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The Sunday Salon – July 6th, 2008

It has certainly been a reading day for me.  I’ve been cooped up reading Feather Man by Rhyll McMaster, with a short break to devote some time to The Power Makers by Maury Klein.  I finished Feather Man just a few minutes ago, and I’m already anxious to write a review of it, but more so to find out other people’s opinions.  If you’ve read it, tell me what you think, or point me to your review!  The book is, in a very basic sense, about the repercussions of an old man’s molestation of the main character, Sookie, when she was a child, and her struggle to in effect free herself from the men who have defined her life.  I thought it was very good.  A bit slow to start, especially considering the uncomfortable issue of child molestation, but afterwards it really took off and became a great book.

Other important book developments this week:

– I am hosting my first giveaway for a hardcover copy of Surviving Ben’s Suicide by C. Comfort Shields. Please do enter – the book is worth reading, especially if you have lost a loved one.

– I acquired 19 books in total this week. I am a bit in awe of my new book acquiring skills. Unfortunately, I have decided that since my Mt. TBR has topped 120, I really should not buy any more books until I get it down below 100 again. This does not preclude me from acquiring ARCs and I do have I think five books coming in the mail from other sources. *blushes*

– I have embarked on my Classics Challenge, and have completed my first book, My Antonia by Willa Cather. A review will be forthcoming there, but I felt a bit more lukewarm towards it than I had hoped. I suppose there was actually a reason it had been sitting on my TBR pile since high school. I liked the overall picture of life on a farm and then in the small towns of the Midwest, but it didn’t really strike a chord with me. Oh well. George Eliot never fails, and I believe she’s up next on my list.

What’s in store this week? Well, my fiance is coming for a visit in a week, as I’ve probably mentioned many times (I haven’t seen him in three months!), so I’m going to try and read all the ARCs and books sent to me for review before that time. I’ve got four left: The Power Makers to finish, and to read The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent, The Watercooler Effect by Nicholas diFonzio, and The Leper Compound by Paula Nangle. I probably won’t be reading much next week, so I’ll also be storing up some of these reviews to post next week. I feel a bit like I’m running a reading marathon! Not that I mind. =)

Hope everyone has a great week!

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1 comment to The Sunday Salon – July 6th, 2008

  • Hi Meghan – Thanks for your discerning review. I really enjoyed reading it, particularly your comments about its cyclical nature. I’m glad you were conflicted about the ending! Just what I wanted to happen. Funny that you talked about the English major in you responding to it – I have just been asked by Sydney University here in Australia to do a series of seminars for their MA students in Creative Writing. I might be doing a tour in the US when the book comes out in September – perhaps I can come to Brandeis?? Please have a look at my new website, designed by my daughter – I have Notes on the Novel that you might find interesting. http://www.rhyllmcmaster.com
    Cheers,
    Rhyll