Maeve and I are wishing we were in Paris, my favorite city in the world. Paris is also the venue for a spectacular Blythe event and show – Play and Party Paris. I’ve been looking at everyone’s photos and videos from the event – which will go on until 5 pm, Paris time. The venue itself is stunningly beautiful and there are so many vendors there! There are lots and lots of Blythe creatives in Europe, so a fairly central location like Paris gives them the opportunity to have a booth, whereas they might not be able to travel to the United States.
Wish I was there and had scads of cash on hand! Anyway, I will live vicariously through my fellow Blythe lovers and try not to sob.
Speaking of beautiful, we have another gorgeous day here in the Hudson Valley. It’s sunny and I’m starting to see that golden light that comes in the Fall, even though we have a week until it’s officially Fall. We’re both fairly groggy this morning and are having a hard time waking up.
This morning, I made a list of the books I’ve read this year – so far. Just seemed like the thing to do. My friend Pat, from back home in Dearborn, was a voracious reader. He kept a small notebook and recorded every book he wrote along with some notes about each book. I often wonder what the final count was. Pat died last year; his devotion to literature was inspiring and I loved chatting about books with him.
Anyway, the number so far is about 34 or 35. In my days as a book reviewer, I had to read a lot of books and read them quickly, which eventually led to burnout. Going forward, I vowed to read at a more leisurely pace. And I do exactly that these days. Just started Kate Atkinson’s newest Jackson Brody mystery (it’s been a while since she wrote one) Death at the Sign of the Rook. It was just published and, as luck would have it, there was a very short queue at the library.
We might mow today. We’ll surely take a walk at the library.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
I also keep a list of the books I’ve read, year by year. It helps me remember which ones I’ve already read when it comes to picking a new one. Since cancer and covid we don’t leave the house much and as a result, my list usually hovers around a hundred books every year. Currently a
on my 88th.
So glad you mentioned a new Kate Atkinson! I’ll start trying to find it. Yesterday I read that Ruth Reichl had her newest one, The Paris Novel, on a kindle sale at $1.99! She’s one of my faves, so I sucked it up asap! I guess that will have to count as a trip to Paris for me.
Hurrah for reading, Shanna!
Stay safe.
Oh, to be in Paris! Maeve looks like a reader, too. Enjoy your walk to the library, one of my favourite places. After I retired I worked in our local library for 11 years. I shelved books, unpacked new books, presided over Tea and Books where a librarian from another branch would come and talk about their favourite books. We had lovely book sales that everyone flocked to. Don’t do too much mowing. Relax on your porch and read. Hugs, Elaine
Probably will mow tomorrow, since we walked today.
Stay safe, Elaine.
I can imagine the Blythe event in Paris is pretty spectacular. Sounds like a lot of fabulous creativity. We had a very warm day yesterday, but cooler today. I often feel I should keep track of the books I read, sometimes so I could see if I’ve read a certain book already…but I just don’t get that organized. I got my flu shot yesterday and I’m a bit sore… will go back soon to get the updated COVID. I’m planning on visiting the farmer’s market tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend.
I write the book I’m currently reading in my planner. My planner and the blog are the way I keep track of my life.
Stay safe, Barrie.
i wish you and don were in paris right now with scads of cash, too!
in the meantime, good you see the beauty around you, and enjoy the mowing and reading ahead, too.
you’ve read a lot this year! been keeping track of the books i’ve read since i got back to books. my sister made me a bound book of blank pages; in it are lists of books i want to read and those i’ve read (title, author, page total and dates i read them). as someone who for years couldn’t focus or sit long enough to read (due to depression, grief, those four fractured vertabraes), i am pleased that so far in 2024 i’ve read 22 books, including “war and peace”, totaling 8,043 pages! :)
hoping for a quiet, easy weekend (and every day always … feeling challenged, struggling a lot lately and i don’t like that at all). hope you all have the same … easy good days. xo
stay safe.
kathy
Yay for you, Kathy! That is such good news!
Wishing you peace.
Stay safe.
thanks, claudia, especially for the wish. xo
happy, safe weekend to you and don.
xo
I would love to see your list. Just a photo will do. I am trying to read again. For some reason I stopped.
I’ll take a photo at the end of the year, Kay.
Stay safe.
Thought of you when I saw the title of a book that shall be released April 1, 2025. The book is called “The Library of Lost Dollhouses” by Elise Hooper. I realize probably not what you would normally read. Here is the information about the book.
Thanks, Trina. I’ll check it out.
Stay safe.
To be in Paris sounds wonderful. Autumn is my favourite time there.
I’ve always recorded the books I read in the back of my diary but then years later, I can’t always remember what it was about.
From 2019, I have written a synopsis of each book and given a rating out of five stars.
I’ve only read about 26 this year so far!
Happy Saturday
We’ve gone to Paris twice and it was in October. Beautiful in the fall.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
I keep a notebook too, and have for years. Not notes, just title, author, page count and a dot if I thought it especially good. It’s fun looking back. I think you and I are on about the same reading schedule. For whatever reason, I haven’t read much at all this year and September will be an all-time low. One book (not finished yet but there’s time.) I might eke in two but I’m not optimistic! And October with traveling? Not planning on much there, either. But I love the recording.
Wish you COULD be in Paris. It’s such a grand place — and add to that Blythes!
Big hugs, j
Thanks, Jeanie. I’m really enjoying the leisurely read.
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — glad for your good reading times — I just began All Creatures Great and Small from James Herriot, began at the beginning of his long vet career until the end — pretty incredible to hear/see vast improvements thru out his working life — but as with people diseases animal problems still exist confounding drs today. loved the little red haired girl pix. a little funny — we live near a very small town named Paris, so every time you mention Paris, I think of our little burg — I think if we looked at maps, we could see there are towns in every state named Paris — pretty sure they are namesakes of the original. stay safe/healthy
I know there is a Paris, TX, and I suspect there are a lot more. I have All Creatures in my TBR pile, but haven’t cracked it open yet.
Stay safe.
I’m with you and Maeve and the scads of cash! Oh to be able to read that much. I used to have more than one book going at a time. You get old, you get cataracts and then knitting and stitching isn’t fun anymore either, Just waiting for my eye doctor to give the OK for the surgery.
No Covid yet on my part but it’s still early days. Dean is coughing his head off and I feel so bad for him.
Take care,
Kay
Poor Dean! I hope he feels better soon and that you somehow escape it.
Stay safe, Kay.