The Sunday Salon: Sunday November 5, 2023

Happy Sunday! Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon, and I thought I’d give it a try! 

Weekly Reads Round Up: Sunday October 29th 2023 – Saturday November 4th 2023 

I post reviews on Instagram and Goodreads. What have you read this week? 

Syrup to No Good by Catherine Bruns (I read an eARC from the publisher.)

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez (I read an eARC from the publisher. Find my review here.

If You Would Have Told Me: A Memoir by John Stamos (I listened to this using my library’s Libby app.) 

The Vampire Knitting Club: First in a Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series by Nancy Warren (I listened to this using my library’s Hoopla app.) 

What I’m Reading & Listening to Now:

Reading: The Apartment House on Poppy Hill: Book 1 by Nina Lacour (Author)  Sònia Albert (Illustrator) (I received an eARC from the publisher. This comes out Tuesday 11/7)

Listening: The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry

My Life Outside of Books:

What a busy week of driving kiddos where they needed to be, along with some extra appointments! The good thing about lots of driving time is getting to listen to podcasts. I am listening to backlist episodes of Wish I’d known then…for Writers with authors Sara Rosett and Jami Albright. This podcast focuses on interviewing indie authors about what they’ve learned through both their successes and mistakes. There are some great tips and fascinating stories. 

Halloween is always a fun evening, but this year was just so cold that we didn’t stay out as long as we usually do. The kids still got plenty of candy. I grabbed lunch with my mom later in the week, and we wrapped up the week with a fundraiser gala for a local youth theater company last night.  

I also started a #NaNoWriMo project and am having a lot of fun exercising my creative writing skills. I’m more focused on writing as much as I can this month and less focused on the 50K word count. 

Reading Challenge Updates:

I spent some time with my reading journal and reading challenge lists this week and mapped out the few books that match challenge categories that are still remaining, and I also thought about what I’ll do differently in 2024 with reading challenges. I’m hoping to write a longer post about this later this week. 

What I Posted Last Week:

Reviews for two books I read earlier were published on Kings River Life News & Reviews. Check them out here: 

Murder, Mayhem and 4 of a Kind by Duffy Brown (this one is such a funny cozy mystery)

Brush Up Murder by Sybil Johnson (wonderful setting for a cozy mystery) 

3 Good Things:

  1. I loved seeing my daughter and her theater friends perform in a medley of musicals last night, even though we were out way past my bedtime. 
  2. I loved getting a walk in yesterday when I thought I wouldn’t have time. 
  3. I’m thankful for extra strong mugs of tea this morning as I struggle with the time change. I know we gained an hour, but my mind feels sluggish and confused. And the dog. She is so confused. 

Wishing everyone a happy week filled with good bookish vibes! 



12 responses to “The Sunday Salon: Sunday November 5, 2023”

  1. So happy to have you join us at Sunday Salon. It may take a while before others realize you are here, so I hope you will continue to post and visit others’ posts. We are a warm and welcoming group.

    Podcasts are big now. I’m always on the lookout for a good podcast, so I hope you will share more about your favorites.

    Off to take a look at your review of What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez.

    Like

  2. I get all muddled with the time change, too — even the fall one that’s supposed to be easier.

    Best of luck with your NaNoWriMo project!

    Like

  3. I’m a big fan of podcasts too and alternate between audiobooks and podcasts when I’m working around the house or walking. I’m also thinking about 2024 challenges and look forward to reading your post about this when you’re able to write it. Have a great week ahead.

    Like

  4. I’d be interested to learn more about how you use your reading journal, and what changes you’re planning to make toward reading challenges. It’s so fascinating to talk about books and reading with other bibliophiles. I love to read, too, and have since before I went to school. But, I do not read 200 books a year; good for you!

    Like

  5. We have similar reading tastes. I love cozy mysteries. I have to read the one by Duffy Brown. That’s on my list and looks so good. I still enjoy doing reading challenges even when I don’t complete them all. I host four of them and will host them next year to. The John Stamos book sounds good. I’ll have to see if my library has the audio version. Have a great week!

    Like

    1. Oh I hope you enjoy Duffy Brown’s latest. It is just so funny!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Time changes are hard… even when we gain an hour. I attended a virtual author event featuring John Stamos last week… my daughter is listening to the audiobook version now. Good luck with NaNoWriMo!

    Like

  7. Literary Feline Avatar
    Literary Feline

    I am not a fan of the time change either. We traveled out of state this weekend, crossing over to a different time zone–and then back again–with the time change in the middle. I am not sure if it made it better or worse. My cats don’t recognize the time change at all.

    I enjoyed The Vampire Knitting Club and hope you did too!

    It sounds like you had a good week! I hope you have a great one this week too!

    Like

  8. Glad you were able to enjoy seeing your daughter perform. I’ve been able to do that a few times with my son and it’s such a joy.

    I struggle with the time change too twice a year! Sluggish and tired is right.

    Good luck with your writing and reading challenges this week!

    Like

  9. Rachel @Waves of Fiction Avatar
    Rachel @Waves of Fiction

    The time change has been confusing for my body as well, but I do like that I’m no longer leaving when it’s dark for work. Had the day off today and slept much longer though. Murder, Mayhem and 4 of a Kind sounds fun! Good luck on your writing project and have a wonderful week!

    Like

Leave a reply to yvonne473 Cancel reply

About Me

Welcome! I started my career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now I’m a stay at home mom. While my career might have changed, my love of reading has been a constant since I was in 4th grade, and I read over 200 books a year. I love talking about books and connecting readers of all ages with just the right book. Thanks for reading!