Monday, July 27, 2009

Mailbox Monday-- Just How Long Can I Be Good??

This past week, I sent 7 books to new foster homes via Paperback Swap, and I received 5 books from other members. I'm beginning to wonder just how long I can stay being "good". I'm not jonesing to go on a book buying spree...I'm just curious. Perhaps I'd better stop being curious; I'll probably only get myself into trouble!

Here are the books that were in my mailbox last week:

--How to Be a Pirate by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, translated from the Old Norse by Cressida Cowell. (PBS) I can't remember whose blog mentioned this entire series of children's books, but the titles made me grin, so I had to get my hands on at least one of them!

--The Tortilla Curtain, by T.C. Boyle (PBS). "Topanga Canyon is home to two couples on a collision course. Los Angeles liberals Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher lead an ordered sushi-and-recycling existence in a newly gated hilltop community....Mexican illegals Candido and America Rincon desperately cling to their vision of the American Dream as they fight off starvation in a makeshift camp deep in the ravine."

--The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher, or The Murder at Road Hill House, by Kate Summerscale (PBS). I've heard nothing but good about this true crime tale of murder in Victorian England.

--The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas (PBS). "Strange things keep happening to British university lecturer Ariel Manto. First her supervisor disappears; then she discovers the rarest of rare books, The End of Mr. Y, at a secondhand bookshop. The tome was penned by Thomas Lumas, a nineteenth-century scientist who, as luck would have it, is the subject of Ariel's dissertation. (The book tells the tale of a man who swallows a tincture, stares into a black dot, and winds up in a place called the Troposphere, where he travels space and time through others' minds.) Bored and befuddled by real life, Ariel mimics the author's eerie experiment, with mixed results. (On her first trip, she melds minds with a randy rodent and a psychotic cat.)" This seems to be one of those love-it-or-hate-it books. I'll have to see which side I'm on when I turn the last page.

--The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie (PBS). "Exploring Indian identity, both self and tribal, Alexie's first young adult novel is a semi-autobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old was born with water on the brain, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team." Alexie is one of my favorite writers, and I have high hopes for this book!

That's it for this edition of Mailbox Monday. Hopefully when you tune in next week, I'll still be on the straight and narrow!

A big thank you to Marcia of The Printed Page for hosting this meme. If you'd like to see more answers, just click on the graphic at the top of this post!

22 comments:

  1. That Summerscale book is also on my shelf, and I have great expectations to it.

    How long you can be good? Well, I am not going to say what I think ;)

    - but perhaps, if you put on blinkers?

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  2. Looks like you got a nice variety there. And who could possibly resist that children's book? No one!

    Have a great week and enjoy your new books. My MM is here .

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  3. The children book sounds really good I will have to check our library to see if they have it.

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  4. I loved Mr Whicher and The End of Mr Y - I look forward to hearing what you think of them.

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  5. Oooh, I really want to read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - I'll be looking for your review of that one.

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  6. Yes, the new pic almost makes me want to do this - but I receive so few books pr. week, that it wouldn't be fun doing anyway. It looks like a couple of good reads you've got.

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  7. I love your new MM button! Although I still haven't reviewed it (bad me), I loved The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher. I look forward to your review!

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  8. Oh what a nice selection of books this week, I hope you enjoy reading them! :)

    Oh and I love your picture of the pin-up girl. ;)

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  9. Great selection! Enjoy! I am sure those 'foster homes' are very appreciative.

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  10. Looks like you got a lot of good ones!
    Have fun and hope you have a great week.
    Natalie :0)

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  11. I'm not going to place bets on how long you can be good :) I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of The End of Mr. Y. And I keep thinking about Mr. Whicher, too.

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  12. Mary--Thanks!

    Dorte--It will be interesting to see what each of us thinks about Mr. Whicher. I think I will be able to last for a while because I will still be getting books whenever they come up on my list at Paperback Swap. I haven't completely cut off the supply line! LOL

    Kaye--The whole series that Cowell has written looks wonderful.

    Cindy--Just reading a list of the titles makes me laugh, so I can't wait to read the book!

    Jackie--I'm so glad you give both of them the thumbs up!

    Kathy--Alexie is one of my favorite authors, so I'm really looking forward to it!

    Bath--There's almost something for everyone in that pile, isn't there?

    Blodeuedd--Thanks. (Although if I really looked like that I think I'd put fishing weights around the hem of that skirt! ;)

    Louise--But it's still fun to look at what everyone else is getting, isn't it?

    Brooke--I'll have to take a look!

    Avis--I'm glad you like the button. I think it turned out well. And I still haven't heard anything bad about Mr. Whicher!

    Jessica Marie--She's a show-off, isn't she? ;)

    Cathy--I'm sure they're just as appreciative as I am whenever I become a new "foster parent"!

    Natalie--I hope you have a great week, too!

    Belle--You and Dorte have no faith in me! *pout* Mr. Y and Mr. Whicher seem very popular this week!

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  13. looks like a good group of books...happy reading.

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  14. What an array of subjects.
    Enjoy your books Cathy.
    :)

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  15. PS.....I love the photo at the top of this post. Just fabulous!!!

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  16. Thanks, Serena!

    Wisteria--I'm glad you like the art. I used to love to read in a car until I got married to a man who feels ignored when I do. :(

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  17. yesterday when it was simply too damn hot to do anything else, i read most of The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe, chosen after reading your review...whew!!....what a tale that was!....i wouldnt have known about this author otherwise....i have now moved on to A Carrion Death /Michael Stanley...thanks for being such a great resource!

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  18. Hey, Murph, it's great to see you here!! I'm so glad you enjoyed The Calling. I can't wait for her next book to be published. I hope you've been enjoying A Carrion Death!

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