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...

Happy holidays! With only four days left of 2015, it's time to list both New Year's resolutions and the best books of the year. This first post in a series of three is devoted to ranking the 5 autobiographies, memoirs, and nonfiction books I read this year. Although most were for school assignments, I thoroughly enjoyed each one.   Be sure to come back tomorrow and Tuesday for the Best Historical Fiction and Best Fiction books of the year!  Top Autobiographies, Memoirs, and Nonfiction of 2015: 5.  The Return of Martin Guerre , by Natalie Zemon Davis 4.  How to Read Literature Like a Professor , by Thomas C. Fowler 3. Reading Lolita in Tehran , by Azar Nafisi 2.  Unbearable Lightness , by Portia de Rossi 1.  I Am Malala , by Malala Yousafzai I Am Malala is the remarkable tale of Malala Yousafzai, who at 15 was shot by the Taliban for standing up for girls' education in Pakistan. In this incredibly enlightening and ...

{Already missing the summer days} So it seems yet again, I have taken an unintended hiatus. I promise, it was not intentional. I am ready to return, to tell what I've been reading, and to post reviews in the coming weeks. But first, there is quite a bit of book-related news to share and be excited about. Let's catch up on a few things, shall we? The New York Times  has reconstructed their Bestsellers List once again, expanding the Children's list to include hardcover, paperback, and e-book editions .   Go Set a Watchman , Harper Lee's much-anticipated sequel to her 1960 classic, has been on the Bestsellers List for 9 weeks and sold over 700,000 copies in its first 6 days on the shelves.  Bloomsbury Publishing and artist Jim Kay have teased illustrations from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition . The book will be released October 6th, but is currently available for pre-order.  Speaking of Harry Potter...his son Ja...

After completing my last final exam on Friday, I can officially say that summer has started. Not only does the arrival of warmer days and longer hours mean it is time to re-read and re-watch Harry Potter, but to finally check out those books that I have been adding to my "To-Read" list all year long. Here is what I plan on reading over the next few months: 1. Daisy Miller , Henry James 2. Bad Feminist , Roxane Gay 3. Saint Anything , Sarah Dessen 4. Attachments , Rainbow Rowell 5. The Poisonwood Bible , Barbara Kingsolver * 6. How to Read Literature Like a Professor , Thomas C. Foster * 7. Beloved , Toni Morrison * 8. Unbearable Lightness , Portia de Rossi ** 9. The Return of Martin Guerre , Natalie Zemon Davis *** 10. Paper Towns , John Green *Required Reading for AP Literature **Required Reading for Women's Studies and Literature ***Required Reading for AP Modern European History

Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays - eating lots of gingerbread and spending lots of time with family. Today, I will be wrapping up my "Best of" posts for 2014. So far, I have posted my Best Nonfiction / Memoir / Autobiography  books and my Best Historical Fiction books of the year.  In 2014, I read a total of 26 books, or 7,876 pages. I gained several new favorites this year, including Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald and The Catcher in the Rye .  I re-read several books this year before seeing their movie adaptations on the big screen. The Fault in Our Stars and Mockingjay Part 1 were just two of many Hollywood blockbusters of 2014 that were based on novels. This past year I was also selected to attend a five-day creative writing program at Alfred University, and became the Editor-in-Chief of my high school's literary arts magazine.  2014 was a great year for books and for me...so without further ado, here are my top 10 Fiction novel...

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 ...

It's that time of year! Yes, it is the time for some good Christmas cheer, but also for naming the best books of the year. My "Best of"lists for 2014 will be posted over the course of three days, so be sure to check back tomorrow for my top historical fiction novels of the year. Top Autobiographies, Memoirs, and Nonfiction of 2014:  4. Standing at Armageddon: A Grassroots History of the United States, Nell Irvin Painter 3. Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass 2. Outliers: The Story of Success , Malcolm Gladwell 1. Wave , Sonali Deraniyagala (Scored: 25 /30) Wave is the story of Sonali Deraniyagala, who was vacationing with her family in Sri Lanka during Christmas, week of 2004. On December 26th, a tsunami and earthquake occurred, consuming her hotel in waves. Deraniyagala lost her parents, husband, and sons to the tsunami...she writes in an unsentimental prose that is intimate and angry... Wave  is dark and haunting, and yet ...

   Over the course of 2013, I read a total of 25 books, or 8,108 pages. Of those 25, I gained several new favorites, including The Great Gatsby , and Between Shades of Gray - novels that I feel have made an important impact on my life.   Several books were also made into movies during 2013, including Gatsby, Catching Fire , The Host, and Safe Haven . The film industry has seem to found a new jackpot in YA novels! 2014 promises to be a year of more books-turned movies as well. I am looking forward to Divergent in March, The Fault in Our Stars in June, and Mockingjay Part 1 in November!   Not only was 2013 a year of great books, but a year of some of my best accomplishments. I  was published in my school's literary arts magazine and became Literary Editor of the magazine for the 2013-14 school year a few days later. My travels took me to  Cape Cod , Sugarbush, VT ,  Columbia University , and Strand Books.   I do not plan ...

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 ...

With 2013 quickly coming to a close, it is time for bloggers and readers alike to reflect on their reading over the course of the year. Back in January, I had joined two reading challenges hosted by very successful book blogs. Below you can find the books I read for each category, and links to the reviews I posted for each. I am currently scoping out what challenges will be available for 2014, and I will post here at the beginning of January with my findings! 2013 Women Challenge I read a lot of books written by women, but this year I had hoped to focus on the original, classic, women in literature: the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, etc. For this challenge I signed up for the "Super Girl" category (11-15 books written by women authors) and it was hosted by the blog  Peek-a-Book! The titles I read this year (15 read of 15 book goal - 100%): 1.  Divergent , Veronica Roth 2.  Insurgent, Veronica Roth 3.  Allegiant , Veronica Roth 4.  Between Shades of Gra...

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

I've done some browsing over the last week or so, and you wouldn't believe how many blog-hosted reading challenges there are out there. I considered running one of my own, but being still new to the whole book-blog thing, I thought I frankly would not have enough participants. So, for 2013, I've decided to participate instead of host. I kind of failed at the Historical Fiction challenge for last year, so picked a few that I think are a bit more attainable. Here we go. YA Contemporary Challenge 2013 This tends to be the genre I read the most, so I have signed myself up as a Level 2 contender (10+ books). All books read for this challenge must be YA books published at some point during 2013. This challenge, hosted by Katie's Book Blog, also has a group on Goodreads , which lists dozens of titles that fit this category. A Few I Plan on Reading: 1. The Sky is Everywhere, Jandy Nelson 2. Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets,   Evan Roskos 3. Fifteenth Summer , M...

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...

Happy Fourth of July! In honor of the patriotic day, I figured I would post some books here that will surely put you in the summer mood, and some, might even take you back to the days of quill pens, gunpowder, and redcoats! 1. Chains - Laurie Halse Anderson 2. Forge  ( sequel to Chains) - Laurie Halse Anderson 3.  Turtle in Paradise - Jennifer L. Holm 4.. The Fifth of March - Ann Rinaldi 5. Touch Blue - Cynthia Lord 6. Fever 1793 - Laurie Halse Anderson 7.  The Penderwicks - Jeanne Birdsall 8. Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons - Ann Rinadi

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...

In the past year, I have read 44 books. Throughout all of the hurricanes, royal weddings, and faraway vacations, I have found the time to enjoy some unforgettable reads. Here are my top ten of the year. Hopefully you will try some in the year to come! Top 10 Fiction Books of 2011 This list is a combination of Young Adult and Juvenile Fiction Novels 10.  A Step from Heaven, An Na 9.  The Summer Before Boys, Nora Raleigh Baskin      Read about Nora Raleigh Baskin here 8.  The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart 7.  Ways to Live Forever, Sally Nicholls      Read my review here 6.  Peter and the StarCatchers, Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry      Read my review here 5.  If You Come Softly, Jacqueline Woodson     Read my review here 4.  Hope Was Here, Joan Bauer     Read my review here 3.  Everything on a Waffl...

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

As the year comes to a close, I have decided to start a series of posts dedicated to the Best of 2011. I will be creating a list of my top 10 characters from books I read this year (they can be major or minor characters), authors, and finally, my favorite books. Top 10 Characters of 2011 (Does not include re-reads or series where previous books were read in 2010) 10.  Jason - Anything But Typical, Nora Raleigh Baskin 9.  Isabel Gardener - Chains and Forge , Laurie Halse Anderson 8.  Scout Finch - To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee 7.  Jo March - Little Women, Louisa May Alcott 6.  Yetta - Uprising , Margaret Peterson Haddix       Read my review here 5.  Molly Aster - Peter and the Star Catchers, Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry      Read my review here 4.  Reynie Muldoon - The Mysterious Benedict Society , Trenton Lee Stewart 3.  Celia Rae Foote - The Help, Kathryn Stocke...