Welcome to another month of What’s Been on my Bookshelf
At the time of writing this we are about to embark on our latest adventure, a trip to England to celebrate our daughter’s 40th birthday and a chance to spend time with our granddaughter Dottie.
I was reminded that in 2013 I travelled on my own to England, Denmark and Sweden for a month long solo trip to celebrate Melanie’s 30th birthday, and despite many adventures along the way, I survived quite well!
I came home with stories galore and made up two books from photos and blog entries (I was using a different travel blog platform in those days which no longer exists). In anticipation of this next celebration I’ve taken these books out and have been reading all about my adventures in 2013 – checking the weather, what I was wearing, what I was thinking…
I’ve included the covers below as part of my reading this month. It’s an excellent way to keep these memories alive and to this day my husband and I make photo books of all our trips once we get home. It can be time consuming but it’s a wonderful way to remember the day to day activities we enjoyed, our thoughts at the time from our diaries and many amazing photos.
What have I read since my last post?
Last month I wrote about how some books can be good and bad at the same time, this month as I’m travelling my post is short and sweet!
- Paris for One and other stories – Jojo Moyes hardcover (gift) 3*
- Fire With Fire – Candice Fox kindle 4*
- The Catch – T M Logan – Kindle 3*
- The Party – Robyn Harding – paperback 3*
- Homecoming – Kate Morton – audible
- American Kill Switch – John Birmingham End of Days #3 – audible 3*
- Mrs Dalloway – Virginia Woolf – online bookclub – audible 3*
- The Ripping Tree – Nikki Gemmell – bookclub 3*
- Hillary’s Back – DI Hillary Greene #18 – Faith Martin – Kindle Unlimited 4*
- The Redgum River Retreat – Sandie Docker – Kindle 4*
- Murder Now and Then – DI Hillary Greene #19 – Faith martin – Kindle Unlimited
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll – online bookclub – audible
I’m listening to Alice’s Adventures read by Miriam Margolyes and she has a lovely way of narrating – it’s a real performance. I’m thoroughly enjoying this and I can’t believe I’ve not read it before! Our online bookclub is now looking at the classics, and we’ve just finished Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, with mixed reviews, and have moved onto Alice by Lewis Carroll. These two books are chalk and cheese but that’s what makes our discussions so good!!
I finally finished listening to the End of Days series on Audible and am glad I continued instead of giving up. I enjoyed Sandie Docker’s latest The Redgum River Retreat and we’re currently listening to Homecoming by Kate Morton on our road trips, it’s taken a while to get into but we’re enjoying it. I loved Candice Fox’s Fire with Fire, she is one of my new favourite Aussie authors. I’m not sure what I’ll read next but there are some lovely street libraries around the village where we’ll be so I’m sure I can find something to read.
What’s on Your Bookshelf link party
I’m very happy to co-host this link party with my good friends, Sue, Donna, & Jo and enjoy discovering new books to add to my ever increasing piles. I always make notes of new books to read as I go through everyone’s posts each month. Do you do that too?
We share different tastes in books so we’ll probably have something to interest you, and it could even lead to a new author or genre! We all try to visit everyone who has joined the linkup and we appreciate your support.
What’s On Your Bookshelf Challenge (WOYBS)
brought to you by Sue, Donna, Jo and Debbie
#whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge
Will you join in?
If you’re into reading, please consider joining us, even if it’s just to leave a comment with what you’ve been reading. We’ve added a linkup (at the end of my post) so you can add your posts directly there and see what others have posted about for the month as well.
You can read more from my stunning co-hosts here:
Sue from Women Living Well After 50
Donna from Retirement Reflections
Jo from And Anyways
We’re all in this together, sharing our love of reading 🙂
All my WOYBS posts can be found here – not bad considering we started this series in August 2021!
Happy reading!
Deb xx
Guidelines for WOYBS:
What: What’s On Your Bookshelf #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge
When: Third Thursday PM (Northern Hemisphere)/ Third Friday AM (Southern Hemisphere).
Third Thursday, 2 pm (PST)/Third Friday, 8 am (AEST).
Coming dates:
- June 15/16
- July 20/21
- Aug 18/19
- Sept 14/15
- Oct 19/20
- Nov 16/17
- Dec 14/15
Why: Share a love of reading.
Where: Linkup, Blog, Blog Comments, Instagram or other Social Media.
Who: This linkup is open to everyone.
How: You can share in the comments, with a blog post, or on other social media of your choice. You can use the hashtag #Whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge
You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.
Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
Copyright © 2023 debs-world.com – All rights reserved
Deb's World 
Hi, Debbie – Wow! You have read a great deal this past month. Sadly, the only two books from this list that I have read so far are Mrs. Dalloway and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I’ve just picked up Through the Looking Glass from my local library and look forward to reading that too.
Wishing you an absolutely wonderful time with family!
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Hi Donna, while on holidays my reading has dropped off (and blogging) but I’m glad I’ve read Alice and ready for our discussion once I’m back home. We’re having a lovely time with our family over here and the weather has been a treat!
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Hi Deb. I loved Fire With Fire, another great read from Candice Fox. I love that you have been reading about your previous travels, a great way to get into the mood for travel, family and fun. Enjoy!
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Yes it was a great way to get in the mood for our trip Jen, also Facebook memories have been reminding me of previous trips at the same time of year 5 and 10 years ago which is always nice. I really enjoy Candice Fox’s books and yet again we’re on the same page 🙂
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You’ve reminded me of a couple of picture books I created a few years ago, one for my husband when he was a volunteer at the London Olympics, and one about a Lake District holiday. It’s a great thing to do because phone photos are hard to archive and track.
I can’t believe how many books you’ve read! I don’t normally like Miriam Margolyes but I bet her narration is spot on. Have a great weekend in Cheddar!
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Hi Gail, the photo books are a great way to share favourite photos rather than trying to sort through every photo you’ve ever taken!! Miriam’s reading of Alice was a real treat I must say. Cheddar has turned on the spring weather and we’re loving our time here.
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Well done you for making your photo books – I have years of photos that I keep promising to make into albums/books but never get around too. I know I would love looking through them and recalling all our happy memories, so I don’t know why I never focus on making time. I hope you get some wonderful weather and reads in deepest Somerset xx
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Thanks Janine, it’s a huge job making the books but well worth the effort, getting started is the hardest bit! Weather here in Somerset is wonderful, loving the spring colours and flowers :).
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You must have taken the Aussie sunshine with you. I know the weather hasn’t been too good up until now
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I make up scrapbook pages from our trips and travels and always a blog post or two (or 7!) as well. I hope you have a wonderful time!!
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Hi Joanne, it’s such a great way to recreate those trips isn’t it? I sometimes wish there were more hours in the day when on holidays 🙂
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Hi Deb you’ve reminded me that I have not made photo books for the last several trips that we have taken. They are so good to have as a reminder so I’ve decided to take up the challenge and make at least two before the end of the year. As usual, the books you have read are ones I have either read or know I will enjoy. Happy travels and thanks for joining up and being an international co-host for this month’s WOYBS? xx
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Hi Sue, I hope you enjoy recreating your holidays with photo/travel books, it’s such a great way to remember those precious memories. I’m not finding much time for reading and blogging but then I am supposed to be on holidays!!
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You’ve reminded me I need to catch up on my photobooks! I loved our Mrs D discussions and can’t wait to go down the rabbithole with Alice.
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Thanks Jo. The photo books are such a fun way of recreating the holiday and Grant really enjoys working on them as soon as we’re home.
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I have always planned to make travel journals, daily journals, writing journals…just journals, in general. But, that’s as far as I’ve gotten.
So, what did you think of Mrs. Dalloway? I had to read it as it seemed like a rite of passage. But, I was really underwhelmed by it.
I’m sorry I’m not joining in this month as life has just been too hectic. I will plan to do so next month!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Hi Marsha, Mrs Dalloway was a bit of hit and miss for me, I couldn’t read it but actually listened to it instead which was way better. Also our discussion made me understand it better, I may have given up without the bookclub connection. Life is hectic and it’s fine not to join every month, I get it!
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I need to move Homecoming up my tbr!
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