This week I received five good books in the mail—two review copies, and three that I bought for myself on a rainy day last week.

The Storm at the Door by Stefan Merrill Block
This book is being published by Random House in June, and I’ll be reviewing it in July with TLC Book Tours—I love those guys! More about the book:

Inspired by elements of the lives of the author’s grandparents, this haunting love story shifts through time and reaches across generations. Along the way, Stefan Merrill Block stunningly illuminates an age-old truth: even if one’s daily life appears ordinary, one can still wage a silent, secret, extraordinary war.

Secret inner wars? Sounds good to me!

Sideways on a Scooter by Miranda Kennedy
I’m a sucker for memoirs and travel writing, and Kennedy combines both! I’m particularly excited because she will be speaking in D.C. next month, so I plan to write about that as well.

Up for Renewal by Cathy Alter
This is another memoir, but it is told through the lens of magazines and media—a very interesting concept. I’ve heard great things about this D.C. author from my coworker, so I’m very excited to give this book a try.

A Year of Living Your Yoga by Judith Hanson Lasater
I’m trying very hard to establish a regular yoga practice, so I think Lasater’s encouraging words wouldn’t hurt. From what I understand, she’s a pretty big deal in the yoga world, so I’m curious to hear what she has to say.

Leave Me Alone, I’m Reading by Maureen Corrigan
In addition to her career on NPR’s Fresh Air, Corrigan is the professor who teaches the New York Studies class that inspired me to begin this blog, with its focus on D.C. literature. She is sharp and funny, and I can’t wait to read her observations on my favorite past-time!

From the Stacks

I still have a few books I haven’t finished from my last trip to the library, so I’m skipping a week. But Jack picked up a copy of The White Luck Warrior by R. Scott Bakker that I may steal while he’s sleeping…

So, what books caught your eye this week?