Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sunday Salon - May 16, 2010

Hey there book lovers, how was your week?  I finally think were are headed for some more normal weather here.  It was so cold a few days last week, we had the gas fireplace and/or the heat on again to take the chill out.  Yesterday and today has changed that with sunny skies and low 70 degree weather.  I planted some more flowers yesterday and have (2) hydrangeas and some (2) pots of lavender color, bearded irises to plant today. Here are a couple of photos of what some of the new plants look like:














The hub accompanied me to (2) book sales even though he is not much of a reader.  He did pick up a few music cds and a book on the long standing Boston Red Sox/ New York Yankees rivalry so he was pretty happy.   I on the other hand was very happy with my finds; I could have picked more, but I was trying to be more selective. All hardcovers were $1.00 each and trade soft covers and paperbacks were 50 cents (same prices at both sales). So here is what I came home with for $14.50 (22 books):

In case you can't quite make out some of the titles and are curious, the titles/authors are:
  1. A Good Man is Hard to Find; Flannery O'Connor
  2. Out; Natsu Kirino
  3. Cheaper Than Therapy: The Healing and Life Lessons of Fiber; Modesitt
  4. Until I Find You; John Irving
  5. Bluebeard's Egg: Stories; Margaret Atwood
  6. The Professor and the Madman; Simon Winchester
  7. Netherland; Joseph O'Neill
  8. The Robber Bride; Margaret Atwood
  9. The Notebooks of Don Rigoberto; Mario Vargas Llosa
  10. The Bellini Madonna; Elizabeth Lowery
  11. The Turtle Catcher; Nicole Helget
  12. Millroy the Magician; Paul Theroux
  13. Blinding Light; Paul Theroux
  14. The Mermaid's Singing; Lisa Carey
  15. Land of the Commonwealth: A Portrait of Conserved Landscapes of Massachusetts; Cheek
  16. The Glassblower of Murano; Marina Fiorato
  17. The March; Geraldine Brooks
  18. The Princess of Burundi; Kjell Eriksson
  19. The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admission Process of a Premier College; Steinberg
  20. City of God; E.L. Doctorow
  21. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit; Winterson
  22. The Lay of the Land; Richard Ford
Have you read any of these? If so, which were favorites?

MAY  (planned reading)
 MAY (Unplanned reading that just Happened)
  • Fast, Fresh and Green; Susie Middleton - 4/5
This focused/planned reading I started for May is actually working pretty well. It is like my own personal monthly reading challenge of books "I want to read", not "books I have to Read".

Do you have any special plans for today?  If not just relax and enjoy the pleasures of the day.
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    30 comments:

    1. UnknownMay 16, 2010 at 3:54 AM

      You've got some great books there! Out is my favourite thriller, so I hope you enjoy it. It is a bit gruesome though, so hope you're OK with that.

      I wasn't a big fan of Netherland, but you seem to cope better with gentler books than I do, so you might like it.

      I don't think I've read any of the rest, so look forward to hearing all about them.

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    2. JessicaMay 16, 2010 at 5:50 AM

      I have the same system as you, I have some books which I think to myself 'Id like to read those this month'

      Good haul of books you got there

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    3. AliceMay 16, 2010 at 7:35 AM

      Wow, great buys! Envy, envy... I see a few really good ones there. Happy reading!

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    4. AnonymousMay 16, 2010 at 7:49 AM

      Diane, that looks like $15 well spent! I can recommend MARCH. My book group discussed it last year. Very thought provoking and will go along the same lines as THE LOST SUMMER OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT, but with a different focus, Mr. March.

      Lovely flowers!

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    5. MollyMay 16, 2010 at 9:22 AM

      WOW -- what a great selection of books. I would think it would be difficult not to buy everything of interest when prices are so reasonable!

      Our large library sale begins on June 8 and I am already saving my pennies.

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    6. HarveeMay 16, 2010 at 9:23 AM

      What a great set of books! Let us now what you tink of the noir novel, Out!

      Harvee, My Sunday Salon

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    7. bermudaonionMay 16, 2010 at 9:32 AM

      Your flowers are gorgeous!

      You found some great bargains at the book sale - I hope you enjoy them all!

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    8. bookmagicMay 16, 2010 at 9:34 AM

      Out is really good. I also read and liked The Princess of Burundi

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    9. StephTheBookwormMay 16, 2010 at 9:59 AM

      I love book sales like that - they are the best!

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    10. AnonymousMay 16, 2010 at 10:07 AM

      I was gardening yesterday too - a fabulous day for it. However, didn't get 22 books for $14.50. My goodness, Diane!

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    11. UnknownMay 16, 2010 at 10:38 AM

      Diane, I love hydrangeas. And I have irises too. Not sire if they're bearded though. Lol

      Are your bookshelves sagging yet?! Jk. Great titles you've got. I remember hearing about Turtle Catcher. Looks really good.

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    12. Laurel-Rain SnowMay 16, 2010 at 10:53 AM

      Wow, I hadn't heard of Atwood's story collection...but I think The Robber Bride has been my favorite Atwood book so far.

      Lovely flowers, too!

      Here's my salon:

      http://laurel-rainsnowsaccidentallife.blogspot.com/2010/05/sunday-salon-may-16.html

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    13. StephMay 16, 2010 at 11:31 AM

      Yowza! That's a lot of books you have there! You always manage to find the best deals!

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    14. Kristen M.May 16, 2010 at 2:02 PM

      I really liked The Professor and the Madman and The Glassblower of Murano should have just been an historical fiction but it was alright. Great finds!

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    15. AartiMay 16, 2010 at 2:25 PM

      I really like your planned reading schedule! How great to cross things off a list and feel accomplished, too :-) I don't write a list down, exactly, but I do know which books I want to read sooner rather than later, which is nice.

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    16. Michelle (my books. my life.)May 16, 2010 at 4:50 PM

      I loved March. It's actually the only book on that list I've read.

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    17. IlianaMay 16, 2010 at 5:37 PM

      Oh book sales are so much fun! Out was a great thriller. Very different. Hope you enjoy all your books!

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    18. AthiraMay 16, 2010 at 5:57 PM

      I would be happy too, with those books! Looks like you had a lot of fun at the sales!

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    19. AlyceMay 16, 2010 at 6:19 PM

      Wow! What an awesome haul of books! I love your flower photos too! We've been having some good weather and my gerber daisies bloomed today and it just made me so happy. :)

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    20. StaciMay 16, 2010 at 8:10 PM

      I love all of your sale books!! I just did an inventory yesterday of all of the books I've purchased over the last few years...111 to date and I only spent approx. 40 bucks!! So how can you turn down those sale prices right?? I love your list of books that you want to read and how many you've been able to cross off!!

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    21. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaMay 16, 2010 at 8:18 PM

      Lynne, My bookshelves are starting to sag a little...LOL; thanks for asking!!!

      Staci....Wow you did a lot better than me with book sale books; $40.00 for 111 books....wow

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    22. TashaMay 16, 2010 at 8:40 PM

      Wow! All those books! I've read only 2 there: A Good Man is Hard to Find, which I won't say I enjoyed, but I find Flannery O'Connor fascinating, and I also like her writing. And Netherland, which was a strange and quiet reading experience, but I liked it.

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    23. MelodyMay 16, 2010 at 8:48 PM

      Love your flowers!

      Wow, you have a lovely haul there! Happy reading!

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    24. JoAnnMay 17, 2010 at 7:51 AM

      Great haul! I loved The Robber Bride.

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    25. ElisabethMay 17, 2010 at 8:58 AM

      Flannery O'Connor is one of my all-time favorite authors and can be held largely responsible for my taste in literature. I was teethed on this collection. And, one of my prize possessions is a framed collection of feathers from her peacocks. I also really enjoyed the John Irving book you picked up about the tattoo artist & her son. Brilliant, as typical for Irving.

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    26. My Novel ThoughtsMay 17, 2010 at 9:37 AM

      Great list of books! I loved Until I Find You - looking forward to reading your thoughts on it.

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    27. ZibileeMay 17, 2010 at 10:39 AM

      Oh wow! It looks like you had a wonderful time at the book sale and got a lot of neat stuff! I wish the book sales in my area had such awesome offerings! I hope you have a great week and enjoy all your new books!

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    28. JoAnnMay 17, 2010 at 12:03 PM

      I loved THE MERMAIDS SINGING but unfortunately none of her subsequent novels have appealed to me. Enjoy

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    29. Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooksMay 18, 2010 at 9:21 AM

      what a great book sale haul - glad your husband found some treasures, too.

      I read/enjoyed THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN, and have MARCH waiting on my shelves for me.

      Your new garden plants are beautiful - perennials are so satisfying.

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    30. AnonymousMay 18, 2010 at 6:56 PM

      I enjoyed and own The Gatekeepers, especially as I have worked in academia. I liked getting a perspective on what goes into the admission process.

      - Christy

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    Thanks for taking the time to visit and double thanks for any comments. If you ask a question in your comments, I will try to reply to it here, or by email if your settings allow me to do so. Thanks again for visiting.


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