Sunday, April 18, 2010

Sunday Salon- Long Weekend

Well it's Patriot's Day Weekend here in Boston and that means one thing- tomorrow is the Boston Marathon, a day when athletes and their supporters get out to run and line the streets to cheer. When I was in college, Marathon Monday was always the first day of our spring break and the Marathon itself went right past campus, so bunches of us would cheer the runners as they passed by. Current students of my alma mater still do that every year.

As for me, Marathon Monday is a day when I traditionally hide in my house and try to stay away from all the fuss, not being one for crowds at all. Conveniently enough, my house stocked full of wonderful books to read. I'll be finishing up Dorothy Baker's Cassandra at the Wedding and Yann Martel's Beatrice and Virgil.

I got to see Martel read on Thursday, the highlight of a week of bookish events. He was just wonderful and listening to him made me want to go read Life of Pi all over again. There was also the so-called Saturday Salon this past Wednesday, a luncheon in Boston I attended along with Dawn of She is Too Fond of Books. It was hosted by Amy MacKinnon, Elyssa East and Delia Cabe and included a host of authors like Lynne Griffin and Holly LeCraw, as well as local book industry honchos and more. It was held at Boston's lovely Parker House Hotel and it was a really good time. Yesterday my neighborhood, Harvard Square, held the "Bookish Ball," a day of bookshopping in this bookstore-rich area. I went to Raven Used Books, which has this just awesome selection of literary fiction, and Million Year Picnic, a comic shop, to pick up some novels both graphic and normal. Today there are two readings I'm interested in attending, Holly LeCraw at the Concord Bookstore and Katherine Howe at the Wellesley Free Library; we'll see where I end up!

Where are you going to end up today?

You can read more Sunday Salon here.

12 comments:

Frances said...

Happy hiding! :) And great Thursday night you had! Would like to hear Martel read. That copy of Beatrice and Virgil on the table is calling to me. Just might treat myself to a little break amid this month's heavy tomes. Love the reading I am doing right now but the intensity is beginning to wear me down just a little.

Enjoy what sounds like another great day in front of you!

Audrey said...

I love Patriot's Day because living 3 blocks from Beacon Street I am officially trapped at home! ... but I do like to go down and watch for a while. I'm going to celebrate by trying to finish 2 of my 4 overdue library books. A perfect weekend, I think!

Anonymous said...

I am jealous of your shopping! That sounds like much fun. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on Martel's new book...reviews seem mixed so far.

Anonymous said...

A long weekend sounds wonderful! enjoy your books--seeing Martel will be great I'm sure.

Kathleen said...

Enjoy your quiet day of reading tomorrow. I still haven't read Life of Pi so I am definitely behind the times here and especially now that Martel's new book is out.

bermudaonion said...

I wish I had a bookish event to attend today, but I'll probably just end up here at home.

Pam said...

Loved, loved, loved Life of Pi. I had heard that Matel had a new book out. I need to check it out. You live in a "bookstore rich" neighborhood? Really? Are there any houses for sale?

Anonymous said...

Happy homebody day to you! That is, if you stay at home.

Library Cat said...

I would love to live that close to an Indie bookstore. I have a little used book store fairly close and I go there rather often, but the choices of newer books is often slim.

Have a wonderful Patriot's Day!

Alexia561 said...

Don't blame you for hiding out during the marathon. I'm not a big fan of crowds either. The Bookish Ball sounds like a great idea! Have fun!

Zibilee said...

It sounds like you had a weekend of bookish loveliness! Also the marathon sounds exciting. Though I have never participated in one, it's always been a dream of mine. I don't think I would like to brave the crowds though, so I certainly understand you hiding away! I hope you have a wonderful week!

Michelle said...

Kick ass long weekend! I used to love Marathon Monday -- my brother lived in a house on Comm Ave near heartbreak hill so they'd have a huge party & we'd watch the runners from the porch.

Sound like all the bookish activity was a rousing success!