A woman dies in her seat in an airplane en route to London from Paris. If not for Hercule Poirot’s quick eyes, her death may have been attributed to a wasp sting. Luckily, though, Poirot spots a half-hidden venom-tipped dart, and accident turns into murder. A search of the plane reveals a South American blowgun. Suddenly, everyone on board is a suspect.  Surprisingly, however, no-one has seen a thing. How could the sight of a dart blown out from a blowgun have escaped everyone’s eyes?

This audiobook version of Death in the Clouds, by Agatha Christie, is narrated by Hugh Fraser, who is a wonderful narrator for Christie’s Hercule Poirot books. While Fraser has played the part of Captain Hastings, Poirot’s sidekick (who doesn’t appear in this particular mystery) on television, in audio format he is a perfect Poirot, and also handles the voices of all the other characters very well, both male and female.

I’ve been listening to a lot of Christie’s works in audio lately, and it’s very clear that her focus on dialogue in her books translates very well into audio. The mysteries are always entertaining and with a superb narrator like Fraser, the action is easy to follow.

Having read all of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries back when I was a teenager (Christie was a love handed down to me by my mother – I have memories of being sprawled on my mom’s bed, both of us deep into a Christie mystery), I usually remember who-dunnit at some point in the telling of the story, but that never takes away from my enjoyment. In Death in the Clouds, I had a vague intuitive sense about the murderer fairly early on, but even when I was certain of it, I couldn’t remember the how. Christie’s mysteries are great, I find, because of this – even if I remember the who, I don’t always remember the how or the why.

According to the Agatha Christie site, “In 1935, the year this novel was published, a regular London-Paris air service began – using converted bombers for the aircraft.” It was interesting to learn, from the descriptions of the murder scene in the book, that back then airplane interiors were designed more like train compartments, with people seated facing each other – another reason why it was puzzling that not a single person had seen the murderer killing the victim.

Death in the Clouds deals with exotic things like blowguns and venom-tipped darts, but at the core is, as always, Poirot working his little gray cells. Of course, in our day and age, forensics would be miles ahead of Poirot, but sometimes one craves a nice cozy mystery where the detective uses only his brain. The road to the murderer’s identity, motive and means is intricate, with lots of red herrings thrown in. And of course, at the end there’s the famous Poirot denouement scene.

I wouldn’t say that Death in the Clouds is one of Christie’s better Poirot mysteries; some things get a bit too convoluted and credibility is stretched somewhat. If you haven’t read the book before, the unveiling of the murderer will probably come as quite a surprise. All in all, (and especially with Hugh Fraser narrating), this was a very entertaining listen.

Where to buy:

U.S. (Amazon.com)

Canada (Chapters)

UK (Amazon.co.uk)

Review copy details: published by Audio Partners, 2005, CD

In Louise Penny’s latest Inspector Armand Gamache mystery, The Murder Stone (A Rule Against Murder in the U.S.), Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie are on holiday at Manoir Bellechasse, a luxury Québec chateau at which they stay annually. This year, though, they find themselves sharing the chateau with the wealthy Finney family, who have come to pay tribute to their father. All is not as it seems, however; tensions run high among family members and soon Gamache, of the Sûreté du Québec, is knee deep in a murder inquiry.

I enjoyed this fourth book in the Gamache series immensely. Gone is the side plot that was explored in the first three books of the series; it was a side plot that actually took away a bit of my enjoyment of the novels (especially when it reached its crescendo in the third novel), so I was delighted with this fourth book, with its intricate mystery and a new side plot that develops Gamache’s character further.

Penny writes in the British mystery tradition of P.D. James and Elizabeth George; Gamache has been a strongly developed character from the moment he first saw life in Still Life. In The Murder Stone we see a more personal side of him in his relationship with his wife, Reine-Marie. In the following passage, Gamache is thinking about the first time he brought his wife to Manoir Bellechasse, over thirty years ago:

And so they’d lain together for the first time, the sweet scent of the forest and kitchen thyme and lilac drifting almost visible through the screened window. But the loveliest scent of all was her, fresh and warm in his strong arms. He’d written a love note to her that night. He’d covered her softly with their simple white sheet, then, sitting in the cramped rocking chair, not daring to actually rock in case he whacked the wall behind or barked his shins on the bed in front, disturbing Reine-Marie, he’d watched her breathe. Then on Manoir Bellechasse notepaper he’d written. My love knows no –

How can a man contain such –

My heart and soul have come alive –

My love for you –

All night he wrote, and next morning, taped to the bathroom mirror, Reine-Marie found the note.

I love you.

We also learn something about his past that gives us great insight into Gamache the man. Armand Gamache is a complex, intricate character: strong, kind, moral, just and like each of us, imperfect. The suspects themselves aren’t flat, hollow characters, either; Penny brings them to life as deftly as she does all the continuing characters. We come to know them, and understand more their goals, their motivations, the reasons why they are the way they are.

One of the wonderful features of the first three novels in this series is the setting of Three Pines; I’d wondered in the past how Penny would be able to continue to credibly set mysteries in Three Pines, which has been as much of a character in the series as any of the human characters. What I’ve discovered with The Murder Stone is that Gamache is strong enough to carry a storyline all on his own; the setting of Three Pines plays a minor role in the novel but this doesn’t hurt the book at all.

If you love character-driven mysteries with complex plots, you’ll find The Murder Stone a very satisfying read indeed. For those new to the series, it’s fully capable of standing on its own, although you’re likely to find yourself searching out the first three mysteries in the series once you’ve finished this one.

For fans of the series, The Murder Stone is pure delight. Gamache is a wonderful character – the author notes in the acknowledgments that she has discovered she’s modelled him after her husband. Armand Gamache is one of my favorite detectives, and I’m eagerly waiting the next book in the series, which is due out this fall.

Related Links and Fun Stuff

Louise Penny’s blog

The Murder Stone has been nominated in the category of best novel in this year’s Arthur Ellis Awards. The Arthur Ellis Awards are presented for excellence in crime writing. Winners will be announced on June 4, 2009.

Louise Penny talks about The Murder Stone:

Where to buy:

U.S. (Amazon.com)

Canada (Chapters)

UK (Amazon.co.uk)

Review copy details: published by Headline, 2008, Hardcover, 320 pages

The Essential Earthman, by Henry Mitchell, is one of my favorite books – it’s one I re-read frequently, and at least once between January and May. It’s also a book I’ll never lend, even though at heart I’m really a book lender. But while I might not lend it, I’ve been known to purchase it as a gift for others.

Henry Mitchell wrote the popular “Earthman” column in the Washington Post, until his death in 1993. The Essential Earthman is a compilation of some of his columns, and it’s a real gem of a book.

I discovered this book, and its companion, One Man’s Garden, one cold winter’s evening about five years ago, when my heart and soul were yearning for greenery and blooms. What I had, instead, was a warm fire, a hot mug of tea, and Henry Mitchell’s words … and I fell in love, right there and then. Since that day, I’ve pulled out this book often, to give myself the pleasure of becoming immersed once again in the beauty of Mitchell’s gardens and the lure of his words.

I would have liked to have known Mitchell. Reading his words, I’ve formed a wonderful image of him in my mind: Southern gentleman, kind, a bit curmudgeonly around the edges, generous, passionate about his flowers and his garden, opinionated, with a wonderful and often humorous way with words. I can see him in my mind’s eye as I read and re-read his columns, perfect little gems of essays that effortlessly bring sunshine into my inner life no matter what season it is.

On dahlias:

Dahlia fanciers, who, like all other horticultural fanatics, tend to be somewhat lopsided in their enthusiasms, profess to see great delicacy of shape among dahlia flowers, and to hear them talk you’d think these great, flamboyant daisied had every elegance, every grace. Let us admit it once and be done with it: the dahlia somewhat lacks the charm of the lily of the valley, the dramatic tension of the iris, the fragrance of the nasturtium, and so on. What it does offer is a brazen contentment with its flaunting color, so to speak; and when all is said and done it looks best in a sunny field among the corn and pumpkins. I cannot think of a more vigorous, spectacular, up-and-at-‘em flower for late summer. Regular tigers they are.

On roses:

First, there is no rose in commerce that is totally worthless. I cannot think of anything more distasteful, or really evil, than for some gardener to choose a rose he likes and then read somewhere it is “not worth growing.” Be sure of this: your labor is not in vain no matter what you choose. Any rose that delights you (and one of the most endearing qualities of gardeners, though it makes their gardens worse, is this faculty of being too easily delighted) is a rose you may plant with good conscience, no matter what anybody else thinks of that rose. Second, a number of “great” roses are called great merely because (a) they behave extremely well in rose nurseries, or (b) they are sufficiently death-defiant that even gardeners cannot kill them, or (c) they have some showy feature, usually blatant color or freak size, that endears them to people who can see nothing unless it is inescapably obvious. Third, there are some very wonderful roses that you don’t hear much about. Please keep this firmly in mind. It is as with everything else – the greatest pleasures and the happiest discoveries are not necessarily the first ones you see.

I could go on and on with selections from this book. I myself am not a particularly avid gardener but I love gardens and plants and flowers and grow a bit of green stuff here and there. The non-gardener will find much to love in this book, and I suspect might come away with an urge to send out for seed catalogues. For the gardener? This book is pure bliss. Highly recommended.

Where to buy:

U.S. (Amazon.com)

Canada (Chapters)

UK (Amazon.co.uk)

Review copy details: Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994, Trade Paperback, 239 pages

Here’s this week’s list of book giveaways I’ve come across recently. Last week’s list was so long, I thought it might be better if I organized the list a little so you can quickly scan through and focus on the specific genres you like! I must confess, I’ve been finding this post a little addictive – there are so many book giveaways out there, covering such an incredible variety of books!

As always, I’m trying to include book giveaways not only from publishers we all know and love, but also ones sponsored by the authors themselves, or book bloggers generously offering something off their shelves. Enjoy! (Note: all links in this post will open in new windows/tabs, to make it more convenient for you to make your entries).

This giveaways round-up post is a regular feature here at MsBookish so if you’re holding a book giveaway, let me know and I’ll include your giveaway in my next giveaways round-up post.

Mysteries/Suspense/Thrillers

Sudden Death, by Allison Brennan (ARC), at Lori’s Reading Corner (ends May 1, US only)

First Family, by David Baldacci, at Drey’s Library (ends May 2)

Scattered Leaves , by Richard Roach, at Peeking Between the Pages (ends May 8, international)

Chick Lit/Romance

Everyone is Beautiful, by Katherine Center (ARC), at S. Krishna’s Books (ends May 7, US and Canada only)

Coming Unglued, by Rebeca Seitz, at Mother of 2 Dancers (ends May 5)

Girls in Trucks , by Katie Crouch, at Diary of an Eccentric (ends May 1, US and Canada only)

Siam Nights: A Love Story, by J.F. Gump, at Shhh I’m Reading (ends April 29, US and Canada)

Girls In Trucks, by Katie Crouch , at Epic Rat (ends April 28, US and Canada)

Fantasy/Science Fiction/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Keeper of Light and Dust, by Natasha Mostert, at Savvy Verse and Wit (ends April 28, international)

Memoirs of A Fortune Teller, by Gary Turcotte, at Morbid Romantic (ends May 2, international)

Where the Rain Is Made, by Kat Bryan, at Patricia’s Vampire Notes (ends April 26)

The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers, by Angie Fox, at Amberkatze’s Book Blog (ends April 26 – that’s today!)

Maximum Offense, by David Gunn, at Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review (ends May 3, international)

Naamah’s Kiss, by Jacqueline Carey, at Living Read Girl (ends April 26 – today!, US only)

Raine Benares series, at Epic Rat (Ends April 28, international)

Hangar 13, by Lindsay McKenna, at Shaunie’s Happy Place (ends May 2)

Historical Fiction

Mistress of the Sun , by Sandra Gulland, at Peeking Between the Pages (ends May 8, internationl)

The Traitor’s Wife , by Susan Higginbotham, at Diary of an Eccentric (ends May 1 , international)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer, at Historical Fiction (ends May 2, international)

Children’s Books

Momma Loves Her Little Son, by John Carter Cash, at 5 Minutes for Books (ends April 30, U.S. only)

Penny & Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting, by Jennifer Swanson and illustrated by Rosita Schandy & Neal Wooten, at She Scribes (ends May 1, US only)

Sounds Funny! and Sounds Tough! Big Noisy Machines, at Booking Mama (Ends May 6, US and Canada only) Note: the post’s title and review is for 1,2,3 Texas, but the giveaway is for the two Sounds books.

This Is the Day, by Nancy White Carlstrom, at Green Earth Journey (ends April 27, US only)

Nature Discovery In My Backyard , by The Little Environmentalist, at Momma in Flip Flops (ends April 29, US and Canada)

Young Adult

Sloane Sisters, by Anna Carey, at The Story Siren (ends April 27, US and Canada)

Two groups of books: Fairie-ish books, and Adventure-y books, at Writing It Out (Ends May 16, Continental US only)

Bloody Jack, by L.A. Meyer, at Today’s Adventures (ends May 8, US and Canada)

Secret Society Girl series by Diana Peterfreund, at Reviewer X (ends April 29)

Who Made You A Princess?, by Shelley Adina, and grand prize of all books in the All About Us series, at A Novel Menagerie (ends May 8, US and Canada)

Erotica

Cry for Passion, by Robin Schone, at Fang-Tastic Books (ends April 29, US only)

All Other Fiction

Testimony, by Anita Shreve, at Simply Stacie (ends May 7, US and Canada)

The Killing Tree, by Rachel Keener, at Number One Novels (ends April 27)

The Good Mayor , by Andrew Nicoll , at Peeking Between the Pages (ends May 8, Canada only)

An assortment of novels that may very well fit in some of the genres above – four winners, including a grand prize that includes selection of another book off the blogger’s giveaway shelf – at At Home With Books (ends April 29, US and Canada only)

Testimony, by Anita Shreve, at Joy Story (ends May 16, US and Canada)

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, by Joshilyn Jackson, at She Is Too Fond of Books (ends May 1, US and Canada)

The Mechanics of Falling and Other Stories, by Catherine Brady, at Savvy Verse and Wit (ends May 1, US only)

Non-Fiction – Crafts

A Road Less Travelled, by Sue Daley, at Sue Daley Designs (ends April 26 – tonight!)

Linen Wool Cotton : 25 Simple Projects to Sew with Natural Fabric and Patchwork Style : 35 Simple Projects for a Cozy & Colorful Life at Wise Craft (ends April 26 – tonight!)

Non-Fiction – Cookbooks

The Good Home Cookbook, by Richard J. Perry, at Fab Food Friday (ends April 30, International)

Sonlight Cooks at Roads to Learning (ends May 1, US only)

Cookie Craft , by Valerie Peterson & Janice Fryer, at Sweetopia (ends May 1)

The Big Cook, by Deanna Siemens, Lorelei Thomas and Joanne Smith, at Plus She (ends April 29, US and Canada)

All Other Non-Fiction Categories

The Uncommon Woman: Making an Ordinary Life Extraordinary, by Susie Larson , at 5 Minutes for Books (ends April 30, US only)

B Is for Baseball: Running the Bases from A to Z , by Chronicle Books, at Muse Reviews (ends May 3, US only)

The Kitchen Linens Book, by EllynAnne Geisel, at Tie One On (ends May 1)

Note to Self: 30 Women on Hardship, Humiliation, Heartbreak, and Overcoming It All, by Andrea Buchanan, at Wordtryst (ends April 29)

Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother by Kersten Campbell at Trying 2 Stay Calm (Ends April 28)

By the Book Kids , by Karmel Publishing, at She Scribes (ends May 5, US only)

Backcountry Betty: Roughing It in Style , by Jennifer Worick, at Craft Stylish (ends April 28)

Gardening Eden, by Michael Abbaté , at Callapidder Days (ends April 29, US and Canada only)

City Chic , by Nina Willdorf, at The Fashionable Gal (ends May 6, US only)

Now the Drum of War: Walt Whitman and His Brothers in the Civil War, by Robert Roper, at Page in History (ends April 29, North America)

Your Best Birth, by Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein, at Dealicious Mom (ends April 27, US only)

My Daddy is a Pretzel – Yoga for Parents and Kids, by Baron Baptiste, at Book Dads (ends May 3, US and Canada)

A Lucky Child, A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz As a Young Boy, by Thomas Buergenthal, at Bookfoolery (ends May 5, US and Canada)

The Crimes of Paris: A True Story of Murder, Theft, and Detection, by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler, at Diary of an Eccentric (ends May 1, US and Canada)

Peace is Every Step, by Thich Nhat Hanh and The Four Season Harvest, by Eliot Coleman, at Pondering My Myriad Things (ends April 29, international)

Gardening Eden, by Michael Abbaté, at My Friend Amy (ends ?, international)

Mortal Danger, by Ann Rule, at True Crime Book Reviews (ends 30 April, international)

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Home, by Thelma A. Meyer , at The Greer 5 (ends April 29)

The Hot Mommy Next Door, by Allison M. Fadoul, at Bookie Boo Raves (ends May 5, US only)

Audiobooks

Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey (CD) , at Christian Personal Finance (ends April 30)

Gift Cards

$50 Barnes & Noble gift card, at Lori’s Reading Corner (ends April 30, US only)

Saturday seems like a perfect day for doing a “What’s up around here” post, and today it’s even more perfect, given that it’s 27 ºC (80.6 ºF) and just gorgeous outside. Well, it would be perfect, except that I’m working on the third deadline of the week, which must be completed for tomorrow.

But there’s nothing like taking a break and doing something fun, like blogging!

So here’s what’s up in my bookish life this week:

Reviews

I have over 20 books I’ve read these past few months waiting for me to review them. I’ve decided to take another look at my review style, because obviously something is wrong. I should be eagerly anticipating writing my reviews … but I’m not.

That Darned Rating System

After having already fiddled with it once, I am on the brink of ditching a rating system altogether. I just can’t do it – if I am totally honest with myself, it makes me uncomfortable to assign a book a rating of some sort. I’d rather just say, I liked this about it, I didn’t like that about it, and overall I loved/didn’t like it.

Currently Reading/Listening

I’m currently reading Now and Then, by Robert Parker. I actually started with the audiobook version of this book, but I found that Parker’s spare and sparse prose, with all those lovely and virtually invisible I said’s, he said’s and she said’s just doesn’t translate well in audio, for me, anyway. Far from being invisible, once spoken, they seemed to take on a major emphasis. But the print version of the book has been lovely so far, with all the said’s rendered as invisible as ever.

I’m also listening to the audiobook version of Death in the Clouds, by Agatha Christie, read by Hugh Fraser. I’ve enjoyed several of Fraser’s narrations of Christie novels, and this one is as pleasing so far as the previous ones I’ve listened to.

This Week’s Picture

I’m very excited because my orchid is reblooming. Five fat juicy buds showed up on the plant last week, and today, two of them had flowered!

I’ve been wanting to say that for over 24 hours now. I discovered late on Wednesday night that Cathy at Kittling Books had awarded me this wonderful little blog award, as well as the 2009 Friendly Blogger Award, and I was very excited.

I mean, how many times do I ever get to say, I’m a Zombie Chicken? Seriously.

Then, as luck would have it, I woke up the next day with a stomach bug, and was out of commission for much of the day. I did the un-Zombie Chicken-like thing and stayed in bed, a little pity party all my own. But today I’m raring to go, because, after all, I’m a Zombie Chicken.

Of course, I rather shamelessly begged Cathy for the Zombie Chicken award. But I did win the 2009 Friendly Blogger Award upfront without any shenanigans on my part. No, really, cross my heart, that’s the truth.

Now that I’ve come clean about my behind-the-screens begging, here’s what the Zombie Chicken award is all about (and no raised eyebrows please, since I’ve already explained how this came into my possession. Cathy is a most gracious blogger, thank goodness.)

“The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken – excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all…"

I’m also mega-tickled about the 2009 Friendly Blogger Award. I’ve only been blogging here for about six months, and from the very start I’ve been so amazed at the friendliness of the book blogging community.

Truly, it’s been like discovering a group of book lovers right in my own backyard, minus the ability to get together physically. I’ve come to know so many wonderful book bloggers, and their recommendations have contributed greatly to my reading adventures.

Last summer, I remember being in such a desultory state because I had just finished up some stunning series or other, and couldn’t find anything else to read. Even cruising online at Amazon didn’t help. Going to the library produced feelings of “same old, same old”. But nowadays, my cup runneth over. And it’s because of this big, beautiful, generous and loving book blogging community.

Without any further ado (since I seem to have gone on at length already anyway), I’d like to pass these awards onto the following five bloggers. It was tough choosing, since I know and love so many book bloggers! But I love all of these blogs, some of which I’ve only discovered recently, and want very much to spread the love (not to mention Zombie Chicken goodness):

Eva at A Striped Armchair

Diane at The Book Resort

FleurFisher

Dawn at She is Too Fond of Books

Melody at Stella Matutina

Enjoy, everyone!

After my recent Library Loot post, I really didn’t think I could have that many more hold requests at the library coming in. I haven’t had a chance to read ANY of the books from that batch, with the exception of an audiobook, a BBC Radio Production of Agatha Christie’s The Caribbean Mystery (it helped get me out of work-brain back into me-brain every night before bed).

Frankly, the only reason I haven’t succumbed to temptation is that I know myself too well – I am weak when it comes to books, and if I pick up something and get engrossed in it, I’m in for a 3:00 a.m. night. (Which is why the next Dewey 24-hour Readathon, I may very well be participating … although Beth F. makes cheerleading sound like fun, too.)

But here I am again, so soon after the last Library Loot post, writing up another one. I received a few more automated calls from the library over the weekend, and by my mental count, was up to about four books ready and available for pickup. I asked my husband to stop in at the library and grab the books for me on his way home from doing the groceries, and he returned with an enormous bag.

So here we go again!

Mysteries by Deborah Crombie

A Finer End

Dreaming of the Bones

Now May You Weep

Water Like a Stone

All Shall Be Well

Kissed a Sad Goodbye

I suspect that another library patron was on a Deborah Crombie kick right around the time I was looking for more of the Kinkaid/James mysteries, and had signed all these out at the same time. And now I’ve done the same – only I hope there aren’t any holds for these as I will probably end up needing to renew at least some of them!

I have a book blogger to thank for my addiction to Deborah Crombie works, of course. I’m holding Cathy of Kittling Books responsible for getting me back into these books; I’d read the very first Kinkaid and James last summer but had then forgotten about the series. Until I read one or two posts by Cathy about them, that is! After reading one of her reviews, I picked up a few more, and I was hooked. (You can read my review of In a Dark House here.)

The Rest of the Batch

Mystery: Death by Bikini, by Linda Gerber. I can’t remember where I first came across this book, but I suspect the title probably leaped out at me and grabbed me. However it happened, I promptly put this book on my i-want list, and must have quickly added it to my holds request the last time I oh-so-recklessly went online at my library.

Children’s books/Fantasy: Coraline, by Neil Gaiman. This one is probably self-explanatory. I’d like to read it before I get around to seeing the movie …

Memoir: Growing Up Again, by Mary Tyler Moore. Because I am currently, for some unfathomable (to me) reason, on a celebrity-autobiography kick. Don’t ask me why. All I know is, I’ve also got Julie Andrews, William Shatner and Robert Wagner in a stack here, waiting for me too.

And the Audiobooks:

Of course, my list wouldn’t be complete without some audiobooks. This year is my year of audiobooks – I’ve got a post up my sleeve explaining my reasons why. I like Agatha Christie audiobooks a lot, whether or not they’re those fabulous BBC Radio Production dramatizations:

The Listerdale Mystery and Eleven Other Stories, by Agatha Christie, read by Hugh Fraser

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, by Agatha Christie, read by Hugh Fraser

The Mysterious Mr. Quin, by Agatha Christie, read by Hugh Fraser

And that’s the end of the list … !

I hope to have time during my breaks the next few things to check out everyone else’s Library Loot for this week.

Yesterday my husband cleared out a small room we’ve been using for storage – we’ve decided to turn it into a mini-fitness room. The treadmill and exercise bike fit in there perfectly, and we’ll mount a couple of those portable DVD players to the wall so that we can watch movies while we exercise (or in my husband’s case, cooking videos).

Or at least, that’s the plan.

Sadly, he discovered that mice had gotten into two of the cardboard boxes we had stored inside this room. They had ingeniously built nests in these boxes, using pages from the books the boxes contained.

I have this thing about mice. I really dislike them, and no, I don’t care how cute they are. We live in an older house, and with all the ongoing renovations, it’s been tough keeping the mouse problem under control. We have sonic repellers everywhere, and while they work well, there are still some spaces they can get into (and out of).

So when my husband told me about this particular invasion, and asked me what I wanted to do with the books, I said, “Put them out for recycling.”

This morning, before the boxes went out, I took a quick peek in the top box – and realized with a sinking heart that it contained some books I love, including Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. It was too quick a look to determine if any of the books were salvageable. 

I thought to myself … maybe I should go through the boxes and see.

On the one hand, it wasn’t really something I wanted to do. On the other hand, I couldn’t bear the thought of those books being recycled without my first checking to see if I could save any of them.

But I forgot to tell my husband, who is a doer. He was in true doing mode all day today. Just now, I suddenly remembered those boxes of books.

Turned out, he put them out on the curb, since our recycling pick-up is early in the morning tomorrow. And he left the lid off the boxes, so the guys would know the books are to be recycled.

And it’s been pouring rain.

I’ve decided this is an opportunity for me to practice letting go. Still, I did pop out quickly to see whether the rain had further damaged the books, and whether I could salvage anything.

Yes, it had. And yes, I did manage to save one book – the first Harry Potter, a hardcover version.. It was only slightly damp and relatively un-mouse-damaged. Knowing what it’s been through, I’m not sure if I will ever pick it up to re-read it, but at least now I have the choice, right?

Bird by Bird was beyond salvaging. But really, all is well. I remember now that I have TWO copies of this wonderful book.

As for the rest, yes, I’m letting them go. It’s tough, but mouse droppings and rain certainly helps me make this particular decision.

Photo credit: Flickr

Here are the great book giveaways I’ve discovered this past week; my goal is to unearth all sorts of different book giveaways, including not only those sponsored by the major publishers we book bloggers all know and love, but also giveaways sponsored by authors themselves as well as those by generous book bloggers offering up books from their own shelves. (Note: all links in this post will open in new windows/tabs, to make it more convenient for you to make your entries).

This giveaways round-up post is a regular feature here at MsBookish so if you’re holding a book giveaway, let me know and I’ll include your giveaway in my next giveaways round-up post.

Testimony, By Anita Shreve, at Readaholic (ends May 1, 2009, US and Canada)

Finding Grace, by Donna VanLiere, at mis(h)takes (ends April 27, 2009)

When the Whistle Blows, by Fran Cannon Slayton, at Brimful Curiosities (ends May 4, 2009, US only)

By the Book How To Take Care of MY Kids (ebook), by Melissa Bishop and Karen Berg, at Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife (ends April 24, 2009)

Edible Plants and Animals: Unusual Foods from Aardvark to Zamia, by A. D. Livingston and Helen Livingston, at Chile Chews (ends early May)

Treasure Hunt – A Book of Clues for Parties, by Nancy Kruse, at Jolly Mom (ends May 1, 2009, US only)

B as in Beauty, by Alberto Ferreras, at Debbie’s World of Books (ends May 1, 2009, US only)

Great Hawaii Book Escape, with books by Mia King, Jill Marie Landis, Jane Porter and Carol Snow, at Mia King (ends May 31, 2009, US only.)

Designing Your Dream Home, by Susan Lang, at Designing Your Dream Home (ends May 20, 2009)

Fine Art of Carving Lovespoons, by David Western, at Fine Woodworking at Taunton.com (ends April 27, 2009)

The Pocket Daring Book for Girls, by Miriam Peskowitz, at Crafters Guru (ends May 22, 2009)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling, at My Readable Feast (ends April 20, 2009, US only)

Collection of six poetry books, at Gather.com (ends April 30, 2009)

Made in the USA, by Billie Letts, at Readaholic (ends May 1, 2009, US and Canada)

Comfort Food , by Kate Jacobs, at Red Lady’s Reading Room (ends April 24, 2009, US and Canada)

Backyard Medicine, by Julie Bruton-Seal and Matthew Seal, at Prissy Green (ends April 28, 2009, US only)

The Lucky One, by Nicholas Sparks, at Moxie Mom (ends May 20, 2009)

Three books from Waterbrook Multnomah (Random House), at Books and Needlpoint (ends May 10, 2009, US only)

Caution: Children Should Come With Warning Labels, by Patti McKenna, at Barefoot Mommies (ends April 30, 2009)

Passion Unleashed, by Larissa Ione, at Yankee Romance Reviewers (ends May 1, 2009, US and Canada)

Dog on It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery, by Spencer Quinn, at Brimful Curiosities (ends April 27, 2009, US only)

All of Me by Lori Wilde, Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione, and Stakes and Stilettos by Michele Rowen, at Chic Book Reviews (ends April 24, 2009)

Mother’s Day book giveaway event, at 5 Minutes for Books (ends April 30, US only)

Keeper of Light and Dust, by Natasha Mostert, at Peeking Between the Pages (ends April 25, 2009, US and Canada (1 copy) and International (1 copy))

Not So Big Remodeling, by Sarah Susanka, at My Design Secrets (ends April 22, 2009)

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Natural Remedies, at dkMommy Spot (ends April 23, 2009)

Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris, at Maymay’s Memos (ends May 1, 2009)

Misplacing God (and finding Him again), by Joanne Heim, at Joyful Heart (ends April 27. 2009)

Penny and Rio, by Jennifer Swanson, at Merry Weather Book Blog (ends April 26, 2009)

Poem In Your Pocket: 200 Poems to Read and Carry., at Biblioaddict (ends April 23, 2009)

And don’t forget to check out J.Kaye’s blog – scroll down and you’ll see all her giveaways listed in the sidebar.

It must be some sort of Murphy’s Law applicable to bibliophiles, I think. Work-wise it’s been quiet around here, which is why I’ve been able to keep up with all my reading even through all the renovations around here, instead of being stuck at my desk pounding on deadline after deadline. I always have a stash of books I’ve requested from the library, and during these past few months, my holds have been trickling in.

And now? Well, on Monday I received a veritable flood of assignments and now have three deadlines all falling due next week. Then I received several automated phone messages from the local library, telling me that books I had requested were now on hold for me.

Today I took a break from work and popped over to the library. I needed two bags to hold everything! An embarrassment of riches indeed – and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that despite my deadlines, I’ll be able to read most of them. I have three weeks, and I can renew books for two additional three-week periods, provided, of course, that no-one else has put in a request for the titles. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll remember to renew any I haven’t read yet online before the due date!

Here’s what I picked up from the library today:

Mystery: Unnatural Fire, by Fidelis Morgan. I think I had this on my list as a result of reading about it at Cathy’s Kittling: Books.

Mystery: Now & Then, by Robert B. Parker. More Spenser!

Mystery/Paranormal: Ghost at Work, by Carolyn Hart. This one wasn’t a request. The library had it in a display, so it’s more of an impulse grab.

Nonfiction: Loch Ness Monsters and Raining Frogs, by Albert Jack. Another one that was on display. Simply couldn’t resist.

Chick Lit: Odd Mom Out, by Jane Porter. By the author of Flirting with Forty, this definitely looks like a good read, although I’m not sure how it ended up on my hold list.

Mystery: In the Woods, by Tana French. I’d heard so much about this book, and I’d like to read it before French’s new novel, The Likeness, comes out in May (in case it’s really good, in which case I’ll have another book to add to my i-want list).

Nonfiction: Himalaya, by Michael Palin. I’ve been wanting to read this for a while; I love travel books, and like Palin’s humor as well.

Memoir: Up Till Now: The Autobiography, by William Shatner. I came across this a while back while on one of my online book-buying sprees; unfortunately, while Amazon has the hardcover version at a bargain price (in anticipation, I think, of the upcoming release of the trade paperback version), Chapters in Canada didn’t. So I checked the library and put myself in the queue for it. I almost picked it as my Audible selection, but the audiobook is abridged, so I thought I’d go for the longer read instead.

Paranormal/Thriller: Blood Sins, by Kay Hooper. I haven’t read Blood Dreams, the first in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit trilogy, yet, but I’m hoping that it’s the kind of series you can read out of order.

Paranormal/Thriller: Blood Brothers, by Nora Roberts. I haven’t read very many Nora Roberts novels, and this one sounds good. It’s the start of the trilogy, so I may be in for more happy reading with this series …

Young adult/Mystery: Break and Enter, by Norah McClintock. I’ve already raved about this series here.

Children’s fiction: The Strictest School in the World: Being the Tale of a Clever Girl, a Rubber Boy and a Collection of Flying Machines, Mostly Broken, by Howard Whitehouse. I couldn’t resist typing out the full title. I don’t have a clue how I first came across this book, but I suspect all I had to do was read the title and it was writing itself down on my i-want list.

Fantasy/Erotica: Naughty Paris, by Jina Bacarr. I can’t remember where I came across this title, either, but there it was, on my list of requested books. About a woman living in today’s times, a maverick painter in 1889 and a little bit of black magic and (I gather) a whole lot of sex.

Now, if I could just finish up these deadlines so I can succumb to the lure of this embarrassment of library riches!