Today was a good mail day. From Matt, who recently had a big giveaway on his blog, I received The Echo Maker by Richard Powers. The book sounds very good so I’m excited about it. Thank you Matt!
Remember a couple of weeks I complained about not finding the books I wanted at the bookstore? Well, I ended up looking for them at another place and still couldn’t find them. You would think I was looking for some obscure texts. So I decided to order them instead and got them today.
I wanted Classics for Pleasure by Michael Dirda ever since I hear him talk about the book at the Texas Book Festival last month. I think this will be a wonderful book to dip into now and again and hopefully I may even read one of the classics he recommends while I read this. I think that would be a wonderful way to complement a book. The other novel I’d had on my radar for a long time was The Journal of Dora Damage by Belinda Starling. I’d heard a lot of good things about this book from some of you guys and as it’s a historical novel about a bookbinder, well, you can only imagine why I would want to read it! I’m hoping that there may be some mention of specific bindings and who knows I may just end up learning a new technique.
And, that’s not all I received today. I also got a very cool print from Christine Rose. I won this from a giveaway that Melody recently hosted. Speaking of Christine Rose….
I’m very excited to host Christine and Ethan Rose, authors of the new, award-winning YA fantasy novel Rowan of the Wood during their Geekalicious Yuletide Blog Book Tour! The authors are stopping by here on Friday, December 12th with an excerpt from their book.
Rowan of the Wood: An ancient wizard possesses a young boy after a millennium of imprisonment in a magic wand. He emerges from the child in the face of danger and discovers Fiana, his new bride from the past, has somehow survived time and become something evil.
The authors are also hosting a contest on YouTube and giving away a digital camcorder just for following four simple steps. Check it out! Come back and visit on Friday, read the excerpt, and post questions/comments. The authors will be available all day Friday and Saturday to answer your questions. Every comment on this blog is an entry to win a signed, limited edition print of Christine’s Green Man II painting. The authors are also giving away autographed books and over $600 in other prizes through their website.
I’d love to read some Michael Dirda but don’t know where to begin, so I’ll be interested to hear how you get on with him. I’d also like to read that Belinda Starling book! More and more these days I find I have to order the books I want, but then amazon over here is always that bit cheaper than a bookstore, too.
I love receiving mails! Look at the goodies you’ve received…I’d be very excited if I were you too! 😀
Once again, congrats on winning the book and Christine’s contest! I’m looking forward to reading your post on Christine and Ethan’s Blog Tour soon!
Great mail! I’m interested in your opinion of the Dirda book.
I’m often forced to Amazon after discovering that I can’t find the books on my list at the library or local book stores.
You have some really good books to add to your stacks. Both The Journal of Dora Damage and The Echo Maker sound good.
Look forward to Friday’s visit from Christine and Ethan Rose!
you got some great books!
Awesome 😀 I love getting stuff in the mail. Especially books. Classics for Pleasure sounds so good. I read his Book by Book a few months ago and I absolutely loved it. He’s so insightful, smart and well-read, and at the same time so unpretentious and accessible.
I like Michael Dirda better when he does the long essays on books, because he really does his research. Didn’t quite like Classic for Pleasures, because it feels a little like an encyclopedia with shorter entries on each book. But it’s still a good book to have, because Dirda is one really well-read guy! Have fun!
It’s so great when going to the mailbox is such fun instead of dread (of bills).
Enjoy all your windfalls.
The Dirda book sounds great. And Yay, I’m so glad you finally got The Journal of Dora Damage. I recommended it to one of our librarians who also happens to be a bookmaker/bookbinder and she got it from the library before Thanksgiving and just finished it not long ago. She really liked it–I’m always happy when someone enjoys a book I recommend.
Litlove – I always felt a bit hesitant to check out any of his books until I saw him at the book fest. He just seemed so excited about books – like any of us. I knew I had to try one of his books. I’ve already taken a peek at this one and think I’m going to enjoy it!
Melody – The print is very cool. I need to find a place for it now 🙂 Oh and hope you’ll stop by for the sneak peek 🙂
jenclair – I definitely shop a lot at Amazon. I try to shop local but especially when it comes to mysteries I’ve noticed that bookstores tend to not keep a full series on the shelves. They may just have the latest books but for me who loves to start at the beginning, that’s a bummer.
Christine – I know, I just keep adding more books to the piles right. What are you reading now?
Serena – I know, I’m excited 🙂
Nymeth – I really want Book by Book too – I almost got that one but I decided I needed a bit more help with the classics so that’s why I ended up with this one 🙂
dark orpheus – Oh really? Ok, that’s good to know. As I haven’t tried anything by him then this might be a good intro for me. I’ll keep you posted!
Isabel – No kidding! I’m trying to finish some books before I start any of the new ones but I’ve already thumbed through the Dirda book a bit. Can’t help it!
Danielle – Can you believe I never found the Dora book in any bookstore – ever! I never saw it on the shelves. How weird is that. Anyway, I’m super excited about this one but I think I’ll save it for the New Year. Start the year off with a good historical 🙂
Yay! I won one of the books from Matt and got a lovely package yesterday. It’s great when that happens.
I’ve got The Echo Maker on my shelves and am looking forward to it — I’ve heard very good things!
I love getting good things in the mail. I’ve been wanting that Dirda book but haven’t seen it anywhere either. Maybe I too will just have to break down and order it online.
I love books in the mail too! Classics for Pleasure sounds interesting, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it when you get around to reading it.