Cult writer Naomi Alderman is back with her first book in seven years…
Fiction
1. The Future by Naomi Alderman is published in hardback by Fourth Estate,. Available now
It’s the not-too-distant future and the end of the world is looming. Technology is god and civilisation is now at the mercy of three corporations who control consumerism, social media and even the weather. The rich are ready and have bunkers waiting – the rest who have seen what’s coming are planning how to survive. In The Future, Naomi Alderman has made a terrifying cataclysmic event seem horrifyingly palpable. The idea that a single corporation can control all spending doesn’t seem like too far of a stretch from our current climate. What makes The Future an incredible page-turner though, is being witness to a group of women in the tech industry, and a survival expert, stand up against the billionaires of the world and essentially bite the hand that has kept them safe for so long. From former cult members to disillusioned youth, there is a glimmer of hope in this book, that will have you racing towards the end.
9/10
(Review by Rachel Howdle)
2. Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly is published in hardback by Orion. Available now
The Lincoln Lawyer and Harry Bosch have joined forces again to work on yet another seemingly non-winnable case. This time, retired LAPD homicide detective Bosch is tasked with helping his half-brother Mickey Haller to secure the freedom of a young mother locked up for the fatal shooting of her husband, a sheriff’s deputy. The case is fraught with danger and there is more than a whiff of corruption in the Californian air. As ever, with former newspaper reporter Connelly’s long-running series, there is an uneasy feeling that life is constantly teetering on the edge of catastrophe – and no-one, not even Bosch, is safe. It may be a slightly formulaic genre, but this is nevertheless yet another slick blockbuster of a legal-detective thriller from a master of his craft.
8/10
(Review by Emily Pennink)
3. The Fake Wife by Sharon Bolton is published in hardback by Orion. Available now
The Fake Wife by Sharon Bolton is an edge-of-your-seat psychological suspense novel that draws you in and constantly surprises you. We’re introduced to Olive, who is dining alone at a restaurant, and a stranger, who sits down at Olive’s table and pretends to be her wife. The game turns dangerous, with secrets and lies unfolding. The more we learn about Olive’s life and marriage to MP Michael Anderson, the more the façade of her happily married life slips, and the tangled web start to unravel. Kidnapping, murder, lies, stolen jewels and retribution weave through the novel linking storylines and timespans. Although the novel starts slow, and some of the decisions Olive makes are baffling, her flawed character is one you can connect and empathise with. A good read with great characters, that will shock and keep you turning the pages.
8/10
(Review by Amanda De Beer)
Non-fiction
4. Taking Back My Power by Georgia Harrison is published in hardback by Renegade Books. Available now
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In her debut book, former Love Island and The Only Way Is Essex star Georgia Harrison speaks to the younger generation, inspiring hope for change and earnestly warning of the dangers of social media. The 28-year-old does not shy away from her struggles after reporting Stephen Bear for sharing intimate footage of her online, or the impact of navigating a legal system that currently requires a proof of intent to cause distress in revenge porn cases. Bear, a winner of Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother, was jailed earlier this year and Harrison’s journey does not end there. Her eloquence during the court case, which she details, propelled her into campaigning on sexual violence and work with MPs on the Online Safety Act. She also brought to the attention of an audience, raised on reality TV, the dangers of the current internet environment where everything can be shared instantly.
7/10
(Review by Charlotte McLaughlin)
Children’s book of the week
5. The Incredible Adventures Of Gaston Le Dog by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Viviane Schwarz, is published in hardback by Walker Books. Available now
Former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen has struck gold again with this charming short novel – perfect for young readers aged seven to nine. Gaston le Dog is determined to head back to the wonderful beach he remembers from long ago, though he has doubts about leaving his friends behind. As he embarks on an adventure, he finds himself helped along the way by new friends, including a hedgehog called Hérisson. But the journey isn’t always easy and the array of animals get into all manner of scrapes. So, will they make it to the beach? And what will they learn about themselves and the world along the way? Rosen, who pledged to finish this tale during his long recovery from Covid-19, has based the story on characters he used to describe to his young son. It’s true to say it’s been worth the wait.
8/10
(Review by Jane Kirby)
BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 11th
HARDBACK (FICTION)
1. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
2. Good Material by Dolly Alderton
3. The Secret by Lee Child & Andrew Child
4. The Year Of The Locust by Terry Hayes
5. The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman
6. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
7. Tackle! by Jilly Cooper
8. Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly
9. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
10. A Stroke Of The Pen by Terry Pratchett
(Compiled by Waterstones)
HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)
1. The Life Of Birds by David Attenborough
2. What It Takes by Sarina Wiegman & Jeroen Visscher
3. The Woman In Me by Britney Spears
4. Deep Blue by Steve Backshall
5. Rambling Man by Billy Connolly
6. Help I S*xted My Boss by William Hanson & Jordan North
7. Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
8. Private Eye Annual: 2023 by Ian Hislop
9. How They Broke Britain by James O’Brien
10. Stuart Broad: Broadly Speaking by Stuart Broad
(Compiled by Waterstones)
AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)
1. Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
2. The Woman In Me by Britney Spears
3. Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger
4. The End And The Death: Volume II by Dan Abnett
5. My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand
6. How They Broke Britain by James O’Brien
7. Unruly by David Mitchell
8. Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry’s Definitive Collection by Stephen Fry et al
9. Alan Partridge: Big Beacon by Alan Partridge
10. The Secret by Lee Child & Andrew Child
(Compiled by Audible)
