Just enough new novels in December to fill a post, two of them in translation beginning with Annette Hess’ The German House, set against a backdrop of the 1963 Frankfurt war crimes trials. The war’s a dim memory for 24-year-old Eva, keen to start her new life with her wealthy fiancé. When an American investigator offers her a job as a translator, she finds herself questioning both her family’s role in the horrors of the past and her own future. Hess’ novel is one of three published to launch, HarperVia, a new literature in translation imprint from HarperCollins. Always happy to see more of that and if It Would Be Night in Caracas is anything to go by it’s a list to keep an eye on. That’s a stylish jacket, too.
Anne Catherine Bomann’s Agatha was a bestseller in Germany, apparently, but was originally published in Denmark. A 71-year-old psychiatrist with no family or friends is eagerly awaiting retirement when a young German woman walks into his clinic and demands an appointment. He finds her fascinating, beginning a joint course of therapy with her which forces him to confront his fear of intimacy according to the blurb which sounds very promising to me.
Angela Meyer’s Joan Smokes is a mere 76 pages, apparently, more a short story than a novella although it won this year’s Mslexia Novella Award. Set in the ‘60s, it’s about a woman who arrives in Las Vegas determined to reinvent herself. Calling herself Joan, she gets to work on her appearance – choosing red lipstick and dying her hair – but turning her back on her past may not be so easy. ‘This city of flashing neon, casinos and shows is full of distractions. Finding a job will be quick and easy. Things to do. New people to meet. A clean sheet. She’s certainly not thinking about Jack, or … No. Not any more. Her new life starts right here, right now’ says the blurb. I rather like the sound of this one.
I’m finishing the last new title post for 2019 with Etaf Rum’s A Woman is No Man. Eighteen years 
after her mother left Palestine, betrothed within a week, Deva finds herself facing a string of suitors in Brooklyn, arranged by her formidable grandmother whose care she has been in since her parents were killed in a car crash. Shocking truths are revealed, apparently, forcing Deva to question everything she thought she knew about her family. ‘Three generations of Palestinian-American women living in Brooklyn are torn between individual desire and the strict mores of Arab culture in this heart-wrenching story of love, intrigue and courage’ say the publishers. The New York Times described it as ‘a love letter to storytelling’.
As ever, a click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis should you want to know more. Paperbacks soon…
These all sound very tempting. I thought December might be quiet!
Wait ’till you see January…
Ooh, exciting!
Argh! Having just come off the back of a weekend that was devastating/wonderful for the TBR stack, now you’re tempting me with more! But yes to The German House (because Germany) and to Agatha (because therapy).
Ha! Two buttons pressed there! Glad to hear the weekend provided so many goodies to look forward to.
I love the sound of The German House. Argh books arrived today, and I mustn’t buy more.
There’s always Christmas… I’m hoping this one will be as good as It Would Be Night in Caracas.
I like the sound of The German House, too – and the translation imprint from HC. Definitely something for me to investigate further. Thanks!
It seems to be getting off to a very fine start, Jacqui. It Would Be Night in Caracas was worthy of an indie such as Maclehose Press or And Other Stories.
It’s nice of the publishing industry to slow down every once in a while – give us a breather. 🙂
Joan Smokes sounds good to me, but I have a feeling it’ll be hard to find right now.
A chance for us all to catch our breath before it starts all over again. I like the sound of Joan, too.
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