Here at 5 Minutes for Books, we have a team of reviewers, so we are taking turns posting here for Mailbox Monday. I (Jennifer) was away last week, so I knew that would make for a dramatic return late Saturday night to piles of goodies. In addition to that, our trip was to Portland, Oregon home of one of my very favorite bookstores (linked to my thoughts on my personal blog Snapshot), so I knew we’d be buying some books there, and boy did we!
Knowing the reviewing commitments I already had and the stack of books that would come while I was gone, I opted to buy a T-shirt instead of books. My husband perused the sports and finance sections while I happily stayed with the kids in the children’s and YA room. We left Portland when my oldest was 2, so I had no appreciation for the children’s section. It’s fantastic!
- Amanda (about to turn 14) was able to get the Mortal Instruments City of Bones books 2, 3, and 4 in the series, which she’s been unable to get at our library, because she found some good prices on some used ones.
- Kyle (8) got 3 new/used Hank Zipzer books at $3.50 each (and has read 2 of them already on our trip!). He also got two Pokemon Manga Graphic Novels.
And this is what I had waiting for me, thanks to the neighbor boy who came by and collected all the things that UPS and FedEx dropped off while I was gone:
When I was asked if I wanted to read Gretchen Rubin’s new book Happier at Home, I didn’t have to think twice. I reviewed The Happiness Project over 2 years ago. I couldn’t believe it had been that long, because her humorous and down-to-earth outlook from that project has stuck with me. Can’t wait to get to this one.- Melissa D’Arabian’s Ten Dollar Dinners: 140 Recipes & Tips to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week — This is a beautiful book, and I can’t wait to try some recipes out.
- The Busy Mom’s Cookbook: 100 Recipes for Quick, Delicious, Home-Cooked Meals — I’m a Top Chef fan, and I remember contestant Antonia Lofaso from a few years ago. She’s a single working mom, and I always found her recipes accessible, and they looked delicious, so I can’t wait to look through this one. I used to have quite an addiction to cookbooks, and looking at this week, it appears to be back. Coincidentally I also have a review/giveaway over at 5 Minutes for Mom for The Mom 100 Cookbook today (live at midnight Eastern).
Geronimo Stilton Saves the Olympics is a graphic novel in the Geronimo Stilton series. The Geronimo Stilton books were among the first that my son would dive into as an independent reader, and he reads graphic novels over and over again, so I know this is going to be a bit hit.
The Making of Us by Lisa Jewell — I’ve been getting unsolicited novels from Simon & Schuster fairly frequently, but I’ve loved the ones that I’ve received lately, and I think this one will be no different. It’s a story of “three strangers brought together by the father they never knew.” I always love a good family drama! I usually feel like unsolicited mailouts are wasteful, often receiving books I’d never read, but I’ve found that receiving a book that I am excited to read but didn’t even know existed has a special thrill for me. What about you? I’d love for you to leave a comment telling me what you think of unsolicited review copies.
How about you? Have you visited a bookstore lately? Or received some ARCs that you can’t wait to read? Link up below, or feel free to share your bounty in the comments if you don’t have a blog.
We love connecting with other booklovers. If you feel the same, Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook, and check out our current giveaways to feed your mailbox over the next month or so!
I think I could use The Busy Mom’s Cookbook. I always seem to be rushing in and out of the house with all the summer activities. It’s so fun to come home from vacation to open up all the goodies you received. That happened to me too.
Yes, the older my kids get, the busier I get. I like cooking, but I lack motivation when I get so busy, so I’m hoping to get inspired!
The Making of Us does sound good! I tend to like what Simon & Schuster sends to me as well 🙂
Yeah, it’s been pretty good. I’ve enjoyed the last 2, and am pretty sure I’ll enjoy this one too!
I definitely want to read Rubin’s book. Loved The Happiness Project. The Making of Us sounds really good, too.
Enjoy!
Yes, I know I’ll dig into it very soon!
So nice that your children got bargains too. Happier at Home sounds interesting. I have an 8 year old grandson so I am going to check out some of those titles your son is reading.
Thanks for hosting.
My son LOVES those books. He even put away his Nintendo DS once when I was letting him play it to read!!
Nice pile of reading here!
I’m jealous – you have Mortal Instruments! Enjoy 😀
Glad you found some good book deals in Portland for your kids. Powell’s looks like an awesome store. I didn’t know Antonia from Top Chef had a cookbook. Very cool! Happy reading and cooking 🙂
Her cookbook just came out. It looks pretty, but I haven’t cracked the cover yet 🙂
I like getting unsolicited books (for the most part) because I end up reading some books I wouldn’t have found otherwise. I read those I can fit into my schedule, but I try not to stress about those that I don’t have time for. I figure by posting about the books in my mailbox post they are getting some exposure, and then if I decide I don’t want to read them I usually give them away on my blog, which is more publicity for the book.
Oh, and I love Powell’s! It’s a book-lover’s heaven. 🙂
Heaven!
I definitely don’t stress about unsolicited copies, which is why I feel that they are a waste sometimes, but I have definitely found some gems there!
I admire your restraint in the bookstore! It sounds like your kids found some great deals and you had nice surprises when you got home! I hope you had a wonderful trip!! 🙂
Ha — I’m not always so restrained, and restraint isn’t really the word for it — but it was just books for my kids instead of for me.
Mostly just ebooks for me this week but the one book book I got was also a surprise in the mail and always a nice surprise it is too
Surprises are always fun — even if it’s not something I like 🙂
The Making of Us looks really good. Happy reading!
It does. Unfortunately, I have several books I should really get to before that one, but we’ll see if it inches its way up the pile 🙂
I like getting unsolicited review copies (in paper form), but it rarely happens. I guess I’m not on “the list.” 🙂
Thank you for hosting MM, and enjoy your books!
I had been on some children’s lists, but I like this “list” better. And I guess if I keep reviewing what they send me, I’ll continue to be delighted by my little surprises.
I love getting those packages!! I even got excited seeing your’s lol. Have a great week.
Yes–that’s the fun thing about seeing Mailbox Monday posts — getting excited over other people’s packages!
I have to go to Portland, Oregon. Looks like you got a great haul this week.
Have a great week.
My MM
It’s a GREAT city–especially for booklovers.
I enjoy getting unsolicited review copies. Sometimes they are books I’d never read on my own so they can stretch my horizons. On the other hand, when they come and I already have a full plate, they can induce some guilt since I know I’m not getting to them in any sort of timely manner. On the whole though, since I do post about them on Monday Mailbox, I feel like I am giving them a small bit of publicity even if I don’t get them read right away.
The Lisa Jewell book looks great and I do enjoy her books a lot (used to get them sent over from the UK before they started being published here). Sounds like that’s a list I’d like to be on. LOL!
Good endorsement. Makes me even more excited.
Glad you had fun in the Rose City and at the City of Books! I’m lucky to work within walking distance of Powell’s, so I go there often. But it is always fun.
Oh yes, Portland is SO fun. Living within walking distance would be VERY dangerous for me.
I love new cookbooks, so the Busy Mom’s 7 10 Dollar Dinners caught my eye. Bon Appetit!
Yes, I like them too, and I’d love to get inspired to mix up my dinner routine!
I am new to the reviewing books arena so I really don’t know how I would feel about unsolicited books. I guess if they were new cookbooks I would not mind. I just got my first book to review so I am a little nervous.
That’s great. Don’t worry too much about it. Just write it up like you’d review any book, telling a friend!
Were a 5 hour drive from Portland not including the boader crossing wait to enter the U.S. from Canada. We usually go there about 3 times a year, we enjoy it there. Powell’s is my favorite book store! I bring books to sell there and of course,to get more books.
It’s worth it, right?
Sounds like you hit the jackpot in books! Some great titles. My younger son loves the Geronimo Stilton books.
I enjoy receiving unsolicited books. If it is a book that doesn’t interest me, I find a good home for it. Those cookbooks look great!
Some of the ones I get are so random, I don’t even know what to do with them!!
I like Powell’s. Pretty neat you could go there in person.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
http://silversolara.blogspot.com