What’s On Your Bookshelf in August?

It’s time for another What’s On your Bookshelf? post and I’m running late. I’ve been busy preparing to move house and last week it happened. We are still surrounded by boxes and settling in but we are happy with our decision. Of course preparing to sell a home and purchase a new one is very time consuming but I still managed time to read.

I’ve written before about Reading and it’s health benefits, especially our mental health. The soothing and relaxing experience we feel when we read an old ‘favourite’ or escape into a new adventure or story. So even though we have been packing, cleaning, unpacking, cleaning I’ve managed to read some lovely books during the last month.

What’s been on my Bookshelf?

I have been mostly reading Australian authors which I’m recommending in this month’s post. I rated them mostly 4 & 5 stars for different reasons.

Sarah Docker, Inga Simpson, Sophie Green & Jessica Anderson

Non-Fiction

Midlife, Menopause & Beyond

I recently interviewed Rachel Lankester from Magnificent Midlife for an upcoming episode of the Women Living Well After 50 Podcast. Rachel’s book ‘Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause & Beyond is an easy to read, yet informative book which women – pre and post menopause should read.

Book Club

Our Book Club meetings have been on hold as one our members is enjoying a lovely holiday catching up with her gorgeous granddaughter in the U.K. However, we have been tasked with our next Jane Austen book – Mansfield Park. Usually, we read each book in stages and have a Book Club meeting to discuss the set chapters. With Debbie away, we are reading the whole book and discussing when she returns from holidays.

One thing I’ve learned reading the classics with my Book Club is I greatly value the discussions whilst still reading the book. I always learn some new perspective or understand more about the author on a deeper level. I’m looking forward to our next meeting to hear everyone’s thoughts.

Personally, I loved the book and will write my review in next month’s post.

First Impressions: A Novel about Old Books, Unexpected Love & Jane Austen

This was a pleasant surprise and I highly recommend this book especially if you love Jane Austen.

Book lover and Austen enthusiast Sophie Collingwood has recently taken a job at an antiquarian bookshop in London when two different customers request a copy of the same obscure book: the second edition of Little Book of Allegories by Richard Mansfield.  Their queries draw Sophie into a mystery that will cast doubt on the true authorship of Pride and Prejudice—and ultimately threaten Sophie’s life.

In a dual narrative that alternates between Sophie’s quest to uncover the truth—while choosing between two suitors—and a young Jane Austen’s touching friendship with the aging cleric Richard Mansfield, Lovett weaves a romantic, suspenseful, and utterly compelling novel about love in all its forms and the joys of a life lived in books

Goodreads

What have you been reading lately? Why not join us at What’s On Your Bookshelf and share it with us? You can link up your post below.

What’s On Your Bookshelf is a monthly link-up co-hosted by Debbie (Deb’s World), Jo (And Anyways), Sue (Women Living Well After 50) and Donna (Retirement Reflections). #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge

Happy Reading!

Women Living Well After 50

Living Life Your Way