In My Mailbox (55)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Sadly the only books I order are those that are hard to find. The following books are from the library and bookstores.

Library:

Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires, book 1) by Rachel Caine; 2006.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

Can I just say that Glass Houses was awesome. I finished it Thursday night (couldn't put it down to go to bed).  

The China Governess (Albert Campion, book 17) by Margery Allingham; 1962.

Timothy Kinnit is rich, handsome and well-bred. He seems to have everything. Then, on the eve of his elopement, he learns that he was adopted, and he is desperate to know who he really is. Someone seems no less keen to stop him finding out. Violence, deception and death bedevil the post-war housing estate that has grown from the ashes of the notorious Turk Street Mile, and the shadow of a long-forgotten murder hangs over it all — until Luke and Campion are finally able to dispel the darkness.

Margery Allingham's book sounded kind like an Agatha Christie murder mystery, so I decided to give it a try. Too bad my library didn't have the first though *sigh*. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's good.

The Blue Girl (Newford, book 17) by Charles de Lint; 2004.

When Imogene, her mother, and her brother move to Newford, she decides to reinvent herself-this time she won't go looking for trouble. She quickly gets to know two very different people. Maxine is a "good girl," following a strict life plan. Imogene helps Maxine loosen up and break a few rules, and in turn Maxine keeps her on the straight and narrow. Imogene's other new friend is a little more unusual. His name is Adrian. He is a ghost. Adrian was killed when he jumped off the high school roof in 1998, and hasn't left since. He has a huge crush on her--so much so that he wants her to see the fairies that also haunt the school. The fairies invade Imogene's dreams, blurring the line between the unreal and the real. When her imaginary childhood friend Pelly actually manifests, Imogene knows something is terribly wrong. With Maxine, Adrian, and Pelly's help, Imogene challenges the dark forces of Faery. This compelling novel from Charles de Lint, the acknowledged founder of the "urban fantasy" genre, is set in the city of Newford, home to some of his best stories. After reading it, you will want to live in Newford, too. 

I have finally (after a couple of years) decided that it was high time I read The Blue Girl, which sounds like an amazing read. I cannot wait to start it!

The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax. book 2) by Dorothy Gilman; 1970.

When Emily Pollifax answers the phone that Sunday morning, she quickly forgets all about her Garden Club tea that afternoon. For the voice on the other end belonged to a man she had never seen, a man from the CIA who asked her if she could leave immediately on a mission that would take her halfway across the world! What could Mrs. Pollifax say but yes?

I loved The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax and couldn't wait to read about her next adventure, so I requested this one as soon as I had finished the first one.

The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, book 1) by John Flanagan; 2005.

He had always wanted to be a warrior. The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, made him nervous. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice. What he doesn’t realize yet is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied . . . .

The Ruins of Gorlan is another book that I have been wanting to read for awhile, but that I always kept putting off. Although i really cannot wait to read it now.

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes short stories) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; 1894.

Eleven of the best and most popular tales of the immortal sleuth include "Silver Blaze," concerning the "curious incident of the dog in the night-time"; "The Greek Interpreter," starring Holmes' even more formidable brother, Mycroft; and "The Final Problem," the detective's notorious confrontation with arch-criminal Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was so good that I immediately ordered The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. I had the hardest time finding a synopsis for this book.

The Mysterious Benedict Society (Mysterious Benedict Society, book 1) by Trenton Stewart, 2007.

ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD Looking for special opportunities?

When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear listener, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.
As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?
Welcome to the mysterious benedict society.

I had seen this title floating around the blogosphere, so when I saw it at the library I decided I'd give it a go.

Borrowed:

Priestblock 25487: A Memoir of Dachau by Jean Bernard; 2008.

In May 1941, Father Jean Bernard was arrested for denouncing the Nazis and deported from his native Luxembourg to Dachau's "Priest Block," a barracks that housed more than 3,000 clergymen of various denominations (the vast majority Roman Catholic priests).

Priestblock 25487 tells the gripping true story of his survival amid inhuman brutality and torture.
This inspiring book, originally published in Germany in 1963, was adapted into the award-winning film The Ninth Day in 2004.
Now translated into English for the first time, Priestblock features a Preface by Seán Cardinal O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, and an Introduction by Robert Royal.

I'd like to thank Zombie Girrl for lending me her copy of Pristblock 25487.

Review:

Pegasus ARC by Robin McKinley; Nov. 2nd, 2010.

A gorgeously-written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her pegasus

Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pegasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.

But it’s different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close—so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo—and possibly to the future safety of their two nations. (synopsis from goodreads.com)

I'd like to thank Sara from Penguin Group. I really cannot wait to read Robin McKinley's latest book.

I do believe that that is it for me this week in books. Hope you guys had a fantastic week.