Thursday, December 30, 2010

What I'll Be Reading in 2011

I have a handful or so of 2011 galleys right now and these are the ones I'm looking forward to the most!
The Matchmaker of Kenmare, by Frank Delaney. The follow-up to Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show is my most anticipated book of 2011 so far. Random House, February.

The Oracle of Stamboul, by Michael David Lukas. Looks really good. About a little girl who becomes advisor to the Sultan in the Ottoman Empire. Harper, February.

Enough About Love, by Herve le Tellier. I actually read about half of this book at the NEIBA conference where I picked it up. Frothy fun about French people falling in love. Other Press, February.

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell. Looks like fun from Random House. February.

West of Here, by Jonathan Evison. Can't wait to read this highly touted book from Algonquin Press. February.

The Fates Will Find Their Way, by Hannah Pittard. Pittard's book is this month's Indiespensable selection from Powell's, so it has to be good. Ecco, February.

Tourquai, by Tim Davys. Another in the series of books including Amberville and Lanceheim about goings-on among a community of stuffed animals. I should probably read those, too! At least I own Amberville. Harper, March.

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But you know what? I want to spend most of my 2011 reading things off my shelf and not worrying quite so much about new releases or the flavor of the month. I think that would be nice for a change. But if A.S. Byatt or Margaret Atwood have new books this year all bets are off!

I'm also planning several theme months- Irish Month in March, and science fiction/fantasy in July, among others, to help me work through some of my backlog. It worked well in November when I did Russia Month so why not try it again.

So let me ask you- what are you looking forward to? Is there anything you'd recommend for me?

12 comments:

Esme said...

Marie-I am not sure what I am reading next year-probably K. Mortons's first book-I am finishing off her third and have already read her first. I want to read more of what is on my shelf-I was in Canada over Christmas and have a whole list of books I saw. I want my house not to have that overstocked library look.

Ana S. said...

Byatt and Atwood are certainly worth an exception ;) But your goal to just relax and read from your shelves sounds like a great one.

I have not yet read Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show, but I dod love Delaney's Ireland and hope to eventually read them both.

I think my most anticipated new books of 2011 are all the Stella Gibbons re-released that Vintage Books has lined up. And also the new Patrick Ness.

Zibilee said...

I am quite intrigued with the book about the community of stuffed animals, and am really looking forward to that review!! This year, I am really looking forward to reading more of the books on my shelf that I have been collecting and putting off. I have quite a few review commitments, but I am going to be generously sliding books of my choosing in between them. I want to read Wolf Hall, A little Tana French, and the new Mc Ewan.

nomadreader said...

I'm looking forward to quite a few of those myself! Happy reading!

Steve said...

I'm looking forward to Swamplandia!, West of Here, and The Fates Will Find Their Way, too, as well as Peter Grandbois' novel Nahoonkara and Georges Perec's The Art of Asking Your Boss for a Raise. And I think every reader everywhere should be looking forward to my book in 2011, but I'm probably a little bit biased.

Kathleen said...

I'm looking forward to reading more off my shelves this year and carving out more reading time in my day.

Audrey said...

The best thing about reading other people's best of 2010 lists is finding that I haven't read any (or most) of their bests, and finding new books that way! (Although we do have Major P. in common. If only I could stop telling people they should read Major Pettigrew Lives for a Day. But it would make a good movie, or Masterpiece Theater program? :) Happy New Year, Marie!

JoAnn said...

I'm looking forward to reading the great book that have been on my shelf for way too long. My goal is to last until April 1... we'll see. Happy New Year, Marie!

Vasilly said...

I see we have a lot of the same books in our TBR pile for next year: Tourquai, The Oracle of Stamboul, Enough about Love, and The Fates Will Find Their Way. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on them. Happy reading and have a happy new year!

jlshall said...

I'm hoping to read more from my shelves, too. That TBR stack really needs a good clear out. Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

Anonymous said...

I read "The Oracle of Stamboul" and really enjoyed it!

Amy M. said...

I just got got copies of AMBERVILLE and TOURQUOI and need to get reading on them. Looking forward to your reviews!

The Oracle of Stamboul and The Fates Will Find Their Way are also currently on my bedside table

-Amy
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