2. The Possibilities - Kaui Hart Hemmings
Though she is relatively new to the literary scene, Kaui Hart Hemmings has already made quite an impression. Her first novel was The Descendants, published in 2007, and little fanfare surrounded the book - until it was adapted by Alexander Payne into the film of the same name in 2011, which starred George Clooney and garnered a massive amount of critical praise. Hemmings got her rightful due, and since then her follow-up has been highly anticipated. The Possibilities concerns similar themes of familial grief, this time focusing on a Colorado mother who loses her son in an avalanche. In a very literary way, this list comes full circle - Jason Reitman, who adapted the film Up in the Air from a novel by earlier entrant Walter Kirn, is now attached to direct the film version of The Possibilities. As Reitman and Payne have similar styles and The Possibilities sounds similar to The Descendants, you should certainly expect something along those same lines - which, in this case, is a very good thing
1. Andrew's Brain - E.L. Doctorow
E.L. Doctorow has long been one of the most respected literary voices in the United States. Unlike other established authors like Joyce Carol Oates, Doctorow isn't overly prolific - he's published eleven novels since 1960. Certainly a respectable pace, but it means that there are usually a few years of waiting in between each of these books. Andrew's Brain comes five years after his last novel, and as always it's exciting to see a new entry from an ever-interesting writer. While his past body of work has largely been deemed "historical fiction" (a label that best describes Ragtime, my favorite Doctorow book), Andrew's Brain seems to be something decidedly different. Narrated by Andrew to an unknown ear in an unknown place, time and place takes a backseat to character, love, tragedy and fate. Andrew and the person he is speaking to clearly know each other well, and yet the distrust between them keeps the book compelling. While questioning the reliability of truth and memory, Doctorow's prose is lyrical and precise as ever, and Andrew's Brain may be a unique entry to a most interesting canon. Andrew's Brain is available now, and January has already seen the publication of a huge number of worthy books. Which anticipated reads have been left off this list? Recommend them in the comments section below.