Hey APOOO family and friends and welcome to another week of Sunday Salon.  Last week was actually a good reading week for me.  I read and finished Run by Ann Patchett.  Yippee Me.  Let me rewind for a minute.  I started this book a year ago…but for some reason I couldn’t get pass the prologue.  The prologue just did nothing for me.  And while I gave away tons of books during the year…I didn’t give this one away.  For some reason, I just believed that I would get to it during the year.  I’m glad I kept it.  Due to the favorable reviews expressed by BBAW participants, I decided to pick it up again.  I’m glad I did because this has easily become my favorite book for 2008.  Now the year isn’t over and this could change…actually I’m expecting it to change after reading Song Yet Sung by James McBride…a book highly recommended by my APOOO BookClub members.

I plan to write a review regarding Run later this week but some quick observations:

• Themes include family, race, adoption, politics, estranged children.
• Everyone is running from (to) something in this book.
• The most endearing character was Kenya, the child track star.
• I honestly didn’t have a least favorite character…and even liked Sullivan…although I wish I knew more about what his demons were.  He was a character that quickly appeared and could just as quickly disappear and while you would miss him…you knew that was just the nature of his character.
• Da reminded me of Jack Kennedy.  Lots of similarities…Catholic…loved politics…wanted his boys to pursue politics.
• Uncle Sullivan…I kept hoping he would come through.
• Tennessee…rather than disliking her and feeling contempt…I understood her and felt her angst…to be so close yet so far…but she did what was best for all of her kids.  The twist with her friend was different…but that was the turning point for me regarding the ending.  I already knew what was to come.
• I had to keep reminding myself that all of this happened within 24 hours…so with that I had to accept that some of the back story was lacking and that there would be loose ends.
• Complex issues written in a lyrical and yet simply told manner.
• This is a book that will stay with me long after the last page was turned.
• Overall, I rate Run 4.5/5.0 stars and highly recommend it to others.

Okay, so I finally started Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke.  Clarke is a very talented writer…BUT, as with her first book, I have a hard time reading her books for pure pleasure, enjoyment.  I read them because she has a good story to tell…but she’s not a very compelling storyteller for me.  I’m halfway through Stand the Storm and I’m still looking for the central conflict…something to have me on the edge of my seat.  Hmmm…I am always looking over my shoulders wondering what’s going to happen to Gabrielle, Mary, Annie, Ellen, Dalia, Daniel Joshua.  I’ve read other books about slavery…some of them were better written AND more enticing…so far Stand the Storm is not a compelling read for me.  Sigh.

Oh well…at least I can knock Stand the Storm off my Fall into Reading Book Challenge.

Assuming I get my amazon.com book order soon, these are books I’m looking forward to reading later this week:

In the meantime, if I get some time to read between now and the receipt of these books…I plan to read the following books:

I WON …I WON…not books but just as important…blogger peers gave the following awards to APOOO:

This award was bestowed by book blogger, Sher of A Novel Menagerie.  Thanks Sher!  Now, as with any award, I have to pay it forward.  Here’s the rules:

Now the rules of this award are as follows:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.

Okay…this is gonna be hard…because there are so many folks whose blogs I HEART…this will require some thought…hopefully many of the ones I love have already been honored so that will narrow down my list…will be back later this week with my honorees.

And APOOO received another award!  They like us, they like us, they really like us.  LOL.  Two blogger peers found APOOO worthy of the Brillante Weblog Premio 2008 award:

Shonell Bacon The Original ChickLitGurrl.

Suzanne of Suzanne Says

THANKS LADIES…MUCH APPRECIATED.  Now to pay it forward:

Rules for next recipients of the Brillante Weblog Premio are as follows:

1. The award may be displayed on a winner’s blog.
2. Add a link to the person you received the award from.
3. Nominate up to seven other blogs.
4. Add their links to your blog.
5. Add a message to each person that you have passed the award on in the comments section of their blog.

Okay, it’s a wrap for Sunday Salon. Since it’s too wet and rainy out, no Baltimore Book Festival for me.  I’m headed to cuddle up with a good book.

DISCUSSION QUESTION

What about you, APOOO wants to know what book are you cuddling up with today or this week?  Share your list.

PS–Also, don’t forget Banned Books Week…recommend a book from the list to a friend or family member.  I’m recommending God, Are You There by Judy Blume to my daughter.

Related Posts

• MUSING MONDAYS with APOOO, September 29, 2008
• Sweetsmoke by David Fuller
• Thank God It’s a Book Giveaway, Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke (Day 7)
• Thank God for a Book Giveaway, Seen It All and Done the Rest by Pearl Cleage (Day 6)
• Sunday Salon, APOOO October 12, 2008