Four new books to read this week
FICTION
The Household by Stacey Halls, hardback by Manilla Press
A cast of women, plucked from poverty and lives of crime, are brought together here. The residents, told to keep their past lives a secret, are offered a second chance, but when reality of life in the isolated cottage sets in, they are not sure it’s what they want. After the success of previous novels The Familiars and Mrs England, Halls is again inspired by real events. Here she focuses her attentions on Urania Cottage, a scheme set up in 1846 by Charles Dickens and millionaire Angela Burdett-coutts to offer refuge to ‘fallen’ women. The past is brought to life by Halls as she weaves together individual stories of the women. 9/10
The Last Murder At The End Of The World by Stuart Turton, hardback by Raven Books
Fans will be familiar with Turton’s unique mysteries, and this sci-fi/ detective tale might be the best yet. On a peaceful Greek island, untouched by an apocalypse-causing fog, three scientists and villagers deal with what’s left. But a shocking murder triggers a countdown to save this haven from obliteration. Emory has to unmask the killer, battling to unlock motives, and Turton’s ability to build an alluring world is astounding. Setting this novel apart are the eccentric cast and profound questions. What are our responsibilities and can we deny temptation to play God? 9/10
Memory Piece by Lisa Ko, by Dialogue Books
This starts in the early 1980s with Giselle Chin – an Asian American teenager who feels out of place in New Jersey and wants more. It’s a common thread in this three-part book – first we spend time with Giselle, growing up and becoming a performance artist, then we visit her friend Jackie in the 90s, as a coder in an everchanging world. Finally comes the third friend, Ellen, as an elderly woman in the mid-21st century, still holding on to her cooperative living despite the dystopian disaster around her. While the third part feels like an extreme departure,
Lisa Ko has crafted a touching story, exploring themes of belonging, creativity, tech and more. It’s sure to become a modern classic. 8/10
NON-FICTION
The Chain: The Relationships That Break Us, The Women Who Rebuild Us
by Chimene Suleyman, hardback by W&N Suleyman’s memoir centres around a failed relationship, which culminated with her getting an abortion and him leaving her alone at the clinic. It turns out he was a pathological liar and manipulator, and had treated scores of women in similarly horrific ways. These women find each other and as more details emerge, the victims form a ‘chain’. Suleyman’s writing is raw, but once the bombshell settles, there’s not much direction. It’s a searing look at misogyny, but with a meandering line, it may have been better as an essay. 7/10