Right on the heels of Project 24’s #12 comes, in orthodox numerical ordering, #13. But this certainly isn’t unlucky for me – I’m very excited about it. Someone send Silvester Mazzarella a box of chocolates and a hundred red roses for translating Travelling Light (and also a balloon shaped like a kitten for having such a brilliant name).
I think I’ve mentioned before that Tove Jansson is the only author (until Edward Carey picks up his pen again… c’mon, Eddie boy!) whose books I eagerly await. Or rather, since she is dead, I await the translations. Since all my favourite authors have completed their output, by virtue of completing their lives, this is quite an unfamiliar feeling for me…
So, yes, I did get rather over-excited. And I bought two copies – one for me; one for you. Pop your name in the comments for a chance to win my second copy. And, because it’s always fun to have more than just a name, tell me which author’s books you most eagerly wait to be published.
If you’ve missed out on Tove Jansson’s earlier output, you can see my thoughts on four of her other books here. Travelling Light is a collection of short stories, and although (confusingly) there is a section in A Winter Book called ‘Travelling Light’, only one story appears in both collection (to add to the confusion, that story is called ‘Travelling Light’). Jansson’s prose is always beautiful and evocative without being remotely sentimental. She’s up there amongst my favourite writers, and I can’t wait to start this collection…
So, have a go and try to win this copy! I’m feeling generous, so the competition is open to anyone, wherever you are in the world.
This is more of a "stumper" of a question than I thought. Back when Harry Potter was coming out, J.K. Rowling would've been the answer (my dh and I felt like we were the oldest HP junkies out there for a while), and back in the late 80's- early 90's Tom Clancy would've been, but not so much now. I read so many "old" authors these days. So how's this for an answer? I eagerly await the Bloomsbury Group's delayed publication on this side of the world (esp. Henrietta Sees it Through), and my children are actually eagerly awaiting the rest of the Moomintroll series over here by your very own Tove Jansson (only a few of them are out at the moment in the covers they want). I'm headed out of town and will be pondering this one over the weekend…it should be easier to answer, shouldn't it?
She's right…this is a tough one!
I'm always eager to see more translations come out from Carlos Ruiz Zafon. And for fun, when I hear a Sedaris is coming out with somthing new I'm thrilled. Most of all I'm the happiest when an old author (sometimes the best Brits are so hard to come by in the states!) has work that is being reprinted. That way I can stop ordering things from UK bookstores.
Oooh! I read The True Deceiver just a few months ago and would love to win a copy of Travelling Light!
It really is a surprisingly difficult question. I guess right now I might eagerly anticipate anything new or translated by Alberto Manguel.
Ooh, I have heard nothing but good about Jansson! I have her True Deceiver to read and look forward to getting to it.
Which author's books do I eagerly anticipate? Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman are pretty high on my list.
I anticipate the arrival of a new Barbara Kingsolver a lot – although I still haven't gotten around to reading The Lacuna. I also would absolutely shiver with delight if I heard Rushdie was putting out something new. Or Mistry. Or Wendell Berry. Or. . . .
This is a tough question – Thrity Umrigar, Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni, William Dalrymple definitely… Barbara Kingsolver another… the list goes on.
If this is open for overseas readers please count me in. Thanks for thinking of the readers!
Yes, this is a tough one. I look forward to the new Persephones each spring and fall, and I eagerly await the publication of Paul Harding's second novel. He wrote Tinkers, the Pulitzer Prize winner and it is a stunning work of art.
I am always excited to get my hands on a Philippa Gregory book. I can't put them down!
I have never read Tove Jansson, but I am excited to find a new love!
I've yet to read Tove Jansson. This would be as good a place to start as any. Thanks for the chance, Simon.
I already have a copy as I too await her books eagerly. Apparently there are a lot more to come. Hooray!
I've never read Tove Jansson so please put me in the draw. I eagerly await a new Sarah Waters (whose Little Stranger I will be happy to discuss with you soon!), and am longing for another Kate Atkinson crime novel. And I am really looking forward to Hilary Mantel's follow-up to Wolf Hall.
I'd love to win a copy of this! Liek Sara C I anticipate Barbara Kingsolver, although I still have to read The Lacuna. And like Harriet, I eagerly await new Sarah Waters. The trouble is though that many of my favourites are dead.
At the moment my answer to the question would be Haruki Murakami. Of course if there are any Colette novels I have failed to aquire then she'd probably be in the number one spot.
After the moomins I've never read any Tove Jansson, so this might be a good place to start especially as I'm a short story fan… put my name in the hat please. My most eagerly awaited books change but at the moment it's the new river cottage handbook (john Wright on Hedgerows) previously out of print George Mackay Brown makes me happy too. (hayley – still on holiday ising my dads computer)
I'm with Harriet on this. I eagerly await Sarah Waters and as soon as I finished Wolf Hall, I was desperate for the next one. But so many of the authors I read are long-departed or out-of-print that the real thrill is pouncing on a musty copy in a charity shop. I've only read one Tove Jansson – The Summer Book, which I loved – so I'd love to be entered your draw.
You will probably be horrified to read that the authors whose books I await most eagerly write in the fantasy genre. A new book by Diana Wynne Jones in particular, but also Diane Duane and Robin McKinley, will have me squeaking in excitement and rushing for the nearest bookshop (or Amazon). I also await with bated breath most of the reprints issued by Girls Gone By Publishers, Fidra Books and Greyladies Publishing. If this isn't too lowbrow (or if you think my taste needs educating), please add my name to the draw!
Oooooh why not throw myself in to the mix lol. I always look forward to Kate Atkinson and her next on is the book I am currently ridiculously excited about though its not out till August… not that I can buy it anyways bahumbug!
Oooh, another Tove J. I read 'Summer Book' a loooong time ago and adored it, so please put me in the draw.
Which author's books do I most look forward to being published? There are so many, but here's a selection off the top of my head: Banana Yoshimoto, Daniel Barenboim, Peter Hoeg and I've been waiting a looooooooooooooong time for Donna Tartt to produce another book…Ms Tartt? Are you listening?
I'm not sure I should admit to this in public but it has to be Susan Scarlett – Noel Streatfeild – whose books are being reprinted by Greyladies. Please put me in the draw as I enjoy Tove Jansson's books too.
I've managed to not come across Tove Jansson before, but it sounds my kind of book so please enter me in the draw. Interestingly, several of the authors mentioned by others are amongst those I particularly look forward to reading, in particular Barbara Kingsolver and Phillipa Gregory. Also Anne Tyler and Michael Morpurgo are favourites.
Karin
Beautiful cover: metaphor for writing.
funny coincidence – I just wrote about reading The Winter Book for the second time
in my Reading Diary
that cover is so beautiful – loved the Moomin books as well
please put my name in the draw for the new Tove Jansson
I'm eagerly looking forward to the translation of Stieg Larsson's unpublished fourth novel
I love Tove Jansson. I'd love to read this.
Once upon a time I probably most anticipated new Harry Potter books, but that's over. Still, most of the books I actually read by contemporary authors that I wait for are young adult novels. Tamora Pierce is top of that list, I always get her new books pretty soon after they come out. The only other author I can think of whose books I eagerly await is Sam Starbuck.
Yippee! Audrey Niffenegger. I just received a review copy of Her Fearful Symmetry, so I'm pumped. :) Would love to read this one.
Ditto to those who read dead authors. We've added to our collection of Alan Furst as any new books come out – have acquired the most recent. The spark seems gone for me in the last couple of those books, but still always on the lookout for espionage thrillers.
For me it's Niall Williams that I eagerly await – none have yet surpassed his Four Letters of Love though.
Oh, I am excited about new releases by several authors, David Mitchell, Salman Rushdie, Sara Gruen, Amitav Ghosh, Karen Russell.
Tove Jansson is one of my very favorites! Please put my name in the hat!
I'm another one who likes the books of dead authors so I eagerly await Persephone's forthcoming titles & Bloomsbury's reprints. I also look forward to publication of Susan Hill's new books.
Simon –
Please may my name put into the honey pot for Patch to draw from for the book….
And the author who I always rush to get his/her latest – too many to name, too varied to narrow down…
Probably any book from book list to the right would be ok though… :-)
Bit late joining these discussions, but have just returned from holiday where I found, and bought (of course) this newly published Tove Jansson. I was thrilled to discover it as she has long been one of my favourite writers – such sparse, acute and yet revealing writing. And I always eagerly await the next translation of Andrea Camilleri – Montalbano rules!
I haven't read any of Tove Jansson's adult novels yet. I loved the Moomin books as a child and I was thrilled to see that they had been republished when I went into Waterstones yesterday.
The books that I most eagerly wait for are any Elsie J Oxenham reprints from Girls Gone By Publishing as the originals that I don't own are way out of my price range these days.
I keep hearing Tove Jansson praised in the blogosphere– but can't seem to find his books here in the US. I know I can order from the Book Depository (and sometimes I do!) but I can't afford to buy EVERY book I want to read… can you? So please enter me in the draw.
I most look forward to new Persephone reprints, but also to Kate Atkinson, PD James, Tom Robb Smith… to name a few.
I've never gotten a chance to read Tove Jansson, but I'd love to give her a try. As for myself, I always get a bit giddy about the idea of a new Barbara Kingsolver novel.
I'd love a copy of the newly translated Tove Jansson. Thanks for the draw!
I wait for Jacqueline Winspear's latest Massie Dobbs for "fun" reading and Sally Vickers and Lionel Shriver for a bit more serious stuff.
Over a lifetime of reading, Tove Jansson's "The Summer Book" remains my very favorite book. I've read it more times than I can say (something I can't say about any other book). Sadly, most of my favorite authors are deceased. A few favorite gone-away authors: Barbara Pym, V.S. Pritchett, William Maxwell, Mildred Walker. I am especially fond of books in translation. And all things Scandinavian.
I cant really choose between Penelope Lively and Margaret Forster- I await both of them eagerly.