This is now our 19th post for In My Mailbox which is hosted every Sunday by The Story Siren. A great way to document our book purchases, books we have received as gifts, books sent to us for review, or those which we borrowed from the library.
Goosebumps Mania
Let me begin with my nine year old daughter’s book purchase. Since it’s nearly Halloween, she is able to justify her Goosebumps-buying-frenzy. She bought two more titles from Bras Basah Complex recently:
Titles are Monster Blood II and The Haunted Mask II. I peeked at her bookshelves (she has over 40 titles of Goosebumps now) – apparently she has Monster Blood I and The Haunted Mask I – makes sense for her to buy the sequel. Not bad. An A for continuity and potential love for series.
Award Winning Titles from Bras Basah Complex
I believe I have posted something about my love for Singapore’s Bras Basah Complex here – I try to avoid going there since I know I couldn’t leave empty-handed. Well, here are some of the rare finds I got during my last foray in this lovely lovely place.
Inspired by the recent announcement of the National Book Award Finalists, I was naturally drawn to this Nobel Prize Winning Title The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass (I think it has also been adapted into a film). I am also a huge fan of Octavio Paz and so when I saw this book In Light of India, I knew I had to buy it for myself. Plus the fact that I would be visiting Mumbai in two weeks’ time.
Iphigene has told me about Hoot by Carl Hiaasen previously – and I am glad to have unearthed this Newbery Honor book from Bras Basah. And naturally I could not resist a National Book Awardee Alice McDermott’s Charming Billy. The cover evokes a sense of peace and quiet. I have a feeling I would enjoy all these lovely books. And yes I got all four titles for 10 sgd (roughly around 7-8 US dollars). Not bad, huh? Hooray to discounted book shops.
In love with Singapore’s Libraries and Magic
I read this piece recently by Library Journal on “What to Read after Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus” and since I am banning myself from purchasing brand new books (that are a tad expensive), I thought that I might as well borrow the next best thing as recommended by Neal Wyatt from Library Journal.
I am ambitious, yes, I borrowed Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. The thickness is daunting and I have resigned myself to the fact that I won’t be able to finish this book in six weeks’ time – on top of all my deadlines in the academe – just isn’t humanly possible. But yeah, that didn’t stop me from tasting the book every now and again and stealing a few minutes of reading every chance I get. The Magician’s Study by Tobias Seamon looks less daunting and I have a feeling I can read it in a day’s time if I really devote all my time to just flipping through the pages (no blogging, no facebooking, no twittering, no googleplus, no TV series). I was also intrigued by The Circus in Winter by Cathy Day. I’ve always had a fascination with carnivals and circus and magic – thus, we were thinking of devoting January/February 2012 perhaps to this theme – carnivale, the paranormal, and the occult. We shall see how that goes. 🙂
Gathering Books 
Oh you got Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell! Loved that book. The thickness is really daunting but it’s a great read, although I had to screw up my eyes for the tiny footnotes.:) I also loved the bits of illustrations found in the book.
I got Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss in a bargain bin for my nephew. It’s in pristine condition, so I was thrilled. 🙂 Double hooray for bargain bookshops!
LikeLike
Hi Tin! Glad to see you back again! Yes, I do adore bargain bookshops. No place like it. I have a hankering to go back to Bras Basah in fact this weekend. *sigh* such an addict.
LikeLike
Haaa, I used to Love Goosebumps books!!
Giselle
Xpresso Reads
LikeLike
Hi Giselle, thanks for dropping by. My daughter loves them too. She eats them up like cheese sticks (her favorite of all times, she’s not too much into sweets or cornflakes or candies hehehe). 🙂
LikeLike
Good luck reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. From what I’ve heard from others it is well worth your time if you can get through it.
Happy reading!
LikeLike
Hi Alison, thanks. It’s daunting, really. we shall see how it goes.
LikeLike
Great set! I’ve always mean to read Jonathan Strange. Love the old Goosebumps books too.
My IMM
LikeLike
Hi Alison, thanks for dropping by. I’m loving Jonathan Strange too. 🙂
LikeLike
Every time I come to your blog I seem to add about five books to my TBR list, and this week is no exception! Sigh.
I have a whole box of Goosebump books in my attic somewhere, I always think I’ll get them down one day and read them again 🙂
I love the cover of ‘Hoot’!
Happy reading 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Jo, that’s because we seem to have the same tastes in literature! I visited your site and just left an inordinately (bordering on the insufferable) long comment – was just too excited about your Blind Assassin and Maus loot. 🙂 I also joined your giveaway and tweeted/facebooked/google-plus-ed (sorry English teachers) your announcement. Hehehe.
LikeLike
Your daughter has an awesome Goosebumps collection. Fun! The Circus in Winter looks like a good read. The circus is a popular book topic lately.
Enjoy all your great reads!
LikeLike
Haven’t started on The Circus in Winter yet but I have already finished Tobias Seamon’s book. Hooray for that. 🙂
LikeLike
I’ve had Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell for years, but somehow I’ve never gotten around to reading it. I really should as it sounds like a great read (it’s possible the length is putting me off).
Did you know RL Stine is on Twitter?
LikeLike
Nikki! Welcome back! Nice to hear from you again. You should read it and let me know what you think – but yes the length is a tad off-putting. And no, I didn’t know RL Stine is on Twitter, my daughter would be thrilled. I shall most definitely stalk him. 🙂
LikeLike
Nice mailbox! Goosebumps are perfect reads for this time of year! Enjoy!
LikeLike
Hi Christy! Thanks for dropping by. You are absolutely right. My daughter can’t get enough of them, seems like. 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Carnival of Children’s Literature and Round up for October |
Pingback: IMM (20): More Magic, Orphaned Books, Academic Lit, and Net Galley |