Thursday, January 03, 2008

Booking Through Thursday: Anticipation


Last week we talked about the books you liked best from 2007. So this week, what with it being a new year, and all, we’re looking forward….

What new books are you looking forward to most in 2008? Something new being published this year? Something you got as a gift for the holidays? Anything in particular that you’re planning to read in 2008 that you’re looking forward to? A classic, or maybe a best-seller from 2007 that you’re waiting to appear in paperback?

I hate shopping, especially for shoes. I am very picky about shoes. I demand comfort right from the start. None of this breaking in nonsense which has never worked for me. If I could wear tennis shoes to work, I would have it made, but I work in a professional setting and so that is a big no no. I hate grocery shopping too. I do not like to cook. That is my husband's domain. Grocery stores make me almost as grumpy as kitchens do. Clothes shopping is not really any fun either. I get frustrated easily, trying on clothes that don't quite fit my odd shape.

About the only shopping I do enjoy is visiting a bookstore or a stationary shop, and occasionally a Bath and Body Works store if there is a good sale. I can spend hours browsing through the items and fill a cart up (if they had them, which they don't, but they should, at least for me) if I had the money and inclination.

What was I supposed to be talking about again? Oh, yeah! New books I am looking forward to. The big catch with any new books I may want is when I actually will be reading them. It is not uncommon for books that join my TBR collection to end up waiting awhile before their turn comes. After all, I am trying to read older books first.

There are plenty of books coming out that will catch my fancy, some of which I may decide I must have now and others I will think about a little longer. A list of all those that might interest me could be quite long, and so you are out of luck if you expect me to offer that one up to you. Mostly, I prefer to wait for the paperback versions to come out unless I know I can get a better deal on the hardback (a sale or Zooba perhaps), and so many of the books that may be coming out for the first time this year will get a glance from me, I'll make a note, and be on the look out in a year or two for the paperback copy.

Some of the authors with books coming out this year (at least those I am aware of) that have me taking notice (not necessarily to buy in hardback) include:
Jim Butcher
Linda Fairstein
Charlaine Harris
Kim Harrison
Jonathan Kellerman
Karen E. Olson
Christopher Paolini
T. Jefferson Parker
Jodi Picoult
Lisa Scottoline

There are several books on my wish list that I am anxiously awaiting in paperback form this year as well. Just off the top of my head I can only think of two, but I am sure there are quite a few:
Lost City Radio by Daniel Alarcon
The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani

I have already dipped into one of my Christmas presents, the new translation of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. My husband also gave me a copy of Arnaldur Iridadason's Voices, which I cannot wait to read this year as well. Neither were published this year, but both are on my must read list.

I am most looking forward to diving head first into my already existing TBR collection, specifically the books that made my challenge lists this year (see sidebar on left). Many of those have been in my TBR collection for awhile now, some old, some new, all very much deserving their chance to take me into their pages for a spin, and each one I am very much looking forward to reading.

20 comments:

  1. I hate shoe shopping too, Wendy. It's hard to find a pair of shoes that is both comfy and nice looking. I don't really mind grocery shopping, as long as my husband is going along with me, hehe...

    You have a great list there; I definitely looking forward to Kim Harrison and Karen E. Olson's books. Happy reading! :)

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  2. I wish I could wear my tennies or ancient pair of burkenstocks everywhere! Actually, I think I do!You have a great lost there. I just discovered Kim Harrison and can't wait to get more!

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  3. I looooooove book shopping. That's been one of my greatest complaints about Italy. All the books are in Italian! I know, I know they are supposed to be. But still... throw me an English language bookstore people.

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  4. I'm sorry Ms. Feline, but I just don't know if I can read your blog anymore after reading about your shoe issue. Man, I have a thing for shoes and bags. I can keep those two under control, but books? Nope. My stack grows and grows.

    I'm 50th on the wishlist for The Blood of Flowers so I'm looking forward to it too.

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  5. I'm not a shopaholic, but I do enjoy it - books, clothes, shoes, even groceries!

    But having just gotten my books catalogued online, I finally think I've got a handle on my TBR collection and, like you, I'm looking forward to making my way through that.

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  6. Melody - Why is it so hard, Melody? And yet it is. Hrmphf. I figure since I don't know what my husband will want, I let him do the grocery shopping. He usually goes on his way home from work and so it works out well for us. :-)

    I don't know why I have Kim Harrison up there, but I get so excited when one of her books comes out. I haven't ever read anything by her even. This year will be the first! Haha I'm crazy.

    Jaimie - Oh, Birkenstock's! Yes! I don't have a pair anymore, but I know exactly what you mean. I actually haven't even read a Kim Harrison book yet, isn't that sad? I just know I'll love her books though. That's why I have so many so far!

    Nikki - I wish I could send you an all English bookstore! It must be so hard . . . I cannot even imagine.

    Juli - Another one of my friends is quite offended whenever I let slip my disdain for shoe shopping too. She has quite the collection. I like shoes, but they never fit me, and if I'm trying on shoes that don't fit right, I get grumpy and therefore can't have any fun. It's just like shopping for clothes. I think I'd be happier if everything just fit right. I do like bags. That's kind of a new thing for me though so I'm not very experienced at shopping for bags just yet.

    Florinda - I'm a shopaholic when it comes to books. Just ask my husband. It's terrible. I'm terrible. :-(

    I did make good progress this past year in reading some of my older TBR stock. This year I plan to do the same. I just wish I could stop buying new books to take their places . . . Couldn't the authors go on strike for just a little while until I get almost caught up? If they time it right, they can have books ready to go when I'm ready to buy new ones again! I don't ask for much.

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  7. I'm not shopaholic but I do like to shop for clothes and shoes. But I have bit hard time shopping for shoes too. They don't always have the one I want :)

    My friends have recommend me to read Jim Butcher and Lisa Scottoline. I have not read either...well to be honest I have read butcher but didn't like it but I decided to give it a second chance...well..I'm waiting for that second chance mood to strike LOL

    Thanks for visiting my blog and have a good weekend!

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  8. Great list! A lot of your authors are series I am collecting too. Blood of Flowers was excellent.

    I am not much of a shopper either. I enjoy bookstores but I have to be in the right mood and usually, I prefer to go alone. Mostly I have given up on them though and gone to amazon. I tried to support the locals but they always ended up having to order it anyway which means I have to go back and pick it up. No thanks, I will just have it delivered. :/

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  9. Shoes are the only clothes I enjoy shopping for. I loooove shoes! Sometimes book shopping can be overwhelming. There's so much to buy.

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  10. I only like grocery stores if I'm the only one in there. LOL. It looks like you have another great year of reading ahead of you.

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  11. Your rant about shopping could have been written by me! The only difference is as long as there aren't many people in the store I love grocery shopping, since I can pick out neat things to cook with. I hate dealing with crowds though. I hate dealing with sales people. And I hate trying on clothes and shoes, which never fit me right (yep, I'm shaped funny too---very short, overweight, with extra-wide feet). So nice to meet someone else who hates shopping! :D

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  12. Add me to the no-like shopping group. I laughed about our similarities in disliking shopping for shoes, clothes, groceries. And we match in loving bookstores and Bath and Body Works. I went there today (great sale going on) with my Christmas giftcard and came away with a whole bag of lotions and antibacterial goop. Lovely. Oh, also had (had to mind you) go to Half-Price Books to look for my book group February read. I am anticipating a lot of fun reading in 2008. Fun reading books and fun reading blogs.

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  13. Ditto, Wendy, on the book shopping. I'd probably visit the bookstore every day if I could.

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  14. Julia - I love Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series. It's one of my favorites. I have actually only read one book by Lisa Scottoline, but I had the chance to meet her and liked her so much that I've scooped up her books. I hope to read the first in her law firm series very soon.

    Amy - I am really looking forward to reading Blood of Flowers. :-)

    I prefer shopping alone too. Of course, I end up buying more books when I'm alone. My self-restraint just isn't there when I do. :-) And I do love to receive packages! Books especially.

    Chris - I would love shoes if ever they made the nice ones more comfortable. Haha

    Kristy - True. Grocery shopping is best done when you have the store to yourself. I find the early mornings are good for that.

    Heather - I might like grocery store shopping more if I cooked, but since I don't, it's rather boring to me. :-) I am not a fan of crowds or pushy salespeople--or totally inattentive salespeople--either. I'm glad to hear I'm not alone!

    Kay - The after Christmas sale at Bath and Body Works was awesome, wasn't it? I could have done without the crowds, but I sure got some good deals! I agree, it will be a good year for reading books and blogs!

    Susan - Oh, me too! I wouldn't mind attaching my house to the bookstore.

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  15. I hate grocery shopping too! Ugh, just hate it. The second place that serves to raise my blood pressure is the post office. I don't know but those two places drive me insane. The mall, well, if I'm in the mood to shop then it's ok but I prefer that it be kind of empty :)
    I'm looking forward to Jacqueline Winspear's next Maisie Dobbs book. Can't wait!

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  16. Iliana - The post office isn't any fun either, you're right. I don't mind the mall when it's empty--I try to go early to avoid the crowds.

    I still need to read the first book in the Maisie Dobbs series. I hope to do that one of these days. :-)

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  17. Looks like you are looking forward to some similar books to me. Is the final Eragon book due out next year? That should be fun.

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  18. Rhinoa - There are actually going to be two more Inheritance books. The third one comes out in September, I believe. As he was writing the final book in the trilogy, I guess he realized he had more to say than he realized, hence the reason for the fourth book.

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  19. Yep Wendy, Paolini said that in his website (re the need for the fourth book). :D

    I'm also a paperback person... I'm now waiting (patiently) for Nora Roberts' High Noon to be out in mass market paperback edition. It's a long wait, but I'll just tinker around until June 2008 when that edition comes out. :)

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  20. Alice - Does this mean we will have two more enormous books coming?

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