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Waltzing in the Music City | Weekly Snapshot

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If you're in the US, do you have Monday off from work or school, to observe President's Day? All of us at our home do, which is lucky because this isn't a day that every company or institution observes with a day off. Even though it's not been too long since the Christmas and New Year holiday season, I'd been pining for a vacation for a while - something either low-key or relaxing that even the kids will enjoy.


Currently This post is coming to you from the Music City - Nashville - where we are spending the long weekend. We are technically here only for two days and will leave early on Monday so that we are home in time to pick our dog from boarding. Although I don't personally care much for the music scene other than to listen to what's popular on the radio, I had been hoping to stop by Nashville someday and check it out.

We are staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, which is a sight in itself, with its acres and acres of gardens and walkways. It's def…
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Some bookish chatter - VABOOK, a movie trailer and the Orange Prize long list

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Vabook festival
So who's going to or already attending the Virginia Festival of the Book? The VABOOK started yesterday at Charlottesville, which is just an hour from my place. I can't however head there during weekdays, so Saturday is probably the first day that I can make it. Unfortunately I'm not decided yet. Since I'm also missing BEA, I want to not miss this one at least, considering the proximity to my place. But there's a lot going on this weekend at home, so I'll probably decide only at the eleventh hour.

Did you hear about the movie adaptation of Lisa See's book Snow Flower and the Secret Fan? I read this book last year and loved it so much, so I'm really excited about it. Here's the trailer if you're interested in it. It looks good, doesn't it? I'm confused by the modernity that I see in it. Maybe that's reflective of the present, in which the protagonist, Lily is narrating the story, but this story is set in the 19th century and even when Lily is 80 years old, it can't have been the late 20th century, right? Unless China advanced pretty early.



Did you see the Orange Prize long list? There are few titles there that I'm really excited about.
  1. Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela
  2. Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch
  3. Room by Emma Donoghue
  4. The Pleasure Seekers by Tishani Doshi
  5. Whatever You Love by Louise Doughty
  6. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
  7. The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
  8. The London Train by Tessa Hadley
  9. Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson
  10. The Seas by Samantha Hunt
  11. The Birth of Love by Joanna Kavenna
  12. Great House by Nicole Krauss
  13. The Road to Wanting by Wendy Law-Yone
  14. The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht
  15. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
  16. Repeat it Today with Tears by Anne Peile
  17. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
  18. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
  19. The Swimmer by Roma Tearne
  20. Annabel by Kathleen Winter
I've only read Room by Emma Donoghue, and it's not really the best piece of fiction that I've read lately. I'm however most excited about The London Train, Annabel, The Tiger's Wife, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives and The Invisible Bridge. I plan to read these titles before the shortlist is announced. I know I can't do the whole list in time so I'm not even going to entertain any such thoughts. So which books are you excited about?

I know some of you read books on the long and short lists in anticipation of the awards, so I'd like to hear if you are considering it? I can probably live vicariously through you.

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Comments

Carol Toomey said…
I'm in the process od sorting out the Orange Prize books and what my library has. I really enjoyed The Memory of Love and Lyrics Alley and The Tiger's Wife are two I'm looking forward to reading.
March 17, 2011 at 5:36 AM
Juju at Tales of Whimsy... said…
FUN! I love these sort of events.
March 17, 2011 at 7:19 AM
Misha said…
I am so excited about the movie adaptation of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan!
I have read a few from the Orange Prize longlist and added the rest to my TBR.
March 17, 2011 at 7:33 AM
Playing Librarian said…
oh.. I really love The Invisible Bridge.
March 17, 2011 at 8:05 AM
hcmurdoch said…
Oh, the Virginia Book Festival sounds like fun. The Los Angeles one is next month and I hope to get down there for it. I didn't know they made Lisa See's book into a movie, I am all over that!
March 17, 2011 at 8:34 AM
bermudaonion (Kathy) said…
My in-laws live close to Charlottesville and their out of town. If I'd been thinking, I would have come up to the festival and stayed at their house!
March 17, 2011 at 8:47 AM
Nina Happyendings said…
Nice trailer! I haven't read the book, but I'm going to look it up.
I think I only have heard of Room by Emma Donoghue. I keep seeing it at the bookstore.
March 17, 2011 at 2:15 PM
Medeia Sharif said…
That list = more books for me to read.

I haven't read Lisa See yet. I hope to read the book and/or watch the movie.
March 17, 2011 at 6:29 PM
PBurt said…
I thought the Invisible Bridge was okay - nothing special for me. And I could hardly finish The Birth of Love. I liked Room and loved Great House. Can't wait to read Tiger's Wife.
March 17, 2011 at 8:29 PM
Vasilly said…
The Tiger's Wife, Swamplandia, and Annabel are on my tbr list along with The Memory of Love. I can't wait to get started on reading!
March 17, 2011 at 9:41 PM
ashbrux said…
I have Swamplandia! but haven't read it yet. I've heard great things about Annabel however, and plan to read it soon.
March 17, 2011 at 9:42 PM
Marg Bates said…
I am not sure about the adaptation of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan precisely because of the introduction of the modern storyline. Guess I will just have to reserve judgement for now!
March 17, 2011 at 11:25 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed The Memory of Love! I'm going to add that to my list too!
March 18, 2011 at 7:19 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I'm so glad to hear that! One of my book clubs is reading that next month, so I'm really excited about it!
March 18, 2011 at 7:20 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I can't wait to check out the movie either - I loved the book and watching it on a screen is going to be awesome!
March 18, 2011 at 7:21 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I didn't know about the Lisa See movie either. I chanced upon it on a website. The trailer's well-done, right!
March 18, 2011 at 7:21 PM
Athira / Aths said…
Awww.. I would still love it if you could make it. We could really meet up again! I'm excited about some of the books and authors at the festival!
March 18, 2011 at 7:23 PM
Athira / Aths said…
Some of the titles are new to me. But overall, I'm really happy with this list - can't wait to read some of them.
March 18, 2011 at 7:24 PM
Athira / Aths said…
"That list = more books for me to read." -> That's so right! My list just bloated after seeing that long list.
March 18, 2011 at 7:25 PM
Athira / Aths said…
One of my book clubs is reading The Invisible Bridge next month. That's the first time I heard of it too, so I don't know what to make of it. I think I will still give it a try. I want to read Great House and Tiger's Wife too!
March 18, 2011 at 7:26 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I'm on the fence about Swamplandia. I think it has to do with the croc on the cover, lol. I know, I shouldn't judge by appearance. I've had that book recommended to me many times - I should actually consider reading it.
March 18, 2011 at 7:27 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I've hearing good things about Swamplandia and Annabel. I'm not yet sure about the former, but the latter, I really want to read.
March 18, 2011 at 7:28 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I know - I'm upset about that modernity thing too. The book didn't have any reason for that, so I wonder how the movie-makers justify that.
March 18, 2011 at 7:29 PM
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