Monday, January 18, 2010

Mailbox Monday




Thanks to power-publicist Mary Bisbee-Beek, two books arrived at my house in time for Mailbox Monday.  Even though these are going straight onto my Guilt List, I am still excited about them.  Mary usually* sends me excellent books.

Eden Springs by Laura Kasischke (a historical mystery kind of thing involving the true story of a creepy religious colony on the shores of Lake Michigan in the early 1900s -- it's all I can do to not read it right this minute)



An American Map: Essays by Anne-Marie Oomen (essays inspired by travels -- so perfect for my mid-winter armchair traveler urges)



I also finally had a minute to run into Second Glance Books to briefly chat with Rachelle, my favorite Portland bookseller and use my Reading Local contest money.  I only had time to browse few the first shelves, but found three books before I even got to the "D" authors:

Nightwood by Djuna Barnes (on the Erica Jong list)

Talking it Over by Julian Barnes (I've never read his books, but Nick Hornby mentioned him favorably in The Polysyllabic Spree)



Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon (I loved the movie and think Chabon is a genius, so predict that this will percolate to the top of my TBR shelf fairly quickly)




*  I say "usually" because, although Mary has sent me several books that I have really, really enjoyed, such as Basil's Dream by Christine Hale (reviewed here) and Good for the Jews by Debra Spark (reviewed here), she is also responsible for The Letter from Death by Lillian Moats (reviewed here), my least favorite book of 2009.

11 comments :

  1. I love Laura Kasischke! Okay, so I've only read one book "In a Perfect World", but absolutely adored it. I'll look for your review!

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  2. Jonita -- Good to hear you like her. I confess that I have never come across her before. A new treat for me.

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  3. I would love to armchair travel via An American Map if it is as good as it sounds.

    Enjoy your books!

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  4. You get the most interesting looking books! An American Map catches my eye.

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  5. I don't think I would be able to resist Eden Springs either. It sounds fascinating. Have a great week, enjoy all your new books and happy reading!

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  6. I am putting Eden Springs on my wish list. It sounds interesting. Enjoy all your new books!

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  7. I love Wonder Boys - have always meant to read the book.

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  8. I loved this post. now, of course i want to read The Letter From Death-I just checked, my library does not have it. Harrumph. I enjoyed Julian Barnes essays, Nothing to be Frightened of" but haven't read Djuna at all. Chabon is usually pretty good. I don't know the other names but you've got a nice variety there. Happy reading. I'm off to look at those two reviews of the books you did like.

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  9. DC and Bermuda -- I flipped through American Map and it really looks good. It makes me want to get through the others on my guilt list so I can get to it.

    Kaye and Beth -- I won't wait to get through the rest of my list before I get to this. It's short, so I am going to sneak it in ASAP.

    Allie -- Wonder Boys has been calling to me ever since I learned a couple of months ago that Chabon wrote the book for the movie. I hadn't known.

    Sandra -- Your comment made me laugh. I figured some people would want to read the Death book just because it elicited such a dramatic response. It's a testament of my appreciation for Mary that I mention her books even when I don't like them!

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  10. I didn't know Chabon wrote the script for the movie, did you say? I didn't know that. I loved the movie, and I have a copy of Wonder Boys on my TBR pile but everything there keeps getting put off with all the library books coming into the house. Some day soon!

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  11. Good, good books. Clown Girl threw me for a loop with the chicken on the cover.

    I have my mailbox up.

    http://readwithtea.blogspot.com

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