Saturday, September 20, 2008

The Sunday Salon: Book Overload

This past week I had a moment that was rather foreign to me: I was overwhelmed with, even tired of, books.

Like I said, it was just a moment, a fleeting panic of the sheer number of books out there. Shelves closing in, bookcases toppling, and me in the middle of a room.

I think it all has to do with the enormous number of posts this week generated because of My Friend Amy's Book Blogger Appreciation Week. This was an amazing week-long event, and I have yet to visit most of the hundreds of book bloggers who participated in this extravaganza.

The sheer number of book bloggers—people like me, who breathe books—amazes me. And I am delighted with and curiously touched by our drive to share books. On the other side of things, I regularly come across people in daily life, whether in person or on blogs, who really never read. Who say, "I can't remember the last time I read a book."

Anyway, I did quickly recover from my momentary book exhaustion. This week I finished The Cellist of Sarajevo, which I've not yet reviewed, and gods in Alabama, which I needed after reading the Cellist. I finally reviewed Songs in Ordinary Time, which will definitely not make my Top 10 list this year. I've just started Chimamanda Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun, which promises to be excellent.

I had fun this week with Weekly Geek's Quote Week. I didn't quite get seven quotes in, but contemplating book quotes again adds to the feeling of the vast world of book lovers.

(To join The Sunday Salon, click here!)

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sarah: First, I don't think it's Sunday. It's Saturday ;)

Second, I enjoyed your Gods in Alabama review so much that I recently picked up a copy at the bookstore where I work.

Third, Half of a Yellow Sun is also being discussed over at the group travel the world (from a comfy chair on Book Blogs. The conversation is just starting, if you'd like to join. I meant to get to it myself, but as I'm into The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon right now, I don't know if I'll get to it by the end of the month.

Literary Feline said...

This week has been a bit overwhelming with BBAW--not that I'm complaining at all. I didn't get around nearly as much as I wanted to and I'm sure I'll be checking out new blogs for a long time to come.

I am looking forward to reading your review of The Cellist of Sarajevo. I hope you like Adichie's book. I thought it was quite good.

Have a great week this next week and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Anonymous said...

After quitting from the BBAW circuit, I caught up on my reading. Nothing can take te place of my reading time!

July and august were reading slump months for me. Now I am making up by reading short stories online.

Adichie is a great writer. You will love that book.

Interesting blogs, links and books

Marie Cloutier said...

I can't wait to read your Cellist review :-)

Anonymous said...

'Half of a Yellow Sun' was one of the best books I read last year. It's one of those novels that not only stands a second reading but becomes deeper and more meaningful the greater the contact you have with it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Heather said...

Thanks for the new list of books. It's not like I have enough to read and do this week.

Eva said...

I get the same 'book overwhelming' occassionaly too!

And Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is incredible. I hope you love Half of a Yellow Sun to pieces!!! :)

(and thanks for stopping by my blog: I'll definitely be poking around yours!)

Anonymous said...

I can't wait for your Cellist of Sarajevo review. I loved that book!

Dewey said...

I hope you're enjoying Half of a Yellow Sun. I really loved it, although I liked Purple Hibiscus even more.