It was a gray, overcast week. The temperatures were in the low 70's all week. I'm not ready for winter to be over. Please send some cool days. A little sunshine would be nice, too.
All that gray, wet weather led to me finishing up ten books this week.
Three of these were children's books: War is Over by David Almond; Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee; and The President Sang Amazing Grace: A Book About Finding Grace After Unspeakable Tragedy.
I read and reviewed one cookbook, Pastry for Beginners. I finished a book of poetry, Penguin's Poems for Life, which I thought was good, but not great. I wrapped up Bob Goff's new book of daily inspiration, Live in Grace, Walk in Love, which is filled with wonderful reminders of living a life of love.
And I read three books which I heartily recommend: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the true story of nine young men, of impoverished backgrounds, who through hard work and determination, overcome numerous obstacles to get to the Berlin Olympics; Around the World in 80 Trees, a beautifully illustrated look at eighty fascinating trees around the world; and the very quirky and fresh fiction book, A Tale for the Time Being.
I'm almost finished with The Truth is, a book I will be featuring on Multicultural Children's Book Day at the end of January. Whew. I'm not finished, but, after reading about the much-bullied teen in A Tale for the Time Being, and now reading about the much-bullied teen in The Truth is, I'm quite worried about how teens are treating each other in our schools.
War and Peace, too....
The new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature was announced last week. It's one of my favorite authors, Jason Reynolds. I did a whole post on Jason Reynolds when I met him at BookExpo in New York. I took the photo (above) when I saw him at BookExpo holding a fan's baby. He's the author of the marvelous Ghost and the fabulous Long Way Down. Wouldn't the world be a different place if we let our National Ambassador for Young People's Literature handle all our political dealing with other lands? Congratulations, Jason Reynolds!
My husband and I presented our first program for the Texas Master Naturalists, Mineral and Gem Hunting in the USA, this week. There was a nice turnout for the program. We unexpectedly found ourselves on the front page of the county newspaper the next day in an article called "Taken for Granite."
I tried making puff pastry for the first time last week. I read and reviewed the cookbook Pastry for Beginners. I'm pretty happy with the Strawberry and Cream Danish. Next I hope to try choux pastry....
I'd love to hear about your week.
I'm very happy you found your way to the Sunday Salon. There are no real requirements to linking up at Sunday Salon. Sunday Salon is simply a place for us to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. Sunday Salon is a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there.
Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:
- What was your week like?
- Read any good books? Tell us about them.
- What other bookish things did you do?
- What else is going on in your life?
Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.
My linkup for Sunday Salon is below.
I read The Boys in the Boat several years ago and still think about it. Around the World in 80 Trees sounds perfect for a friend of my son's.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the photo of Jason Reynolds - he looks in his element holding that baby.
Congrats on making the front page of the paper - you are multi-talented!
I've had The Boys in the Boat on my shelf for several years. It's yet another book that many others urged me to read, but I thought would not be a book for me. Wrong!
DeleteWhen I first read the title of your post, I read it without commas: "The Truth Is the Front Page of the Paper and Pastry for Beginners" and I thought: Fake news! ;) But then I saw the title of the paper, which is "The Facts" so it has to be true. :) And haven't you been in the paper before, but just on the front page? But still...stepping up in the world...wonder if you'll make the papers in Paris too. Hmmmm. Will have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteI'm always in the papers; I was (this is absolutely true) interviewed on Friday for another article they are writing about me for our local paper. You have to remember that I live in Alvin, Texas, population just under 25,000.
DeleteAnd, yes, I'm quite certain the Parisian papers will be focused on me when I arrive. In nine days.
Oh, Deb. 25,000 in my mind is not small. I live in a town of a little over 3,000 and the whole county is about 45,000. So 25,000 is ENORMOUS! Oh...and I am in the paper every week. The library's newspaper column, my name isn't used, but still I write it so I'm in there. :)
DeleteYou had a good week and congrats on getting in the paper. It's been nice here, in the 50's for the most part all lat week which I loved.
ReplyDeleteIt's cooler today, so I'm hopeful winter hasn't quite left us yet.
DeleteThat's a great book reading week and that pastry looks amazing!
ReplyDeletePretty proud of my pastry.
DeleteCongrats on making the front page of the paper! Looks like you had a great reading week! Hope this is a good week too.
ReplyDeleteCertainly wasn't expecting the paper to come out and interview us and take photos for our little rock show.
DeleteI'd love to learn how to make puff pastry! Looks delicious. I read the lids version of boys on a Boat and really liked it. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteSometimes the kids' versions are even better than the version for grownups.
DeleteI am so glad you liked Boys in the Boat; I think it's really well done and have recommended it to a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteI'm quite certain you recommended it to me. I need to listen when people recommend books. Not wait for years and years.
DeleteI like the sound of The Truth Is, but reading about bullying in school is going to be challenging now that I have two little kids (long way from middle to high school but well on the path). Congratulations on being featured in the front page of the newspaper!!
ReplyDeleteThe Truth Is is definitely not mood-boosting. I don't think I've ever read a novel that has depressed me so much.
DeleteYou are a celebrity now! Congrats on a successful program!
ReplyDeleteYour pastry looks delicious, making puff is beyond my patience level I admit.
Wishing you a great reading week
Nothing like being on the front of the paper to lift one's spirits during the gray days of winter.
DeleteLove this 'taken for granite' headline. I've been trying to promote an improv event and get the word out and I'm 'leaning in' as they say.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite the clever headline, I think.
DeleteWow,look at you, a celebrity! How cool to be on the front page!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
It was certainly a surprise.
DeleteWhat an amazing reading week! I love the look of that puff pastry, too.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week and your books!
It was a happy reading week. Lots of variety. And lots of good reads.
DeleteI am so excited for Jason Reynolds too! And it is so cool that you are on the national dailies. I hope you have a great week ahead.
ReplyDeleteGayathri @ Elgee Writes
Jason Reynolds was a reluctant reader. It's such a cool thing to be able to connect with kids who might also be reluctant readers.
DeleteWow! You sure read a lot of awesome books! Glad you got to meet Jason Reynolds!
ReplyDeleteHe is such a nice fellow.
DeleteI have been seeing the cover of A Tale for the Time Being around for quite some time now, and it intrigues me every time. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it! Now I really want to read it as well!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week!
It is a different sort of book. That's all I can think of to say about it. I like how different it is.
DeleteI don't think I've read anything by Jason Reynolds, but that picture of him with the baby as an ambassador of reading makes me want to read his stuff :) You can't help but smile at such a joyful picture!
ReplyDeleteJason Reynolds is so personable.
DeleteI wouldn't mind some rain. We've had lots of sunshine and cool temperatures, which is nice though. The nights are near freezing, but the days are pleasant. I am glad you were able to fit in so much reading! I feel like I have been able to read more than I normally do as well. What a nice surprise to find yourself on the front page of the paper! I am glad you had a nice turnout for the event!
ReplyDeleteWe have had a relatively quiet weekend. My husband had to work Saturday and while my daughter and I were out for doughnuts I locked my keys in the car. It meant we missed some of Mouse's Saturday dance classes. We did get there in time for her musical theater class though and then we went out for a late lunch with friends. Today has been a pajama day. Mouse is working on her math project for school--a board game. I was able to finish the thriller I was reading. I hope you have a great week!
Gosh, I used to lock my keys in the car all the time. Now my car alerts me, and that seems to help.
DeleteAww, that photo of Jason Reynolds and the baby is adorable. I don’t love the darkness of winter, but I melt in the heat. I’d be okay if it stayed cold forever. Congrats on making the front page. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I'm cold in a 70 degree room. I'm not sure I'd survive up north.
DeleteI was thrilled to hear about Jason Reynolds. Cute photo of him and the baby.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. He's one of my favorites.
DeleteSounds like a great week. I watched as Obama sang Amazing Grace and was very moved. I'm sure the book is good too. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteNice week, I love all your new adventures, with gem and pastry dough! Choux pastry is actually easy (the most difficult is the cream inside the choux). The neat thing is you can also use the same pastry dough with cheese and make the famous Burgundy region specialty la gougère. I actually posted the recipe I used several years ago: https://wordsandpeace.com/2013/02/05/i-love-france-42-gougeres-recipe/
ReplyDeleteLol that headline! I love it! And congrats on your first presentation, that is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI am a terrible pastry maker. :( Maybe I should read that book!
I really enjoyed A Tale for the Time Being when I read it a few years ago. The Boys in the Boat has been recommended to me frequently and I might listen to it on audio.
ReplyDeleteThat danish looks divinely delish!! And totally agree that life would be better if ambassadors for literature were ambassadors in politics too... The two teen reads you mention intrigue me, and yet disturb me before I even read them (with two teens currently in school, I always do worry and wonder what happens)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, Debbie; what a lovely week. What fun, fun, fun!
ReplyDelete