Books, Uncategorized, What's On Your Bookshelf?

Winter Reads

Retirement Reflections

Wintering by Katharine May – ★★★★★
A beautifully candid reminder to embrace rest and rejuvenation when life demands it.

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff – ★★★★★
A charming, delightful read that can easily be enjoyed in one sitting.

A Highland Christmas by M.C. Beaton – ★★★★☆
A cozy blend of humour, warmth, and Scottish charm in a picturesque setting.

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett – ★★★☆☆
A fast-paced and offbeat festive whodunit with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. 3.5 stars.

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida – ★★★☆☆
Not quite what I expected. These quirky, interconnected short stories take a gradual turn toward the supernatural but went a bit too far for me.

Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan – ★★★☆☆
This is the fourth installment in the Muir series. Sadly, it was an uneven read for me. It is likely best read as part of the series rather than as a standalone.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – Read, not rated
Deliberately unsettling and eerily prophetic—a classic that provokes deep reflection.

Brave New World marks the 28th classic novel that my cohosts and I have read together. We are now on Book 29, The Portrait of Dorian Gray.

We would love for you to join us to share what’s been on your bookshelf lately. We hope to see you here!


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I had planned today to be the official end of my social media break. I look forward to catching up with you. ❤ I will reply to all comments and read all posts on this link-up. Sadly, I will still be intermittent in the blogging world and other social media for the next few weeks. We’ve recently experienced an unexpected loss in our family and have planned for extra family time, downtime and travel. I will check in here when I can. I will also cohost a one-off Word of the Year Link-Up with Sue Loncaric and Debbie Harris on January 5 (North America) or January 6 (Southern Hemisphere). We invite you to join us to share your WOTY or Intention(s) for 2025. Thank you to Denyse Whelan for this link-up suggestion.



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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.

75 thoughts on “Winter Reads”

    1. Hi, Janis – Thank you for the warm words and virtual hugs. Richard and I both greatly appreciate them.

      Brave New World definitely has much to say about our present day. My full review is on Goodreads. For some reason, I was unable to copy it here. 😦

      Wishing you and Paul a wonderful holiday

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  7. Hi Donna,
    New to following your blog. I liked seeing your list of classic reads — I’m also trying to get through classics myself. I’ve read seven in the list, including Brave New World. There are two I just couldn’t read, but partly because being assigned “Great Expectations” for a correspondence course at age 15 was a great way to kill any appreciation for Dickens. And oddly, I just couldn’t get far in Pride and Prejudice, though I like the movie versions. I did enjoy Jane Eyre, though. A few others I’ve tackled (mostly very good): Beloved, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Frankenstein, Last of the Mohicans, (definitely better than the movie), The Color Purple.
    Condolences on your loss. Hope you do have a good holiday season, though.

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    1. Hi, Eilene – It is a pleasure to meet you here. I’m glad to read that you are enjoying (or mostly enjoying) 😀 classic literature as well. Although I have a degree in English Literature, the only book on the above Classics list that I read previously is The World According to Garp (and I read that outside of school). Seriously, we were assigned a heap of Shakespeare and Canadian Lit, both which I enjoyed but more diversity would have been good! 😀

      I look forward to popping over to your site soon. See you there!

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  8. I literally took a break from reading “Wintering” and popped here to see that was your first book up. I’ve been waiting months for it. I also was thinking about you earlier today, so this is indeed timely! Hope all is well and the festive season brings joy. Berniw

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    1. Hi, Bernie – It is great to hear from you (and so nice to be thought of by other bloggers outside of my blog).
      Did you take a break from WIntering because you weren’t enjoying it, or was it just too much? I really enjoyed it – it felt like I was right there with Katherine through the stories she shared. But I totally get that it isn’t the book for everyone. I read another blogger took a break from it as well.
      Thank you for your kind words.
      Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season.

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  9. Hi Donna, I’m sorry for your family’s loss. I hope you have some downtime and safe travels. I’ve read Brave New World a while ago and I’m almost afraid to read it again now. Christmas on the Island got 3 stars last year from me, too. I’ll add the first two books to my TBR pile. Thank you for your book share. Thinking of you and sending you virtual hugs.

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    1. Hi, Natalie – Your warm hugs have been gratefully received. Im delighted to hear that you have added Wintering and Charing Cross Road to your TBR pile. If you get a chance to read one or both (so many books, never enough time), I would love to hear your thoughts on them.

      Wishing you a wonderful holiday and a fabulous new year ahead!

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      1. What a good choice for post holiday winter reading. Packed full of wisdom and interesting stuff. I had no idea about the long hibernation of the dormouse!!

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  13. May you share good memories of your loss with family members this holiday season.
    I must have different reading tastes. I just bought a non-fiction book by an American, “Arctic Dreams” by Barry Lopez. Book seems to cover some mammals to some detail and also what he saw for: narwhals, muskoxen, etc.
    I also finished: “True North Rising”, by Whit Fraser who was a CBC journalist and also lived in the Far North from early 1970’s…a time of considerable increased awareness of the Inuit re proposal for Mackenzie Pipeline which got squashed after the public hearing. Book covers his personal friendships with various Inuit and other indigenous community leaders over the years, which includes changes in way of life. He also married the current Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon who is part Inuk from Labrador area (?).
    Admittedly I don’t list my few books since my interests seems so very different from rest of the gang.

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    1. Hi, Jean – Thank you for sharing your recent reads with us. This book link up loves diversity, so your sharing of the nonfiction books that you love is very valued here. True North Rising sounds especially interesting to me.

      Thank you for your kind words. Our family has been finding comfort in additional tiime together, sharing photos and fond memories — another strong remember to live every moment as fully as we can.

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  14. Hi Donna, I am so sorry to hear about a loss in your family. Sending you love and light. I have read A Brave New World (I rated it 5 stars) and The Portrait of Dorian Grey (which was also a 5 star read for me). Thanks for the other book suggestions and ratings.

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  16. I’ve read 84 Charing Cross Road and loved it. I really should revisit it. I read Highland Christmas last year. It’s wonderful. I’m very sorry to hear of your loss Donna. Do take care. Sending you all the best wishes of the season. I hope you’re able to find some glimmers along the way. Looking forward to catching up in 2025.

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  19. Hi Donna, again I’m sorry about the sudden death in your family and wish you all the best as you take time to be with family.

    Your lists as always are very interesting and I’ve really enjoyed our Stunners classic reads this year, it’s been illuminating to say the least!

    Take care xx

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  21. Hi Donna – Christmas time is not easy … for losses or illness – I’ve had a couple of minor worries for friends … one resolved, the other I hope being so: so sent with thoughts to you both. I’ve read Charing Cross Road, but not the others … I’m into the Plantagenets … rather a lot of Medieval books floating around … though I’m engrossed with Anya Seton’s ‘Katherine’ … albeit it was written in the 1950s – it’s very good. Take care and all the best to your families … especially in the coming two weeks as 2025 starts to get a grip on our lives. Cheers Hilary

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  22. Good collection. I love that you didn’t rate Brave New World . I used to try to read all the classics and what everyone was talking about, just so I’d understand the allusions. Maybe you got that out of Aldous Huxley.

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    1. Thanks, Jacqui – I (almost) always rate and review each book that I read on Goodreads – mostly as a record for myself. But I was all over the place with my thoughts on Brave New World so could not rate it fairly.

      Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season.

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  24. I must read MC Beaton’s Highland Christmas – I’m assuming it’s part of the Hamish Macbeth series? I really enjoyed Wintering. When I first picked it up I thought it would be a DNF and put it back down. Then I tried again during both a physical and metaphorical winter and really got it. Thanks for your friendship and support this year – and thinking of you and your family.

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    1. Hi, Jo – I believe that Wintering is best read during a physical and/or metaphorical winter. Just like I believe Christmas tales are best read at Christmas time — so much more relatable. I’m glad that you persevered with this book.

      Yup, A Highland Christmas is part of the Hamish McBeth series. It is the only book that I have read so far by Beaton.

      Right back at you about friendship and support. I appreciate yours greatly!

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  26. Hi Donna, as always I am guided by the books you read and I’ve not read any that you mentioned. My picks would be 84, Charring Cross Road and also Wintering. Thank you so much for being a wonderful co-host for #WOYBS? I enjoy collaborating with you, Jo and Deb for this and #WBOYC? I learn so much from you and our book club discussions and am grateful for your friendship. Sending love and hugs to you and Richard, particularly at this time. Take care. Sue L x

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    1. Hi, Sue – I think that you will especially like 84 Charing Cross Road. I actually discovered it when I was searching for an uplifting classic book for our bookclub. But since I read it earlier this past month, I think I will go with a second uplifting option.

      Thank you for your continued support and friendship They mean the world to me.

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    1. Hi, Erica – Thank you so much for reading, commenting and keeping in touch. I greatly appreciate your warm wishes and your kind words. Wishing you, Chuck and your family a wonderful finish to the holiday season and a happy and healthy 2025. I look forward to getting together with you again soon.

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  30. Hi Donna. Just caught up with all my blogger friends and saw this post. So sorry to hear you’ve had a loss in the family. Thom and I hope you had a good Christmas in spite of that and that you have all the peace, love and support you and the family need. We’ll all be here when you return. ~Kathy

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    1. Hi, Kathy – So lovely to hear from you. We have 3 sons, 2 Miles, 3 grandchildren and 2 grabddogs arriving today. Nothing heals quite like family and friends. We hope that you and Thom are having a wonderful Christmas as well.

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  32. I like your Christmas reading list. I usually enjoy Jenny Colgan for a light seasonal read. My daughter gave me The Christmas jigsaw murders by Alexandra Benedict which I enjoyed.

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  33. Pinned your graphic. Particularly interesting in Wintering and 84, Charing Cross Road. Will go look them up on Goodreads to add to my to-read pile. A friend gave me 2 kitty books – fiction books about cats – to read while I was recovering with my foot but I haven’t started them yet. Not sure I am really ‘into’ kitty books!! I see the one you read wasn’t your favorite either.

    Have never read Brave New World, or a number of other classics. Most of them never appealed to me and I only read the ones I was ‘forced’ to read for school. Probably missed out on some goodies. I applaud you gals for tackling classics.

    Happy reading in the new year.

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    1. Hi, Leslie – I love hearing from you. You always write such thoughtful, thought-provoking, personalized comments that are such a pleasure to read.

      I am so sorry to hear that you have been turned off of classic books. There are such great ones out there. If you ever wish to reengage with classics again, Hemingway is a fabulous start. I especially recommend ‘The Old Man and the Sea’. This extremely short novel is a fabulous example of Hemmingway’s straightforward prose, compelling narrative and his mastery of concise, powerful storytelling.

      Wishing you and your family a very happy and healthy 2025.

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      1. You are often in my thoughts even though I don’t get over to your blog often enough. You do a great job. It’s always sad to read that someone you care about has suffered a loss. Take care, my friend.

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