Happy February everyone and happy Super Bowl Sunday. I hope you enjoy the Big Game and the parties, and of course the amusing commercials.
February will be a busy month as the Olympic Winter Games take place Feb. 7-23 in Sochi, Russia. Go Team USA and Team Canada! So I will be watching quite a bit of those. Who knows how many books I will be able to get through, but this month is loaded with some great literary fiction coming out (see list at the right). I’ve picked six that I’d like to snatch up sometime; three of these are authors putting out their debuts.
“The Wives of Los Alamos” by TaraShea Nesbit is one that comes highly praised; it describes the lives of the women who accompanied their scientist husbands to the desert to work on a secret project that turned out to be the making of the atomic bomb. Author Paula McLain calls the novel a “fascinating and artful debut” and one of “consequence,” while Gail Godwin says she’s in “awe” of it.
Another debut that likely shouldn’t be missed is Molly Antopol’s short story collection “The UnAmericans.” Antopol is an honoree of the National Book Foundation’s “5 under 35” picks, and a “writer of seismic talents,” says Pulitzer Prize winner Adam Johnson. She’s quite the talk of the town so to speak so I need to check this out.
Andy Weir’s “The Martian” is another praised debut that I hope to read. It looks like a fast-paced thriller about an astronaut who’s left by his crew for dead on Mars. Will he be able to overcome the odds against him? Even astronaut Chris Hadfield says he couldn’t put the book down.
The next two February novels on my list are from Canadians. “Caught” by Lisa Moore, which came out in Canada in May 2013, is now releasing this month to acclaim in the U.S. It’s about a Billy-the-Kid-type character who busts out of prison to embark on one last great heist and win back the woman he loves.
The other novel “The Bear” by Claire Cameron is described as a harrowing suspense story that’s narrated by a five-year-old girl who must fend for herself and her little brother after a brutal bear attack. It sounds quite scary but also moving about the bonds between mothers and children.
Lastly in February novels, I can’t help but want to read “Wonderkid” by Wesley Stace, which looks quite fun. It’s being hailed as a rock-and-roll novel written with an insider’s knowledge of the music biz about a British band that takes America by storm until things start to go wrong. Colin Meloy of the Decemberists says it’s “at turns illuminating and heartbreaking — but always funny.” “Wonderkid” looks to be a sure winner.
For movies this month (see list at left), I’ll pick George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men” about an Allied WWII platoon trying to rescue stolen art from the Nazis. It’s based on a true story, and although the trailer makes it look a bit like a humorous affair of loopy characters, I still want to see it. The movie’s release was delayed from December as fixes were made to it, so hopefully the result will be good.
Lastly in albums this month (see list at bottom right), I’ll pick Beck’s latest “Morning Phase” because he has a good voice and usually has some interesting songs. And if you liked his 2002 album “Sea Change,” you might also enjoy this one, as I hear it has a similar style.
How about you — which new books, movies, or albums out this month are you most looking forward to?
Good selection of books. I’m always impressed by people who are able to keep up with all the books that are coming out. It generally takes me a couple of years to read a book once it’s come out – unless I read it for a very specific reason!
My SS update: http://rachelreadingnthinking.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-update.html
Yeah I guess it helps me organize to know what’s coming out. Otherwise I’m in the dark. Thanks for stopping by Rachel.
I am not much of a sports fan, but I do enjoy the Olympics! We’ll be watching them in our house as well.
I recently picked up a copy of The Monuments Men since it was on sale. I usually like to read the book before seeing the movie, but know I won’t be able to get to this book anytime soon. I am still deciding whether then to put off seeing the movie until it’s out on DVD or not. I could watch it first, of course. I just don’t normally like to do that.
Yeah I hear the Monuments Men book is good. I’d be interested in it too. It probably delves deeper than the movie.
The Martian is an EXCELLENT book. It was by far my favorite of the month. The opening line alone is one of the best ones I’ve ever read. I hope you get a chance to read it!
Thanks Michelle. Good to know. Yeah I think I will pick it up soon.