the most part, I’m happy with reading anything, but I tend to stay away from the adult romance/erotica genre as well as anything that’s heavy science fiction.

Longest Book You've Ever Read:

  
Jenny: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, with Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. I loved both of these, but it will definitely be a couple years before I re-read them.  

Lesley Anne: According to Goodreads, that would be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at 870 pages. Funny that I disliked this one the most!

Major Book Hangover Because Of:

Jenny: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. I read this book in one sitting. I did not move from my couch for an embarrassing amount of time. My husband still makes fun of me for this one.

Lesley Anne: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. I was at a complete loss on what to read next after finishing.

Number Of Bookcases You Own:

Jenny: 3 + a shelving unit that my books have slowly overtaken.

Lesley Anne: It used to be three, but now we just have one big Expedit case from IKEA, though my collection is threatening to outgrow it.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Jenny: I am a big fan of re-reading and have a list of books I re-read every year. A few on that list are Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, and The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.

Lesley Anne: I re-read the Harry Potter series earlier this year by listening to the audiobooks narrated by Jim Dale. It was AMAZING. I think listening to those audiobooks will be a yearly thing now.

Preferred Place to Read:

Jenny: Anywhere I can curl up with a blanket. My absolute favorite place to read is by a pool or at the beach, but that is not a common occurrence.  

Lesley Anne: On the couch wearing some comfy PJs and snuggled up with a blanket! I also echo Jenny in that my favorite favorite place to read is the beach, but seeing as we live in northeast Georgia, that doesn’t happen very often.

Quote That Inspires You From A Book You've Read:

Jenny: This one is really tough! I am forever underlining and writing in books. This is one of my faves from The Once and Future King: “They made me see that the world was beautiful if you were beautiful, and that you couldn't get unless you gave. And you had to give without wanting to get.”

Lesley Anne: I feel like I underlined every word of Kisses From Katie. But this one stood out from the rest: "People who really want to make a difference in the world usually do it, in one way or another. And I’ve noticed something about people who make a difference in the world: They hold the unshakable conviction that individuals are extremely important, that every life matters. They get excited over one smile. They are willing to feed one stomach, educate one mind, and treat one wound. They aren’t determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they’re satisfied with small changes. Over time, though, the small changes add up. Sometimes they even transform cities and nations, and yes, the world."

Reading Regret:

Jenny: The Twilight series. I got caught up in the hype and read all four. When I went back to re-read them, I realized how much time I had wasted.  
Lesley Anne: I totally agree with Jenny on this one. Even though it was my gateway drug into the world of YA, sometimes I really wish I could unread the Twilight series.

Series You Started & Need To Finish:

Jenny: The Patrick Bowers series by Steven James. They are mystery-suspense-psychological thrillers that are dense and wonderful. I am currently four books in and have #5 on my Christmas Vacation reading list.  

Lesley Anne: I read the first two Vampire Academy books this summer, but was feeling kind of meh about finishing the rest of the series. I still feel that way, but maybe I’ll get the itch again?

Three Of Your All-Time Favorite Books:

Jenny: The Once and Future King (obviously), The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers, and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. 

Lesley Anne: Persuasion by Jane Austen, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Jenny: The Percy Jackson series. I love Greek and Roman mythology and the creative genius of Rick Riordan. His next project is Norse mythology, which is one of my academic interests. I am more than a little excited about this combination.  

Lesley Anne: As you could probably guess from my previous answer, I seriously love me some Lord of the Rings, y’all. LOVE. IT. And the fun thing is, my husband is a fan right along with me. We have a LOTR marathon every Christmas (watching the extended versions, obviously) and you can only imagine my excitement that we get to add all the Hobbit movies to that tradition now (even though they aren't nearly as good).

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Jenny: I accidentally answered this in the previous section- Rick Riordan's Norse mythology series! 

Lesley Anne: IGNITE ME. Oh my stars. I don’t even know how I’m going to handle this conclusion!

Worst Bookish Habit:

Jenny: Losing track of time while reading. I get caught up in a different world and forget the one I am actually inhabiting.  

Lesley Anne: After I finish a book I really love, I seriously CANNOT commit to my next book. I’ll start and stop reading several books before I finally settle down on one, and this is now starting to happen after I read any book in general. Starting to take the book hangover to a whole new level! 

X Marks The Spot:

Jenny: The Golden Cross by Angela Elwell Hunt.

Lesley Anne: American Assassin by Vince Flynn. This one belongs to my husband, and he was really sad to hear about Flynn's passing earlier this year. I need to find him another political thriller author to love!

Your Latest Book Purchase:

Jenny: Fledgling by Octavia Butler. I will be teaching it next semester and it is a book that explores what it means to be human using vampires. How could it possibly be uninteresting?

Lesley Anne: I recently bought the paperback of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and a hardcover of The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. Can't wait to start either of these!

ZZZ-Snatcher Book (Kept You Up Late):

Jenny: Most recently it was the third book- The Beggar King- in the Hangman's Daughter series by Oliver Pötzsch. The last 100 pages were impossible to put down, though I must admit it was my least favorite in the series.  

Lesley Anne: I know I already used this book in a previous answer, but it would have to be The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak. Like I said, I had a love/hate relationship with this one at first, but by the end, I couldn’t put it down and Zuzak completely won my heart.

Thanks for sticking with us through this doozie of a first post! We will be back tomorrow for our first Top Ten Tuesday!