It’s Monday! What did you get in your mailbox this week? (Okay, technically it’s Sunday, but Mailbox Sunday doesn’t have that rhythm does it?). The Mailbox Monday carnival is hosted by Bermuda Onion for the month of September.
This week check out our Fall Festival of Children’s Books (and giveaways).
JENNIFER
Nonfiction:
Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian — It sounds like an interesting concept — A man who loves books getting involved in the lives of those he serves as prison librarian. Unfortunately almost as much memoir is just okay as is truly great. I’m hoping for that latter.- You’re Grounded Forever…But First, Let’s Go Shopping: The Challenges Mothers Face with Their Daughters and Ten Timely Solutions — This is by the same author as Toxic Friends (linked to my review) which I liked well enough, but if this title doesn’t scream “read me” to the mother of a new middle school daughter, I don’t know what does.
- Katie Up and Down the Hall: The True Story of How One Dog Turned Five Neighbors into a Family — a dog story? set in a NYC apartment building? Sounds like gold to me.
Audiobook (the only fiction title that made it into my house):
By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham
Some unsolicited and delightful children’s books:
- Betsy Red Hoodie by Gail Carson Levine
- The Search for WondLa
DAWN
A week with a few books for me and a few for the kids = a fabulous week!
- Stretch: The Unlikely Making of a Yoga Dude by Neal Pollack presents a thirty-something year old writer, completely in a funk after his latest book is panned by a New York Times reviewer, who also goes so far as to basically call Pollack a generic, boring every-guy. At the suggestion of his wife, Pollack takes a yoga class, which turns into many more jaunts down the yoga path. Pollack shares his journey with fair shares of irreverence, potty humor and self-deprecation.
- Vanishing and Other Stories by Deborah Willis will be the first book of short stories that I’ve picked up in a long, long time. I’m quite excited to start on this one next.
The Memory Bank by Carolyn Coman came unexpectedly to my door, but both my ten year old son and I are thinking this will make a great read-together book for us. From terribly mean parents who banish one child for laughing, to a trip to the place where memories and dreams are kept, to a band of wild children who want to destroy the Memory Bank altogether– this one sounds exciting and fun!- Leo the Snow Leopard by Craig Hatkoff, with his daughters Juliana and Isabella Hatkoff, will no doubt be loved by my kids and me as much as his previous works- especially Winter’s Tail (linked to my review).
LAUREN
I have been in a fiction funk lately, which is very rare for me. I am very excited that Chosen
Two children’s books arrived in my mailbox this week: The Boss Baby
NANCY
I finally joined Audible this week. A free trial with 2 free books was too good to pass up. After some tinkering yesterday I am now able to play the books on my ‘berry and I’m a happy girl.
- Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue – the hype on this book concerns me a little but Jennifer loved it and there’s no better source for good books.
A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay – I read Sarah’s Key recently and loved it, and while I know this is completely different from that one I’m still looking forward to it.- The Blackberry app also came with a free book, Divine Justice by David Baldacci. It’s not my usual type of book but I may give it a shot.
It’s been an electronic mailbox type of week for me, because I also downloaded some Kindle books, both free.
- Compromising Positions by Jenna Bayley-Burke – this looks like a cute diversion, a good one for those moments I don’t have a book but have my phone, with the Kindle app on it.
- And Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stuck On You by Jeffrey Archer – this is just one of the stories included in the collection so it was a short, easy read. The reviews of the whole collection are conflicting so we’ll see if I decide to read the whole thing.
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Ooh. Lauren! I’m definitely interested in hearing about Chosen! I’ll be looking for your review on that!
I’m looking forward to that one as well!
I spied a lot of great titles in there! I read Room recently and thought it was fantastic! It does take a little while to get used to the voice of the narrator, but once you do, watch out!
Running the Books really interests me. Happy reading!
Nancy–it’s a good hype on ROOM. And I’ll be the audio would be great! I listened to The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Nighttime on audio, and it was great. It’s a very similar sort of voice. I think, ironically, that in one of your audiobook posts, you mentioned that book specifically as one that would NOT be good on audio because it has maps. But I didn’t miss those — I just thought the “voice” was so great that it translated well.
Lauren–I know what you mean about not reading fiction for a while. It PUTS me in a funk, and I’m always so glad to go back to it. I hope you like CHOSEN.
Dawn–The cover of that novel looks great, and the premise does sound fun.
The audio is interesting, it’s narrated by Jack, but there are other people who read Ma’s and Nick’s lines. I’ve read books with different narrators for different chapters, but never like this. I did take me some time to get used to Jack’s voice but I think it’s great way to tell the story.
A Secret Kept looks really intriguing! Enjoy!
I have an ARC of By Nightfall that I’m really looking forward to. Happy reading! My mailbox is at The Crowded Leaf.
Have a great reading week ahead! Here is my Mondays: Mailbox/Where Am I/Musings post.
Chosen has gone straight to the wish list! I have Room here to read too. I am hoping it lives up to all the hype too! I’ll be watching for your thoughts on Tallulah. I hadn’t heard of it before. have a great reading week.
Nice mailbox! I’m a first time visitor…
I have seen Chosen around a bit in the blogosphere, looks interesting!
Thanks for visiting! I’ve seen Chosen around a lot too.