Fiction
Twice by Mitch Albom is published in hardback by Sphere
If you could live life twice, would you really want to relive your mistakes? Tuesdays With Morrie author Mitch Albom explores this conundrum through Alfie Logan, a man gifted with the chance to redo his past. From teenage embarrassments to near-death escapes, Alfie tries to right his wrongs, but the second attempt is not always better. The real catch comes when love enters the equation, because the one caveat to this gift means finding love once, might mean losing it forever. Alfie recounts his story at the end of his life, from a police station after a big casino win, his notebook slowly revealing his stories. Twice is a charming, easy read that makes you pause and reflect: do second chances really guarantee an improved outcome?
Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory is published in hardback by HarperCollins
It’s hard to believe there is another way to tell the story of the Tudors. Countless novels have been based in and around this period – notably, by Philippa Gregory herself. But this is an author able to single out figures from the canon who have otherwise been overlooked, preventing her work from seeming stale or hackneyed and retelling history from new and often revelatory perspectives. Boleyn Traitor is no exception. For those familiar with Gregory’s previous books – most notably, The Other Boleyn Girl – Boleyn Traitor reintroduces a host of recognisable characters, all of whom remain on the periphery while Jane, Lady Rochford, takes her turn in the limelight. Written with the world of modern politics in mind, where decisions and policy can spin on a whim, and bursting with the usual ingredients of a Gregory novel – intrigue, subterfuge, and authentic period detail – The Boleyn Traitor transports the reader straight to the heart of one of the most dangerous and volatile courts in Europe, where no one can be sure who is friend and who is foe. Fans of Gregory’s previous books will not be disappointed; those new to her novels will be sure to seek out her back catalogue. Boleyn Traitor is another winner from Gregory’s Tudor court stable: escapist, educational and a highly enjoyable read.
One Of Us by Elizabeth Day is published in hardback by Fourth Estate
Famed for her hit podcast series, How To Fail, Elizabeth Day is also a seasoned novelist. One Of Us, her latest, is scathing. Whether on unscrupulous politicians, their vapid wives unable to escape the trappings of their apparently gilded cages, former MPs spouting off on podcasts or university lecturers going through the motions, Day is blistering. Following a brutal falling out, former university friends Martin, a lecturer, and Ben, who is intent on becoming Prime Minister, are brought back together after the suspicious death of Ben’s sister, Fliss. But between them they have quite a few potentially devastating secrets. As does Ben’s brittle, beautiful wife Serena. Sharp, a little bit shocking and uncomfortably dark at times, One Of Us is confronting, unputdownable but also leaves you feeling oddly grubby.
Non-fiction
Aqua: A Story Of Water And Lost Dreams by Chiara Barzini is published in hardback by Canongate Books
The Los Angeles aqueduct, completed in 1913, might appear – excuse the pun – a dry subject, but for Chiara Barzini it embodies Hollywood’s entire ethos. In Aqua, she explores this theme while travelling its length and relating her own connections to the city. There are many evocative passages and an impassioned chapter on Manzanar, a 1940s Japanese-American internment camp. Barzini is insightful on motherhood, aging and female friendship, and she inspires the reader to seek out Mike Davis, Mary Austin, Joan Didion and other authors quoted extensively. However, as a cultural history, Aqua relies too obviously on the work of others. Underneath that a potentially mesmerising memoir-cum-travelogue simmers away but Barzini uses eventful episodes of her life too casually while overemphasising her current professional disappointments. These sit uneasily alongside historical details of exploitation and natural disasters. There is a fascinating idea here, but ultimately Aqua lays bare more of Barzini’s psyche than California’s.
Children’s book of the week
A Compendium Of Curious Contraptions by Anna Goldfield, illustrated by Paula Zamudio, is published in hardback by Neon Squid
A Compendium Of Curious Contraptions by Anna Goldfield is all about weird and wonderful machines from history. It shows how people used clever ideas to solve problems, like making clocks, flying machines, and even robot-like toys. The pictures by Paula Zamudio are fun and detailed, and I liked learning about inventions I’d never heard of before. I think the best part was how it made history exciting, like a treasure hunt of inventions. It also made me want to build something myself. The writing is easy to understand, and the drawings make everything come alive. However, I wish there were more fun facts or activities to try at home.
English