In My Mailbox

I've been away and haven't posted about the books I've received for a long time. So I'm excited to write it this week and talk about the books I acquired recently and how excited I am to read them. Again thanks to the very creative Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie, the blogs where this meme started. And thank you Nancy, the Ravenous Reader, who gave me several of these titles. You made my week.

1. The Eternal Kiss
13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire
Edited by Trisha Telep
Stories by Kelley Armstrong, Holly Black, Libba Bray, Sarah rees Brennan, Rachel Caine, Cassandra Clare, Melissa de la Cruz, Lili St Crow, Cecil Castellucci, Nancy Holder, Dina James, Karen Mahoney, and Maria Snyder.

Can't get better than this


2. Hamlet by John Marsden
From the back: Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, but Hamlet can’t be sure what’s causing the stench. His rage at his mother’s infidelities — together with his greed for the sensual Ophelia and his dead father’s call to revenge a "murder most foul" — have his mind in chaos, and he wants to scatter his traitorous uncle’s insides across the fields. But was it really his father’s ghost that night on the ramparts, or a hell-fiend sent to trick him? "Action is hot," he tells Ophelia, who lives shut up in a tower with her longings and lust. "Action is courage, and reflection is cowardly. Picking up the knife has the colors of truth. As soon as I hesitate. . . ." In this dark, erotically charged, beautifully crafted novel, John Marsden brings one of Shakespeare’s most riveting characters to full-blooded life in a narrative of intense psychological complexity.

I've always loved Shakespeare's plays so am very interested in this new interpretation.

3. Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones
From the back: When Andrew Hope's magician grandfather dies, he leaves his house and field-of-care to his grandson who spent much of his childhood at the house. Andrew has forgotten much of this, but he remembers the very strong-minded staff and the fact that his grandfather used to put the inedible large vegetables on the roof of the shed, where they'd have vanished in the morning. He also remembers the very colorful stained glass window in the kitchen door, which he knows it is important to protect. Into this mix comes young Adrian Crane, who turns up from the orphanage asking for safety. Exactly who he is and why he's there is unclear, but a strong connection between the two becomes apparent. There is a mystery to be solved, and nothing is as it appears to be. But nobody can solve the mystery, until they find out exactly what it is!

4. The Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
From the back: As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy. Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to reclaim his place in Billi's life, but she's met someone new: Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else, effortlessly claiming a stake in her heart.

But the Templars are called to duty before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years - a cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's firstborn. To save her city from catastrophe, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined.

I've heard so much about it. Can't wait

5. Diary of a Chav by Grace Dent

For those of you who don't know what a chav is (and I didn't) it's a derogatory term applied to aggressive teenagers or young adults in the UK, who are usually of working class background, engage in anti-social behavior, and are often assumed to be unemployed or in a low paid job. And often come from Essex! My cousin insisted I read this because she found it hilarious.

From the back: Shiraz Bailey Wood lives on an estate in Goodmayes, Essex, with her sister Cava-Sue, her mum Diane and her loved-up friend Carrie. It's a limited world for this loveable Essex dreamer: Hoodies, hip-hop and hanging about outside Claire's Accessories. Taking her flatulent Staffy for a walk. Lusting after local lad Wesley Barrington Baines II. But when new English Teacher Miss Brackett arrives at Mayflower Academy, Shiraz is made to see there's more to life than getting excluded, suped up Vauxhall Novas and Chicago Town pizza. It's time Shiraz began thinking what she wants to do with life. And what sort of person she wants to be. A lot of folk call Shiraz Bailey Wood a chav. Well if by 'Chav' you mean 'Charming, Hilarious, Articulate and Vibrant', she doesn't mind that at all. Call her what you want. She don't care. She's keeping it real.

5. Vampire Romance
Edited by Trisha Telep
Stories by Karen Chance, Keri Arthur, :ilith Saintcrow, CT Adams, Amanda Ashley, Vicki Pettersson, Susan Sizemore, and more. Not young adult but yummy

They look so good I can't decide where to start. Any suggestions? Have to finish Eyes Like Stars first (which is great).

So that's in my mailbox. What was in yours?