Reading is one of my guilty pleasures. Is there nothing better than curling up with a good book and a cuppa and ‘meeting new people” through the characters in a book? I love reading and getting lost in a book for a while. Mostly I prefer fiction because it takes me to another place and helps me to relax.
Today though, I have something exciting to share with you – especially if you love reading like me!
Something new from August- The ‘What’s On Your Bookshelf Challenge‘
On Friday, August 20, I will be joining my friends Donna, Debbie and Jo to kick off ‘What’s On Your Bookshelf?’ a new monthly challenge. We would love you to join in too. As avid lovers of books we are always interested in what others are reading and what books we can add to our list.
It’s simple really….
- We encourage you to share favourite books or recent reads.
- This series will go live on the third Friday of each month (actually Thursday in North America).
- The goal is to keep it simple and inspire others with your recommendations or those you didn’t like. Perhaps you would like to share your favourite books and why you rated them as favourites.
- You can share in the comments, with a blog post, on Instagram or on any other social media of your choice. Include the hashtag #Whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge so that we can find you and include your link in our posts.
Donna, Debbie, Jo and I hope that you will join us! Please do not hesitate to let one of us know if you have questions on either linkup.
So, will you be joining us for the What’s On Your Bookshelf challenge? I hope you will, see you on the 20th.
What was on my Bookshelf for July?
July reading was a mix of Classics and also Summer reads plus thought provoking reads. Let me share what I’ve been reading with you and perhaps you will share what you have been reading.
The Things We Keep – Sally Hepworth
The Things We Keep pulled at many emotions for me. I felt such a sense of sadness and loss for many of the characters but at the end I felt uplifted. Anna living her life with early onset Alheizmer’s finds unexpected love with Luke who also has early onset Alheizmer’s which some find impossible to believe. Both are living in Rosalind House, an assisted living facility for the elderly, at a time when they should be living and experiencing life as 30 somethings. Eve who has to learn some difficult truths about her life. Jack, Anna’s twin who is trying to do what is best for Anna but doesn’t really understand.
Sally Hepworth has written a poignant story about love, loss and coping with Alzheimer’s through the patient’s eyes and from their family’s perspective.
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Our Online Book Club finished discussions and as part of celebrating finishing a book we bake! Yes we bake and that is another story I will share with you in another post. This is the third Bronte Sisters book that we have read and it is very interesting comparing the writing of the three sisters – Emily, Anne and Charlotte
People we meet on Vacation – Emily Henry
“But most of us are too scared to even ask what we want, in case we can’t have it.”
― Emily Henry, People We Meet on Vacation
Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love that’s how this book is described on Goodreads.
This was a Summer read for me in between book club meetings for Jane Eyre. Poppy and Alex have been best friends since college taking annual vacations together, loving each other but never being brave enough to tell each other how they really feel. Something happened 10 Summers ago between Poppy and Alex which redefined their friendship. Throughout the book we time travel from present day to the previous 10 summers each with it’s own story of their relationship.
Throughout the book we time travel from present day to the previous 10 summers each with it’s own story of their relationship. If you liked When Harry met Sally you will enjoy The People you meet on Vacation.
What have you been reading? Don’t forget next month we start #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge
Read Deb’s version HERE
Read Jo’s version HERE
Read Donna’s version HERE
18 Comments
The Emily Henry book has been on my TBR list for a while. It sounds right up my alley. I’m currently reading Paige Toon’s The One We Fell In Love With and can’t put it down.
I think you will enjoy People we meet on Vacation, Jo. It is a light read but sometimes you need those, don’t you?
I’m looking forward to this new challenge and because I’m with friends it’s even more fun! I like Sally Hepworth’s books so will add that to my list and the People we meet on vacation sounds good too. Thanks for recommending The Rose Code which I’ve mentioned in my post today.
I’m excited about the new challenge too, Deb. It is going to be fun! x
Thank you for these book recommendations, Sue. I’m adding the Hepworth and the Henry books to my TBR list right now. I’m super excited about the upcoming ‘What’s On Your Bookshelf.” I look forward to discovering new books this way.
I really enjoy Sally Hepworth’s books and yes, I’m very excited about our new venture. x
Hi Sue – it’s great that you’re all enjoying your Bronte sister reading and that now you’re branching out to share your book recommendations with us all. You always seem to have something new on the boil to keep the blog bubbling along x
Hi Leanne, yes I’m loving the series as I had only previously read Jane Eyre. We have read three and are now reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall which I had never even heard of.
Hi Sue, I love a reading challenge so will definitely join you for this. Lately I’ve been reading historical fiction and catching up non-fiction. The last book I finished was The Women’s Pages by Victoria Purman. It’s the story of women who were left behind, and the work they took on in Australia, when the men went to WW2. It’s also gives insight into the effects of war on the men when they came home, and also of the women who were expected to go back to their tradition home making roles at the end of the war. Looking forward to hearing about some books to try during your challenge.
Hi Jen, it isn’t technically a link up but you can leave your link in the comments and use the hashtag. I’m excited about our new venture. I am very interested in reading The Women’s Pages and I enjoy reading about WW2. Thanks for the recommendation. Have a great week! x
What’s on your bookshelf? sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing what you’ve been reading this summer. I also read “People We Meet on Vacation” and found it fun escapist literature. Now I’m reading The Last Bookshop in London, which takes me to London during the bombing in WWII. The characters are wonderful, and despite the hardship of living during that horrific time, the author shows how books help the characters escape the horrors through reading, educate themselves, travel throughout time, and even find love. I highly recommend.
Oh I love the idea of The Last Bookshop in London, Pamela. I enjoy books about WW2 but have not heard of this one. Thanks for the recommendation. x
Excited to be joining this challenge and to see what others are reading! As a fast and varied reader, I am always on the lookout for new books to add to my TBR (to be read) list. Thank you!
Deb
Hi Deb! Yes I’m looking forward to sharing and also receiving ideas for books for my list. x
Hi Sue – I’m coming over via Donna … and Vancouver Islands bloggers … I recently had a year there, sadly never met the blogging crowd – but so looking forward to joining in the What’s On My Bookshelf suggestions … I’m an eclectic reader … and recently have been exploring trips overland from Jerusalem to Xanadu, Alaska to Siberia … and recently a Paul Theroux ‘Dark Star Safari’ overland from Cairo to Cape Town … I lived in SA for 14 years … I will see you later in August – cheers Hilary
Hi Hilary lovely to meet you and I was fortunate to meet the lovely Donna on VI when my husband and I were on a cruise back in 2019. Your book recommendations sound very interesting and I look forward to seeing you later in the month. Have a beautiful day! x
Yay for your new series. Will try to get a post written up about what I have been reading lately. The Things We Keep sounds poignant but thoughtful. I tend to read sad, moving books. And I am knee-deep in 3 right now.
Hi Leslie, I’m like you with a couple of books on the go. I love reading and hope you will join our challenge. xx