Good morning! For today's Sunday Salon, I have a confession to make: I have not been reading this week. The only thing I've finished is a single short story from the T.C. Boyle collection I got at the library sale last weekend.Nor have I been writing reviews. Remember my 'virtual vacation' to Italy? I've still got reviews to write for both The Enchanted April and A Thousand Days in Venice. Plus, I want to read Death in Venice before I leave.
So, what have I been doing this week? I joined Facebook. I've been talking to high school friends I haven't seen in nearly thirty years, catching up with my best friend from 5th grade (we moved away at the end of the school year), and even exchanging notes with the guy that dumped me for my roommate back in college (he regretted it within a couple weeks, and I still have the poetry he wrote afterwards to prove it!).
I seem to be one of the last people on Facebook. In fact, I've been actively resisting it for years. But finally, I caved under pressure and enlisted the help of my kids to get started. They assure me the luster and newness will fade quickly, and normal life will resume. That's happening already, but it has been a fun week.
To keep this somewhat book related... have you seen Bellezza's Japanese Literature Challenge 3? After Dark by Haruki Murakami is the book I have chosen to read. Japanese Literature is a totally new area for me, and I'm really looking forward to this experience.
There are also two awards to mention. Matt from A Guy's Moleskin Notebook has given me the Kreativ Blogger award. I follow Matt's blog very closely. Our taste is so similar, that if he gives a thumbs up, the book goes directly to my wish list (or shopping cart). Take a look at his post - I'm thrilled to be listed with the other talented bloggers he has chosen!
Reagan from Miss Remmers' Review has given me the Blog Friends award for (what else?) friendliness and commenting on her blog. Be sure to take a look over there, too. She has been busy posting a lot of reviews this week!So, this week my goal is to refocus, get some reviews written, and READ! Do you have any goals for the week ahead?
Welcome to the Facebook social network! My husband has also reconnected with several high school friends and distant relatives since he joined this past spring.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the blog awards -- you are truly deserving :)
Congrats on the awards. I think Twitter is about all I can handle. I've been avoiding Facebook for years.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your awards! Like Beth F, I've been resisting Facebook. Maybe I'll eventually cave, but I spend so much time on the computer already that I fear another addiction.
ReplyDeleteNow that you've joined Facebook I've moved up a spot as one of the few that haven't. Congratulations on your blog awards! I jumped over for a peek at Matt's blog, that could be big trouble. As I browsed the books in his sidebar that feeling came over me, you know the one, 'oh I'll look that up on Amazon - just for a peek'. Enjoy reconnecting with your friends. Spooky! My word verification is mattr.
ReplyDeleteFacebook can be a lot of fun (quick connections with old friends). Sounds like you've had some good stories to share :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your blog awards!
I am one of those last few on facebook. What a fun way to spend the week...the books will always be there...they are so loyal that way:) Congratulations on your well-deserved awards.
ReplyDeleteLOVE Faceboook! It is such a great way to reconnect and keep in touch. Congrats on your much deserved awards!
ReplyDeleteIf you gave in to Facebook, I must be the last woman standing. No Facebook account. Or Twitter. Yet. :-)
ReplyDeleteLezlie
Hi, JoAnn!
ReplyDeletePhew, I thought I was the only one without a review for TSS.
I followed after your example and made a confession myself on my blog.
Congrats on your awards! You deserve them!
Hm, Darlene, ominuous, my verification word is bustings. Busted for..not having finished anything I'm reading?
xo,
Ivy
Facebook is sooo addicting the first few weeks!! congrats on the awards too!!!
ReplyDeleteLezlie is not the last woman standing; I am resisting the lure of Facebook, too. However, my husband joined last week and I've been listening to him say, "Aw, man!" each time he discovers one of his old friends on there. He rarely gets on the internet so he is totally new to the concept of social networking. This may entertain him for longer than a week :-).
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your awards! You deserve them :D
ReplyDeleteI am still resisting facebook, I had to open a page for something book related once and used my son's name and have never gone back-I forget the password. But it would be really fun to reconnect with old friends- I didn't know you could do that, isn't it hard to find them if you don't know what their married name may be? I am curious about that aspect of it. Oh, and I think the Japanese Lit. Challenge would be fun. I have read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles by Murakami, it's was very different from anything I had read before. Not sure how I felt about it though, I have Kafka on the Shore and will have to read that to make a final judgement on Murakami. :D
Welcome to Facebook as well. I caved in almost a year ago! So glad I did. I'm glad you are enjoying your Italy tour! So jealous...
ReplyDeleteYou aren't the last one. I'm not there, and have no plans to do so. I figure I already keep in touch with all those from my past whom I love.
ReplyDeleteMolly - Thanks. It was a fun week, but I really need to get back to my blog...
ReplyDeleteBeth F - I've been avoiding twitter. It seems like it is might be even more complicated (?) or time-draining than facebook.
Nymeth - Thank you. I've been surprised to see that some old friends seem to be on facebook constantly. Quizzes, games.etc...just not for me!
Darlene - Matt's blog can definitely be bad for the budget - LOL! Hmm, I really thought I was about the last one without a facebook. Now I see there are a few more of you!
Dawn - Thanks...I think everyone has a few of those stories - LOL!
Book PSmith - Thank you. After my fun with facebook, we went to Boston for a few days. This post was the first time I tried a prescheduled post - and it worked!
Stacybuckeye - Facebook really is fun, but sometimes I do feel guilty about spending time there...
Lezlie - Be strong...stand your ground...It really does take a lot of time!
ReplyDeleteIvy - Well at least I'm not the only one not reading much right now - lol! I wonder why all those strange word verifications are coming up. I'll be over to visit your blog soon.
Staci - I'm hoping it's just the first few weeks that will be like this!
Dani in NC - It sounds like your husband is having fun with all of it - LOL! That may give you more time to read while he's on facebook.
Icedream - It seems like a lot of my friends list first, maiden and married name. If you just type in first and maiden, it comes up as a possible match even without their current last name. Maybe you'll end up joining in the Japanese Lit challenge after all?!
hmsgofita - Maybe you could fit in a 'virtual vacation' of your own. It's definitely been fun reading back to back books set in Italy!
Nan - My best friend from college is resisting facebook, too. We exchange emails and talk on the phone every few weeks. It's surely not for everyone!
aww it's okay! congrats on your awards and i hope you have a great week! :-)
ReplyDeleteI have recently (over the weekend) succumbed to joining Facebook, which I have long avoided. I have to concede that it's a near-perfect way to reunion with old friends and keep up with the current pals.
ReplyDeleteI also follow your blog closely for your thoughtful reviews and reading ideas. Books that you like will also go on to my list!
I do have A Thousand Days in Venice and Death in Venice on my shelf. The latter I'll wait because the book group that I plan to attend will be discussing Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain.
I cannot wait to read your travel thoughts in Italy. :)
Marie - Aww..thanks! I feel like it's been the most unproductive week ever...but lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteMatt - I somehow avoided the Facebook trap for years, but I am having a great time catching up with old friends now. Have finally started Death in Venice and just posted a Teaser Tuesday from it. I think it will be slow going, but enjoyable.
Congratulations on the awards. I like facebook, but I think I prefer twitter!
ReplyDeleteVerity - Thank you. I'm curious about twitter, but it somehow seems more confusing and intimidating to me!
ReplyDeleteI just joined Facebook about a month ago-there are groups of readers on their-I am a member of the Austin Group and the classic literature group-which is getting ready to do a group read of Kafka on The Shore which would go for the Japanese challenge. I also reconnected with a friend from 40 years ago and my three daughters are on their also so I can send them messages through it also which is fun for us.
ReplyDeleteMel - There are definitely some good things to do with facebook...it just takes so much time, especially at the beginning. Thank you for visiting!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if people more into facebook than I am could post some suggestions as to good facebook groups for book bloggers?
ReplyDeleteMel - That's a great idea! Maybe you could do a post for next week's Sunday Salon about the facebook groups you have found and ask others for their suggestions. There are a lot of people that read the SS posts, so you might get some really good ideas!
ReplyDelete