The first day of 2011 has just ended and this blog has now been in business officially for 2 years and 1 day. I've found it to be pretty fun to write reviews here for the past couple of years and I am planning to continue in the same vein.
Today I spent quite a bit of time catching up on my sff-related feeds and looking through people's favorite reads of last year to figure out what I want to be reading. Here are some of the titles that caught my attention:
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Ship Breaker by Paolo B
acigalupi seems to be on many lists. Having enjoyed The Windup Girl last year, I would like to see more of his writing.
- Mind Games by Carolyn Crane is a first book in an urban fantasy series that sounds interesting.
- The Local News by Miriam Gershow was mentioned as "better than great", so I am considering picking it up even though this type of reading is not typical for me.
On a similar note, there's a bunch of books I am looking forward to reading because they are part of a series I've been following.
- Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss is finally coming out in March and is probably one book I've been looking forward to longest. I am looking forward to it so much that I've already pre-ordered a copy from Amazon.
- Naamah's Blessing by Jacquline Carey is the final book in the series following Moirin and will be coming out at the end of June. Definitely going to be picking it up.
- The House on Durrow Street by Galen Beckett is a continuation of The Magicians and Mrs. Quent. It's out already and I am considering to pick it up when the mood is right.
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the last book in The Hunger Game series and it probably comes as no surprise that I am already reading it now.
I still have four books in my reading pile from last year. I haven't been in the mood for epic fantasy in some time, but I think I'll find some time this year to give Acacia a try and maybe read the second Brent Weeks book since I already bought it. I've also been hearing nonstop about Guy Gavriel Kay and since I've never read any of his book, I'd like to pick one up this year.
I guess we'll see how all this reading turns out. I am certainly looking forward to enjoying many different books this year. I am also always up for more recommendations.
I'm curious as to Bacigalupi and have even heard some say that Ship Breaker is better than The Wind-up girl. I'd also love to see what's so different and amazing about Rothfuss' epic fantasy than everyone else's epic fantasy, but I'll wait till the series is complete.
ReplyDeleteAs far as GGK goes I've read four books by him and will say everything he writes is entertaining and very well written. It seems some people give him grief for not hitting a 'home run' with every new book, but who does?
As to The Local News, tell me your birthday and I'll gift it to you on Amazon.
Yes, I've seen those glowing reviews of Bacigalupi too. I suspect Ship Breaker (being a YA novel) may have less adult-themed content than The Windup Girl. I imagine some people may prefer not to be shocked with rather graphic sex and violence scenes that are present in The Windup Girl. I guess I'll find out.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right to wait for Rothfuss's series to finish. Once you start it's hard to stop. I'm pretty burned out on epic fantasy myself and despite this epic not necessarily adding any mindbogglingly novel concepts, the writing and the characters are just so compelling that it makes for excellent reading.
I guess I'll see about GGK. I've heard a lot about Under Heaven this year, but I wonder if I should start with one of his older novels.
As for my birthday -- that sounds awesome, send me an email to grippingbooks@gmail.com, I'd rather not publish the date here.
I've read some of Bacigalupi's short fiction and it was excellent. I also read some reviews of Ship Breaker recently and it certainly does sound like a book I'd like to read.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning on trying to get Name of the Wind read before Wise Man's Fear comes out.
Happy 2 year anniversary of the blog! Glad to hear you'll be keeping up with it as I enjoy your reviews.
Thanks Carl! :)
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