Saturday, September 6, 2008

The Sunday Salon: Plugging Away and On the List

I've just now finished reading the final 10 of last week's Sunday Salon. I have found it impossible to actually read all the posts in one afternoon anymore, so I've taken to reading 5 or day at various points throughout each weekday. I'm tempted to give up on the Salon because of the sheer number of posts, but I get such good ideas and read such interesting posts that I just can't.

I'm having an extraordinarily slow reading week, as I've been crawling along with Mary McGarry Morris's Songs in Ordinary Times. I probably should have stopped reading it a week ago because I don't particularly like the book, but I'm to the point where I have to find out what happens to the characters. I've invested too much time to quit.

This week I reviewed The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Blah.

Here's what I've added the past few weeks to my TBR list, gleaned mostly from Saloners:

Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway (Reviewed at The Bluestocking Society)
What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn (Reviewed at Big A, Little A)
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo (Reviewed at Bookstack)
The Girls by Lori Lansens (Reviewed on Reading, Writing, and Retirement)
Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer (Reviewed at Maw Books)
Who Killed My Daughter by Lois Duncan (Reviewed at Nonfiction Lover)

I've got The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway waiting in my library bag to read as soon as I finish the interminable Songs of Ordinary People.

And that's what's happening this week at SmallWorld Reads! If you'd like to take part in The Sunday Salon, you can sign up here.

11 comments:

Kerrie said...

I missed doing my Sunday Salon last week and felt very guilty - so that was one you didn't have to read :-)
But I agree. I feel guilty if I don't at least read everyone's posting and I like to comment on as many as I can. Fortunately my RSS reader actually delivers most of the post into my computer (so I see more than the link)
Well done for persisting.

Anonymous said...

Do read Shattered Dreams! I could not put it down!

Marie Cloutier said...

I know, there are so many Salon posts, it takes so long to read them all. I usually read a few a day like you do. Monique and the Mango Rains is supposed to be terrific- I'll look forward to seeing what you thought!

Maree Jones said...

I agree that there are lots and lots of Sunday Salon posts. I try to read about 10 and that's all I can reasonably get to - I find it remarkable that you are even trying to read them all! I have also heard mediocre things about The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I have this theory that some people only read about 2 books a year and they read whatever is the most popular and then rave about it, but they have nothing to compare it to because they don't usually read. That's the way I justify the success of the The Da Vinci Code. :) Happy Sunday!

Vasilly said...

I have The Cellist of Sarajevo on my bookshelf from the library also. I'm going to have to read it today. Hopefully you'll finish Songs in Ordinary Time soon. I hope you're having a good weekend.

wisteria said...

I had the same feelings about Songs in Ordinary Times. I also can't wait to read Monique and the Mango Rains.
I've been trying to visit new blogs each week. I have been trying to post my own every week, but it has been difficult at times.
I can't wait to hear what you think about The Cellist of Sarajevo.

Anonymous said...

I actually read and reviewed Shattered Dreams on my site too - check out the review here: http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2008/05/31/shattered-dreams-by-irene-spencer/

I have now read Escape, Shattered Dreams, Stolen Innocence, and I have His Favorite Wife checked out although I haven't started it yet. Out of the three I have read, I think Stolen Innocence was the best one, and if you're just going to read one book on polygamy, I highly recommend it to be that one. Shattered Dreams was good, although it suffers from some pretty big problems (as I talk about in my review).

This upcoming Friday, my review is going to be of "The Emperors of Chocolate" - a book about Hershey and Mars. GREAT book! You'll definitely want to check it out. :-)

Hava
http://nonfictionlover.today.com

Clare Dudman said...

That's very good of you to try to get through all of the posts - I have sometimes got through all of them up to Sunday evening, but because I live in the UK I tend to miss the later ones. As time's gone on (and I was in at the beginning of this) it's developed into a city of readers - in some ways thats good - but it is a lot to get through, and I think it's easy to lose track.

Having said that I'm glad I landed here today because I've much enjoyed reading your reviews. I have What was lost on my TBR pile and now intend to put it up in my pile.

Anonymous said...

I'll be honest I don't always catch up with everyone here at the Sunday Salon and only "star" ones in my Google Reader to which I return later.

So how many books do you have on your TBR list?

And, oh, thanks for confirming what I thought I already knew about the Mitch Albom book. I had a feeling it might be a skipper. :( or is that :)

Christy Woolum said...

My brother raymond pert at kellogg bloggin' had recommended your blog. I really have enjoyed it and I hope it is okay if I add it to my list. I will be back to comment on some of your reading posts.

Lori said...

Couldn't agree more on The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Whatever! Even my mother, who reads fluff because she likes "simple" stories wasn't crazy about it. Meh.

Try Paula by Isabel Allende. It's breathtaking.