Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books they received during the previous week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists! Mailbox Monday, which was started by Marcia at The Printed Page, is on blog tour—this month, it’s hosted by Julie at Knitting and Sundries.I actually didn’t receive any books in the mail this past week, but two books did come my way. First, I went thrift shopping with my friend Erika at a second-hand store that promotes literacy: when you buy anything at the store, you get a book of your choice for free. I was thrilled not only with my new-to-me boots but also with my nearly new copy of Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.
I was also invited by local writer Marijke Vroomen-Durning to the launch of a book of essays, Fits, Starts & Matters of the Heart: 28 True Stories of Love, Loss & Everything in Between, which was edited and published by Freelance Success, a “community of independent professional writers and editors based in all 50 states and about 15 foreign countries” (according to their website). Two Canadian writers have essays published in this collection, and both happen to be Montrealers: Marijke Vroomen-Durning and Wendy Helfenbaum.
Wendy (left) and Marijke (right)
At the launch, which was in a café, I ordered a ginger tea and started to read the book (Marijke had kindly provided me with a review copy). The first two essays, “Knitting Goodbye” by Sarah Zobel and “The Dresses” by Karen Hammond, had me in tears, so I decided that, to spare myself further embarrassment, I should read the rest of the book at home! (When I mentioned this to Marijke, she assured me that some of the essays are funny too!)
What did you find in your mailbox this past week? For other Mailbox Monday posts, head over to Knitting and Sundries.
I love the thrift store's concept and would want to shop there! The book launch sounds fun, tears and all.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these sound great!! The launch party sounds like a fun thing to attend!
ReplyDeleteAwesome to hear that the book moved you to the height of tears :) Great photo and another amazing mailbox. Can't wait to read your review next :)
ReplyDeleteI wish the op shops here in Melbourne followed your concepts!
ReplyDeletePlease visit my own Mailbox!
love the idea of freebie books at the thrift shop! i do buy books from a not-so-local thrift shop (near my sister's house) and at recycled reading, a local used book shop. we don't have any indie shops near me, so these are my go-to places for books. :) enjoy your reads.
ReplyDeleteA free book with any purchase? Wow! Enjoy your (nearly) new book. Fits, Starts, & Matters of the Heart must be a wonderful collection.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a thrift store like that! I'd rather shop for books than clothes anyway.
ReplyDeleteI would love to shop at that thrift store! The book launch sounds fun and the book sounds like a winner!
ReplyDeleteI want to go to that thrift store. I think I'd be buying a lot of stuff. And being a big book crier (I'm a big mush) I appreciate the warning when I go to read I read Fits, Starts & Matters of the Heart.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great thrift store. enjoy
ReplyDeleteYikes! A book that makes me cry - in public no less!!! Definitely a far cry from chick lit :) But I DO LOVE do those boots Avis.
ReplyDeleteWhich store did you pick them up at?
The series sounds like it was fun - although I am pretty sure the ginger tea could not have been as good as anything you find at the tearoom.
See you on Sunday.
Thanks for mentioning the book. I always have to take a second look when I see my hair straight like that. It's so not me. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe had a fabulous launch and many people got to discover Cafe 92 - which they seemed to enjoy. I hope they return to sample the other goodies there because it's a great place and it's always a good thing when neighbourhood establishments make it.
Enjoy the book!
I want to shop at YOUR thrift store! The reading sounds fabulous, and if the essays brought you to tears, that's .. good ... not in a "good, I'm glad you were crying" sort of way, but in an "it's always good when something you read makes you FEEL" :)
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