BOOKS OF THE WEEK
Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman
Serpent’s Tail, £16.99 (ebook £11.99) Review by Abi Jackson
Anyone who’s ever worked on the shop floor in retail or out the back in loading and storage will find a lot of familiar territory in Help Wanted. And if you’ve haven’t, strap in for a delicious introduction. The story follows members of the ‘Movement’ team (whose job involves starting at 3:55am to unload deliveries) at a ubiquitous unnamed superstore in a small town in upstate New York. The work is tough, the pay is low, their line manager is a nightmare, and they’re not given enough hours to qualify for benefits and health insurance. Many work second jobs to make ends meet. It’s funny, gloriously real and empathetic, and a moving reminder that everyone’s the main character of their own life.
Before The Queen Falls Asleep by Huzama Habayeb
MacLehose Press, £10.99 (ebook £5.99) Review by Maryam Munir
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 Before The Queen Falls Asleep – translated by Kay Heikkinen. Originally written in Arabic, the novel tells the story of Jihad, a Palestinian woman, who, along with her family, has been displaced from her homeland and lives in Kuwait. As Jihad shares stories of her childhood with her teenage daughter Maleka every night we come to find out more about the struggles she endured. This moving novel highlights the hardships that displaced families endure, the fight for a better life and the love they share.
Medea by Rosie Hewlett Bantam, £16.99 (ebook £8.99) Review by Anahita Hossein-Pour
In this retelling of Greek mythology, sorceress Medea becomes the central narrative in this tragic tale. The novel unravels how the witch of Colchis begins life as an outcast before unleashing her power that spirals into darkness. Rooted in the story of Jason and the Argonauts’ quest for the Golden Fleece, Medea takes their arrival as a way to escape her oppressed existence and forge a new path. Grappling with the female stereotypes of being a victim or villain, author Rosie Hewlett succeeds in offering a humanising voice to this notorious character. Hewlett lays bare the inner turmoil of Medea and her toxic relationship with Jason, ending with calamitous consequences.
Why We Remember by Charan Ranganath
Faber & Faber, £20 (£12.99) Review by Frances Taylor-Cook
Why We Remember provides a fascinating insight into how memories are formed, the reasons for remembering things and how these memories influence our general lives. The author is able to explain a complex subject, which has heavy dependence on physiological terms, with relative ease, demonstrating that you need not be a brain surgeon to get a good grasp of the inner workings of our brain. The structure of the book takes the reader on a journey through the different areas of the brain, their role in memory formation, and how we can help the establishment and recall of memories. It is a wonderful journey and one which everyone should embark on.