I got a few nice books for Christmas this year that I can’t wait to read. My parents gave me the new Stephen King collection, Just After Sunset, and the new Greg Bear, City At The End of Time. I love Bear but unfortunately they didn’t know I’d already got it from Amazon; it’s the thought that counts though, right?
My aunt also gave me a copy of Rick Warren’s A Purpose Driven Life. I’m perplexed by that. I’m a strict agnostic and it feels like she’s trying to tell me something. I’m not sure what to do with it yet – I don’t care for Warren’s ideology at all to be honest. I was very surprised when Obama announced Warren would be giving the invocation at his inauguration.
Anyway, these are some of the books I’ll be reading over the New Year; I’ll post some reviews later on now that I have some free time and I’m blogging again.
Just After Sunset
Stephen King
First Impressions: A collection of stories where King focuses on the fears of ordinary people in extraordinary situations. It’s more of a mature King, without the gore and violence of many of his other works.
Mindscan
Robert J. Sawyer
First Impressions: I enjoy Sawyer’s standalone novels; Mindscan won the John W. Campbell Award, a kind of immortality and mystery story set in the future. Looks interesting.
Axis
Robert Charles Wilson
First Impressions: Wilson is one of my favourite writers and I’ve been looking forward to reading this. It’s a sequel to the award-winning Spin, which was excellent, one of the few literate SF novels in recent years.
The Last Magician
Janette Turner Hospital
First Impressions: I’m not sure about this one. I liked Orpheus Lost and Due Preparations but this seems more convoluted, a tale of conflicting personalities and obsessions. We’ll see.
Wishful Drinking
Carrie Fisher
First Impressions: Carrie Fisher’s memoir is partially based on material from her one-woman show and traces her life from Star Wars, through depression and through the other stories of her life. Got this one as an audiobook.
The Pleasure of My Company
Steve Martin
First Impressions: A follow-up to the excellent Shopgirl, this looks like a classic Martin comedy – the quirky neurotic hero suddenly finding himself in over his head. Should be a fun read.
