In My Mailbox 17/4/11

In My Mailbox is a meme held by the lovely Kristi at The Story Siren that encourages bloggers to share all the new books that have made it into their houses this week. All descriptions and links are from/go to Goodreads.

My New Books:

I visisted my amazing local second hand bookshop (yay!) this week so it was a good book week for me!

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she’s never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.

As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it’s a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy’s uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. But the war is everywhere, and Daisy and her cousins must lead each other into a world that is unknown in the scariest, most elemental way.

I recently read The Bride's Farewell by the same author and I didn't really enjoy it all that much so you may be asking... why get another of her books? Well, I saw on Goodreads that a lot of reviews for The Bride's Fareqell said they were disappointed because How I Live Now was a lot better. Also, Meg Rosoff's writing was beauitful at times even if I didnt like The Bride's Farewell overall. It's a good quality hardback at a very cheap price so I thought I'd give Meg Rosoff another try....

Saskia's Jounrey by Theresa Breslin

Saskia Granton is intrigued by an invitation to visit her mysterious great-aunt Alessandra up on the Scottish coast. It's a chance to rediscover her lifelong love of the sea, but Saskia also slowly realizes how little she really knows about her roots.

I read this sometime last year when I got it out from the library and quite liked it so I couldn't resist buying it. I love having copies of books I've read to remind me of them every time I look at my bookshelf!

Cuckoo In The Nest by Michelle Magorian

 As an evacuee, Ralph received a good education, but after the war Ralph's working-class father resents his education and his ambition to be an actor, and is furious when Ralph is sacked from the paper mill. The story traces Ralph's struggle to reconcile the disparate strands of his life.

I've read this one too and although I'd like to re-read it sometime. I actually bought it for my 11 year old brother. He's already used up the amount of money he was allowed to spend and he loved Michelle Magorian's Good Mr Tom (we recently went to see a fantastic play version of it at the threatre recently) so I thought he would enjoy this one too.

The Foundling by Georgette Heyer

One of readers', librarians' and booksellers' most frequently requested Heyers, The Foundling features Gilly, the seventh Duke of Sale.

A diffident young man of 24 years, easily pushed around by his overprotective uncle and the retinue of devoted family retainers who won't let him lift a finger for himself, the Duke sometimes wishes he could be a commoner. One day he decides to set out to discover whether he is "a man, or only a Duke."   Beginning with an incognito journey into the countryside to confront a blackmailer, he encounters a runaway school boy, a beautiful but airheaded orphan, one of literature's most appealing and well-spoken comic villains, and a series of alarming and even life threatening events from which he can extricate himself only with the help of his shy and lovely fiance.

Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer

Renowned gamester and the first to admit that he is entirely devoid of a romantic disposition, Max Ravenscar regards all eligible females with indifference and unconcern. But when he meets the woman his young cousin Adrian is bent on marrying- the beautiful Deborah Grantham, Mistress of his aunt's gaming house- he fins that none of his experience in risk and gambling had prepared him for such a worthy opponent.

I bought both of these just before I left the shop when I went to return a book that I decided not to buy in the end and discovered them there. It was only when I went home that I really looked at the descriptions properly because I was just excited to be able to get my hands on some Heyer books.

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Stephanie <3