I feel, for the year of 2014, I moved from book slump into full on book drought. I think it’s a mix of personal stress and book choices that have kept me from connecting from many books this year. I’m not sure, but I am hoping that 2015 is a better year. And with what I’m reading right now, it looks like it could be! I’m alternating between two books right now: The Abominable by Dan Simmons and The Winter Family by Clifford Jackman.
Admittedly, I have a bit of a thing for mythical creatures: Bigfoot, the Abomindable Snowman, the Loch Ness Monster – I love them all. So I was excited to realize that Dan Simmons has a novel covering one of my favorites. However, at 663 pages, I’m having a hard time getting into it (as a huge Stephen King fan, I’d like to think size doesn’t scare me, but…).
“It’s 1924 and the race to summit the world’s highest mountain has been brought to a terrified pause by the shocking disappearance of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine high on the shoulder of Mt. Everest. By the following year, three climbers — a British poet and veteran of the Great War, a young French Chamonix guide, and an idealistic young American — find a way to take their shot at the top. They arrange funding from the grieving Lady Bromley, whose son also disappeared on Mt. Everest in 1924. Young Bromley must be dead, but his mother refuses to believe it and pays the trio to bring him home.
Deep in Tibet and high on Everest, the three climbers — joined by the missing boy’s female cousin — find themselves being pursued through the night by someone . . . or something. This nightmare becomes a matter of life and death at 28,000 feet – but what is pursuing them? And what is the truth behind the 1924 disappearances on Everest? As they fight their way to the top of the world, the friends uncover a secret far more abominable than any mythical creature could ever be.”
One I’m much more excited about, despite the fact it won’t be released until spring, is The Winter Family. So far, it is very good.
“Tracing a gang of ruthless outlaws from its birth during the American Civil War to a final bloody showdown in the Territory of Oklahoma, The Winter Family is a hyperkinetic Western noir and a full-on assault to the senses.”
Sounds amazing, right?
It’s Monday, what are you reading? (Also, I’m testing out a new meme today, to try and help get in to the rhythm of blogging again. I actually miss it. This one is hosted by Sheila a Book Journey.)
flannel and folklore 
I love the sound of The Winter Family….and this is my first visit to your blog, which I am loving.
Have a wonderful New Year…and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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Enjoy your reading week and Happy New Year!
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Thanks and happy new year to you!
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I piled a stack of TBRs on the dresser next to my bed so I can stare them down and motivate 2015 to start out with a bang! Lol! I’m strangely reading three books right now. Start With Why is a book on leadership, good, but I can only read so much at a time. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children I started last night, but I scare easily and I’m thinking the creepy pictures won’t do for me at night, so it’ll be a daytime read (pathetic, I know). So the third book I’ll read before bed most likely is The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults, which comes out Jan 6th. As a mother and teacher of teens, I couldn’t pass it up.
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Above All Things by Tanis Rideout is about Geroge Mallory’s climb up Mt. Everest, as well as what it was like for his family that was left behind. If you’re interested in Mt. Everest, I would recommend it. It was on my top 10 list for 2013. The Abominable would be a fun twist to read about- too bad it’s so long. You’ll have to let us know what you think of it in the end!
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I really hope 2015 brings back the reading and blogging spark for you, too! With your thing for mythical creatures, have you heard of The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac? I haven’t read it yet, but it comes out at the end of January and sounds great!
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I haven’t, but now I have to have that.
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Love both covers and love the description for The Winter Family.
Hope you will find your reading back in 2015!
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Thanks! The designer of the cover for The Winter Family is a genius.
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I feel like I fizzled out at the end of 2014, too. I hope your 2015 is better!
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Thanks, I hope yours is too!
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I’m with you completely, Rory! I love mythical creature fiction and I read The Abominable and it kind of went off the rails for me. I’ll be interested to see what you think.
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