Off The Shelf

Happy New Year's Eve! For book bloggers, the last day of the year is a time for reflection. As of today, I read a total of 35 books this year which included 11,171 pages. That is a good dozen less than last year, but I realize I read longer novels this year, therefore my total count would be smaller.  From that number I have chosen my top 12 to share with you. The authors I read the most of this year were Stephenie Meyer and John Green. Each of their writing styles are very different from each other, but I think that is what drew me too them. So, if you are in need of direction I would point you there. Thank you all for reading for another year. And I can't wait to see what challenges and events 2013 will bring! By clicking on the title or author in blue, you may view and read my review of the book. Top 12 Novels of 2012 12. Pride and Prejudice , Jane Austen 11. My Sister's Keeper , Jodi Picoult 10.  Looking For Alaska , John Green 9.  If I Stay , Gayle F...

Continuing my series of posts entitled The Best of 2012, Friday brings me to my favorite characters of the year. When I was first deciding what I wanted my lists to consist of, I hadn't thought of characters right away. I then realized that characters are really the most important - their point of view moves the story along, and sets the tone for the entire book. Each one is unique, crafted by the author to send a particular message. My favorite characters are sometimes quite different then myself - for example, Bella Swan was so clumsy, yet so brave, I sometimes wondered what I would do in the situations that were tossed at her. Would I be that courageous? That strong? But in the time that I read The Twilight Saga, I got to be her - I got to be in love with a vampire, best friends with a werewolf, and a mixed up teenager all at the same time - and it was so darn cool. This list is compiled of both major and minor characters and does not include re-reads or series where previou...

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas! Mine was wonderful, as I received new skis, some books ( On Writing Stephen King, The Fault in Our Stars John Green) and got to spend time with family. As the year comes to a close, I have complied my lists to create The Best of 2012 . I will be posting lists of characters, authors, historical fiction, memoirs, and finally, the best of the best in fiction. Also, be sure to check out my Remembering 2012 links in the sidebar. This column includes posts that documented important events in personal reading and culture. Earlier this year I announced that I would be challenging myself to read 15 historical fiction books through  Historical Tapestry's Historical Fiction Reading challenge. As you can see from reading the list below, I did not fulfill the expectations I had set for myself. I must say through, that the five books I did read were very good, and educational. You may read my review of each book by simply clicking o...

"Somebody waits for you, kiss her once for me . Have a holly, jolly Christmas, and in case you didn't hear, oh, by golly, have a holly jolly Christmas this year!" I just wanted to stop in real quick to wish everyone and their families a very Merry Christmas. May everyone be safe, happy and healthy, and I'll be back in a few days to start my week of "The Best Of 2012" posting. I am so excited to announce my choices! In the meantime, feel free to check out the Remembering 2012 list in the sidebar. Merry Christmas!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas; soon the bells will start, and the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing - right within your heart."   Over the weekend, I spent quite a bit of time in the car on the way to my brother's ice hockey games. The back roads we take to the rink are anything but flat, and the houses along them are not grand and and gated, but rustic and humble. Some were adorned in colored lights, others in white. Some went for the traditional look, with columns wrapped in garland, and red satin bows. And then there were others, with no lights at all - maybe their timer just hadn't come on yet.   Many houses had lights on inside, and beyond those shaded windows, I'd like to think there were families eating dinner, passing around the mashed potatoes and saying a little prayer. I know that is not always the truth - that in some homes there is simply no one to eat with, or even food to have. In my fantasies, e...

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Stories John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle 352 pages "Silly girl, it's not what the universe gives us that matters. It's what we give the universe." Its Christmas Eve, and three teenagers are stuck in the biggest snow storm to hit North Carolina in years.When Jubilee's train to Florida halts due to a ginormous snow drift in the middle of the tracks, she finds herself totally confused in a house where Jewish people celebrate Christmas. Then there is Angie, who is need of some of the Waffle House's greasy and sloppy hash browns, and drags the guys away from James Bond to come along. And Addie must still navigate her way through town to her early morning shift at Starbucks - because no matter what the circumstance, people will always need their coffee. Their small town of Gracetown as been turned into a winter wonderland of perilous mishaps and a little Christmas magic. Let It Snow is the perfect holiday read - a ...

Where She Went Gayle Forman 260 pages "Her eyes were closed, and her brow was a little furrowed. She was so still, it seemed like she'd taken a brief vacation from her body...I somehow knew then she was listening to music then, was grabbing the notes from the silence...I stood there, riveted by her, until she seemed to wake up and start playing with this intense concentration."  Four years after the accident, Mia and Adam have gone separate ways.  Mia tries to put the pieces of her life back together as she studies at Julliard, while Adam struggles to find comfort in the whirlwind of his rockstar-celebrity life. By a stroke of chance, the two are brought together for one night, and although their hours are short, together Mia and Adam explore the city, and who they have become. Gayle Forman's sequel to the New York Times Bestseller If I Stay , is written through Adam's voice, in that raw prose which defines her novels. I enjoyed this change in point of v...

As I think I stated in a previous post, my English class had been reading the famous play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The Crucible was written in 1953, in the midst of The Cold War, but with a setting during the Salem Witch Trials which took place in the 1690s. I finished the story a few weeks ago, but we completed watching the film just yesterday. Right after the final scene, when John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey are hung, my teacher stopped the film for a minute or two, at the very final image: a close-up of the rope, against a beautiful bluebird sky. At this point, the whole class was trying to stifle their tears, but she just turned to us and said, "Write." She then continued to say, "Write about the rope. What's the point? Channel your emotions, and write." She gave us about ten minutes or so before we shared them out loud, but I've taken the time to develop my piece a bit more here: The Rope A rope is something strong and roug...

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows 274 pages It is January 1946, and World War II has left its scars across the world. Writer Juliet Ashton, is looking for her next book subject when she receives a letter from a man named Dausey, who lives on the island of Guernsey off the coast of England. Soon, the two become friendly correspondents, and within the course of their letters, Juliet learns about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. This unusual and charming book club was created at the spur-of-the-moment during the German occupation and is made up of everyone from farmers, to wood carvers, and amateur cooks, but all have an excellent taste in books. Captivated by their stories, Juliet sets sail for the island, and what she finds there will change her forever. Schaffer and Barrow's  unique and uplifting novel is written entirely in letters. Some to Juliet, some from Juliet, but all give an original perspectiv...

"It's the most wonderful time of the year, with the kids jingle belling, and everyone telling you "Be of good cheer". It's the most wonderful time of the year, it's the hap-happiest season of all!" I have always said that my favorite time of the year is from Thanksgiving to New Year's - and I might even go as far as to extend it to the middle of January when my birthday falls. I love Christmas, but when stores like Kohl's and AC Moore start playing holiday songs even before Halloween, something is terribly wrong. Why are the season's being so rushed? Christmas songs in October? Halloween decor on Labor Day? Back to School promotions on the Fourth of July? Swim suit sales in March? It really all leads back to making money; franchises that want to get you into their stores for "Doorbusters". (where did that name come from anyway - are they really that great that they're going to blow up the entrance? Somehow I find that very u...

After much long anticipation, I have finally seen Breaking Dawn Part 2, the final movie in The Twilight Saga franchise. I had never seen a Twilight movie in the theaters before, as I just read the series by Stephenie Meyer last spring, so I was not sure what to expect. The movie was first shown in select theaters on Thursday at 10pm and at midnight, but it started showing everywhere yesterday, November 16th. Before leaving, some preparation was needed. I felt the need to be a little festive, and painted my nails red and black, to match the covers of the books. I also had to find my ticket, which I had pre-ordered on October 1st.     I arrived at the theater an hour and a half early, as I've heard the lines to get a good seat could be crazy, as no one wants to end up in the front row with their necks inclined.  AMC had an organized system going, so that was helpful and suprisingly, we were to be the first in the "yellow" line.      ...

Actually, the title of the book/movie is The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but if I had put the whole thing in the title, it would have been a little much. This movie I had been long anticipating, and it fulfilled all of my expectations. The reason I read the book by Stephen Chbosky was because I saw the movie trailer. (Also, because of Emma Watson...) I can't believe it was already two weekends ago that I went to see this with four other friends. The main cast is as follows: Charlie - Logan Lerman Patrick - Ezra Miller Sam - Emma Watson Bill (English Teacher) - Paul Rudd Mary Elizabeth - Mae Whitman Charlie's Mom - Kate Walsh Doctor - Joan Cusack Very few changes were made to the storyline, which made me very happy. Charlie is still the clueless and lost Freshman he was in the novel, Patrick also known as Nothing, and Sam is still sweet and kind. In the book, Charlie does not disclose last names to the person he is writing to, but in the movie, his English teacher ...

If I Stay Gayle Forman 234 pages As a senior in high school, Mia has a bright future at Julliard ahead of her, but when a single second alters that future indefinitely, she faces the biggest decision she has ever had to make. Caught somewhere between life and death, Mia spends twenty-four hours watching, reminiscing, and feeling. As I have said before, the best kinds of books are those that make you feel something. Whether that is laughter, joy, sadness or love, if the reader can feel those emotions pouring off the page in colors of analogy and imagery, then the author has done their job. If I Stay is that kind of story. Mia's story is told very simply, changing between memories and the present time - almost as if her life is flashing before her eyes. This story is told with very little detail and description, but maybe that's what makes this novel stand out compared to others I have read recently. I have heard Forman's style of writing described as raw prose, whi...

I've decided to start a new series of posts entitled "Song of Week", in hopes of sharing some of my favorites with you. To write a good song, you have to be a good writer, so the songs I choose are ones that I feel spark inspiration, or tell a story. For the first post, I've chosen "Begin Again" by Taylor Swift. This song was recently released on her new album RED.   Took a deep breath in the mirror He didn't like it when I wore high heels But I do Turned the lock and put my headphones on He always said he didn't get this song But I do, I do Walked in expecting you'd be late But you got here early and you stand and wave I walk to you You pull my chair out and help me in And you don't know how nice that is But I do And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid I think it's strange that you think I'm funny cause he never did I've been spending the last 8 months Thinking all love ever do...

My Life Next Door Huntley Fitzpatrick 395 pages “One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.” Samantha Reed is the daughter of the Connecticut State Senator but has always questioned her life at home. Her mother is never around, her father left before she was born, and Tracy is away with friends for the summer. On the other side of the fence live the Garretts. A family with eight kids, and two parents who seem to be the happiest around. Samantha has never talked to any of them, until one night when Jase climbs up the trellis to her bedroom window, and things begin to change for the better, and the worse. I finished My Life Next Door in just two days. It is the perfect comfort read; the perfect story if you need to forget about yor own problems for a little while (Hurricane Sandy) and read about someone else's. Fitzpatrick created characters that were laugh-out-loud funny, interesting, and genuinely re...

With Hurricane Sandy now fully behind us, (or so we hope) I can officially say I've survived to write another post. My town was not quite as lucky. Trees are down everywhere, and over 75% is still without power (that includes me in case you were wondering). In that case, I'm logged into the library's Wi-Fi along with lots of other people trying to charge stuff, check email, and get up to date with what has been going on. On Monday, we lost power at about 5pm, right in the middle of a three-hour-long Monopoly game that I ended up winning, and I didn't even own Park Place! Thank goodness I went to the library on Saturday where I checked out several good books including My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick which I finished in just to days by flashlight. (Review to be coming shortly). I also finished reading the play by Arthur Miller entitled The Crucible which although it was very good, only made me even more depressed. Unfortunately, it seems I might be in the...

The Last Song Nicholas Sparks 390 pages "Life, he realized, was much like a song. In the beginning there is mystery, in the end there is confirmation, but it's in the middle where all the emotion resides to make the whole thing worthwhile ." page 376 Veronica "Ronnie" Miller has not spoken to her dad in three years, since her parents' divorce. She was always just too angry to speak with him whenever he called, or even when he came to visit them in New York City. Now, three years later, Ronnie is being forced to spend the summer with him in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Ronnie expects this summer to be a painful one; one full of bad memories and forced conversations. Instead, she finds things she hadn't expected: second chances, and Will Blakelee. The Last Song is written mostly from Ronnie's point of view, but occasionally, a chapter will be written with regards to Will or her father. This gives the reader a more vivid idea as to the b...

The leaf at the right is one of many, many, that I found scattered across the lawn this morning. I could have sworn the piles had multiplied in just one evening. And as I look out the window now, the leaves are continuing to fall, but never straight down, always zig-zagging back and forth through the air. The sun didn't really decide to show itself today, making the sky a never-ending plane of different shades of gray. No signs of rain though, no clouds, just vast color. I think the trees are making up for it though. My backyard alone has enough yellow, orange, green, red, and brown to to create half the rainbow. The thermometer currently reads 49, and that is the kind of thing that hits you really hard - Fall is now in full swing, and time is really flying by. For goodness sake, it's October 12th already! The following poem seems to fit my thoughts at the moment. (I suggest you read it a few times, then reflect) Nature's first green is gold, / Her hardest hue to h...

On Saturday night, I sat down and watched the movie adaption of Nicholas Sparks' novel,  A Walk to Remember . The movie was released in 2002, and is rated PG. As the novel was fairly short, several scenes were added to the movie to give the story more dimension. For example, the movie opens up with Landon and his friends out after their curfew, therefore letting the viewers know that he is not a well-behaved kid. As the movie progresses, you see his change in character more profoundly than in the book. An example of another added scene would be one where Landon names a star after Jamie. This scene shows the viewer that he really cares for Jamie, and that this is not just some short-lived high school relationship. No matter how "cheesy" that might sound, it was a great addition to the story. To watch this scene from the movie click here. Overall, I really enjoyed the movie, maybe even more so than the book. (which is usually quite rare) A Walk to Remember is defin...

  I have my ticket!   Advance tickets for the movie Breaking Dawn Part - 2 went on sale this past Monday at midnight. Although the movie is not in theaters until November 16th, according to this article, Monday's ticket sales brought in an estimated $1.7 million.   The ending of the upcoming movie has been rumoured to have a different, newly thought-out one as compared to the book. I'm not sure how I feel about that yet, I guess I will just have to wait and see. Only 41 more days!   In the meantime, be sure to read my reviews of all of the books in The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer: Twilight New Moon Eclipse Breaking Dawn              

The Notebook Nicholas Sparks 214 pages It is 1946, World War II has ended, and Noah Calhoun has come home to New Bern, North Carolina. After being deployed overseas to Europe, his life has returned to normal. He works from dawn till dusk, only stopping to read poetry. Everything is normal, until Allie Nelson shows up in his driveway. Like a drive back into the past, Noah is soon caught up in feelings and questions he had felt and thought once before. And the most important question is, What is true love? On a normal trip to the library, I would not have checked out The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. But at a recent get together with friends, I got the whole "You've never seen The Notebook? Oh my gosh, that is like the best movie ever! And Ryan Gosling's in it!" Before they could persuade me into watching it right then and there, I stated my philosophy of "book before movie".  And so, I went to the library last week to check it out. Honestly, I don...

A Walk to Remember Nicholas Sparks 240 pages In 1958, Landon Carter was in with the popular crowd, although he didn't know why. He  didn't play football, he was not the Senior class President. Landon didn't question his status though, he just lived it. Jamie Sullivan was the daughter of  Beaufort's Baptist minister, and she always carried a bible with her school books. She was shy and kept to herself, and the last person Landon thought he would fall in love with. A Walk to Remember   is written through Landon's unique teenage voice. Landon changes and grows as a character the more the story evolves, and I can honestly say, I found myself wishing I was Jamie over and over. Over and over. My favorite quote from the book is the following: Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins, but del...

Before writing, find at least five different colors to use. They can be pens, like shown at the left, or colored pencils work fine too. Be sure to designate them a role as well. (For example, important dates may always be written in orange.) The first thing you should do is give your notes a date. This will help you to go back and find them later. Second, give them a title. Make it a simple one, just stating exactly what the notes are about. Examples: The Civil Rights Movement, Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 1. Next, think of a few categories that will help you to organize your notes. In the example shown in these pictures, I am researching Kurt Vonnegut, so some of my categories are Education, World War II, and Career. Make sure these titles are written larger, or are in some way more defined then the bullets beneath them. (Mine are written in pen and then highlighted.) Making note of quotes that relate to plot, or reveal something about a character or theme, is very import...

The past few days have been very busy, so unfortunately, I was unable to post on Friday and Saturday. In this post, I have several pictures to make up for the lost time.     12:29pm - Happy Fall!     3:45pm - With such nice weather today, I decided to sit outside and draw.     5:00pm - Haven't had time to really sit down and read this yet, maybe after I have finished posting this.

Just as a reminder, this week I am posting in pictures as part of my "This Week in Pictures" series.     8:50pm - A good book, cookies, and milk make a good combination

  7:35pm - Having a little fun with my flashcards!     8:26pm - This is my favorite quote from A Walk to Remember , I know it is a little blurry, but I hope you can still read the powerful message it resonates. (Review to come for this book shortly)

  5:57pm - This picture does not do any sort of justice to the amount of rain that is coming down right now.     7:28pm - Photographed above is my favorite bookmark, purchased in The Birdwatcher's General Store in Cape Cod, MA, and chapter seven of A Walk to Remember.

As stated in yesterday's post, I am trying something different this week, by posting my days in pictures with only short captions. Enjoy!      5:39am -  Oh Monday morning, how I love you!     4:46pm - Truth be told, this is the first time I am reading Martin Luther King Jr.'s most famous speech, I Have a Dream . For homework I was supposed to analyze the speech, making notes and writing down important quotes. This one is my favorite: "With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood."     7:12pm - The library. Isn't it a lovely sight! I was in need of some new reading material, and I had some others overdue...oops!  

For the next seven days, I will be documenting my reading, scenery, and interests in pictures. I plan to write a blurb or two just for photo clarification, but this should be fun as well as a challenge. I spent the day today on the lake, not really reading, but just relaxing and trying to keep warm. The wind had me bundled in a sweatshirt, yet the sky was cloudless and the sun strong. I guess the weather couldn't make up her mind this afternoon.

Between the Lines Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer 358 pages More specifically, Delilah needs a Prince Charming. After falling in love with a children's fairy tale she found in her high school library, strange things start to happen. For instance, the main character (the one she secretly has a crush on) starts to talk to her. At first, Delilah thinks she's going crazy, but soon she finds herself on a mission to help the prince escape from his fairy tale, and into the real world. Between the Lines is told in a unique way: switching from Delilah's point of view, to Oliver; the prince, and passages from the fairy tale itself. These passages are complete with beautiful drawings, like any classic fairy tale. Delilah is a fully developed character, complete with all of the unfortunate high school experiences. For instance, during swim practice, she gives the head cheerleader a black eye, and falls in and out of friendships. The setting of this novel is not as pre...

Cover Credit: Google Images Looking for Alaska John Green 221 pages Miles Halter is the average teenage kid, except for the fact that he has an obsession with famous last words. In the hopes for some adventure, he enrolls at the Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama. But on top of getting some ridiculous adventure, Miles gets Alaska Young, a sexy, daring, and self-destructive kind of girl. Together, they search for the answer to the question: How do we get out of the labyrinth of suffering? Told in first person, John Green creates Miles to tell the honest to God truth. Miles speaks to you in a way so righteous, so raw, straight down to the explicit language he uses. Looking for Alaska follows the average teenage plot: you crush on a girl, you get in a little trouble, and then something doesn't go as planned. The theme most pronounced throughout the novel is the question above.  How do we make our way through the labyrinth of life, without encounte...

Yesterday, I posted the first half of a story written during a discussion I started on Goodreads. It is a fan's take on what happened after the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling. By clicking here , you can read the rest of the story. This material is the compiled work of several Goodreads members, and therefore what they contributed is their property. I have listed their usernames on the bottom of the document to give credit where credit is due. Please respect that. Thank you. To read the previous part of the story, click here

The following was a discussion I started on Goodreads, a website that allows readers to talk, share and write about what they are reading or have read. I figured as Harry and Ginny's wedding scene never made it into the book or the movie of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling, it would be fun to write it as a group: The Weasley's kitchen table was covered in white envelopes, each with a neatly folded piece of parchment inside. Three quills floated above them, addressing them without a hand. Harry leaned over the table and studied some that had already been addressed. Written in perfect script, were names like: Professor Neville Longbottom, Mr. and Mrs. George and Angelina Weasley, Ms. Luna Lovegood, and Professor Horace Slughorn. Behind him, Harry heard the creaking of the stairs. Ron appeared beside him. “What are you doing down here?” said Harry. “Mum sent me down here to keep you occupied. You are not allowed upstairs.” Ron replied. “Why not?” “...