Journal

The Year Ahead

While busily locked in the throes of misery and attempting to extricate myself from complete depression, it was somewhat interesting to note that we are in fact at the end of a very unusual year, and that there are a few nice things to look forward to in the coming year.

There are, for instance, books that I’m meant to read next year, and with the likes of Banville’s The Infinities and Morrison’s A Mercy on my list, I think it’s fairly safe to say that I’m in for a good year.

But there are a bunch of new books that I’m waiting to get a hold of as well. While I don’t keep up with the industry as much as I would like to, it’s easy to see a few translations at least popping up in the next year. Off the top of my head, I can think of one or two new Bolaño books and the Saramago book about the elephant. (I was going to say Murakami’s 1Q84 but I think that’s in 2011.) And there are still some books that have only just been released that I’ll be looking to get my hands on as well, including Saramago’s Small Memories and Vonnegut’s Look At The Birdie.

Then… games! Plenty of games to be looking forward to. It scares me a little that many of them are coming in the first quarter of the year, but we’ll see how it goes and… improvise.

I believe there’s a new Radiohead album coming. I remember reading it somewhere. It doesn’t feel like it’s been so long since In Rainbows was released, but that’s only because the queality of that album left me more than a little spoiled. Let’s hope that this turns out to be one of the highlights of the year.

I suppose there’s going to be a new Beatles release, but after the monumental Remasters releases, I don’t think there’s very much that’s going to top that, so it’s likely to be more low-key. I’m also curious to see what the Last Shadow Puppets come up with next.

There’s also new TV. Ashes To Ashes is on its final series, in particular, and I’m curious to find out how it ends. (I haven’t actually watched the first two series, just Life On Mars, because I think it hasn’t shown over here yet, but it’s still good to know that it’s coming in 2010.)

And finally, I’ve been trying to plan my camera upgrades for a long, long time. Word has it that a new D700-type FX model will be coming soon, which makes a lot of sense, and maybe then I can start to properly plan the large-scale changes in my kit.

So, it’s going to be a promising year, even if it isn’t going to be particularly happy. While still leaning closely on the edge of total despair, it’s nice to think that there are things to look forward to.

d

© 2009 a modest odyssey.