4 Books to read

Rabbits For Food by Binnie Kirshenbaum: Rabbits For Food tells of Bunny, a writer whose struggle with depression leads to committal to an institution. Part one of the book is the build-up to her breakdown. Part two tells of her time inside. And that’s all that happens. Except the book sweeps you along because of its whip-smart observations. Brilliant.

Woman On The Edge by Samantha M Bailey: Morgan finds herself in a tragic situation when a woman she’s never seen thrusts her baby into Morgan’s arms and falls to the train tracks. Morgan is the only suspect in the woman’s death – and starts investigating who the victim, Nicole, is. Its twists will delight thriller fans but the last one is a step too far.

Delayed Rays Of A Star by Amanda Lee Koe: This novel is sparked by a photo of Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong and Leni Riefenstahl in Berlin in 1928. Star Dietrich is later reviled in her German homeland for entertaining US troops; Wong, the first female Asian-american star, feels sidelined into playing stereotypes; and first female filmmaker Riefenstahl’s status is tainted by her Nazi propaganda productions. The tale exposes grubbiness behind the glamour and explores womanhood.

Dishonesty Is The Secondbest Policy And Other Rules To Live By by David Mitchell: Dishonesty Is The Second Best Policy is a collection of his columns from The Observer newspaper from the last five years or so. Mitchell’s writing is tangential, and by the time you have unravelled his points, he has made a good case. Perhaps it’s about the journey not the destination. Packed with laughs, it makes points.