New Releases Reporter, Lucy Porter, gives you the lowdown on all things literary this month. Read on for her take on the latest releases in the world of books…
For those of you looking for a heart-warming read to keep you cosy on Valentine’s Day, Jill Mansell’s latest novel, Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (31st Jan) ticks all the right boxes. It follows Dexter, a high-flying city boy whose work-hard-play-hard life style is brought crashing down when his sister dies, leaving him with an eight-month-old niece to care for. Forced to adapt his lifestyle, he moves to a quiet neighbourhood and quickly befriends his single neighbour Molly. Yet Mansell’s writing and well thought out subplots make this story more than just your average predictable mush and turn it into a thoroughly enjoyable read that compels you to the last page.
Or if love is the last thing on your mind this month, why not give Christopher Brookmyre’s Bedlam (7 Feb) a go? Here, our protagonist Ross is thrown into a video game world after a brain scan seemingly gone wrong. Eternal life, God-like looks and armour are no substitutes for the comforts of an ordinary life. In a constant state of war the fear takes over and not even death can offer an escape. The plot is a little complicated at times with some readers being left baffled but if you can persevere, the story highlights some interesting philosophical and ethical debates.
Another disturbing read is Ilsa J. Bick’s Young Adult novel Drowning Instinct (28 Feb). The narrative is led by sixteen year old Jenna whose relationship with her teacher leaves the reader wondering about the answer to the questions on the blurb: “…there are stories where it’s hard to be sure who’s a prince and who’s a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after.” Is Mr Anderson a monster? Or is he the kind, intelligent man that Jenna believes he is? Written by a child psychiatrist, you can’t help being drawn down into a dark world which at times makes for uncomfortable reading.
Alternatively, William Dalrymple’s The Return of a King (4 Feb) is an intelligent, well-researched piece of historical reading. It retells the story of the first British invasion of Afghanistan which became one of Britain’s worst military humiliations of the past few centuries. Combining Afghan accounts of the time as well as giving new life to characters on all sides, the story explodes into the present and resonates particularly as we think of the war in Afghanistan of our own times.
Finally, on a lighter note, for any of you who are still plugging away with your New Year’s resolutions (well done you) the latest dieting trend might just help you keep your resolve. Kate Harrison’s The 5:2 Diet Book (14 Feb) capitalises on the latest trend of eating normally for 5 days a week and fasting for 2. Although the author has no medical training herself, she responsibly advises visiting your GP before embarking on the diet and uses real life accounts from others as well as baring all in her own, honest diary entries. There is more life and character to this than most other diet books as you follow Kate’s progress and potentially match it with your own.
By Lucy Porter – New Releases Reporter
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