2018 Books! What I filled my head with last year.

Another year has passed and so has a year of reading. I like to remind myself of where my interests have traveled over the course of a year, so with that here is my list of reading this year. I started with a classic piece of horror literature, then as I prepared for my 30th wedding anniversary with a trip to Spain read some fiction  about hwere we were heading, about an artist whose works we would see there and about the current political climate for our destination. I finished off all the completed Game of Throwns books so am now caught up to the world in anticipating the next volume.  I received a wonderful book on Father's day about one of my favorite all time films and relished the exploration of the classic. That book being a serious volume I switched to some light and quick horror choosing a book set around where I live and finally finished the year reading history, I find it soothing to know more about how this country came to be in these turbulant times where we can question where this country is going. I don't think I am going to finish the two books I have going this month by the new year so you can hear about them next year. I hope you all will check these books out or at least READ. 


The King in Yellow, by Robert W. Chambers - A classic for horror lovers written in 1895 this is a wonderful bit of horror writing, dated with some problematic relations both concerning class and race it is still something to be read since it was influential for later horror writers.

The short story "The Mask" is introduced by an excerpt from Act 1, Scene 2d:

Camilla: You, sir, should unmask.

Stranger: Indeed?

Cassilda: Indeed it's time. We have all laid aside disguise but you.

Stranger: I wear no mask.

Camilla: (Terrified, aside to Cassilda.) No mask? No mask!

Bacelona Tales, edited by Ian Whates -  Excited for a trip to Spain for my 30th wedding anniversary I picked up a bit of speculative science fiction in the short story form. All the stories were based in Barcelona and it was a fun quick read.








Little Story of Gaudi, by Fina Duran I Riu, illustrated by Pilarín Bayés - A quick short picture book giving a quick life story of the famous architect from Spain. Nothing in depth here just a brief wonderfully illistrated primer for any one looking to appreciate Gaudi's work.











The Struggle for Catalonia: Rebel Politics in Spain by Raphael Minder - A very interesting and enjoyable book looking at the history and issues surrounding the the Catalan people, language and Catalonia independence movement. Written after hundreds of interviews it is the perfect book to get me ready to visit the area. I really enjoyed it and even if I remember a fraction of the vast explanations of the independence movement and the history that has brought it into being.

A Feast of Crows by George R.R.Martin is the fourth in the series and I really enjoyed how this book departed from the plotting of the television series, filled with languishing descriptions of meals and clothes as well as a continuing orientation towards any noble house's history no matter how small when it does get to character and plot it is really enjoyable.

A Dance with Dragons: Dreams and Dust (A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R. R. Martin is the fifth book of the series sort of catching me up most of the way to the television show which will not air until 2019. Lots more descriptions of food as always.

Blade Runner : Philosophers on Film edited by Amy Coplan and David Davies, a great collections of essays for anyone looking for some deeper insight to the film Blade Runner. Since it is absolutely one of my favorites I was thrilled when my daughter gifted me this book for Father's Day.







Blue Bloodbath by Katrina von Kessel: This is the amazon description, "When members of a private club in Boston, led by Dr. Edward Shaw, create a chemical formula that will modify their DNA to ensure themselves eternal life, something goes horribly wrong. And the formula turns those who take it into zombies. Mayhem ensues."
More this is a book about the wealthy wanting to rule everything and exercising their prejudices about the working classes. Even when things go horribly wrong with the plan they are vying for control internally with even more bias towaqrds their peers. A quick read on the kindle. Some of the stereotypes are too on the nose but in all a fun afternoon read.

Add caption

The Bill of Rights: The Fight to Secure America's Liberties by Carol Berkin. This was a concise well structured short history covering the end of the constitutional convention through the ratification of the Bill of Rights. Exploring Jame Madison's project to take the narrative away from the anti-federalist, states rights defenders, through a proposal to add the Bill of Rights to the U. S. Constitution. A reminder of how the country progressed early on when the nation coming together was in serious doubt. Reading some history every year is a good way to engage yourself in the country and its original meaning. This one reminded me that things were not as clean and orderly as we would like to think when thinking about the founding fathers. It has always been a struggle between competing ideas and the ability of the winners to graciously defend the rights of the the minority have been a rock hard foundation since we broke from England. Another kindle read.