Tag: 2021

2021: more chances for a happy new year

Hey, 2021, things haven’t got better since January 1. Enough has been written, posted, etc. about the details that we don’t need to go in to them here.

Dear year of 2021, you have more chances for a good start.

For many of us in the USA, January 20 is one of those chances. Joe Biden is due to be inaugurated as President. I hope that the incumbent racist rabble-rouser will be out of the White House before then.

For those with Asian affiliations, February 12 will be another chance for a happy new year. The new year will start as the Rat (yes, really) gives way to the Ox. I hope that the new year will reward those who have the virtues of the Ox.

Oxen are honest and earnest. They are low key and never look for praise or to be the center of attention.

Talking of the Ox reminds me that I should play my bass more in 2021. Because, you know, The Ox was one of the nicknames for John Entwistle of The Who.

I wish you a great 2021, and welcome your thoughts on the new year, whenever if starts for you.

2021: Books

What’s good about 2021? It’s not 2020.

What’s there to look forward to? Books and music, among other things.

To start with music… I hope to go to at least one live music show in 2021. As for recorded music, my favorite musician does not have a new album due out in 2021, as far as I know. But he does have a book due out.

Richard Thompson’s memoir Beeswing covers the years (1967-1975) during which he and some friends founded Fairport Convention, the band made some great albums, he left, he made his first solo album, he married Linda, and the two of them made my favorite album: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight. I hope that it is only the first of several memoirs.

The link from Beeswing in the previous paragraph goes to Bookstore.org. I think I’m done with Amazon links. Unfortunately, Bookstore doesn’t yet have entries for two of the books I’m most looking forward to in 2021 (so I’ll link to Goodreads, despite reservations). Each in the concluding volume in a fantasy series.

Jade Legacy concludes the trilogy that Fonda Lee wrote by mashing together martial arts, Godfather-esque conflict between families/gangs, and other things she loves.

The Fall of Babel is the fourth and last book in the wonderfully strange series that started with Senlin Ascends. I posted about this series about three years ago, and my enthusiasm for it has only grown since. I’ll probably re-read the first three in the month before The Fall of Babel comes out.

What are you looking forward to reading in 2021? What else are you looking forward to in 2021?