Sunday, July 29, 2012

Sunday Salon - July 29



Books? What books? It has definitely not been a week of reading for me. It was too hot most of the week for me to do my usual lunchtime reading in my car - there was no such thing as a cool shady place. That meant I had to read in the lunchroom and it's too noisy to really sink into a book. I started a book last Sunday that just wasn't working for me. Generally I try to push through, afraid that if I give up too early, I'll miss what makes the book great. This time I took inspiration from Ti of Book Chatter, and set the book aside. If you are a fan of Philippa Gregory's books, The Women of the Cousins' War would probably make a great companion to the books about these same women. On it's own, for someone who hasn't read any of those books, it just didn't work for me.

We've spent the past two weekends moving our oldest back home - and after living in an apartment with up to five cats, every fabric thing he brought into our house had to be washed by this allergic mama. My entire house looks like another house blew up inside of it and I've been working like crazy to find a home for everything. The same kid has a birthday this week so one night we celebrated that.

 I'm going to struggle to find reading time for the next two weeks as well now that the Olympics have started. I will watch any sport when it comes to the Olympics (I confessed to my new found interesting in curling in February 2010). For the summer Olympics, I'm intensely interested in the swimming events but last night I even watched women's weightlifting. I don't even like weightlifting (and I'm not sure I'll watch any more of it if it's the only sport on). But I love the stories behind the athletes, the combination of individual effort and national pride.

I am finishing Thrity Umrigar's The World We Found today. Perhaps that's another reason I've been reading more slowly. Umrigar writes books that I like to take my time with - they are marvelously complex stories I don't want to be see end. Tomorrow I'll start Courtney Sullivan's Maine. What are you reading this week?


13 comments:

  1. I've heard such great things about Maine! I hope you enjoy it.

    I suspect we'll be watching a lot of Olympics as well. Hub didn't get home until about 11:30 last night after a movie and he must have watched until after 2 in the morning! I fell asleep but we both love watching all of the stories. Often times I'm sitting on the couch sobbing my little eyes out. ;)

    5 cats. Ick.

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  2. That's funny... I thought I was the only one who read in their car at lunchtime. ;-)

    I work in a school so there is never a quiet place, but in the beg and end of school year, it is way too hot to sit in the car. Sometimes I sit in the grotto, but a nun comes in around the same time as my lunch and she prays out loud, so I leave. I figure it is her place not mine.

    Too noisy in our teacher's lunch room. Way too noisy.

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  3. I love to watch swimming! that's my fave sport of the Olympics it seems... I really get into that. Sounds like you've had a really busy week..... are you liking having your oldest home for awhile?

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  4. That's what my parents' house looks like after moving my stuff back in! I plan on doing a massive purge before too long though. Some stuff I just do not need or want any more.

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  5. What a busy and dedicated mom! Good luck with reorganizing your house and making it cat free. I'm a dog person myself and had to get a dog that wouldn't shed - a bichon. I also have to find time to read Umrigar.

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  6. You've been busy! I love your description of a house blowing up inside another house. Perfect image!

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  7. It sounds as if you've been very busy again this week and I'm amazed how much reading you do despite your busy life!
    We've been watching the swimming knowing the USA athletes are strong contenders so all the best. We were pleased that Rebecca Adlington, our girl, got a bronze this evening.
    I'm reading 'Small Island' by Andrea Levy (1948 London - exploring the experience of Caribbean immigrants in post-war Britain).

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  8. The heat certainly puts the damper on just about everything doesn't it?? I hope it has gotten a bit cooler there by now??? My reading has been off the charts but that's because I'm a bit addicted to Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor seres right now! I get that feeling of having a house explodiing within a house!!
    I'm addicted to all things Olympics. Every four years i gobble it up like candy and like you find myself watching events that I wouldn't even want to see any other tiime.

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  9. Five cats? wow...

    I didn't love Maine, the characters really bugged me (a lot of pouting going on). I listened vs read... will be interesting to read how this works for you.

    Olympic fever.. I'm with you. I will have the TV on, working on a few projects at home (vs sitting with a book). Have a great week!

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  10. The Olympics has been difficult to watch only because the schedules seem to be all over the place. All of the stuff I love is on when I can't see it so then I have to record the entire 4 hour block and then FF to the parts I want to see. Women's gymnastics, diving, and the rowing has been fun to watch but I have a hard time catching those events.

    I didn't do much reading this weekend. I was in a depressed mood and just feeling out of it. I'm sure it was the prednisone for this hand injury that did it to me. Oh, and the hand injury itself is depressing. I really don't want surgery but living withe one hand has been difficult. Especially at work when I have to be online all day.

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  11. I totally understand about watching anything and everything on the Olympics. Some of my favorite events to watch, canoeing, sailing, and fencing are hard to find on TV.

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  12. I am not really all that interested in sports, so the Olympics aren't really my bag, but so many people are into them, that I may have to watch some of it just to keep up! I did like The Women of the Cousin's War, but found the last 3rd of the book to b a little dull, and very confusing. I remember that I liked it overall though. And good for you about getting into another one of Umrigar's books! She is just wonderful!

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  13. The first time you DNF a book, it's scary! but freeing, too. I think I have that Umrigar book somewhere around here.

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