Sunday, July 16, 2017

A Week of Books: The Outsiders, Walking to Listen, You Can't Go Home Again, and Many More

WHAT I READ LAST WEEK

My book-a-day project led me to finish a diverse set of books this week.

One is a modern classic, The Outsiders. For years and years, I've heard about this book, but somehow kept skipping reading it. It's a worthy read. Even the book covers are fascinating.



I read two children's picture books, both set in Paris, Zat Cat! and Babar's Guide to Paris.



I read three nonfiction books this week. I finished my Book of the Month Club selection, American Fire. It's the true story of two arsonists in a rural, rusting part of America. I am not sure I'd say I read it (Can you read something and really not understand it?) but I finished At the Existentialist Cafe. And I read and reviewed on my blog The Madeleine Project.



And I finished a light fiction collection of short stories called Paris for One.

WHAT ARRIVED IN THE MAIL

 Salt Creek and Valley of the Moon


WHAT I'M READING NOW




It's a lot of books, I know. But my summer is winding down, and I'm trying to finish as much as I can.

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts about my niece's baby, Oliver, born at 25 weeks. Please continue to pray for the baby and his family.











What is the Sunday SalonImagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week.  It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is now being hosted at The Book Date.

Please join the weekly meme at An Accidental Blog. Share with the rest of us your passion for France. Did you read a good book set in France? See a movie? Take a photo in France? Have an adventure? Eat a fabulous meal or even just a pastry? Or if you're in France now, go ahead and lord it over the rest of us. We can take it.

Il est Juillet et il est temps pour le merveilleux Paris in July hosted by Thyme for Tea! (*It is July and it is time for the wonderful Paris in July!)

29 comments:

  1. Everyone seems to love The Outsiders and I know I read it in school but I honestly have no recollection of it-- apparently I didn't like it enough for it to stick in my mind!
    As far as reading something not fully understanding it, I totally get you-- Catch 22 was that way for me. I had to read the book and then read the SparkNotes and only then did I kind of know what was going on.

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    1. I think I'm going to do a post on that later this month...Books I Read But Didn't Really Understand.

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  2. I've seen the movie The Outsiders, but now I'm intrigued by the idea of the book.

    I'm curious about Valley of the Moon.

    I'm sending positive thoughts to your niece's baby. I've been there, with one of my younger grandsons who was born at 23 weeks. He is now 14!

    Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.

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    1. I've read the book but now I'm intrigued by the movie.

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  3. I like your bunch of books. All different genres making for good reading.
    My prayers definitely with the baby and family.

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  4. My thoughts and prayers go out to your niece's baby. You got some really good looking books. Happy reading.

    Jenea's Book Obsession
    jeneasbookobsession.com

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  5. So many wonderful books to read, and so little time! Yes, i will continue to pray for Oliver.

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  6. Wow! That's a lot of great books you've read and I need to reread the Babar books soon!

    Here’s my Sunday Post!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog and join in this week’s Book Photo Sundays!

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    1. I read so many books in the summer. I wonder what it will be like when I retire!

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  7. These books sound interesting. I will pray for Oliver. Greetings from Poland.

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  8. I loved The Outsiders, but I haven't read it in many years. Maybe it's time for a re-read...

    Have a great week and I will be looking out for your thoughts on Word By Word (it's next in my reading stack).

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    1. The Outsiders is one of those rare books that has action and character development.

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  9. I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of Ghost

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    1. I loved hearing Jason Reynolds speak at BookExpo, and I couldn't wait to read one of his books. I love Ghost so far.

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  10. The Outsiders movie came out when I was in middle school, so it was a HUGE part of pop culture at that time. We all read and re-read it and one of my dear friends had her room virtually papered in posters of the actors. My school teaches it in 7th grade still, and kids seem to love it.
    I heard an NPR interview with the author of American Fire just yesterday. It sounded interesting. I really enjoyed Ghost, and want to read When Dimple Met Rishi for sure.

    Great and varied list of books, as always!

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  11. Love the cover on Salt Creek.

    Lots of good books...ENJOY!!

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Mailbox Monday

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    1. I've read lots of historical fiction about Americans moving toward the unsettled parts of the country, but I've never read much about Australia.

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  12. I loved The Outsiders as a teen and wonder if I would still - many decades later.
    I enjoyed the quirky Fishbowl.

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    1. It's the quirkiness of Fishbowl that attracted me to it.

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  13. The Paris books, childrens' and adult, caught my eye.

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  14. Hi Deb - Glad to see you linked up at Mailbox Monday. I will say prayers for your niece's baby and family.
    I don't think I would be drawn in by anything Existentialism... not my cup of tea. That looks like a whole lot of books to tackle. Valley of the Moon looks interesting.
    Happy Reading!

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  15. Nice variety of books, especially with Paris!

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  16. I read The Outsiders to my junior high kids all those years ago (1968-1978). I read the JoJo Myers novelette and stories (I got the one from the library, did you?) recently and really enjoyed them as a pick-me-up-put-me-down book. I want to read Walking to Listen. Did you get it from the library or do you have a copy? Thanks for the great post (as usual)

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    1. It's from the library. I turned it in yesterday. I was worried that the author was too young to write a thoughtful book, but it wasn't disappointing.

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  17. Deb, Thanks so much for your posts on Dreaming of France. I finally have some free time because we are having an open house, so I had to leave the house and let people judge it as it is. I read The Outsiders in middle school and it definitely sparked the rebel in me. You have a lot of books set in France -- my favorites. Here’s my Dreaming of France meme

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