This second batch of August paperbacks kicks off in New York with a surefire bestseller then wanders into smalltown America before briefly taking off around the world, offering a few more out-of-the-way books to explore. Emma Flint’s Little Deaths takes a crime committed in 1960s New York and fashions it into a novel which I’m pretty sure will turn up on a quite a few beaches this summer. In the heat wave of 1965, Ruth Malone wakes to find both her children are missing. Paying more attention to the wagging tongues keen to emphasise Ruth’s colourful life then they perhaps should, the police jump to conclusions but a tabloid journalist new to the job thinks otherwise. Crime fiction isn’t my usual territory but the setting and premise of this one makes me curious.
Anna Quindlen’s Miller’s Valley takes us out of the city and into smalltown America, a favourite setting for me. Looking back on her life spent in Miller’s Valley, the town her family have lived in for generations, Mimi Miller ‘confronts the toxicity of secrets, the dangers of gossip, the flaws of marriage, the risks and inequalities of friendship, loyalty and passion. Home, she acknowledges, is somewhere it’s just as easy to feel lost as contented’ according to the publishers who raise the bar extraordinarily high by comparing the novel with Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge. I’m a 
fan of Quindlen’s fiction so expectations are high, but perhaps not that high.
Gregoire Delacourt’s novels are often written in a delightfully playful style yet deliver acute observations. His last novel, The First Thing You See, took a mischievous swipe at celebrity culture all wrapped up in a sweet love story but We Saw Only Happiness sounds much more sombre. Antoine is determined that his son and daughter will have the perfect childhood, a far cry from his own. He’s convinced he’s found the secret of a happy life but tragic circumstances turn him into someone he no longer recognises. This may not sound a particularly inspiring premise but I’ve enjoyed all the novels by Delacourt I’ve read so far.
Enrique Vila-Matas’ The Illogic of Kassel sounds entirely different. A writer is invited to take part in Documenta, a contemporary art exhibition held in the German town of Kassel every five years. All he has to do is to write every morning in a Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of town. ‘Once in Kassel, the writer is surprised to find himself overcome by good cheer. As he strolls through the city, spurred on by his spontaneous, quirky response to art, he begins to make sense of the wonders that surround him’ say the publishers. Paul Auster’s recommendation is the lure for me here.
I’m not sure what Auster would think of it but I’ve seen lots of recommendations from bloggers for my final choice. Chibundu Onuzo’s Welcome to Lagos is about five runaways who’ve left their home for the metropolis in search of a better life. They’re a disparate bunch made up of a private, a housewife, an officer, a militant and a young girl. ‘Soon, they will also share a burden none of them expected, but for now, the five sit quietly with their hopes, as the billboards fly past and shout: Welcome to Lagos’ according to the publishers.
That’s it for August. A click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis for anything that’s caught your eye. If you’d like to catch up with either August’s new titles or the first batch of paperbacks, they’re here and here.
Welcome to Lagos is the one to catch my eye. Wonderful cover too
Yes, that one will definitely be making its way on to the TBR very soon.
I’m glad the Quindlen’s out in PB, I’ve been wanting to read it. I really enjoyed the last one but seem to have been in the minority.
I’ve enjoyed her previous novels, particularly One True Thing and Black and Blue.
Got my eye on Little Deaths.
Oh yes! Another soon to makes its appearance on my TBR.
It’s been one of my favourite reads of the year so far!
I’m sure it will be making it onto my pile one way or another, Cleo!
Welcome To Lagos is great, and I’m pleased that it’s coming out in standard paperback size – hopefully it’ll encourage some more people to pick it up! Little Deaths is also a good beach read.
I think that jacket will help, too. I’m looking forward to Little Deaths, if a little warily given all the hype.
Yeah, the jacket is an improvement. Little Deaths isn’t *all that*, but it’s diverting and delightfully angry.
‘Delightfully angry’ does it for me!
Welcome to Lagos sounds pretty interesting. Little Deaths has, as you’ve mentioned, been subject to a lot of hype which makes me think that’ll have to die down a lot before I can approach it. Interesting selection, as always.
It’s a good premise, isn’t it, bringing together a disparate set of people, new to the city. Hype usually put me right off but the New York ’60s setting for Little Deaths is irresistible for me. Thanks, Belinda.
I’ve not read any Delacourt but your description is very appealing – I will look out for him.
Well worth keeping your eye out for him.
Lots of interesting titles coming out of Lagos, I really enjoyed Stay With Me, a friend who lived in Lagos found Welcome to Lagos harder to enjoy due to the many memories it provoked, in itself that makes it interesting I think.
I’d agree, although I’m sorry to hear of your friend’s experiences, Claire. Stay with Me is working it’s way up my list.