Favourite book cover

Yes, I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. But I think book covers are very important. You go into a book shop, looking for something new to read... of course you're going to be drawn to the most interesting cover. Of course, it doesn't mean that the book is guaranteed to be good. But here are my nominations for favourite book cover:

Gillespie and I by Jane Harris

The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

The Observations by Jane Harris

I loved all of these book covers, but the winner is...

Gillespie and I.

I liked the art nouveau-esque design of this book cover. The bold, block colours worked well together and it was very eye catching.

Favourite male character

This was a bit of a tricky one, as a lot of the characters that I loved reading about this year were female. But I've managed to make a short list of some of the men that captured my imagination. Here are the contenders:

Edward Rochester, Jane Eyre

William Lomax, A Moment of Silence/A Gentleman of Fortune/A Woman of Consequence

Maxim de Winter, Rebecca

All great characters from great books, but the winner is...

...

William Lomax.

I thought he was a very charming and lovely character. A decent man who was clearly in love with Dido Kent. I was desperate for her to just hurry up and admit that she loved him and that she really wanted to marry him. He was totally devoted to Dido and was always looking out for her and making sure she was out of harm's way. I always enjoyed reading his character, which is why he's my winner for favourite male character.

Favourite short story by Daphne du Maurier

This year, I read "The Birds and Other Stories" by Daphne du Maurier. This collection of short, gothic tales was a great read, so here's the contenders:

The Birds
A man and his family go into hiding after birds start acting strangely and attacking humans.

Monte Verita
Story about a mysterious sect who live on a mountain. Young women go missing on the mountain and the story is told from the point of view of two men who try and find her.

The Apple Tree
A man suspects his dead wife's spirit inhabits an old apple tree that resides in his garden.

The Little Photographer
Whilst on holiday, a rich Marquise has an affair with a photographer, who quickly becomes obsessed with her.

Kiss Me Again, Stranger
Story of a man who meets a cinema usherette and walks her home, but finds himself in a cemetery with her.

The Old Man
A family history as told from the point of view of an onlooker.

And the winner is...

...

The Apple Tree.

I really loved this story. I thought it was creepy, chilling, clever, and a very enjoyable read. Who knew trees could be so menacing!

List of books

Here's a list of all the books I have read in 2011 (in chronological order):

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
A Hidden Affair by Pam Jenoff
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
A Moment of Silence by Anna Dean
Hothouse Flower by Lucinda Riley
The Unseen by Katherine Webb
The Legacy by Katherine Webb
The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean
A Gentleman of Fortune by Anna Dean
The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal
The Observations by Jane Harris
The Bobbsey Twins in Rainbow Valley by Laura Lee Hope
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Book of Tomorrow by Cecilia Ahern
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
Farundell by L.R. Fredericks
The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier
A Woman of Consequence by Anna Dean
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Vanishing by Tim Krabbe
My Last Duchess by Daisy Goodwin
Markham Thorpe by Giles Waterfield
The Time of my Life by Cecilia Ahern

And I'm just over half way through Gillespie and I by Jane Harris. I hope I can finish it by the end of the year so I can include it in my "awards".

Welcome!

2011 was a fantastic year for me, reading-wise. I set myself a goal of reading 30 books throughout the whole year, and I completed my challenge!! I read a total of 33 books (and currently half way through the 34th. Let's see if I can finish it by the end of the year!). 33 books in one year may not sound like a lot to some people, but for me it's incredible!! I've loved discovering so many new authors and books, that I thought I would do a "book awards".

So stay tuned, the awards will be starting in January. :)