The Sunday Meme In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren is a perfect way to share the book finds we have over the past week (or so): books bought, borrowed, recovered, shared, delivered to your doorstep, chanced upon you from the wayside – or what not. And yes, I admit defeat. I can’t get enough of Bras Basah Complex here in Singapore. Here are my recent book acquisitions:
Adult Literature at 2 for 5 sgd
William Butler Yeats’ Fairy & Folk Tales of Ireland I believe is quite a find. I have a special fascination with folktales having shared about Asian folktales on two conferences. I am also glad to have found Jhumpa Lahiri’s interpreter of maladies which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 – perfect as well for our very own Award-Winning-Books Reading Challenge (have you signed up yet? Do join us, if you haven’t). Ever since Iphigene has done a review of Unaccustomed Earth, I have been interested to read more of Lahiri’s fiction. It was also cool to have discovered Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South (which Iphigene reviewed here) as well as Joanne Harris’ Chocolat.
YA Fiction – again 2 for 5 sgd
I think of myself as a book hunter. For the past several weeks now, I have been quite lucky in finding bargain books for several series that I am collecting. Here is one of those: Lady Friday by Garth Nix. I knew about Eugene Trivizas through Fats’ review of her Three Little Pigs – I did not know that she also wrote YA: The Last Black Cat is then a cute find! Small Memories by José Saramago, Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, I think should be great for Nonfiction Monday. My husband was dismayed to have seen Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke here for sale (at 2.50 sgd) since he bought it for me as a present in its original price. Hehe. I thought that I might as well purchase one – perhaps for a giveaway? Or a gift for a good friend.
My daughter has been on a Gene Luen Yang streak for the past several weeks now. She positively devours Yang’s books – her favorite remains to be American Born Chinese. So when she found this Animal Crackers on sale (at 5.90 sgd, it still is not bad given its glossy pages), she could not let it go. She had to have it. 🙂
Freebies from Pansing Books
Needless to say, I was very happy to receive these goodies from Pansing Books for review: Red Glove by Holly Black and Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands & Teeth. I am hoping to read more YA literature this year. 🙂 We shall see how that goes.
Gathering Books 
I have heard much of The Forest of Hands & Teeth-will be interested to see what you think of it. Glad your daughter found the Yang books. I love American Born Chinese, too. I had a wonderful week of books & won’t tell all, but we have this week off because of Expo, so I spent the day Wednesday at my two (TWO) favorite independent bookstores, & bought quite a few what I think are wonderful books. Two I’m excited to read are Wonder by R.J. Palacio (so many have said it is great) & Snow Child: A Novel by Eowyn Ivey (adult) which is recently highly reviewed (advertising helps!). So, happy reading to you, Myra-I’m going to spend Sunday doing as much as I can before vacation is over. Thanks for letting us take a look at your latest!
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Hi Linda, I’ve been hearing a lot about The Forest of Hands and Teeth as well, that’s why I specifically asked for these two books for review. My daughter has fallen in love with Gene Luen Yang, she has borrowed (and finished reading) all of Yang’s books from the library. Glad to hear about your week off (I need a loooong break myself) – yes, you did mention about spending a day at your favorite independent bookstores. I am suffering from a bit of a withdrawal fever myself since I haven’t been to Bras Basah in two weeks now.
I’ve also heard a lot about Wonder by RJ Palacio, and I am definitely intrigued, would love to hear your thoughts about this book. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
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I just put up an IMM post as well. I got Griffin and Sabine, the first book in the trilogy 🙂
I hate it when I bought a book at full price and then chance upon the same title at a bargain price. It happened to me with The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. Not only was the bargain book just about only 1/3 of the price that I paid it was also hard bound to boot! Gah.
It looks like you have gotten some amazing titles here. I’ve never had a Gene Luen Yang book before, it looks pretty interesting. 😀
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Hi Tin! Yes, Bras Basah is Love. I’m glad you have Griffin and Sabine! 🙂 Enjoy the book. I’m sure you’d be able to finish it within a day’s time. I have Marcus Zusak’s The Book Thief but have not had the chance to read it yet. 🙂 You should get a copy of Gene Luen Yang, my daughter’s gaga about Yang. 🙂
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Nice collection! I would like that book of Irish fairy tales myself. I have a biography of Elizabeth Gaskell in my TBR pile — loved North and South! Have you read the rest of the Garth Nix series? If not, you’ll probably want to start with Mister Monday.
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Hi Tabatha, I’m pretty happy about the collection myself. 🙂 Haven’t tried reading an Elizabeth Gaskell yet, so I’m excited with this one. Regarding the Garth Nix series, I already have Mister Monday, the Wednesday one, as well as this Friday book. I’ve heard mixed reviews though about the series.
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That Yeats book looks great! Sounds similar to a collection of his work that I read last year!!
♥Melissa
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Hi Melissa, thanks for the visit. Anything by Yeats is Love. 🙂
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Chocolat was a great movie, that means the book is better right?
I need to get in Holly Black’s series. I love the cover for The Red Glove.
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Hi Amy, I do recall watching Chocolat before but for the life of me couldn’t remember the plot any longer. 🙂
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Awesome books this week!! They all look amazing 🙂
Happy reading and thanks for stopping by!!
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Hi Sarah, it was my pleasure, thanks for visiting as well. 🙂
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The fairy/folk tale book looks really cool! It’s always interesting to read ones from other cultures. Happy reading!
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Hi Alison, yes I do enjoy reading about folk tales. They do provide a glimpse of the culture’s spirit.
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$2 for Chocolat? Great find! I can never find amazing deals like that at my local library. I hope you enjoy Red Glove, so many great things about that book.
Happy reading!
Book Chelle
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Hi Book Chelle, aren’t the bargains amazing? Glad to hear that you enjoyed Red Glove. Can’t wait to start with the book. 🙂
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Every time you get a Garth Nix book, I get excited because he’s such a wonderful author.
Also? Your daughter has great taste. Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novels rock.
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Hi April, I am actually looking forward to meeting Garth Nix this week. He’s here in Singapore for a visit. 🙂 And yup my daughter has consumed almost all Gene Luen Yang books in our community library.
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Oh wow, great book haul this week! I have had Forest of Hands and Teeth on my TBR list for a long time now, I just haven’t had a chance to get to it yet! Someday I hope! 🙂
Hope you enjoy everything you got in this week! You can check out my IMM for this week by clicking on the link below 🙂
Lea @ LC’s Adventures in Libraryland
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Hi Lea, thanks for the visit. I’ve heard a lot about Forest of Hands and Teeth as well so I can’t wait to read it.
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The Forest of Hands and Teeth is such a good book/series! Happy reading =)
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Hi Cait! That’s what I heard! Can’t wait to read it.
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So many good books! I’ve never seen those editions of Red Glove and The Forest of Hands and Teeth – where are they from?
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Hi Katie, it’s from Singapore. 🙂 I know the book covers are different – I’ve seen the other book covers in other people’s mailboxes, I was pleased to note that mine is a little different. 🙂
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Ooh awesome haul! I really enjoyed the Forest of Hands and Teeth! ❤
Giselle
Xpresso Reads
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Hi Giselle, glad to hear you enjoyed the book. Looking forward to reading it myself.
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