Empty Shelf Challenge: December 2014

This is the last post of the #EmptyShelf challenge for 2014. Where did the year go?

The challenge was pretty basic: starting December 23rd, you empty one shelf of a bookcase in your house completely. Hence, “Empty Shelf.” Then, through the entire next year, you fill that shelf with the books that you read. We moved in May of this year, so I haven’t had a shelf set aside since then. Nevertheless, I kept reading and keeping track and posting them here, sans photos of my actual Empty Shelf. I am positive that it would be full by now: I lugged almost all of these 65 books back and forth to the library this year, and there was plenty to fill a shelf or two.

To read what I’ve read this year by month:

January // February // March // April // May // June // July // August // September // October // November

And here is what I read in December:

56. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel – I wrote a full review of this book here. I really enjoyed it, but I do hope that Mandel comes out with a sequel. I want to know the end.
57. Bossypants by Tina Fey – I finally got around to reading this and it was good – classic Tina Fey, a little all over the place, but there were some delightful nuggets of wisdom tucked in here and there. If you like smart, funny women and aren’t afraid of a few swear words, give this a try.
58. Longbourn by Jo Baker – A beautiful read about the servants at Longbourn, the Bennet’s home in Pride & Prejudice. If you are obsessed with Austen, pick this one up.
59. Landline by Rainbow Rowell – I didn’t like this new release from Rowell as much as I did Attachments or Fangirl. It was good, just not great.
60. Locke & Key Volume 6: Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill – This was a disappointing conclusion to the graphic novel series by Stephen King’s son, Joe Hill. I feel like the story drug for the first 5 volumes, and then sped up to a not-so-tidy conclusion. Personal preference, maybe?
61. The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan -This book is a series of fiction and non-fiction essays written by a Yale graduate killed in a car accident less than a week after graduating. Overall, I found her writing mesmerizing, but all the stores were the same: young students doing too many drugs. The title essay, The Opposite of Loneliness is worth a read, though. You can find it online here at the Yale Daily News website.
62. You Deserve to Love Your Job: 20 Big Ideas for Succeeding in the New World of Work by Alexis Grant – This was a great, quick read all about breaking out of the traditional box of work and creating a day-to-day job that you enjoy. Well worth a read for anyone who wants to start a side-hustle or become an entrepreneur.
63. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell – This was a beautiful story about two teenagers meeting and falling in love, and making some pretty tough choices. Anyone who likes YA will love it.
64. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan – A charming, sweet book about a young genius learning how to be part of a family, even in the midst of tragedy.
65. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell – This book was a tough one to get through. It was too long, and I never say that. There were so many inconsequential details, and the plot didn’t become truly apparent until 2/3 of the way through the book. I felt like Mitchell was trying to be a mix of Dan Brown and James Joyce, and it just didn’t work for me. I want to read Cloud Atlas and see if every book he writes is that way.

I also finished Population: 485 which I started last month. It was a great read – I will be picking up more of Michael Perry’s stuff very soon.

Here’s a list of all 65 books in one spot, with links to each one (I think) is worth reading.

The Verdict

One I’ll Read Over & Over: Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist. It’s one I’ll pick up when I need to be still, to listen to my body and soul more than the world around me.

Book(s) I Stayed Up Too Late Over: Attachments and Eleanor & Park – both by Rainbow Rowell. She has a way of writing where chapter breaks just don’t count. Fangirl just came in the mail, so I’ll be re-reading that one soon.

Book I Wish I Hadn’t Read: Rich Kids of Instagram – Although the concept was fascinating, the book was horrible on so many levels.

What was your favorite (or favorites) that you encountered this year?

Image courtesy of Azrsta on Flickr Creative Commons.