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What’s on Your Bookshelf? August Edition.

Retirement Reflections

Source: Netgalley.com
Author: Boobie Billie
Book’s Blurb: When Boobie Billie launched her Instagram Account in December 2019, she was just a dog standing in front of the world asking to wear more colour.
My Rating: ****
My Review: If you are looking for a fast, fun read that may differ from your usual fare, I highly recommend Becoming Fabulous (scheduled for release in October 2022). More here…

Source: BookSirens.com
Author: Amit Vaidya (there are two different ones, so be careful not to confuse them).
Book’s Blurb: Long-term budget backpacker shares a collection of humorous, thought-provoking travel stories that lead him from naïve backpacker to seasoned nomad.
MyRating: ****
My Review: Backpacker to Nomad reminds us that we don’t always need to wait for the perfect moment or a large bankroll to travel. Flexibility, creating a travel network, opting for local experiences instead of touristy ones, and gumption can go a long way. More here…

Source: Netgalley.com
Author: Sally K. Norton
Book’s Blurb:
An eye-opening guide that discusses the toxins lurking within certain leafy greens, sweet potatoes, turmeric, almonds, and other commonly touted superfoods.
MyRating: ***
My Review: Although not an instant believer in everything espoused, this book caused me to reexamine dietary beliefs that I have long taken for granted.  More here…


Source: My Classics Bookclub
Author: Jane Austen
Book’s Blurb: Mansfield Park is considered Jane Austen’s first mature work and, with its quiet heroine and subtle examination of social position and moral integrity, one of her most profound.
MyRating: ****
My Review: Jane, why do you tease me so? This book was so close to five stars for me. So very close! More here….

So, what’s been on your bookshelf lately? Please join us and share your recent reads. Don’t forget to check out the linkups below to see what others have been reading. I hope to see you there!

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Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

66 thoughts on “What’s on Your Bookshelf? August Edition.”

  1. All great reviews. I’m a huge Jane Austen fan and have read all her works more than once. I must admit, Mansfield Park is not my favourite. Probably because I prefer strong female characters and Fanny is a bit of a wimp. I agree, there is much more evident social commentary in this book. I was OK with the ending actually. As always, there are many interesting, and flawed, characters in the book. I should read it again and see how I feel as a more “mature” reader. LOL

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    1. Hi, Darlene – Thank you so much for dropping by. I loved pouring through Goodreads and discovering who was Pro-Mansfield Park and who didn’t feel the connection. I believe this novel is the most divisive for Austen Fans (which kinda made me love it even more). I used not to read the same book twice (ever) but have been changing this recently. I agree that we get different things from the same book depending on which stage of life we read it!

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  2. Hi Donna – thanks for sharing these reviews. I really like this format. I’m heading over now to read more about the Toxic Superfoods book – I love almonds and I’m not ready to be afraid of them!

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    1. Hi, Barbara – Please do not be afraid of almond. Solid research repeatedly tells us that the vitamins and minerals contained in almonds are great for supporting weight loss, lowering heart disease and helping to prevent diabetes. Norton’s concern with almonds (among other superfoods) is that one ounce (22 nuts) contain 122 ml of oxalates. Most people safely get between 200 and 300 milligrams of oxalates daily. If you’re at risk for kidney stones, sources suggest consuming less than 100 milligrams a day. So as with most things, moderation is the key!

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  3. Another wide range of books – the travel book looked intriguing and I must read more Jane Austen. With regard to the food book, I feel myself becoming enraged! I haven’t read the book so shouldn’t judge it’s contents but scaremongering people off healthy foods is wrong. Oxalates are present in nutritious foods such as spinach, sweet potato etc and these can be harmful to those people with kidney issues but a health professional will advise those at risk. Most people are not eating anyway near enough fresh fruit and vegetables which is having a far greater impact on health. Book covers such as this one will leap out at the general public and could stop them from eating the foods they actually need. Sorry – rant over! I expect the book is far more scientific than I am giving it credit for.

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    1. Hi, Janine – I agree that the title (Toxic Superfoods) is meant to be quite provocative. Big takeaways for me were 1) the importance of moderation (even for good stuff), 2) listen to what your body is telling you.

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  6. Really liked your take on “Mansfield Park.” I pretty much felt the same way. In the Jane Pantheon, I would put it next to last with “Northanger Abby” at the bottom. However, I want to hasten to assure you that being next to last on the Austen list is still so much higher than most books. 😉

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    1. Hi, Laurie – I completely agree. My least favourite Austen book so far (I have two to go) lies heaps ahead of most other books that I have ever read. I am bracing myself for Northanger Abby…but I do have a friend who truly loves this book — so there is hope. Stay tuned! 😀

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  7. Such an eclectic mix this month! I’m about halfway through my (re) read of Mansfield Park. I reckon it has to be close to 30 years since I last read it &, as you know, this was one of my least favourite Jane moments. I’m seeing different things this time round – more of the commentary and complexity. I’m even seeing some of that in Fanny price who I previously wrote off as a wimp of the highest order. The years haven’t improved Edmund’s attraction for me though. Did I just say that?

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    1. I can’t wait for our book club discussion! Your comment made me smile and think “Jo and her Bad Boys!” 😀 I believe that Edmund, like Fanny, is drawn that way to contrast the hypocricy, heartlessness and false values of so many of the book’s other characters. Dull? Yes. Witty? Absolutely not! But he does evolve in front of us (as much as Jane allows us to see the evolving consciousness of her male characters, that is). Austen makes it clear that he is kind, sensible, sensitive, loyal, and doesn’t miss much (okay, except in the case of Mary…there he missed most things). Those qualities repeatedly placed in front of us serve to remind us what losers most of the other characters are! :

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    1. Hi, Anabel – If you do reread MP, I would love to know if your thoughts on this book have changed at all. Although I read Persuassion in the last few months, I don’t think that I got from it what some others did. It is definitely on my list to read again.

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  9. Three books on the go. (1) A Guide to the Good Life [the ancient art of stoic joy] by William B. Irvine. Stoicism is a philosophy I could subscribe to. (2) Lady Rancher by Gertrude Minor Roger. This is a memoir of a ranch woman set in southern Saskatchewan published in 1979, a lighter read compared to the others. (3) A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. “..lucid, relevant, entertaining, and often very, very funny.” and yet I feel as if I’m back in high school.

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    1. Hi, Mona – This is another comment that made me deeply wish that you had a blog. Inquiring minds want to know more!! I have A Everything on my bookshelf. Time for me to dust it off and give it a go. High School, here I come!

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  12. Well that was quite a mix! From Boobie Billie to Jane Austen and goodness knows what in between! Nice to see you keeping yourself so open to different genres. I’m stuck in the realm of Urban Fantasy atm and don’t see myself coming up for air anytime soon (gotta love a good series or two…or three….or four…..)

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    1. Hi, Suzanne – I hung out with Bowser the Sunday Schnauzer yesterday. He truly could give any dog a run for his money. I believe that he also has a book inside of him!
      In regards to your daily almonds, I agree that they definitely shouldn’t kill you. They are nutrient rich, full of antioxidants, have tons of Vitamin E and can help regulate blood sugar (etc). Their con is that they are high in oxalates. For most people, the counter to that is drinking plenty of water to help your body flush the oxalates and consuming enough calcium, which binds to oxalates during digestion. Also limiting sodium and sugar intake helps. High levels of oxalates can contribute to kidney stones, amongst other things.

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  15. I haven’t read any books lately! I am somewhat amazed by that admission, but I’ve given myself the summer off, I guess. Come autumn I imagine I’ll get back to it.

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    1. Hi, Ally – Wonderful to see you back in the blogosphere. Although I love reading, I also have periods of reading breaks (this coming month is likely to be one of those). But after that, I too expect to be at it again. Autumn and winter both beg for a crackling fire and a great book!

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  17. Thanks for your honest reviews, Donna. I’m glad to see that you are still getting a few books into your reading schedule these months.

    Just as an FYI, there is a way to let the readers of your blogs open your Goodreads reviews in a different tab, so they are not steered away from your blog and have to hit the “back button” to continue reading. Not sure if you’re interested in that, but just wanted to point it out.

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      1. The option is there for any link you add to your blog – if you don’t check the “open in a new tab” box, it will guide readers away from your blog page and onto the linked page. If you have that box checked, the linked page will be opened in a different tab. I hope that makes sense. 🙂

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  18. You sure featured a wide variety this month! I love reading your reviews even if I have no intention of reading a particular book. It is obvious that you put a lot of time and thought into each one. I’m not sure that I ever read Mansfield Park and based on your overview, I think I’ll read/reread others of hers first. Backpacker to Nomad sounds pretty interesting…

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    1. Hi, Janis – Despite the ending, I loved the core story of Mansfield Park (and Austen’s social commentary behind it). It is quite a divisive book for Austen fans — which kind of made me love it even more. It is a wonderful book for discussion. Jo and I have been having a DM chat about the merits (or lack thereof) of Edmund (the Heroine’s object of desire)! It’s a book club read for me so that session should be a lively one! Hope all is well for you. I look forward to our upcoming chat. 😀

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  19. Hi Donna love your selections for this month. I loved Manfield Park although we haven’t had our discussion yet. I hadn’t read it before so it was a suprise. I’ll be also looking for the Toxic Super Foods book to check out what I shouldn’t be eating. LOL 🙂

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    1. Hi, Sue – I am so happy to read that you loved Mansfield Park too. It will be interesting to discover what the other book club members think. It should be a very lively discussion! I’m greatly looking forward to it.

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  21. Hi Donna, All of the books look intriguing. The Toxic Superfoods reminds me to keep an open mind and use my discretion with all of the information we can access. Thank you for sharing an interesting post. 😀

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    1. Hi, Erica – I throughly agree. Keeping an open mind, using moderation for most things, knowing what works for your body/lifestyle and keeping current on key health research makes much sense. Remember when (insert a variety of foods and drinks here including eggs/wine/coffee/whatever) were bad for you, then good for you, then bad, then good again? It truly can be overwhelming!
      Miss you!!

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  23. What a great list. I also am very skeptical about books on a mission to make us doubt foods for the sake of perhaps something or a brand. Nothing is perfect.
    Thanks for the list. I hope to back I. Saddle of a writing and blogging routine by September.

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    1. Hi, Antoinette – It is wonderful to hear from you, especially when you are out of your writing/blogging routine (that’s what summer is for, right?). You are spot-on about nothing being perfect. Toxic Superfoods was a great reminder for me to not just take old food beliefs for granted…and to listen to my body more!

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  24. Hi Donna – well I’m back to no fiction reads … but c’est la vie … I’ve been reading ‘Anarchy’ by William Dalrymple about the East Company its beginnings and therefore India pre 1900s … I know so little about India – but each piece of the puzzle helps me learn. I love food books and fiction … I’m watching Sanditon on tv … my glimpse into Austen! But food moderation definitely … and your comment to Erica – know what’s good for your body is the important bit. Thanks for these … cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi, Natalie – Thank you for stopping by. More and more I agree with that adage that ‘we are what we eat’. That being said, I did have pancake breakfast this morning…but I countered with a lovely green salad for lunch! Balance and moderation, right? 😀

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    1. Hi, Janet – Thanks so much for commenting. When I first began to read Backpacker to Nomad, I must admit that I panicked just a little. I am definitely not the target age group. I ended up greatly enjoying the journey — even though the author’s traveling style and my own are quite far apart.

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  28. Thanks for the interesting, concise reviews. As Terri noted, it is quite an interesting combination of books. Now that I’m retired, I’ve started reading more, so perhaps you will see me in a future link-up.

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    1. Hi, Ann – What’s On Your Bookshelf takes place on the afternoon on the Third Thursday of each month (Northern Hemisphere) and the morning of the Third Friday (Southern Hemisphere). Our next link up will be 3pm, Thursday, September 15 Vancouver Time. We look forward to seeing you there!

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