2014 Year in Review

First the numbers:

E-Books:  83
Print: 3
Audiobooks: 151
Total: 237
Total number of pages: 57,403

Now the best of:

This was my favorite book of the year. I listened to the audio and Neil Gaiman is now one of my most very favorite authors. I've always liked his books, but his narration was awesome. I went back and listened to several of his books that I had already read and loved them all over again.

Chosen not so much for the story as the presentation. Colin Firth does an excellent job of reading this classic.

This series was chosen because of the story, the writing and presentation. The TV series is not bad either.

Monthly Selections

January
Only one book I read in January makes my Best of List.

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

February
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes has been one of my favorite authors for a while now. This book did not disappoint. Susan McBride's Debutant Dropout series is about Dallas. She has actually lived there, so the landscape is accurate. 

Den of Shadows #9: Promises to Keep by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Magical Bakery #3: Charms & Chocolate Chips by Bailey Cates

Debutante Dropout Mystery #1: Blue Blood by Susan McBride

Deadlocked #1 by AR Wise

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

March
I began re-reading an old favorite this month, Dragonlance. I held myself to the original trilogy and not all 900 of the other books.

Debutante Dropout #2: Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Susan McBride

14 by Peter Clines

Iron Druid #3: Hammered by Kevin Hearne
Dragonlance #1: Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Dragonlance #2: Dragons of Winter Night by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

April
I began an awesome trilogy this month, Call the Midwife. I also read my first graphic novel, Cemetery Girl. It opened a whole new world for me!

Charmed Pie Shoppe #3: Pecan Pies & Homicides by Ellery Adams

Cemetery Girl #1: The Pretenders by Charlaine Harris & Christopher Golden

Cat in the Stacks #5: Silence of the Library by Miranda James
The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Dragonlance Chronicles #3: Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Call the Midwife #1:Memoir of Birth, Joy & Hard Times by Jennifer Worth

May
Finally, zombie books I can love, Junkie Quatrain and the White Trash Zombie series.

Junkie Quatrain by Peter Clines
Winter Witch by Paula Brackston
White Trash Zombie #1: My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

June
A new series by one of my favorite writing duos, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl. Coldest Girl in Coldtown, another zombie book, made the favorites this month. A new favorite series, Elemental Assassin.

Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood
Dangerous Creatures #1: Dangerous Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Elemental Assassin#1: Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

July
I met Jane Fonda at ALA in Las Vegas this summer. She was so nice and took the time to talk to each person in line to get her latest book signed. I really enjoyed listening to her autobiography. 

My Life So Far by Jane Fonda

Pendergast #13: White Fire by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Midnight Texas #1: Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris

August
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

September
Debutant Dropout #3: Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club by Susan McBride
Call the Midwife #2: Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth

October
I rediscovered a favorite author this month, but only audiobooks that he reads himself! Also, I re-read a favorite from last year along with the next book in the series (this month, another book in the series next month),  The Raven Cycle.

Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Raven Cycle #1: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (re-read)

Raven Cycle #2: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

November
This month, I listened to possibly the best performed audiobook I've ever listened to, The End of the Affair by Graham Greene and performed by Colin Firth.

Inquiry Into Love & Death by Simone St. James

White Trash Zombie #2: Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues by Diana Rowland

Elemental Assassin #2: Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep

Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountain by Neil Gaiman

End of the Affair by Graham Greene
Raven Cycle #3: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
Joyland by Stephen King
Old Kingdom #4: Clariel The Lost Abhorsen by Garth Nix

December
I rediscovered an old favorite from when my children were young and listened to audios with me, the Best Christmas Pageant Ever. 

Pendergast #14: Blue Labyrinth by Preston & Child

Call the Midwife #3: Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth

Breeders #1: The Breeders by Katie French

Elemental Assassin #3: Venom by Jennifer Estep
The Herdmans #1: Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson