Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sunday Salon

The Sunday Salon.com

This morning I finished a really interesting book, Ideas of Heaven, by Joan Silber. It was recommended to me by someone (a lovely woman who works with my husband) who had studied with Ms. Silber. The book's cover says the book is "a ring of stories", which is an apt description. It's one of those books of stories that are connected, a construct I am coming to really appreciate. This book is really cleverly done. The stories are all linked in some way, and the last story connects to the first, making it a "ring", as the cover says. I loved the writing, and the way the writer takes us all over the world and all through time with these stories, yet keeps them accessible. I'll have to write up a review soon.

I am planning to read Mona Simpson's My Hollywood next--I'll crack it open tonight after the kids go to bed. I probably wouldn't have picked this one up on my own, but a friend I trust recommended it, and said it was a quick and enjoyable read. I have to see what Simpson's Hollywood is like, as I live very near Hollywood myself(my neighborhood is sort of south of Hollywood and west of Koreatown). I'm betting my Hollywood is nothing like her My Hollywood, but I'll let you know.

And then on to Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, Oprah's choice (ah, the symmetry) for her book club, which will most likely be the choice for my book group as well. One of my go-to bookish friends really loved it, so I'm really looking forward to starting it soon.

What are you reading this weekend?

8 comments:

gautami tripathy said...

It sounds so good.

I am undergoing a reading slump!
Here is my Sunday Salon: Do Twitter and Facebook work?!

Amy said...

I'm reading Santa Evita by Tomas Eloy Martinez for the upcoming non-structured book club online this week. Can't wait to discuss!

Eva said...

Oh wow! I read Ideas of Heaven in high school and loved it, but I've never seen it mentioned anywhere else. Can't wait to see your full review. :D

Anonymous said...

I hadn't heard of IDeas of Heaven, but it you and Eva enjoyed it I think I must put it on my TBR list!

Gentle Reader said...

gautami--sorry about the slump!

Amy--you'll have to tell me how the discussion goes :)

Eva--wow, you read Ideas of Heaven in high school? Makes me feel old :) I really enjoyed it. It was recommended to me by a student of Silber's from the Warren Wilson MFA program.

Iris--I didn't know what to expect of Ideas of Heaven, and I really enjoyed it!

Melissa said...

I'm in the middle of Olive Kitteridge now and like you, really starting to appreciate the construct of a novel in stories. I'll have to check this one out!

Sasha said...

I love Ideas of Heaven, and like Eva, hadn't heard anyone else in the book blogosphere metntion it. :]

Happy reading!

Gentle Reader said...

Melissa--Olive Kitteridge is one of my favorites! Hope you continue to enjoy it :)

Sasha--I'm glad I discovered Ideas of Heaven, I thought it was great.