Mailbox Monday: What's Inside?

To many book bloggers, this is a familiar sight--the white padded envelope, which holds a book. When you're expecting books in the mail, it's fun to try to guess which book is inside the envelope.

To be honest, I wasn't sure what the contents would be this time, because I'm expecting several books in the mail (so much for the moratorium). But I was pleased to find Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds in the mailer. I won this book on Anna's engaging book blog, Diary of an Eccentric. Anna's review has made me eager to read it.

This is the only new book I have to report for Mailbox Monday, a terrific meme where readers share the books they've recently acquired, hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page. That's a good thing, though, as I already have plenty of books waiting to be read (and more headed my way).

What books arrived in your home recently, by mail or from elsewhere?

Mailbox Monday Moratorium Monday

Admittedly, I have a problem.

In Friday's post, I mentioned seven books I've recently won, all of which arrived in the mail, and I just found out this morning that I've won another book, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds, from Anna's book blog, Diary of an Eccentric. I've also been receiving other books in the mail, from authors and publishers, as well as a few that I've ordered.

On Sunday my daughters and I ventured to Barnes & Noble, armed with a couple of gift cards and my membership card. (Whenever I go to a bookstore or the book section of a store, I can't help but smile as I see many of the books I've posted about or read about on other blogs. I want to tell everyone around that I'm a book blogger, but at most I tell a salesperson or two.) As far as purchases go, my daughter bought a joke book for her teacher's birthday, and I bought one book, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, because I've decided that I must read a book by this author.

But, enough is enough! While I love getting new books, I already have so many books waiting to be read, and my gargantuan to-be-read pile is growing every day. It's getting to be ridiculous! Maybe I should impose a moratorium on getting any additional books.


Sometimes, I wish I were more like the protagonist, Liesel Meminger, in The Book Thief. She has only a few books, reads them one-at-a-time, lingers with each book, gets to know each one deeply, and greatly appreciates each book. Too often I feel as if I am racing through my books, not savoring them enough. The sight of so many books waiting to be read causes me to feel a bit anxious and guilty at times. How will I ever be able read them all? And yet, I keep entering book giveaways, I keep finding more books which interest me, I keep purchasing books, and lo and behold! I keep finding more books in the mailbox.

This is my fourth official Mailbox Monday, a terrific meme where readers share the books they've recently acquired, hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page. I'd ask what new books you've gotten lately, but I'm afraid that I'd discover intriguing new titles to add to my to-be-read pile!