Books I've read in 2014

I definitely don't need to sit back and reflect on 2014, nor do I want to. This year was a bad reading year for me. I didn't even get to read thirty books, which is beyond disappointing. Negative into a positive, the books I read this year, I absolutely loved. Check them out!

JANUARY 

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot*

FEBRUARY 

Hollywood Said No!: Orphaned Film Scripts, Bastard Scenes, and Abandoned Darlings from the Creators of Mr. Show by David Cross and Bob Odenkirk with Brian Posehn

MARCH 

Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16 by Moshe Kasher*

APRIL 

Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
Big Boned by Meg Cabot

MAY 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green*

Paper Towns by John Green

JUNE 

Teen Angst? Naaah by Ned Vizzini

JULY
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp*

AUGUST
The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta*
Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot
The Bride Wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot

SEPTEMBER
How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper*

OCTOBER 

The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini

The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot* 

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot
Hemlock Grove: or, The Wise Wolf by Brian McGreevy
Plan B by Jonathan Tropper*
The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper*

NOVEMBER
Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis

DECEMBER

Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper*

I'm really looking forward to 2015, setting a new reading goal and most of all, discovering new books! I hope you all read some delicious books this year as well! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

*Very highly recommend 

Reading List!: December 2014

Welcome to the final Reading List of 2014!

I actually thought I had a plan of what I wanted to read this month, but honestly, I don't. I'm currently in possession of Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan, but we're eight days into December and I haven't even read the introduction. I did want to reread the Queen of Babble series by Meg Cabot this month, but I don't know anymore. I think I'm not sure what I want to read anymore because I'm kind of bummed I finished all of Jonathan Tropper's novels. I enjoyed reading those novels the most this year. I've also been waiting about two months for Pines by Blake Crouch to be available at my library. I feel like it never will and I was really looking forward to reading it and finishing the series before the show starts. I really don't feel like reading anything else. I also know at this point, I won't make my reading goal, so that's another reason why I can't decide what I want to read. Maybe I'll take this month off and start fresh in the new year. By December 17th, the fall semester will be over and I'll have a lot more free time and I'm hoping by then, I'll suddenly be inspired to read something. 

Here's a list of what I'll read this month, if I feel like:

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan

Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot 

Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot 

Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot 

How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper (reread)

What are you reading? 

Happy Holidays!!! 

Reading List!: November 2014

As November is more than halfway over, I thought it only appropriate to post the books I plan to read in the month.

I had some trouble this month deciding what I wanted to read. It's painfully obvious that I won't be able to read fifty books this year, (another failed reading goal; just like last year) so I'm trying to make it to (at least) thirty books. Which means the minimum amount of books I need to read for the next two months is four. Who knew trying to find four books would be so difficult. But obviously it would be hard if I don't have a clue what I want to read.

Here's what I decided to read:

Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper

Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis

Pines by Blake Crouch

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan

In the request queue at my local library, I'm third to receive Pines and ninth to get Food: A Love Story. Who knows how long that's going to take. Not sure how many weeks that will take and Pines is the first novel of a series I want to read. I don't really have two back ups if I don't get these books in time to read them in November. I was thinking about rereading The Queen of Babble series by Meg Cabot which I own. But I haven't decided. Hopefully I get Pines in time to read it. I was really looking forward to finishing the series before January when the TV show adaptation premieres on FOX.

To make up for the lack of photos, here's a mini review of the first book I finished this month. It took me forever to read Word Freak. It wasn't at all what I thought it would be, but I still gave it a chance. It wasn't worth it. Word Freak is about the competitive world of Scrabble. I thought it was going to be a fictional novel, but I was wrong. It turned out to be more like Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Capella Glory by Mickey Rapkin, only much more BORING. Word Freak is written by Stefan Fatsis, a sports journalist, but I got no sense of his writing style while reading his book. Mostly Word Freak was a history lesson about how Scrabble was created and how it came to be owned by Hasbro. Fatsis talks about the tournaments and his experiences in them, but it was written like he was recounting a murder to the police. I got no feel for his emotional connection towards the game and no part was funny. If you decide to read Word Freak, good luck.

Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis

Anyway, see you in December! Lots of posts coming in December. 

The Boy Series

It's very fitting and exciting that for my 100th post I get to talk about the most intriguing, unique book series I've ever read, The Boy series by Meg Cabot! This series is not unique and compelling so much for the ploys, but for the method the stories are told. I have never read anything novel quite like these.

Reading List!: October 2014

There's no denying that October is very much halfway over and this post is more than a couple weeks late, but if you were curious about what I'm reading this month, I posted this for you. After reading all of ONE book relatively quickly in September, struggling to finish another, and waiting a month for all the books I really wanted to read, the time finally came. The universe was on my side for once this month. 

This post is really late because I didn't really have much free time. But I'm happy to say since I checked out all these books at the beginning of October, I've read five of them. That's the most books I've read in one month this year. (More on that in December when I post my round up of all the books I've read in 2014.) 

I picked a good bunch of books to read this month. I thoroughly enjoyed the refreshing feeling of reading something new. And now without anymore babble, here's my reading list for October 2014:

The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot 

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot 

Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot

Hemlock Grove: or, The Wise Wolf  by Brian McGreevy 

Plan B by Jonathan Tropper 

The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter--And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay

The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper (not pictured)

Happy reading, friends!

Update #16: Not So Good

Hi everyone. So from the title of this post I guess you can tell I'm not doing so well. Yes, I meant to rhyme there, I thought it would make me feel better. It did not. I've been taking a lot of hits lately. But this isn't a life blog so I won't bore you with my life problems.

What really sucks is on top of all the shit I'm going through, I can't even find refuge in reading books. It started at the end of August when I requested the four books I wanted to read this month. I thought I had requested them with enough time that they'd come in time for the beginning of September and I would have one book to read a week. That was the goal. It's been three weeks and I've only checked out two of those four books and only read one of those two books. It's really disappointing because I was looking forward to reading those books this month. The one book I did read, How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper was excellent, but I had requested another one of his novels and it's still not in my possession. I started reading the next book I checked out, The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini. It wasn't what I expected and for a while I thought about not finishing it. But today, I decided to just keep reading it because I like Ned Vizzini, the chapters are short and quick and I'm not going waste this month by reading one book. Because half of my books took three weeks (and counting) to get to me, I requested four more books. Three of those books are a series by Meg Cabot and luckily enough for me, the last two books became available before the very first book of the series. So I can't even start that series when I finish The Other Normals.

This is the most disappointed I've been about books ever. I hate this feeling. All I want to do right now is escape in a good book. It seems like all the books I requested only have one copy and its checked out already. Just my luck, I suppose.

Sorry for the somber post, but I thought I'd keep you updated. I haven't been posting lately and now you know why. I hope you're doing better than me and really enjoying the book you're reading. I hope to get back on a regular schedule on the blog soon.

xx

Reading List!: September 2014

Today is International Literacy Day! (I did not know this was a day until today and apparently it was first celebrated on September 8, 1966!) Since today is a day to celebrate reading, I thought it would be perfect to post my reading list for this month. I was going to wait until I got all the books I plan on reading this month, but nah. No time like the present. I even started reading one of the books. 

In honor of the film adaption of This Is Where I Leave You being released this month, I've decided to read a couple more Jonathan Tropper novels. I thought about rereading This Is Where I Leave You in time for the film, but I loved the novel so much it's still fresh in my mind. I read it over a year ago! Check out my review here! I'm very excited for the film; I can't wait to see it! It comes out on September 19! Read the book and mark your calendars! 

(Here's the novel I just started reading.)

It was difficult to decide which Jonathan Tropper novel to read next. (I've read This Is Where I Leave You and One Last Thing Before I Go.) While reading the synopsis of his other novels, I was a bit put off. Not because they weren't compelling, but because I'm in a very emotional place right now. I'm months away from graduating and going out to look for a dream job in my chosen career and it is nerve wrecking. 

Most of his novels are way too real to life for me to be reading right now, in this fragile state. I feel like it's me reading into my future. It's amazing how This Is Where I Leave You and One Last Thing Before I Go are so different from the novels I picked (in terms of being more relatable to my life). But I'm sucking it up, remembering he's a great writer and reading Plan B and How to Talk to a Widower. I'm very excited to read Plan B.

Also thrown in to the mix are The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini and Hemlock Grove or The Wise Wolf by Brian McGreevy.

I haven't picked a number of how many books I want to read by the end of the year yet. If I mentioned it in a past post, I'll have to check. But I think reading about four books every month is a great monthly goal and whatever number I get by December will be fine with me. 

Update #15

Hey loyal readers! It's time for an update!

I had some time off during the end of August (twenty-one days to be exact) and I'm more than thankful for those blissful three weeks. During the last couple of weeks, I found myself reading in bed a lot. I was no longer taking the subway regularly and didn't want to waste precious time not reading. I got most of my reading done at 3am. I'd like to say I was up all hours of the night because I had a lot on my mind, but the truth is I took plenty of naps so my sleep schedule was wonky. I read until I felt a little sleepy and I managed to finish two books in less than five days. That's a feat for me as it takes me forever to read because I would only read on my way to school or work. I have to say I really missed reading in bed. It's quite a cozy feeling. I go out in any type of weather (except rain) so I cozy up to a good book in any type of weather-- not just in the winter like most people. 

Meanwhile, I'm not sure I want to read the Sookie Stackhouse series anymore. True Blood just ended and I kind of only want to have the HBO version in my memory forever. I know I was so excited to read it for months, but not so much anymore. I'm just not that into romance novels. I read a lot of Meg Cabot, she writes a lot of romance into her books and that's enough for me. Maybe I'll change my mind in a couple of months and read the series, but for now I'm not going to.

As for what I'm reading now? I'm currently waiting for a bunch of books I requested to be available for me to check out at my local library. I'll probably do a Reading List post as soon as I check out all the books. I'm so excited to read new books! Although, I probably won't be reading at 3am anymore. Unfortunately school started and I need all the rest I can get for the long, trying days ahead. 

What are you reading? Would you like to send me any suggestions? Email me at pullfromthebookshelf@gmail.com! 

The Leftovers

What if -- whoosh, right now, with no explanation -- a number of us simply vanished? Would we think it was the Rapture? Would some of us collapse? Would others of us go on, one foot in front of the other, as we did before the world turned upside down? 

That's what the bewildered citizens of Mapleton, who lost many of their neighbors, friends and lovers in the event known as the Sudden Departure, have to figure out. Because nothing has been the same since it happened -- not marriages, not friendships, not even the relationships between parents and children.

Kevin Garvey, Mapleton's new mayor, wants to speed up the healing process, to bring a sense of renewed hope and purpose to his traumatized community. Kevin's own family has fallen apart in the wake of the disaster: His wife, Laurie, has left to join the Guilty Remnant, a homegrown cult whose members takes a vow of silence. His son, Tom, is gone, too, dropping out of college to follow a sketchy prophet named Holy Wayne. Only Kevin's teenaged daughter, Jill, remains, and she's definitely not the sweet A student she used to be. Kevin wants to help her, but he's distracted by his growing relationship with Nora Durst, a woman who lost her entire family on October 14th and is still reeling from the tragedy, even as she struggles to move beyond it and make a new start. 

With heart, intelligence and a rare ability to illuminate the struggles inherent in ordinary lives, Tom Perrotta has written a startling thought-provoking novel about love, connection and loss. 

You're So Vain-illa x The Fault in Our Stars

I paired these two nail polishes together because I started reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green around the same time I discovered You're So Vain-illa by OPI. I think they flow together quite nicely. I like how the cream color sort of goes with the yellow and the blue. I wore this nail polish the first time I saw the film as well. Both of these items are amazing. If you're into books and nail polish get them. 

I HIGHLY recommend The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. (I've talked about it in my last few posts.) It's been two years since the novel came out and I was slow on the uptake to read it, but if you haven't, there's no time like the present. (I won't give any spoilers.)

P.S.: I also wore my new favorite ring in the last photo. 

Nothing matters but The Spectacular Now

"So, my beautiful fat girlfriend, Cassidy, is threatening to kick me to the curb again, my best friend suddenly wants to put the brakes on our lives of fabulous fun and my dad, well, my dad is a big fat question mark that I'm not sure I want the answer to. 

Some people would let a senior year like this get them down. Not me. I'm Sutter Keely, master of the party. But don't mistake a midnight philosopher like me for nothing more than a shallow party boy. Just ask Aimee, the new girl in my life. She saw the depth in the Sutterman from the first moment when she found me passed out on the front lawn. Okay, so she's a social disaster, but isn't it my duty to show her a splendiferous time and then let her go forth and prosper? 

Yes, life is weird, but I embrace the weird. Let everyone else go marching off into their great shining futures if they want. Me, I've always been more than content to tip my whiskey bottle and take a ride into the heart of the Spectacular Now. "

Update #14: Ch-ch-changes

Greetings, everyone! 

I just wanted to put up a quick post to address some recent changes to the blog and give you an update. 

You may have noticed the new name to the blog. I decided to change the name because it's more original and more me. The old name reminded me too much of Lady Gaga and her calling her fans Monsters of Little Monsters. Pulled From The Bookshelf may be longer, but at least it's unlike any other celebrity has coined. I like it so much better because I review books on here and it's like I'm pulling them from my bookshelf and they land here on my blog. Kind of lame, kind of creative, wouldn't you say? Haha

I'm also thinking about starting a Tumblr with the same name. If I do make one, in the beginning I'd be reposting from two years ago until recent posts. I love this blog and how I can easily customize it, but I can reach a new audience with a Tumblr. I can also reblog other book related posts onto my Tumblr. If I make the Tumblr, I might post a link here to it. It'd be up to you to follow if you wanted. I hope if you decide to follow the Tumblr, you'll still pop over here sometimes. 

My new email is pulledfromthebookshelf@gmail.com. Be sure to send me suggestions and recommendations on books and blog posts or just say hello! All feedback is welcome.

Update time!

I finished The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp yesterday. I enjoyed reading it so much I decided to review it for you. I can't remember the last time I reviewed a book on here, but I figure I'd spread the love. Also keep holding tight for that nail polish post featuring The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I just have one more picture to take and I can edit and post it. 

I hope you like the new name of the blog and Just Keep Reading, folks! 

xx

Reading List!: Summer 2014

Summer is the perfect time for me to catch up on my reading and do a whole lot of it. There aren't many TV shows to watch, I don't have to go to class and it's a great pass time for my six and a half hour shift at work. I have all the free time in the world! Even with the 2014 World Cup happening (GO GERMANY!!!), I read in between waiting for the next game. I don't have a goal of how many books I want to read this summer (and I definitely didn't think to have one until now), but I do still have a list of novels I want to cross off my list.

Hello Again!

When I titled the last post: "Don't Call It A Comeback",  I thought I was mostly joking; I didn't think I was going to go ghost for over TWO MONTHS.

Don't Call It A Comeback

Well, alright, alright, alright. Hello fellow readers! It's been almost three months since I last posted. Click through to read what I've been up to. 

A Doomed Review

"Madison Spencer, the liveliest and snarkiest dead girl in the universe, continues the afterlife adventure begun in Chuck Palahniuk's bestseller Damned. Just as that novel brought us a brilliant Hell that only he could imagine, Doomed is a dark and twisted apocalyptic vision from this provocative storyteller. 

The bestselling Damned chronicles Madison's journey across the unspeakable (and really gross) landscape of the afterlife to confront the Devil himself. But her story isn't over yet. In a series of electronic dispatches from the Great Beyond, Doomed describes the ultimate showdown between Good and Evil. 

After a Halloween ritual gone awry, Madison finds to herself trapped in Purgatory-- or, as mortals like you and I know it, Earth. She can see and hear every detail of the world she left behind, yet she's invisible to everyone who's still alive. Not only do people look right through her, they walk right through her as well. The upside is that, no longer subject to physical limitations, she can pass through doors and walls. Her first stop is her parents' luxurious apartment, where she encounters the ghost of her long-deceased grandmother. For Madison, the encounter triggers memories of the awful summer she spent upstate with Nana Minnie and her grandfather, Papadaddy. As she revisits the painful truth of what transpired over those months (including a disturbing and finally fatal meeting in a rest stop's fetid men's room, in which...well, never mind), her saga of eternal damnation takes on a new and sinister meaning. Satan has had Madison in his sights from the very beginning: through her and her narcissistic celebrity parents, he plans to engineer an era of eternal damnation. For everyone.  

Once again, our unconventional but plucky heroine must face her fears and gather her wits for the battle of a lifetime. Dante Alighieri, watch your back; Chuck Palahniuk is gaining on you."

New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year!!!

The first week of January was "New Year's Resolution" week. Although I don't really see a point in making resolutions, I thought it would be fun to make a list of what I want to read and accomplish for this blog in 2014.