Sunday Salon for 7 January 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?
What are you reading?
I finished The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb — such a great book to start the year! I’ll post a review after my book club meeting in case I get new insights from our discussion.
I started Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. That seemed to be a favorite book for a lot of people in 2023. I’m a little put off by the narrative style that keeps a distance between the reader and the characters. For now, I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt and reading for a bit longer to see if I can get past that.
What are you watching?
As part of Jane Austen January, I watched Sense and Sensibility (1995), the one with Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman. For my British Isles Friday post, I explored the filming locations. I found stately homes run by the National Trust and a couple of holiday cottages where visitors can stay. It makes a fun fantasy trip in rural southern England.
What are you doing?
I listed my Favorite Books of 2023 for Top Ten Tuesday and enjoyed perusing the lists of other participants.
We got our organization off to a quick start on what we call School Board Election Season. This is when we corral volunteers to talk to the school board candidates about equity in schools. Enthusiastic community members met on Saturday to refresh ourselves on why and how we do this work and to plot the logistics. It was a great meeting! Now, it’s my job to follow up with support documents and emails to connect people. Then, a bunch of great conversations happen — a small, but effective, way of changing the part of the world that we can touch.
How are you this fine Sunday?
I giggled at your perfect idea of snow. We have had flurries here today, snow earlier in the week that finally melted off today, but supposed to get a little more over the next few days. Happy New Year!
I wasn’t quite organized for my top books of the year last week. I am impressed by those who were.
I’ve been kinda curious about Lessons in Chemistry, but it seems like not really my thing. Hope you manage to enjoy it all the same!
I recommend persisting with Lessons in Chemistry, I think it’s worth it.
I hope you are able to create a school board that champions education, equity, and inclusiveness.
Wishing you a great reading week
It sounds like you got the kind of snow that we have (oh-so-rarely) experienced—great beauty that quickly dissipates.
I look forward to seeing your review of The Violin Conspiracy. I hope that you like Lessons in Chemistry.
Good luck in your work with the school board!
We had snow as well, but it’s not melting off the pavement yet. Not sure it will. I love the Sense and Sensibility with Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson! My favorite version!
THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY looks like an interesting book. My book club’s voting on our new books soon. I think I’ll suggest reading that one.
I’ve heard mixed reviews about LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY. It seems to be very polarizing. Either you love it or hate it. I’m on hold for it at my library but I still have 22 weeks before it’s my turn. Oy!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
That is my perfect idea of snow too! I live in the hot, dry deserts of Arizona. My husband and I visited my parents in the rainy Pacific Northwest in early December and we were treated to just such a perfect snow – it was lovely and festive to sit inside and watch it fall, but by the time we actually had to drive in it, it had all melted. Perfect!
I’ve wondered about LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY. I’ll be interested to see whether you continue with it or not.
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
So glad you enjoyed The Violin Conspiracy. I thought it was such a great story.
I am glad to hear your year has gotten off to a good start with The Violin Conspiracy. I hope Lessons in Chemistry gets better for you. I haven’t read it myself. I hope you have a wonderful 2024, Joy. Have a great week and take care.
I wasn’t crazy about the Lessons in Chemistry until around page 100 then everything changed for me. Loved it! I also really enjoyed the Violin Conspiracy. I haven’t read the author’s next book but it is on my TBR.
Happy New Year.
Violin Conspiracy was a good one! And I hope you’ll warm to Lessons in Chemistry — it has some charm to it and humor and drama as well. I liked it but it does have a different style a bit. Have a great week.
I look forward to your Violin review as that book is on my shelf right here in my livingroom.
I could NOT get into Lessons in Chemistry. I wanted to, but you can’t force a book. Sigh.