The lure of Heather, the Totality is the writer rather than the novel’s premise which sounds as if it might wander off into thriller territory. You may already know Matthew Weiner’s name from the addictive Mad Men series. Set in Manhattan – inevitably another lure for me – Weiner’s debut is about the wealthy Breakstone family whose sweet-natured, beautiful daughter Heather takes a wrong turn as a teenager. ‘An extraordinary first novel of incredible pull and menace. Heather, The Totality demonstrates perfectly [Weiner’s] forensic eye for the human qualities that hold modern society together, and pull it apart’ say the publishers. I’m hoping for some smart, stylish writing.
Set in 1950, Eliza Robertson’s debut, Demi-Gods, is also about a girl who finds herself led astray.
Jussi Valtonen won his country’s Finlandia Prize with They Know Not What They Do, bought by one in two Finns, apparently. Hard to imagine those kind of sales figures for a novel here in the UK. It’s about a celebrated neuroscientist living with his family in the States whose lab is targeted by animal rights activists. Shortly after the attack he’s called by the wife he abandoned in Finland over twenty years ago together with their young son who may now be after revenge. ‘As Joe struggles to protect his new family from the increasing threat of violence – and to save his eldest daughter from the clutches of an unscrupulous tech company – he is forced to reconsider his priorities and take drastic action to save those he loves’ say the publishers which doesn’t entirely sound my cup of tea but how can one in two Finns be wrong? And it’s published by Oneworld whose sharp editorial eye I trust.
There was a time when my heart would have sunk when I discovered that a new title from a favourite novelist was a collection of short stories but I’m a reformed character. The subjects of the stories in William Boyd’s The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth range from an art dealer who tries to give up his philandering habits to a couple who tell the story of their relationship backwards while the eponymous Bethany’s tale is about a year of tentative self-discovery, apparently. I won’t say my heart sang as loudly as it would at the announcement of a new Boyd novel, but I am looking forward to reading this collection.
That’s it for November’s new books. A click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis, should you be interested. Shortish paperback post to follow soon…
I’ve pre-ordered the Weiner! Can’t resist.
I think I have one coming my way. Mad Men has set the bar pretty high…
So many excellent picks! I will read the Flanagan (I loved Gould’s and Narrow Road but did ‘read’ Narrow Road as an audio, narrated by Flanagan himself which I think added to the experience).
I have an ARC of Demi-Gods – the cover sucked me in so I hope it’s not gratuitous in any way.
Tempted by Heather as well…. (lucky Christmas is coming!).
Yes, that’s a bit of a worry for Demi-Gods. Hope you review it!
I loved Gould’s, too, although I seem to remember some pretty harrowing bits. I’m sure that’s true of Narrow Road, too. I suspect I’ll be reading this new one.
I have Restless by Boyd as a recent addition to my shelves. Hopefully I would read that one soon. Any reason why you didn’t want to read The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Flanagan? I have read the book and enjoyed it. So I would nudge you to pick it up.
I enjoyed Restless very much, one of my favourite Boyds.
I’m afraid I think it was cowardice, Resh. I expected it to be even more harrowing than Gould’s Book of Fish but perhaps I should get myself over that.
The Weiner wouldn’t necessarily appeal that much, but I’m fascinated to see what he writes. Can it possibly be as good as Mad Men?
That’s the (probably far too high) hope!
Always a good selection, though it’s the Smith that appeals to me the most. I think we’ll all need that touch of merriness to get us through the dark days ahead.
Don’t we just, both in terms of weather and politics!
I have read the Flanagan and will be reviewing it for CFL. Let’s just say it is VERY different from his previous novels!
Interesting! Different in a good way? The premise reminds me a little of a film I watched a few years ago, also based on a true story, whose title I’ve forgotten but I can’t find any reference to that in the publicity for Flanagan’s book.
They Know Not What They Do intrigues me because of its Finnish-ness and I might give the Flanagan a try too.
Thanks for the heads up!
You’re very welcome, Stephanie. I might have been persuaded to give the Flanagan a go after a couple of comments on here.