Welcome to another Monday from the Interior, in which we share about the books we received in the mail (or bought), and talk about our bookish week, past and future.
Mailbox Monday is hosted through January by Alyce, At Home With Books; and What Are You Reading? is led by Sheila, at Book Journey.
MAILBOX MONDAY:
I didn’t receive any books this week!
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
This past week, I finished my usual number of reads, but one of them was a chunkster from my TBR stacks! How pleased was I.
Even more so, since it was a delightful read that seemed to breeze along.
I did a little blogging, too, in addition to the usual memes. Here are some of the posts:
HUMP DAY POTPOURRI -LIFE’S IRRITATIONS
Review: Unraveling Anne, by Laurel Saville
Review: Almost a Crime, by Penny Vincenzi
Review: Henry’s Sisters (e-book), by Cathy Lamb
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
This week, I plan to read some more books from my TBR stacks. Here’s my list for the week….
1. The Quick and the Thread, by Amanda Lee ( I received this one from Kaye, at Pudgy Penguin Perusals. Thanks!)
When Marcy Singer opens an embroidery specialty shop in quaint Tallulah Falls, Oregon, she throws a soiree and a Stitch-In. Soon, Marcy’s sign- up sheet for embroidery classes fills up and everyone in town seems willing to raise a glass-or a needle-to support the newly-opened Seven Year Stitch.
Then Marcy finds the shop’s previous tenant dead in the store-room, a message scratched with a tapestry needle on the wall beside him. Now Marcy’s shop has become a crime scene, and she’s the prime suspect. She’ll have to find the killer before someone puts a final stitch in her.
2. Diana: In Pursuit of Love, by Andrew Morton
Diana in Pursuit of Love includes previously unpublished details from the Diana-Morton tapes, it is based on wide-ranging research, and new and exclusive interviews. The definitive book on Diana, Pricess of Wales’s last years, by the biographer she herself chose.
3. One Day at a Time, by Danielle Steel
Danielle Steel celebrates families of every stripe in her compelling new novel—a tale of three very different couples who struggle and survive, love, laugh, and learn to take life…
Coco Barrington was born into a legendary Hollywood family, her last name loaded with expectations. Her mother is a mega-bestselling author who writes under the name of Florence Flowers—and her sister, Jane, is one of Hollywood’s top producers. They’re not your typical family by any means.…Jane has lived with her partner, Liz, for ten years, in a solid, loving relationship. Florence, widowed but still radiant, has just begun a secret romance with a man twenty-four years her junior. And Coco, a law school dropout and the family black sheep, works as a dog walker, having fled life in the spotlight for the artsy northern California beach town of Bolinas.
But when Coco reluctantly agrees to dog-sit in Jane’s luxurious home, she soon discovers how much things can change in just a matter of days.…It turns out Jane’s house comes complete with an unexpected houseguest: Leslie Baxter, a dashing but down-to-earth British actor who’s fleeing a psycho ex-girlfriend. Their worlds couldn’t be more different. The attraction couldn’t be more immediate….
4. Mudbound (e-book), by Hillary Jordan
It is 1946 in the Mississippi Delta, where Memphis-bred Laura McAllan is struggling to adjust to farm life, rear her daughters with a modicum of manners and gentility, and be the wife her land-loving husband, Henry, wants her to be. It is an uphill battle every day. Things started badly when Henry’s trusting nature resulted in the family being done out of a nice house in town, thus relegating them to a shack on their property. In addition, Henry’s father, Pappy, a sour, mean-spirited devil of a man, moves in with them.
The real heart of the story, however, is the friendship between Jamie, Henry’s too-charming brother, and Ronsel Jackson, son of sharecroppers who live on the McAllan farm. They have both returned from the war changed men: Jamie has developed a deep love for alcohol and has recurring nightmares; Ronsel, after fighting valiantly for his country and being seen as a man by the world outside the South, is now back to being just another black “boy.”
Told in alternating chapters by Laura, Henry, Jamie, Ronsel, and his parents, Florence and Hap, the story unfolds with a chilling inevitability. Jordan’s writing and perfect control of the material lift it from being another “ain’t-it-awful” tale to a heart-rending story of deep, mindless prejudice and cruelty. This eminently readable and enjoyable story is a worthy recipient of Kingsolver’s prize and others as well.
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I think it’s going to be another great week, with a variety of titles. And I’ll be clearing some books off my Old TBR stacks (No. 2 & 3).
What are the rest of you reading? What came in your mailbox? I hope you’ll stop by and share….
Hi Laurel-Rain,
I particularly like the sound of the Amanda Lee book, so that one has been added to my reading list.
I don’t read ‘cozy’ mysteries all that often, as they can sometimes be a little trite and predictable, but I love embroidery and knitting, so this one sounds great.
I have just finished a couple of very intense and moving books, so I could do with something a little more lighthearted right now. My book for this week is a romantic comedy ‘The Baggage Handler’, which was sent to me by the author, who unusually for this genre, is male, so I am looking forward to seeing just how Colin Browne handles the genre.
Have a great week, Yvonne
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Your book does sound intriguing…and I am also looking forward to the Amanda Lee book. Sometimes a cozy mystery mixed with the gritty ones is necessary for me.
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.
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We almost chose Mudbound as our next book club read so I’m curious to see what you think of it.
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I hope it’s as good as it looks…I’m excited about it. Thanks for stopping by, Laura, and have a great week.
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I bet that Diana book will be good Laurel. Have a fab week – and I am so glad you enjoyed Henry;s Sisters.
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I’m embarrassed at how long I’ve had some of these books on my stacks, Sheila, but I’m getting to them…and looking forward to them, too. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.
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The Quick and the Thread looks like fun! I have cozies as a challenge so I’ll be watching for your review. 🙂
Enjoy all of your reading.
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I’m glad I joined the cozies challenge, too; I’ve been drooling over the cozies covers for awhile now! lol
Thanks for stopping by, Martha E., and enjoy your week.
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“One Day at a Time” was a favorite of my mom’s recently. She really enjoyed it…she thought Danielle Steel had kind of been going downhill but this one was one of the better ones. 🙂
Great week!
http://brunettelibrarian.blogspot.com
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Oh, I had thought so, too, Brunette Librarian…but picked this one up awhile ago, thinking it sounded promising. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.
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Nice arrangement of books. 🙂
Come see my Monday as well! Have a great week everyone!
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Thanks for stopping by, Niina…I think I like the variety, too. Enjoy your week.
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I haven’t read a Danielle Steele novel for years, hope you enjoy it, I’ll be keen to know. I enjoyed your review of Henry’s Sisters.
Have a great week & happy reading 🙂
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I haven’t read one in a long while, either, Teddyree. I have had this one on my stacks for a few years, I’m afraid; I thought it sounded promising. Thanks for stopping by and visiting here and at several other posts. I loved Henry’s Sisters, and glad you liked the review.
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Some great books listed. I am glad you enjoyed Henry’s Sisters as much as I did!
Wishing you a great reading week!
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
http://www.bookdout.wordpress.com
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Thanks for visiting, Shelleyrae…I like the variety I have this week. As for Henry’s Sisters, I’ve read and enjoyed this author, and after downloading it for Sparky, decided I needed to plunge right in. Have a great week.
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My last semester beings on Wednesday. This is my last week of reading tons for a while. Please come see what I’m reading.
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Oh, I do recall how little “fun” books I got to read while in school. Hope you enjoy the ones you manage to slip in. Thanks for stopping by, Sarah, and have a great week.
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Looks like you have a great reading week ahead of you. I’ve heard a bit about Mudbound. Sometimes not receiving any books can be a relief. Happy reading!
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Yes, I need to catch up! Thanks for visiting, Lady Q, and I hope you have a great week.
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A nice variety of books, indeed! I’ve got Mudbound on my shelves and want to read it soon. Hope you’ll enjoy it.
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Thanks for stopping by, Judith…I’m looking forward to Mudbound, too. It’s on my Kindle….and I recently read When She Woke, by this author.
Enjoy your week.
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I’ve got The Quick and the Thread buried on my TBR shelf, too — thanks for reminding me! The Diana book sounds interesting, although it’s hard to believe there are still any “unpublished details” about her out there. Hope you enjoy all your reading this week.
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I’ve had my copy for awhile, too….decided it was time! I, too, find it hard to believe there are any “unpublished” details on Diana…but I’ve had the book for 3-4 years, I think.
Thanks for stopping by, Joy, and enjoy your week.
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I think you will enjoy The Quick and the Thread. Thread Reckoning is the next in the series and The Long Stitch Goodnight comes out in April. You know me and my cozies. I need to check out Mudbound, sounds good!
Lori
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Yes, I decided to start reading some cozies, and even joined a challenge. Looking forward to adding this genre….thanks for stopping by, Lori.
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I love the title of The Quick and the Thread, it made me laugh!
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Oh, me too, Crystal…thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.
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I’ve been meaning to read Mudbound for two years now! We should all get together and read it together and post our thoughts! 🙂 Happy Reading!
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I only discovered it after reading When She Woke. I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for stopping by, Sharon, and enjoy your week.
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The cozy challenge sounds like a good one. I joined the Mystery and Thriller Challenge so will have the cozies listed there. Have fun with your books!
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I’m excited about it, Harvee…it gives me a good excuse to savor the cozy books I’ve been drooling over….thanks for stopping by.
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You will enjoy Mudbound! I just finished Cathy Lamb’s newest book, and oh my, it was good.
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I am sure I will, Nise…I loved the blurb, and I enjoyed this author in her other book, When She Woke. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.
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Was the newest Lamb book Julia’s Chocolates? I’ve preordered it.
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You always have so many books going! Good for you!
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Thanks, Deb…I like to present myself with a variety to tempt me through the week…lol
Glad you could stop by, and enjoy your reading.
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Diana’s book will probably be very interesting. 🙂
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Yes, I’ve read two or three other Diana books, so this one seemed like a good “finale.” Thanks for stopping by, kah_cherub, and have a good week.
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I have the Amanda Lee book on my wishlist. It sounds really good. Enjoy!
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Oh, it is, Yvonne…I just finished it and will be putting up my review today. Hope you enjoy it, too, and thanks for visiting.
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One of my friends has been raving about Mudbound recently. Enjoy your week!
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Thanks for stopping by, Jen…I hadn’t heard much about it, and then it seemed everyone was talking about it.
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I haven’t read any of these books. Hope you enjoy!
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Oh, have a great week, Karen, and thanks for stopping by.
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Mudbound is on my wishlist. I really hope to get to it sometime.
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Oh, so do I, Aths….have a great week, and thanks for visiting.
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We all need a quiet week every now and again. Have a great week of reading! Can’t wait to see what you think of Mudbound.
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I think next week will be completely different, as several books I’ve preordered are coming! Thanks for visiting, Anna.
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Oh I so want to read Henry’s Sisters! I should be getting it in about 2-3 wks! Yay:)
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Oh, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for stopping by, Elisha.
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