Sunday Salon: May 9, 2010.

I am glad that another week is done, but it seems like time has been moving fairly quickly recently. You agree?

I had a very full and busy week, with some subbing jobs and some others things going on with my summer job at the park. Things are starting to pick up, which is wonderful. We have a lot more going on so there is more to do. People are starting to come back on staff, which is always a good thing, as those of us who have been working can get a little sick of each other after a while.

In regards to reading, I have had an off couple of weeks, but it picked up over the last couple of nights. I honestly think my brain needed a rest, so I took a break. It seems like I am back on, however, as I flew through the next book of Sherlock Holmes stories, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, in only a day. I also started The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, which I am enjoying immensely.

I haven't had a chance to dive into Milton's Paradise Lost yet, and to be honest, I don't think now is the right time to get into something that requires my full focus. So perhaps in another month or two I'll be up to the challenge.

I have some great things planned for the coming month. Tomorrow will debut the first of what will hopefully be many "Classic Interviews." I hope you all tune in and think about participating. I would love to have you!

The vote for the first read-along I am hosting also ends today, so I hope you voted for the book of your choice! Either way, I'll definitely go with the top 2 choices and host two at the same time. It offers a little more variety and if one book doesn't suit your fancy, I hope the other one will.

I am hoping to get through the next Sherlock Holmes book of short stories this week (The Return of Sherlock Holmes), as well as finishing The Mayor of Casterbridge. I also have a week or two to finish up the LOST books challenge. Technically I could count The Brothers Karamazov towards it, but I feel like I need to read one more book solely for that purpose. We'll see what happens though.

Anyway, stay tuned for details about read-alongs on Tuesday, as well as other posts during the week. Happy Reading!

Sunday Salon: April 25, 2010.

It is really hard to believe that April is almost over! Where is time going these days?

I had a pretty good week in terms of reading. I am still in the middle of the three books at left. While I did my post for The Count of Monte Cristo and the Classics Circuit on Friday, I still have a little left to finish. It is a phenomenal novel and I think i just bit off a little more than I could chew doing it along with a few other things.

I am also still working on the second collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories. They have fallen by the wayside in the last week as I have been chipping away at the two big novels, but I really want to get through them by the end of the month.

The Brothers Karamazov has been a pleasant surprise and my last post over the 4th part and my feelings about the book as a whole will be posted on Thursday. I will be glad to wrap up all of these books. I find it hard to concentrate on so many different books at once. My mind is going all different directions as I read them! At least with reading the short stories I can settle in with one story in one quick sitting and not be bothered.

I did really enjoy the read-along and would love to do more of them in the future. It makes reading the harder books a little easier, since I almost feel like I have to get posts up to meet my commitment. Odd, isn't it? I did join a Paradise Lost read-along with Rebecca Reads. Paradise Lost is another title that intimidates me, so I hope to get through it unscathed. Speaking if intimidating titles, what books scare you off??

Goals for this week are to finish the three books I have in progress: The Brothers Karamazov, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

Happy Reading!