Mid-Year Wrap Up

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment

Heading into July I realized I was killing my reading challenge this year. I’ve read great book and not so great books. Books that i’d recommend and books that I hope I can forget. I’ve read new books and reread some of my favorites. Here’s the list of the books I’ve read this year so far. My Goodreads goal is 180 and I’ve read 105 putting me 16 books ahead of schedule.

January:

  1. The Last One- Alexandria Oliva
  2. The Walls Around US- Nova Ren Suma
  3. The How & the Why- Cynthia Hand
  4. Tiny Pretty Things- Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton
  5. Shiny Broken Pieces- Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton
  6. Pretty Little Lairs- Sara Shepard
  7. Perfect- Sara Shepard
  8. Flawless- Sara Shepard
  9. Unbelievable- Sara Shepard
  10. Wicked- Sara Shepard
  11. Killer- Sara Shepard
  12. Wanted- Sara Shepard
  13. Giving Chase- Laura Dane
  14. Twisted- Sara Shepard
  15. Taking Chase- Laura Dane
  16. Making Chase- Lauren Dane
  17. Chased- Lauren Dane
  18. Beneath the Surface- John Hargrove
  19. The Roanoke Girls- Any Engel
  20. Six Months Later- Natalie D. Richards
  21. Gone Too Far- Natalie D. Richards

February:

  1. The Afterlife of Holly Chase- Cynthia Hand
  2. Where The Red Fern Grows- Wilson Rawls
  3. The Smell of Other People’s House- Bonnie Sue Hitchcock
  4. Sadie- Courtney Summers
  5. Fangirl- Rainbow Rowell
  6. Go Ask Alice- Beatrice Sparks
  7. Undead Girl Gang- Lily Anderson
  8. Wintergirls- Laurie Halse Anderson

March:

  1. Charlotte’s Web- E.B. White
  2. By Your Side- Kasie West
  3. Everything Beautiful is Ruined-Danielle Younge- Ullman
  4. Bluegrass State of Mind- Kathleen Brooks
  5. Dead Heat- Kathleen Brooks
  6. Risky Shot- Kathleen Brooks
  7. Catalyst- Laurie Halse Anderson
  8. All the Bright Places- Jennifer Niven
  9. City of Bones- Cassandra Clare
  10. City of Ashes- Cassandra Clare
  11. City of Glass- Cassandra Clare
  12. Clockwork Angel- Cassandra Clare
  13. City of Fallen Angels- Cassandra Clare
  14. Clockwork Prince- Cassandra Clare
  15. City of Lost Souls- Cassandra Clare
  16. The Bane Chronicles- Cassandra Clare
  17. Clockwork Princess- Cassandra Clare
  18. City of Heavenly Fire- Cassandra Clare
  19. Tales from the Shadowhunters Academy- Cassandra Clare

April:

  1. A Court of Thorns and Roses- Sarah J. Maas
  2. A Court of Mist and Fury- Sarah J. Maas
  3. A Court of Wings and Ruin- Sarah J. Maas
  4. A Court of Frost and Starlight- Sarah J. Maas
  5. Challenger Deep- Neal Shusterman
  6. The Wizard of Oz- Frank L. Baum
  7. Silver Lining Playbook- Mathew Quick

May:

  1. A Curse so Dark and Lonely- Brigid Kemmerer
  2. Written in the Stars- Aisha Saeed
  3. Love & Other Train Wrecks- Leah Konen
  4. There’s Someone Inside Your House- Stephanie Perkins
  5. Lady Midnight- Cassandra Clare
  6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone- J.K. Rowling
  7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets- J.K. Rowling
  8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban- J.K. Rowling
  9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire- J.K. Rowling
  10. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- J.K. Rowling
  11. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince- J.K. Rowling
  12. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- J.K. Rowling
  13. Sister Dead- Hannah Mary McKinnon
  14. Wild- Cheryl Strayed
  15. Vampire Academy- Richelle Mead
  16. Frostbite- Richelle Mead
  17. Blood Promise- Richelle Mead
  18. Shadow Kiss- Richelle Mead
  19. Spirit Bound- Richelle Mead
  20. Last Sacrifice- Richelle Mead
  21. Carrie- Stephen King
  22. Wife by Wednesday- Catherine Bybee
  23. Married by Monday- Catherine Bybee
  24. Fiance by Friday- Catherine Bybee
  25. Single by Saturday- Catherine Bybee
  26. Taken by Tuesday- Catherine Bybee
  27. Seduced by Sunday- Catherine Bybee
  28. Treasured by Thursday- Catherine Bybee
  29. A Game of Thrones- George R. R. Martin
  30. Clash of Kings- George R. R. Martin
  31. A Storm of Swords- George R. R. Martin
  32. A Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins
  33. Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins
  34. Mockingjay- Suzanne Collins
  35. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes- Suzanne Collins
  36. Friction- Sandra Brown
  37. My Life with the Walter Boys- Ali Novak

June:

  1. The Heartbreakers- Ali Novak
  2. High Noon- Nora Roberts
  3. The Help- Katherine Stockett
  4. Warcross- Marie Lu
  5. Wildcard- Marie Lu
  6. Jane Anonymous- Laurie Faria Stolarz
  7. There’s Something About Sweetie- Sandhya Menon
  8. Break the Fall- Jennifer Iacopelli
  9. Again, But Better- Christine Riccio
  10. The Selection- Kiera Cass
  11. The Elite- Kiera Cass

Book Outlet Haul!

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment

My best friend(Hi Dave) for Christmas gave me $100 to bookoutlet.com. I was so excited. I mean what book lover wouldn’t be right? I thought about only spending half now and half in a few months but I was unsure whether the books I wanted would sell out before I ordered them.

In my order I got a few books that were on my TBR for a while and I haven’t bought and some that I just picked because they sounded good. I ordered 22 books for around 97 dollars. Book Outlet is an easy to use website. The only complaint I have is that the gift cards go up to $50 dollars only, so my BF had to order two different gift cards. Also you can only use one gift card per order so I had to create two different orders. Not a big deal will still continue to order from them.

So here are the 22 books I ordered for both gift cards:

  • Challenger Deep- Neal Shusterman
  • Eliza and her Monsters- Francesca Zappia
  • The Afterlife of Holly Chase- Cynthia Hand (Already read but I really liked it so I wanted to own it)
  • By Your Side- Kasie West
  • There’s Someone Inside Your House- Stephanie Perkins
  • Undead Girl Gang- Lily Anderson
  • Sadie- Courtney Summers
  • People Like Us- Dana Mele
  • A Curse So Dark and Lonely- Brigid Kemmerer
  • A Court of Frost and Starlight- Sarah J. Maas
  • A Study in Charlotte- Brittany Cavallaro
  • Love and Other Train Wrecks-Leah Konen
  • The Smell of Other People’s Houses- Bonnie Sue Hitchcock
  • Count All Her Bones- April Henry
  • Again, but Better- Christine Riccio
  • Go Ask Alice- Anonymous
  • The Nowhere Girls- Amy Reed
  • Us Against You- Fredrik Backman
  • Something Like Gravity- Amber Smith
  • The Love That Split the World- Emily Henry
  • The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club- Alex Bell ( I will read this but I ultimately bought this for my niece who is a huge reader.)

Series Catch- Up

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment

Series Catch-Up

I love series. More times than not I’d rather immerse myself in a nice long series than pick up a stand alone novel. I always want more from a story. I love staying with characters they grow and develop. Of course, not all series are satisfying. Sometimes they come to a disappointing end and leave me wishing I would have stayed in the sweet spot of the characters best moments. Most times though, I am pleased with the ending and feel like I have a home to go to whenever I pick the series up for a reread.

As much as I love a good series, I find that half the time I don’t actually end up finishing them. I read the first one and never get around to buying the next ones. I do this a lot with books and tv shows and I never understand the reason for it.

So, this year I made a decision to finish all those series I picked up and enjoyed and never finished. Some are old and forgotten and some are newer. All the series I put on my list are finished series. I got a gift card for Christmas and decided to spend it on the following series so I can finally put it behind me.

Series to finish:

  1. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
  2. Warcross Duology by Marie Lu
  3. House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini
  4. Tiny Pretty Things Duology by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
  5. Gone Series by Michael Grant

These are the five series that I have decided to finish hopefully by the end of February. I only work part time so I’m hoping that I will be able to bury myself in these stories.

What series do you all hope to finish this year? Are there any series that I should put on my list?

Keep reading friends!!

Anything But Books Tag

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment
  • Name a cartoon character that you love?
    • I love Hei Hei from Moana. He is so funny and I can’t get over how much better he made the movie.
  • What is your favorite song right now?
    • Beer Never Broke My Heart by Luke Combs. Could sing that over and over.

  • What could you do for hours that isn’t reading?
    • Go fishing when it nice out, I’m a fair weather fisherman, and watch movies in the winter.
  • What is something you love to do that your followers would be surprised by?
    • I looove the outdoors. Hiking, fishing, and going camping.

  • What is your favorite unnecessarily specific thing to learn about?
    • This week? I have been watching a lot of murder mystery documentaries.

  • What is something unusual you know how to do?
    • I don’t know how unusual this is but people are often surprised by… I can change my oil, do my own breaks, change bulbs in my car and other car related maintenance.
  • Name something you’ve made in the last year and show us if you can.
    • Not in the last year but last year I made a books sock for myself. I saw that I was bending the corners of my paperbacks so I made a book sock.
  • What is your most recent personal project?
    • I don’t currently have one
  • Tell us something you think about often (possibly while staring out of windows).
    • I’m always wondering about weather. How warm it is or cold. Windy or still outside.
  • Give us something that is your favorite but make it oddly specific.
    • I specifically love taking my coffee into bed in the morning and wrapping myself up in my blanket. It is my favorite part of the day.
  • Say the first thing that pops into your head?
    • I am sooooo tired. That’s really all that is in my head.

What is something specific that is your favorite?

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @bookfilledbrain and on Snapchat @bookfilledbrain

Thanks for reading!! Catch you next time!

Age Appropriate Reading

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment

Recently I was in Barnes and Nobles looking for some Christmas gifts and overheard a conversation between a B&N worker and a young girl and her mom. The young girl was looking to move from middle grade to YA. To me that would be such an exciting moment in a readers life. Finally being old enough to move up a level. The only problem I saw was that the B&N worker was recommending books that were written and geared to a 17 year old. I for one skipped the point in my reading life where I slowly moved up levels. My mom thought that reading was reading and didn’t understand that like movies there are appropriate books for different age groups. I was plagued by nightmares from Cujo when in sixth grade because it was not an appropriate book for someone so young. This B&N worker was recommending an Ellen Hopkins book called Crank. While a great book that shows a side of life that does happen I feel that it is to mature for a young girl who just weeks ago was reading lighter material. I’m not saying that middle grade novels cannot touch on heavy subjects but that they do it in a way that our young readers understand and that won’t leave them with questions beyond their maturity. I’m not one to butt into other peoples conversation often but this time I felt that maybe as someone older and who has read the book that was recommended maybe I could give insight. So after the worker walked off I mentioned to the mother that she should do some research because the book she may buy was very mature. She thanked me and we left it at that.

So I ask this, just because it is young adult geared between ages 13-17 does that mean all books are for the entire age range?

Why do middle grade novels have age ratings showing parents who the book is appropriate for but YA is just a general grouping?

I understand that all readers are at different maturity levels. One thirteen year old can be ready for a more mature level than another. But as a whole most thirteen year old aren’t ready to read about drug abuse, physical abuse by a spouse, or heavy sex. I know at that age I was ignorant on those subjects.

When a bookstore worker is recommending a book to a young child shouldn’t they ask questions before handing over a book with explicit details of drug usage and abuse?

Maybe my thinking is skewed because I wish there was someone there for me when I was exploring new age groups so I didn’t have to go through weeks of nightmares and more questions than answers.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Am I thinking to much into it?

Thank for reading!

The Last One- Review

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment

Zoo (Sam) needs one last adventure before her and husband Miles start to have kids. Signing up for a brand-new survival show to win a million dollars is just the way to get it. A mix between Survival and the Amazing Race, the contestants must test their survival skills and endurance to be the final one standing to be the winner, but what if destruction hit while on your own with the only instructions being to find the next clue. Would you be able to tell the difference between reality around you and the show that has crossed a few lines?

This book, written from two timelines weaves a tale of what it is like to suspend reality in favor of survival. From the beginning the story hooks you in and takes you through a journey of the sole contestant left in a competition. I really enjoyed following Zoo while she searches for the end of the longest adventure she has had. For a debut novel the writing was amazing. I can’t remember the last time I read a first novel that has so little flaws. I loved the portrayal of the main character. Oliva made me believe that the world we were following was really outside my door. Dual timelines can get confusing fast and can make it hard to really lose yourself in the story. With this novel that was never the case. Switching from present day to the past in each chapter builds the story and helps you understand the main characters motives. There are times when Zoo is unlikeable, but I think that was the intent. Showing what being isolated can really do to a personality.

As my first read for 2020 I was not disappointed. This book was fast moving and emotional. Bonus points for Oliva not adding an unnecessary romance.

4/5 Stars!

Thanks for Reading!!

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Book Blog Newbie Tag

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment

I found this post on @abookishchick page!

  1. Why did you start this blog?
    1. With no one around me who is big into reading I wanted an outlet to share my feeling and thoughts on the books I’m reading. I want to get more book recommendations and if I could give some that would be great.
  2. What are some fun and unique things you can bring to book blogging?
    1. I hope to show that reading and sharing backlisted books can be just as fun as getting the newest books. I primarily read books that I find in used book stores that are older or not as well known and I find so many books I have never heard of and are fantastic.
  3. What are you most excited for with this new blog?
    1. I would love to make some friends who also love reading where we can share our love and passion for a good book.
  4. Why do you love reading?
    1. Growing up reading was my escape. I enjoyed being alone and reading gave me a great excuse for that. I loved getting lost in a book and the story makes me forget all my worries and anxiety. As an introvert being around people exhausts me sometimes so opening a book and being alone with something that helps me decompress brings me so much joy.
  5. What book series got you into reading?
    1. Although I was reading since I was four the series that sparked that love and was the first series I followed from beginning to end would Harry Potter. I know it isn’t the most unique book series but when it was released my mom brought it home we read a chapter together every night and I was hooked. I read it multiple times waiting for the next book to come out. My brother and sister quickly lost interest but I thought the story was so exciting and I followed it all the way to the end. Once I got old enough I convinced my mom to take me to the midnight releases to get them the moment they came out.
  6. What questions would you ask your FAVOURITE authors?
    1. One of my favorite authors is Sarah Dessen. I would ask her what inspired her to keep all her books in one town and how she keeps the timeline of all her books going without getting mixed up. I would also ask her where her inspiration comes from. She writes YA romance and they are all so different.
  7. What challenges will be the hardest to overcome, with starting a new blog?
    1. Consistency. I need to learn to prioritize my new blog and make sure I’m writing a post at least once a week. That is my goal. I also want to have original content that draws people in.
  8. When did you start reading?
    1. I can’t honestly remember. My mom was very big on reading with us every night and my siblings and I all read at a very early age. I know I was reading books and had a bookshelf with the books I was reading since kindergarten and I have always read since.
  9. Where do you read?
    1. I have a recliner I love to read in with my blanket. I also love going and having a quiet lunch by myself and reading a book while having a bowl of soup or a sandwich.
  10. What books do you like reading?
    1. Lately I have been reading a mix of YA and Adult Thrillers. My tastes change depending on my mood and when my anxiety is up I like a hard hitting contemporary.

That is a little bit about me. What age did you start reading? I would love to know if you’ve been a life long reader or a new reader in your later years?

January TBR Shelf

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment

I have never been one to make a TBR each month because I am a huge mood reader. So instead I keep a list of all the books I have at the beginning of each month on my TBR shelf. So each month I will post what is on my TBR shelf at the beginning of each month. I will update each month as it progresses because lets be real I love going book shopping.

  • Gone to Far- Natelie D.Richards
  • Six Months Later- Natelie D. Richards
  • The Wrath and the Dawn- Renee Ahdieh
  • Friction- Sandra Brown
  • The Woman in the Window- A.J. Finch
  • The Light Between Oceans- M.L. Stedman
  • Two Roads From Here- Stein Keller
  • A Clash of Kings- George R. R. Martin
  • Nine Perfect Strangers- Liane Moriarty
  • Four- Veronica Roth
  • 90 Minutes in Heaven- Don Piper
  • Looking for Alaska- John Green
  • Red Queen- Victoria Aveyard
  • Glass Sword- Victoria Aveyard
  • Kings Cage- Victoria Aveyard
  • War Storm- Victoria Aveyard
  • No One Gets Out Alive- Adam Neville
  • Throne of Glass- Sarah J. Maas
  • A Great and Terrible Beauty- Libba Bray
  • City of Saints and Thieves- Natale Anderson
  • Outlander- Diana Gabalon
  • Alladin- Adam Oehlenschläger
  • A Journey to the Center of the Earth- Jules Verne
  • The Wizard of Oz- Frank
  • Tattooist of Auschwitz- Heather Morris
  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society- Mary Shatter
  • Truly Madly Guilty- Liane Moriary
  • What Alice Forgot- Liane Moriary
  • Stargirl- Jerry Spinelli
  • The Couple Next Door- Shari Lapena
  • One Day- David Nicholls
  • The Basic Eight- Daniel Handler
  • Crash Into Me- Albert Borris
  • Sloppy Firsts- Megan McCafferty
  • Second Helpings- Megan McCafferty
  • Choke- Chuck Palahniuk
  • Diary- Chuck Palahniuk
  • Death at Sea World- David Kirby
  • Beneath the Surface- John Hargrove
  • This is How It Always Is- Laurie Frankel
  • Roanoke Girls- Amy Engel
  • Then She Was Gone- Lisa Jewell
  • The Last One- Alexandra Oliva
  • The Walls Around Us- Nova Ren Suma
  • Where the Red Fern Grows- Wilson Rawls
  • Death in Salem-Diane E. Foulds
  • The Chronicles of Narnia- C.S. Lewis
  • Her Dark Heart- Carla Kovach
  • The Reading Life- C.S. Lewis
  • Silver Linings Playbook- Matthew Quick
  • Wool- Hugh Howely
  • For The Record- Charlotte Huang
  • The Couple Next Door-Shari Lapena

I didn’t realize how many books I have on my TBR shelf. I’m not sure what I’ll start with but you can follow me on good reads by searching Kierstyn Putnoky and it will give you up to date reading from me.

Bookish Tag: My World of Reading!

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment

I was scrolling through my WordPress feed and saw a post by Joseyphina’s World. After reading it I thought it would be so fun to also answer these questions.

  1. Author you’ve read the most books from:

I would have to say that Nora Roberts would be my most read author. I have been reading her for so long and I think I have read most of the books she published.

2. Best Sequel Ever:

A Court of Mist and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas. The first book was good but the second left me absolutely in love with the characters and the story.

3. Currently Reading:

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen

4. Drink of Choice While Reading

Mostly water and occasionally tea

5. E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical Book

6. Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in High School:

I was in love with Edward Cullen in high school

7. Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. I picked it up not thinking much of it and it ended up being really funny and great.

8. Hidden Gem Book:

Rites of Passage by Joy N. Henley. I’ve never heard of the book or anyone talking about it and it became one of my favorites.

9. Important Moment in your Reading Life:

When I stepped out of my romance bubble and discovered so many other genres and opened my self up to a whole group of books I never would have tried.

10. Just Finished:

The Girls: An All American Town, a Predatory Doctor, and the Untold Story of the Gymnasts Who Brought Him Down by Abigail Pesta. Would recommend for everyone.

11. Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

There is nothing I won’t give a chance but it seems I generally don’t read historical fiction.

11. Longest Book You’ve Read:

The Walking Dead Compendium 1

12. Major book hangover because of:

The ACOTAR series. Left me unable to pick up another book for a while.

13. Number of Bookcases You Own:

My grandpa built me a custom book case that is about the size of two standard floor to ceiling book cases.

14. One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Harry Potter and Percy Jackson and the Olympians every year for a long long time

15. Preferred Place to Read:

In my recliner with a movie or show playing.

16. Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

I honestly wish I had one but I can never seem to remember quotes.

17. Reading Regret:

Letting other people tell me books were not worth the read only to read them years later and really enjoy them.

18. Series You Started And Need To Finish (all books are out in series):

Gone Series by Michael Grant. Loved the first one and bought a few of the others only to find out they were later in the series and never bought the rest. Going to get to it in 2020 for sure.

19. Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

How can I answer this… I guess The Book Thief, The Great Alone, and A Court of Mist and Fury would be the first three that come to mind.

20. Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Sarah Dessen

21. Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

A Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare. I’ve been following the Shadowhunters series for so long so I am excited to get back into it.

22. Worst Bookish Habit:

I crack my spines. I know cringy but I have been trying to be better about it. I forget sometimes and do it.

23. X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

24. Your latest book purchase:

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk

25. ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late)

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Hope you all enjoyed reading this. Let me know the last book you stayed up late to read. Catch you all soon.

2019 Reading Stats

Kierstyn PutnokyLeave a comment

Books Read: 189

Shortest Book: Peter Pan- J.M. Barrie

Longest Book: The Walking Dead, Compodium 1

My Average Rating: 3.7 Stars

Favorite Book: The Great Alone- Kristen Hannah

Worst Book: I Hate Everyone But You- Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Favorite Series: Illuminea Files- Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Sorry for the format of the charts. I’m still trying to get used to them!