mailbox monday

This is my first time participating in Mailbox Mondays, hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page. Usually only one or two books a month come to me through the mail, not much to shout about. But this past week was something else!

I had a bunch of credits on Powell's, and at first thought I'd get lots of books from my wishlist. But to my (at first) dismay, they don't carry many of the titles I wanted. So I picked out a few, and got nicer editions than I would normally pay for. Check it out!


A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute- this is a book I remember always seeing on my mother's shelf, and I finally read it myself a few years back. Now I have my own copy!

Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James- I've been trying to find a copy of this book for a few years. It's the story of a wild mustang that gets caught by a cowboy and works on the range. The only hardback copy I could find at Powell's also happened to be a first edition one illustrated by the author.

Mary Shelly's Frankenstein illustrated by Bernie Wrightson- this is the most fabulous book I now own. Ever since I was introduced to Bernie Wrightson's work in art school, I've drooled over this edition. And I didn't realize it until the book was in my hands, but the cover is some kind of black velvety material. I'm keeping my old paperback copy, because this is one book that will stay treasured on the shelf and not get pulled out for ordinary reading wear!

And two more:

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke- I won this book from Heather at a giveaway on her blog Book Addiction. Thanks, Heather! Now I've really got to read Inkheart, so I can enjoy this one.

Making Things Grow Outdoors by Thalassa Cruso- after reading To Everything There is a Season, I wanted more gardening books by this author, and found this one at Paperback Swap. Now as soon as it warms up, maybe I'll be ready to head outside and apply some of her tips to my own yard and garden (we just got dumped on by several inches of snow last night, after a week of warm weather that coaxed the crocuses out of the ground.)

What books have come through your mailbox lately?