Sunday, October 31, 2010

Sunday Salon- October's Accomplishments, November's Goals

Happy Halloween!

Back at the beginning of October I decided to do a theme month- to read some of my recent hardcovers, to attempt to make a dent in the stash of books I'd bought and received for review. Well, I succeeded about 50% of the way.

I read The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English and The Finkler Question- along with the new Madame Bovary. The four other books I picked out for October and didn't get to- C, The Bells, To the End of the Land and The Fifth Servant- will go on the backburner for now as I gear up for next month's theme, books about Russia and the former Soviet Union. Come back tomorrow for the details, the stash, and more. I'll also be announcing a giveaway on Tuesday.

Today I'm back from a brief trip to Philadelphia, where I spent a week doing my thing working and being a tourist. I have to say, the most memorable thing about Philadelphia was the food. I can't say I was that crazy about actually walking the streets and seeing the sights. To the right is a photo of a cheesesteak sandwich I had there- yum. And I can work wherever I can get an internet connection, which made the week even better.

But today it's Halloween, and since I'm gearing up for Russian Month (or Russo-Biblio-Extravaganza, as I think I'm going to call it), I'm going to read  Ludmilla Petrushevskaya's There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby: Scary Fairy Tales today, which I think will fit the bill nicely. I started it yesterday and read the first couple of stories, which I enjoyed.

(Actually after I finished The Finkler Question I got started on Russian books right away and have already read two short books from my stash. Yay!)

I plan to spend much of today helping my husband carve a pumpkin and passing out candy. I'm not sure about my costume; I'll tell you more next week if the idea I'm cooking up actually works out.

What scary reading are you reading today? More Sunday Salon here.

14 comments:

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I hope you post a picture post-carving - I love to see all the talented artwork of pumpkin carvers!

Beth F said...

What was it about Philly that made you say this? "I can't say I was that crazy about actually walking the streets and seeing the sights." THere is so much to see and do in the city.

Marie Cloutier said...

Beth, I don't know, it just wasn't for me.

Vasilly said...

Marie, you and I are alot alike. I love going to a new city and trying the food! You did great with your accomplishments. Was it hard to read books based on just the theme you picked? Did you ever want to read a paperback or something different this month?

Marie Cloutier said...

Vasilly, not really. I was happy to have a self-imposed excuse to get to those books, finally!

Frances said...

Really like this way of working through the unread, but it also requires a high level of organization to be able to sort out by categories. My unread stretch out across my house so it would also be a bookish workout to take stock. :)

Have a wonderful holiday! I plan to finish The Small Hand by Susan Hill before the after dark fun begins.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Beth. There's so much to see and do in Philly. Personally, I'd love to be able to go visit there -- over Boston ;) <-- JK.

Books about Russia and the former Soviet Union: any Solzhenitsyn planned? Gulag Archipelago? Some light reading. ;)

Marie Cloutier said...

Unfinished- not even going to dignify w/a response *eyeroll*
Frances- yes, but it gives me an excuse to make lists :-) and I have my books categorized already via LibraryThing so it's just a matter of finding them :-)

Lynne Perednia said...

Looking forward to your Russian list. That was my minor in college and there are days I miss being immersed in it.

Anonymous said...

I am excited to see what exactly you have in store for November!

Anonymous said...

You have been a busy bibliophile!

Zibilee said...

I hope your Russian reading month goes swimmingly, and that cheesesteak photo makes my mouth water!

Jen (Devourer of Books) said...

I'm very excited to see what you have in store with your Russo-Biblio-Extravaganza!

bermudaonion said...

I just love Philly - sorry you didn't find it all the exciting.