Sunday Salon... with a few Books with Buzz!

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....

Another week of reading has gone by! And a wonderful surprise came my way too! Not just in my mailbox on the street either- in my email box! I was nominated for Best New Blog in this years BBAW, or BookBloggers Appreciation Week! I am thrilled to have been nominated!

A BIG thank you to whoever nominated me! There are so many wonderful blogs out there that just being nominated is an honor! And I do feel honored! Thank you so much! A panel of judges will review all the blogs nominated (there are quite a few categories!) and on Sept. 7th the shortlist of nominees will be announced and voting will begin! I'll keep you posted if I make the shortlist... And to everyone that was nominated for an award, I wish you all the best of luck! So now you may be wondering about BBAW...

"Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW) was started by Amy Riley of My Friend Amy in an effort to recognize the hard work and contribution of book bloggers to the promotion and preservation of a literate culture actively engaged in discussing books, authors, and a lifestyle of reading. The week spotlights and celebrates the work of active book bloggers through guest posts, awards, giveaways, and community activities." So, Sept. 14 - 18th the big celebration begins with contests, awards, and interviews! So far 150 bloggers have signed up to participate, last year there were over 400! It should be a lot of fun and I'm glad Chick with Books is around this year to enjoy all the festivities! More on BBAW later...

For my reading this week I finished my first Japanese Literature Challenge book! I read Be With You by Takuji Ichikawa and will have the review posted this week! The challenge is to read at least one, but I will be continuing the challenge with a few more selections by Haruki Murakami- The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, After Dark, and Kafka on the Shore! Have you read any Japanese fiction lately? Remember to visit The Japanese Literature Challenge page to see what everyone has read and reviewed!

In the mail this week I received David Morrell's newest book, The Shimmer! "When police officer Dan Page’s wife disappears, her trail leads to Rostov, a remote Texas town where unexplained phenomena attract hundreds of spectators each night. Not merely curious, these onlookers are compelled to reach this tiny community and gaze at the mysterious Rostov Lights. But more than the faithful are drawn there. A gunman begins shooting at the lights, screaming “Go back to hell where you came from!” then turns his rifle on the innocent bystanders. As more and more people are drawn to the scene of the massacre, the stage is set for even greater bloodshed. To save his wife, Page must solve the mystery of the Rostov Lights. In the process, he uncovers a deadly government secret dating back to the First World War. The lights are more dangerous than anyone ever imagined, but even more deadly are those who try to exploit forces beyond their control." I just cracked the spine last night and started to read it, and David Morrell's writing is great! This will be my first David Morrell novel. He is the co-founder of the International Thriller Writers organization and has been called “the father of the modern action novel.” And thanks to Anna of FSB Associates for sending me the review copy! Look for my review in the next week or so...

And speaking of review & giveaway... I will be hosting a giveaway for The Woman Who Named God by Charlotte Gordon this week! " A story of fidelity and abandonment, birthright and expulsion, the saga of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is the myth of origin for three monotheistic faiths... And Charlotte Gordon gives us a startling new perspective on this legendary love triangle, revealing three biblical characters who behave like real people..." I'll also be posting a review!

Another book this week with a lot of buzz... impossible by Nancy Weblin. "Werlin combines magic, romance, and a family curse in this 21st-century fairy tale based on the ballad Scarborough Fair." It's a YA novel, dealing with serious issues such as date rape and teen pregnancy, but the romance and fantasy of solving a family curse should intrigue all of us girls!

A few books to look forward to in the future... Her Fearful Symmetry, Sept. 29th, by the author of The Time Travelers Wife, Audrey Niffenegger... And An Echo in the Bone, Sept. 22nd, the new novel in the epic love story of Jamie and Claire by Diane Gabaldon. (If you've never heard of Diane Gabaldon and you like historical romance- look her up NOW!)

That's about it for this week's buzz.. What bookish things have you been doing? What books are you reading!? Leave a comment and let us all know what's going on with you this week!

I want to also thank everyone who sent their good wishes BJ's way! BJ (my fuzzy four legged reading companion seen below) is feeling much better! Thanks for your concerns and being such good friends!

BJ says woof too! .......

Thanks for stopping by! And Have a Happy reading week!...... Suzanne