What's On Your Bookshelf?

What’s On Your Bookshelf – July 2023?

Retirement Reflections

The Three-ish Star Reads:

Although I am usually super fussy when selecting reading material, this past month’s book haul sadly contained many 2.5-3 star reads.

How to Do Nothing (Resisting the Attention Economy), Jenny Odell. Given its title, this definitely was not what I expected. What I hoped would be a light, relaxing read turned out to be a heavily researched call to action — even when that action is resistance. Odell’s core message here is to resist social media and technology’s draining and disconnecting influence and find alternative, more meaningful ways to engage with our surroundings.

In this aspect, the book has definite merit. However, potential readers should be aware “How to Do Nothing” focuses more on its fine print subtitle than the large bold words on its cover.

Chat GPT For Boomers, Colin Pickering. This is an easy-to-read introduction on how ChatGPT can be used in our daily lives. Helping to keep it light and lively, the writing is laced with humour. However, the book does contain much repetition, and many of the chapters present a glossy one-sided view of ChatGPT.

If using this AI system, it is imperative to understand that it cannot currently be used as an authoritative source of information. Although this AI technology relies on content from the internet, it was not until the final chapter that Pickering briefly discussed this downfall of ChatGPT and how it can “mirror our majority viewpoint and amplify biases.”

However, if you are curious to try ChatGPT but are unsure where to begin, Pickering’s guide offers practical suggestions that can be used as a springboard for ideas, amongst other useful tips. I received an Advanced Readers Copy from BookSirens. I have voluntarily and candidly written this review.

Off the Road, Jack Hitt. Regrettably, I was disappointed with this book and struggled to finish it. I am sure that the author is a great guy, but he often sounded insufferable in this account. Hitt frequently exhibited an arrogant and condescending attitude. I found his final comments about Shirley MaClain’s book, ‘The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit,’ to be petty and unnecessary.

Ironically, both McClain’s and Hitt’s Camino books currently have nearly identical ratings on Goodreads. If you’re seeking a book that provides genuine insights into the Camino de Santiago, better choices are available.

The Four Stars:

Making up for the above reads, the following two novels earned solid four stars from me. Still, due to the hype surrounding them, I was expecting more.

A Town Called Solace, Mary Lawson. Set in a secluded town in Northern Canada, this novel presents a poignant exploration of loneliness, loss, grief, hope, and healing through the perspectives of three intertwined characters. Although this character-driven, quiet drama thoroughly captivated my attention, several instances of redundant storytelling within the interwoven narratives and occasional pacing issues left me wanting.

Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Caroll. I listened to this book on Audible, read by Harlan Ellison. It was an excellent reminder that Carroll’s imaginative settings, whimsical characters and clever use of wordplay are meant to be read aloud and shared with one another, young and old. As in Alice in Wonderland, Caroll’s linguist prowess shone in this nonsensical poetry, clever riddles and entertaining logic puzzles. Feel free to call me linear, but I sometimes found the absurdities a bit too much.

My Five-Star Read:

I’m gonna confess right from the start that you might accuse me of having a tiny bit of bias with this one — it was coauthored by my son. Most candidly, I truly loved this book and learned a great deal from it. I was also delighted that what I read offered a balanced viewpoint and a hopeful conclusion, despite the complex subject matter.

Pandemic Urbanism: Infectious Disease on a Planet of Cities, S. Harris Ali, Creighton Connolly, Roger Keil. ‘Pandemic urbanism’ refers to how pandemics affect and reshape cities and urban areas. It explores the social, economic, and spatial consequences of pandemics on urban environments. The book ‘Pandemic Urbanism’ navigates readers through the intricate relationship between urban development and public health. The authors emphasize the vulnerability of urban areas to infectious diseases, backed by case studies and empirical evidence from diverse global contexts. They effectively illustrate how the pandemic has exacerbated existing urban inequalities and revealed underlying structural weaknesses in our cities.

Ending on a note of optimism, Pandemic Urbanism offers an innovative framework for post-pandemic governance, inspiring new ideas to reshape urban environments in a more environmentally sustainable, socially just, and democratically open manner. I learned a great deal from this engaging and thought-provoking book and highly recommend it to all interested in this subject matter. You can find it in paperback and Kindle formats through the following links: Amazon and John Wiley (UK)

What’s Been On Your Bookshelf Lately?

Let me know in the comments below. If you have a book post to share, you can include it here. While in the linkup, please check out the posts of the cohosts (Jo, Deb, Sue) and other outstanding contributors. You can always count on finding great book recommendations from fellow readers.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js…
Unknown's avatar

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.

77 thoughts on “What’s On Your Bookshelf – July 2023?”

  2. Hi Donna – I do enjoy an honest review! Covering the good and not so good aspects is so much more helpful for other readers. I’m still finding AI stuff to be “cheating” and it actually turns me off – AI art is everywhere now and I don’t like how it often looks like a photo but isn’t “real”. So glad Creighton’s book got a 5 star review – it woud have made for awkward family dinners if you gave it the thumbs down!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi, Leanne – I always love your personal and thoughtful comments. I totally get and respect that embracing AI is not for everyone. For me, I find it completely fascinating – especially Collaborative Intelligence wher the leadership, teamwork, creativity, and social skills of humans is enhanced by, the speed, scalability, and quantitative capabilities of machines. I do agree that AI needs to be applied wisely and justly and that’s the very tricky point.
      Your comment about our family dinner discussions about Creighton’s latest book made me smile. In all honesty, he is his own harshest critic! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. I will definitely look into Creighton’s book once my summer slows down. It sounds like something I would be very interested in learning more about. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this and other books you have read!

    Deb

    Like

    Reply

  5. Your reading lists never cease to amaze me. I’m currently reading Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if your life depended on it by Chris Voss. It was recommended to me by my friend’s son, now deceased. Brad lived the last years of his life in care due to complications of muscular dystrophy. His body may have failed him but he had a brilliant mind. He often had to negotiate his care & made it a priority to speak on behalf of others who couldn’t. Whether negotiating a hostage situation or a child’s bedtime, the steps are basically the same. I got to practice some of the recommendations in my every day life.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi, Mona – I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend’s son. What a wonderful legacy that he left advocating for others. I will definitely keep an eye out for this book. Thank you for sharing this.

      Like

      Reply

  6. First up, congratulations to your son on his book collaboration! What a wonderful achievement. You must be a very proud momma.
    What a shame you had rather a weak book haul this month – nothing more disappointing than committing your time and energy to books that don’t repay.
    I haven’t read her book myself but I follow a podcaster who has just released her memoir/learnings from her recent pilgrimages. If you haven’t read it already might be worth checking out. Plus her podcast has loads of into on AI and Chatgtp https://jfpennbooks.com/products/pilgrimage-hardback.

    Like

    Reply

  7. Congratuañtions to your son for publishing a book! No mean feat, as we know. It sounds very good too. I’m currently reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead and it is a 5-star plus book. So very good.

    Like

    Reply

      1. Wish I could pass on my copy to you. I’m almost finished it and am blown away by the raw honesty of it. t is very different from her other books but as always, the writing is superb.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Hi Donna, the book your son co-authored sounds very interesting. I also like the sound of A Town called Solace. I finished The Grapes of Wrath and followed that with The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I started a book called The Shadow of the Wind but I wasn’t enjoying it so now I’m trying The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi, Robbie – We have (and continue to) read many of the same books. I recently read GOW and absolutely loved it. I read Fountainhead in University which sent me down a long Rand Rabbit Hole! I read No Country for Old Men but not The Road.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. Hi, Robbie – I am glad you are enjoying The Fountainhead. The writing is incredible and the theme of ‘individualism versus collectivism, not in politics but in men’s souls’ keeps you thinking long after you have put the book down.

        Like

  10. Way to go Donna, a 5star rating for Creighton’s book, I’d expect nothing less especially knowing how honest you are! Congratulations to your son on such an awesome achievement. Your book haul is a good collection with some books suiting you more than others. I like the sound of A Town Called Solace. I enjoyed Alice in Wonderland and our discussion was great. Thanks for your input and great reviews for WOYBS each month.

    Like

    Reply

  11. Of course, Creighton’s book deserves a five-star rating! How proud you must be, Donna. My reading time has been limited lately. I’m still waiting for that month vacation where I do nothing but read. Thanks for sharing! Congratulation to Creighton!

    Like

    Reply

  14. I’m not familiar with any of the books you read this past month– other than Alice, of course. And the fact that we all read such a diversity of titles is what makes talking with each other interesting.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. I, too, am very partial to Alice, which I read and reread as a child. I’ll be seeing if I can get “A Town Called Solace” through interlibrary loan. As of your son’s book…It could not be more timely or more important. The last pandemic was a kicker, and I expect there are more to come.

    Like

    Reply

  16. Hi Donna! As a person who KNOWS you are an excellent book reviewer. 😉 I so appreciate your recommendations. And of course Creighton’s book is a 5 star book knowing that he is your (and Richard’s) son–how could he be less than brilliant! Haven’t read any of your other recommendations but I have been reading a lot this summer…LOTS of syi-fy though so I know you’d not likely be interested. Still I think summer is an excellent time to read so always good to let others know where to go. ~Kathy

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi, Kathy – Thank you so much for this uplifting comment. Richard and I are currently away with friends on our Blue Jays- Mariner weekend. I have your recent post saved to read thus Monday. I look forward to seeing you there!

      Like

      Reply

  18. I have just read A Town Called Solace (book group choice). I gave it 4* too. I thought the characters were really well drawn, even the minor ones down to the cat! I occasionally got a sense of deja vue from reading the same thing from Clara’s point of view, then Liam’s – is that what you meant about redundant storytelling? I quite liked their different perspectives and understanding how events could be completely misconstrued by a child, especially, as here, when things are kept from her (for the best of motives, but damagingly).

    Like

    Reply

  19. Wow! That was an eclectic group of books! I’m not surprised that you gave Creighton’s book 5-stars… not because of the relationship but because he impressed me as a very intelligent, interesting young man.

    A few commenters mentioned Demon Copperhead. I read it several months ago and really enjoyed it. I was so happy to read that Kingsolver (one of my favorite authors) won the Pulitzer Prize for it.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi, Janis – Thank you for your kind words about Creighton. We had mentioned going to Cuckoos for dinner when he was recently visiting. His first comment was ‘isn’t that the place we went with your cool friends?’ Any Boomer being considered cool by a Millenial is a very high rating indeed!
      Thank you also for the thumbs up on Demon Cooperhead. I am looking forward to reading it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  20. It’s interesting when you read books and the ‘narrator’ is annoying. Or seems like a jerk. I still get travel guides and we’ve had a few over the years where the ‘guide’ is super annoying and arrogant or full of attitude….#WOYBS

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi, Lydia – Thank you for joining us at #WOYBS. I have the same experience with unlikeable narrators. It is usually very difficult for me to truly engaged in a book when a narrator presents in that way (unless you consider repeatedly yelling at the book engaging). 😀

      Like

      Reply

  21. Hi Donna thanks for your honest reviews and I’m always guided by your thoughts and recommendations. Congratulations to Creighton on his book you must be very proud and it is such an interesting topic. I’ve made a note of A Town Called Solace as I have plenty of time to read at the moment! I also enjoyed our book club discussion on Alice in Wonderland and although I didn’t really enjoyed it, as always I learned so much from you, Jo and Deb. #WOYBS

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi, Sue – I was delighted to discover that I wasn’t alone in not loving Alice. I did enjoy enjoy the book on this reading but I think I had built it up too much in my mind so I didn’t over-the-top love it as I thought that I would.
      I hope that you are back to your active life soon. In the meantime, enjoy the rest and the reading!

      Like

      Reply

  22. Proud mother moment indeed! A massive congratulations to Creighton. I can’t wait to listen to Through the Looking Glass…

    Like

    Reply
  23. Pingback: June and July 2023 reads – Eat, Play, Live

  25. Hi Donna – yes I got the ChatGPT book – as you say very repetitive – yet perhaps useful if one thinks around the subject. I wonder if you’ve read the Louise Penny book ‘The Madness of Crowds’ written in the time of the pandemic and about it … hence the title. I really need to read it again – as I dashed through it! Cheers for now – Hilary

    Like

    Reply

  26. Just as I was about to write this comment, Donna, my phone lit up with WP notification that you had commented on my latest post. Gotta love that synchronicity! Three cheers (five?) for Lewis Caroll. I know he’s controversial of late, but his writing was so clever. The Pandemic Urbanism book sounds really interesting. I hope some of those novel ideas can survive the extreme polarization of our collective governance. 😔 – Marty

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi, Marty – It is truly amazing how frequently ‘blog comment synchronization’ happens. It always makes me smile when it does.
      The polarization of our government is definitely not helping. This is a key topic addressed by Creighton and his colleagues.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  27. Other readers including myself have also experienced more “meh” reads than usual this year. In my case, I think I’m too picky! The more I read, the more I know what I like and don’t like.
    Congrats to your son!

    Like

    Reply

  28. Awesome news about your son. As to reading at my house. I’ve managed to read 1 book in the last month and enjoyed it. The Librarian of Burned Books, recommended by my librarian friend! I just downloaded Through the Looking Glass on Libby as a audio book. I’ve worked my way though most of the Vinyl Cafe stories and this will be a change for this week’s painting time. Bernie

    Like

    Reply

  29. I’ve been reading a lot of meh books also. Like you, I rarely post 3/5 reviews, but I think I did (or it’s coming up). I’ve been reading a lot of articles about ChatGPT and generative AI, decided it’s too early to figure out where that disruptive tech will go, so am not surprised Chat GPT for Boomers is less than 5/5.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  30. Pingback: Women on the Home Front During War Years #HistoricalFiction #WhatsOnYourBookshelfChallenge #WOYBS #BookTwitter - Reading Ladies

  32. I like your succinct reviews and also your variety of what you choose for your reading time – and going from AI to Lewis Carroll shows your wide interests.
    Pandemic Urbanism sounds interesting and nice photo of you with the book

    Like

    Reply

      1. Thanks so much for the congrats on the book – and I have an email on the way for you –
        also, It feels good to be visiting some blogs again and I feel all enriched

        Like

Leave a comment