Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sunday Salon- Holidays are Almost Here

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving here in the US, and that by this time next week, I'll be hip-deep in Christmas.

But for today it's still pre-holiday-season. Late this morning I'm attending a book-launch party for a friend whose book about class-action lawsuits just came out, and then in the afternoon I'm helping to decorate the house for Thanksgiving. We host a small brunch for out-of-town visiting family on the weekend after Thanksgiving so we like to have the house looking nice.

Those of you who know me on Twitter will know that one of the main dramas of my life over the past few days has been the loss of my Moleskine Book Journal; well, I found it last night, thanks in no small part to the cleaning we've been doing! I was going nuts looking for it; I've written detailed book lists in it and have been really missing it! The next step would have been to buy a new one, a step which would have guaranteed its retrieval, but thankfully it didn't come to that.

As for reading, I've got Doctor Zhivago going and I'm close to finishing Moscow 2042. I also have one chapter to go on Salman Rushdie's new book, Luka and the Fire of Life. Every Sunday I have big plans when it comes to reading but for some reason I hardly ever spend any time at all reading on Sundays. We'll see if today is any different.

I read through all my short Russian books for Russian Month, and now I'm working my way through two normal-sized novels, Moscow 2042 and The Sacred Book of the Werewolf.  I'd like to finish those two for Russian Month; I don't know if there will be time to read anything else. Of course I've also added one or two to the pile since I started but overall I've made good progress through my stash.

What are you reading today? Getting ready for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas? Have a great Sunday!
More Sunday Salon here.

21 comments:

Laura said...

Thanksgiving seems to have come upon me so quickly, I'm only just getting my act together. Luckily we have a small family gathering, so preparation is manageable. And I have the entire week off from work so I hope to log lots of reading time.

I'm glad you found your Book Journal! I can only imagine the heart palpitations and hyperventilation brought on by its loss ...

Have a great holiday!

Anonymous said...

Oh man, I'm so glad you found your journal! That's definitely one of the great irreplaceable items in MY life. Can't imagine losing it or what I'd do. :O/

Your morning sounds like fun, enjoy yourself...and your friend!

Audrey said...

I'm going to do some baking for Thanksgiving, and in between I need to finish the new book of Julia Child's letters because it's overdue. She is just so cool...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mystica said...

We do not celebrate Thanksgiving but there is always Christmas. Its not very big in our family and since the children are scattered its getting even less celebratory. However I have my orphanage to work on and there is a lot of christmas parcels to be got ready. Looking forward to starting on that.

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Yay for finding your journal! Isn't it amazing how you can thoroughly lose something in your own house? I've done that a number of times!

bermudaonion said...

I need to start getting ready for Thanksgiving, but all I've done is buy the turkey breast. Our Thanksgiving will be small and quiet, with just the 3 of us and our nephew.

Harvee said...

Glad you found your list of books! For the first time, I already have both holidays all planned out! Have a great week.

Booksnyc said...

It's just me and my parents for Thanksgiving and I am going to them so my prep is minimal. I hope to get lots of reading done that weekend!

Have a good week - and congrats on the recovery of the journal!

Anonymous said...

I have been super busy recently but I am really excited to be getting into the holiday spirit!

Anonymous said...

I didn't know Rushdie was Russian. ;)

As for what I'm reading, well, you'll just have to visit my blog to see. :)

Marie Cloutier said...

Unfinished, get a life. *eyeroll*

Anonymous said...

I pride myself that I'm the only one who got a response from you. ;)

Darlene said...

Well I only have to worry about getting ready for Christmas since our Thanksgiving is in October. I'm hoping I'll be able to put up a tree this year with the new puppy - he is into everything.

I'm so glad you found your Book Journal. That is so frustrating when you can't find something. I can't tell you how many times I've ripped apart the house looking for something.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Alyce said...

Good luck with your reading today. Congrats on finding the journal - I'm sure that was a relief!

We spent the first half of our day with family, and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with the rest of the day.

bookmagic said...

I don't usually have company for the holidays, I go to my parents house. But I like to clean as if I am having guests!

Glad you found your notebook

Bellezza said...

So glad you found your Moleskine! My handwritten record of books read is only as complete a my blog, begun in 2006, so I could always refer to my sidebar; still, one doesn't want to lose one's hard copy ever! (I wish I would have started one much, much earlier in my life.)

One of my closest friends said, "Have you read The Russian Winter yet? I'm loving it, and I know you will, too," so if I don't win it from you, I'm so going to buy it! ;)

Florinda said...

Glad you found your notebook, but probably not as glad as you are :-D! Have a great Thanksgiving.

Zibilee said...

Wow! You are having a spectacular reading month! And I am also glad that you found your notebook. I have been on the verge of ordering one ever since I saw your post, but just haven't gotten around to it yet.

This Thanksgiving, I am going to my father's house, but will be cooking a lot of the food and hope to get started on it with enough time to spare! It's going to be pie heaven over here!

Erin said...

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving either!!

I'm glad to hear you found your Book Journal -- what a terrible feeling. I love having handwritten accounts, but every time something like that happens, I always reconsider switching to digital. Although a digital record can get wiped out so easily too!

Anonymous said...

So many holidays upcoming, so little time. LOL

Esme said...

What wonderful books you have been reading.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving.