Freebie Friday (and Saturday!)
To quote my favorite literary rat (or at least his film version) it's a veritable smorgasbord of free stuff this weekend!
I'll start it off by announcing this week's winner: Dawn. I hope you enjoy both of the new additions to your library, but don't try to operate heavy machinery while looking at First Dog. Those illustrations are potently cute.
My reading material this week was less cute and more ... unsettling. But exactly the kind of unsettling I like! Godmother, by Carolyn Turgeon. Subtitled The Secret Cinderella Story, it's full of fairies, books, tragedy and just a whiff of mystery. The end is so open to whichever interpretation you prefer, that I can't imagine one book club that wouldn't have plenty of lively discussion.
I'm not sure yet whether I loved it or hated it, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, so I can't deny it was a good read.
And what are we giving away this week, my friends? That would be Chuck Palahniuk's latest novel, Pygmy.
Oh, but that's not all! Because tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day! Just walk into your area comic book store, and you get free stuff. I mean, you could also buy something while you're there, but how can you say no to free?
In Baltimore, Atomic Books and Amazing Spiral (formerly Comics Kingdom, now found in the Rotunda) are both participating. And Atomic is using this opportunity to debut its new comic anthology, Mutant.
In Reisterstown, something really special is happening for you comics fans. Cards, Comics and Collectibles is hosting artist Frank Cho (Hulk, Mighty Avengers) from 1pm-4pm, and artist Steve Conley (Star Trek) from 11am-7pm.
Enjoy all that free stuff, folks, and have a great weekend.
While she always preferred The Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew, 
Comments
Hi, Freebie Friday! One of the several books I'm reading right now is The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran, 2002, translated from the Chinese. The book covers stories called in to Xinran in the 1990s when she hosted a radio talk show in Nanjing for women. Each chapter is a different story of women of all ages who have told Xinran their stories and the condition of their lives in the 1990s. Very revealing.
Posted by: Harvee Lau | May 1, 2009 2:38 PM
I'm actually re-reading The English Patient and so far, am enjoying it more this time around.
Posted by: Kathy | May 1, 2009 2:56 PM
I'm wrapping up City of Thieves for a quick read, while I also trek through The Discovery of France and House of Leaves. I can't believe Nancy has turned me into a literary polygamist.
Posted by: Dave | May 1, 2009 8:08 PM
I read the Harlan Coben book I won on Freebie Friday, and I can say that it would probably read differently to someone who was a fan of the series. To me, walking into this from my cozy background, it seemed peculiar. My limited knowledge of hard-boiled conventions led me to expect the hero to be beat up and not get the girl. What I wasn't expecting was the bizarre cast of characters -- his office staff consisted of two female wrestlers (one of whom could impersonate any voice), and a misogynistic, ultra-rich preppy assassin. The preppy assassin used his fabulous wealth and connections to find out anything that the plot required, unless the plot required that he not be able to find it out. Despite all that, there was actually an interesting plot in there that could have been handled straight, and I would have liked it better if it were. Your mileage may vary.
Posted by: Fleisch | May 1, 2009 10:58 PM
Oops, I should have mentioned that the Harlan Coben book was "Long Lost" featuring sports agent Myron Bolitar, although sports played no part in it.
Posted by: Fleisch | May 1, 2009 11:01 PM
Well, Fleisch, just yesterday I checked Long Lost out of the library!
Posted by: Eve | May 3, 2009 7:43 PM