We love sharing our bounty with our regular readers to give you a sneak peek of reviews to come, and we love meeting new book bloggers through the fun Mailbox Monday carnival. This month it’s hosted by Bermuda Onion.
While you’re here we invite you to check out our current giveaways, subscribe to our feed, and/or follow us @5M4B on Twitter.
We’d also love for you to check out our Fall Festival of Children’s Books (and giveaways).
JENNIFER
For me:
- The Water is Wide audiobook by Pat Conroy
- With Friends Like These: A Novel audiobook by Sally Koslow
- Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard
- The Cure for the Chronic Life: Overcoming the Hopelessness That Holds You Back
Kids’ and YA Books:
What is it with unsolicited books arriving on my doorstep and speaking some sort of message to me?? Last month I got Brave Girl Eating (linked now to my review) the day after talking with my tween daughter about her saying that she is fat, and then on Thursday right after I wrote up a post called Are Your Kids Proud of You?, I My Mommy Hung the Moon: A Love Story. It’s a little creepy.
I was surprised to get an email from The Literate Mother saying I had won their random monthly drawing for commenters. Great site. Great idea. The books I got are Dangerous Neighbors and The King Of The Trees , along with a fun t-shirt.
I actually bought some books too, both for my 12-year-old daughter —
- Cornelia Funke’s Reckless
- and the 4th book in Pseudonymous Bosch’s “Secret series,” which Amanda did not even realize was out: This Isn’t What It Looks Like. She devoured it this week already and liked it.
NANCY
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese – my library’s Friends of the Library funds the book club, and they buy 20 copies of each title. I picked up my copy the other day and the librarian said the book is amazing. We’ll discuss it October 4.- The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard
I finally got 2 audiobooks from Brilliance audio and I’m very excited about both of them.
- Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
- Death’s Excellent Vacation edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner. This is a collection of paranormal tales and includes a never-before-published Sookie Stackhouse story.
DAWN
This week was again heavier on kids’ books, but there was one little goodie for me, too.
What I Thought I Knew: A Memoir by Alice Eve Cohen– I’m not prone to looking at reviews before reading a book, especially when it’s one that I plan to review myself, but it caught my eye that the Amazon listing for Cohen’s book has some rave reviews. I’m looking forward to this memoir about a surprise later-in-life pregnancy and the swirl of emotions that come with it.- The 39 Clues The Black Book of Buried Secrets— Wow, did this one ever make the ten year old happy. For fans of The 39 Clues series, this book will be a most welcome addition to their collections when it’s released in late October.
The winter holidays may be months away, but publishers are getting ready to start publicizing their holiday collections. We’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas with these new books that arrived on our step this week:
From Sleeping Bear Press:
- Small, Medium and Large by Jane Monroe Donovan
- First Dog’s White House Christmas by J. Patrick Lewis and Beth Zappitello
- The Night Henry Ford Met Santa by Carol Hagen
- The Legend of Papa Noel by Terri Hoover Dunham
From Sterling Publishing:
- Merry Sparkling Christmas by Elizabeth Spurr
- Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee
- The 12 Days of Christmas in Washington, DC by Candice Ransom
- Little Critter’s The Night Before Christmas by Mercer Mayer
- The Toymaker’s Christmas Paper Toys You Can Make Yourself by Marilyn Scott-Waters
- Best Christmas Book Ever! by Richard Scarry
What I Thought I Knew was in my mailbox last week (for a blog tour). It has received a lot of buzz lately so I’m looking forward to reading it.
I’ve just started it this afternoon, Mary, and I have to say that it’s a challenging read so far in some ways. I’m looking forward to reading others’ reactions.
Hey Nancy- if you’re an NPR person, you’ll be happy to hear that Mary Roach was on Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me last weekend for the “Not My Job” segment, and she was pretty funny!
I’m an NPR person, so I’ll have to listen for that on my podcast!
I’m not an NPR person but I’ve heard good things about Wait, Wait, I’ll have to check it out.
Nancy–I’m a huge Abraham Verghese fan (of his memoir). I was looking forward to Cutting for Stone SOOOO much that I think I was a bit let down, but everyone else I know who has read it loved it, and he’s such a gifted writer.
I love nonfiction books that make topics interesting, like science/space. I’m looking forward to reading the Life on Mars review!
Dawn–Really, Christmas already??? Wow!
Yeah, I know. The kids and I sat out on the front step the other morning reading some of the books from the latest holiday package– in the 95 degree heat!! It felt quite odd to be in a tank top and shorts, forehead covered in sweat, and talking about taking a sleigh ride over the snow. 🙂
I haven’t read anything by him, I’m not too far in but it’s good so far, even if I have to have a dictionary close by while reading.
Jennifer – that’s kind of spooky about the books you’re getting. The Water is Wide looks interesting, looking forward to your review of that one.
It was close to 90 here today, I can’t even imagine Christmas books!
Wow Breaking Night sounds incredible! Thanks for the spolight on it — will have to check it out.
Kim–I can’t wait to read it. I’m sure I’ll review it here.
I have The Good Daughters on my wish list. Christmas books! Before you know it it will be here. This month sure flew by!
Looking forward to your thoughts on Breaking Night! Here’s my loot: Coffee and a Book Chick
Oh my gosh, they all look good this week! I loved The Water is Wide and kind of envy you for getting to experience it for the first time.
What a great way to describe your love for the book. I started listening to it the day I got it. I’ve had to put it aside, but I was riveted and charmed from the beginning.
All new titles for me, but makes for a good mailbox. 🙂
Creative Madness Mama: My Mailbox