Faves of 2011 (so far) - Round Three: The Scenes & The Random

Alright, so Nomes @ Inkcrush is running this awesome survey about the best books of 2011 so far, and I decided to join. Now, my only particular rule for this survey is that I shall talk about books I read for the first time during 2011, regardless of the year they were first published.

Okay, so this is the last installment of this survey! Lets get to it - but be warned, I'll try not to but there might be some spoilers.

 

the scenes

1. best first chapter

The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson - now, let me be clear and say that I didn't like this book because I seriously didn't like the heroine. But the beginning of this book, when it chronicles the life and trials of the hero, Guy Farne, from the time he was found and taken to an orphanage and eventually adopted, and became a rich, successful man. When he fell in love both with a girl and with the city of Vienna - that first chapter was AMAZING.

I wanted to know more about Guy, I was half way in love with him by then. But he was cursed with a super sucky heroine that eventually brought the whole thing down.


2. best climax

This one is hard, but I got to say that I really liked the climax of Queen of the Dead by Stacy Kade, because it was a really game changing moment. I'm not gonna say what happens, obviously.

3. best ending

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta - that ending was everything I hoped for. It was hopeful, it gave me just enough conclusion, and it left me feeling like these people I had grown to love so much were on their way to being truly happy. 

Also, Good Oil by Laura Buzo - the ending felt right. There was really no other way it could have ended and I loved how it was executed.


4. best plot twist/revelation (no spoilers!)

The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt - I can't say what it was but I loved it to pieces and it's the reason why I can't wait for the next book of that series


5. scariest/most disturbing scene

I don't really do scary or disturbing - at least, I haven't this year.

6. steamiest scene (or sweetest/sexiest kiss award)
For the Steamy side:

Badlands Bride by Cheryl St. John. Yeah, sex in the frontier! I was surprised, but that was probably the hottest scene I've read all year.

Shout out to Healing Hearts by Taryn Kincaid - it was a short story but surprisingly steamy.

Sexiest Kiss: I'm going to break the rules here a little and say... every time Heathcliff and Miranda kiss in Moby Clique.

7. best swoon-worthy moment

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins - Archer and Sophie in the windmill, after battling some ghouls or something. That's all I'm sayin'.

And in Where She Went when Adam and Mia -in flash back -are talking about her family going to one of Adam's concerts and Mia was worried because she didn't want to share Adam, and he tells her "You don't share me. You own me."  Definite swoon for me.


8. biggest nail-biting moment

I'm going to hate myself for saying this, but the will they, won't they moment at the end of We'll Always Have Summer. Same for Where She Went, when I wasn't sure how Mia and Adam would end, it made my stomach twist with worry.


9. most hilarious scene

Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer. Every time someone trying to explain what Ferdy meant about some 'Greek fellow'. You have to read it to understand but it had me shaking with laughter.


10. most heart-breaking/tear-jerker moment
If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman, all that book, particularly toward the end. It broke my heart over and over, and I let it because it hurt more if I didn't keep going.



the random

1. fave first sentence

"Dreams. Gossamer images that most people carried with them into their sleep, but for Dallas Leigh, they were the incentive that woke him before dawn, the impetus that pushed him toward midnight.

Dreams were the stepping stones to glory." -  Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath.

2. fave book title
The Art of Forgetting

What Can(t) Wait

The Lonely Heart's Club

3. fave reading experience (ie: created a great reading memory)
The Piper's Son - I just have such a visceral connection to this book. I can remember running around doing chores and listening to it, being afraid to start it because I already loved over half the people in the story... and well, a bunch of things. 

4. book with the best food in it (made me so crazy-envious-hungry)
Katie and the Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon - There are CUPCAKES all over! The girls form a club to bake and EAT cupcakes!!!!!

5. book with the most sensual weather (made you shiver/sweat)

Well, I loved all the descriptions of the beach in January in Starfish Sisters, I could feel the heat and the sand and how the girls felt when they were surfing even though I had no idea what they were doign surf-wise.  

6. most embarrassing book cover (feeling sheepish in public)

The US cover of The Piper's Son and Call Me Irresistible because that 'hand' seriously looks like a foot.

7. can’t believe you waited this long to read the book (!)

 Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer - I'm a huge fan of romance and she's and iconic writer of romance yet I had never tried her books.

That's it on my side!

This has been a great way to look back at what has been going on this year and I can't wait to keep on reading!

Love,

Alex


PS - Sorry for the funky formatting, again, Blogger is being difficult.