The Best New Reads: September
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
In this much-anticipated debut novel, Hank Green spins a sweeping, cinematic tale about a young woman who becomes an overnight celebrity. Roaming through New York at 3am, 23-year-old April stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship, April and her friend Andy make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life, before realising she’s part of something bigger, and stranger, than anyone could have possibly imagined
In Pieces by Sally Field
One of the most celebrated and enduring actors of our time (Lincoln, Brothers & Sisters, Mrs Doubtfire), Sally Field brings us her storyin this haunting memoir. She takes us through her life from a challenging and lonely childhood, the craft that helped her find her voice, to winning an Academy Award – and a powerful emotional legacy that shaped her journey as a daughter and a mother.
My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen
Later this month, Lily Allen will publish her tell-all memoir, My Thoughts Exactly. Consisting of a collection of essays that explore her life, thoughts and opinions, the book is described as “depicting a life of chaos” in which Allen “depended on drink, drugs and sex to get through the days.” Allen’s essays explore her struggles of depending on love to forge an identity, and her dependence on music to help her find herself. It’s also set to include discussions of “feminism, the tabloids, money, faking orgasms, bad managers, fame, sexual abuse, mental health, narcissism, co-dependency, festivals, motherhood, stalking and parking tickets.” We’re intrigued…
Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini
The number one New York Times-bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns responds to the heartbreak of the current refugee crisis with this deeply moving, beautifully illustrated short work of fiction for people of all ages. Sea Prayer is composed in the form of a letter, from a father to his son, on the eve of their journey. Watching over his sleeping son, the father reflects on the dangerous sea-crossing that lies before them. A vivid portrait of life in Syria before the war, and of that city’s swift transformation from a home into a deadly war zone.
Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs
A frank, smart and captivating memoir by the daughter of Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs, Small Fry is the book making headlines right now. Capturing her childhood in 80s California in enthralling detail, journalist Lisa Brennan-Jobs has proved she’s a new literary voice to be reckoned with – and in our #MeToo era, where powerful men are finally being held accountable for their abusive actions, the shocking stories about her late father are resonating loudly.
The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling
In Lydia Kiesling’s razor-sharp debut novel, we accompany Daphne, a young mother on the edge of a breakdown, as she flees her sensible but strained life in San Francisco for the high desert of Altavista with her toddler, Honey. Buckling under the weight of being a single parent – her Turkish husband is unable to return to the US because of a ‘processing error’ – Daphne takes refuge in a mobile home left to her by her grandparents in the hope the quiet will bring clarity. Keenly observed, bristling with humor, and set against the beauty of a little-known part of California, The Golden State is about class,cultural breakdowns and desperate attempts to bridge old and new worlds.
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
A feminist reimagining of the tale of Troy, this new handback from Pat Barker offers a fresh perspective on a classic tale. There was a woman at the heart of the Trojan war whose voice has been silent – until now. Briseis was a queen until her city was destroyed. Now she is slave to Achilles, the man who butchered her husband and brothers. Trapped in a world defined by men, can she survive to become the author of her own story?
The Wildlands by Abby Geni
From the award-winning author of The Lightkeepers comes a page-turning new novelexploring the bond between siblings and the animal instincts that threaten to destroy them. When a tornado ravaged Mercy, Oklahoma, no family in the small town lost more than the McClouds. Their home and farm were instantly demolished, orphaned siblings Darlene, Jane, and Cora made media headlines, while their brother Tucker disappeared. Three years later, Tucker is involved in an explosion at a zoo. Enthralled by his magnetism, nine-year-old Cora joins him on a race across the US.
Transcription by Kate Atkinson
In 1940, 18-year-old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathisers, she discovers the work to be both tedious and terrifying. After the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past forever. But 10 years later, now a producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realise there is no action without consequence.
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