Monday 21 June 2010

Monday Mail and Library Loot

Before I show you my new books, I want to apologise for not replying to my comments in the last couple of weeks. I have been really busy and only just feel like I am actually getting back to normal, so I hope you can be patient with me and I will try and be a lot better at replying to comments.

This weekend has been another one full of madness. I spent Friday evening as a chauffeur to the local high school prom. I have a new style VW Beetle Convertible in an old fashioned cream colour and my friend Elizabeth asked me if I would take her son and his friend to the prom. I jumped at the chance and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Especially watching everyone else arrive and walk up the red carpet. The dresses were absolutely beautiful and I was quite envious of the students having this opportunity, as when I was at school, we didn't have any leaving celebrations.

Saturday was spent rushing the girls around from the local carnival, to an after show party and then to our friend's house for cocktails and takeaway. Sunday was Father's Day and we had a lovely rest at home, all of us spoiling my hubby. I cooked a roast leg of lamb, which is something I have never done. Roasts in this house normally consist of chicken or pork, but I am quite proud of my first leg of lamb.

My reading has been really slow this week too. I don't think I am even going to get half way through my projected reading for the month. I seem to be taking ages with Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness, but it isn't because the book is slow, it is because I am struggling for reading time and falling asleep every time I pick up a book in the evening!

Anyway I haven't done a Monday Mail or Library Loot post for ages. I know I wasn't going to buy anymore books or borrow any more either, but I lied and I don't care!
1) Ghost Ship by Dietlof Reiche. This is a children's book set in a seaside town. A young girl working at her parent's restaurant, gets caught up in the drama when an eighteenth century square rigger turns up in the bay. A curse and a mystery, just up my street.

2) The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer - I will not feel bad or guilty about this book. I admit to being a Twilight fan and I just had to have this book.

3) The Help by Kathryn Stocket - I bought this book because the I could get two books for £7, as the the Meyer one was already £6, it seemed silly not to pick up another book for one pound more. I have been after this southern drama for the last year as I have watched all my American buddies getting the opportunity to read this.

4) The River King by Alice Hoffman. I am still hoping to find that one book of hers that I will love. Will this be the one? This one sounds like a bit of a thriller, with a death to be investigated in.

5) La Cucina by Lily Prior - this is a debut novel set in Sicily about a shy librarian with a broken heart whose passion for cooking leads to an unexpected love affair. Filled to the brim with food references, this is my type of book.

6) Life After Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowling - this a book I recently won over at Amanda's blog Life and Times of a 'New' New Yorker. Amanda is just setting up a new blog called A Library of My Own as she is no longer living in New York and she wants to represent her new lifestyle. Click on the link and check it out. I adore Amanda's blog as it is not just about books, she writes about her life too. This book is about a young girl who has just become engaged and then finds out her father has been killed in 9/11. Quite a powerful story I think.
These are the four library books I picked up this week. I find it amazing that I can take one book back and come out with four!

1)Good Evening, Mrs Craven - The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter- Downes. A Persephone book - need I say anything else.

2) Girl in a Blue Dress by Gaynor Arnold -this one has cropped up on my radar a few times, so I couldn't resist. It was long listed for the Man Booker Prize in 2008 and tells the story of a Victorian wife who refuses to disappear without trace after her husband's death.

3) The Haunting of Nathaniel Wolfe by Brian Keaney. A supernatural YA book set in Victorian London.

4) The Blackstone Key by Rose Melikan - set in 1795, this is the first book in a mystery series which is believed to appeal to fans of Jamaica Inn. I am so there!

Well that is a wrap for my books and I this week. What did you get?

27 comments:

  1. No we didn't have anything to mark the end of our school days either. Proms - An expensive buisness though, I know my sister shelled out over £1000 by the time her daughter had her dress/shoes bought, hair/nails/make up done and hired a limo with some friends. I worry that some kids will miss out/be bullied because their parent(s) just can't afford it. (Now I feel a post coming on.)

    Some great books there. I was almost tempted not to look too closely in case I found anything to add to my wish list. I've managed to avoid temptation this week so have nothing in my mail box.

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  2. Well, thanks to the sleuthing skills of my very own book detective - I had The Lost Book of Salem arrive through my letterbox this week. I am just finishing up Candle Man and then I'll start on that one. Ooh and I can't believe it but I found a hardback copy of The Book Of Lost Things in Poundland of all places!! Can you believe it? I've had it on my wishlist for ages after lending mine to someone - forgetting who and never getting it back! Bargain! I bought two and have put one away in my Christmas box!


    I haven't forgotten your book btw way Viv. Got caught up in the Creativity Boot Camp and everything else went out the window I'm afraid. I'll be parcelling that off to you this week ;)

    Some good finds again in this post - will be adding a few to my wish list.

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  3. What a lot of books.
    Don't worry about the comments..it happens. I am always falling behind. How do you like your new VW Bug? I love that car. If I didn't have four greyhounds to cart around, I would get one. I had two when I was really young. Must be a hundred years ago.
    Enjoy your week.

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  4. Petty Witter - £1000! On Prom! Blooming heck. I better start saving now as mine will graduate on the same date.

    Carmen - Just call me Sherlock, LOL. I picked up my Lost Things books from Poundland too. Did I forget to mention that when I bought it - sorry! Don't rush with the book, when you are ready, it will be fine. It is not as if I haven't got anything to read at the moment!!!

    Wisteria - I have had my VW for about four years now. I didn't write correctly about it. I meant it was the new style VW instead of the beautiful old ones. I really wanted an old one but hubby said the upkeep would be too much. He is far too practical. You made me laugh when you mentioned your dogs, as I had planned to have another child before we bought the car, but once I had the car, there was no room for a pram, so I changed my mind about the baby and kept the car! It is much easier to entertain than a baby!

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  5. You have quite a bit of reading ahead of you. I hope you enjoy them. I visited my library this week and picked up 3 books, one was on CDs, but, nevertheless, I call it a book. I will be posting them Friday on Friday Finds.

    In the meantime, I am enjoying reading them.

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  6. I just got offered and accepted Life After Yes as a review copy, so I'm excited to see someone else pick it up as well! :)

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  7. Love the prom story - how fun! I also am loving your cover of The Help! I read about the US cover and this cover - I hope to find a copy of the book with the cover you have.

    I too have the Bree Tanner book. Hope to get to it soon :)

    Have a lovely week Vivienne!

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  8. Ooh, Vivienne, you got some great books. I just know you'll love The Help. 5**** book as far as I was concerned. Loved it! Enjoy your week and welcome to the world of playing catchup! :)

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  9. Interesting books there for you this week :D

    And my eye is drawn to that Melikan book

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  10. Good books! I'll be interested to see what you think of The Help which I liked with some reservations.

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  11. WOW --- all these titles sound just wonderful! I can't believe you found Stephanie Myers and the Help for the bargain price of 2 for 7 pounds!!

    I hope the days start to settle down a wee bit for you - and you can find some free time to read (and scrapbook, if you so desire)

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  12. I need to pick up The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

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  13. Lots of good books at your house! Life After Yes catches my eye. I hope life slows down so you can get in more reading time!

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  14. I loved La Cucina! I can't wait to read your review, so I can relive my reading experience.

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  15. We just picked up the Bree Tanner book also - I'll probably be reading it next. That La Cucina book sounds really good!

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  16. Ann - I envy people who use Audio books. I just can't seem to concentrate on them. Good luck with yours.

    Amanda - yay! we rarely have the same books, so I am pleased you have one too.

    Sheila - I didn't realise the covers were different. I shall have to look now.

    Kaye - glad to hear you loved The Help. Can't wait to read it too.

    Blodeuedd - I thought you might like that one. I actually thought of your book choices when I bought it.

    Caitlin - sorry to hear you didn't like it.

    Molly - I hope so too. I do have a lot of scrap booking pages to show from a few weeks ago. I hope to put some up on Saturday.

    Ladytink - you definitely do!

    Booksnob - I am so pleased to find someone else who has read it. I had never heard of it before I bought it.

    Jen - yay for Stephanie Meyer. Can't wait to read it.

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  17. You MUST read The Help VERY VERY SOON :) excellent!

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  18. Diane - LOL, OK, I shall move it up. I do trust your judgement.

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  19. So many of these look and sound good, but I'm most interested in The Help.

    Amanda's blog sounds like something I must check out. :-)

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  20. Thats nice of you to chauffeur to the prom!
    Great haul of books, I hope you enjoy the Alice Hoffman.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  21. Sounds like a wonderfully busy weekend :)

    I read La Cucina several years ago and thought it was so good. I hope you'll enjoy it. Unfortunately I didn't have much luck with her other books. And, you sound just like me when it comes to Alice Hoffman. I just feel like she's an author I would really love but somehow I've never gotten on with her books. I can't wait to hear what you think of this one!

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  22. don't fret about being busy! i've been a bit lax myself with comments and do feel guilty but am trying not to!

    as for your reads--wow! i'm all over the sicilian one. and 'the help'? YAY! enjoy it.

    congrats on the lamb roast...you're so brave to undertake such a thing.

    --nat @book, line, and sinker

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  23. Sounds as if you're having a busy time. Please don't overdo it.

    Thanks for this lively post.

    All the best, Boonsong

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  24. It's OK, Viv! Hahaha! I have THE HELP in Kindle edition. Love your mailbox!

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  25. Suko - I think you would love Amanda's blog. She is fabulous.

    Naida - that is me all over. Nice!

    Illiana - if you find an Alice Hoffman one you love, do let me know. I am so pleased to find two people who have read La Cucina - I thought it would be a real unknown.

    Natalie - I can't wait to read La Cucina now too.

    Yvonne - thank you.

    Boonsong - thank you. I will try .

    Alice - Perhaps we should read it together.

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  26. Life After Yes is absolutely fabulous -- one of my favorite reads of the year! The Help, too, was exquisite. Hope you love them both as much as I did!

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