5 new books to read this week

Dive into the colourful world of cinema in the Seventies with Quentin Tarantino’s new book…

Fiction

1. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is published in hardback by Hodder & Stoughton, priced ?16.99 (ebook ?9.99). Available now

What begins as a family crime novel with themes of trust, betrayal, abuse and fear, quickly becomes a poignant note on what it is to love someone, and the beautiful ways individuals choose to live authentically. When Asher Fields is accused of killing his girlfriend Lily, the teenager’s world is turned upside down, as he and his mother Olivia set about clearing his name – while also mourning the loss of a beautiful young woman. Commentary about identity and motherhood is cleverly woven throughout, making for an honest and interesting tale about gender and violence. Flawlessly written, incredibly engaging and a source of vital dialogue in a world where trans voices aren’t always championed. If you read only one more book this year, make it this one.10/10(Review by Imy Brighty-Potts)

2. The Coming Darkness by Greg Mosse is published in hardback by Moonflower Publishing, priced ?18.99 (ebook ?5.99). Available now

The Coming Darkness is a clever, fast-paced thriller with incredible world building. While a big chunk of the book is used to introduce various characters and set the scene, author Greg Mosse skilfully ties everything together into an immersive dystopian world full of spies and danger. The reader follows main character Alexandre Lamarque, who works for the French security services and has many different identities he seamlessly switches into. He is tracing eco-terrorists, chasing them all over the world in the wake of chaotic events. Their ideology is strikingly similar to conspiracy theories that emerged when the Covid pandemic first started. The novel, set in a post-pandemic 2037, takes some time to get into, but is worth the patience as Mosse presents an impressive debut with a cinematic narrative style waiting to be adapted for the screen.9/10(Review by Miriam Kuepper)

3. My Soul Twin by Nino Haratischvili, translated by Charlotte Collins, is published in hardback by Scribe, priced ?16.99 (ebook ?18.99). Available now

My Soul Twin is a love story about the forbidden desire between two adoptive siblings. The main character, Stella, lives in Hamburg with her husband Mark and her son, Theo, but her life is turned upside down when her long lost lover and childhood friend Ivo returns. The story follows Stella’s tumultuous fight against her resurfaced feelings for Ivo and the guilt accompanied with it, as well as memories of a dark secret in their past. Her stubborn desire to be with Ivo at the expense of others’ feelings means she’s not always a likable character. The writing is engaging and emotional, however, at times the story moves along quite slowly. While beautifully written, it can be hard to sympathise with the ambivalent heroine.7/10(Review by Miriam Kuepper)

Non-fiction

4. Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino is published in hardback by W&N, priced ?25 (ebook 10.99). Available now

From Reservoir Dogs to Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino is responsible for directing some of the most wild and bloodthirsty movies of the last three decades. In Cinema Speculation, he unveils the inspirations behind his trademark oeuvre, and the heroes who helped shape him into a master of his craft. Over more than a dozen chapters, each of which nominally revolves around a favourite film, Tarantino paints an engrossing and lurid picture of Hollywood in the Seventies. He describes a cinematic upbringing that began when he accompanied his mother and stepfather to films from the age of seven, affording him a unique and encyclopedic knowledge of the period and the larger-than-life characters that sustained it. The oblique nature of some of his subjects hardly matters, given Tarantino writes as he directs – in a fast-paced and florid style, that makes him one of the most irresistible auteurs of the modern era.9/10(Review by Mark Staniforth)

Children’s book of the week

5. Timid by Harry Woodgate is published in paperback by Little Tiger, priced ?7.99 (ebook ?7.31). Available now

This is the perfect book for any child who might be struggling with confidence. It follows Timmy (who uses the prononuns they/them) – a young person who loves to perform, but just can’t work up the courage to do so in front of anyone else. In fact, Timmy’s shyness – which takes the form of a massive lion – gets in the way of a lot of things, and it really comes to a head when the school play comes around. Luckily, Timmy’s friend Nia is there to help them through – and what follows is particularly heartwarming. With colourful and eye-catching illustrations, this is a sweet story about finding your voice and overcoming your fears – something a lot of young children will benefit from reading.8/10(Review by Prudence Wade)

BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19

HARDBACK (FICTION)1. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman2. No Plan B by Lee Child & Andrew Child3. It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover4. The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer5. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan6. A Heart Full Of Headstones by Ian Rankin7. Fairy Tale by Stephen King8. She And Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai & Naruki Nagakawa9. Act Of Oblivion by Robert Harris10. Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus(Compiled by Waterstones)

HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)1. The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama2. Private Eye Annual: 2022 by Ian Hislop3. Guinness World Records 2023 by Guinness World Records4. The Trials Of Life by David Attenborough5. Diddly Squat by Jeremy Clarkson6. One by Jamie Oliver7. Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries by Alan Rickman8. Gloves Off by Tyson Fury9. What Writers Read by Pandora Sykes10. Air-Fryer Cookbook by Jenny Tschiesche(Compiled by Waterstones)

AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)1. Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry2. Geneva by Richard Armitage3. The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama4. Spare by Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex5. The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer6. The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson7. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman8. Surrender by Bono9. Nothing But The Truth by The Secret Barrister10. Atomic Habits by James Clear(Compiled by Audible)