Mailbox Monday: 13 rue Thérèse by Elena Mauli Shapiro

This meme is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page and Kristi at The Story Siren. During the month of August, Chick Loves Lit will be hosting MM for Marcia.


I received a very nice surprise in the mail last week from Reagan Arthur Books for participating in the Reagan Arthur Book Challenge.


Inside a brown envelope, this lovely book was covered in gift wrap (which mirrors an illustration in the book) and a tin of 'Rendez Vous' (sour lemon candy from France) was taped to it. 13 rue Thérèse by Elena Mauli Shapiro is a beautifully illustrated novel which will be published in February 2011. The description on the back cover reads:

American academic Trevor Stratton discovers a box full of artifacts as he settles into his new office in Paris. The pictures, letters, and objects in the box relate to the life of Louise Brunet, a Frenchwoman who lived through both world wars.

Trevor begins to piece together the story of Louise's life: her love for a cousin who died in the war, her marriage to a man who works for her father, and her attraction to a neighbor in her building at 13, rue Thérèse. As Trevor becomes enamored of the charming, feisty Louise of his imagination, he notices another alluring Frenchwoman: his clerk, Josianne, who planted the mysterious box in his office and with whom he finds he is falling in love.

This book was accompanied by a lovely note from Reagan Arthur thanking me for taking part in the Reagan Arthur Book Challenge. It's my kind of challenge - there's no pressure at all. If you'd like to participate, click here for more information.