New Releases Reporter, Lucy Porter, takes a look at what the literary world has to offer this month to keep you occupied over the holidays… 
Sometimes non-fiction can be a little heavy-going. A little wordy, a little too over-stuffed with technical terms and in short, a little boring. The latest offering by historian Michael Burleigh fortunately does not fall into this trap. Small Wars, Far Away Places: The Genesis of the Modern World (11th April) explores the decades after the second world war in which life as it was once known collapsed. With the demise of the colonial empires of the West came a host of struggles, some of which have carried on into the present day. An excellent book for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the world we live in today, this has all the compelling narrative tone of a popular documentary without lacking in informative depth.
For those who prefer fiction yet still want to engage themselves in the debate of social issues, Americanah (11th April) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will not disappoint. From the first pages, the reader is swept into the thoughts and sensations of the characters and drawn straight into the environments that they inhabit. The brilliant thing about this novel is the way the author embraces current societal themes such as the issue of ongoing racism in a way that doesn’t just confine it to the world of the book but brings it alive into our own world. A thought-provoking read on human relationships and the impact of the 21st century.
Another release with the potential to inspire and encourage us to assess our lives in a new way is Karren Brady’s success story Strong Woman: The Truth About Getting to the Top (11th April). Although it is promoted as an inspiring story for women everywhere, I would argue that it is in fact a brilliant piece of motivational prose for any modern person wanting to land the top job, raise a family and keep a little bit of sanity for themselves afterwards. 
If you’re after something a little funnier and light-hearted, The Rosie Project (11th April) by Graeme Simsion is an uplifting and witty debut. The story follows a socially challenged university lecturer who, fuelled by necessity rather than romance, searches systematically for a new wife with his very own questionnaire devised to help him do just that. From the first pages, you won’t be able to help smiling and laughing at the bemused commentary of Don, a man determined to see our complicated world in black and white. 
Next is the latest release from Confessions of a Shopaholic writer Sophie Kinsella who introduces a new character with a brand new dilemma. In I’ve Got Your Number (25th April) Poppy has lost her heirloom engagement ring on the very day her fiancé’s intimidating parents are flying back from America. In an absolute panic, she also manages to lose her phone and when she discovers another lost phone, she jumps at the chance to use it to stay connected whilst she hunts for her lost ring which, of course, just complicates matters further and leads to her becoming tangled up with the phone’s rightful owner. Although the premise sounds a bit far-fetched, this is another of those books that will cheerfully keep your attention until the last page. 
And finally, it wouldn’t do well to ignore the fact that April is the month in which Easter falls and if you have any leftover chocolate, you might want to put it to good use with a nice indulgent recipe from Chocolat (8th April) from Eric Lanlard. In the age of the internet, it’s too easy to just search for a quick recipe online but this book is absolutely choc-full of beautiful photos which look so good you won’t be able to stop yourself from making them. With due attention given to white, milk and dark chocolate as well as all of the delicious treats that normally accompany them and more, this collection of heavenly recipes will make a massive change to your outlook on this most wonderful of ingredients.
Lucy Porter, New Releases Reporter
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