TTT: Winter Reading List
It’s been a while since I’ve done a Top Ten Tuesday. Normally, I participate in the topic provided by the Broke and the Bookish team. But this time, I’m going it alone to provide you with a list of the books I hope to get through between December 21st and March 21st (or thereabouts). You might recognize some of these books from previous reading lists, but I’m happy to say most of them are new. So here it is:
My Winter 2012/2013 Top Ten Fiction Reading List
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ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake I think this might be the first in a series, but in any case, it’s been recommended by many people, despite being creepy, even, perhaps “YA Horror.” Yeah, horror’s not my genre of choice, but I’m willing to see how it works for YA. |
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DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor Another highly-recommended novel. The description sounds urban fantasy, with a protagonist who speaks strange languages, and “winged strangers,” all set in Prague. Again, a bit off-the-beaten-track for me, but the high praise it has received piques my interest. |
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A GAME OF THRONES by George R. R. Martin This is the first volume of the much-talked-about fantasy series. It has recently been made into an HBO series, so the chatter about it has increased exponentially. I don’t read a lot of fantasy, so I thought this would be a good way to get a bit more fantasy into my literary diet, and find out what all the fuss is about. |
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THE STAND by Stephen King THE STAND is hailed by many as King’s finest hour. I don’t typically read his favorite genre (horror), but I have a lot of time for Stephen King because he knows how to write, and not everything he writes is horror. He likes suspense, and, yes, he does like to scare, but he also has some interesting story ideas. This edition is the “complete and uncut” version. I think there’s a dent in my desk where it’s been sitting… |
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THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Henry James I won this in Robin Moran‘s Hallowe’en giveaway (thanks Robin!), so even though it’s classic horror/suspense/scare-your-pants-off, I’ll read it. Especially given it’s a classic, and probably one of those books I ought to read anyway. |
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DOLORES CLAIBORNE by Stephen King Yes, this is the second of three–THREE–Stephen King novels on my list. I’m serious people–I don’t usually read horror. But I also have some friends who are Stephen King fans and keep recommending books to me. What am I to do? Heck, I don’t even know enough about this book to tell you what it’s about. But someone recommended it, so there it is! |
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THE GUNSLINGER (THE DARK TOWER I) by Stephen King Another recommended Stephen King novel. It’s the first in his “Dark Tower” series that’s been running for… years, now, I think… |
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CITY OF BONES by Cassandra Clare This has been sitting on my iPad for a while now, so I really ought to get around to reading it. A lot of people have enjoyed Cassandra’s IMMORTAL INSTRUMENTS series–of which this is the first. It appears to be another urban fantasy, in which a teenage girl, Clary, gets caught up in the Shadowhunters’ battle to rid the world of demons. |
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SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo It goes without saying that I ought to read this book, especially since it has been on national “best of 2012” lists, up with John Green’s THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. Not to mention it’s being made into a movie. I believe the novel is set in Russia, and involves a girl called Alina, who discovers a hidden ability that could help her nation in their fight against the flesh-eating Shadow Fold. |
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FALSE MEMORY by Dan Krokos Another book I’ve been wanting to read since before it came out, which is why it’s on this list. It’s the first in a series revolving around Miranda, a girl with no memory, but possessing incredible combat skills. Her lack of memory seems to be the least of her problems as she and her team flee from an impending doom–or so it seems. That’s as much as I know about it. But the book has had rave reviews, so I’m intrigued. |
The observant among you will have noticed that this is my Winter fiction reading list. If you infer from this that I also hope to get some non-fiction reading in over the next three months, you are correct. There’s a lot of non-fiction (theology and history in particular) that I need to get to on top of all the great fiction I have to read. So many books, so little time. A delightful problem to have.
Are there any books you plan to read over the winter? Any you think I should have on my list for next Spring?
Oh, Shadow and Bone. Love, love, love that book.
I have Anna Dressed in Blood on my kindle. Want to read it, but there’s always another one that will be better research for whatever I’m writing.
Oh, City of Bones and DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. Two I adore.
Like you said on my blog: I would like to get any book on my TBR goodreads list =)
I will be approaching ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD with caution–I’ve heard it’s not for the faint of heart. Not that I’m faint-of-heart (I am the chief bug-killer in the house, and have cleaned up many rodent gifts left on our porch by the outdoor cats), but even some hardened horror enthusiasts have reported chills at this book. And in a strange way, that kinda makes me more intrigued to read it!
Since you employed good netiquette and didn’t post a link to your blog, Juliana I will: It’s here!. Go check it out, folks. 🙂
Oooo, you’ve got a great list here! I thoroughly enjoyed some of the books on your list. THE STAND is the only Stephen King book that I’ve read (besides ON WRITING) and I thought it was fantastic. His descriptions are just so vivid to me. SHADOW AND BONE was a recent favourite of mine too. I think you’re going to have a great time reading this winter. 🙂
Thanks, Jaime! Your remarks on THE STAND are particularly notable. One of the things I look for in the books I read is where description is done well. I think that’s one of my areas of weakness (I find I either lean toward the boringly detailed, or the pointlessly vague), so I’m always eager to learn from those that excel at it. 🙂
You weren’t kidding when you said you had a lot of horror! Daughter of Smoke and Bone is on my TBR shelf too along with Game of Thrones. I read City of Bones a while back and just read the third in TMI series a couple of months back. It’s an interesting world that the author builds but there are a lot of issues I have with the books I’ve read so far.
I bet I still go to watch the film though. The trailer just hooks me in and I’m a sucker for giving into curiosity.
I know–after all that horror I’m going to have to dig up my old Mr. Men books to read, just to settle my head and think about some nice things! 😉
I must admit, shirtless guys with six-pack abs on the cover of a novel is not a selling point to me. Smacks too much of Mills & Boone for my liking. But, if the book has received sufficient interest from people whose genre of choice is not Romance, then I’m willing to overlook the cover and hope for the best inside. 🙂
I started The Stand and never finished it. I think when I started it I had overdosed on apocalyptic horror 😛
I looooooove The Turn of the Screw because it’s not at all what you expect ^_^
Happy reading!
Thanks, Cole! I’m looking forward to both of these. 🙂
Lots of variety on that list! I just received SHADOW AND BONE for my birthday and can’t wait to read it too.
It’s certainly going to be an interesting few months… 🙂