Off The Shelf

Today marks the second "Best of" list of 2015. Having revealed my Best Autobiography / Memoir / Nonfiction books yesterday, today will be the Best Historical Fiction. None of the novels on this list were a disappointment, in fact I had a very difficult time deciding which spot each would take.  A God in Ruins was just as intricate and spellbinding as its companion novel, Life After Life . The Secret Life of Violet Grant was the perfect vacation read -- full of adventure and drama. I was completely invested in Anita Diamant's beautifully feminist book, The Red Tent , and was pleased to find that her most recent novel, The Boston Girl , was just as thrilling. The novel you will find at #1 is the perfect combination of all of these books -- its story is both elegantly written and undoubtedly important.  Top Historical Fiction of 2015: 8. Beloved , by Toni Morrison 7. The Poisonwood Bible , by Barbara Kingsolver 6. The Secret Life of Violet Grant , b...

The Nightingale Kristin Hannah 440 pages "Perhaps that's why I find myself looking backward. The past has a clarity I can no longer see in the present." In Carriveau, France in 1939, Vianne Mauriac must say goodbye to her husband when he is called to the Front. Soon after he leaves, the Nazis march into the village and she must quarter one in her home. As food supplies and hope dwindles, Vianne tries to stay spirited for her daughter, but when she is forced to make one hard choice after another, her true resilience is put to the test. Vianne's sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl who has been kicked out of boarding school more times than she can count. When the Germans occupy Paris, she joins the Resistance, delivering notes by bicycle until she realizes she was meant for something greater.  I again apologize for my long absence. Preparing for AP tests has consumed most of my life for the past few weeks. Yesterday and today were the ...

2014 was the year I think I fell in love with history. I have had a really great US History teacher for the past two years, who not only gives us bonus points when he scores over par while playing golf, but whose enthusiasm for the subject has made the AP class comedic and interesting. I also discovered Downton Abbey and Midnight in Paris this year, a TV show and a movie that have helped me realize that the period from 1915-1945 is my favorite to read about. Historical fiction is certainly the type of novel I could see myself writing in the future.   Of the historical fiction novels I read this year, here are the top six. It was a tight race for the #1 spot! Top Historical Fiction of 2014:  6. The Chaperone , Laura Moriarty 5. Life After Life , Kate Atkinson 4. The Things They Carried , Tim O'Brien 3. All the Light We Cannot See , Anthony Doerr 2. Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald , Therese Anne Fowler 1. The Paris Wife , Paula McLain ...

All the Light We Cannot See Anthony Doerr 530 pages "Could they hide here until the war ends? Until the armies finish marching back and forth above their heads, until all they have to do is push open the door and shift some stones aside and the house has become a ruin beside the sea? Until he can hold her fingers in his palms and lead her out into the sunshine? He would walk anywhere to make it happen, bear anything; in a year or three years or ten, France and Germany would not mean what they meant now."    -page 473 France 1944. A sightless sixteen-year-old girl named Marie-Laure LeBlanc is curled up beneath her bed, listening as the Americans shower bombs over her beloved ocean, her town, her house.  The roar of explosives is deafening in her ears, her body shakes. Down the street, an eighteen-year old German private named Werner Pfennig sits in a hotel cellar, one hand on his rife, the other on the radio transceiver he invented. He thinks of his younger siste...

Life After Life Kate Atkinson 544 pages "Ursula found it very odd to think that up above there were bombers being flown by men...They weren't evil, they were just doing what had been asked of them by their country. It was war itself that was evil, not men.     -page 411 Ursula Todd is born on a cold and snowy night in 1910. She dies before she can take her first breath. No sooner does she die, that she is born again, on the same cold and snowy night, in the same English country home. Ursula continues to die, in various ways and at varies ages throughout her life, but just as soon as darkness falls over her, Ursula is reborn, allowing her to live an infinite number of lives. As the 20th century barrels towards it's second cataclysmic world war, Ursula's seemingly unusual lifestyle may give her the power to save the world from its destructive destiny. Kate Atkinson's Life After Life deals with the delicate idea of choices, and it argues that even the...

The Paris Wife Paula McLain 314 pages "We were all on the verge now, bursting with youth and promise and little trills of jazz...Girls everywhere stepped out of their corsets and shortened their dresses and darkened their lips and eyes...Youth, in 1921, was everything."   -page 40 Hadley Richardson expected her trip to Chicago to be simple - as she was a simple girl with simple wishes. What she did not expect however, was to fall madly in love with Ernest Hemingway. After a speedy courtship and wedding, the newlyweds set sail for Paris, where the Jazz Age has already swept what becomes known as the "Lost Generation" right up into its chaos. Once there, Ernest throws himself into the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises  while Hadley struggles to balance the roles of friend, wife, and muse. All too soon, a deception more complicated  than either of them could have imagined, blows the marriage they had built on loyalty and love, to pieces. My rea...

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald Therese Anne Fowler 375 pages "Lord help me, I miss him. I wish I could tell everyone who thinks we're ruined, who thinks Scott's beyond washed-up and I'm about as sharp these days as a sack of wet mice, Look closer. Look closer and you'll see something extraordinary, mystifying, something real and true. We have never been what we seemed." -page 5 When Zelda Sayre meets F. Scott Fitzgerald at a country club dance in 1918, she is young and beautiful at seventeen years old and he is a dashing army lieutenant. Scott immediately falls in love with her independence and liking for reckless behavior. He promises his writing will bring him fame, and it does, when This Side of Paradise is published in 1920 and earns raving popularity. Zelda, falling in love with his charisma and intelligence, quickly boards a train to New York City where they are married at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The years following are full of lav...

As 2013 comes to a close, I have complied my lists to create The Best of 2013 . I will be posting lists of memoirs, historical fiction, and finally, the best of the best in fiction! Just as a reminder, unlike many other "Best of" lists around the Internet, the books included in my lists are not centered entirely on novels published in 2013, they are just books I read in 2013. Books listed here that were published in 2013 are entirely coincidental. Top Memoirs of 2013: 2. Night , Elie Wiesel 1. The Glass Castle , Jeannette Walls I read The Glass Castle as part my Honors English curriculum last spring, and it was a very eye-opening novel. Jeannette Walls writes about growing up with neglectful and unemployed parents, and her struggle for a bright future. Walls tells her story in a way that is raw and inspiring. Top Historical Fiction Novels of 2013: 3. In the Time of the Butterflies , Julia Alvarez 2. Between Shades of Gray , Ruta Sepetys ...

Life: An Exploded Diagram Mal Peet 385 pages At this point I need to take you on a short detour. I'm very much a cause-and-effect sort of a fellow. I'm fascinated by the way things fit together (and come to pieces). And if we were to take what eventually happened to Frankie and me and drew something like a flowchart of how it came about, one of its arrows would lead us into the darkness of a Caribbean night. Clem Ackroyd, the son of a war veteran and a careful bookkeeper, is a working-class boy hoping to one day scrape together the funds to go to art school. Frankie Mortimer is the daughter of a wealthy land owner, living in an inherited estate. Soon, in Norfolk, England, the two will embark on a relationship that must be kept a secret, and if found out, their world could be blown apart. Little do they know, that John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khruschev are about to do just that, as the event later known in history books as the Cuban Missile Crisis begins to unfold. Life: A...

Happy Summer! With school winding down in the next few days, I have found myself looking forward to the season with much anticipation.  The following is a list of novels I hope to read in the coming months. Whether you are seated comfortably on the couch at home, at a picnic table or in a beach chair with sand between you toes, I hope the summer brings you fun, sunshine, and of course, good books! 1. This Side of Paradise, F. Scott Fitzgerald 2. Flowers in the Sky, Lynn Joseph 3. Every Day,  David Levithan 4. On the Road, Jack Kerouac 5. In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez * 6. Saturday, Ian McEwan * 7. The Book Thief, Markus Zusak 8. The Silver Star, Jeannette Walls 9. Threads and Flames, Esther M. Friesner 10. The Distance Between Us, Kasie West  *Assigned summer reading for Honors English 2013-2014

Between Shades of Gray Ruta Sepetys 338 pages It is 1941 and World War II is tearing through Europe, but the horrific events taking place in the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are unknown to the rest of the world. Fifteen-year-old Lina Vilkas is winding down the school year, and spending her free-time lost in colored pencils and paint, when a knock on her front door changes her life forever. She and her family are taken from their home in Lithuania by the Soviet secret police and are thrown into cattle cars bound for northern Siberia. Along the way, Lina embeds clues into her drawings hoping if they are passed along, they might reach her father, and bring him back to them. In this moving story, Lina will spend the next twelve years fighting for her life as well as others' in the prison camps the world never knew about. The horrific events that occurred between 1941 and 1954 under the rule of Josef Stalin was a part of history I had never heard of before readi...

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...

Just a quick shout out to all of you who have taken the time to read, glance at, or check out what I've posted here on Off The Shelf. I hope you've found something worth your visit! As summer draws nearer and nearer, I've decided to post what is on my summer reading list for this year. 1.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky - The movie version of this book, starring Logan Lerman ( Percy Jackson and the Olympians ) and Emma Watson (Harry Potter films) will be coming to theaters this September. 2.  Looking for Alaska, John Green 3.  Paper Towns, John Green 4.  The Fault in our Stars , John Green 5.  Thin Wood Walls, David Patneaude 6.  The Red Umbrella , Christine Gonzalez 7.  The Book Thief, Markus Zusak 8.  Between Shades of Gray , Ruta Sepetys Many classics have also found their way on to this list... 9.   Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen   10. Emma, Jane Austen 11.  The Summer of M...

Sarah's Key Tatiana de Rosnay 293 pages Travel back in time to Paris in July of 1942, as you read Sarah's Key , a different kind of Holocaust story. Ten-year-old Sarah and her family are arrested along with other Jewish families in the middle of the night by the French police. Thinking her younger brother will be safe from harm, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard, and promises to come back. Sixty years later, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist living with her family in Paris, discovers Sarah's story along with heartbreaking family secrets. The New York Times Bestseller, Sarah's Key is written in al-turnating chapters, changing between present day, and the past. Sarah and Julia are characters so real, you feel each of their emotions. You will laugh with them, you will smile with them, and most importantly, you will cry with them. de Rosnay has made this story come alive, with rich descriptions, and vivid details, making this book one to leave you somewhere...

The other night, I watched the movie version of the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It really was very good, and I enjoyed watching the characters come to life. The cast consisted of the following: Emma Stone - Skeeter Phelan Viola Davis - Aibileen Clark Bryce Dallas Howard - Hilly Holbrook *Octavia Spencer - Minny Jackson Jessica Chastain - Celia Foote Ahna O'Reilly - Elizabeth Leefolt Although the movie is a little over two hours long, don't let that turn you away. Considering the novel is 451 pages, even two hours did not cover every scene. I do believe the main story line was well portrayed and engaging. Some negatives of the movie for me were that Celia Foote's story/plot line was not fully described, and Skeeter and Stewart's relationship was brief and undeveloped. Revising each of these parts would have made the movie easier to understand for someone who had not read the book. Overall, the movie was enjoyable and fun to watch. This movie should...

Top 10 Historical Fiction Reads of 2011 10.  The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick        Read my review here 9.  To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee 8.  The Fifth of March , Ann Rinaldi 7.  Moon Over Manifest, Claire Vanderpool 6.  Fever 1793, Laurie Halse Anderson 5.  Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatly, Ann Rinaldi      Read my review here 4.  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith 3.   Uprising, Margaret Peterson Haddix       Read my review here 2.  The Help, Kathryn Stockett      Read my review here 1.  Chains, Laurie Halse Anderson

The Historical Fiction Challenge is hosted by the blog Historical Tapestry  for 2012. This is my first time participating, and I am excited to announce I have signed up as an "Undoubtedly Obsessed" reader, meaning I will try to read and review 15 historical fiction books this coming year. You don't have to have a blog to participate, just click on the link above, and post a comment stating you're interested. Love historical fiction? Try some of these: 1. Uprising , Margaret Peterson Haddix      Check out my review here 2.  Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons , Ann Rinaldi      Check out my review here 3. The Help , Kathryn Stockett     Check out my review here 4. Fever 1793 , Laurie Halse Anderson 5.  Al Capone Does My Shirts, Gennifer Choldenko 6. Weedflower, Cynthia Kadohata 7. Penny From Heaven, Jennifer L. Holm 8. The Fifth of March, Ann Rinaldi

Uprising Margaret Peterson Haddix 330 pages Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted! To make up for the time, I've got a great book to review for you. Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix is a historical fiction book, but don't let that turn you away. Uprising set in the early 1900's   tells the story of three very different women who develop a long-lasting friendship. Bella, fresh off the boat from southern Italy, gets a job at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City. Yetta, is Russian immigrant and believer in fair work conditions and pay. Jane, a wealthy and sophisticated girl who gets involved in the cause despite her father's intentions for her. When the fire erupts on the 8th floor of the shirtwaist factory on March 25th, 1911 all three of their lives will be changed as well as the work conditions in American factories forever. Uprising   is perfectly researched, and keeps the reader's eyes moving from page to page. Alth...

The Book The Help Kathryn Stockett 451 pages "Three extraordinary women, are about to take one extraordinary step." This line, cited from the cover of the book, definitely invites you to join in the journey. Skeeter, a recent college graduate, who wants to be a writer,  Abileen, a colored maid raising her seventeenth white baby, Minny, a colored maid with a large temper. The Movie They all have very different backgrounds, but come together to write about something they truly believe in. Skeeter, Abileen, and Minny decide to write a novel telling the stories of colored maids, and the families they work for; the good, the bad, and the heart wrenching moments in which they experience everyday, This story takes place in the early 1960's during the height of the civil rights movement. All three main characters find home in Jackson, Mississippi. The book is written from each character's point of view, alternating chapters. You follow a span of about ...

Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley Ann Rinaldi 324 pages I am a big fan of historical fiction; especially books that center around the Colonial Era. Ann Rinaldi is known for her historical fiction novels including; The Fifth of March , Taking Liberty , and Or Give Me Death. Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons is the unknown story of Phillis Wheatley and her life as the first women African-American poet. Phillis was one of several slaves at the Wheatley House in Boston, MA. When the Wheatley's discover her talent for writing poetry, they begin to mold her future by having her "perform" for important guests. Eventually, Phillis is sent to England to have her first book of poetry published. Although Phillis is adorned with fame, she is still troubled with her way of life. Nothing can change the fact that she is still a slave. This book is written through Phillis's voice, and dates help form a vivid timeline of her life. Ann Rin...