Sunday, March 21, 2010

Sunday Salon - A Taste of Spring


Since the Sunday Salon police caught up with me last week and reminded me that the purpose of Sunday Salon is to talk about reading and not what's going on in my personal life, I will spare you the recap of my week and get straight to the books.

Friday night I finished Adam Schwartzman's new book, Eddie Signwriter, which is coming out on Tuesday. I'll talk about it more later this week but I highly recommend it to readers of literary fiction, especially those interested in books about Africa. It's set there and in France, and it's terrific.

Yesterday I started to read Frank Delaney's wonderful Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show. I'm only a few chapters in but I love the narrative voice. I feel like I'm sitting in a pub in Dublin listening to a great raconteur spinning yarns. My seasonal allergies have been bothering me lately- we've been having some unseasonably warm temperatures after a period of heavy rain, which always equals allergies- and so I get very sleepy very quickly when I sit down to read. Good thing those chapters are short!

Today? Today I plan to continue with Venetia Kelly and start reading a short book. Which one I haven't decided yet; I actually have a tag in my LibraryThing catalog for short books so I'll scoot on over there in a while and pick one out.

I also decided to join a read along of Lonesome Dove which I think is taking place in the fall. It's
being run by Amy at My Friend Amy and sounds like fun. I'm not typically a joiner but I think maybe I need to branch out a little in that respect.

That's a picture of my cat doing what I'd like to do as soon as possible- curl up with a good book.

What are you up to today?

More TSS can be found here.

28 comments:

Kathleen said...

Your cat is beautiful! I hope I will be able to curl up with a good book tomorrow (Sunday) too!

Lenore Appelhans said...

yay for cat pictures! now I am going to demand that you post one every week ;)

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Love the cat picture (and the doll!). You'll see lots of dolls in my photos of books.

Who are the Salon Police??? I like reading about personal stuff, along with the books!

Here's mine, with books AND personal stuff:

http://laurel-rainsnowsaccidentallife.blogspot.com/2010/03/sunday-salon_21.html

Harvee said...

Wish I could curl up like your cat! I have a six hour drive ahead of me, but here's my Sunday Salon

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Once again, a beautiful craft (under the cat)!

My husband keeps telling me I should read Lonesome Dove - he totally loved it, but so far I just can't talk myself into it!

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

I agree with Laurel. I like the personal stuff. Didn't realize we had police. LOL. How are you finding the Frank Delaney? I am going to be starting on that soon. it looks like it will be a good one.

Marie Cloutier said...

Rhapsody-the doll is handmade but not by me- it was a yard sale find. I can't resist a redheaded doll. :-)

Marg said...

Oh, a Lonesome Dove readalong. Over the last couple of years I have read the first two books (chronolically anyway) so this might fit in with me perfectly! Off to find out more!

My Sunday Salon post is here

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Good to hear you are enjoying Venetia Kelley's Traveling Show. I so want to come back as someone's well-love, pampered cat (yours looks so content) --what a life huh??

bermudaonion said...

The spring weather is wonderful - too bad it brings pollen along with it. I hope you tackle those allergies soon.

bermudaonion said...

I forgot to say I agree with Laurel - we want the personal stuff too!

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

Somehow I skipped a paragraph. LOL Glad you are enjoying it. It looks so good, if long.

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

Marie, I'm laughing as I read about the Sunday Salon Police because I thought I might start a Sunday Salon routine with more 'personal life' stuff in it, to give some more personality to my blog. I'm glad I read your update before I called it Sunday Salon :)

Enjoy this beautiful day - take your book outside!

Trisha said...

I see nothing wrong with including your personal life along with the bookish news! Here's my Sunday Salon. Happy Reading!

JoAnn said...

Sunday Salon police - bah!! The personal stuff is part of who we are, too, and that's how we get to know each other. These posts would be pretty boring if we only listed what we're reading.

Beth F said...

Who knew there were SS police?

So glad you are going for Lonesome Dove -- I can't wait to eavesdrop on the discussions.

Florinda said...

Heh, I know just what (who!) you mean about the Sunday Salon police - I got busted a couple of weeks ago for my Salon's insufficient focus on what I was actually reading :-). Just throw the personal stuff in along with that...I like getting to know people better!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I love the idea of a readalong. I must seek one out.

Lonesome Dove is on my top reads ever list. Great characters. Lots of action. Mostly takes place in Texas. What more could a reader want?!

Anonymous said...

As the Chief of the Sunday Salon Police, I would like to thank you for going straight to the books and sparing us the recap of your personal life. ;) Like you, I'm not much of a participator either in group things (well, besides this), but I'm also joined Amy on another "thing," reading Leif Unger's Peace Like A River in May as part of a Faith 'n' Fiction Roundtable discussion. Amy, I guess, has a way of pulling people into things. :)

Darlene said...

Too bad about the Sunday Salon Police - I like having the personal mixed with the bookish stuff which is why I do my own version. Love the picture of your cat -he's beautiful!

Library Cat said...

Hi Marie,
I am sending you a virtual Easter basket in hopes that you will also send them along to some of your favorite bloggers - to help the Children's Miracle Network.

You can see the basket at my blog!

Thanks,
Donna

Booksnyc said...

TSS police -who knew?!

I read Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show last week and loved it - hope you enjoy it too!

Unknown said...

Your cat is such a faker! She's got the book upside down! I know she's not really reading that.

Anonymous said...

Cute kitty. LOL. I hear you and what you'd like to be doing.

I finished reading The Last of the Just, by Andre Schwarz-Bart...an excellent novel...sobering.

caite said...

good call on that upside down book Rat King. I hate when someone fakes reading a book...even when that someone is an animal. I knew cats can't be trusted.

now at least Bandit, the cutest dog in the world, had the sense to hold the book the right way. ;-)

Jeanne said...

I like the personal bits too. I think the "police" were just trying to get you to divulge more.

Alyce said...

You're totally joking about the police right? :) You mean we're only supposed to talk about books? ;)

Seriously, I enjoy the personal stuff mixed in with the books. Don't stop with the personal info!

Your cat is adorable BTW.

Zibilee said...

Oh Marie! I am so excited to hear you will be reading Lonesome Dove! I thought it was such a great book and I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Also, I poo-poo on the policing of your posts. I, for one, like to hear about what you are doing!