Perhaps it’s unfair to start with the books I’ve half-finished from 2014. Somehow, I think we’ll all live.  One is a 42 hour-long audio book anyway, and I feel as if I will earn the wonderful experience of that book when I complete it (sometime in the next month perhaps).  The first, however, is one I’ve enjoyed taking tastes of here and there since it came out on November 11th and I received my signed copy in the mail.  This would be, Amanda Palmer’s The Art of Asking: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help.

Some of you are probably familiar with Amanda, be it from her Dresden Dolls days, her independent Rock career, Kickstarter campaign, or her current marriage to famous author (and one of my favorites) Neil Gaiman.  I became a fan when I first listened to “Coin Operated Boy” in college (Thanks Cortney), but it took one mention through Gaiman’s blog to bring her back to my attention (this was before they were dating and it also caused me to become a huge fan of Kyle Cassidy-writer/photographer/awesome nerd-as well).  I’ve been enamored ever since.

Really, what you need to know as an introduction is the reason she wrote the book: Kickstarter and her TED talk soon after.

The book, so far, is a wonderful continuation of these thoughts.  It looks inward, outward, and puzzles its way toward some rocky and soul opening conclusions.  I’m only half way through though, so I shall save further discussion until I finish.  For now, I encourage you to get acquainted with Ms. Palmer and her music.

The other book I carry over from last year is Patrick Rothfuss’ The Wise Man’s Fear.  This is the second book in his series, and since I know all the fans are rabidly awaiting the next book, I find myself trying to contain my desire to rush through Kovthe’s epic journey.  Somehow, I know my will power will fail like it did in Book One and I will find myself devouring hours upon hours of this wonderful audio each day.

I can’t wait to discuss both of these more though, so I’ll hurry along.  Join me if you will!