Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sunday Salon

Happy Sunday!
It's been a busy bookish week and this coming week is full of events, too.

Last Tuesday some friends and I went to see Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything is Illuminated as well as the recent Eating Animals, at Harvard University. Unfortunately the hall was too small for the crowd and my friends and I didn't get seated. But, we came back later for the signing and got to meet him anyway. Wednesday, I met up with friends again to see Gary Shteyngart, author of one of my favorite books, Absurdistan, and the recent Super Sad True Love Story, at Brookline Booksmith, a great independent bookstore. This time I was first in line and I got a great seat! Shteyngart was funny and interesting and I got my books signed, too.

(I also got photos of both authors but my camera has disappeared again.)

Today I'm relaxing at home finishing up Mitchell James Kaplan's historical novel of the Inquisition, By Fire, By Water. It's pretty good. I'm going to be interviewing Kaplan for work and I'll be sure to let you know when it's posted in case you're interested. I also started reading Ghita Schwarz's book Displaced Persons, which I'm finding a little dull, honestly. But it's only the beginning and I'll hang in there with it. What I really want is to read a book I'll really fall in love with. So much of my "required reading" these days is just plain boring, as much as I try to get enthusiastic about it.

What books have you fallen in love with lately?

Have a great Sunday. More Sunday Salon here.

12 comments:

Kathy Crowley said...

Busy week!

rhapsodyinbooks said...

You Boston-area people are so fortunate, with the authors you get! And how wonderful that so many people turn out for authors that the hall gets overflowing! (hmm, maybe that's why they like to go to Boston!)

I almost picked up Super Sad True Love Story yesterday, but decided to wait until I'm done with my current book so I don't abandon it for that one!

Lesa said...

Marie,

I fell in love with a nonfiction book, Cleo: The Cat Who Mended a Family by Helen Brown. Beautiful story of a family surviving after a tragedy. And, I'm enjoying Anne Fortier's Juliet.

Lesa - www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

Amy Tan is coming to Houston tomorrow night. I want to go and yet I don't want to go. Long drive there and long drive home.

Worth it to get to hear an author live, right?

I've only read children's books this week, but what wonderful children's books they were! I'd love to have you stop in at my blog:
www.readerbuzz.blogspot.com

(And don't panic....the post IS in English, despite all outward appearances!)

Bookin' It said...

Hi Marie,
I feel the same way lately! I really want a book I can get lost in. On Monday I am picking up The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst-I am hoping it will be that book!
I am in Massachusetts now and cannot wait to start going to all the events/bookstores around here!

bermudaonion said...

Those author events sound like loads of fun to me! Too bad you didn't get a seat at Foer's event, though.

Anonymous said...

Too bad you missed Jonathan Safran Foer. At least you still got to meet him though!

Anonymous said...

A book with which I fell in love in the recent past was Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. I'm sorry, but I don't remember if you already it. If you haven't, you should.

Anonymous said...

You have been busy!

Displaced Persons is a dull read, of sorts, but I think it is intentional on the author's part, in order to underscore the coping mechanisms we use to get us through traumatic situations.

Suzanne Yester said...

I love getting to listen to authors speak about their books! I would have loved to meet the author of Super Sad True Love Story! The promos for his book were hilarious!

Hmm, I guess I need to move near a big metro area! :-)
Glad you were able to meet these authors!

Zibilee said...

Wow! Two great author signings this week, how cool! I don't often get the chance to hear author's speak, but I can imagine that if I did, it would never get old for me. I think I would get more excited over meeting a really good author than over a popular celebrity. I know what you mean about being in sort of a reading slump right now. I haven't read anything really tasty in awhile. Don't get me wrong, there have been a few good ones, but nothing really spectacular for a good little while.

gautami tripathy said...

I am undergoing a reading slump!
Here is my Sunday Salon: Do Twitter and Facebook work?!