2013 has been a fun year in novels. Here is my reading list, in order of preference.

Two of these novels really shine: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and The Circle by Dave Eggers. The Circle addresses a fundamental issue of its time in a way that is accessible to all ... much as would have been the case with Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984. The Goldfinch is a more traditional novel ... but a truly exceptional one. For me, it's in the same class as Prayer for Owen Meany, which is to say "at the very top" of my list of all time favorites.

Top 10 Books I read in 2013:

Last week, Greg Harris, President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, was in upstate New York where he met up with Tom Lieber at his workshop (http://www.lieberguitars.com/).

Followers of the incredible Pete Sears' "Dragon Saga" will recall that Tom Lieber was the luthier who had apprenticed with Doug Irwin and worked on the creation of Pete Sears' "Dragon" bass. It was Tom's post to a Grateful Dead forum asking whether anybody knew of the bass' whereabouts after it had been stolen during a stadium riot, that was instrumental in the return of "Dragon" to Pete 35 years later.

Dublin's Olympia Theatre will host a unique collection of artists tomorrow, Friday 21 June, a collective show of goodwill for Aslan's Christy Dignam. U2 will take part from a studio in New York and the entire show will be streamed live in venues around the world. MC for the night will be the artist Guggi.

Since its humble beginnings in 2007, 4 Peaks Music Festival has transformed a Central Oregon farm into a summer solstice music mecca. National touring bands flock to 4 Peaks to perform for appreciative fans under the picturesque Cascade Mountains. With under 500 tickets available, 4 Peaks Music Festival ensures an intimate experience. The five finger discount for kids under ten and True North Kids Tent highlight the family-friendly atmosphere 4 Peaks Music Festival strives to provide.