Something cheerful for a cold day – new books!
10 December, 2009
I went up to Yorkshire to visit a dear friend and her baby this weekend and seem to have come back with a cold… but that’s not all I came back with!
Said dear friend gave me Terry Pratchett’s Unseen Academicals as a birthday gift and I’m as happy as a dessert fiend let loose in Ladurée. Their orange blossom macarons are scrumptious.
I also won a signed copy of Silver Lies by Ann Parker from the author herself. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this book, a historical mystery set in the silver rush of 1880s Leadville, Colorado, and cannot wait to start reading it. I’m not a connoisseur of Westerns (even though my Japanese granddad was an avid John Wayne fan) but anything that’s had such glowing reviews is a must read.
And, I popped into my local library and what did I find?
The Devil in Amber by Mark Gatiss
Black Butterfly by Mark Gatiss
The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett
I’d been meaning to read Mark Gatiss’ sequels after enjoying The Vesuvius Club featuring man about town and detective Lucifer Box which I enjoyed tremendously many years ago. So what luck to find both books at the library.
I have also read so many wonderful fantasy books this year, and The Painted Man has been causing quite a stir in the sff world, so what better way to start the new year with something good. I seem to be spoilt for choice.
chasing bawa 
12 December, 2009 at 2:33 am
it’s snowing your blog! love the effect : )
“Silver lies” sounds good.
i was back home in nagoya last weekend, went through my mum’s bookshelves, and found Tanizaki, a book on Noh (in english) etc – my new year holiday reading list : )
12 December, 2009 at 12:17 pm
The snow is cute isn’t it?
I just finished Tanizaki’s The Makioka Sisters which I really enjoyed. I think it’s called Sasameyuki in Japanese. I’ve now set my sights on Dazai Osamu’s Ningen Shikkaku (No Longer Human) which I think is being made into a film next year. I’ve only read it in Japanese (which was really hard) so am thinking to read it in English if I can find myself a copy.
Happy new year reading!
14 December, 2009 at 6:03 am
I love your recommendations! I have not read anything from the Japanese authors and am hoping to start in the
New Year. I do know that the books are available in colombo so this is going to be a new start for me.
thanks once again for all the reviews. A happy new year to you and yours.
14 December, 2009 at 10:51 am
I hope you like them!