2013: Year In Review

I am posting this a little earlier than usual, this year, in case any of you have yet to complete your Christmas shopping. . .
(any of the below would make an enjoyable gift, in my opinion, for a loved one)

The Top Ten Novels that I read this year:
(in alphabetical order - * denotes that the book was published this year)

1. * Black Feathers (the Black Dawn -
       Volume One) by Joseph D'Lacey
2. Choke Hold by Christa Faust (Note:
     this book is a sequel to #6, below)
3. * The Companions by R. A. Salvatore
4. Dead Stop by D. Nathan Hilliard
5. '14' by Peter Clines
6. Money Shot by Christa Faust
7. * 'NOS4A2' by Joe Hill
8. * Spiderstalk by D. Nathan Hilliard
9. * The Third Kingdom by Terry Goodkind
10. ** The Troop by Nick Cutter
(Note: #10 will officially be released, next year/month. I have included it, as I read an advanced review copy back in August - see review!)

So, which novel receives the acclaimed "Best Novel of the Year"?
This is an extremely tough choice this year! I am going to have to say #4 - Dead Stop as this novel has remained in my head since the beginning of the year!
I must also state that #8 - Spiderstalk (same author!) was the "most original" story that I read this year.

My Top Ten Favorite Films released this year:
(in alphabetical order)

1. Bullet to the Head
2. The Conjuring
3. Dark Skies
4. Fast & Furious 6
5. The Last Stand
6. Man of Steel
7. Man of Tai Chi
8. Monsters University
9. Olympus Has Fallen
10. Through the Never

Note: This year, I made the decision to wait until theatrical releases hit my local "second-run theatre" - thus saving myself a lot of money - which, in turn, allowed me to build my own Blacksmith Forge...
So, any movies released in the last month or two (cough; cough - 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug') may not be on this list, simply because I haven't seen them yet.

Best Film of the Year? #2 - The Conjuring

Since this post could possibly be used as a potential gift list, here are a few more of my "favorites" this year:

My Favorite Albums released this year:
(in alphabetical order, by artist, not title)

1. Jeremy Camp - Reckless
2. Newsted - Heavy Metal Music
3. Skillet - RISE
4. Stryper - No More Hell to Pay

Best Album of the year? Skillet's 'Rise'!

My Favorite (New) Television Shows released this year:
(in alphabetical order)

1. Bates Motel
2. Orphan Black
3. The Following

Note: I also dropped Cable this year, back in July, so any new shows released since then, I haven't seen yet...

Best New Show of the year?
'Orphan Black'

My Favorite [Android] Apps that I Downloaded this year:
(in alphabetical order)

1. Angry Birds Go!
2. Angry Birds: Star Wars 2
3. Doodle Army
4. Draw a Stickman: Epic
5. Sleepwalker's Journey
6. Vector
7. V for Vampire

Note: If I recall correctly, each of the above apps are/were Free (on Android)

My Most Played App this year:
Most likely 'Sleepwalker's Journey' though 'Vector' was probably a close second!

Well, there you have my year-in-review.
Just keep in mind, if I haven't reviewed it here, on my blog, chances are there is most likely some sort of write-up on my Google+ Profile
[google.com/+JasonBerry]

Thank you for taking the time to read this post - hopefully it helped you.

May you have a Blessed Christmas and an extremely Happy New Year!

Jason