by American politician Bernie Sanders releases his latest book…
Novel
1. Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin is published in hardback by Fourth Estate, priced £14.99 (ebook £8.99). Available now
Wandering Souls begins in late 1970s Vietnam, with the family’s eldest daughter, Anh, making the journey with two of her brothers to a refugee camp in Hong Kong. Her parents and younger siblings are to follow in a few weeks and the family will then immigrate to America. This plan falls apart when the rest of Anh’s family doesn’t make the trip, and the survivors end up settling in Thatcher’s Britain – where jobs are scarce and foreigners don’t feel entirely welcome. It is a sad story of orphans struggling to survive in a bleak new land, after their journey from a migrant camp to public housing and finding work. It’s beautifully written and the story is fleshed out with chapters from other points of view – including interludes from their younger brother, who died as a toddler and watches over them as a ghost. A tough read, but worth it – a story that needs to be told. 9/10 (Reviewed by Prudence Wade)
2. Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati is published in hardcover by Michael Joseph, priced £16.99 (ebook £7.99). Available now
Greek tragedy books can sometimes get stuck with a confusing cast of characters, all with their own compelling stories. Costanza Casati manages to avoid this with a fast-paced telling of the story of Clytemnestra, the fierce but loving princess of often brutal Sparta, who becomes the queen of Mycenae. The Texas-born author grew up in Italy, where she studied ancient Greek literature, before writing Clytemnestra – her debut novel. The novel’s easy-to-follow storylines and well-rounded characters really draw the reader in as Clytemnestra navigates a world where people can be ruthless and lives can be short.8/10 (Reviewed by Beverley Rouse)
3. I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai is published in hardback by Fleet, priced £16.99 (ebook £9.99). Available now
I Have Some Questions For You is a dark read by Rebecca Makkai. Bodhi has seen too much of the horrible side of life. When her brother dies, her mother is devastated and goes to rehab. A Mormon family takes her in and sends her to finish her education at a boarding school in New Hampshire. Constantly an outsider, Bodie’s brushes with death continue when her roommate Thalia Keith is killed and the school’s athletic trainer Omar Evans is found guilty. Fast forward and Bodie, now a film teacher and podcaster, returns to her old school to teach a class. When one of the students picks up the subject of Thalia’s death, new questions prick Brody’s mind. This is a modern gothic mystery, which is similar to the trend in true crime podcasting and investigative journalism. 7/10 (Reviewed by Rachel Howdle)
Prose
4. It’s OK To Be Angry About Capitalism by Bernie Sanders is published in hardcover by Allen Lane, priced £22 (ebook £9.99). Available now
Bernie Sanders opens his latest book with a fascinating thought: conventional wisdom says you get more politically conservative as you get older, but he finds himself going in the opposite direction. The 81-year-old writes exactly how he talks in It’s OK To Be Angry About Capitalism – with passion and in his signature style. In it, he examines how billionaires shouldn’t exist, how the American health care system is collapsing, and what needs to be done to properly educate children – taking cues from countries like Finland. It’s heavy on public policy, but there are more personal stories throughout — like stories from Sanders’ last run for president and, yes, how he went viral with a pair of gloves. The book embodies Sanders’ politics, which means it will have his supporters nodding vigorously and his detractors probably rolling their eyes. 8/10 (Review by Prudence Wade)
The children’s book of the week
5. Call The Puffins by Cath Howe, illustrated by Ella Okstad, is published in paperback by Welbeck Flame, priced £6.99 (ebook £3.99). Available now
A young pumpkin named Muffin leaves home to live on the Island of Egg and train to be part of a search and rescue team, in the first of a new series aimed at young children. The story begins with familiar nervousness about wearing a new outfit and worries about fit and being liked. But Muffin soon proves to be ruthless after teaming up with another pumpkin named Tiny to search for a lost baby bird. Facing stormy winds and dark skies, they rescue the stricken bird from the edge of the cliff, earning bravery awards and a celebratory dip in a giant bird bath. This book will delight young people, with its short chapters, stunning black and white illustrations and additional facts about inflatables. 7/10 (Reviewed by Alan Jones)
BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 4
SKLERODESPO (Fiction)1. A Day Of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon2. The Adventures Of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty3. Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati4. Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes5. Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton6. The Shadows Of London by Andrew Taylor7. It starts with us by Colleen Hoover8. Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry9. Godkiller by Hannah Kaner10. The Cloisters by Katy Hays (Published by Waterstones)
SLEERODESPO (NON-FICTION)1. The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook by Clare Andrews & Air Fryer UK2. The Earth Transformed by Professor Peter Frankopan3. Spare from the Duke of Sussex4. It’s okay to be angry about Bernie Sanders5’s capitalism. Me Vs Brain: An Overthinker’s Guide To Life by Hayley Morris6. The Last Tree by Luke Adam Hawker7. Mary Berry’s Baking Bible by Mary Berry8. Strong Female Character by Fern Brady9. Bored Of Lunch by Nathan Anthony10. Air-Fryer Cookbook by Jenny Tschiesche (Published by Waterstones)
AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)1. Spare from the Duke of Sussex2. The End And The Death: Volume 1 by Dan Abnett3. Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes4. Atomic Habits by James Clear5. Strong Female Character by Fern Brady6. One For Sorrow by Helen Fields7. Chemistry Lessons by Bonnie Garmus8. Why hasn’t anyone told me this before? by Dr. Julie Smith9. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman10. Coffin Road by Peter May (Compiled by Audible)
