So you JUST posted this but I'm up and have rare free time so I thought I'd fill your stockings a bit.
3. Music! Quelqu'un m'a dit by Carla Bruni
This song was on the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack so there's a chance you may already have it. But in case you don't, here you go! As suggested by the title, the song is in French and is one of the prettiest songs I've ever heard so it seems right up your alley. Enjoy!
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell (Historical Fiction) It takes place in the 1800's and follows the story of young Dutchman Jacob de Zoet who travels to Japan to work as a clerk at the Dejima trading post. I've often sung praises for David Mitchell and his latest novel doesn't disappoint. He weaves in several elements into this epic story: love, betrayal, culture clash and culture wars, the themes that divide nations and the themes that are universal, the lengths people will go for those they love and the lengths they cannot, despite their feelings, etc. It's a really wonderful novel that's difficult to give an accurate synopsis of, simply because there's so much in there. Definitely though it's worth the read.
Island by Jane Rogers (Fiction w/Myster Elements) Okay, I won't lie: this book is emotionally churning. But in the way that good books should. It's about a young woman (Nikki), orphaned since birth and bounced around from one bad foster home to another, who decides to finally track down her birth mother...to kill her. But it's obvious that won't be the whole story when she finally locates her mother to a small Scottish island and discovers she also has a half brother, Calum.
The novel at the core is really about Nikki and Calum. The attachment they start to form is both heart-breaking and disturbing, but also strangely human. It's a difficult read at times due to some of the themes, but Rogers' writing is gorgeous and her characters are incredibly drawn. It's also been recently made into a film staring Colin Morgan of Merlin and I'm really hoping it gets released somewhere I can see it.
The Veiled Detective by David Stuart Davies (Historical Mystery) Well, it's been a busy year for the Sherlock Holmes franchise so this book rec seems appropriate.
It's a re-imagined idea of how Watson and Holmes met. Freshly dishonorably discharged from service, a young army doctor returns to England, desolate, penniless and friendless. He's soon approached by a man named Moriarty who has a proposition for him. Soon, the army doctor is newly christened John Watson and sent along to his assignment: to become the roommate of Sherlock Holmes, a man whose movements Moriarty is VERY curious to secretly track. For a good sum of money, Watson is to report Holmes' movements to Moriarty. The rest of the time, he can live his life as he chooses. It all seems very simple.
At first.
The idea of Watson actually being Moriarty's secret spy was, in my humble opinion, a kind of brilliant move. Davies manages to write his Watson as the Watson we all know from the original stories: someone who is genuinely good at heart who is now wrestling with a terrible secret as his friendship with Holmes grows. I read the book in about two sittings, mainly because I was so curious as to how it was going to end. But also because Davies' writing style is easy and fast and perfect for cold winter's night.
Happy Early Holidays!
3. Music!
Quelqu'un m'a dit by Carla Bruni
This song was on the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack so there's a chance you may already have it. But in case you don't, here you go! As suggested by the title, the song is in French and is one of the prettiest songs I've ever heard so it seems right up your alley. Enjoy!
http://www.mediafire.com/?7p2kpdd6rbf73xq
4. Book Recs!
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell (Historical Fiction)
It takes place in the 1800's and follows the story of young Dutchman Jacob de Zoet who travels to Japan to work as a clerk at the Dejima trading post. I've often sung praises for David Mitchell and his latest novel doesn't disappoint. He weaves in several elements into this epic story: love, betrayal, culture clash and culture wars, the themes that divide nations and the themes that are universal, the lengths people will go for those they love and the lengths they cannot, despite their feelings, etc. It's a really wonderful novel that's difficult to give an accurate synopsis of, simply because there's so much in there. Definitely though it's worth the read.
Island by Jane Rogers (Fiction w/Myster Elements)
Okay, I won't lie: this book is emotionally churning. But in the way that good books should. It's about a young woman (Nikki), orphaned since birth and bounced around from one bad foster home to another, who decides to finally track down her birth mother...to kill her. But it's obvious that won't be the whole story when she finally locates her mother to a small Scottish island and discovers she also has a half brother, Calum.
The novel at the core is really about Nikki and Calum. The attachment they start to form is both heart-breaking and disturbing, but also strangely human. It's a difficult read at times due to some of the themes, but Rogers' writing is gorgeous and her characters are incredibly drawn. It's also been recently made into a film staring Colin Morgan of Merlin and I'm really hoping it gets released somewhere I can see it.
The Veiled Detective by David Stuart Davies (Historical Mystery)
Well, it's been a busy year for the Sherlock Holmes franchise so this book rec seems appropriate.
It's a re-imagined idea of how Watson and Holmes met. Freshly dishonorably discharged from service, a young army doctor returns to England, desolate, penniless and friendless. He's soon approached by a man named Moriarty who has a proposition for him. Soon, the army doctor is newly christened John Watson and sent along to his assignment: to become the roommate of Sherlock Holmes, a man whose movements Moriarty is VERY curious to secretly track. For a good sum of money, Watson is to report Holmes' movements to Moriarty. The rest of the time, he can live his life as he chooses. It all seems very simple.
At first.
The idea of Watson actually being Moriarty's secret spy was, in my humble opinion, a kind of brilliant move. Davies manages to write his Watson as the Watson we all know from the original stories: someone who is genuinely good at heart who is now wrestling with a terrible secret as his friendship with Holmes grows. I read the book in about two sittings, mainly because I was so curious as to how it was going to end. But also because Davies' writing style is easy and fast and perfect for cold winter's night.