The Sunday Salon: Culling Books and Feeling Free

This was a very emotionally intense week for me--I got rid of a lot of books. Okay just kidding it wasn't so bad, I actually enjoyed it. I just have way too many and more are always coming in and it was getting out of control. The only bad thing is that I momentarily thought I'd accidentally put a book I hadn't finished yet into the going away bags and panicked when I couldn't find it but it was just in a different place on the shelf and I hadn't properly remembered what the spine looked like.

Anyway these books said bye-bye and have a new home. (also I've already filled up another bag since then!)

In other news, this will be the first year in forever that I don't go to Comic-Con! Tickets went on sale yesterday and I was just like...whatever about it. Part of me is sad because it is predictably fun, but the reason I started going in the first place was for Lost, and ever since Lost ended it hasn't been the same. It's also expensive and the way they priced tickets this year kind of stinks. I don't know, it's just not a priority anymore. I guess tickets sold out in less than 30 minutes. And Hutchmoot tickets also went on sale this week and sold out in seven minutes. And I'm also not going to BEA. I feel like everything in my life is changing to be honest!

The VIDA 2011 results are out and they are still bad.

I looooved this piece on Walker Percy on The Millions, because of how hopeful it is! It's nice to read a story about someone finding their purpose and beating their demons, I don't know I just thought it was lovely. Now I really need to read his books!

I hate the idea of a Hunger Games barbie doll and everything it stands for. I don't know guys, I want to see the movie but I'm starting to be really put off by all the hype and marketing or.."oversaturation" as a friend called it. The Hunger Games engages really interesting ideas that are totally and completely buried under all of this. I was hoping to do a reread and also read some other stuff that came in before the film, but right now I just sort of want to not talk about it. Does this make me weird? Am I just falling victim to loving books that also happen to be YA books --a more susceptible market for this kind of promotion? Also not a fan of the Arcade Fire song on the soundtrack.

Also I cannot believe how good the cast is for Beautiful Creatures!

I know nothing about opera, but I'd go see the Bel Canto opera in two seconds flat, what a clever idea! Let's make plans fellow Bel Canto lovers and do a group thing.

Reading

I tried to read my book club's book, The Dovekeepers but it was so bad. I just can't force myself to keep reading a book I'm not enjoying. However, I am a little bitter I bought the hardcover when the paperback comes out in April.

I finished six books in February and returned to my rightful gender imbalance in authors with five of them being by females. One of them was a book I had to force myself to keep reading which put me off reading for awhile which is why this number is low. BUT all the other books I really loved, so overall it was a great reading month.

TV

Everything is annoying me right now, even Switched at Birth It bugged me that Emmett was a jealous boyfriend all episode and then it bugged me that Bay hadn't told Ty about Emmett as if that somehow justified his behavior. I liked Bay and Emmett for the positive things they represented to each other and their organic struggles, I don't need this emo turbulent stuff. I think Kathryn is going to have an emotional affair at least, and while in my mind I think that's an interesting writing choice and I can kind of admire the choice, the execution is falling flat. I'd much rather the continuing story line about Kathryn and her book and it grates she might choose to go the route of a man to make her relevant again. I don't like Simone and I don't care about her. Ugh,I don't know how this episode managed to be such a mess, the story line with Daphne's friend whose parents didn't sign was the best part and the only time the show managed to hit its usual emotional moment.

I liked Rick and Shane's confrontation in The Walking Dead but the conversation between Lori and Andrea bugged me so much it has kind of soured me on the show at the moment. Okay here's what I don't like. Lori, first of all, is suddenly a champion for living and life matters even though she just ventured down that very dark path herself recently where she questioned it all. She's also firmly of the opinion that the women should be working together, i.e. cooking, cleaning, etc. while the men keep guard. And that's fine, like having that different opinion is to be expected. But Andrea is keeping guard, and that's what she wants to do, that's the way she wants to contribute. And I feel like, I don't know, we're supposed to agree with Lori? Because Rick is clearly the hero of this show and Shane is not. And Andrea is aligning herself with Shane and his reckless opinions and as such putting herself on the side of the bad guy. So when you have the female character who wants to contribute by keeping guard, etc. on the side of the villain it doesn't give me warm fuzzies. And I'm kind of sad about it because Andrea was one of my favorites, I thought she was really interesting, I cried when her sister died, etc. She's better than this and she deserves to be respected by the writers. Now I basically only love Rick.

Revenge was so boring. I keep seeing people talk it up big time, but I don't get the obsession.

Basically I am just really sad by the state of TV right now. Anyone planning to watch GCB?

Reviews

I've seen other people do this so I want to do it, too! I am a bit behind on reviews, I need some motivation to decide what to review next. Please comment and tell me which book you think I should review next and maybe ask a question about it if you have one!

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell
Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodsen
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Also, Carrie and I are announcing the first six months of film club's schedule tomorrow so stay tuned!

Have a great week everyone!