Mailbox Monday (08.31.09)
Mailbox Monday is a weekly event hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.
This is my first Mailbox Monday, and probably won’t join too often because, due to finances and storage space, I’m much more a borrower than a purchaser. BUT last week some new books did enter my house, and I’m so excited about them (especially one in particular) that I just have to share.
Last week my mom returned from a trip to Oxford and on Thursday she presented us with the gifts she brought back. What does one book lover buy another book lover? And in Oxford, of all places? Books!!
Book #1: Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult. The only other Picoult book I’ve read is my Sister’s Keeper, which I very much enjoyed. I’ve heard good things about her other books, but haven’t heard anything about this particular one. It was her debut novel, first published in 1992, so obviously she did something right if she’s been able to follow it up with a novel almost every year since. The copy I have is the 2009 Hodder paperback reprinting. At 427 pages it might take a few days to get through.
Book #2: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. After reading Emma on a whim earlier this year, I put together a small list of classics I wanted to read. Pride and Prejudice was right at the top, but I hadn’t got around to reading it yet. And now I have it here, ready to be read any time I want. Woot!
Book #3: This is the one I was most excited about. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. If you’ve been here anytime in the last couple weeks, you’ll know that I love this book. I was so choked when I had to return it to the library and in my last post on the book I promised that I would own it one day. My mom, seeing all my posts on Jane Eyre, decided that she would get a copy for me in Oxford. And that she did. Not only is it from Oxford, it’s an Oxford World’s Classics printing. Plus, the cover is beautiful. It might be shallow, but I would rather have this cover in my position than the one I borrowed from the library. If my TBR pile wasn’t slightly out of control, I would read this again right now.
Thanks Mom! :D
alita.reads. 
Austen and Bronte. You went for the heavy hitters! You have some marvelous reading in front of you.
This was Jodi Picoult’s first book. I’ve read all of her books are of couse, some are much better than others. My 2 favorites were: My Sister’s Keeper and Handle with Care! Enjoy!
Jane Eyre is my most favourite book too. I always get something out of it when I re-read it. I just recently bought myself a beautiful little hardback version and i LOVE it. :-) Sounds like a good haul you got there.
Kristen – Yes, they made a nice addition to my TBR pile. And maybe smartened it up a bit.
Diane – I really enjoyed My Sister’s Keeper, so I’m curious to see what her first book is like.
Mae – I just read Jane Eyre for the very first time and fell in love. I borrow most books I read and almost never feel like I need to own a book once I’ve read it. But with this one, I just knew that I needed to have a copy. Such a wonderful book!
grat choices! Reminds me that I really need to get back into the classics too.
I loved both P & P and Jane Eyre. Good book week :)
Great books you have there! I love P&P!
so pleased you got an oxford edition of “jane eyre”, and that you like it!
i work for oxford university press and have long been critical of many of our editions. so when the new design finally came out and they gave some of the books new covers i was very happy! i really like them.
Oxford is the easiest place to buy gifts for others (as long as your airline doesn’t have luggage weight restrictions and you’re not hauling back field gear and primate texts.)
I’m so glad you are enjoying the books. Clearly I/we need to make another trip to Oxford since there are many more shelves to explore. My next trip will also include a pilgrimage to Oxford University Press!
By the way…I need the occasional break from the current Phillipa Gregory saga and have found comic relief in one of the Marian Keyes books you lent me Alita. Thanks!
Mom
Yeah, I’m really going to have to be careful about those weight restrictions! How about an annual Oxford pilgrimage? Sound good?
Is it This Charming Man that you’re reading?? I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
Yes – it is This Charming Man and I have to say compared to “The Other Queen” it feels like I’m reading a comic book – but it’s perfect for where my head is right now.
My initial response is – How can incomplete scattered sentences still be so readable and amusing?
Mel – I stayed away from classics for way too long. It’s great to discover them now!
Stacy – I’m really looking forward to P&P. It’s one of those books that people always talk about and is constantly referenced.
Alice – Thanks! It’s going to be tough to top this haul.
Jean Pierre – P&P is also the new Oxford edition :) The copy of Jane Eyre that I had borrowed didn’t have any extra notes in it, so I’m really looking forward to reading this version and picking up on things I might have missed the first time around. Thanks for stopping by!