Sunday Salon: May 12, 2019

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz has taken over running The Sunday Salon.

My life in books over the past two weeks: 

 

• There There by Tommy Orange
• If You're Out There by Katy Loutzenhiser
• Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

• American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
• Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen

Challenges progress:

• A to Z Reading--I have read books with titles for 21 letters so far: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W.
• Diversity Reading Challenge--I have read 29 books.
• Literary Escapes--I have read books set in 26 states so far, adding Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, and Illinois in the past two weeks. I have read in 36 countries so far, adding Burkina Faso in the past two weeks.
• Motif Reading Challenge--The May motif is "Read it in one sitting" and I am counting Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen
• Non-fiction--I have read 14 books so far.
• YA Award Winners--I have read 8 of the winners
• My Own Books--This challenge runs from March 15 to May 15, 2019 and I will try to read 10 books off my TBR shelves. So far I have read 19 books off my shelves.

My life outside books:

Work:

Work has been busy, but in a good way. I've been putting the finishing touches on the American Government course that I'll teach this summer, organizing for my first social studies leadership team meeting, and doing tech trainings in amongst all the usual meetings with teachers.

Last Saturday I attended a Social Justice in Education conference in Santa Maria (one hour north from me), which was really interesting. They began the day with a local Native American blessing and dance performance. I found myself thinking about the powwow in There There by Tommy Orange (minus the shooting)! 

Personal:

I do Book of the Month and in the mail this week got a tote from them. It has a book pocket! I love it.

I am on my own for two weeks. My parents are off in Europe and my daughter is still away at college. And, with the passing of my dog last month, I am truly alone. I haven't been this alone at home for years. It feels strange. And quiet. And it's Mother's Day. Actually, I am not big into the "Hallmark" holidays as I call them. Living in a multi-generational household means I see my mother and daughter all the time so we say that every day is Mother's Day.

We had rain last week and this week. In southern California. At the end of April and the beginning of May. Unheard of! But the garden is loving it!

I read last week that every year in the Netherlands one book written by a Dutch author is chosen as the "national book of the year." and given out for free to people who sign up for library cards or buy books during National Book Week. This year, they went one step further and last weekend anyone on the Dutch trains could use that book as their train ticket. How great is that?!