I really love my book subscriptions--it started with Melville House, then grew to Melville House and NYRB Classics, and now I have added subscriptions to Soho International Crime and Soho Teen. My first shipment arrived this week and look what a treat I had waiting for me. How fitting that an independent publisher of (mostly) crime novels should come in a plain envelope and the books inside wrapped in black paper!
Aside from wanting to support small independent publishers, there is the joy that comes with a monthly shipment of books. I know more or less what to expect from Melville House (classics in novella form) and NYRB Classics (literary fiction, reissued classics), and now I will get introduced to international crime novels and contemporary YA literature. I'm actually not unfamiliar with Soho Crime as I have many of their backlist titles on my shelves and have read quite a few of their authors. Their YA imprint, however, will be new to me. I don't read a lot of YA literature, but it's not that I try and avoid it, I just have lots and lots of other books at the ready.
In case you are thinking of subscribing to Soho International Crime--beware--spoilers (of a sort) to follow!
And what was inside that plain black wrap? Here's a peek inside. My first books! And a few other surprises. A handy bookbag (I love bookbags and feel you can never have enough of them), and a little box rather mysteriously anonymous yet heavy in its weight. What could it be?
Oh dear! But wait, don't be alarmed. (We are talking crime novels here).
Hah. This is definitely one of the more creative flash drives that I have ever come across! I think I will save it for home use only.
And the best for last--the books! Henry Chang's Death Money is the fourth in a series of mysteries featuring NYPD Detective Jack Yu investigating the murder of a man who has been fished out of the Harlem River. It looks like a gritty noirish mystery set in the dark underside of NYC's Chinatown. I'm starting my reading here.
Henry Chang is a new-to-me author, but I like what I've read so far. I'm trying to orient myself to the characters, who by a fourth book are already established. I prefer reading mysteries in the order they've been published, but I don't think not having read the previous stories will put me at too much of a disadvantage. And a good sign--I am already planning on going back to the first book in the series and reading it next.
Ask Me by Kimberly Pauley is my YA instalment. I'm not at all familiar with this author, but the reviews seem quite positive, so this will be an adventure.
"Paranormal gets a Stephen King makeover: An oracle in a small-town Florida uses her troubling gift to stop a murderer—before he comes for her."
I like reading outside my comfort zone (though at least I am still on familiar terrain since this is still a novel of suspense and mystery), so I can't wait to start this one as well.
This package was too much fun, so I had to share. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be catching up with telling you about recently finished reads.