An unusual book to start the year with, I purchased this solely for the lyricist, one Mr. Kazuo Ishiguro — he of The Remains of the Day fame. The bonus of this quirky purchase? Discovering a new musical artist: Stacey Kent (and her music-writing husband, Jim Tomlinson).

You can't judge this one by reading the lyrics dry — as Ishiguro points out, lyrics are not quite poetry and often have a different job to accomplish. Adding to the collaboration is the phenomenal comics artist Bianca Bagnarelli, whose work beautifully rounds out this project.

I read this book while listening to Kent's album — maybe twice — and it brought the whole experience to life. Kent's voice is soft and smooth, playful and inviting, with jazz infused with hints of exotica and bossa nova. The music perfectly complements Ishiguro's lyrics, written specifically for Kent's album. The result is a near-perfect listening experience, suited for everything from long drives to dancing in the kitchen.