How fast time flies! This is now our 43rd contribution to Story Siren’s In My Mailbox, a Sunday meme devoted to sharing the books that flew to our hands over the past weeks or so. This week, I am sharing both my book finds as well as my daughter’s – the ones we got from Bras Basah here in Singapore and from the community library.
Graphic Novels: Library Loot
My ten year old daughter is in a Peanuts phase – she finished the other Charlie Brown comic book several weeks back and she’s in for more: The Complete Peanuts by Schultz. Since we are also doing a Star Wars marathon (Episodes 1 – 6 in its proper order thank you very much), she wanted to borrow this one as well: Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the graphic novel edition.
Goosebumps and Fear Street Mania
Oooh, yeah. That’s a lot of R. L. Stine right there: Fright Camp, The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, The Girl who Cried Monster, Go Eat Worms among others. I now have a newfound respect for her ability to know intimately all the titles found in her bookshelf – as she searches avidly for those which she does not yet own. I am raising a reader! Since these gently-used books are being sold for 1 dollar each, and we can still make room in her bookshelves, then it’s hers!
She was also very excited to find these Fear Street titles, she thought that she could also branch out to these lovelies: Hide and Shriek and Who’s been sleeping in my grave? Apparently these books are two-in-one otherwise known as Twice Terrifying Tales: Stay Away from the tree house and Eye of the Fortune Teller.
Fantasy and Adult Literature
I am pretty excited by this find: The Runaway Dolls by Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin and illustrations by Brian Selznick – because I own Books 1 and 2 in this lovely trilogy! What are the chances of me finding Book 3 on sale at 3 books for 10 sgd. 🙂 I was also particularly taken with Wormwood by G. P. Taylor – seemed like my kind of reading material.
I love A. S. Byatt’s Possession and as is my wont, I usually collect novels from an author who has captured my heart, thus I am happy to find Babel Tower also on sale (2 books for 5 dollars), alongside Toni Morrison’s Jazz and Melina Marchetta’s multi-award-winning book that apparently has already been made into a film: Looking for Alibrandi. I thought that this would be a perfect book to include to our very own Award-Winning-Books Reading Challenge (do sign up here if you haven’t already).
When I was in San Francisco, I found a few of Anais Nin’s diaries in Green Apple, their fantabulous bookstore in the Bay Area, so I was happy to find Fire – from a Journal of Love by Anais Nin. I have also been intrigued by Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers so it’s great to find it on sale as well.
Gathering Books 
I LOOVED R.L Stine when I was younger. In fact I am pretty sure I still have at least one book of his stashed in the corners of my bookshelf somewhere. He is the reason I love horror/thriller novels.
I haven’t read much of Toni Morrison, but Jazz is really good. We read it in a Modern Fiction class I took my junior year in school. I recently added The Bluest Eye to my TBR list.
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Hi Jayla, great to hear from you. I love how my daughter’s fixation on Goosebumps has also led her to other books and other genre, and I also enjoy seeing her very passionate about the titles that she’s read and those which she has yet to read.
Toni Morrison is a favorite. Have you read Beloved? That one was truly disturbing and life-altering. I fell in love with her because of that book. Glad to hear that Jazz is good, looking forward to reading that. I’ve seen The Bluest Eye around, but sadly I was not able to purchase it when it was on sale.
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National Bookstore is having a sale until today so I went in and got two books I’ve been wanting to buy since last year.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Jenni Epperson’s “Fashion + Food: Entertaining at Home in Style”
I got both at 20% off.
The boyfriend also got two books, both by Filipino author Eros Atalia.
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Hi Vera, great to hear from you again. I’ve seen that Steve Jobs book around, I’d probably wait for the film adaptation, I’m sure it’s being negotiated right now as we speak. Good to know that NBS is having a sale, that’s nice. In time for the summer, I think. Haven’t heard of Eros Atalia, will look into that. 🙂
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Just received a small order from Amazon, Here’s A Little Poem, that new book for little ones by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusak Peters, ill. by Polly Dunbar (for my granddaughter), Hidden by Helen Frost, Imogene’s Last Stand, and The Arrow Finds Its Mark by Georgia Heard. Those middle two are because of your reviews, Myra. You’re costing me money, but enriching my reading! Thanks (te he).
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Hi Linda, I’m so glad that you got these lovely titles. Hidden has received quite a number of awards this year, have you heard? I have a feeling that you would truly love Imogene’s Last Stand. 🙂 Have fun with your new books this week! 🙂
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Your book selections bring back memories of my childhood. My little sister got into that Goosebumps series in a big way too. As I am a few years her senior, I went through a similar phase with ‘pick-a-path’ novels. ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ was a novel we all read hear in Australia in our pre-teens/teens but it seems to have stood the test of time. Enjoy!
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Hello there Jo, your ‘pick-a-path’ novels sound awfully like the choose-your-own-adventure books I also loved as a child. I’ve heard a lot about Looking for Alibrandi so I’m glad to note that it’s a good read. I’m looking forward to reading my copy soon. Thanks for dropping by.
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Oh R.L. Stine WAS my middle school years! Although I wasn’t a huge fan of the Goosebumps books (they were too young for me), I devoured the Fear Street books like no one’s business! Enjoy!
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Hi Tina, my daughter is crazy about Goosebumps. 🙂 She has an entire row in her bookshelves just devoted to these titles. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
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Awesome collection! I’ve never read a Goosebumps but I bet my kids will. Love the adult lit titles!
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Hi Debbie, glad to see you here. I haven’t read any Goosebumps myself, but my daughter seems to really enjoy it.
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Ahhhh I used to love RL Stine. Great mailbox! Thanks for stopping by! 😀
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Hi Amber, nice to see that it triggered a few memories. Thank you for the visit too.
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Wow! Lots of variety this week. 🙂
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Hi Beth, I live for variety (and books!). 🙂
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Oh I LOVE the cover for The Runaway Dolls. I haven’t fallen head over heals with Brian Selznick’s books, but I am loving his illustrative style! Maybe I’d like a book more if he was just the illustrator. Happy reading, I hope you get to choose your own adventure for some of those Goosebumps. 😛
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Hi Heidi, the “Doll People trilogy” just might be the thing for you since Selznick’s role here is the illustrator. 🙂 Haven’t found a choose your own adventure thing for the Goosebumps books yet. 🙂
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The Runaway Dolls looks really good. Love the cover of Wormwood too. Hope you and your daughter enjoy all your fun new reads!
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Hi Lucy, yes, I’m pretty excited to read those novels. Wormwood also promises to be a good read. 🙂
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Ah!!!! Goosebumps and Fear Street!!!! Oh boy, that brings back memories.. I loved R.L. Stine!! 🙂
I haven’t heard of Runaway Dolls before but it’s THE Ann M. Martin!? Omg.. your IMM today just brought back a wave of nostalgia 🙂
Michele | IMM
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Hi Michele, yes it IS the Ann Martin. 🙂 Can’t wait to read the trilogy. My daughter smiled at your comment, she adores Goosebumps. 🙂
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I remember Goosebumps! I wasn’t allowed to read them as a kid, now I read Stephen King LOL! Great mailbox thanks for stopping by!!
Lily
So say we all!
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Haha, I also had a Stephen King phase when I was in my early 20s. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
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OMG your IMM brings back memories! I remember reading the Goosebumps books and not being able to sleep! Great haul!
Thanks for stopping by!
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Hi Jenni, it’s a good thing my daughter still manages to sleep fitfully despite the bookshelf of Goosebumps near her bed. She hardly ever reads them at night though. 🙂
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Great haul!! Goosebumps used to be one of my childhood favourites!! Looking for Alibrandi is also one of my favourites and Melina Marchetta is an awesome writter. Enjoy all of your books. Thanks for stopping by my blog
Ange @ the Moonlight Reader
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Hi Ange, I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed Looking for Alibrandi, now I can’t wait to read it too! 🙂 Thanks for dropping by as well.
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AHHHH GOODSEBUMPS!! I used to have a couple of them lying around from my childhood days, and now I regret donating them :S..They’re so awesome. Always used to creep me out.
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Giselle from booknerd.ca
In My Mailbox
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Hi Giselle, my daughter is fiercely involved with her Goosebumps collection. I don’t think she’d give them up in the near future. 🙂 Thank you for visiting.
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Great mailbox! I really need to get some Goosebumps books for my little man. 🙂 Enjoy!
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Yup! Do let me know if your little man enjoys it too. 🙂
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