What is the Sunday Salon?
The Sunday Salon is a spot for bloggers to link up and share what we have been doing. It offers an opportunity to visit other blogs and participate in the conversations going on there.
Stephen Harrigan and Geoff Dyer
I had a fabulous time last weekend at the Texas Book Festival. On Saturday, I attended five author sessions: Dean Spears and Michael Geruso (two UT professors who have written a book on the de-population); Geoff Dyer (essayist); Peter Brown (children's book author and illustrator); Stephen Harrigan (fiction and nonfiction author); and Ada Limón (poet). On Sunday, I volunteered, helping people in the Capitol find author sessions, handing out programs, assisting people forming lines for author sessions, talking to attendees about authors and books and reading. A busy, happy weekend.
What I Read Last Week
We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance that Defied Adolf Hitler by Russell Freedman
Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade
Honey: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming
I also finished one adult nonfiction title.
What I am Reading Now
Around the World in 80 Birds by Mike Unwin
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World
by Vivek H. Murthy
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limón
Week 1 of Nonfiction November 2025...What have you read this year? What did you enjoy the most?
Week 2 of Nonfiction November 2025...What are your favorite nonfiction topics? What might you read this month that would challenge you?
Week 3 of Nonfiction November 2025...Pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction book.
What I Posted Last Week Here at Readerbuzz:
I began to list 3 Good Things every day during the pandemic. Now I've established a regular routine of writing down my 3 Good Things. Here are 3 Good Things from last week:
Good Thing #1:
The huge turnout of people for
the Texas Book Festival is heartening.
Good Thing #2:
Many of the author sessions were held inside the Texas Capitol.
It was good to see the face of former governor, Ann Richards, on the wall.
Good Thing #3:
Author/illustrator Peter Brown has written and illustrated
both a picture book and a chapter book of
The Wild Robot. Even though the line was long,
I couldn't resist getting both books signed.
The book festival sounds fantastic! I enjoyed just thinking about Governor Ann Richards... politicians are just not the same now. Thanks for hosting Sunday Salon... mae
ReplyDeleteI imagine that the book fair was very enjoyable. After all, to be surrounded by books and authors is the very definition of joy! I remember Ann Richards, maybe the last decent governor Texas had! It’s good that her picture still hangs prominently in the halls of power to remind people that high principles once prevailed.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you had a good time at the book festival! Hope you're enjoying Around the World in 80 Birds.
ReplyDeleteWow -- that book festival sounds great. I loved Ann Richards. Did you ever see the one woman show based on her life/words/speeches. It was part of Great Performances years ago -- don't know if it's in the online archive. But worth a watch.
ReplyDeleteIf you google Ann Richards Great Performances it gives the link to watch on PBS passport.
DeleteI shall look for it! Thank you, Jeanie!
DeleteI’m interested in your views on the Murthy book.
ReplyDeletei will add Black Potatoes and We Will Not be Silent to my TBR, both are available at my library.
ReplyDeleteWish I had been there at the book festival in Texas! So many things to do in your part of the country!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the book festival was wonderful! I’m glad you had a great time.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteDeb, glad you got to have a great time at the book festival. And you got to help out as well. I have enjoyed doing that at various book conferences that I've attended in the past. Ann Richards - blast from the past for sure. She was great!
ReplyDeleteWe attended the book festival a few years ago. It is indeed a fabulous event. And Ann Richards - an inspiration to us all and a reminder of what politics at its best should be.
ReplyDeleteI am going to attempt to read more nonfiction this month than I normally would. I would typically read 1-2 nonfiction books a month. I went by the library and I think I have 3 nonfiction books that I had put on hold. I am skipping the book pairings, that was too difficult for my brain right now. It sounds like you had a great week.
ReplyDeleteWe will not be silent seems like a good read for these times. Globally people need to stand up to the rise of racism and unbelievably, Nazis #SundaySalon
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a good time at the Book Festival.
ReplyDeleteNonfiction kids' books are fun and informative. I often start a new project by finding a kids' book on it because it won't assume that I know anything already.
ReplyDeleteI love going to book festivals, library book sales, author events etc.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like an all around great week.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a book festival. I'm hoping they'll have one here in Florida someday. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThe book festival sounds like a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Sounds like you had a fantastic time at the Texas Book Festival and that you've read some great nonfiction! A winning week.
ReplyDeleteYou’ve had a fantastic weekend and I’m heartened to hear it was well attended especially given the reputation of Texas with regards to censorship.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy reading week
Texas is such a mix of conservatism and liberalism.
DeleteLove that you had a good time at the Texas Book Festival!
ReplyDeleteThe book festival sounds amazing. So many different types of authors represented. I'm intrigued by Around the World in 80 Birds. I am eager to see what you think of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious week you enjoyed! I'm so glad you made it to the Book Festival! I attended our local (international) book festival for the first time this year and it was so amazing!
ReplyDeleteI hope your weekend is wonderful!
The book festival sounds so much fun! And how lovely that you volunteered on the Sunday. I love the idea of going around the world and focusing on the birds in each place. It's one of the things I always immediately notice when I go somewhere different - the change in the ambient birdsong. Have a great week, Deb:).
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the Book Festival was a success!
ReplyDeleteI recall reading and loving Honeybee a couple of years ago! And I read another book about the student resistance movement (can't recall the name right now but it was a graphic novel format). And I have added Bite by Bite as well as Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World to my list now
ReplyDeleteI really planned on reading a few nonfiction books this month, but haven't picked up a single one. I should fix that,
ReplyDeleteThat's terrific about the crowds at the book festival. Sounds really fun. Glad you enjoyed the book talks. I'd like to catch up on some of your other posts from the week. Happy reading.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! I've been reading the same non-fiction book all year - The Puzzler. Have a great week! :)
ReplyDeleteI've added We will not be Silent to my TBR.
ReplyDeleteAll of your non-fiction reads sound fabulous! I'll be looking for them at my local library. I've been wanting to begin reading poetry and Limón's book seems like an interesting one to start my journey. Yes! I can understand why you waiting in line for such a fabulous author! Happy reading to you!
ReplyDeleteI hope you will try Limón. This is the second time I've heard her speak. She is such a wonderful poet.
DeleteI love a book festival! I have just read Wifedom by anna Funder - a fabulous nonfiction about George Orwell's wife.
ReplyDeletesherry
Sounds like you had a fabulous time, Deb! Such great books this week.
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/11/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-and_17.html
How was Bite by Bite? I don't think I can get it so won't be participating in the next Cook the Books.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it a lot. I am sorry it's not available there. Ugh.
DeleteI really like that you include three good things. I might pinch that idea for my Sunday Posts. It can be difficult sometimes to appreciate what I have when it feels like everything's going wrong.
ReplyDeleteI love three good things, and it makes me happy when others add it to their posts!
DeleteThat book festival sounds great. I miss attending events like that. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great event.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to not only attend the book festival, but to volunteer at the event, too! I'll bet you had some great conversations with the attendees. I love being surrounded by readers!
ReplyDeleteIf I was a people person I would think being a volunteer at a Book Festival a whole lot of fun!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful talking to all these bookish people.
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