Sunday morning, news and more

Was your week as busy as mine? I’m not sure what happened, I wasn’t expecting to have no time to relax. We had unexpected company, a few trips to the airport, another water issue at home, I officially killed my Rosemary plant, and I had a few events to attend.

I’m hosting the Omaha Bookworm’s on February 16th, we will be discussing The Day the Falls Stood Still with Cathy Buchanan. This morning I asked my husband if we could set up video Skype on our television. We did a test call today and I’m happy to say that when we have authors who use video Skype we can meet face–to–face with the author. How exciting!

I have so many great finds to share with everyone but with some much to discuss in today's post I will hold off until midweek to share what's in the news.  I do need to mention the passing of JD Salinger.  I encourage everyone to read the NY Times article and The Telegraph's article. 

Don’t forget to sign up for the current book giveaway – it’s a wonderful book (and will be announced as the Target Breakout Book mid February).  Congratulations to Sarah, who won the Irish Book Series.

Anna Karenina: I have added a button to the right to help keep everyone informed.

If you are reading along with us, I am looking for volunteers to help create discussion questions. Thank you Ellen and Marion for offering to create questions for Parts 1 & 2. I’m looking for 3 ‘simple’ questions to help generate discussion (questions you have to the readers, about society, etc..). Comment or email me if you are interested.

February’s reading ‘assignment’: We will begin discussing Part 1 (about 115, depending on the translation) on Feb 22. I will post the questions here (and in Big Tent for MM readers).

Looking ahead:
- I hope to finish reading Double Fault today/tomorrow
- I need to finish reading Sunflowers, which I started last week. I am only 30 pages into this book (I was sidetracked with Committed and Double Fault). I can’t seem to stay focused on one book this week…
- Start reading Anna Karenina. I read the first two parts a few years ago but want to start from the beginning. If you haven’t read it, it is SO GOOD!
- Write review for Changing my Mind (Zadie Smith)
- My son and I will be on an action packed trip next week which will give us hours for reading/relaxing. I will be reading Tainted (a TLC book tour selection). Have you read it? I hear this book is getting great reviews.

Book Meme:
- Do YOU like books with complicated plots and unexpected endings? I do! Have you read Her Fearful Symmetry yet, I so enjoyed this book.
- What book with a surprise ending is your favorite? Or your least favorite? A recent favorite, The Weight of Heaven. I didn’t see the ending coming (and I can’t talk about it or it would ruin the book for all of you).

Books in the Mail: I received so many wonderful books this week that I can’t spotlight light them individually (or this post would become a novel). Most deal with family/relationship issues and I’m very excited to read them (historical fiction to women’s lit and even a novella). Perfect timing, I will be on vacation next week.

What I’m reading: I hope to finish reading Double Fault today/tomorrow. I will be a guest on That’s how I Blog on March 16th, Double Fault is the book I selected for the book club discussion. I selected this book solely based on author name – I wanted to read another book by Lionel Shriver and I love tennis so this seemed like a good fit.

Synopsis: Tennis has been Willy Novinsky's one love ever since she first picked up a racquet at the age of four. A middle-ranked pro at twenty-three, she's met her match in Eric Oberdorf, a low-ranked, untested Princeton grad who also intends to make his mark on the international tennis circuit. Eric becomes Willy's first passion off the court, and eventually they marry. But while wedded life begins well, full-tilt competition soon puts a strain on their relationship—and an unexpected accident sends driven and gifted Willy sliding irrevocably toward resentment, tragedy, and despair.

From acclaimed author Lionel Shriver comes a brilliant and unflinching novel about the devastating cost of prizing achievement over love.