The Sunday Salon: Because of Winn-Dixie; Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh; Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir; and Stickler Loves the World

 

Welcome! I'm happy you joined us here at the Sunday Salon. What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week plus it's a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 

I'm tired, everybody. I have been traveling almost every week since September, and I'm tired. I'm tired and I don't think I'm going to do any more traveling this year...Fingers crossed.

I've been reading a few kids' books, and these are all fantastic, some of my favorite reads of the year. A new Pigeon book by Mo Willems...a graphic novel memoir about a trip the author and his family took to Mexico when the author was a kid...a creature who loves his world...and the wonderful Because of Winn-Dixie...

I'm starting my 2024 reading early, as I always do, with a plan to finish the last page of each of ten books on the first day of next year. I've got three nonfiction books going now, but I will be adding some other books soon.

What I Read Last Week:

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh by Mo Willems

Stickler Loves the World by Lane Smith

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín

What I'm Reading Now:

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks

Live Your Best Life: 219 Science-Based Reasons to Rethink Your Routine

What if Jesus Was Serious? A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore

What I Posted Last Week Here at Readerbuzz:

If On a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino

The Last Year We Decorated Christmas Cookies with My Mom

Books that Defied My Expectations

The Sunday Salon: Back to Big Sandy (With Bubbles)

Author David Brooks spoke with Action for Happiness host Dr. Mark Williamson about his new book, How to Know a Person, which I am reading now. If you have any interest in making deeper connections with others, I encourage you to listen to this video.

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:

Wyatt and Annie did 

some fancy baking and decorating

last weekend when I stayed with them.

Good Thing #2:

The lights at Santa Land in East Texas.

Good Thing #3:

We finally got our tree up at home.

Weekend linkup spots are listed below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

        

I hope you will join the linkup for Sunday Salon below.

If On a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino: Book Beginnings on Fridays, First Line Friday, The Friday 56, and Book Blogger Hop

Today's Featured Book 

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino

Genre: Novel

Published: 1979

Page Count: 278 pages

Summary: 

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler is a feat of striking ingenuity and intelligence, exploring how our reading choices can shape and transform our lives. Originally published in 1979, Italo Calvino's singular novel crafted a postmodern narrative like never seen before—offering not one novel but ten, each with a different plot, style, ambience, and author, and each interrupted at a moment of suspense. Together, the stories form a labyrinth of literature known and unknown, alive and extinct, through which two readers pursue the story lines that intrigue them and try to read each other. Deeply profound and surprisingly romantic, this classic is a beautiful meditation on the transformative power of reading and the ways we make meaning in our lives.

 

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY is hosted by Rose City Reader. What book are you happy about reading this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) on BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY! Add the link to your blog or social media post and visit other blogs to see what others are reading.

Happy Friday and welcome to the FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line.

"You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino's new novel, If On a Winter's Night a Traveler. Relax. Concentrate. Dispel every other thought. Let the world around you fade..."

THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice, but Freda is currently taking a break and Anne of Head Full of Books is filling in. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up on Freda's Voice and visit others in the linky. 

"A key turns in the lock. You fall silent, as if you wanted to surprise her, as if to confirm to yourself and to her that your being here is something natural. But the footstep is not hers. Slowly a man materializes in the hall, you see his shadow through the curtains, a leather windbreaker, a step indicating familiarity with the place but hesitant, as of someone looking for something. You recognize him. It is Irnerio."

The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.    

December 8th-14th - Where do you like to read the most? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer.

Lucky me! I have my own reading room (my family calls it my Meditation Room) with my own reading chair.

The Last Year We Decorated Christmas Cookies with My Mom

Christmas cookies.

We make and decorate Christmas cookies. 

My sister-in-law, Nancy

We have made and decorated Christmas cookies ever since I was a young mother. My mom would make some cookies, my sister would make some cookies, and I would make some cookies.

My niece, Sarah

We'd all meet together with bowls of icing and flavors and colors and all those lovely stacks of plain shortbread cut-out cookies. 

My brother-in-law, Gary, and my nephew, David

Then whoever wanted to help would show up and we'd decorate and decorate and decorate. My kids. My sister's kids. My brother's kids. My Grandma Ashley. My dad. My husband. 

My nephews, Wade and Colin

And, of course, my mom.

My mom

We'd skipped a few years but it just seemed like something we should do again, so just before Christmas in 2009, we mixed up a lot of batter and stamped out all kinds of Christmas-y shapes. Just my sister and I made the cookies this time. Our mom was too weak from all the chemo to stand over a hot oven.

Wade and his mom

But she could decorate. We all got together at my sister's house and decorated cookies. All kinds of unexpected decorators turned up. My nephews. My sister-in-law. My brother-in-law. My nieces. Crazy cookies. We get really silly when we decorate cookies.

Sarah                                                                                     Wade

My mom

It was the last time my mom was able to decorate cookies with us. She passed away in 2011.

A little message for you young people out there:  It goes fast, folks. Enjoy these family get-togethers while you can. I don't remember one thing about what I got for Christmas in 2009, but I'm glad we got together to decorate cookies.

Holiday Sugar Cookies  (for Decorating) Cream 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of water. Beat until light. Add 3 cups of flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add to creamed mixture. Divide in half. Chill one hour. On lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8" thickness. Cut in shapes with cookie cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Cook a little and then remove from pan. Decorate at will, with colored icing, sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts, coconut, or whatever you want.

Link up with Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and Erin from Still Life, with Cracker Crumbs this holiday season with any Christmas/holiday-themed posts, and join in the celebration of a Comfy Cozy Christmas here.

For more photos, link up at Wordless Wednesday, Comedy Plus, Messymimi's Meanderings, Keith's Ramblings, Create With Joy, Wild Bird Wednesday, and My Corner of the World.

Weekend Cooking was created by Beth Fish Reads and is now hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader (and Baker). It is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.  

Books that Defied My Expectations

Books (I thought) I had no interest in reading but that are now favorites...

The books, with my original perceptions of the stories...

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

    Good grief. A story about a man who turns into a bug? 

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

    Depression? Aren't we all depressed enough?

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

    The story of a mass murder? The last thing I'd want to read.

Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

    Sports? I hate sports. Why would I want to read a book about sports?

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

    War? I hate war. Why would I want to read a book about war?

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

    A book about motorcycles? And what the heck is Zen?

The World is Not Enough by Zoé Oldenbourg

    A huge historical novel? Nope.

Civility by Stephen F. Carter

    Civility? Really? Who would want to read about that?

L'Assommoir by Émile Zola

    Who is Zola? Why would I want to read a book by Zola?

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

    A big, long Russian classic? I don't think so.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

    A story about a man and a whale? No way.

What books have completely surprised you?

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.      

The Sunday Salon: Back to Big Sandy (With Bubbles)

 

Welcome! I'm happy you joined us here at the Sunday Salon. What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week plus it's a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 

Usually at this time of year, I am madly racing through stacks and stacks of picture books, reading, reviewing, discussing with other Cybils judges. 

This year I stepped away from the Cybils, and I certainly don't miss the drives to the fifteen libraries around me, in search of the 200-300 books nominated for the awards, and  I don't miss the constant reviewing of the books. 

I do miss seeing the wonderful children's books, so as Nonfiction November and Novellas in November began to wind down, I turned to kids' books to finish out the month and to lead into December...

What I Read Last Week:

Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker (middle grade fiction)

Lizard Music by Daniel Pinkwater (middle grade fiction)

The Secret Chicken Society by Judy Cox (early chapter book)

My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder (picture book)

Just Snow Already! by Howard McWilliam (picture book)

What I'm Reading Now:

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett (middle grade fiction)

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (middle grade fiction)

Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes (early reader)

Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel (early reader)

Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel (early reader)

Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel (early reader)

Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel (early reader)

Huda F Cares by Huda Fahmy (graphic novel)

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin (graphic novel)

Big by Vashti Harrison (picture book)

What I Posted Last Week Here at Readerbuzz:

The Sunday Salon: Four Thanksgiving Feasts!
Nonfiction November: Week 5 (11/27-12/1) New To My TBR
Novellas in November: New to My TBR
Books Set On-the-Road

It probably won't surprise you to learn that I'm in Big Sandy again this weekend with the grandkids, Wyatt and Annie. I've brought along Jenga and dominoes and some baking supplies and some crafting supplies and, yes, bubbles. 

I began to list 3 Good Things every day during the pandemic. Here are Good Things from last week:

This is a video my son made of my granddaughter, Annie,

after I went home just before Thanksgiving.

Yes, I know Annie is crying,

but I can't help but love this video.

Weekend linkup spots are listed below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

        

I hope you will join the linkup for Sunday Salon below.

Books Set On-the-Road

Many of my favorite books are set on-the-road.

On-the-Road may be my favorite book setting.

Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

True Grit by Charles Portis

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

Do you have any favorite books that are set on-the-road?

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.      

Novellas in November: New to My TBR

 For the fourth year in a row, Rebecca of Bookish Beck and Cathy of 746 Books are celebrating the art of the short* book by co-hosting Novellas in November as a month-long challenge.

This year we have five prompts, adapted from ones commonly used for Nonfiction November. (*A reminder that we suggest 200 pages as the upper limit for a novella.)

Here’s the schedule:

Week 5 (starts Monday 27 November): New to My TBR

• In the last few days, talk about the novellas you’ve added to your TBR since the month began.

---

Here are the books I added to my TBR this month. 

Thank you for your contributions to this list.

Walk the Blue Fields by Claire Keegan (184 pages; short stories)

Happening by Annie Ernaux (96 pages)

Sundays in August by Patrick Modiano (168 pages)

The House on the Hill by Cesare Pavese (176 pages)

The Drowned and the Saved by Primo Levi (208 pages; memoir)

Passing by Nella Larson (176 pages)

So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan (128 pages)

La Vie: A Year in Rural France by John Lewis-Stemple (195 pages)

My Neglected Gods by Joanna Nelson (130 pages)

Glaciers by Alexis M. Smith (126 pages)

Train Dreams by Denis Johnson (125 pages)