Sunday Salon for 18 November 2023
Happy Sunday! Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at ReaderBuzz. Check out her post and the links to see what other bloggers have been up to in the last week.
How’s the weather?
We’re well past the fall color stage, except for a few leaves, here and there. For November, though, we’ve had a lot of sun and weather that’s nice enough for fall walks. Lots of my neighbors were out walking this afternoon, too.
What are you reading?
I’m continuing my book club’s choice, A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan. I’m already drafting my review because I’m learning so much.
I started Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier. The original plan was to have a review up in time for the 200th anniversary of the day that Mary Anning found the first complete Plesiosaurus skeleton. I might get it read in time.
What are you watching?
Nyad on Netflix was truly inspiring. Since Diana Nyad swam the Florida Straits at age 64, maybe my goal to write a novel in my early 60s is feasible, too. Jinjer and I both remember that someone in the Sunday Salon community recommended Nyad. To whoever it was, thank you!
All the Light We Cannot See is a short series on Netflix. I never read the book, so I can’t compare. The actress in the series (Aria Mia Loberti) is luminous. I loved getting to see that on a screen.
For my British Isles Friday post, I wrote about a book that I’ve been reading since May, Dracula by Bram Stoker. I read it by email — each email arrived on the day of the year that matches the story. Very fun! This event will happen again in 2024, so check out my post if you want to consider joining that cohort.
What are you writing?
I’m enjoying my new pass at planning my novel.
I learned this week all about the history of taking a holiday or two in February to honor Presidents.
I was very confused, but it turned out my confusion was due to growing up in Missouri. When I was a child, we had two separate holidays — Lincoln’s Birthday on February 12 and Washington’s Birthday on February 22. Very few states did this, it turns out, but Missouri and Illinois were two of them.
In 1970, when I was eight, the federal law changed the observation of Washington’s Birthday to the third Monday. Probably at the same time, Missouri stopped observing Lincoln’s Birthday. So, in my memory, we combined two birthdays into one third Monday Presidents Day.
In 1943, the year that my novel happens, February 22 happened to fall on the fourth Monday. So, that contributed to my confusion. In wartime, though, many employees, including most federal workers, didn’t get a holiday. They didn’t get one for Thanksgiving, either.
What are you doing?
I’m feeling thankful for the Sunday Salon community. I love the energy, the book and show recommendations, the kind thoughts, and occasional advice. Thanks Deb at Readerbuzz for wrangling us together! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
How are you this fine Sunday?
I am sure I will read A Fever in the Heartland sometime as I am a Timothy Egan fan.
I also want to read Remarkable Creatures. I read a children’s book last year on the woman who discovered all the dinosaur bones and enjoyed it very much.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Tracy Chevalier is a very interesting author, and I particularly like Remarkable Creatures. I hope you enjoy it.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
We were supposed to get some rain this week. We got a little on Wednesday, but it fizzled the rest of the week.
Glad you stopped by my blog last week. I may read A Fever in the Heartland. I recently found out that a fellow theater blogger will be collaborating with a local indie author to transition a book into a play. Sounds like something I want to do one day.
A Fever in the Heartland will definitely be on my nonfiction list for 2024. I’ll look forward to your thoughts. Hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving!
Yay for nice weather in November! I hope you enjoy your books and have a fabulous Thanksgiving!
I read A Fever in the Heartland — it is so well done and hard to read. I went to college in Evansville, IN and knew nothing about the klan’s presence there until I read that book.
Would you like to join us for our book club discussion? It’s December 7 at 7pm at KPL.
I think it was Susan at The Cue Card who recommended Nyad. There may have been others.
A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them sounds like a book I’d like. I bet it would be a great book for a discussion.
Thank you, Deb! It was, indeed, Sue at The Cue Card who told us about Nyad.
The leaves on my trees are just starting the change. They won’t be quite as colorful as other parts of the world, but I enjoy what little fall color I can get. I hope your weather continues to be nice!
I hope you are enjoying your reading! A Fever in the Heartland sounds so interesting and I keep hearing good things about Remarkable Creatures.
I do want to see All the Light We Cannot See. I am still hoping to read the book first, but how many other shows/movies have I not seen yet because I say the same thing? Haha! Someday . . .
That’s interesting about the history of the February holidays. In California, there are two holidays: Lincoln’s Birthday and President’s Day. I am not sure of the history of the two. I know my mom sometimes refers to President’s Day as Washington’s Birthday, which makes me think there must be a story behind that switch. Which now I know there is!
I hope you have a great week. Happy Thanksgiving!
Looking forward to your review of Fever in the Heartland.