Don't-Miss Books to Read in January 2011
I haven't done a don't-miss post in a few months and thought it'd be a great way to start the year. As far as I can tell, 2011 is going to offer up a fantastic selection of books, and here are just a few titles coming out this month that I'm excited about.
Into the Wild Places
I love books in which the landscape plays as important a part of the story as do the characters. Here are two novels that fit this description. Kings of Colorado by David E. Hilton (Simon & Schuster) is a coming-of-age story about a boy who is sent from the city to a reformatory ranch the 1960s. The thirteen-year-old learns about mustangs, the Rockies, prison guards, and survival. David Vann's Caribou Island (Harper) is about a couple who decides to live out their dream of building a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness. They are ill-prepared for how their lives and relationships will change.
You Can't Pick Your Family
I have already introduced you to The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (Amy Einhorn Books) by giving you a bit of teaser, and you'll see a full review from me in a few days, but I promise that you will want to read about these three sisters who suddenly find themselves living back at home. Drinking Closer to Home by Jessica Anya Blau is coming out in a Harper Perennial edition this month. This novel is about an entirely different family who's also coping with being united. I can't wait to meet the cast of quirky characters and bask in the southern California setting.
Solve a Mystery
The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly (Pamela Dorman Books) is a psychological thriller that involves a family, a newly released convict, and the city of London. I'll be spotlighting this debut later in the year. Ruth Downie's Caveat Emptor (Bloomsbury) is the fourth entry in her medical mystery series that takes place in Roman Britain. You won't want to miss meeting physician Gaius Petreius Ruso.
Times Gone By
The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor (Hyperion) introduces us to an English bookseller who experiences financial hardship in the late 1780s. He is offered a chance at a job, but it comes with some strings attached. It looks like a mix of historical fiction, mystery, and ghost story. Susan Vreeland, who writes historical novels centering on the art world, has a new novel coming out. Clara and Mr. Tiffany (Random House) explores the world of the famous glass manufacturer.
You'll see reviews of some these this month, and I hope to get to the others before too long. What are you looking forward to reading in January?
33 comments:
I love this post! So much good stuff out there, thanks for giving us the highlights. I have been really looking forward to The Weird Sisters and Caribou Island, but there are others here as well that I would like to read.
Wow, great picks - The Anatomy of Ghosts looks awesome in particular. I hope some of these come out before my trip to the States in mid-January!
Caribou Island does sound good. Looking forward to that one myself. Enjoy.
The new Vreeland, Caribou Island and The Weird Sisters interest me. I enjoy these posts - I always find something new. Hadn't heard about Clara and Mr. Tiffany.
The Weird Sisters, so far, is indeed a terrific look at these individual sisters and how they mesh together.
Sense of place is something I also admire when done well, so another new book this week that's been amazing is Annie Proulx's memoir, Bird Cloud.
I love the way you put this post together. I have a couple of these on my shelves and need to get to them, but you've totally added to my wishlist here.
I already feel so overwhelmed by wonderful books coming out in 2011. This morning I posted about THE SENTRY that hits shelves next week. THE CYPRUS HOUSE is later this month, as is THE WORLD'S GREATEST SLEUTH.
February, March and April also show great promise and four of my most anticipated reads of the year make their appearances in summer. Here's to great books!!
Oh wow, what a great list! I've been reading so much good buzz about Weird Sisters. Caribou Island looks really good, too, oh...what am I talking about? They all look good! ;O)
I have The Poison Tree and am looking forward to reading it - I'm also excited to read The Anatomy of Ghosts and download that right away.
If you haven't read the following yet, keep your eye out for Evenfall by Liz Michalski, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, and Shades of Gray by Ruta Septys. Fabulous books!
Those are some great choices! Thanks for giving me more books to ponder! Happy New Year to you!
Love the post! I've been waiting patiently for Clara and Mr. Tiffany and Weird Sisters, but I hadn't heard about Caribou Island yet and that looks good too! Thanks!
I'm interested in Clara and Mr. Tiffany. Carol Goodman's, The Drowning Tree taught me something about stained glass windows, and I'd like to know more about Tiffany.
You just proved there are so many books and so little time. I really want to read The Weird Sisters and Drinking Closer to Home is up soon on my reading list. I now have several more to add to my TBR list.
Fantastic post! I'm excited that I have The Weird Sisters in my review pile already. I'm printing out your post to take to the book store later this month!
I love the way you organized it! ;)
All of those are new to me except for The Weird Sisters, which I have for review.
The majority of these titles are new to me. I'll be eagerly waiting for your reviews!
We do have a lot to look forward to. I hope to read The Weird Sisters very soon.
I am curious to see what you think about The Poison Tree which I enjoyed very much.
And I remember your The Weird sisters teaser, so that´s another review I am looking forward to.
And myself: I got some Danish crime fiction from my children - I have great expectations to those books.
I'm looking forward to reading Caribou Island - I really hope that it is as good as Legends of a Suicide.
Oh man! They all sound good. Will have to check them out. Thanks.
Love the sound of The Weird Sisters - looking forward to your review!
I so want to read many of the titles in your list!!
I hope you have a fantastic year ahead!! appy New Year!
Most of these were already on my TBR list, but you've gotten me even more excited about them!
I'm really looking forward to The Weird Sisters, The Poison Tree, and Clara and Mr. Tiffany. I just finished Anatomy of Ghosts and was less than impressed.
You can't pick your family=on my tippy top list! I can't wait for these two books! Thank you for sharing :)
These all look good but I'm really looking forward to The Weird Sisters. I'll be reading Anatomy of Ghosts next week.
{{I don't need any more books....}}
Caribou Island looks great. Darn.
Good stuff as always Candace! I like the sounds of the Poison Tree especially. Will keep my eyes peeled.
Like everyone else it seems ^^^ I think Caribou Island interesting (and I love the cover)
Oh, I had forgotten that there was a new Vreeland coming out! *off to check the library catalogue*
There are WAY too many great books coming out in January! I am looking forward to Caribou Island, Weird Sisters, The Anatomy of Ghosts, The Girl With The Glass Feet, Under the Mercy Trees, The Year of the Hare...I'm sure I'm missing some!
Thanks for highlighting these books ... now I have even more books to covet!
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