Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sunday Salon: Hurricane Edition

Like much of the east coast, we're hunkering down for Hurricane Irene. We got slammed with rain yesterday and the winds will start up this morning. Our windows started to leak, so we improvised a solution that will get us through the day but we'll need some fairly costly repairs to our siding in the spring. At least we know now, so we can start budgeting for it.
Yes, those are Littermaid receptacles taped to my window to collect rain. We have another one on third window!
Public transportation in Massachusetts has been shut down and because of the damage to the house and the bad weather we can't really leave, so I guess that means a lot of reading. I got a good start on it yesterday and made significant progress in The Talk-Funny Girl by Roland Merullo, a really heartbreakingly wonderful novel about abuse and rural isolation that I urge you to buy right now. Merullo is one of the most underappreciated writers in this country and his new book is just staggering.

This week I finished The Prestige, by Christopher Priest, in a couple of days; it was awesome. If you've seen the movie, you still need to read this book. There's a whole storyline the movie left out and an ending that knocked my socks off. I then proceeded to lose my copy, along with my copy of Carte Blanche, by Carlo Lucarelli, at a movie theater. Carte Blanche is a crime novel and a Europa title I was reading for the challenge so I started reading Minotaur by Benjamin Tammuz in its place. It's also very good, about a young woman who becomes the center of several erotic obsessions.

The whole world is telling me to read The Night Circus, so my husband is going to read it and then tell me if he thinks I should, too. I've agreed to accept his judgement. I did start it a while back but then I misplaced my copy. I got a second one at a Night Circus party I was honored to attend this past week, thrown by Random House and attended by booksellers and bloggers from around the area. It was fun to meet author Erin Morgenstern and the party included a mime, a juggler and a psychic as well as great food and lots of my friends. I feel really blessed sometimes to have found this community of booklovers.

Well I'm going back to watching my windows for leaks. I hope everyone in the hurricane's path this weekend takes care of themselves and stays safe and dry.

More Sunday Salon here.

15 comments:

Mystica said...

Stay safe.

Sandy Nawrot said...

Ugh. Girl, I've been there and it sucks. You just sit there and make lists of awful expensive projects that will need to be done after it all passes. Well the pressure is on your husband's shoulders, because if he tells you to read The Night Circus, then I will wait to see what you say. The same world telling you to read it has been telling me too.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I was thrilled to have my house survive the last big hurricane that came through, back in 2008. No flooding and the tree limbs fell nicely right next to the house.

I hope you will be able to quickly recover from this big storm.

Here's my Sunday Salon: Friendship Bread---Starter for a Book Club in My Town.

bermudaonion said...

Oh, what a pain for you! I hope the sun comes out soon.

Anonymous said...

We had a leak in our roof earlier in the week that our landlord fixed -- and just in time. Today I'm writing from my office with no rain drops falling on my head.

I had no idea that The Prestige was a book too. It seems like every movie any more is based on a book.

Lisa C. Hayden said...

Good luck with the storm, Marie. I hope leaks don't get worse -- I'm very glad we got new windows a couple years ago!

I'll be interested to hear what your husband thinks of The Night Circus -- I thought it had some lovely passages but was ambivalent about it over all.

Unknown said...

Ingenious rain receptacles! Sending warm (and dry) thoughts your way ...

Zibilee said...

I just finished The Night Circus, and think that you will find it rather interesting. Aarti and I are discussing it over email, and there is so much there to think about! I also can sympathize with your hurricane woes. We haven't had a bad storm here for a couple of years, but since Florida is hurricane central, I know just what you are going through. Keep those drips at bay, if you can, and just ride it out with some great books. My thoughts will be with you!

Suzanne said...

I hope leaky windows is the only trouble Irene hands you.

I read Merullo's Breakfast with Buddha earlier this year and loved it, so I need to check out The Talk-Funny Girl. I'm prepared to agree with you that he is an underrated and underappreciated talent.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Marie, glad to hear that leaky windows were the worst of it 4 you. We fared better than expected - no basement flooding, or trees down in our yard so we are thrilled. Stay safe - the worst is now over.

Marce said...

I hope all has passed you now Marie, look forward to your update. I like your rain catchers lol very creative.

The Night Circus party sounds awesome.

Andi said...

I hope Irene was kind to you! I just started The Night Circus last night. Hoping to polish off a good deal more today as I'm home sick from work.

Audra said...

Hope things didn't get much worse -- so v jealous about your Night Circus party -- it sounds so cool!

Kathleen said...

I guess the only good thing about the hurricane was that it gave you more time to read!

Michelle (Red Headed Book Child) said...

Leaky windows, not fun. Meeting the author of Night Circus, SUPER FUN! What an opportunity!