4 BOOKS TO READ...
Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott
Kit and Diane form an unlikely friendship in high school through a shared love of running and science. But their bond is broken when Diane confesses to a dark secret Kit finds hard to keep. Years later, their paths cross again when Diane joins Kit in a research team working for their idol Dr Lena Severin. Abbott’s ninth novel takes a while to get going but once the secret is out, the plot hots up with twist after alarming twist as more is revealed about the secretive characters working in the research lab. Abbott, a former winner of a Mystery Writers of America’s
Edgar Allan Poe award, shows why her female-led crime fiction has proved so popular with readers.
Invitation To A Bonfire by Adrienne Celt
When Zoya Andropova finds herself uprooted for a new life at an elite New Jersey boarding school, after losing her family – and practically everything else – in war-torn Russia, she faces a hefty challenge: Trying to find her place and fit in among the swarms of innately confident and entitled wealthy American schoolgirls, whose experiences couldn’t be more different from her own. But this is just the beginning; with growing paranoia around Soviet spies, and no safety net to fall back on once she graduates, Zoya’s challenges are far from over. Things take a turn when she meets fellow Russian Leo Orlov. Adrienne Celt weaves her characters and plot into a vibrant tapestry that drags you right into every scene. If you love the intrigue of a good thriller, but are craving something with a deeper sense of magic this won’t disappoint.
Pretend I’m Dead by Jen Beagin
I was drawn to Jen Beagin’s debut novel because of a description on the front cover, calling it “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine on acid”. I loved that novel by literary newcomer Gail Honeyman, but sadly, the comparison led to me being disappointed by Pretend I’m Dead. Admittedly, troubled cleaner Mona, who we follow on a quest for selfacceptance after her heart is broken by a junkie, is a compelling protagonist. And, the writing does feel fresh due to Beagin’s quirky style. But I found the book difficult to enjoy, thanks to it being unnecessarily crude and uncomfortably dark at times. The meandering plot didn’t have enough direction to win me over.
The Art Of Logic by Eugenia Cheng
At a time of click-bait, fake news, and fierce debate, it can seem as if strong feelings have overtaken logic. Eugenia Cheng’s third non-fiction book tackles how logic can be applied in real life to fight confusing rhetoric, using theory to break down divisive subjects such as white privilege, sexism, and politics. Using diagrams and witty reallife examples, Cheng cuts through explains concepts such as abstraction and false dichotomies, what she calls a “collaborative art” of emotion and logic. You will not learn how to win arguments, but use logic alongside emotion to debate effectively, make balanced judgments and spot misleading statements – a handbook for the Twitter generation.