Currently Reading

Now that the New Year has begun once again, it's time to take stock of what's on my reading plate for the coming year. Last week, as my bookstore closed, I bought a pile (literally) of books of all types, which has once again pushed my bookshelves to overflow. This year, one of the things that I'd most like to do is read quite a few of these.

Currently Reading:

The Monuments Men, Robert Edsel Monuments Men is the story of a US Army unit that was put together during the Second World War, where they were tasked with saving and preserving cultural artifacts from what is arguably the most destructive war in history. More than just that, however, is a look at the costs of war beyond just the human lives.

The Last and First Men, Olaf Stapeldon I picked this book up at the fantastic Northfield Bookstore a couple weeks ago, and read a bit of it. I'm still working through this interesting story of the future of man. Despite being written in the 1930s, Stapeldon got a couple details right, and some interesting theories on what would happen to humanity.

Andvari's Ring, Arthur Peterson Another old book that I really, really like. I'm finding that I need to be in the proper mood for this one, as it's an epic poem, but I've really loved what I've read thus far. It's a fantastic story from the Norse, with their crazy gods and heroes.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon I started this a while ago, a story of an autistic child who is attempting to solve a crime. It's been a little while since I've picked it up, but I'm going to finish it at some point in the near future.

How Starbucks Saved My Life, Michael Gill I got this book very, very cheaply a while back, and the best way that I can sum it up is: "Old White Guy discovers humility". It's not a book that I'm terribly thrilled with, and just goes to show that anyone can trump up their story a bit and get a successful book out of it. I don't know when I'll get to it again, but it's not really a priority.

Blood and Thunder, Hampton Sides This book I really like, but just haven't gotten around to finishing it. An interesting history between the American expansion into the West, and Kit Carson, it's engrossing and riveting. I need to get back to this one soon.

Next Up:

These books are higher on my priority list - the first tier, so to speak:

The Big Burn, Timothy Egan Race of the Century, Julie Fenster The Dead Hand, David Hoffman

And the rest, in no particular order:

D-Day, Antony Beevor The Making of the Atomic Bomb, Richard Rhodes Hot, Flat and Crowded, Thomas Friedman Manhood for Amateurs, Michael Chabon Andrew Carnige, David Nasaw People's Tycoon, Steven Watts Death Masks, Jim Butcher Blood Rites, Jim Butcher Small Favor, Jim Butcher Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris Theodore Rex, Edmund Morris Kindred, Octavia Butler The Forever War, Joe Halderman Echo of Battle, Joseph Linn A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin The Warded Man, Peter Brett The Purpose of the Past, Gordon Wood Geek's Guide to World Domination, Garth Sundem Use of Weapons, Iain M Banks Players of Games, Iain M Banks Makers, Cory Doctorow Alas, Babylon, Pat Frank Coraline, Neil Gaiman The Sheriff of Yrnameer, Michael Rubens Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson Anatham, Neal Stephenson, Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold Johannes Cabal, Necromancer, Jonathan Howard Woken Furies, Richard K Morgan

And, a couple others that I just haven't pulled out or remembered. There's a lot there, and undoubtedly, there'll be quite a few others that will be added on to the list as the year progresses.