Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page; you can look over at her site to find links to other readers’ mailboxes.
A fun variety of books and accessories came into the house last week:
I won a bookmark in a random drawing at Jeane’s DogEar Diary. This is two-sided, the picture of the bat continues on the reverse. When I opened it, my son said “Cool! Can I have it?!” I agreed to share, only if he remembered to put away his backpack after school each afternoon. So far he’s keeping up his end of the bargain.
Last Tuesday was the Book Fair for our local elementary school. Instead of inviting a large bookseller to set up in the school, the PTG (Parent Teacher Group, our version of the PTA) works with our local independent bookstore. They create classroom wish lists, parent/teacher recommendations, schedule guest readers to appear in the store throughout the day … oh, and the cookies … there are always yummy homemade cookies to draw you in. Ten percent of sales from the day are returned to the school (and you don’t even have to say some magic phrase at check-out, all purchases, even those from people walking in off the street, count toward the fundraiser.)
One of the books I purchased that day is Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. This was recommended to me by Jill at Fizzy Thoughts after I made a comment about being in a rut with my NaNoWriMo project. Jill is brilliant; Anne Lamott is smart, funny, and encouraging; and I’m out of my rut! Highly recommended book, but more about that when I write my full review.
I won a random drawing during BBAW, and I received the prize from Serena from Savvy Verse and Wit. It’s an issue of 32 Poems magazine. Each biennial issue contains – you guessed it! – 32 poems. The small format is perfect to tuck in a purse or tote; this will be coming with me on the road as we navigate Thanksgiving traffic this week. Serena has been conducting interviews with many of the poets featured in 32 Poems; you can find them on her blog.
Two books came into my house ‘just because’ from other book bloggers! I received a package from Care with Jennie Nash’s memoir The Victoria’s Secret Catalog Never Stops Coming: and other lessons I learned from breast cancer. Care knows I enjoy memoir and sent it to me as a surprise; there was an extra surprise inside – no, not pie – she included an oval READ sticker from her local bookstore 
I’ll be passing this book along to another reader who commented on Care’s post, after I have a chance to read and review it.
Another book came to me from Jill at Rhapsody in Books, via Ti at Book Chatter. Last month Jill reviewed Michael Buckley’s NERDS: National Espionage Rescue and Defense Society; it’s a Middle Grade book which commendably included a lot of multicultural characters and gave positive traits to the ‘nerds’ and ‘geeks’. Despite this effort, Jill noticed that any reference to physical beauty encompassed a stereotypical (and not multicultural) version. She asked for feedback from other readers, and I volunteered my 11-year-old son for the task. I’ll be sharing this book with another young reader when he is done with it.
What new books have made their way into your house and onto your nightstands this week? Any surprises from other readers?
I really like Anne Lamott. Glad you’re out of your rut!
I know you didn’t come away from that Book Fair with only one book! I love that idea – what a great excuse to go on a book shopping spree! Julie (Booking Mama) sent a nice package with surprises for me and Carl.
That’s great that you’re out of your rut. I look forward to reading your full review of Bird by Bird.
I go to the book sales for the cookies mainly; I don’t have much time for reading nowadays.
HEY! That’s me! I love those READ stickers… and I loved that Anne Lamott book very much. go you writer, you
So glad your son liked the bat bookmark! Hopefully he shares it again with you soon. (Or maybe hopefully not, if that means he’s reading!)
Nice haul today. Hope this finds you well and enjoy those books
Lots of good stuff ended up at your place this week! The Lamott book looks really interesting to me as does the YA book. I really hope that you enjoy them and I will be interested in reading your reviews!
I’ve given thought to trying to convince my kids’ school to switching to an indie store for our book fair. I know they do them. I would love to throw some business at them. I don’t think my librarian is too hot on the idea though. She has a comfort level with Scholastic. That is a great bunch of books. The book blogging community is amazing with those “just because” gifts. I’m blown away.
Can I just say again how much I like that mailbox?
So glad to hear Bird by Bird has helped! And that I’m brilliant.
Mary – the first few chapters of BIRD BY BIRD were like Lamott was talking directly to me. Helped boost me up and out!
Kathy – that was the only book for me! I can’t list the others where little eyes might see them
charley – the review will be an easy/quick one; maybe next week …
screen sleuth – try an audiobook with that cookie …
Care – that IS you! Thanks for the extra surprises!
Jeane – I may have to copy the pic of the bookmark from your site. My young man has dozens of books strewn around his room (I don’t know where he gets that!), and I don’t know which one has the batty bat!
jenny – thanks! None of them are specifically for review, all ‘at leisure’ reads. I will enjoy them.
zibilee – it was quite fun to get the packages, since I wasn’t expecting any books this week. And that Lamott book was a treat for myself.
Sandy – I know, old habits are hard to change. I’ve fought ‘but we’ve always done it this way’ a couple times. And, yes, the generosity of other readers is so refreshing … I’m trying to ‘pay it forward’
JoAnn – next summer I’ll get a pic in the sun (no shadow)
softdrink – you are brilliant! and quite the lyricist (what, no NaNo theme song for me?)
Anne Lamott is one of the first writing books I read and it is a gem. Unfortunately, I still don’t own my own copy. How odd is that!
Congrats on all the books, and I hope you like the little 32 Poems magazine. I look forward to your thoughts on it. Thanks for the links to my poet interviews.
I love Anne Lamott. I’ve only gotten to read Bird by Bird but I’m always on the lookout for her other nonfiction. I always go to Bird by Bird when I’m having a hard time with my writing. It always seems to calm me down a little bit, especially the chapter on Shitty First Drafts.
Oh I want that mailbox!!!! No new books this week but I picked up Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast last Friday.
“Bird by Bird” is one of the best book on being a writer I’ve ever read. If you want ideas for two more, here is a link for some others I liked:
http://www.findyournextbookhere.com/2008/11/books-about-writing-and-creative.html
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