Each week, The Printed Page invites booklovers to share what books arrived in their mailbox or on their front porch, be they review copies, gifts or purchased.
DAWN
I’ve been going through my review pile at a faster rate in the last few weeks, so I was happy to have three new books make their way to my doorstep this week. Two offered books that I was only too happy to accept came in:
- Jane Berentson’s Long Division,
- and Lisa Unger’s Fragile.
Contemporary fiction is my top reading pick, so these two are much welcomed additions to the mix.
- One other book arrived this week, one of those wonderfully surprising unsolicited mailings. The accompanying letter featured a note from the author, whose humor was apparent before I even finished the second paragraph. That letter, Matt Myklusch, convinced me that I undoubtedly have to read your new book, Jack Blank and The Imagine Nation. Seeing as it’s the first in a middle-grade fantasy/adventure series, my nine year old son is asking if he can get to it first!
JENNIFER
- Even though Dawn already reviewed it, I couldn’t resist accepting a copy of Audrey Niffenegger’s Her Fearful Symmetry offered in coordination with its release in paperback.Regal Literary is holding a great Her Fearful Symmetry contest for anyone, including a trip to London, as well as some fun additional prizes for bloggers who send their reviews in. Find out more HERE. There’s also a fantastic summer giveaway of that title as well as many others going on right now, where they are giving away hundreds of books.
- Blind Hope: An Unwanted Dog and the Woman She Rescued showed up in my mailbox. It’s a short book, and I’m sort of a sucker for dog stories, so I’ll probably take a look it.
- I bought some books from Sleeping Bear Press, B Is for Big Ben: An England Alphabet and L Is for Lone Star: A Texas Alphabet. This series of books have become my go-to baby gift in recent months. I sent them to my nephew as a first-birthday gift last month, and I ordered these books that arrived this week to give to my cousin’s kids who were visiting me: Texas for their homeland, and London for where they currently live and were each born.
- I had received a copy of Promise Me: How a Sister’s Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer at BEA in May, but it just popped on NetGalley, so I requested the e-version this week, since I’ve really enjoyed using my Kindle this month.
- Perhaps the most exciting arrival, at least if you asked my daughter, was a set of the first 9 39 Clues books. Amanda has read the first 6 or 7, but from the library, and I do think it’s a series that will appeal to Kyle. Just looking over the list of authors is an encyclopedia of the best of the best authors in children’s literature today. There’s Rick Riordan, Linda Sue Park, Gordan Korman and more. In anticipation of the August 31 release of The 39 Clues, Book 10: Into the Gauntlet, I was sent the first 9. The author of that book, one of my daughter’s favorite’s — Margaret Peterson Haddix — will be joining us at 5 Minutes for Mom on the final stop of a blog tour August 31, that starts on July 23. Each stop will offer some unique content and a chance to win a signed copy.
I currently have 5 audiobooks in my cart from the Audible members-only paperback sale. I always stock up on titles during these sales to last me, because at $5.95 to $8.95, it’s a steal! So please let me know if you have any positive or negative thoughts about any of these books:
- Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (I’m fairly sure I’m going to get this. I bought the book when it came out, but just couldn’t get into it, as much as I dearly loved the Mitford books)
- The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery
- The Geography of Bliss a memoir by Eric Weiner, which I know Dawn enjoyed,
- Olive Kittredge, by Elizabeth Stout
- Maybe John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines, which I’ve wanted to read, and I do love YA on audiobook, since the voice is always so wonderful. I hesitated because I buy for bang for the buck, and it’s under 7 hours, but I think I’ve convinced myself.As I said, I’d love to hear about what anyone has to say before I pull the trigger. But I’m thinking that many all of them but Home to Holly Springs might get purchased (I do own the book), but let’s hear some book chat
We here at 5 Minutes for Books love to hear your thoughts on what we are reading, and what book reviews to come might be of interest to you, so please let us know in the comments.
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Mary (Bookfan) says
I’ve enjoyed the Jan Karon books.
You’ve also now made me want to listen to a YA book 🙂 Have a great week!
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
YA really is great on audio (at least the ones I’ve listened to lately).
I loved Mitford, but I don’t know why I didn’t get into Home to Holly Springs. Part of it was the dialect (which would be better on an audiobook), and part of it was maybe that I liked Father Tim as he was, so I was having trouble with the transition. Who knows?
diane says
I have not read any of these but I do hope you enjoy them Jen.
Dawn says
Yeah for Audrey Niffenegger!! You’ll have to let me know what you think of Her Fearful Symmetry… it’s definitely a unique piece of literature.
And yes, I have a certain somebody in my family who is anxiously awaiting the final 39 Clues book… August will be quite the book release month! 🙂
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
Yeah, we missed the last few 39 Clues. I think Amanda stopped at about 7, so she’s happy to read them, and I’m happy to have them in our library for Kyle one day.
And yes, I’ve already pre-released Mockingjay. Can’t wait for that.
Staci-Life In the Thumb says
You both received such great books!! I loved Her Fearful Symmetry..enjoy!
Dawn says
Her Fearful Symmetry is up near the top of my list of memorable books, definitely!
Bluestocking says
I really need to read Her Fearful Symmetry.
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
Bluestocking–I ended up receiving 2 copies of Her Fearful Symmetry, and will probably offer one as a giveaway here, so stay tuned!
Dawn says
Yay for giveaways!
Nancy says
I loved Her Fearful Symmetry too, great book.
pussreboots says
Happy reading. Four books for me this week. They came this weekend. Pussreboots.
kaye says
I’ve read some differing opinions on Olive Kittredge. I’ll be interested in seeing yours.
My mailbox is here
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
Yeah, I had too, but then 2 friends just recently highly recommended it. And I think that the last time it was on sale, I might not have liked the narrator. I need to listen again.
This is not helpful! LOL
Nancy says
I just read Olive Kittredge last month. I liked it ok. I didn’t realize until reading it that it’s a string of loosely-related short stories, some featuring Olive more than others. They’re not exactly uplifting stories though. I wouldn’t say I would highly recommend it but I wouldn’t turn you away from it either.
How’s that for non-committal? LOL
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
I did know it was sort of short story-ish. I ended up deciding not to get the audiobook. My friend has the book, so if I really want to read it, I can borrow it.
gautami tripathy says
Fragile interests me!
Here is mine!
Dawn says
Yes, I’m looking forward to Fragile, too… it seems to be one of the “it” books of the moment.
bermudaonion says
I see a lot of great titles in there, but Blind Hope is the one that stands out for me.
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
I really appreciate this comment, because I didn’t ask for the book, so it might go to the bottom of the stack, but I’m mildly interested, and it’s short, so now I’m sort of motivated to read it!
Lisa says
love it! Fragile intrigues me
here’s mine.
Bookventures says
Great loot this week. I am seeing Lisa Unger’s Fragile all over the place. I hope you enjoy it. Happy reading!!!
Aisle B says
Now this is what I call the eternal Loot for LUNDI!
WOW! Posted my meager Mail Box Monday up so do come on by if you get a chance at Aisle B.
PS Bring tights. Yoga session at Aisle B so bring the tights… OUR trainer today is … Matthew Goode (LEAP YEAR Hero)… so come on over to Aisle B. 🙂
Alayne says
So many great books! So much fun. 🙂 My mailbox is at The Crowded Leaf.
Beth(bookaholicmom) says
Fragile is everywhere but here sadly. I’m looking forward to seeing what you think of it. Have a great week!
BookGirl says
Looks like great books…
I liked Her Fearful Symmetry alot and I loved the Jan Karon books, although I did not get to Home to Holly Springs…am I right in thinking that that is the last one of the Mitford Series?
This is my first Mailbox Monday, so please stop by 🙂
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
BookGirl–Home to Holly Springs is the first book in a new series, called The Father Tim series or something. He goes back to his childhood hometown.
It took me forever to read the last Mitford book, because I didn’t want it to be over! I think it was called Light From Heaven, or In this Mountain?
Dawn says
Oh, and somehow I missed this on my first read through, Jennifer, but I just finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog last night and was completely blown away. I’m not sure I would have gotten everything that I did from it as an audiobook, though, because there were parts that I re-read to completely understand, but overall it was an absolutely incredible novel!
kim v says
I really enjoyed Her Fearful Symmetry even though I didn’t like the characters. The author really has a way with telling the story. I wuld love to visit London again (went years ago) as I would love to see Highgate Cemetery!
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
Kim–you should definitely look into the contest (above), because I think that’s on the agenda.
I’m hoping to get to the book soon.
Katrina says
My tween was just reminding me that he “needs” the 9th 39 Clues book…so he can read it before the 10th comes out. I also saw there’s a “secrets of…” book coming out in October, that’s supposed to tie up all the clues for them, explain things they might have missed, etc.
I have the Olive Kittredge book on my bookshelf, but haven’t read it yet… Sorry, no opinion. 🙂
Lisa (Book Blab) says
We LOOOOVE the 39 Clues series! We do the website and the cards and the whole thing! How exciting to get the FIRST NINE sent to you!!
Jen B. says
Jen,
I have The Elegance of the Hedgehog on my bookshelf and I’m going to start it after reading some of your reviewers comments. I recently read Olive Kittredge and I really liked it. It is a collection of stories that all involve Olive Kittredge and the small town where she lives. It’s quite different in the way it is told and very interesting to piece together the characters from their own words, the thoughts of others and their actions. In the end, I thought the character development was excellent. I have a copy if you ever want to borrow it.