So my package was actually waiting for me when I got home Friday night! Sweet! There was just one tiny problem- the telltale clear packaging tape swaddled over every inch told me that something had happened during transit and the box had been opened. Ruh roh.

I opened the box to find two books inside and a very nice note from my matchee, baldinbro. He was very thoughtful and found some great titles I had not yet had the pleasure of reading. But wait- his note describes THREE books, not two!

[DarthVader] NooOoOOOOoooooOOOOoo!!! [/DarthVader]

So I check the list: A classic by Steinbeck, "East of Eden," a modern graphic novel by Chris Ware called "Jimmy Corrigan," and another title I have been dying to read, "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell. The missing book was East of Eden.

I could just sit around crying about it, but honestly, this is southern California, I bet you I can fix this. So after a few thrift shops this past weekend, I hold in my hand the 3rd book you see in the picture- got a copy of East of Eden for a pretty good price to replace the one the postal service, ahem, 'lost.' I hope they actually read it.

Anyway, this is absolutely awesome and I can't thank baldinbro enough for his diligence and great taste! I hope you got something just as cool or better.