2016 Bookish Recap Tag

GUYS, I'M HERE WITH AN END OF THE YEAR BOOK TAG. (because what else?!)

Faith, my friend and the writer at Stories by Firefly, created this tag (super cool, yes?), and she tagged me - huge shout out and thank you to her!

BUT can you believe it's actually the end of the year? *shakes head*

>> Rules:

1) Include the above button in your post. << check

2) Answer the 11 questions. << will get to that in a sec

3) Use as many book covers as you like. (The correct answer to this question would be ALOT. B-)) << check again

4) Tag 5-10 people and notify them that they have been tagged. << definitely will do

>> QUESTION TIME <<

// How many books did you read in 2016? (Exact if you know, or approximate if not.) 

According to my Goodreads count (which is accurate), fifty-three (but I'm hopin' to make that fifty-four and finish up a book my little bro and I are currently reading).

// Did you set a reading challenge for yourself and, if so, did you meet it?  

I did, actually! I've used the yearly Goodreads reading challenge for the last..three years now, including 2016. It is a super fun way to keep motivated - and I really like that it tracks your progress throughout the year. AND THEN THEY SEND YOU AN EMAIL WITH YOUR COMPLETE LIST OF BOOKS and that is just...legit fun. So, I completed that one, and I also completed another challenge I did with my sister and some friends. (War and Peace was the last hurdle -- BUT I MADE IT.)

// What was your most read genre this year? Least read? 

(I like this question, btw) I read a total of 29 historical fiction books. *nods* That is indeed my favorite genre. XD Least read? Hmm... *checks* biographies and theology-type books. (hehe yeah...but I'm planning on reading more non-fiction this coming year, so...)

// What's five of your favorite books from 2016? 

WAIT I must narrow it down to only five?! (good thinking though, because I had a whole list...)

Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker << GUYS he's amazing and that's all there is to it

The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof << Joanne is sooooo good at what she does. there's so much emotion and so much faith and love and hope. it's beautiful. (see my review here)

The Young Fur Traders by R.M. Ballantyne << Ballantyne's stories tend to be adventurous, and funny, with interesting characters. This one? No exception.

Take This Cup by Bodie and Brock Theone << such a good story! There were so many things in this that connected the Old Testament to Jesus' coming.

One Enchanted Eve by Melissa Tagg << a great novella by Miss Tagg - plus it's about two bakers (see my review here)

*blinks* That was super hard to choose. I AM STILL NOT EVEN SURE. (good luck to the peeps I tag ;))

// What's five of your least favorite books from 2016? 

Captives and Kings by Craig and Janet Parshall << There wasn't much character growth in this one. There could've been a lot more excitement than there was, and a few characters died for no reason. Also, it was kinda boring and dry. (see my review here)

A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot << I feel bad putting this one on here...but I didn't enjoy it. 

End of the Spear by Steve Saint << this one was slightly enjoyable, even interesting for a part of it, but I was really disappointed in the end and for the most part disinterested

War and Peace << I FINISHED IT THOUGH. (see my review here - warning: IT'S A LONG ONE)

Courageous by Dina L. Sleiman << there was really great faith elements in this, but for the first 200 pages I was uncomfortable. *grimaces* (see my review here)

Even choosing my least favorites was hard. XD

// What new favorite author did you discover? (Not necessarily that the author is 'new', but that they became new to you this year.) 

Hmmm...I think Melissa Tagg. Her books are cute and funny and honestly? remind me of Hallmark movies. Funny thing is my favorites of her books are two novellas...and then in third it's a full-length novel. Maybe because there's less drama in novellas, because everything has to be condensed. Imma go with that. XD
  
// What's five of your favorite book covers from the year? 

SO PRETTY. even the fonts. and oh the circus tent behind Ella. and her dress. and guys she's holding Charlie's hat. Didja know Joanne created this cover?! She's amazin'.

 YES I REREAD BROTHERS AT ARMS FOR LIKE THE SEVENTH TIME. *cough* Is that excessive? *shrugs because i don't really care* Adventure is dripping from this cover. *nods*

She's carrying a parasol and is wearing a fancy Victorian dress, 'kay?

 



















There is snow on the trees behind them. Also she's wearing red lipstick. And that blanket was literally in the book. *laughs because that logic might not make sense*

IT'S KATE AND COLTON.

// How many books did you purchase for yourself in 2016? (Exact if you know, approximate if not.) 

Out of the 53 books I read this year, I bought 16 of them myself. I was actually surprised, since many of the books I read I either a) already owned, b) someone in my family owned, or c) were bought for me.

// What's the longest book you read in 2016? 

MWAHAHAAHAA WAR AND PEACE BY LEO TOLSTOY. except I started this a few years ago. Nonetheless, it's the longest book I read this year, my copy coming in at 1,421 pages. The second longest was Small-Town Brides, a novella collection, which totaled 448.

// What's the shortest book you read in 2016? 

Love in the Details by Becky Wade with 132 pages. (super cute)

(it's so helpful that Goodreads already has these things laid out for you... XD)

// What's your reading goal for 2017?

I'm gonna aim for 52 - one for every week. Also, I'm doing another reading challenge with a bunch of online friends - it's gonna be great! (post on that forthcoming)

THIS WAS FUN (although it was really hard picking things out. seriously was.) Thanks again to Faith for tagging me! Now...
  

Who I'm tagging:

Mikayla

Julia

Michaila

Sarah   

Jonathan

Emily

Abi

Jesseca

    How was YOUR year in books?

Do you have a hard time picking favorites?