A whole slew of stellar books was released in these past few months, with many more on the way. Readers of all kinds should keep an eye out for these books; everyone will find something they can enjoy.

Books already released include The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King, the latest chapter in his epic The Dark Tower series. Though it is the eighth book in the series, it takes place between the fourth and the fifth volumes. Those wanting something more in the realm of science fiction than fantasy, however will be right at home in Kim Stanley Robinson’s 2312.

Known for his legal and crime thrillers, John Grisham has already had two books released in 2012. The Accused is a thriller novel written for adolescents while his other book, Calico Joe, is a departure from most of his other work, as it is about baseball instead of Grisham’s typical subject matter. In addition, John Grisham will have yet another book released this year on June 25 called The Litigator.

For those who want more action, look for Stephen Berry’s The Columbus Affair and James Patterson’s  11th Hour, the fifteenth book in the Women’s Murder Club series.

Be on the look out too for In One Person by John Irving, best known for his novel The World According to Garp.

If you are more interested in historical settings, check out Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel, the second in a planned historical fiction trilogy set in Tudor England during the reign of Henry VIII. The first book in the trilogy, Wolf Hall, won the Man Booker Prize.

Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison also recently published a new novella entitled Home.

As for works not yet released, June 4 will welcome The Kiss of Death by Laurell K. Hamilton, the latest in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series.

Fans of Hamilton will likely enjoy E.L. James’ 50 Shades of Grey, which originally began as Twilight fanfiction, now being released for the first time in a single box set the following week.

The sixteenth volume of the Walking Dead graphic novels by Robert Kirkam should be in stores by June 18.

Due out later this year is the paperback edition of G.R.R. Martin’s A Dance of Dragons. The latest in the fantastic A Song of Ice and Fire series, fans of the new HBO scared off by the hardcover copy’s price should take note. 

Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz and Zoo by James Patterson will also be released sometime later in the year.

Two novels no reader wants to miss out on are also set to be published. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling marks her first novel since Harry Potter. Meanwhile, Michael Chabon, after years of experimenting with genre fiction, is returning to his roots with Telegraph Avenue, writing about ordinary families with the same narrating skills that won him the Pulitzer.

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Canada gained a considerable talent when the Rennies brought their four-year-old from England in the mid-1960s. Callum Keith Rennie did not become an actor until he was twenty-five, but he has made up for it, earning over a dozen nominations and awards and appearing in over a hundred productions. He has been in five TV series this last year, and will feature in ‘The Firm’ in this coming year.

Much of Mr. Rennie’s work associates him with gritty, often antagonistic characters, though he has received critical acclaim for comedy and children’s shows. It seems his forte is the character with rough edges. Some years battling alcoholism likely helped hone those portrayals, but delayed his career.

Fortunately, he returned to acting and began collecting awards. Following a year of TV roles, he was nominated for the Genie Award (Canada’s ‘Oscar’) for best supporting actor in ‘Double Happiness’ (1993). This was one of nine productions for him that year. He has won the Genie twice since then, for ‘Last Night’ (1998) and ‘Normal’ (2007).

‘Last Night’ also earned him a nomination for the Canadian Comedy Award (for his portrayal of a sex-athlete). The same year, he received a nomination for a Gemini Award (Canada’s ‘Emmy’) for ‘Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role’ –as did his co-star, Paul Gross, both for ‘Due South’ (1997-99).

These two actors have collaborated on several other projects, including 2004’s political thriller ‘H2O’ and comedy-drama ‘Wilby Wonderful,’ and comedy-western ‘Gunless’ (2010). Mr. Rennie has appeared in a number of Hollywood films as well, including ‘Memento’ (2000); ‘The Butterfly Effect’ (2004); and ‘Blade: Trinity’ (2004).

In Canada, he is remembered for such films as David Cronenberg’s ‘eXistenZ’ (1999); ‘Hard Core Logo’ (1996); ‘Trigger’ (2010); and ‘Suspicious River’ (2000). It is in ‘Hard Core Logo’ that he exhibits his singing skills as a rock-band guitarist; he reprised the role for ‘Trigger,’ which starred Molly Parker, who also co-starred in ‘Suspicious River.’

Callum Keith Rennie is perhaps best known for his extensive TV work. He has been seen on ‘The X-Files’ (1993-2002); the reinterpretation of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2003-09); the horror-series ‘Supernatural’ (2005-); ‘The L-Word’ and ‘Smallville’ (both 2006); ‘Californication’ (2007-); and ‘24’ (2001-10), for example.

In 2011, he appeared in the US version of ‘The Killing’ and headlined ‘Shattered’ (2010-11), in which he played a detective with multiple personalities; again, he appeared with Molly Parker. In 2012, they will reunite in the high-profile ‘The Firm,’ based on the John Grisham novel and film. The often dark character actor has a bright future indeed.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cfccreates/

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‘Attitude’ is a loaded concept. Often, it is sold as something young people need, but older people abhor it. Juliette Lewis is among the few who have been able to use this attitude (a rebellious one here) to advantage. She has garnered much critical acclaim as an actress, and has developed a successful career as a singer in a rock band. After a number of years touring, she is back to acting, this year starring in two films: ‘Foreverland’ and ‘Hick.’

‘Precocious’ is another term that fits Ms. Lewis. At fourteen, she became an emancipated minor, and began acting in television. She appeared in the Dan Akroyd/Kim Basinger comedy, ‘My Stepmother is an Alien’ (1988), and continued gaining respect in film. It was in ‘Cape Fear’ (1991) that received wider and higher recognition: she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Many of her roles have been sympathetic characters, such as that of a vulnerable woman with mental disability in ‘The Other Sister’ (1999). Other roles are more antipathetic. Ms. Lewis has played a few intimidating or ‘hard-edged’ characters in such films as ‘Kalifornia’ (1993), ‘Natural Born Killers’ (1994), and a rocker (singing two PJ Harvey songs) in ‘Strange Days’ (1995). She is not a physically-imposing woman, but she carries such presence that her characters can seduce and scare with a subtle switch.

Her stage presence as a singer is also captivating. There is no timidity, and there is no doubt she is comfortable before a live audience. Her music is strong and energetic; her voice is expressive and can hush with a whisper or belt out the howls. She writes music of wild abandon and rebellion.

Ms. Lewis sang with her band, Juliette and the Licks, between 2004 and 2009; she has since gone solo, with a different backing band. Her latest album, ‘Terra Incognita,’ was released 2009. She has sung songs for other bands, such as The Prodigy, and has had her singing featured in films.

Last year, she appeared in four films and on a television show. Next year, there will be two more films, and she will star in the TV series, ‘The Firm,’ written by John Grisham. She has an impressive list of directors as well: Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, Kathryn Bigelow and Quentin Tarantino represent some of the many different directions of her films.

She is funny, frightening, controlled and crazy; she is always compelling. Juliette Lewis dominates acting, and she owns the music-stage, but she leaves the impression that she has always been herself. It is an intriguing blend of attitude, accomplishment and artistry many envy. And there is plenty more to come.

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