THE BEST PAPERBACKS

FICTION

Elmet

Fiona Mozley

John Murray €11.99

First novels are not usually shortlisted for the Man Booker prize, but this one is exceptional in every way. Daniel and Cathy live with their father in a home-made hut in the wilds of Yorkshire. But they are trespassers, and the violence simmering constantly beneath the surface of their lives explodes with devastating consequences.

FICTION Spoils Brian Van Reet Vintage €10.49

Set mostly in the aftermath of the Iraq invasion, this powerful first novel tells the story of a group of US soldiers who fall into enemy hands and of the desperate attempts to rescue them. Unusually, it’s told from both the captors’ and the captives’ point of view. Van Reet served in Iraq and every page brims with brutal authenticity.

FICTION Norse Mythology Neil Gaiman Bloomsbury €12.60

If all you know about the Norse gods comes from the Marvel comics and films, you’re in for a treat. Neil Gaiman knows the ancient myths inside out, and this spirited retelling encompasses everything from the creation myth to Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods. And central to it all is the evil, unscrupulous and fascinatingly enigmatic figure of Loki.

NON-FICTION The Dog’s Last Walk Howard Jacobson Bloomsbury €12.79

Howard Jacobson may be better known as an award-winning novelist – he won the Booker Prize for The Finkler Question – but this collection shows he is just as accomplished a journalist. Whether he’s writing about the intricacies of darts, or why all TV programmes should be subtitled, or about a much loved old dog, he’s invariably sharp, clever and very, very witty.