5 new books to read this week

Fans of An American Marriage by Tayari Jones will be eager to pick up her latest novel, Kin…

Fiction

1. Few And Far Between by Jan Carson is published in hardback by Doubleday, priced £18.99 (ebook £8.99). Available April 9

In Jan Carson’s counter-factual fourth novel, Northern Ireland’s Lough Neagh has been home to a small group of people living on islands that emerged as part of a former prime minister’s madcap scheme to create a new county. The archipelago had been a safe haven from the Troubles, but an increasingly isolated community unequipped for many aspects of modern life face turmoil when a flood is planned to tackle a devastating algae outbreak – and the arrival of an academic who might be able to help upends everything. In her now trademark style, the Belfast-based Carson has created a whimsical near-real world, rooted in Northern Ireland’s own specific history, to tackle issues of family, community, history and the environment. At turns funny, warm, and heartbreaking, Few And Far Between is Carson’s best book to date – a sharp-eyed reminder that things are never as they appear at first glance.
9/10
(Review by Ian Parker)

2. Kin by Tayari Jones is published in hardback by Oneworld, priced £18.99 (ebook £9.99). Available now

Readers who loved An American Marriage – and those who are new to the work of Tayari Jones– are in for a treat with her latest novel, Kin. Her writing is sublime. Set in Forties Honeysuckle, Louisiana, two motherless baby girls are marked out as ‘cradle friends’. Vernice’s father has killed her mother and himself, leaving her orphaned and raised by an aunt. Meanwhile, Annie is the baby of a young woman who abandons her, leaving her in the care of her grandmother. At times funny and often poignant, Kin tells the story of how both girls must forge their own lives in the deep South, making their way through the teenage years and into adulthood quite separately. However, one thing is for sure – their bond can never be broken. They show why it can be the emotional bonds, rather than family ones, that tie us together.
8/10
(Review by Jane Kirby)

3. Son Of Nobody by Yann Martel is published in hardback by Canongate Books, priced £20 (ebook £15.99). Available April 2

Life Of Pi author Yann Martel’s latest novel is definitely unorthodox, with most of the narrative arc taking place in textual postscripts. Classicist Harlow Donne – who specialises in ancient Greek poet Homer – takes the opportunity to leave Canada and study in Oxford for a year, even though it means abandoning his daughter and disintegrating marriage. He discovers a lost account of the Trojan War, and half the book is The Psoad – the Homeric-style epic poem that he discovers – and the other half are his footnotes, where he analyses the text and the reader gets glimpses into his personal life. While Harlow has an engaging voice, it’s buried beneath the poem and quite laboured attempts at philosophy, making for quite tedious reading. The denouement of the book is undoubtedly emotionally charged, but ultimately it feels overly academic and a bit dry.
6/10
(Review by Lily Rose)

Non-fiction

4. Original Sin: The Genetics Of Wrongdoing, The Problem Of Blame And The Future Of Forgiveness by Kathryn Paige Harden is published in hardback by W&N, priced £22 (ebook £12.99). Available April 2

Kathryn Paige Harden’s Original Sin takes a look at the nature vs nurture debate through both a religious and scientific lens. In the book, questions are posed to the reader encouraging them to reflect on where they stand on the argument. These questions are sent to the author in a letter from a violent prisoner, and are later answered by Harden, although no definitive answers are provided. Whilst these are thought-provoking, there is too much focus on the author’s personal experiences throughout the book. Additionally, parts of the book, particularly the author’s criticism of religion, felt a bit repetitive. Overall, the science behind the nature vs nurture argument is well explained and easy to understand, although further exploration and more detailed analysis would have been beneficial.
6/10
(Review by Rhiannon James)

Children’s book of the week

5. Brilliant Bugs (Nature Heroes) by Neon Squid, illustrated by Tinna Guo, is published in hardback by Neon Squid, priced £7.99 (no ebook). Available April 16

Younger babies will love this colourful board book from Neon Squid, diving into the world of bugs. With an engaging rhyming scheme, it tells the story of some of nature’s hardest-working critters – from ladybugs and grasshoppers, to humble ants and beautiful dragonflies. The illustrations are bright and zippy, and there are handy peek-through holes on each page – although these could be a bit more prominent, to really capture the attention of younger babies. It comes as part of Neon Squid’s newest series called Nature Heroes – you can complete the set with the equally enjoyable board books Fungi Friends, Wiggly Worms and Busy Bees. Brilliant Bugs is a lovely addition to any nature-loving child’s bookshelf, giving a sweet introduction to the small but mighty creatures kids can see on their daily adventures outside.
8/10
(Review by Prudence Wade)

BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 28

HARDBACK (FICTION)
1. Mother Of Death And Dawn by Carissa Broadbent
2. It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh
3. Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
4. Daughter Of Crows by Mark Lawrence
5. The News From Dublin by Colm Tóibín
6. Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman
7. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
8. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
9. The Family Friend by Claire Douglas
10. Innamorata by Ava Reid
(Compiled by Waterstones)

HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)
1. Enough Said by Alan Bennett
2. Betrayal by Tom Bower
3. Rasputin by Antony Beevor
4. Bloody Dangerous by Colin Bell
5. British Gardens by Monty Don
6. Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins & Sawyer Robbins
7. Always Remember by Charlie Mackesy
8. A Rebel And A Traitor by Rory Carroll
9. Shortest History Of Ireland by James Hawes
10. The Wisdom Of Ancient Japan by Saori Okada
(Compiled by Waterstones)

AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NONFICTION)
1. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
2. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
3. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
4. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire by J.K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
6. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
7. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
8. My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
9. The Intruder by Freida McFadden
10. Betrayal by Tom Bower
(Compiled by Audible)