2014 wishlist - to read and to see

A new year, a new set of books, television programmes and more to look forward to. Here are a few of things I want to read and see in the next 12 months.

Books

This is far from a comprehensive list of the books I want to read - for fear of going overboard I've kept it to four 2014 releases I haven't read yet (although excitingly I have proofs for some).

Cress by Marissa Mayer - I'm so, so excited about this. Everything I've read and heard so far leads me to believe this is going to be just as good as Cinder and Scarlet.

Throne of Glass book three by Sarah J. Maas - I believe this is as-yet untitled, hence my clunky introduction. Maas created an absorbing world in Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, one I've no doubt she will continue expanding in the third book in the series. 

The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey - This looks pretty scary, but also really, really interesting. Here's the Goodreads description: "Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her 'our little genius'. Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh. Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favourite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad."

The Quick by Lauren Owen - another one that looks really intriguing, and I understand there's a massive twist in it. Here's the description from the publisher Jonathan Cape: "You are about to discover the secrets of The Quick - But first, reader, you must travel to Victorian England, and there, in the wilds of Yorkshire, meet a brother and sister alone in the world, a pair bound by tragedy. You will, in time, enter the rooms of London’s mysterious Aegolius Club – a society of the richest, most powerful men in England. And at some point – we cannot say when – these worlds will collide. It is then, and only then, that a new world emerges, a world of romance, adventure and the most delicious of horrors – and the secrets of The Quick are revealed."

Films 

Links go to IMDB, and release dates are for the UK unless otherwise stated and are subject to change.

Pompeii - I'm a sucker for stuff set in Ancient Greece/Rome/that kind of time, and as a bonus this has Kit Harrington, who has to save the woman he loves as SPOILER ALERT Pompeii is destroyed. Out February 21.

Veronica Mars - I want to scream with joy when I think about the Veronica Mars film. That is all. Out March 14 in America.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Captain America may not be the most exciting of Marvel's Avengers, but I enjoyed the first film, and Chris Evans is back for a second solo outing, joined by the lovely Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier. Out March 28.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - this reboot has been much better than the Tobey Maguire films (sorry!), and I love Emma Stone. Out April 18.

Maleficent - I'm also a sucker for fairytale retellings, and this film telling the story of Maleficent is right up my alley. Out May 30.

The Fault in Our Stars - one of the best books I read in 2013 turned into a film sure to make me cry. Out June 20.

Gone Girl - another of the best books I read in 2013 turned into a film. I'm not sure whether this will do the book justice, but I'd like to see it anyway. Out October 3 in America.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 - I object to Mockingjay being turned into two films, but I'll still go see this. Out November 21.

The Hobbit: There and Back Again - I object to The Hobbit being turned into three films, but I'll still go see this. Out December 19.

Television

Sherlock - there's not a long wait for this, since it's on tonight on BBC One! I know Watson (Martin Freeman) only really cares why Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) disappeared, but I still want to know the how.

Game of Thrones - This is my favourite television series that's currently still producing new episodes. How on earth series four will top The Rains of Castamere episode I don't know, but I'd bet the team behind the series have something up their sleeves.

Doctor Who - I'm going to miss Matt Smith, but Peter Capaldi is sure to bring a fresh outlook to the Doctor, and hopefully the programme will be a little easier to understand as well.

Orphan Black - One of the best new programmes I watched in 2013, I'm intrigued about where this is going.

Theatre/performance 

Links go through to official pages where possible.

The Duchess of Malfi – Shakespeare's Globe has a new indoor theatre, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, which is a short walk from where I work. The theatre's first production will be The Duchess of Malfi, kicking off January 9 and starring Gemma Arterton.

King Lear - I've not been to the National Theatre nearly enough, but what I have seen there has been brilliant. On January 14 a run of a production of Shakespeare's King Lear, with Simon Russell Beale in the lead, begins.

Shakespeare in Love - this is one of a few film-to-stage adaptations next year. I enjoyed the film, although it was way too long. I'm hoping the stage show, at London's Noel Coward Theatre from July 1, will tighten the story up a bit.  

Miss Saigon - I've never seen Miss Saigon, but one of my housemates at university absolutely loved it. The show's run at the Prince Edward Theatre from May for its 25th anniversary seems like the perfect time to go see it.

Backstreet Boys at The O2 - I'm not ashamed. The Backstreet Boys were my first proper celebrity crushes, and they're back on tour in 2014, supported at The O2 by All Saints, one of the best late 1990s girl groups (the other being the Spice Girls, of course).

What are you looking forward to in 2014?