Yes the second anniversary of my blog and I cannot imagine my life without it now. I hope that does not sound toooo sad and anal, because Random Jottings has certainly opened up my reading and social life and I now have real and cyber bookish friends all over the world which is a truly wonderful feeling.
No posting of a reviewing nature tonight, have had a busy day at work and feeling a bit tired so off to bed with a cup of tea and celebratory Hob Nob and a book (of course). However, could not let the day pass without a picture of the crop of books which have been sent to me over the last week or so. This is part of having a book blog that never fails to delight and amaze me, this constant stream of books wending its way to my door. The fact that publishers feel I am worthy of their largesse and worthy of writing about their precious babies is a source of never ending wonderment to me and I take reading and writing any such books that are sent to me very seriously indeed.
My favorite publisher at the moment is Bloomsbury as they have been responsible for my reading two of the most delightful books that have come my ways for ages, namely: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer which I have just posted about, and The Great Western Beach by Emma Smith, also reviewed recently. Both gems and sheer joy from start to finish. They have sent me other goodies, one by Katie Hickman which was on my wish list, another sumptuous historical novel (hooray) and also an intriguing mystery, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. I have also just opened and read the first two pages of Resistance (no, not the Owen Sheers of that name), but one written by Agnes Humber which are memoirs of Occupied France and, again, in diary form which I love. So shut that one up otherwise I will never get to bed with the tea and the Hob Nob.
Source Books have sent me some gorgeous new editions of Georgette Heyer which I shall rave about soon and I have to say the paper, production values of these paperbacks are really wonderful. I have quite a few editions of Georgette Heyer, some hardback ones with the original light green covers published by Heinemann many moons ago, and which are now collector's items I gather and then a few years ago, Arrow Books started to reprint them all in brand new paperbacks in the UK. These new editions that have been sent to me are only available in the USA so if you wish to purchase them you will have to get in touch with Sourcebooks, Inc. But, in the end, no matter who publishes the Divine Georgette's book you are in for a treat as they are ever enduring, ever entertaining and will never go out of fashion.
And then, to round off a colourful week, I have The Green Hat by Michael Arlen from Capuchin Classics and the Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux by Dedalus Press. So, I am much blessed and thank you all.
Any more publishers out there who might just read this post and who wish to help me celebrate my second birthday?
Well, you know what to do...........