Five new books to read this week
FICTION
Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman Hardback, Serpent’s Tail, £16.99 (ebook £11.99)
Anyone who’s ever worked on the shop floor in retail or out the back in loading and storage will be in familiar territory here. If you’ve haven’t, strap in for a delicious introduction.
The story follows the Movement team, who start at 3.55am unloading deliveries at a superstore in New York. The work is tough and the pay but when manager Big Will announces he’s leaving, there’s a glimmer of hope. Could one of them get promoted?
Waldman takes us into the minds of each team member as the plot unfolds, from their wry smoke-break banter to their hidden personal struggles. It’s funny, empathetic and gloriously real. Before The Queen Falls Asleep by Huzama Habayeb Paperback, MacLehose Press, £10.99 (ebook £5.99)
What a mother sacrifices for her child is immeasurable, but Palestinian writer Huzama Habayeb does a brilliant job at conveying such sacrifices in her novel.
Jihad is a Palestinian woman who has been displaced from her homeland and lives in Kuwait. As she shares stories of her childhood with her teenage daughter Maleka every night – reminiscent of Scheherazade in One Thousand And One Nights – we find out more about the struggles she endured to give Maleka a better chance at life.
This moving novel highlights the hardships displaced families endure and the love they share.
Medea by Rosie Hewlett Hardback, Bantam £16.99 (ebook £8.99)
In this retelling of Greek mythology, sorceress Medea becomes the central narrative in the tragic tale. And the novel unravels how the witch of Colchis begins life as an outcast before unleashing her power.
Rooted in the story of Jason and the Argonauts’ quest for the Golden Fleece, Medea takes their arrival as a way to escape her oppressive existence and forge a new path.
Grappling with the female stereotypes of victim or villain, Hewlett succeeds in offering a humanising voice to this notorious character. It lays bare the inner turmoil of Medea and her toxic relationship with Jason, with its calamitous consequences.
NON-FICTION Why We Remember by Charan Ranganath Hardback, Faber & Faber £20 (£12.99)
Why We Remember provides a fascinating insight into how memories are formed, the reasons we remember things and how memories influence our general lives.
The author manages to convey this complex subject with ease, proving you don’t have to be a brain surgeon to get to know the inner workings of your grey matter. The reader goes on a journey through different areas of the brain and there are fascinating lessons in how we can help establish and recall memories.
It is a remarkable journey and one well worth embarking on if you want to understand what makes you tick and how to stay sharp. CHILDREN’S Animal All-Stars by Clare Balding and The Boy Fitz Hammond Paperback, Wren & Rook, £10.99 (ebook £5.99)
Animal All-Stars is an entertaining (and educational) romp, packed with facts, stats and trivia about tiger beetles, falcons, gorillas and more. The book follows eight sporting events played by animals and insects, which are then reported on by Balding and her two feline assistants.
Balding’s chatty, funny style makes for an engrossing read and the rib-tickling illustrations by The Boy Fitz Hammond add to the laughs.
It’s recommended for children aged nine and above but would be suitable for younger readers too who love animals and sport.