Literary Exploration discussion

As the year winds to a close.... What books are you looking forward to that are being released next year?

The only two I know of are The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, coming in January, and They Eat Puppies, Don't They?: A Novel by Christopher Buckley, due in May.
Hope I can find something to read in the meantime.

I'm looking forward to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green too.

Also want to read Fever and The Big Town too.

Apart from them I'm not sure what is coming out next year that I'm interested in reading.

I spotted The Snow Child the other day which looked quite interesting.

Hadn't heard of The Fault in Our Stars but it looks good!

Another new book that looks good is one found by Melki; which is Empire State

"The Mirage. Matt Ruff is smart and funny and publishing again, and I am excited."

Chris Knopf may have another Jackie mystery out this year. Yum! Candy! And Laura Lippman publishes every year, why should 2012 be different. I'm hoping for more Tess.

Let's see - The Blinding Knife and The Daylight War are at the top of my list.

The Lifeboat has caught my attention too.

Also Care of Wooden Floors

I'm really excited that Hilary Mantel's sequel to Wolf Hall is coming out in May. Wolf Hall won the Booker prize a few years ago, and hopefully Bring up the Bodies will be just as good!

I am really, really excited for "Fair Game" by Patricia Briggs coming out in March...it's the third book in the Alpha & Omega series. I am also looking forward to anything Rick Riordan publishes.

I loved Percy Jackson. I know it´s a children´s book, but the writing style is just so funny, I couldn´t resist. I´m going to buy the other god-series he wrote soon, beginning with The Lost Hero.

I also adore the writing style. I can not stop laughing whenever I read his books. That series is really good; I love the direction he went in with the story line and should provide interesting dialog/interactions between the Romans and the Greeks.

Victoria wrote: "I'm really excited that Hilary Mantel's sequel to Wolf Hall is coming out in May. Wolf Hall won the Booker prize a few years ago, and hopefully Bring up the Bodies wi..."

I haven't yet got around to reading Wolf Hall although it sounds exactly like my kind of thing. I nearly put it in a challenge for this year but I got so many comments that it was dry or a bit dull that I got put off. Did you find that at all?

Marlene wrote: "I loved Percy Jackson. I know it´s a children´s book, but the writing style is just so funny, I couldn´t resist. I´m going to buy the other god-series he wrote soon, beginning with [book:The Lost H..."

I've been reading a lot of YA in the last 3 to 4 year since my children have come along and their reading taste has began to shift from picture books. Some of it is really enjoyable and far more entertaining. I saw the Percy Jackson film and really enjoyed it and have planned to read the books ever since. Don't think you can knock a good story what ever the market age of it :)

Philippa wrote: "I haven't yet got around to reading Wolf Hall although it sounds exactly like my kind of thing. I nearly put it in a challenge for this year but I got so many comments that it was dry or a bit dull that I got put off. Did you find that at all?"

Personally, I didn't find it dry- but then, I would happily sit down and read non-fiction Tudor history. On the other hand, one of my friends didn't get through the whole book because she said she lost interest. One thing that I know some people find difficult about Wolf Hall is the fact that the narrative is in present tense. Personally, I really enjoyed the immediacy of it- but I know it throws some people off.

I don't think I'd recommend it to someone with no background knowledge of the key players of Tudor history. The cast of characters is very large, and keeping track of all the Mores, Cromwells, Howards, Boleyns, Cardinals, Dukes, Duchesses, Ladies and Lords etc could be a bit daunting.

That said, if you've watched The Tudors showtime tv series, you'd probably find it very interesting. Thomas Cromwell is one of the most vicious characters in the show, but he is depicted in a much more sympathetic light as Hilary Mantel's protagonist.(Though, that might change in the next novel. History doesn't bode well for him...)

I so agree with you Terry!

Speaking of YA, I'm looking forward to The Enchantress, the 6th book in the Nicholas Flamel series, by Michael Scott, crazy over the top fantasy - fun and moves fast. May 2012.

Also Sapphire Blue, by Kerstin Gier, English translation due October. The translation is by Anthea Bell who translated the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke. (I'm always impressed by translators.) Ruby Red was the 1st in the trilogy, a fun fast read.

How did I forget A Crown Imperiled comes out soon? Preordered my copy :)

I'll add that one too!

Flash Beagle wrote: "Also Sapphire Blue, by Kerstin Gier, English translation due October. The translation is by Anthea Bell who translated the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke. (I'm always impressed by translators.) Ruby Red was the 1st in the trilogy, a fun fast read. "

Hey! I read this seris in German - within two days, plus "Emerald Green". I LOVED the series! (And there finally were some perks of being German) xD

The Serpent Shadow by Rick Riordan
Echoes of Betrayal by Elizabeth Moon
The Shadow Patrol by Alec Berenson
The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks
Sworn in Steel by Dennis Hulock
The Black Box by Michael Connelly

Marlene wrote: "Flash Beagle wrote: "Also Sapphire Blue, by Kerstin Gier, English translation due October. The translation is by Anthea Bell who translated the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke. (I'm always impres..."

You're lucky! I have to wait till October for Sapphire Blue and I don't even know when Emerald Green will be in English...probably another year :(

(Anthea Bell also translated Three Bags Full, the March read.)

JK Rowling is supposed to have an adult crime novel out later this year - that one is a must read! (no title yet)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...

Flash Beagle wrote: "JK Rowling is supposed to have an adult crime novel out later this year - that one is a must read! (no title yet)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/..."

I'm a bit hesitant. Yes the Harry Potter books were good but can she write anything else? I won't be first in line, that's for sure.

I have no hesitation :)

Here's what I expect (after 7 books) - strong main character, strong plot. I just hope it's not too long - many best selling authors suffer from BSAB (best selling author bloat) :)

The title of her new book has been released: The Casual Vacancy. I'm definitely looking forward to that one, but I already know it's going to be nowhere near the level of Harry Potter for me.

I'm looking forward to the release of a couple of sequels to YA novels that I embarassingly enough do enjoy.
The Mark of Athena
The Last Guardian
The Raven Boys
Shadow of Night
Dreamless
Rapture