Although three books in a couple of weeks is actually pretty generous when it comes to new books, I have to say it's a little depressing to get so few packages in the mail. Nothing but fliers, credit card applications (are they crazy?), and bills have been showing up in my mail box. It's much nicer to come home and find a mailer with a book on my desk. I need to start mooching more books or something. However, for the moment I will content myself with the three new books that did show up:
Random Acts of Heroic Love by Danny Scheinmann - I lucked out and found this one on Bookmooch. It's one I have looked at online numerous times but just wasn't sure about. It's set in both contemporary times and in 1917. It was a 'Richard and Judy' pick (I take it they are comparable to our Oprah), so I'll be curious to see if it lives up to the hype. Certainly the story sounds appealing to me.
Love and Summer by William Trevor - This has been longlisted for the Booker Prize but I ordered it mainly because the story sounds interesting and I like Trevor's writing and have wanted to read more of his work. I also found it for 54% off at The Book Depository, so it was literally a steal (I couldn't pass it up--I was waiting for a library copy, but now I have a new book to call my own). It's set in a small Irish town during a long hot summer.
The Finest Type English Womanhood by Rachel Heath - Darlene tempted me with this one. I had not even heard of it, but it sounds like something I would really like. It's set just after WWII in South Africa. The jacket blurbs calls it "a chilling portrait of racial tension, social immorality, betrayal and love, and an assured atmospheric examination of the end of innocence." That sounds a tall order, but if the author pulls it all off I will have made a very good investment!
So next week I might actually have a better mail week to look forward to as I've ordered a few used/bargain books mostly from Alibris (meaning the packages will come separately). I know I should try and wean myself from this addiction, but books don't involve empty calories or impair my driving (should I choose to do so). That's got to count for something.