2012 Book Challenge Recap

Among other things, this year brought me various book challenges! 

I participated in the 50 book pledge and completed the challenge in August. By the end of the year I read 77 books! Maybe in 2013 I’ll aim for 80 books.

I also participated in the POC ReadingChallenge.  I read 34 POC books this year; that’s 44% of the books I read in 2012. A little short of my 40 POC books goal but not bad at all! This challenge really helped me expand the selection of books I read. I find that I am not only drawn to diverse characters but also diverse narratives. This year I have a list of authors whose work I look forward to reading including Octavia Butler, Edwidge Danticat, and Dionne Brand.

During the summer, I tried my hand at a readathon hosted by Random House of Canada to commemorate the 2012 London Olympics. My goal was 1200 pages and I just barely missed it.

Was 2012 a good reading year for you?

My Top 12 Books of 2012

Some of these books have been featured on my previous best of lists but I have no qualms mentioning them again. That’s how much I loved them!

The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam

I think it’s the beautiful prose of this book that has stayed with me. I look forward to reading more of Lam’s work.

We Are in a Book by Mo Willems

I shouldn’t have to convince anyone of how awesome Mo Willems’s books are. A professor in my publishing program introduced me to Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus but Elephant and Piggie are still my favorite. 

 

Salsa Nocturna by Daniel José Older

That awesome moment when your friend’s book is actually fantastic and you don’t have to hurt his feelings with a lukewarm review! If you’re in the New York area, be sure to go to Daniel’s readings featuring music from his band, Ghost Star.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I’ve read this book 3 times now. I bawl every single time. And now it’s a New York Times bestseller!

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Cathrynne M. Valente

Love love love this book. Valente’s world reminds me of Wonderland and Oz without the scary elements. Though there are plenty of dangers in Fairyland, September is brave enough to face them. It is an incredibly rich middle-grade novel that I would definitely read with my (hypothetical) children. I want to read the sequel but my compulsions demand I wait for the paperback edition. 

I am Number Four series by Pittacus Lore

I love this series so hard, y’all. I burned through The Power of Six and The Rise of Nine in less than 48 hours. What blows me away is the lack of pretention in the characters. Although these teenagers are in larger than life situations, their personalities are completely relatable. Each character has his or her own voice. I don’t like all of them but I understand all their motivations.  Combine that with a high-stakes interplanetary war and you’ve got one hell of a series. I can’t wait for the next book. 

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

I had just finished This Dark Endeavour (which I found a bit overrated) when I picked up this book so I didn’t expect much. Boy, was I wrong. This book feels both contemporary and historical and is full of heart. I highly recommend it.

Persuasion by Arlene Dickinson

This will be a lifelong reference book for me. It is exactly the type of book you’d expect Arlene Dickinson to write. All her advice is based in honesty and integrity. I radically changed the way I prepare for interviews after reading this book and I immediately suggested it to a friend who was preparing advertising pitches. This may be a business book but it’s great for everyone. 

Pivot Point by Kasie West

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. The sci-fi-esque plot summary turned me off initially but I was drawn in by the very real situations. The characters’ enhanced mind powers enhanced rather than detracted from the emotion rollercoaster of the book. Look for this book in store February 2013!

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

I don’t like thrillers but this one really drew me in. It started as one woman’s struggle to discover her own past and turned into a gripping whodunit.

The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers

This book is so cute! I loved the encyclopedia format and Tink’s voice is precocious and hilarious. The book touches on serious topics with a simple honesty that readers will love.

Cold Magic by Kate Elliot

I read a description of this on Tumblr and immediately bought the ebook. I was blown away, y’all. I’ve always said that fantasy can and should include diverse characters but I’d never read any books that did. (Yes, I know. Octavia Butler’s books are on my to-read list.) The world-building deftly incorporates peoples from across Europe and Africa without making people of color seem like exotic tokens or magical negroes.