2011 in books : first half

I've been meaning to do a post like this, but the questions are nabbed from inkcrush. I know I overlapped some books but they're completely justified.

one. favorite book read so far in 2011

This is my favorite fictional work. My favorite overall book of the year is Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

two. most powerful book

This book is something everyone should read. Full stop.

three. the most brilliantly funny

I have to say, I haven't read many books that year that made me laugh on a consistent basis. Spellbound, however, just had some great points here and there where things were so perfectly phrased that I found myself laughing aloud.

four. best ache-y, heart-breaking, tear-jerker read

 This series kills my heart and makes it smile all at once. I loved the majority of this book, but there was one part after which I thought I might stop reading the series, but, I continued. Eventually.

five. most beautiful story

six. fave rainy day comfort read

seven. best tense, adrenaline-fueled, unputdownable award

eight. the beautiful prose award

nine. most atmospheric and vivid setting

ten. i-so-want-to-go-there award
This is difficult. I'd love to go to the Dauntless enclave, but I'd also like to visit the beaches of California like in Moonglass. Can I cheat? I want to go to them all.

eleven. most original and imaginative

If I could, I would also give this one 'completely amazing premise', but I'm going to try and branch out for another one. Suffice to say, I really loved this book. I need a hard copy.

twelve. best under-appreciated, hidden gem book

thirteen. i-had-no-idea-i-would-love this-so award

I had only read the Wicked Lovely series before this which didn't do too much for me, so I took a risk and it paid off big time. I love this series.

fourteen. most haunting story

fifteen. outside of my comfort zone but gosh how i loved it

Okay, so I have to say that I am not a fan of Twilight and have since been a bit wary of books having to do with vampires. But I read the entire series last weekend after starting this book and I loved it (although I have a love/hate relationship with it) and wish there were more, especially from Dimitri's perspective.

sixteen. series that i'm loving

A Song of Ice and Fire (the Game of Thrones book series) and the Divergent series really are top for me, but to be different, I'm rather looking forward to Crossed, too.

seventeen. most memorable voice award

I loved Saba and her diction and the flow of the prose. It worked so well for me and as a result I fell deeply into the book while reading.

eighteen. completely awesome premise award

As a note: although I really enjoyed the premise of this book, the execution of the story in some parts really didn't work for me. 

nineteen. would make the best movie

Gladiator + the book version of The Road = Blood Red Road.

twenty. want to re-read already

 I do. I still haven't reviewed it. I think I'll reread it later in the year and then put up a review. But I love, love, love this book.