December Reading List 2013

It's very quickly warming up over here now that NaNo (November) is over. I didn't write anything else. Thinking of trying to get some more work done today if the heat doesn't end up frying my brain.

I can't even believe that this is the last month of 2013. And the last month this year I'll be putting together one of these reading lists. Crazy.

An Ice Cold Grave

I'm very much enjoying this series of books. Much better, in my opinion, than the Southern Vampire Mysteries series and without all the drama. This series is only four books long, so I'll be finishing it next month.

Magic Bleeds

Getting through this series at a rate of knots because I'm reading it with some big fans of the series. After last month's book, however, I don't even mind. This book is going from strength to strength, just like Jim Butcher's Dresden books, and just like I was promised they would! People picking up this series: It's a slow burn, but it's worth it.

Dime Store Magic.

Just when you think I'd be done with paranormal fiction for this month, I pull out this old favourite. Kelley Armstrong's Bitten is being made into a TV series starting out in January. I've read most of the books that the series is going to be based from but, sadly, I've never actually finished this one. So, into the pile for this month it goes!

Neverwhere.

Next on my list is Neil Gaiman!! After the huge success that was reading through The Ocean at the End of the Lane two months ago, I've been looking forward to reading this one with a group with baited breath. Not to mention, this is the book that the radio play read by Benedict Cumberbatch, Natalie Dormer, James McAvoy and others was based from. :D:D

The Lives of Christopher Chant
.
This just wouldn't be a month of my reading if I didn't go in for some Young Adult fiction. I absolutely loved my introduction to Diana Wynne Jones last month when reading Charmed Life and so I figure this book will be one of the first that I pick up to follow that up with this month. These books are fantastic, even for adults readers who haven't read them before and so don't have the nostalgic value of their first time reading it.

Mistborn.

This is another book I'll be reading along with my group on Goodreads this month. I've never read anything that wasn't a Wheel of Time book from Brandon Sanderson before--even though I previously worked in a science fiction and fantasy book shop--and I've been told that this is something that needs fixing right away. Therefore, this is a book on my list for the month.

'Neverwhere', an updated post!

A little while ago, I posted some early news on the upcoming Radio 4 adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. You might remember it, I was quite excited.

A couple of days ago, an email from one of my lists contained this rather nifty link containing a bunch of updated information for this upcoming radio play. It's happening, guys, it's happening!

I really cannot state in calm and rational sounds just how excited I am by this cast.

Keep in mind, I come from a strong fanfic (fangirl) background, so it's tempting for me to take a look at each individual actor from the popularity of previous fandoms if only for just one second:

James McAvoy.



Look at that cutie-cute. You may know this man from X-Men: First Class where he played a non-bald, non-wheelchaired Professor Charles Xavier. Should you also read fanfic, you will also recognise him as the often-times partner of one Erik Lensherr (Magneto), easily one of the most popular 'ships for months after the release of this movie.

Benedict Cumberbatch.



You may know this man from BBC's Sherlock, where he plays a not!sociopath alongside characters such as a not!housekeeper and not!boyfriend. The fanfic archives would have that otherwise, however, in the overwhelmingly large responses that have risen up after each season finale. The grief-stricken John fics alone, as he first comes to terms with Sherlock's demise only to find that the death has been a fake (and often punch Sherlock in the face). We are all achingly awaiting the day when Moffat finally reveals to us how it really was that Sherlock escaped death, but in the meantime we're happy to just listen to his amazing voice.

Anthony Stewart Head



Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Although I have seen Tony Head in a number of roles past his portrayal of weary watcher Rupert Giles (Repo, Spooks), not to mention the sheer number of hours I personally have whiled away on the computer over the years reading Buffy fanfic. He may appeal to an older audience, true, but there is a lot in this man that's still there to appeal to the younger crowd. See also: previous comment about amazing voice ;)

Other most notable mentions include:

Christopher Lee & Natalie Dormer. 


Lord of the Rings (Fellowship and Two Towers, anyway) & The Tudors/Game of Thrones.

This series will begin on SATURDAY 16TH MARCH, and I will be listening eagerly.

--

It is four months this week since Gothic hit the shelves and I'm pleased to see a whole bunch of reviews coming back this week to commemorate the occasion.
This week, I have both a featured interview and review over on Ashley Torbeck's http://drunkenspacepenguin.blogspot.com

So, in today's news of the most exciting thing ever--

We're going to be putting a pause on book ruminations for radio-play-of-a-book ruminations.

That's right! For any of those who haven't heard yet, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere is being produced as a radio play slated for somewhere in the first 4 months of 2013 and includes such voices as James McAvoy, Natalie Dormer, Benedict Cumberbatch and Anthony Stuart Head.

Neverwhere "tells the story of Richard Mayhew, the strange girl Door and their adventures in Gaiman’s mythical “London Below.” This brilliant alterna-verse is populated with characters named for London landmarks (The Old Bailey), regions (The Angel Islington) and tube stops (The Black Friars). This story is Gaiman’s at his finest and delivers up the perfect blend of fairytale, myth, modern crime story and romance."(Read more here)

Cue me jumping up and down like an absolute fangirl! I will so be on this :D:D:D



(photo and content thanks to http://www.pajiba.com)