Books, What's On Your Bookshelf?

What’s On Your Bookshelf this September?

Retirement Reflections

I had planned to take a Reading Break this month (lots going on). But somehow, I could not resist sneaking in these four books. Once again, they comprised a very mixed reading bag. My September Reads began with a very Proud Mama moment!


Title: The Political Ecologies of Landscape: Governing Urban Transformations in Penang.
Author: Creighton Connolly.
Publisher: Bristol University Press.
Book’s Blurb: This book provides both a dynamic account of Penang’s rapid reshaping and a fresh theoretical framework in which to consider issues of sustainable development, heritage and governance in urban areas worldwide.
MyRating: *****
My Review: Political Ecologies Of Landscape offers vital understanding into how urban governance can be reconfigured to create more socially-environmentally just and sustainable futures within rapidly urbanizing Southeast Asia. I sincerely recommend it for its insight and research (not only because I am the author’s Mom. 😀 ) More here…


Title: A Song of Comfortable Chairs: No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
Author:  Alexander McCall Smith.
Publisher: Knopf Canada
Book’s Blurb: In this latest installment in the beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Grace Makutsi encounters a pair of quandaries that will require all of her and Mma Ramotswe’s insight and intuition to resolve.
MyRating ***1/2 (rounded up for Goodreads).
My Review: This is the 23rd book in McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series. I read it as a stand-alone. Thus, I didn’t feel as if I fully connected with the personalities as I should have in this character-driven novel. More here…

Title: Aaagh! I Think I’m Psychic.
Author:  Natasha J. Rosewood.
Publisher: Energy Dynamics Unlimited; 2nd edition 
Book’s Blurb: We all have intuition. Perhaps even a psychic ability. So why don’t we use it? AAAGH! I Think I’m Psychic is a sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking account of Natasha’s reluctant psychic awakening.
Publishing Date: Sept 28, 2022
MyRating: *****
My Review:  Lately, I have been picking up books that are not my typical reads. This book was no exception. I happened upon a copy when I was on a home exchange and thought I would glance through a few pages. The writing was witty, conversational and compelling. I was instantly hooked. More here…

Title: Philly Barker Investigates
Author:  Joanne Tracey
Book’s Blurb: Join antique dealer and amateur sleuth Philomena Barker as she tackles her first case. When her dealership is broken into and an elderly customer violently assaulted in his own home, Philly joins forces with Inspector Robbie Dawkins to solve the mystery before anyone else is hurt.
MyRating: *****
My Review: A Chipwell Antique Dealer (Philly) discovers a 19th Century Whitby painting that immediately upends her small, and very quaint, corner of the world. This new cozy crime series is a captivating mixture of Midsomer Murders, Escape to the Country and Antique Roadshow. More here…


When: Third Thursday of Each Month, 3 pm (Vancouver Time), Third Friday of Each Month, 8 am (Brisbane Time).
How: You can share in the comments, with a blog post, or on other social media of your choice. Include the hashtag #Whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge.

So, what’s been on your bookshelf lately? We’d love for you to join us!
And, if you have an intention (or WOTY) for 2022, please join us on Thursday, September 29 at 3 pm (Vancouver time) to share how it has been going. We hope to see you there!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Donna, Debbie, Jo & Sue.

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.

84 thoughts on “What’s On Your Bookshelf this September?”

  1. Pingback: Jane Austen is my new BFF #WOYBS – Deb's World

  5. Well done to Creighton and you definitely deserve to wear the proud mum tag! I also love Jo’s Philly Barker and can’t wait for the next one. Our support of each other is one of the reasons I love our bookclub so much xx

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  6. Congratulations to Creighton! You must be so proud. I love all the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books but haven’t read the last three or four. You are right, the characters are wonderful.

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  10. Hi Donna – how could you think that you’d go a whole month without reading a book? That’s crazy talk! Nice to see that you started with family and ended with a friend for your reviews – it doesn’t get much better than that. 🙂

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    1. Okay, so I did know that I would read Creighton’s book this past month, but I truly had planned to take a reading break otherwise. I can get totally absorbed in books and not be as mindful to everything else around me and I really wanted to be present for family. I may slow down my reading again this month, but I will definitely sneak a couple of books in! I hope that all is well for you.

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  11. How wonderful to have your son’s book in this month’s sharing. Congratulations to him. That’s a huge achievement. And I enjoyed reading your reviews of others too of course…and a fellow WOYBS host too!! Denyse

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  12. Proud mama moment, indeed! That’s wonderful, Donna!
    I just finished listening to the audiobook version of Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds, and man! Not the best choice when patching, washing, sanding, priming and painting walls and woodwork. Depressing tale of the Great Depression. Important story but I probably could have used something more uplifting 😬 while slogging it out.

    Deb

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  15. WOW, for someone who decided to take a reading break, you read alot. Your son’s book sounds timely and important. Congrats to all.
    I’ve been on a challenge hiatus , or slowdown in trying to sqeak in more summer, and get teh books out. Thanks for the post.

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  16. Funny that I posted about books yesterday not even thinking about this challenge. I’m an airhead sometimes. Case in point I’d forgotten about Alexander McCall Smith mysteries. The ones I read years ago were great, must add him back into the mix.

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    1. Hi, Anabel – That is good to know. I believe that reading this one as a standalone lost lots of the character development. Also, I never thought I would say this about a book (or anything else for that matter) but it was a bit too wholesome for me!

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  18. Congratulations to your son on his book. It does indeed sound interesting. Thank you also for sharing the other reviews. I’ve been reading more recently and am always looking for suggestions.

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    1. Thanks, Christie – I love the extra reading time that retirement can allow. When I was working, I was in a book club, that at least had me reading one book a month. Other than that, my reading time was taken up with professional reviews and journals. The reading freedom that we now have is an incredible gift.

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  20. Your son’s book looks interesting and looking at the blurb, I wonder if it would have applications for other geographic areas as well? You deserve the proud momma moments and he does too. I have only read one of Joanne’s books so far and our library often has Alexandra McCall Smith book titles, but I have not read or listened to any yet. Prior to my second retirement I listened to a lot of audio books, but only when driving. It si interesting to see the different books people are reading or have read, it is a little like shopping for book titles with a basket in your hand. Thanks for sharing, Michele

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    1. Hi, Michelle – Thank you for your kind words. Although, Penang has many unique geographical and political elements, I agree that much of Creighton’s book can be applied to many geographical situations. Creating more socially-environmentally just and sustainable futures within rapidly urbanizing areas should be a goal for all large cities.

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  21. Wow. You must be so proud. Is your son a town planner? So is my husband. As a kid I spent a bit of time in Penang, and on my honeymoon. It’s probably time I go back! I’m very impressed!! #Whatsonmybookshelf.

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    1. Thanks, Lydia. Creighton is a professor at Hong Kong University. He has done much of his field work, as well as his doctorate thesis, in the Penang area. He field of study is Human Geography (the branch of geography dealing with how human activity affects or is influenced by the earth’s surface). I greatly appeciate your kind words. And I fully agree – time to go back to Penang! 😀

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  22. Hi Donna, A very proud Mama moment for good reason! “…insight and research…” I would not expect anything less from Creighton. Also, a fascinating topic.

    I have Sept 28th marked on my calendar to head to Amazon to buy “Philly Barker Investigates” by an author we both love! In the nick of time before our Fall camping trip. Always interesting to see what everyone is reading.😀

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  23. Hi Donna. I smiled when I saw your post began with a proud Mum moment. And so you should be. Your son’s book looks like it required a huge amount of research. The Alex McCall Smith book looks great. I can’t believe I haven’t read any of his yet but do have one coming up for my reading challenge. I’m pleased you didn’t take a reading break as once again I enjoyed reading about your books

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  25. I was lucky enough to see Alaistair McCall Smith at the Hay on Wye literary festival a few years ago. He is quite elderly and I feel his earlier books were better. I have not read the last few. The series was made into a film and a T.V. series.

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  26. Congratulations to Creighton but also to you, his Mum! You’ve certainly read a range of genre this month Donna. I also tried an Alaistair McCall Smith book on my cousin’s recommendation but couldn’t get into it. Maybe I will try again. As I wrote in Jo’s comments, sometimes our mood and headspace really determines how much we enjoy a book, doesn’t it? x

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    1. Hi, Sue – I agree that headspace completely affects our reading experience. I had mentioned to another reader that I found the book too ‘wholesome’ for me. As embarrassing as this confession was, I was relieved when she agreed with me. Another reader recently mentioned that the author is now quite elderly so may not have the same touch as previously. That made much sense to me. Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying your new place!

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  27. What a diverse and engaging list of books. Congratulations on Creighton’s achievement. Sustainable development is available to us all, if we have the economic and political will. (And thanks for posting a link to my blog!)

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  28. Pingback: September 2022 reads – Eat, Play, Live

  29. Hi Donna – congratulations to Creighton … presumably he’s been living out there … it must make an interesting read … so pleased for the family. The others sound interesting … I’ve been reading pieces about the Georgian era – as we’re covering it in our history group. I’m now reading ‘Flower Hunters’ by Mary Gribbin and John Gribbin about the founding figures of the new science of botany. So much to read … ??? Cheers Hilary

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    1. Thanks, Hilary – Creighton definitely had much Asian influence and experience while growing up. He lived in Beijing for middle school and high school. He did an University Exchange in Singapore for his third year of undergrad. He did his field work for his doctorate thesis in Penang. He then did his Post-doctorate in Singapore and is now a University Professor in Hong Kong. When I bug him about returning to live in Canada he points out that I only have myself to blame. 😦

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  30. I like a mixed bag of genres for reading, Donna! A great selection! I’m intrigued by the psychic book–yes, we all have glimmers of ESP (woo-woo word), and I’ve had enough strange encounters to know it can be developed. Thanks for the suggestion and enjoy your week! Good job–proud Mom indeed!

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  31. Congratulations to your son!

    I read the first #1 Ladies Detective Agency novel and couldn’t really get into it or connect with the characters, so I’ve never gone back. I should probably give the series another try since so many people love it.

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  33. Pingback: This week’s small pleasures #301 – Thistles and Kiwis
  34. Pingback: What’s on your bookshelf #14 – Thistles and Kiwis

  35. Congratulations proud mum 👏
    Years ago I read the first six Ladies Detective books but I prefer something with more bite so to speak 😏
    I think I’m Psychic sounds intriguing

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  37. Well, for someone who was going to take a ‘book break,’ you’re doing some fabulous reading. I just ordered the psychic book. Sounds right up my alley (or my funny/bone/brain). I’m reading Diana Peach’s latest fantasy THE NECROMANCER’S DAUGHTER. Excellent! I could never get into the Ladies Detective series. Not my thing. Happy reading!!

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  38. Donna, you must be so proud of your son and his accomplishments. You are a voracious reader. I manage to get through one book a month. I’m still working on Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything. Unlike my friend who said life is too short to read a bad book, I have to finish any book I start (I can remember only one book that I cast aside). I also need to challenge myself with something outside my norm every once in awhile. My bedtime reading is One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle. There’s much said about summer reads but I find winter is my reading season when snow means slow. I vow to get through Bryson’s book!

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    1. Hi, Mona – To my memory I’ve only ever abandoned a book once. Ironically, it was a BIll Bryson book (“The Body”). I don’t blame Bill — I just wasn’t in the right space at the time. My goal is to pick it up again and give it another try! Good luck with “A Short History” (which to my knowledge is really not that short).

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  39. I should add that I don’t think Bryson’s book is a “bad” book. On the contrary. It’s just challenging for me as a reader.

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  41. Donna,
    I’m late to the party, but we’re traveling and a tad out of touch. My beach reading has been on the light side(Grisham, DeMille), but reading nonetheless. Your list looks very interesting and topping it off with your son‘s work has to be a proud moment. Congratulations to him and to you and Richard. Joe

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