Wildly and Imperfectly Reading and Writing: Jhumpa Lahiri Visits Houston

Serendipitous. That's what the January Inprint author reading is.  To share how serendipitous the author reading is, I have to start by telling you that I've joined an online group this year and I have committed to writing every day. The focus is on writing, but not on judgment or evaluation. I know there will be a day soon that I will miss, but so far I've written for over thirty days in a row. The group is called Wildly Imperfect to remind ourselves that we aren't to worry about the quality of what we are writing.  So there's the Wildly Imperfect part of the serendipity. Then I must also share with you that I am learning Italian. I'm practicing every day online. Little words like gatto (cat) and panne (bread). Every day. Practicing.  So there's the Italian part of the serendipity. I always try to read the latest book of an author who is coming to Houston via the Inprint Margaret Root Brown Reading Series. So I look at the public library for Jhumpa Lahiri's latest book and what do I find? I've already read two of Lahiri's books, The Namesake (a novel) and Unaccustomed Earth (short stories). Her most recent novel was published in 2013, which is quite a while ago, I think. Her most recent work is nonfiction, so I request it.  When the book, In Other Words, comes in for me at the library, I am surprised to find that the book is the story of Lahiri's decision to learn Italian, a decision that eventually led to In Other Words, a book which was written in Italian and translated by someone else into English.  I read this book. Here is a part that struck me. Especially notice the last paragraph. Oh my. She is writing in Italian. And it gives her the freedom to be imperfect. Serendipitous.  I'm still thinking about all of this. I've downloaded the latest calendar from Action for Happiness. Love these daily reminders. What Arrived What I'm Reading Now

What are you reading today?

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine 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.