Welcome to Mailbox Monday, the weekly meme created by Marcia, formerly from The Printed Page, where book lovers share the titles they received for review, purchased, or otherwise obtained over the past week. Mailbox Monday currently is on tour, and this month’s host is Mrs. Q: Book Addict.
Here’s what I added to my shelves:
Istanbul Passage by Joseph Kanon, from Atria for review (Amazon/IndieBound)
A neutral capital straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul survived the Second World War as a magnet for refugees and spies, trafficking in secrets and lies rather than soldiers. Expatriate American businessman Leon Bauer was drawn into the shadow world, doing undercover odd jobs and courier runs in support of the Allied war effort.
Now, as the espionage community begins to pack up and an apprehensive city prepares for the grim realities of postwar life, Leon is given one last routine assignment. But when the job goes fatally wrong — an exchange of gunfire, a body left in the street, a potential war criminal on his hands — Leon is plunged into a tangle of intrigue, shifting loyalties, and moral uncertainty.
Played out against the bazaars and mosques and faded mansions of this knowing, ancient Ottoman city, Leon’s conflicted attempt to save one life leads to a desperate manhunt that ultimately threatens his own survival. How do you do the right thing when there are only bad choices to be made?
Rich with atmosphere and period detail, Istanbul Passage is the haunting story of a man swept up in the dawn of the Cold War, of an unexpected love affair, and of a city as deceptive as the calm surface waters of the Bosphorus that divides it. (publisher’s summary)
The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons, giveaway win from Savvy Verse & Wit (Thanks, Serena!) (Amazon/IndieBound)
It’s the spring of 1938 and no longer safe to be a Jew in Vienna. Nineteen-year-old Elise Landau is forced to leave her glittering life of parties and champagne to become a parlour maid in England. She arrives at Tyneford, the great house on the bay, where servants polish silver and serve drinks on the lawn. But war is coming, and the world is changing. When the master of Tyneford’s young son, Kit, returns home, he and Elise strike up an unlikely upstairs-downstairs friendship that will transform Tyneford — and Elise — forever. (publisher’s summary)
Hurrah’s Nest poems by Arisa White, giveaway win from Savvy Verse & Wit (Thanks, Serena!) (Amazon/IndieBound)
A vivid and varied collection that addresses family loyalties, dysfunction, violence, and differences, Hurrah’s Nest is White’s imaginative and emotionally honest exploration of growing up the second oldest, first daughter of seven siblings. Childhood experiences are looked at with rawness, sensitivity, and crafted with precision: be it the cutting of her dreadlocks, mother’s abortion, drug trafficking, or her sister’s developmental disability, the language is tender and startling. Hurrah’s Nest–from the confusion of our lives–asks us to make meaning and good from what we’ve bargained and haven’t bargained for. (publisher’s summary)
What books did you add to your shelves recently?
Disclosure: I am an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2012 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I have the Istanbul Passage, a book I think I’ll love – setting, story, etc The book of poetry telling the writer’s story, Hurrah’s Nest, is one I’d like to read and will have to look up.. A good win!
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Love the look of The House of Tyneford….enjoy your reading! Here’s MY MONDAY MEMES POST
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I’ve heard good things about The House of Tyneford (I won a copy but haven’t had time to read it yet). Hope you love it!
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they all look wonderful and I have House of Tyneford but loaned it to a friend!!
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Haven’t heard anything about these books before but they all sound good.
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Hope you enjoy those books.
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Congratulations on the wins. They both are so very good.
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Yay you got Tyneford! It was so good
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Wonderful mailbox, Anna! The poetry sounds especially riveting!
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Oooh, The House at Tyneford — I’m so jealous!
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Enjoy all your new books. The House of Tyneford looks great.
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Love the cover of The House of Tyneford, looks good.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/07/mailbox-monday_30.html
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Those all look perfect for you! Enjoy!
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I’ve seen The House at Tyneford before and it sounds good still. And the cover is pretty!
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I’m interested in Istanbul Passage and have it on my TBR list. Hope it is as good as they make it sound. cheers. http://www.thecuecard.com/
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The House Of Tyneford looks wonderful!
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The House at Tyneford sounds really good. Hope you enjoy all your books. I’m currently 2/3 through Chasing Mona Lisa. My review will be up sometime this week. Love the setting but story not as exciting as I thought it would be.
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The House of Tyneford is one I’ve been wanting to read. I look forward to your thoughts on it!
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I am reading Hurrah’s Nest currently and loving it! Happy reading!!
Here is my post.
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Enjoy all the new books. Istanbul Passage keeps catching my eye.
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Thank you all for stopping by to check out my mailbox post!
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