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BookishShelly

BookishShelly

Joined April 2016

SAHM🏠Bibliophile🤓Nature Lover🌸 bookishshelly @Storygraph and Goodreads
review
BookishShelly
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Pickpick

I liked as I do really love the Wayward Children series but this was a somewhat disappointing read. It‘s a quest book but doesn‘t feel like a quest book as much as a bit of a mishmash of things that would have been better each given its own stories. Feels a little like Seanan McGuire is just losing steam on the series. I wouldn‘t be surprised if there‘s only one more book and that‘s it, which would be sad but understandable.

29 likes1 stack add
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BookishShelly
Pickpick

I listened to this book and it was really good. It's fascinating to me how much viruses and bacteria have shaped history (and current times).

Crazeedi I love books like this, stacking! 10mo
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book and a perfect time to finish it with an ice storm.

Hooked_on_books Did you take that picture? It‘s incredible! 🤩 10mo
BookishShelly @Hooked_on_books Yes, it‘s an ice covered weed in my backyard. Well, it was. Almost everything melted yesterday. I knew I‘d get some great pics, so I walked very carefully over ice to get some pictures as soon as the sun started rising. 10mo
35 likes2 comments
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BookishShelly
Mercy House: A Novel | Alena Dillon
Bailedbailed

Based on the other reviews it might be just me but I had issues with this book and bailed on it. #nunlitquarterly #nunlit

jlhammar Bummer. Sorry to hear that! I‘m planning to start this evening. Curious to see what I make of it. 11mo
rubyslippersreads @jlhammar I‘m six chapters in and still on the fence as to whether I‘ll finish. It‘s a little more gritty than what I usually read. (edited) 10mo
19 likes2 comments
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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

I‘m drawn to pandemic novels and marital dramas right now, so this was right up my alley. (Pic is from a trip this summer. I no longer have the library book.)

Kristy_K Beautiful picture! 13mo
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BookishShelly
Canary Girls: A Novel | Jennifer Chiaverini
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Pickpick

I‘ve of course heard about Rosie the Riveters of WWII but hadn‘t heard any of that sort for WWI, so this was nicely educational with interesting characters.

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

I loved Dear Mrs Bird. The second one was good but missing something that the first book in the series had. Well this book has that missing something. It was so good. Full of heart and made me feel like I could truly understand what it was like to live in London during WWII.

Dragon I didn‘t know this book existed- yay stacking 💚🐉 1y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
BookishShelly
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Pickpick

Loved this! I read it in 2 days and for a slow reader that is fast. I love books that teach history in an entertaining way in fiction and telling you at the end what was true.

Picture: I read the ebook and don‘t have an image of the book to share, so look instead at this cool rock formation from a beach trip.

julesG Cool picture! 1y
BookishShelly @julesG Thank you 1y
26 likes2 comments
review
BookishShelly
Every Heart a Doorway | Seanan McGuire
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Pickpick

August 29
I like the Wayward Children series and the first book takes place almost entirely at a boarding school. #two4tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing!🌞 1y
14 likes1 comment
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BookishShelly
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this memoir. It covered 3 topics that I find interesting in memoirs: motherhood, hiking, and autism later in life.

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

I liked this book, learning about nuns, and following the author‘s journey. There is a cynical part of me that feels this is purely a stunt memoir and she never had any intention of joining a convent. But I enjoyed the book regardless of any fiction elements there could be in the story. #NunLit #NunLitQuarterly

jlhammar Oh interesting, her discernment struck me as authentic. Especially since she ends up taking vows to be an associate of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine. Glad you enjoyed it! 1y
7 likes1 comment
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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

An essay collection with a mix of authors, so also a range of quality. A few were misses for me, a few were strong hits, and the rest were decent. I recommend it.

25 likes1 stack add
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BookishShelly
Pickpick

Really nice memoir and informative book about pet chickens.

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

I really liked this book.

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BookishShelly
The Dutch House | Ann Patchett
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Pickpick

I‘ve noticed that this book is one of those people seem to either love or hate and no middle ground. I‘m in the love group. It‘s not a perfect book but I really like it a lot. (And I read an ebook copy so this is just a random screenshot.)

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

Another good book by J. Ryan Stradal. I‘m originally from Wisconsin, so it‘s nice to be able to read books set near there. And I really like his writing. I think this one may be my favorite of his.

jlhammar I just got the audiobook. Can‘t wait to get started! 2y
peaKnit Hi from WI! Starting the book tonight! 2y
35 likes2 comments
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BookishShelly
Sea Change | Gina Chung
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Pickpick

4⭐️ despite being on the cover the book isn‘t about the octopus as much as one woman. But I‘m fine with that. It was a good story.

LazyLibrary I regret not choosing this for a BOTM!!! 2y
28 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

Not my usual type of book but I enjoyed this one. I‘m usually a slow reader but read the second half in one sitting.

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BookishShelly
Day Like This | Kelley McNeil
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Pickpick

After a lot of book bailing it‘s nice to have 2 books in a row that blew me away. This is the second one (Lark Ascending the first) and it‘s so good. I don‘t know what to say without giving stuff away but the story is excellent and well paced.

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BookishShelly
Lark Ascending | Silas House
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Pickpick

Love this book. It will probably be my top read of the year.

Tonton Moving to top of TBR pile ! 2y
20 likes1 comment
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BookishShelly
Dinosaurs | LYDIA. MILLET
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Pickpick

Loved this book. 5⭐️

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

The book starts out strong but it gets more poetic in the last third and that‘s not really my reading preference. But it‘s not bad and I‘m sure it would be great for the right readers. So I‘ll give it a pick instead of a so-so.

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BookishShelly
Revelations | Mary Sharratt
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Mehso-so

It was just ok to me. I much prefer Illuminations by Sharratt. #NunLit

jlhammar I also prefer Illuminations. Still enjoyed this one though. 2y
11 likes1 comment
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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

Every January I look forward to the next book in the Wayward Children series. This one was dark. Her author‘s note in the beginning was nice reassurance that it wouldn‘t get too dark because I can‘t read truly disturbing books. This one really sucked me in and I read it all in 2 sittings, which is quick considering I‘m generally a slow reader with a deteriorating attention span.

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BookishShelly
Illuminations | Mary Sharratt
Pickpick

I don't normally read fiction based on real people and books that take place in the 12th century are not usually my thing either, but I really liked this novel. It's well written and so interesting. To read at the end that most of it is based in fact is fascinating. This book makes me want to read more books about nuns.

jlhammar I loved this one. Have you seen our #NunLitQuarterly posts? You are more than welcome to read along with us for any or all if interested. 2y
BookishShelly @jlhammar No, I hadn't seen the #NunLitQuarterly. Thanks.
2y
BookishShelly @jlhammar Ok, I just checked out the tag (and the NunLit one) and that's great timing. I probably won't get the January pick in time. I just requested it from my library, but it'll have to be sent from another branch. But I should be able to get the next 2 in time. 2y
jlhammar Great! Happy to have you join us whenever you are able. I‘ll be sure to include you on my future #NunLitQuarterly posts. 2y
21 likes5 comments
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BookishShelly
Pickpick

I never thought I'd willingly pick up a book about the US Constitution, but I did and liked it. I follow Elie Mystal on Twitter and he's great both places at making some things about like constitutional law interesting and understandable with an appropriate seasoning of swears.

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BookishShelly
Delphi | Clare Pollard
Mehso-so

It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't recommend it. I was lured in by the Jenny Offill comparison, and I see where they get that, but Offill is way better at that style IMO.

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

This is an excellent book and helped me a lot with my Bible reading.

14 likes1 stack add
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BookishShelly
Pickpick

Loved this book. It's written like fiction, but is nonfiction.

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

Loved this book.

Soubhiville It sounds great! 5y
CaliforniaCay Oooh that cover 😍💕✌🏾 5y
30 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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BookishShelly
Little Faith | Nickolas Butler
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Pickpick

The best book of the year IMO. The writing is high quality. The story is interesting. Bonus is that it takes place in Wisconsin. (I‘m a former Wisconsinite and most of my family is still there.)

LiteraryinPA I have never heard of this author but your description and the other Litsy reviews make me want to give it a try! 5y
BookNAround I haven‘t read this one yet but I loved his debut Shotgun Lovesongs and liked The Hearts of Men well enough so it‘s good to hear this one is a good read. 5y
37 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

This book is so good that I read it every spare reading moment I‘ve had.

39 likes2 stack adds
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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

An excellent and important book. (Shown here by my son who insisted on holding the it.)

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

This book is excellent. It could have been trimmed down a bit, but that‘s true of most books IMO. 5⭐️
#nonfiction

27 likes1 stack add
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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

This is a great memoir to me. I read it every spare moment I‘ve had. #memoir #nonfiction

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

I love this memoir. It‘s my first by this author but I‘ll definitely be reading her backlist. It shows the reality of pregnancy (including miscarriage) in memoir and alternating sections of pregnancy facts that are well done.

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

Interesting book. 4⭐️
#nonfiction

25 likes2 stack adds
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BookishShelly
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Mehso-so

Good enough to finish, but not good enough that I‘d recommend it. I loved The Westing Game. This is no Westing Game.

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

An entertaining and fast reading time travel adventure novel. 4⭐️

LiteratiCafe I liked this series it was fun 5y
31 likes1 comment
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BookishShelly
The Library Book | Susan Orlean
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Pickpick

Part library fire mystery, part Los Angeles Central Library history, and part love letter to books. Some have disliked that mostly dual stories of mystery and history but I thought they worked well together. The mystery would have bored me by itself and the history by itself would have probably bore others who don‘t love history as much as me. 4⭐️

Mamashep Loved this one. Her description of how books burn and trying to talk herself into burning a book have really stuck with me. 5y
TheBookbabeblog84 I really need to add this to my list to buy. 5y
Bookish_B I loved this book! 5y
37 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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BookishShelly
Giant Days Vol. 10 | John Allison
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Pickpick

My favorite comic series. I will definitely continue to preorder it.

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BookishShelly
All the Birds in the Sky | Charlie Jane Anders
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Pickpick

I loved this book at the beginning and still enjoyed the middle. While the last third was good, it kind of petered out for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

I love this book. It feeds my nerdy history and nature loving interests in a well written and readable manner.
5⭐️

36 likes1 stack add
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BookishShelly
The Familiars | Stacey Halls
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Pickpick

Ever since reading Melmoth I remembered how much I use to love gothic novels. This one is even better than Melmoth. 5⭐️

akckitty Stacked, thanks!! :) 5y
36 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
BookishShelly
The Library Book | Susan Orlean
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About to start this book. And I‘m glad that while it‘s a hardcover, there is no dust jacket. I‘d prefer if all hardcovers were like this one.

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BookishShelly
Bailedbailed

Bailing on this one. The narrator of the audio version is good but I‘m at chapter 5 and just bored. I think this is just like many other books that has a much better smaller book inside. Too bloated with boringness.

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BookishShelly
Aquicorn Cove | Katie O'Neill
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Pickpick

I loved The Tea Dragon Society (and looking forward to the sequel this fall) but this one was underwhelming and preachy (even if I fully agree with the sermon). However I still consider it a pick because I am much older than the target market and I think kids will like it.

alanacristin Just picked this up from the library! And i just ordered a card game based on the tea dragon society 😍😍😍 ask excited for that sequel 😱😱😱 5y
36 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BookishShelly
Ghost Talkers | Mary Robinette Kowal
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Pickpick

Good but I can see why this one is not nearly as popular as Calculating the Stars.

47 likes1 stack add
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BookishShelly
The Atomic Weight of Love | Elizabeth J. Church
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Mehso-so

The first half of this book was so good. The second half, though, was like a bad soap opera plot.

Cinfhen I‘ve always loved the title 🤷‍♀️ 6y
hermyknee @Cinfhen it does have a beautiful title and a gorgeous cover. I hate when pretty books are just meh. 6y
Cinfhen Me too @hermyknee so many books have been bought for title or cover design😝 6y
Eggs Well said @BookishShelly. It had a great start... 6y
35 likes4 comments
review
BookishShelly
Bailedbailed

Not for me. This is a memoirish overview of personality typing. And it‘s not done very well.