Last week, Fats posted for IMM (In My Mailbox hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren) during Christmas Day. It’s my turn now to share some of the books I bought during the Holidays, and a few books that I got from recent book bargains here in Singapore.
Bargain Books in our Church
Every week, I try to scour through the bargain bins in our local church after Mass, and on occasion I do find some treasures such as these worth 1 sgd (or 2 sgd) each:
Ever since Joanna Marple (one of our lovely book-blogging friends) and my book club girl Älvi mentioned Michael Morpurgo as one of their favorite authors, I have been intrigued by him, being quite unfamiliar with most of his works. Thus, I made sure that I am on the lookout for his books that are on sale. I’m glad to have found this title My Friend Walter – which seems to be a fitting novel that can be added to our Paranormal and Carnivale theme this January and February. Pippi in the South Seas by Astrid Lindgren is also a steal at 1 sgd.
Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes was sold for 2 sgd – in contrast to the other three books, maybe because it was relatively thicker than all the others. I did not mind since I was just all-too-pleased that I found the sequel to Ginger Pye, a book that I already have on my bookshelves.
Book Sale on Campus
Occasionally, we would receive emails from the NTU Community about book sales hosted by visiting professors or lecturers who would soon be leaving Singapore. Here are some of my recent book buys from within the NTU Staff Housing – books cost only 2 sgd each: Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (reviewed by Iphigene as part of the South Asian Reading Challenge for 2011), The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (also reviewed by Iphigene) and House of Glass by Pramoedya Ananta Toer.
More Books from Bras Basah and Popular
For those who have been following our IMM every Sunday, you would know how addicted my now-ten year old daughter is with Goosebumps. Naturally, she just had to buy Invasion of the Body Snatchers Part 2 and Attack of the Jack-o’-Lanterns by R. L. Stine.
Mister Monday by Garth Nix is the first book in the series of The Keys to the Kingdom which I have heard a lot about. Might as well read it from the top, right? I also found John Flanagan’s Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan from the Ranger’s Apprentice Series. I hope I like both books.
I have seen the film adaptation of this book Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce – an award winning book which I feel we can also include in our own Reading Challenge, so I am anticipating that I would enjoy this one. I am also a huge sucker for Modern Classics books, and so I buy this one by Joan G. Robinson entitled When Marnie was There.
I was also glad to have found the book version of Bridge to Terabithia, the Newbery honor novel by Katherine Paterson. It was great that I was able to share this novel with my Gathering Readers book club a few weeks back. I am also a huge Jerry Spinelli fan so buying the hard cover of Eggs for 2.90 seemed like a sweet deal. Mairelon the Magician by Patricia C. Wrede also seemed like a good book to add to our paranormal/carnivale theme this January/February.
Now I got this brand new book from Popular Bookstore which is currently having a 20% markdown sale. It was still a tad expensive at 8 sgd but I knew I had to purchase it: Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Wind-up Girl. I’ve heard so much about Bacigalupi (particularly his Shipbreaker) that I know I had to own at least one of his works.
James Finn Garner’s Politically Correct Stories found on SALE
Ever since our featured Academic for our Fractured Fairy Tale theme, Professor Tuting Hernandez, recommended James Finn Garner – I have been aching to read Politically Correct Bedtime Stories for myself. I found this book in the church bargain bin for 1sgd. The sequel, entitled Once Upon a More Enlightened Time I found in Bras Basah for 5 sgd. Then I was able to unearth Politically Correct Holiday Stories for 6 sgd also at another store in Bras Basah! I feel like I am a bounty hunter indeed, finding these lovely treasures. 🙂
Novels-in-Verse from Margarita Engle
I also feel immensely privileged to receive this advance review copy from Margarita Engle’s publisher for her upcoming book, The Wild Book to be released on March 2012. We have featured two of Margarita’s works for Nonfiction Monday the past several weeks: The Surrender Tree and The Firefly Letters. To say that I have fallen in love with her writing would be an understatement. I look forward to reading this lovely book. And just several days back, I received this package from the mail from Margarita herself!! Such thrill! 🙂
Such a privilege. I feel deeply blessed that GatheringBooks has led us to many authors far and wide, and to fellow bibliophiles, educators, poets, novelists, artists whose sensibilities resonate with ours in our passion for the written word.
My 10 year old Daughter’s Nerdy Christmas Loot
Two weeks ago, I shared quite a number of our Christmas Par-tey photos with GatheringReaders, a book club for young readers that I initiated here in Singapore this December. Here are some of the books that my daughter received from the gift-giving: A. A. Milne’s The World of Pooh: The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner with Decorations and Full-color Illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard. She also received Dust City: Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? by Robert Paul Weston – a book that I myself, am excited to read.
I suppose it’s pretty obvious that we love Terry Deary in this household – and since she’s been a (relatively) good girl, she has the entire bloodcurdling boxed set of Horrible History books and Horrible Science too!
That’s an amazing loot, baby girl! 🙂 We are not such huge fans of techie/gadgetries/gaming – but books, we lovelovelove obviously.
And since she’s still on a Big Nate fix, she also got Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce – which she devoured in three hours, tops.
My Own Christmas Loot
And because I’ve been extra-good this year, I got these lovely goodies from my enabler Santa (err husband): The Chronicles of Harris Burdick compiled by Chris Van Allsburg and Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls – perfect for our new bimonthly theme connected to all things paranormal this January/February.
I have been fascinated by Clive Barker for the longest time. I already have a copy ofAbarat: Book One, but I was angling for the illustrated version – my husband mistakenly bought yet another copy of the non-illustrated one. I honestly didn’t mind. I was looking forward to re-reading my copy of Book One – and it’d be good to have a ‘new’ book in my hands. I was also ecstatic to receive a copy of Absolute Midnight, Book Three from the Abarat series. Does anyone know where I can get an illustrated version of the first book in Abarat? Fats and I are dying to find out.
I literally jumped up and down with glee when I saw Art Spiegelman’s Meta Maus.Cheapskate that I am, I would not have bought this for myself, since it’s quite expensive. It also comes with a DVD. 
Lovely! Thank you to my very own Santa!
Gathering Books 
Happy New Year! Looks like you and your daughter did great with the Christmas loot. She looks pretty happy with her books 🙂
I Loved A Monster Calls, and the Abarat series is supposed to be awesome too.
Enjoy all your new reads!
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Hi Lucy! I’ve been waiting for Book 3 of the Abarat series for years now! I have to confess that I now have totally forgotten what the tale is about, I just might have to re-read Books 1 and 2. 🙂
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Happy New Year’s day here in Denver, Myra. Your daughter especially did get a lot of book loot! Hurrah for her! I received Rin Tin Tin – The Life and Legend from my daughter, who knows I would love this, and 3 antique books from my brother who is getting ready to open an antique store: The Complete Poems of Robert Lewis Stevenson, a gorgeous old copy of A Christmas Carol, and an old copy of Alice In Wonderland, with Tenniel illustrations. It’s a lovely group of gifts that I will love. And, FYI-Paolo Bacigalupi is the husband of an old colleague and teacher at our school. His books are awesome! Plus, I keep forgetting to tell you that I love your trees background. I keep fussing with the look of my blog, as you noticed & may change again. I actually like messing about with it. Thanks for sharing; I always enjoy it!
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Hi Linda! I always love hearing about your book finds for the week. The gorgeous old copy of A Christmas Carol sounds luscious! Oh wow, you know Paolo Bacigalupi (through friends/colleagues), I am jealous!
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Oh my gosh! That is quite a haul! Both you and your daughter got some wonderful books!
Please let me know if your husband designs any bookish shirts or bags. I’m glad those designs helped!
Enjoy your books!
Amanda
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Hi Amanda, will probably post them here as well as soon as he does. 🙂
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So many amazing books! I especially love A Monster Calls!
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Yup, just looking at it gives me goosebumps. 🙂
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Hey, thanks for stopping by. I didn’t know there was a prequel to Skellig. I have read Clay by him, but I think that’s all.
I’ve not read Windup Girl. My daughter said it was “weird” but I have read Shipbreaker and loved it. Happy reading-looks like you have quite a haul there!
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Hi Annette, that’s what the Holidays are for! Books and more books!
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I’m jealous you got The Chronicles of Harris Burdick. We have it at the bookstore where I work and it looks SO awesome.
Hope you enjoy A Monster Calls! I really need to get my hands on a copy. 🙂
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Hi Alison, you work in a bookstore! Neat! Can’t wait to read Harris Burdick too. 🙂
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<—– Really interested in knowing where to get that illustrated version of ABARAT. I love the loot. As always. Especially your 'Politically Correct' series. =)
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We shall find that soon enough. 🙂
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Wow! That is one epic book haul!
Meta Maus sounds amazing. I read the graphic novels and I’m intrigued to read a look inside the series from the author’s perspective.
Hurricane Dancers sounds really good. And oh my goodness A Monster Calls will tear your heart to shreds. Make sure you’ve got the tissues handy for that one.
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Hi Beth, thanks for the tip. I just finished reading Crossing Stones by Helen Frost a few days back and I’ve just been crying like crazy. I have a feeling that’d happen again once I start reading A Monster Calls. 🙂
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Wow, that’s an epic haul! I’m loving all the books! I hope you enjoy each and every one of them!
Thanks for stopping by my IMM for this week! I’m always surprised when I win something because I always expect never to win. Sometimes it is just luck and sometimes it’s the odds :] I know there’s an movie called Across the Universe too, but I believe it has no relation to Beth Revis’s book. You should really check ATU. It’s an awesome read!
Happy New Year and Take Care ❤
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Hi Jessirae, I would definitely keep a look-out on ATU as you mentioned. Sounds interesting!
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Happy New Year!! You guys did great for Christmas! I used to love Goosebumps when I was a kid. 🙂
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Hi Ang, I’d have to agree! My daughter smiled when she noted a fellow-Goosebumps lover. 🙂
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Wow! What an amazing book week! I don’t even know where to start…I’m glad your daughter is enjoying the Big Nate series. It’s a big sell at the store I work for and I enjoy it if I can say so myself. Haven’t read Dust City yet, but want to and I’ve heard a lot about the Horrible History series but have never seen them. My curiosity has been peaked.
Happy New Year!
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Nice! you also work for a book store! Envious.
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I LOVED The Chronicles of Harris Burdick and need to get a finished copy for myself soon since all I have is an ARC. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick was my favourite Chris Van Allsburg growing up. I’ve also always wanted to read the Pippi books but have never got around to it – I must get them from the library ASAP.
Amazing books and happy reading! Plus, thanks for stopping by my IMM!!! 😀
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I know what you mean about loving The Mysteries of Harris Burdick – I reviewed that book several months ago. Fell in love with it. 🙂
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I haven’t read any of the Big Nate series, but I like books like that. I loved Goosebumps when I was younger. I hope you hade a great New Year.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I’m now following you through e-mail
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Hi Amy! 🙂 My daughter loves Big Nate.
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Happy New Year!!! You always find the best books on the cheap!! I need to scope out more thrift sales for books!! PS Good on you for scoring Bridge to Terabithia!! I want to read that one as well!
My In My Mailbox
♥ Melissa @ Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf
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Hi Melissa, I should get around to reading the book soon. The film adaptation is one of my absolute favorites. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by my IMM. You have a fantastic variety of books here. And I love the fact that you are raising your daughter to be a book lover also. I have 4 children and 2 of them got my love of books and the other 2, not so much!
Happy New Year!
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My daughter just arrived home from school yesterday, excited about the fact that they have fantastic new books in their library. That was a lovely moment.
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Awesome books! I hope you enjoy reading them all!
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Hi Christy, I do look forward to reading these lovelies.
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