In My Mailbox (15): A personal statement and then some fun!

So this past week the book blogging community had a pretty caustic atmosphere.  And I stayed out of it.  But then, the weekend rolls around, and I’m faced with a decision that will put me into the argument whether I want to be or not: In My Mailbox: to participate, or not to participate, that is the question.  And here is my answer:

Yes!  I am going to continue to participate in this meme, but I want to clarify why.  First off, I need to say that plagiarism isn’t a ‘little mistake’, it is a crime.  It’s stealing.  The same way walking into a store and taking a shirt off the rack without paying is stealing.  I do not think that we need to forgive and forget this serious issue, I think we need to remember and learn from it.  HOWEVER I also do not think that it is productive to make personal attacks towards those involved, and especially not towards the victims.  I have been embarrassed for quite a few people on both sides of this argument this week, and as someone who is also friendly with people on both sides of this argument (not the embarrassing ones ), it’s been very uncomfortable.  I do not know Kristi, but I get the impression that she is a lovely, kind, friendly, and caring individual.  Honestly, I haven’t ever reached out to or spoken to her at all, nor has she reached out and spoken to me—and that’s fine!  Yes, these events, which were handled poorly, will affect my opinion of her, but as someone who has no personal experience with Kristi it honestly doesn’t affect me or our relationship in any way. 

I choose to continue to participate in In My Mailbox not as a statement for or against The Story Siren, but because—get this—I do it for me!  In My Mailbox is fun.  It allows me to fangirl, and get oh so excited when I finally get a certain book in my hands, and I love sharing that enthusiasm.  In My Mailbox is the #1 way I am introduced to books I hadn’t seen before, whether they be forthcoming or a hidden gem that’s been around for a lifetime.  In My Mailbox is how I’ve found some new blogs to follow, blogs I love, and bloggers who are wonderful.  It’s how some people have found me.  Yes, I am grateful and happy for the blog traffic I receive each week as a result of IMM.  Maybe the bulk of people only visit in hopes that I will visit their own blogs and bump up their stats, but you know what?  That’s just how some relationships start, and having someone tell me they’re a new follower?  That makes my day. Every. Time. 

So yes, I will continue to participate in In My Mailbox.  No, I do not think plagiarism is a minor issue or okay, but nor do I think Kristi is a horrible or malicious person.  So now that that’s all out there, let’s move on to the fun part, shall we?  Because, quite frankly, my mailbox this week was stuffed full of AWESOME.

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren in which you share the books you added to your collection in the past week.

Do you love Middle Grade?  I certainly do!  And really, If your answer is no, I feel you may not enjoy life quite well enough.  This week I picked up THREE awesome new and coming MG titles:

From NetGalley:
The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loften [Amazon|GoodReads]
If you haven’t seen this one yet, go check it out, because it sounds, well, splendid.  Mysterious Middle Grade boarding school fun, I love the cover, and I want to do a back to back reading of this and The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls.  Thanks Razorbill!

From the library:
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen [Amazon|GoodReads]
I’ve been pining for this one for some time.  It just sounds so adventurous.  That said, I’m a little wary.  Reviews, from reviewers I trust, have been all over the map on this one.  Some pledged their undying love, some said ‘meh’.  I’m excited to see where I fall, after all, I cannot resist a book when the hero has been frequently compared to Eugenides of The Queen’s Thief.
Storybound by Marissa Burt [Amazon|GoodReads]
Unlike The False Prince, I’ve heard only positive things about Storybound.  Sounds kind of like The Neverending Story gone fairy tale to me, and who could resist that?

But wait! That’s not all.  I also got these lovelies to have and to hold:

Won (because sometimes, even I get lucky):
Awkward by Marni Bates [Amazon|GoodReads]
WHY AM I SO AWKWARD?!  The world may never know.  But I’m about to find out why this chick is so awkward, and I’m totally excited for this hilarious, fun YA.  Thanks to the lovely Amy of Tripping Over Books and everyone else involved in this blog tour, I was lucky enough to win a finished copy of Awkward.  YAY!  Awkward happy dancing abounds.
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks [Amazon|GoodReads]
Who wants to take bets on whether or not I can correctly spell Poseidon by the end of reading this book and typing my review?  Anyone?  I won an ARC of this one courtesy of the lovely people at Feiwel and Friends and Erica of The Book Cellar, and I want to thank them both!

Purchased:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews [Amazon|GoodReads]
I’ve had this one on hold at the library for about two months, but it was just not happening.  At least not fast enough.  I had to have it.  I mean, a girl’s gotta get her some Beast Lord when she wants her some Beast Lord.  Amirite or amirite? So I finally broke down and bought this one. So. Worth it.

A Week of Bunburying

I wrapped up my participation in Dewey’s Readathon.
I reviewed the audiobook of Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
I listed my Top Ten Favorite Chicks in Books
I saluted my shorts with a review of Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Mar
I announced that I’m waiting on Envy by Elizabeth Miles
I reviewed the graphic novel Kill Shakespeare Vol. 1
I reviewed *cough* bemoaned The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
I reviewed/fangirled over Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

So let’s have some hugs and love all around, and let me know what you got in your mailbox this week—whether or not you’re still participating in the meme!