Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sunday Salon - March 20


It's been a busy week, reading wise, here at Chez Shepp.  Between reading myths, reading fairy tales, and the Villette readalong, sometimes it feels like I don't have time to do any other reading.  But this week I managed to finish a couple of books and start another.  My review of Anna Quindlen's Every Last One will be posted on Tuesday; I flew through it as I knew I would by the time I was ten pages in.  It really touched a chord with me.


Several months ago, I did a guest post which had started out to be a post which books famous people cited as their favorites.  I went looking for pictures of famous people reading and discovered that there were very few.  Surprisingly, I found the most pictures of Marilyn Monroe reading.  This week I found this one on Tumblr of James Dean.  Is it just me or does this picture look a bit like James Franco?

This week my book club will be meeting to discuss Chris Cleave's Little Bee.  I think I've mentioned before how much I enjoy getting together with these ladies.  It's sometimes hard to focus on discussing the book at all because we so much enjoy talking to each other.  We should probably meet twice a month--once to talk about a book and once just to talk!

On Wednesday look for a giveaway for a Jane Eyre prize pack in conjunction with Focus Feature's release of the new movie by the same name.  I definitely want to get to the movie soon but I'm sure I'm not going to be able to talk The Big Guy into going.  Any volunteers?

This week I'm back to focusing on mysteries.  Right now I'm reading Robert B. Parker's School Days, one of his Spenser books.  It's a quick read, lots of dialogue.  What are you reading this week?

15 comments:

  1. Did you know that James Franco played James Dean in a biopic several years ago. I think it was made for television. They are very similar, but I think Franco is better looking.

    Oh...how I wish I had an in person book club. I've been wanting to start one for years. Someday, I will!

    I wonder if I can convince my mom to go see Jane Eyre with me. I don't think she's that keen on it, but I went with her to see
    "Limitless" on Saturday so... I didn't really want to see "Limitless", but boy I'm glad I did. It was awesome!

    I am reading Dante's Journey (JC Marino), The Greek Maiden and the English Lord (Patty Apostolides), and What the Night Knows (Dean Koontz) for my TuesBookTalk chat on Twitter.

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  2. A heavy read.
    Vasily Gossman Life and Fate

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  3. I'e been focusing on mysteries too. Love them, among others! Have a great reading week!

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  4. Sounds busy over at your place!! Our book club sometimes has the same problem, we like to yak about like in general a LOT so sometimes the book gets sidelined a little.

    This week I'm working on the War and Peace readalong, The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson and Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill. All fabulous.

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  5. No, it is not just you! That's why Franco was chosen to play Dean in the movie! :--)

    I love the picture of MM reading Ulysses - it is definitely one of my favorite pictures of her!

    Sure I'd go to see Jane Eyre with you, but it might take me two days to get there! LOL

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  6. That TOTALLY looks like James Franco! And I loved Little Bee... great book!

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  7. I'm sure this won't surprise you but I know the name James Dean... no idea who he is and if asked to pick him from a photo I wouldn't be able to do it! He does look studious in this photo though :). HA

    If you think about it... call me on Weds, I would love to catch up with everyone. I miss you guys.

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  8. I would love to se Jane Eyre with you but the plane fare is a bit much :o)

    I guess that pic explains a little bit why James Franco played James Dean! I'm surprised there aren't more pics of celebs reading...that's a pic you'd think they would want taken!

    Don't read my review of Every Last One if you "liked" the book, which I'm glad you did. I had some problems with it. But I still remember the story so that's something!

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  9. I just came back from my book club and I'm sure you'll understand whenh I say that out of the 3 hours, we talked about the book for about 20 minutes and ourselves and politics the rest of time! Without fail, but it's what we enjoy. I'm hesitate to recruit new members because they might expect to talk about the book exclusively :)

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  10. I am reading The Crimson Room, and am listening to Gods in Alabama on audio!

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  11. I love that photo of James Dean reading! I've been reading my Sourcebooks review copies....I'm ready for spring break!

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  12. Lisa, he so looks like James Franco. Weird. Have fun at your book club meeting! What did you think of Little Bee? I didn't like as much as I thought I would. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. Anyhow, it'll make for interesting conversation. And, I want to see Jane Eyre, too!

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  13. One of my book clubs is all about the gossip all the time, which can be rather annoying, and is why I joined another one that focuses more on the books. I like to talk about other things too sometimes, but I really like there to be some discussion of the book at hand as well, you know?

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  14. It DOES look like James Franco!

    Little Bee was a great book. I totally get what you mean about too much social chatting at book clubs - it's how I feel sometimes on my weekly "game night". We're so focused on playing games together, we don't get to socialize all that much, so we plan a night that we get together and just eat and chat.

    Hope you enjoy Jane Eyre!

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  15. When I first saw that picture I thought it was James Franco -- cool photo!

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