BREAKING NEWS

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Mailbox Monday (23) and Books Bought Meme (4)

Didn't get any books in the mailbox last week but I was shopping at Costco and, of course, I made my way to the book section. I couldn't resist picking up the following books.This meme is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. You should check out her blog and see what others have received and to play along.The Books Bought meme is hosted by Cindy at Cindy's Love of Books, where you list your books or bookish items bought either in a week or month or whenever.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden takes root in your imagination and grows into something enchanting--from a little girl with no memories left alone on a ship to Australia, to a fog-soaked London river bend where orphans comfort themselves with stories of Jack the Ripper, to a Cornish sea heaving against wind-whipped cliffs, crowned by an airless manor house where an overgrown hedge maze ends in the walled garden of a cottage left to rot. This hidden bit of earth revives barren hearts, while the mysterious Authoress's fairy tales (every bit as magical and sinister as Grimm's) whisper truths and ignite the imaginary lives of children. As Morton draws you through a thicket of secrets that spans generations, her story could cross into fairy tale territory if her characters weren't clothed in such complex flesh, their judgment blurred by the heady stench of emotions (envy, lust, pride, love) that furtively flourished in the glasshouse of Edwardian society. While most ache for a spotless mind's eternal sunshine, the Authoress meets the past as "a cruel mistress with whom we must all learn to dance," and her stories gift children with this vital muscle memory.

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian village, Kavita gives birth to Asha. But in a culture that favours sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter's life is to give her away. It is a decision that will haunt her and her husband for the rest of their lives, even after the arrival of their cherished son. Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband Krishnan see a photo of baby Asha from a Mumbai orphanage, they are overwhelmed with emotion for her. Somer knows life will change with the adoption, but is convinced that the love they already feel will overcome all obstacles. Interweaving the stories of Kavita, Somer, and Asha, "Secret Daughter" poignantly explores issues of culture and belonging. Moving between two worlds and two families, one struggling to survive in the fetid slums of Mumbai, the other grappling to forge a cohesive family despite their diverging cultural identities, this powerful debut novel marks the arrival of a fresh talent poised for great success.

The Tsarina's Daughter by Carolly Erickson (Bought this one at Coles)


It is 1989 and Daria Gradov is an elderly grandmother living in the rural West. What neighbors and even her children don’t know, however, is that she is not who she claims to be—the widow of a Russian immigrant of modest means. In actuality she began her life as the Grand Duchess Tatiana, known as Tania to her parents, Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra.

And so begins the latest entrancing historical entertainment by Carolly Erickson. At its center is young Tania, who lives a life of incomparable luxury in pre-Revolutionary Russia, from the magnificence of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to the family’s private enclave outside the capital. Tania is one of four daughters, and the birth of her younger brother Alexei is both a blessing and a curse. When he is diagnosed with hemophilia and the key to his survival lies in the mysterious power of the illiterate monk Rasputin, it is merely an omen of much worse things to come. Soon war breaks out and revolution sweeps the family from power and into claustrophobic imprisonment in Siberia. Into Tania’s world comes a young soldier whose life she helps to save and who becomes her partner in daring plans to rescue the imperial family from certain death.

So what did you get in your mailbox last week?

Share this:

14 comments :

  1. Those all look good to me! The book section in Costco can be dangerous. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ohhh THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN looks really good, and I've heard lots of great things about it!
    And TSARINA'S DAUGHTER looks interesting - I did a paper on the Romanovs last semseter - I love them!!
    Have a great week, and happy reading :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. What Costco did you go to? The one in PC didn't have much that interested me.

    Thanks for taking part in books bought. I actually have the forgotten garden on my TBR pile.

    Enjoy your books.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ah, it is so hard to resist the book table at Costco! Nice finds!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I want to read ALL of these - enjoy them all.

    Here is my Mailbox Monday: http://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2010/03/mailbox-monday_28.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. I bought The Forgotten Garden at B&N not too long ago, but haven't opened the cover. I got Very Valentine in the mail this week and bought Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick and Ladies of Liberty by Cokie Roberts, while on vacation in the Williamsburg/DC area. Seemed historically appropriate.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tsarina's daughter looks really good. Just added it to my TBR list. Secret Daughter looks good too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Enjoy your books. My Costco doesn't sell books. My MM is here.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The Forgotten Garden and Secret Daughter are on my tbr list. Hope you enjoy all your books!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Tsarina's Daughter would interest me very much. I'm reading Russka now about the history of Russia. Fascinating! The Forgotten Garden is a fabulous read. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have The Tsarina's Daughter on my wish list. I have The Forgotten Garden in one of the many tbr piles here! Enjoy all your new finds!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have The Forgotten Garden but haven't been able to read it yet. The Tsarina's Daughter looks great! Happy reading. My mailbox is at The Crowded Leaf.

    ReplyDelete
  13. All of those look awesome! I'' be keeping an eye out for your reviews. Here's my Mailbox.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting! I appreciate your feedback.

Visit Us Today

Visit Us Today
iRead: getting your book in the hands of readers
 
Back To Top
Copyright © 2009-2017 Laura Fabiani Library of Clean Reads . Designed by OddThemes OddThemes