Weekend Reading Notes

I'm nearly finished reading Dawn Powell's Dance Night, which I'm really enjoying and finding compelling reading despite it's darkish tone.  I had wanted to post something about Dawn Powell today, who I think is really interesting, but instead must spend the time I would have used to compose a proper post cleaning my kitchen carpet instead.  See, the other day I pulled something out of the refrigerator and along with it came a pitcher filled to the brim with Kool-aid.  Red kool-aid.  Now, I personally don't drink kool-aid, but other people in my house do.  I couldn't drop a jug of water say, or some juice that comes with a screw on cap.  No.  It had to be a pitcher with a lid that comes off easily.  Despite mopping it up with lots of water the floor is really sticky and every time anyone walks out of the kitchen onto the hard wood floors they make this wonderful squelching sound.  It's not pretty. 

So carpet cleaning today, and maybe Dawn Powell tomorrow.  I'm hoping that it's okay for the Slaves to begin discussing the book on Monday August 31 as planned?  I've got about 50 pages left to read, but I should be ready by Monday.  I just noticed new readers in the comment area on the blog, many apologies for not seeing you earlier.  I will send out invites, and the actual discussion takes place here, where I've already started a new topic for the book.  Of course anyone who has read the book is welcome to join in, and I would be happy to send out invites if you want to post on the Slaves blog--just send me an email to let me know!     

I'm nearing the end of a couple of other books as well.  I'm flying through Rosamunde Pilcher's Coming Home.  I just love this book and find it hard to put down when I pick it up.  I was going to say perfect summer reading, and it is, but I would be quite content to read this anytime of the year.  Now I feel a binge coming on of more books set during and about WWII.  I'm also nearly finished with William Maxwell's The Folded Leaf, which is so elegant yet simple in its presentation, it's hard not to like Maxwell's prose and even more so his characters, particularly Lymie Peters.  But more on those later.

Although the Persephone reading challenge was only a weeklong event, my Persephone reading will continue on for a while.  I mistakenly thought I would finish one of the books by the end of this weekend, but you know how it goes.  Kool-aid and everything.  Anyway, reading Persephone titles is pretty  much an ongoing affair with me, so I'll just keep going.  

One more book that I've been dipping into--Death in Vienna by Frank Tallis.  Even though it's a murder mystery it's yummy in more ways than one.  Why did I wait so long to pick it up?  I'm in good company now, though, as Smithereens and Tiina have both recently read it and had good things to say about it.  With the busy reading week I've had I've only read it in small doses, but once I'm caught up again I'm sure I'll make rapid progress on it.

One more item.  For once, good library news.  I recently wrote about the dire situation my public library was facing.  My faith in the city of Omaha, if not the politicians then at least the people themselves, has been restored.  Faced with the closing of one neighborhood branch, reduced hours for the rest of the branches, and worst case scenario the layoff of library employees a group of anonymous donors has stepped up and donated $200,000 contingent on the people of Omaha coming up with an additional $100,000 by this Tuesday.  In order to keep the libraries up and running and offering the same services as they did in 2008 $300,000 was needed.  The money has been raised and as long as the city council keeps its word (they said the in the next fiscal year the library would get an increase in their budget), the money will go through and hopefully staff will keep their jobs, and the branch libraries will remain open and life will be good once again.  In case you're curious, you can read about it here.  You can check out my library's website here.  That's the best news (read: happiest) I've come across in a long time!              

Comments

[Darlene]

That's fabulous news about the library Danielle! Big phewww! A big groan about the jug of Kool-Aid though but if that was the worst thing that happened in your day you're luckier than some:)

[Danielle]

Darlene--I was so happy to hear the news about the library. The last day for those people laid off was going to be right after Labor Day, but now they will get a reprieve and next year's budget will hopefully be much better than this year. It's so nice to know there are generous people out there who appreciate the public library. As for the Kool-aid--I'm such a klutz! However the carpet is cleaned now--everything smelling all fresh, so things are good. And you are right--I'll take a little spilled Kool-aid any day of the week over something worse! :)

[Isabel]

Happy News on the library! Yeah.

I'll send the donor a thank-you kiss!

[Danielle]

Isabel--I'm so happy that the branch library won't close. Taht was exremely generous of whoever gave the money. They made a lot of people happy! :)

[litlove]

Wonderful news about the library. How nice to read about something cheerful for a change! And I'm also loving the Dawn Powell - what a great writer! It might be Tuesday before I post, but certainly no later than that, and I'm very much looking forward to the discussion. And I am so sorry about the Kool-aid. I can imagine the squelching!

[Dorothy W.]

Excellent news about the library! I'm very glad to hear it. Sorry, though, about the kool-aid. I can just imagine what that scene was like and how much fun it must have been to clean the stuff up. I'm glad you're enjoying Dance Night.

[Danielle]

Litlove--It was nice to hear something good--every time the news covers city problems it always seems to be negative. I'll be glad when things take a turn for the good. I'm glad you're enjoying Dawn Powell--I'm always a little afraid when I thrust one of my choices on the book group--I hope everyone is having a good experience with her. And I was never a fan of Kool-aid, but less so now! :)
Dorothy--It is heartening to know that library employees will not lose their jobs and all the branches will be open. I know people really do depend on having access to their branch libraries (I certainly do). I hate having carpet in the kitchen (the house came that way--we want to redo the whole thing but it's a bit out of our budget at the moment...ah the thought of tiles!). It's amazing how far a full jug of Kool-aid spreads. In the future I'll be far more cautious when reaching for things in the fridge. And I finished Dance Night, and I enjoyed it very much.

[Table Talk]

Those Tallis books are ruinous to the waist line. I always want to go running down to our local patisserie and continue reading over a plate of their finest!

[Stefanie]

Sorry about your carpet, but great news about your library!

[iliana]

Woo-hoo - so glad to hear your library news! Hope the carpet cleaning didn't cost you too much reading time over the weekend :)

[Danielle]

Table Talk--I would be happy to have a cappucino and a piece of tiramisu whilst reading her book! :) Maybe I should go to a coffee shop and read--sort of a reading field trip.
Stefanie--I'm such klutz--need to slow down! And yay for the library. Sad the money has to come from the community, but I'm happy they think the libraries are worthy of saving!!
Iliana--I was all set to have to squeeze in library visits to quick stops after work, but it sounds like they'll be open on Sunday afternoons again! And I still managed to finish the Powell book even with cleaning the carpet. I was very industrious this past weekend!