= Excellent
= Good/Very Good
= Okay read
= Not recommended
= Ugh! Don't waste your time.
Mailbox Monday
« Previous Entries Monday, November 10th, 2008Mailbox Monday - November 10, 2008
Another Monday and another week of books. I found two books in my mailbox last week:
Matrimony, by Joshua Henkin. I won this signed edition during the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon and was very excited to have it arrive in my mailbox this week. Thanks, Josh!
Right Livelihoods, by Rick Moody. This arrived Thursday from Little, Brown and Co. - I believe I requested it though Shelf Awareness…I think I asked for it as a step outside of my normal reading. It is a collection of three novellas. I have not read anything by this author - he is supposed to be one of the up and coming writers who are on the cutting edge of what makes the world tick; so I’m going to give this one a try. Anyone out there read anything by Moody?
What showed up at your house last week? Visit Marcia at the Printed Page to read today’s Mailbox Monday post and to leave her a link to yours!
Monday, November 3rd, 2008Mailbox Monday - November 3, 2008
What arrived in YOUR mailbox this week? Here’s what showed up in mine:
The Middle-Aged Man and The Sea, by Chrisopher Meeks. After I read and reviewed (and gushed!) over Meeks’ second collection of short stories, he sent me his first collection (also autographed…thanks, Chris!) which I am very excited to read. I anticipate loving it as I did Months and Seasons.
Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi, by Nanci Kincaid. Thanks to Miriam at Little Brown and Company, this Advance Readers Edition found its way to my doorstep. The jacket reads: ‘In the best Southern fiction tradition, Nanci Kincaid brings us an inspiring story about finding the way home.‘ I enjoy Southern fiction…this one is due for release in the early part of January so I hope to read it before then.
Miles From Nowhere, by Nami Mun. This book is due for release by Riverhead Books in January. It is the story of a teenager - a Korean immigrant living in the Bronx in 1980 - who runs away from a dysfunctional home and lives on the streets. It is Mun’s first novel - but her short stories have been published in Pushhcart Prize XXXI, The Iowa Review, Tin House, Evergreen Review, and other journals. I am looking forward to reading this new-to-me author.
Anil’s Ghost, by Mchael Ondaatje. This hard cover book arrived from Tammy at Ramblings by Tammy. I was lucky enough to win this book during the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon and am looking forward to reading it. Thank you, Tammy!!
To see what arrived at other readers’ homes this week, visit Marcia at The Printed Page and read her Mailbox Monday for today!
Monday, October 27th, 2008Mailbox Monday - October 27, 2008
Another Monday and more books! Here is what arrived at my house this week:
Alpine Americas: An Odyssey Along the Crest of Two Continents with essays by Don Mellor and photography by Olaf Soot. This stunning, hard cover edition arrived through my connection with Lisa Roe, Online Publicist. It is a gorgeous book with amazing photographs. I can’t wait to sit down, read through it and immerse myself in its beauty. Thank you, Lisa!
Now the Drum of War, by Robert Roper arrived from Bloomsbury. It looks like a fascinating historical read…and my husband has already browsed the jacket and announced he wants to read it too!
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County, by Tiffany Baker has been getting great early reviews. It is due for release in January. This Advance Readers Edition arrived from Miriam at Hatchette Book group. Thank you, Miriam!
Finally, I went to the San Jose Book Club Expo this weekend (stay tuned for another post about that later this morning), and ended up with more free books! The Expo gave each participant a bag with two books…and since I dragged my husband along, this meant I got two of each of those books…they are:
The Year of Fog, by Michelle Richmond. I already owned a copy of this book, so here is the deal. I plan to read Richmond’s book before the year is out and then give away TWO, signed copies of the novel. Keep an eye on my blog for more details!
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford. These are Advance Readers Edition (the book is due for release in January). I’ll be reading this one in January and then giving away my second copy here on my blog.
I also spent some time talking to Hachette representative Mindy Im and she generously gave me a copy of:
Beat the Reaper, by Josh Bazell. This novel is due for release in January, so I’ll be reading it before then!
So what did YOU get this week? Visit Marcia at The Printed Page and read today’s Mailbox Monday post…then check the comments for links to other readers!
Monday, October 20th, 2008Mailbox Monday - October 20, 2008
I love Mailbox Monday posts! What arrived in YOUR mailbox this week? Here’s what showed up in mine:
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, by Vicki Myron. I won this book from Amy during Book Blogger Appreciation Week. It arrived directly from the Hatchette group and looks wonderful!
The Weight of a Mustard Seed: An Iraqi General’s Moral Journey During the Time of Saddam, by Wendell Steavenson. This uncorrected proof came from the Collins Reads initiative - an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. It is due for release in the United States in March 2009. Steavenson has lived and worked as a journalist in post-Soviet Georgia, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon. At this uncertain time with US soldiers currently engaged in a war in Iraq, I feel compelled to read this insider’s look at what is happening behind the headlines.
Visit Marcia at her Mailbox Monday post today to see what other’s got!
Monday, October 13th, 2008Mailbox Monday - October 13, 2008
It’s Monday and time to share what I got in my mailbox this week.
A Thousand Veils, by D.J. Murphy. This book arrived direct to me from the author who contacted me via Library Thing. A well-respected book blogging friend, Amy at The Sleepy Reader, reviewed this book recently and really liked it…so when Mr. Murphy asked me if I’d like a copy, I agreed right away. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Jenford, by Hendrik E. Sadi. Another book sent to me directly from the author, Jenford is set in 1970s New England and then “looks back” to the end of the Civil War. This one just appealed to me…perhaps because I was born and raised in New England and have an interest in the Civil War.
The Believers, by Zoe Heller. I am a member at the Barnes and Noble First Look Bookclub, and this one came through them. I’ve not read anything by this author, but she has gotten some great reviews on her previous titles: What Was She Thinking? AND Everything You Know. I’m looking forward to reading and discussing this one later this month.
The Islands of Divine Music, by John Addiego. Thanks to Caitlin at Unbridled Books, this gorgeous hard cover edition arrived in my mailbox on Friday. This book is a multi-generational family saga which Wally Lamb says: ‘achieves a deft and graceful balancing act” and “manages to be both succinct and expansive, both grounded and otherwordly.” Sounds great, doesn’t it?
What arrived in YOUR mailbox this week? Visit Marcia at The Printed Page to read about her arrivals and to find links to other readers’ Mailbox Monday posts.
Monday, October 6th, 2008Mailbox Monday - October 6, 2008
What showed up in your mailbox this week? Here are the gems that arrived at my home:
The Monsters of Templeton, by Lauren Goff which arrived from Pamela on behalf of Hyperion books.
Nefertiti AND The Heretic Queen, by Michelle Moran
Ms. Moran sent me her books and I was thrilled when they arrived and I found them both autographed! I will be hosting a giveaway of Moran’s work on my blog in December - so watch for details!
Did you get any books in the mail this week? Drop by The Printed Page and leave a comment on today’s Mailbox Monday post!
Monday, September 22nd, 2008Mailbox Monday - September 22, 2008
It’s Monday and time to share what arrived in your mailbox this week!
Bedlam South, by Mark Grisham and David Donaldson. Due for release October 1st through Borders Press, the book is an historical novel set during the Civil War. I received an email from Penny at Author Marketing Exports, Inc and after learning that a significant portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to help Impact Missions (a non profit that aids needy and neglected children and families), I agreed to read and review this one. To learn more about this book, visit the website.
What goodies did you get? Visit Marcia at The Printed Page to read her Mailbox Monday post for today and see what other readers found in THEIR mailboxes!
Monday, September 15th, 2008Mailbox Monday - September 15, 2008
I hope this week found lots of books arriving in your mailbox. Here’s what came to my home:
Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur, by Halima Bashir (with Damien Lewis). This arrived through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer Program and was released by Ballantine Books on September 9, 2008. This memoir is about how the war in Darfur impacted Bashir - a doctor in the Sudan. It is about ‘courage, hope, family and survival.‘
Resistance: A Woman’s Journal of Struggle and Defiance in Occupied France, by Agnes Humbert (released September 2, 2008 by Bloomsbury). I was expecting an Advance Reader’s Edition of this book, but instead got a beautiful finished hard cover. Thank you Bloomsbury!
Finally, I went on a bit of book buying spree because I had accrued $95 worth of Amazon credit. Here’s what arrived in my mailbox on Wednesday:
- Ice Road, by Gillian Slovo (a 2004 Orange Prize Nominee)
- A Spell of Winter, by Helen Dunmore (1996 Orange Prize Winner)
- Fugitive Pieces, by Anne Michaels (1997 Orange Prize Winner)
- After Dark, by Haruki Murakmi
- The Lover, by A.B. Yehoshua
- The Secret Scripture, by Sebastian Barry (short listed for the 2008 Booker Prize)
- Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset (Undset won the 1928 Nobel Prize for Literature)
Visit Marcia at The Printed Page today to see her new arrivals, and read the comments to find links to other reader’s Mailbox Monday posts.
Sunday, September 7th, 2008Mailbox Monday - September 8, 2008
My mailbox this week has been bulging with new books. Below are the treasures which arrived.
From Lindsey at Algonquin Books:
Tomato Girl, by Jayne Pupek (Advance Readers Edition). This novel is receiving excellent early reviews. It is Pupek’s first novel (she has a published book of poems already) and is described by the publisher as “a powerful and deeply emotional debut novel in the classic Southern tradition of Carson McCullers and Kaye Gibbons.‘
My Father’s Paradise, by Ariel Sabar (Advance Readers Edition). Sabar is an award winning journalist. This book is about him and his father. The blurb on the back of the book reads: ‘Populated by Kurdish chieftains, trailblazing linguists, Arab nomads, devout believers - marvelous characters all - this intimate yet powerful book uncovers the vanished history of a place that is now at the very center of the world’s attention.‘ You may remember from previous posts that I love reading work by journalists - they all seem to be able to concisely capture the flavor of foreign lands and situations. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
From Caitlin at Unbridled Books:
In Hovering Flight, by Joyce Hinnefeld (hardcover, expected publication is September 16th). This debut novel is being dubbed the “Indi Pick for September” and is garnering great early reviews. The blurb on the back of the book reads: ‘The natural world, an artist’s vision, the intensity of long-lasting love, and the flight of a fragile bird all work to shape the plot of this extraordinary novel.‘ Does that pique your curiousity like it did mine?
From a very dear friend and fellow book lover (thank you again, Paola!):
Everything She Thought She Wanted, by Elizabeth Buchan (published 2005 by Viking Penguin). I read Buchan’s Revenge of the Midde-Aged Woman and loved it. Buchan is sardonic and funny and I look forward to reading another novel by her.
From author Christopher Meeks (who read my Friday Finds on August 29th and offered to send me a copy of his book):
Months and Seasons, by Christopher Meeks (Published June 2008 by White Whisker Books). I read a wonderful review of this book on Adventures in Reading and knew I had to read it. This collection of short stories has been getting five star reviews everywhere, by the way. Imagine my surprise and delight when the book arrived and I discovered it was also autographed. Thank you, Chris!
Visit Marcia’s Mailbox Monday post today to see what other people got in their mailboxes and to leave a comment.
Monday, September 1st, 2008Mailbox Monday - September 1, 2008
It has been like Christmas this week at my house. I’ve gotten some great books…
Guernica, by Dave Boling - This was completely unexpected as Bloomsbury had earlier sent me an Advance Readers Edition of this book…but this was a finished hard cover! I need to read Guernica very soon so that I can post a giveaway of my ARE here on my blog. Watch for my review and give-away sometime in the next month.
The UPS truck delivered a heavy package to my door on Friday from Miriam at Little, Brown and Company. Inside were these wonderful books:
Say You’re One of Them, by Uwem Akpan (a collection of short stories set in Africa)
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination, by Elizabeth McCracken (a memoir)
The Road Home, by Rose Tremain (the Orange Prize Winner for 2008)
and finally…
The Heretic’s Daughter, by Kathleen Kent which was sent to me to give away on my blog (this is a finished hard cover edition). I will be reading my ARE of this book very, very soon and posting information about how you can win the hard cover edition of this newly released novel here on my blog. Stay tuned!
What arrived in your mailbox this week? Visit this week’s Mailbox Monday post at The Printed Page.
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