What an absolutely glorious weekend! The sun is out and it feels like the beginning of Summer. Of course, it is probably just a tease. No doubt we’ll have a couple more weeks of
gray skies before the end of Spring. In Seattle, Memorial Day Weekend means the Northwest Folklife Festival, a wonderful, free (they do ask for a donation) music extravaganza spread out over four days, filled with concerts, jams and workshops. Lots of singing and dancing and crowds of people having a great time.
I also want to mention a reading challenge brought to you by Ann and Michael, the wonderful folks who created the Books On The Nightstand podcast and blog. It is inspired by a newly published book called Beowolf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan. Please stop by and check it out. ![Copy of beowulfRC2[8]](../files/2009/05/copy-of-beowulfrc28.jpg "Copy of beowulfRC2[8]")
I am still working on the poetry blog and have joined a Summer Poetry Reading Challenge. If you enjoy poetry you will find this challenge very intriguing.
As for what I’m reading right now, I finished The Lost City of Z, quite good read but I’m not planning on reviewing it. I’m just about to finish Half A Yellow Sun and have started The Swallows of Kabul. Both are very intense reads. I also plan on reading Fragile Things (Thanks, Nymeth!) and the second book in Ursula Le Guin’s Annuals of the Western Shore series, Voices.
I did something unusual this week. I have not bought a new book in quite a while but I gave up waiting for my library to get these books in an ordered them online. So yesterday I found a small package by the mail box which contained The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker and The Blue Fox by Sjon. I plan on reading both for the Lost in Translation challenge!
Have a wonderful week.
To learn about the Sunday Salon click here.
Page247 
It is a beautiful day where I live too. I am thinking of taking my dog for a long walk in a few minutes, if I can tear myself away from the computer. It’s been so long since I’ve had a chance to spend any good amount of time behind it.
The Folklife Festival sounds wonderful! I wish I lived closer so I could attend. There was a Chilli Cook off and Car Show in town yesterday, but I didn’t get a chance to go. Honestly, I didn’t even know it existed until I drove right by it yesterday. It’s evidently not well publicized. At least it looked like a lot of people attended.
I look forward to your reviews of Half a Yellow Sun and The Swallows of Kabul. I have read the first title, but not yet the second.
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Literary Feline – Isn’t it fun to stumble upon something you don’t expect? A chili cook-off sounds like fun. Hope you had a chance to get outside.
I should review Yellow Sun by mid-week. It is a lot to take in. I hope you have a great week, too!
The day here started out beautiful but at lunchtime a storm pushed through and brought black skies, heavy rain, and lots of lightning and thunder.
Good reading weather.
Debbie – I love thunderstorms but the dog hates ’em. Sometimes we have to give her a sedative! Have a great week.
I love the weather, too! And so much colour outside, I can’t help but be awed. Looking forward to your thoughts on The Blue Fox.
claire – I’m glad you have good weather. The Blue Fox is really intriguing but I won’t get to it for a while, too many library books to plow through.
That festival sounds so fun! And I’m glad to hear you had such a great weekend. Even though it’s almost June, the weather has been persistently grey and chilly here. I want to wear short sleeves already!
I really want to read The Blue Fox! Happy reading :D
Nymeth – Sorry about the grey, chilly weather. We’ll get more before it is officially Summer.
I won’t get to The Blue Fox for a while, to many library books to read:) Have a good week.
I can imagine how wonderful the sun must feel to you…I don’t appreciate it as much as I probably should. Summer has been in Florida for quite awhile, and now we are suffering under a tremendous amount of rain. We’ve gotten over a foot in a week, but the coast has gotten over three feet! Anyway, I’ll stop complaining! I love the cover of your book The Blue Fox – precious.
Sandy – The sun feels really good after a long gray season, especially as my bones get older:) The rain sounds like rain in Seattle, but weather patterns are changing all over, just something we’re going to have to get used to.
The Blue Fox cover is really intriguing, part of the reason why I couldn’t resist buying it! Have a good reading week.
The weather has been very summer-like here already, much to my disappointment, because summer in Japan means hot and humid. Thankfully we had some rain this weekend and it cooled things off a bit.
Enjoy your new books. I’m looking forward to ordering a few after we move and get settled in.
tanabata – Hot and humid is no fun, and from what my husband tells me, Tokyo is a very crowded city. I stopped by you photo blog, your pictures are lovely!
I hope the move goes smoothly. Have a good week.
I’m afraid our weather is not as pleasant as yours, glad to hear someone’s enjoying some warm weather!
I’ll be interested to read your thoughts on Half of a yellow sun- an intense and impressive read.
I have Fragile Things and The Blue Fox in my vertiginous TBR pile, so will also be glad to hear about them.
adevotedreader- Sorry about your weather. I hope to review Yellow Sun by mid-week. It is a lot to take in. Have a good week!
I love the cover of Blue Fox. What a beautiful picture. I’m glad your weekend was great.I joined both challenges and can’t wait to get started. What contemporary poetry do you recommend?
Have a great week.
Vasilly – The Blue Fox cover is one reason why I couldn’t resist it! I’m glad you joined the challenges and I’ll have to think about the poetry question.
I tend to love poetry that is clear and concise, that paints pictures with words, that has a bit of a wild rhythm. My favorite poets write about real things, places, people, animals, the earth.
Try here – http://www.poetryfoundation.org/
and here –
http://www.poets.org/
Have a wonderful week.
The Blue Fox is on my short list as well. The subject matter is of course the primary reason but that cover design really appeals to me as well. There is something nearly human in that face. Also looking forward to more poetry from you. Loved the poems you posted here recently, and really admire your courage in putting yourself out there like that. Inspiring. Happy reading!
Frances – Thanks for your kind comments about the poetry.
The Blue Fox cover is one reason I couldn’t resist buying the book! Have a great week.