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<channel><title><![CDATA[ishari's bookshelf - home.]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home]]></link><description><![CDATA[home.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2020 20:32:31 -0400</pubDate><generator>Weebly</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Welcome 2019]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/welcome-2019]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/welcome-2019#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:56:12 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/welcome-2019</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						  So, I blinked and January was over.&nbsp; It's never too late, though, to chat about reading plans...so let's get right to it!Last year was a pretty decent reading year for me. I've had better, but even with a move to a new state, finding/starting a new job (both me and my husband), and adjusting to a new lifestyle, I managed to tuck away 93 books.&nbsp; A respectable amount.&nbsp; I'll dig more into my 2018 stats in my next post.   					 								 					 						        [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph">So, I blinked and January was over.&nbsp; It's never too late, though, to chat about reading plans...so let's get right to it!<br /><br />Last year was a pretty decent reading year for me. I've had better, but even with a move to a new state, finding/starting a new job (both me and my husband), and adjusting to a new lifestyle, I managed to tuck away 93 books.&nbsp; A respectable amount.&nbsp; I'll dig more into my 2018 stats in my next post.<br /></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/published/hpn.jpg?1550077650" alt="Picture" style="width:281;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">I've already read 11 books between January 1st and today so I'd count that as a good start to what will hopefully be a productive reading year.<br /><br />Before I moved to another state last year, my husband and I ran a small, yet faithful book club.&nbsp; Wanting to keep some of that still alive, my sister and I are meeting monthly (via video) to keep up the book club.&nbsp; Our theme this year is:&nbsp;<strong>Outlander</strong>.&nbsp; She has never experienced the Outlander saga and I have only read the first book, so this will be entertaining for both of us.&nbsp; We are alternating months (so this month it's an Outlander month, next month a genre month, and so on) so this month we are focusing on&nbsp;<strong>Dragonfly in Amber</strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />I also am trying to make it through the year without buying more than 5-10 books (which would be an AMAZING accomplishment for me).&nbsp; Moving houses, while stressful, will tell you&nbsp;<em>exactly&nbsp;</em>how many books you have.&nbsp; Lugging them into boxes, on to trucks, off of trucks, into new residences, onto new bookshelves...you feel every single book you own.&nbsp; It also points out that I have a vast number of books on my shelves that remain unread.&nbsp; So my goal is to read what I have and focus on obtaining new content from ARCs and the online/physical library.&nbsp; An honorable goal...let's see if I stick to it.&nbsp; Lol.<br /><br />&#8203;Happy reading!<br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nyxia by Scott Reintgen]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/nyxia-by-scott-reintgen]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/nyxia-by-scott-reintgen#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:15:21 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/nyxia-by-scott-reintgen</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  Goodreads blurb:Emmett Atwater isn&rsquo;t just leaving Detroit; he&rsquo;s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited&nbsp;him&nbsp;is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family.Forever.Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from ho [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:90px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/27426044_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27426044-nyxia" target="_blank">Goodreads blurb:</a><br /><br />Emmett Atwater isn&rsquo;t just leaving Detroit; he&rsquo;s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">him</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">&nbsp;is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">Forever.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden&mdash;a planet that Babel has kept hidden&mdash;where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">But Babel&rsquo;s ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won&rsquo;t forever compromise what it means to be human.</span></blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">&#8203;<span style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">Let's talk about how pretty that cover is.&nbsp; With the swirling, mercurial blues it just screamed at me "Science Fiction".&nbsp; I&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279;may&nbsp;</em><span style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279;have decided to read it based solely on the cover.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">And...at it's crux, it's a pretty decent young adult science fiction novel.&nbsp; When I first started out I was slightly worried that this would be a rehash of the&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279;Divergent&nbsp;</strong><span style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279;plots -- at least at its core.&nbsp; It ended up growing past that, however, into a book that carried strong personalities/world building and created an interesting story.&nbsp; It's not very heavy on the science (like one would find in a book like&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279;The Martian</strong><span style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279; or a traditional "hard science fiction" novel) but for a young adult book I think it worked nicely.&nbsp; A solid read for fans of young adult and for fans of science fiction.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">And speaking of cover love -- the sequel&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279;Nyxia Unleashed&nbsp;</strong><span style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279;-- has a cover that is even prettier than&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279;Nyxia</strong><span style="color:rgb(85, 85, 85)">&#65279; in my opinion.</span></div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title">Rating:</h2>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/4star-pub-16-orig_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Lying Game by Ruth Ware]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/the-lying-game-by-ruth-ware]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/the-lying-game-by-ruth-ware#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2018 15:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/the-lying-game-by-ruth-ware</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  From the instant&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestselling author of blockbuster thrillers&nbsp;In a Dark, Dark Wood&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Woman in Cabin 10&nbsp;comes Ruth Ware&rsquo;s chilling new novel.On a cool June morning, a woman is walking her dog in the idyllic coastal village of Salten along a tidal estuary known as the Reach. Before she can stop him, the dog charges into the water to retrieve what first appears to be a wayward s [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:100px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/32895291_1_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">From the instant&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">New York Times</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">&nbsp;bestselling author of blockbuster thrillers&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">In a Dark, Dark Wood</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">The Woman in Cabin 10</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">&nbsp;comes Ruth Ware&rsquo;s chilling new novel.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">On a cool June morning, a woman is walking her dog in the idyllic coastal village of Salten along a tidal estuary known as the Reach. Before she can stop him, the dog charges into the water to retrieve what first appears to be a wayward stick, but to her horror, turns out to be something much more sinister...</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">The next morning, three women in and around London&mdash;Fatima, Thea, and Isabel&mdash;receive the text they had always hoped would NEVER come, from the fourth in their formerly inseparable clique, Kate, that says only, &ldquo;I need you.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">The four girls were best friends at Salten, a second rate boarding school set near the cliffs of the English Channel. Each different in their own way, the four became inseparable and were notorious for playing the Lying Game, telling lies at every turn to both fellow boarders and faculty, with varying states of serious and flippant nature that were disturbing enough to ensure that everyone steered clear of them. The myriad and complicated rules of the game are strict: no lying to each other&mdash;ever. Bail on the lie when it becomes clear it is about to be found out. But their little game had consequences, and the girls were all expelled in their final year of school under mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the school&rsquo;s eccentric art teacher, Ambrose (who also happens to be Kate&rsquo;s father).</span><br /></blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">I don't read much in the mystery/thriller genre...but I&nbsp;<em>do&nbsp;</em>enjoy Ruth Ware's novels.&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>The Woman in Cabin 10&nbsp;</strong>was one of my favorite reads of 2016 so I naturally moved on to the other books in her repertoire.&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>The Lying Game&nbsp;</strong>is her latest release and it doesn't disappoint.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />Imogen Church is the actor of choice to perform Ware's work in audiobooks and she did a solid job on this one.&nbsp; The story was engaging and mysterious and, for the most part, kept me guessing.&nbsp; I did find some of the characters to be a bit annoying or not developed enough to my liking.&nbsp; I understand, though, that in the interest of a suspenseful plot a character may not be developed fully in order to make them more "mysterious".&nbsp; That said, one of my biggest issues with the mystery/thriller genre is that I always wonder how much of the story would be a non-issue if the characters just&nbsp;<em>communicated&nbsp;</em>with each other.&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>The Lying Game&nbsp;</strong>is no different.&nbsp; I found myself growing frustrated with some of their characters for their absolute refusal to communicate with those they loved.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />It would be too easy to spoil the plot if I discussed the story any further so to make a long story short -- this was an entertaining read that scratched the mystery/thriller itch.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title">Rating:</h2>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/4star-pub_16_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/the-last-wish-by-andrzej-sapkowski]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/the-last-wish-by-andrzej-sapkowski#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Fri, 09 Feb 2018 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/the-last-wish-by-andrzej-sapkowski</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  Goodreads Blurb:Geralt de Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin. And a cold-blooded killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world. But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good...and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.A collection of short stories introducing de Rivia, to be followed by the first novel in the actual series,&nbsp;The Blood of [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/2287468_1_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2287468.The_Last_Wish" target="_blank">Goodreads Blurb:</a><br /><br />Geralt de Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin. And a cold-blooded killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world. But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good...and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">A collection of short stories introducing de Rivia, to be followed by the first novel in the actual series,&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">The Blood of Elves</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">. Note that, while&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">The Last Wish</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">&nbsp;was published after&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">The Sword of Destiny</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">, the stories contained in&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">The Last Wish</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">&nbsp;take place first chronologically, and many of the individual stories were published before&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">The Sword of Destiny</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">.</span></blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">The witcher books are ones I've seen on my bookstore's shelves for a while now -- their distinctive red spines grouped together make them easy to spot.&nbsp; I've always passed by them because I often don't read spin-off books from tv shows or video games -- I prefer to watch/play the originating media rather than read the spin offs.<br /><br />But then I learned --- <u>the books came before the witcher games?!</u><br /><br />So, yeah.&nbsp; I'm late to that party.&nbsp; I picked up the first one a week or two ago and was surprised to find that&nbsp;<strong>The Last Wish&nbsp;</strong>was a collection of short stories rather than a cohesive novel.&nbsp; It's no secret that I don't much care for short fiction...but I had already purchased it.&nbsp; Plus, if I was going to dive into the witcher world, I was going to do it in chronological reading order.&nbsp; So...I read it.<br /><br />And loved it!&nbsp; Granted, my opinion of short fiction remains the same -- not a big fan.&nbsp; And it did take me longer to read&nbsp;<strong>The Last Wish&nbsp;</strong>than a typical fantasy novel of that size.&nbsp; Sapkowski provides the reader tantalizing glimpses into Geralt's world and gives you just enough character development to string you along from story to story.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />So...that said, I've already purchased the next book --&nbsp;<strong>Sword of Destiny&nbsp;</strong>-- which is also a collection of short stories...and the first three novels.&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>The Last Wish&nbsp;</strong>was a fascinating blend of original fantasy with fairy tale retellings at the very core.&nbsp; It was fantastic.&nbsp; I can't wait to dive back in to Geralt of Rivia's world!<br /></div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title"></h2>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/5star-11-orig_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/silence-fallen-by-patricia-briggs]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/silence-fallen-by-patricia-briggs#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 07 Feb 2018 13:30:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/silence-fallen-by-patricia-briggs</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  Goodreads Blurb:Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe...Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and en [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/30687916_1_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30687916-silence-fallen" target="_blank">Goodreads Blurb:</a><br /><br />Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe...</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise...</span></blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">The Mercy Thompson books are on my "auto buy" list. I've stuck with this series for a long time (I mean,&nbsp;<strong>Silence Fallen&nbsp;</strong>is book #10 of this series and it's still going strong) and don't plan on quitting any time soon.&nbsp; I went out and bought this one when it was released in March of last year...and yet I only JUST finished it.&nbsp; And, to add insult to injury, I listened to the audiobook from my library rather than read the hardcover I purchased almost a year ago.&nbsp; Whoops.<br /><br />So why the delay?&nbsp; Well, to be fair, I&nbsp;<em>did&nbsp;</em>try to read my hardback copy when it first came out.&nbsp; I was surprised to find that&nbsp;<strong>Silence Fallen&nbsp;</strong>is written from&nbsp;<em>both&nbsp;</em>Mercy's and Adam's POVs.&nbsp; I don't much care for alternating chapters of different POVs...so that coupled with the fact that I probably wasn't in the mood for an urban fantasy made me put this one down last year.<br /><br />Cue 2018 and the husband and I are getting ready to move house to a couple of states away and I don't really want to move books I don't plan on keeping.&nbsp; Yet, rather than pick up my hardback, I decided to listen to it.&nbsp; As an audiobook it was ok -- two voice actors read the story which was a nice way of differentiating between Mercy and Adam.&nbsp; I managed to finish it this time via the audiobook so I guess it was good for that purpose (even if I found it hard to listen to voices interpret the stories I've voiced on my own for years).<br /><br />I was really wavering on what to rate&nbsp;<strong>Silence Fallen.&nbsp; </strong>The two POVs threw me off because Briggs hasn't used that device (that I can remember) in any of the earlier books.&nbsp; Also, the timeline is not linear either so it was a bit confusing keeping Mercy's timeline location and Adam's timeline location straight in my head.&nbsp; Add to that a ton of backstabbing and a variety of characters and&nbsp;<strong>Silence Fallen</strong>&nbsp;just seemed too busy.&nbsp; Based on the story alone I'd probably lean more towards a 3.0 or a 3.5 star rating for this installment of the Mercy Thompson books.&nbsp; The fact that it's characters I love (more Stefan, though, please) and a world that I love bumps it up to a 4.0 rating.</div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title">Rating:</h2>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/4star-pub-14-orig_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/the-handmaids-tale-by-margaret-atwood]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/the-handmaids-tale-by-margaret-atwood#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 05 Feb 2018 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/the-handmaids-tale-by-margaret-atwood</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  Goodreads Blurb:Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries ar [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/38447_1_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38447.The_Handmaid_s_Tale" target="_blank">Goodreads Blurb:</a><br /><br />Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now...</span><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">&nbsp;</span></blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Disclaimer: I read this solely because I wanted to watch the Hulu series.<br /><br />I'm conflicted about <strong>The Handmaid's Tale...&nbsp;</strong>Was it interesting? Yes, very.&nbsp; Was it horrifying?&nbsp; Yes, extremely.&nbsp; Did I enjoy it?&nbsp; No, not really.&nbsp; Is it an important book?&nbsp; Yes.<br /><br />A lot has been said about this book in the past year due to certain political events.&nbsp; The modern resurgence aside, this book presents an eerie look into the "what if?" of a theocratic government that completely reverses women's rights and strives to put women in their place - as a wife or as a womb or as a servant.&nbsp; Any woman not fitting within one of those roles is classified as an "unwoman" and sent into exile to die while cleaning nuclear waste.&nbsp; <br /><br />I listened to the audiobook version of this narrated by Clare Danes - she was fantastic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title">Rating:</h2>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/3star_11_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Binti by Nnedi Okorafor]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/binti-by-nnedi-okorafor]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/binti-by-nnedi-okorafor#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Fri, 02 Feb 2018 15:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/binti-by-nnedi-okorafor</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  Goodreads Blurb:Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be eas [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/25667918_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)"><em><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25667918-binti" target="_blank">Goodreads Blurb:</a></em><br /><br />Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti's stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself - but first she has to make it there, alive.</span></blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">I was conflicted about&nbsp;<strong>Binti.&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;Let me preface this by saying that I am not a fan of short fiction (But wait - am I currently reading&nbsp;<strong>The Last Wish&nbsp;</strong>by Andrzej Sapowski which is just a collection of short stories? Yes, yes I am.&nbsp; BUT the difference between the first Witcher book and Binti is that&nbsp;the stories in&nbsp;<strong>The Last Wish&nbsp;</strong>do not truly stand alone - they fit in a larger universe which does have full length novels in them.&nbsp; Ok, so it doesn't make sense...).&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />BUT, as short fiction goes, I kind of enjoyed&nbsp;<strong>Binti.</strong>&nbsp; I LOVED that the Himba people are represented through Binti and the cover image is just absolutely gorgeous.&nbsp; The story itself was pretty interesting and there were a few parts that truly took me by surprise.&nbsp; That said, I didn't really feel like it fit well into the science fiction realm -- as far as science fiction goes I actually thought it was kind of weak.&nbsp; I wanted more science...more explanation. I understand with short fiction one only has a small window in which to do the world building...but when I think of "science fiction" I think of something a bit more explanatory as far as the science and world building goes.<br /><br />What knocked this down from a four-star read to a three-star read was one major point -- the lack of consequences.&nbsp; I don't want to post any spoilers, but the short of it is (and stop reading here if you don't want&nbsp;<em>any&nbsp;</em>spoilers) that the Meduse commit an atrocity on board Binti's ship and they suffer literally zero consequences for that atrocity.&nbsp; The people on the receiving planet see what the Meduse have done and nothing is said about it.&nbsp; The level of the atrocity committed would have (<em>should&nbsp;</em>have) warranted some kind of consequence but...nope.<br /><br />An enjoyable read...but I am not sure if I'll continue on with the short stories which follow it.<br /></div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title">Rating:</h2>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/3star_10_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/liturgy-of-the-ordinary-by-tish-harrison-warren]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/liturgy-of-the-ordinary-by-tish-harrison-warren#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 2018 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/liturgy-of-the-ordinary-by-tish-harrison-warren</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  Goodreads blurb:Many of us go through the day feeling like we don't have time for God. But God can become present to us in surprising ways through our everyday routines. Framed around one ordinary day, this book explores daily life through the lens of liturgy, small practices and habits that form us. Each chapter looks at something making the bed, brushing her teeth, losing her keys that the author does in the day. Drawing from th [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/30010106_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30010106-liturgy-of-the-ordinary" target="_blank">Goodreads blurb:</a><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">Many of us go through the day feeling like we don't have time for God. But God can become present to us in surprising ways through our everyday routines. Framed around one ordinary day, this book explores daily life through the lens of liturgy, small practices and habits that form us. Each chapter looks at something making the bed, brushing her teeth, losing her keys that the author does in the day. Drawing from the diversity of her life as a campus minister, Anglican priest, friend, wife, and mother, Tish Harrison Warren opens up a practical theology of the everyday. Each activity is related to a spiritual practice as well as an aspect of our Sunday worship. Come and discover the holiness of your every day."</span><br /></blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">This was a refreshing read, drawing one's eyes to the holiness of the ordinary.&nbsp; It's easy to get caught up in the day to day routines and forget that God has a place in everything -- even the mundane things like making the bed or cooking dinner.&nbsp; Warren does a great job pointing out how Christ is (well, should be) present in our day to day lifestyle and&nbsp; how each little thing we do can point to Him.<br /><br />She organizes the book like she would her day...starting with waking up and ending with going to bed.&nbsp; Each chapter takes an "ordinary" daily task and illuminates the holiness within.&nbsp; This was a great reminder that Christ is present in our day to day world...not just on Sundays.&nbsp; Embrace the routine and seek to find Jesus in every element of your day.</div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title">Rating:</h2>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/4star-pub_15_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/beneath-the-sugar-sky-by-seanan-mcguire]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/beneath-the-sugar-sky-by-seanan-mcguire#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 2018 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/beneath-the-sugar-sky-by-seanan-mcguire</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  Goodreads Blurb:Beneath the Sugar Sky&nbsp;returns to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. At this magical boarding school, children who have experienced fantasy adventures are reintroduced to the "real" world.&nbsp;Sumi died years before her prophesied daughter Rini could be born. Rini was born anyway, and now she&rsquo;s trying to bring her mother back from a world without magic.   					 							 		 	   No,&nbsp;this&nbsp;Wa [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/27366528_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27366528-beneath-the-sugar-sky" target="_blank">Goodreads Blurb:</a><br /><br />Beneath the Sugar Sky</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">&nbsp;returns to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. At this magical boarding school, children who have experienced fantasy adventures are reintroduced to the "real" world.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">Sumi died years before her prophesied daughter Rini could be born. Rini was born anyway, and now she&rsquo;s trying to bring her mother back from a world without magic.</span></blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph"><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">No,&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)"><strong>this</strong>&nbsp;</em><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">Wayward Children book is my favorite.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">What a delightful and heartbreaking story. I'm not a big fan of novellas - I prefer a book with some heft to it...something that will allow for the character development and world building that I enjoy. Out of the three Wayward Children books currently available, though,</span><strong style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">Beneath the Sugar Sky</strong><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">&nbsp;read like a full novel. I felt connected to the characters and the plot felt full and complete. Sure, it could have been expanded on -- and I would have read the crap out of that book. I do wish that McGuire had taken the same route with these as she has with the Toby Daye series (ie. full length books) for the Children series. I'll take what I can get, though, and this was a fantastic chapter to the Wayward Children story.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">Between Toby Daye and the Wayward Children, Seanan McGuire has fast become one of my "auto read" authors.</span></div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title">Rating:</h2>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/5star_11_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Of Sand and Malice Made by Bradley Beaulieu]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/of-sand-and-malice-made-by-bradley-beaulieu]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/of-sand-and-malice-made-by-bradley-beaulieu#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jan 2018 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/home/of-sand-and-malice-made-by-bradley-beaulieu</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  Goodreads Blurb:&Ccedil;eda, the heroine of the widely anticipated, just-released novel Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, is the youngest pit fighter in the history of the great desert city of Sharakhai. In this prequel, she has already made her name in the arena as the fearsome, undefeated White Wolf; none but her closest friends and allies know her true identity.But this all changes when she crosses the path of R&uuml;mayesh, an ehrekh [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/28169745_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28169745-of-sand-and-malice-made" target="_blank">Goodreads Blurb:</a><br /><br />&Ccedil;eda, the heroine of the widely anticipated, just-released novel Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, is the youngest pit fighter in the history of the great desert city of Sharakhai. In this prequel, she has already made her name in the arena as the fearsome, undefeated White Wolf; none but her closest friends and allies know her true identity.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">But this all changes when she crosses the path of R&uuml;mayesh, an ehrekh, a sadistic creature forged long ago by the god of chaos. The ehrekh are usually desert dwellers, but this one lurks in the dark corners of Sharakhai, toying with and preying on humans. As R&uuml;mayesh works to unmask the White Wolf and claim &Ccedil;eda for her own, &Ccedil;eda&rsquo;s struggle becomes a battle for her very soul.</span></blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">&#8203;<span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span>This was a fun glimpse into Ceda's background that occurs before we meet her in&nbsp;<strong>Twelve Kings in Sharakhai</strong>. It was a very short book -- dare I say a combination of three novellas strung together with a single thread? As such, it made for a quick read that was easy to pick up/put down. A downside to it being a shorter book was that we don't have the character development or world building like we do in<strong>Twelve Kings</strong>, but that's to be expected in this type of book.<br /><br />A fun read for fans of the Shattered Sands -- definitely read&nbsp;<strong>Twelve Kings</strong>&nbsp;first, though, for strong character building and a fascinating world system.</span></span></div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title">Rating:</h2>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://isharisbookshelf.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/4/5/23451916/3star_9_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>