Monday, April 19, 2010

Good Things on Monday



What am I reading? It is a funny mix of reading, researching, teaching, rereading and nosing through but not quite reading.

Teaching: Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Matilda by Roald Dahl

Reading: Beautiful People by Wendy Holden, An Outrageous Affair by Penny Vincenzi

Nosing: Claude and Camille by Stephanie Cowell

Rereading: Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland

Book Notes: I am really enjoying the swift moving, no nonsense but tons of fun pace of Beautiful People. She is a really good example of 'show don't tell' writing, which I enjoy. I have been circling Claude and Camille at the bookstore but am loath to buy as it is hardback and the sun+sand+salt+damp equation of Hawaii is not kind to hardbacks. Instead I picked up Luncheon of the Boating Party to visit the same period through Renoir's eyes as opposed to Monet's. It is a lovely, subtle, summery book that makes you remember to love the loveliness of the Impressionists and takes you to the banks of the Seine on a June afternoon.


Other Good Things:

I figured out how to put the 'What Are You Reading Mondays' button on my post!

The utterly sweet Maybe Tomorrow blog gave me an award!

Well this I am choosing to see as good. I got a flu which went seriously on the boil last night (not a good thing) and I did not get on the plane at the very last minute. The bags were packed, the plane was leaving in four hours, I had a window seat, my dear friend Matt was all set to pick me up from the airport and then--nothing. Instead, raging fever, Theraflu and The Bourne Ultimatum with my boyfriend who is also sick. At least we are in it together--that is a good thing, isn't it?

28 comments:

  1. Hope you feel better soon. Enjoy your books!

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  2. Claude and Camille is on my TBR list. You have a wonderful schedule of novels. Happy reading. My Monday: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/04/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-19.html

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  3. priya do you use goodreads.com? i've found it to be a great place to log what you are reading over time, explore what other people's tastes and favorite books are, and just talk about books with other like minded people. but i suppose if you have a blog like this devoted to the subject, that would be alot. just curious.

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  4. i keep forgetting my password but i am going to do it as it looks wonderful! at some point here i have to make a dent in writing the second book... :)

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  5. congrats on getting the button to post! And I second the vote for goodreads.com. It's awesome.

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  6. I'm sorry you are sick...that's no fun at all. Feel better soon. I am interested to hear more about you teaching Gone with the Wind AND Matilda...that's quite a stretch.

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  7. Gone with the Wind and Matilda, what great teaching material. I hope you feel better soon and have a fantastic week of reading.

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  8. Hi Priya! Hope you and your boyfriend feel better soon! Congrats on getting a publisher for your book. That is awesome. I look forward to reading it, especially since it's a historical fiction. That's my favorite.

    Gone with the Wind is one my favorite of all time and I am due for a re-read very soon. Claude and Camille appeals to me also, so I have also added it to my tbr. The other books sounds interesting as well. Be safe traveling and chat with you soon!

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  9. Oh no! I hope you feel better soon!!! I'm looking forward to seeing how you like your book :)

    PS. I gave up my blog, but not keeping track of my book blog friends!

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  10. What a great list, very diverse - though I have no idea how you do it all at once... I do hope you and your boyfriend feel better soon, not nice being poorly like this. Love from London x

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  11. carin, i definitely agree am am going to try goodreads!

    beth, thank you! i had great tutors in hawaii growing up and i wanted to give that experience to a few wonderful kids while i write. i love it!

    whitney, surprising but matilda and scarlett have more in common than one would guess!

    jenny girl, i am so pleased you like historical fiction! i am so glad you visited!

    jeannie, i was so sad that you closed your blog down but am thoroughly delighted that you still come and visit!

    mademoiselle poirot, such a great name by the way, luckily all reading helps my writing. not sure the bourne ultimatum helped... :)

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  12. This is the first time I've visited your blog and I absolutely loved your story of the plum bean saying in your family. I love living that way as well. I get to travel to the south of France in a few weeks (volcanic ash permitting) and am excited to see where the Impressionists painted. The books you mentioned sound perfect for my trip! Have a wonderful trip to HI. :)

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  13. samantha, i am so happy you stopped by! if you are going to the south of france for light froth and fun read peter mayle's hotel pastis, and chasing cezanne. they are brilliant fun+art+mystery+Provence=brilliant novels!

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  14. Hi Priya - thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I love finding new blogs that love historical fiction as well, so I'm off to add you to my reader!!

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  15. thanks daphne! i am so glad you visited!

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  16. Thanks for stopping by earlier. You have some great books on your list this week. I'm definitely going to check out Beautiful People, and I may look into Luncheon of the Boating Party as well. I hope you feel better soon.

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  17. thanks julie! i loved luncheon of the boating party and i am really enjoying beautiful people! thank you for visiting!

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  18. aww feel better soon!! and enjoy reading! :D (drink lots and lots of tea!)

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  19. Hope you feel better soon!
    Sounds like you have some great books to keep you company.

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  20. Thanks for your comments on my blog, love the 'plum bean' story!!
    Feel better soon and happy reading :-)

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  21. Out of all those books I've only read two - Gone With The Wind which I read as a teenager, vowing never again, though perhaps I should AND Matilda which I, not so long ago, read to Niece #2 - seeing it through a childs eyes again really made me appreciate it.

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  22. tahereh and tammy, thank you! definitely drinking tea and reading!

    teddyree, thank you for visiting!

    petty witter, try gwtw again. it is challenging in a horrible racial stereotyping way but it is fascinating to see how she handles/justifies/ignores/celebrates it. the characters are beautifully drawn and the story is magnificent. it is the antithesis to the idea that history is written by the victors.

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  23. I keep hoping that some day I will read Gone with the Wind. Maybe I should sit in your class to motivate myself. :) Have a good week, Priya!

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  24. It took me a couple days (after flying back home Monday afternoon and getting caught up) but I am here! :) Feel better!

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