Happy Sunday! We are having a lovely fall weekend in Southern California that actually feels like fall- cool and crisp with a light wind. The weather put me in such a fall mood that I made a big batch of pumpkin bread yesterday and curled up with my book all afternoon. The kids were busy with homework and friends and the hub had little projects all day, so I was able to take a break from being the Family Boss and do whatever I wanted. It was nice!
This morning they are giving out free flu shots at our church (not H1N1, just the regular flu) and I’m forcing my family to get them. The kids are not happy and I’m gearing up for a scene with them later, but I will stand firm and insist on the shots. I mean, you can’t beat ‘free’, and I want us all to have them. Especially after the book I finished yesterday, In a Perfect World, about a flu pandemic that spreads across the country and then the world, killing thousands and causing all kinds of panic and hysteria. Good book, by the way, and very timely, what with the Swine Flu always in the media. We’ll be getting Swine Flu shots as soon as they make those available. Are you getting flu shots this year?
My book club meets this afternoon to discuss Olive Kitteridge. New England clam chowder and donuts are on the menu! Olive is an odd bird, but I really liked her, and by the end of the book I felt I knew her better than probably any other character I’ve ever read about. And I missed her when the book was over! I loved the way the book was set up with different stories, some about Olive and some not, although she makes at least a brief appearance in each one. I’m looking forward to this discussion.
So I’m currently in-between books! I’ve got a ton to choose from but nothing that’s screaming my name and no pressing obligations. I think I’ll go through my TBR pile and read the first couple of pages of each one until something grabs me. The first few on the stack are: Who by Fire, Julie and Julia, Homer and Langley, The Middle Place, Precious, and The Elegance of the Hedgehog. I want to read at least 2 of them before I sit down with my November book club pick, The Wednesday Sisters. Any suggestions?
Hope you’re all have a relaxing weekend! Have a great week, and thanks for stopping by Books on the Brain!
Filed under: book clubs, books, Current Events, Reading Groups, sunday salon, weekends | Tagged: book club, books, flu shots, homer and langley, in a perfect world, julie and julia, olive kitteridge, precious, reading, sunday salon, swine flu, the elegance of the hedgehog, the middle place, who by fire |
Books on the Brain 
Both The Middle Place and Julie & Julia are quick reads, so I would go with them! The Wednesday Sisters is such a good book – I am sure that your club will have LOTS to discuss!!
I’m looking forward to ALL of these books!
Oooh, pick Homer & Langley! I have it on the TBRs and know I’m going to want someone to discuss it with in a couple weeks. So glad you’re getting a taste of fall…it looks like the season is finally here to stay in Richmond. Pumpkin bread is on tap for next week!
I did!!!! I started it this afternoon. I’ll email you when I finish it!
I make pumpkin bread all year long. My kids love it, so I freeze it and put it in their lunches a few times a week.
I can see how you would want to force your family to get shots after In a Perfect World!
I really like books that make me miss the character when the book is over. That even happens to me with memoirs of real people!
The church had 300 doses of flu shots and ran out before we got there. I had to sit thru the sermon for nothing 🙂
I’m not feeling Fall… I’m feeling sunburned! It was hot yesterday at Mile Square Park for the soccer game. But, I’m only sunburned on my right side. I look like some kind of strawberry sundae freak!
Have fun at book club.
We missed you.
I am really hoping the forecast of rain comes true out my way, but I suspect it will be like last time and we’ll remain dry. I wish I lived closer to you so I could beg you for some of that pumpkin bread! I need to call the hospital and find out when I can come in for a flu shot. Good luck with the kids!
I am glad you enjoyed Olive Kitteridge. I am looking forward to reading that one. Do let us know what you decide to read next! I really enjoyed Who by Fire and Precious. The Elegance of the Hedgehog is one I want to read. I’ve heard such good things about it.
Have a great week, Lisa!
Wendi, my church ran out of flu shots so we will have to go back in 2 wks. when they offer them again. Either that, or pay to have them done at Walgreen ($25.)
I wonder if I could ship you some pumpkin bread.. hmmm.
Elegance of the Hedgehog gets my vote!
I wasn’t pulled in by the first few paragraphs, so I put it aside for another day. Homer & Langley won out.
I also live in So Cal–it has been nice out lately. The pumpkin bread sounds so good!
You have a lot of good reading choices. I’d love to read The Elegance of the Hedgehog.
I saw the author at the Fest. of Books at UCLA in April. Talk about elegant!! She’s very french and very sophisticated, in a casual way, and had the loveliest accent. Tracy from Shelf Life (another blog) was with me and she commented that she had a ‘girl crush’ on the author. I totally understood what she meant.
I forced my family to get the shots too. My 11 year old daughter had worked herself up into such a fit, she was having stomach cramps. Sheesh! After it was all over, she admitted she didn’t even feel the needle going in.
Florida is in the middle of one of the worst heat waves ever. I just want to stay in side and hibernate! My husband went away on a retreat from Thursday night until tonight, and I’m ready for him to come home and take over. I’ve had the crud, and want some time off!
I loved Julie and Julia. I’m a huge fan of Julia Child, and I’m a blogger, so it worked for me. It is quick and really funny! I really have been wanting to read Olive. Maybe I should buy it on Kindle, then I KNOW I will read it at some point!
Your daughter sounds like my two. Last year my oldest (10 at the time) got so worked up she actually threw up. It was ridiculous. I found myself threatening her with crazy consequences if she didn’t start acting like a big kid, stop the drama and get her flu shot. Like your girl she finally did and then admitted that it wasn’t THAT big a deal.
You poor thing with the heat wave. We had a heat wave a couple weeks ago (several days in a row over 95) and I was so ready for cooler weather.
Happy Sunday to you, Lisa. I am planning on getting a free flu shot from work…every year I get one because I get exposed to everyone’s bugs with my work as a home health Physical Therapist. I had a flu type bug just last week, but it wasn’t THE flu *sighs*
Re: Olive Kitteridge – I really enjoyed her as well 🙂 Hope your book discussion is a good one.
Re: what to read next…the only one I’ve read out of your stack (other than The Wednesday Sisters) is Elegance of a Hedgehog…which ended up being a book I really appreciated, but it took me half-way through before I finally fell in love with it.
I have only had the flu one time, and it’s not an experience I want to repeat. My husband has never had it, and neither have my kids. My oldest (11) is underweight and I just can’t have her getting the flu and not eating for a week.
Our Olive discussion was really good! Everyone unanimously liked the book, but not everyone liked Olive (the character).. in fact, most did not.
I’m glad you told me that about Hedgehog.. the first couple pages did not interest me at all!
If you’re up for a challenge, then I would suggest The Elegance of a Hedgehog. I haven’t read it yet, but I keep hearing from other reading friends about what a challenge it is. A friend of mine said that she would give it to me, since she can’t get through it herself.
If you get it from your friend and decide to start it, let me know. We can read it together. For now, I decided on Homer and Langley!
I just picked up In a Perfect World yesterday while browsing at Borders. I hadn’t heard anything about it, but it looked intriguing, Glad to know you liked it!
Re: your TBR stack – I say Julie and Julia. Who by Fire is the only other one I’ve read, and a couple of the others you mentioned are also in my TBR stack (as is The Wednesday Sisters). I need to get around to Olive Kitteridge myself – hope your book club had a great meeting!
And I’m LOVING this autumnal weather. Even the fact that we haven’t had much sun today feels seasonally appropriate!
Have you read Life As We Knew It? In a Perfect World has many similarities.
You’ll have to let me know what you think of it.
I love this weather too!! I actually wore something other than flip flops on my feet today 🙂
I think you’re absolutely right to insist on flu shots for your family. I didn’t get one last winter, and I was seriously ill for the first time in years. They’re very important, and it’s wonderful that you have the opportunity to get them for free.
As far as books go, I really enjoyed JULIE & JULIA, but be forewarned that there’s a fair amount of profanity. I know a lot of readers who found that off-putting.
It’s weird about flu shots- some people think they actually get sick from the shots. I’ve only had the flu one time (and I never had a flu shot before that). Once was enough! Now I get the shot every year and make my family get it too.
Thanks for the heads up on Julie & Julia. I’m ok with a certain amount of profanity but if it’s over the top, I won’t like it.
Precious!
I’ve never gotten a flu shot, but that’s because I very rarely get the flu. In fact, my coworker and her family had the swine flu, and I made it through unscathed, so I’m feeling pretty cocky at this point. 😀
I used to be just like you- cocky about never getting sick. Until I got the flu. I was so sick for about 2 weeks (fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue). I lost 10 lbs and was so weak.. I didn’t feel right again for more than a month. I also passed it to my grandmother on Christmas Eve (when I knew I was starting to get sick but didn’t think I was that bad). She was about 80 then, and it nearly killed her. My mom called me Typhoid Mary for years. So I get the shot not only to protect myself but also to protect the people around me.
Keep those hands clean!
You do the best Sunday Salon posts. I don’t always have something to say, but they’re one of the posts I always click on as soon as I see it! 🙂
I am making my whole family get the flu shot as well. I think it’s a really smart thing to do, although my kids think otherwise! I am really glad that you liked Olive Kitteridge. I have heard so many good things about it, and recently bought myself a copy. I hope your discussion goes well and that you find something really interesting to read this week!
It feels like fall in Southern California and like early winter here in Chicago, bah. “In a Perfect World” sounds really interesting.
I vote for Julie & Julia, the only other book I’ve read is Who by Fire and it wasn’t a page turner.
I think flu shots/vaccines are a personal choice and for me I have more concerns about the toxins, preservatives (mercury/thimerosal) in them and their long term effect on our overall health than what they are helping to prevent. Ask for a “preservative free” flu vaccine and you can avoid being injected with mercury. They are readily available and worth getting especially for kids.
My family does not do flu shots. The only time we have ever gotten seriously ill, has been after getting flu shots. We are weird that way!
Pandemics are scary though and if the shot worked for us we would be the first in line.
I loved the weather this weekend! My toes are actually cold right now! Love it! 🙂
In a Perfect World looks good…going to keep it in mind.
I loved Julie & Julia and am so glad you’re reading The Wednesday Sisters – I adored it!
About the flu shots, like a lot of people, I have very mixed feelings… I’m still nursing a baby so I probably won’t get one right away -but if our area gets hit hard with Swine Flu, I’m sure I’ll be lining up for a vaccine. But I’m making my husband get one as soon as they’re available!
I NEED to read Olive Kitteridge. I need to read an in-depth character novel.
Free flu shots sound great–at the $40/shot x 5 of us, that’s a lot of money. On the other hand, not much more than all of the meds it would take to make us all comfortable if we got sick!