Back from lovely Edinburgh (more of which later in the week) with the first of a healthy two-part preview, kicking off with a novel eagerly anticipated by many, I’m sure. Amor Towles’ The Lincoln Highway sees Emmett about to take his little brother off in search of a spanking new future when two pals turn up having run away from the Kansas youth facility Emmett has just left himself. ‘Each young man sees this journey as his chance to pursue his dreams, settle scores and find riches. And a simple journey quickly becomes a dazzling odyssey filled with obstacles, villains and ruses fit only for heroes to overcome’ say the publishers. I loved Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow not so much. Having already read this one, I’d say it’s the best of the three and that jacket is brilliant.
I’m sure lots of readers remember Graeme Macrae Burnet’s His Bloody Project, shortlisted for the Booker when it was still the Man Booker in 2016. Not one I read but I like the look of Case Study, set in ’60s London where a young woman, convinced that Collins Braithwaite, a charismatic psychotherapist, has driven her sister to suicide, devises a dangerous scheme posing as a client, and recording her experiences in notebooks. ‘Burnet presents these notebooks interspersed with his own biographical research into Collins Braithwaite. The result is a dazzling – and often wickedly humorous – meditation on the nature of sanity, identity and truth itself, by one of the most inventive novelists writing today’ say the publishers which sounds fascinating.
I was one of those children who loved Alan Warner’s The Owl Service and enjoyed his adult novel, Strandloper, many years ago. Not an easy novel but a rewarding one. His new book, Treacle Walker, is about a friendship between a comic-loving young boy with a lazy eye and the rag and bone 
man who rides his pony and trap into the boy’s life one day. ‘Treacle Walker is a stunning fusion of myth and folklore and an exploration of the fluidity of time, vivid storytelling that brilliantly illuminates an introspective young mind trying to make sense of everything around him’ according to the blurb. I’m hoping for striking imagery and use of language with this one.
Entirely different, Lola Akinmade Akerstrom’s In Every Mirror She’s Black follows three women, all linked to an influential white businessman, all trying to establish themselves in Stockholm. One is a successful American marketing executive trying to fix a PR blunder; the second is a flight attendant whose encounter with the businessman results in a life which is not what she’d hoped and the third is a refugee working as a cleaner in the businessman’s office. ‘Told through the perspectives of each of the three women, In Every Mirror She’s Black is a timely, richly nuanced novel that touches on important social issues of racism, classism, fetishization, and tokenism, and what it means to be a Black woman navigating a white-dominated society’. Very much like the sound of that structure.
I’ve yet to read anything by Claire Keegan but if the likes of Douglas Stuart and Sarah Moss are to be believed, I’ve missed a treat. Small Things Like These is set in Ireland in the mid-80s and follows Bill Furlong as he delivers coal and timber to his customers in the build up to Christmas, haunted by memories of a difficult past. ‘The long-awaited new work from the author of Foster, Small Things Like These is an unforgettable story of hope, quiet heroism and tenderness’ say the publishers which sounds promising to me.
I still remember the explosive opening chapter of Domenico Starnone’s Ties four years after reading it. I’m hoping for more of that kind of writing with Trust which follows Pietro and Teresa’s stormy affair and its aftermath. After yet another row, the couple spends the day sharing secrets too shameful to tell others in an attempt to cement their intimacy. Then Pietro meets Nadia. ‘Trust asks how much we are willing to bend to show the world our best side, knowing full well that when we are at our most vulnerable we are also at our most dangerous’ say the publishers promisingly. Like Ties, Trust is translated by Jhumpa Lahiri.
That’s it for the first batch of October’s new novels. As ever, if you’d like to know more a click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis. Part two soon…
Trust sounds very appealing! I’ve not read Ties either, the opening sounds impressive.
It was! So much anger spitting off the page. Not comfortable to read but such great writing/translation.
I really enjoyed Ties and Trick that came before. Looking forward to reading Trust.
I must get my hands on a copy of Trick.
Your first two are two of my most highly anticipated books for the autumn. Like you I loved Rules of Civility and was somewhat less keen on A Gentleman, so I’m thrilled to hear that you think this one is so good. Graeme Macrae Burnet is right up there among my favourite authors – I’ve loved each of his three books so far and have been waiting for this new one for far too long. It’ll need to be good if it’s to meet my high expectations!
You’re in for a treat with the Towles! I find the premise of the Burnet intriguing
Some interesting books there, I have heard of Amor Towles and Alan Garner but not read any of these authors. Hope you had a lovely break.
Very much enjoyed Edinburgh, thanks. It’s such an interesting city
The publisher kindly sent me a copy of The Lincoln Highway and I’m looking forward to it. Great to hear that you think it’s his best work! I liked A Gentleman in Moscow but wasn’t as rapturous about it as so many have been.
In Every Mirror She’s Black is comparable to The Other Black Girl in tone and themes. It’s a very quick read, if not the most accomplished prose-wise.
I have Small Things Like These from Edelweiss and think I might read it for Novellas in November.
I have the nod to read Small Things Like These on Netgalley and have been dithering about In Every Mirror… Not sure quite what it was about A Gentleman… but I couldn’t get into it unlike The Lincoln Highway which I enjoyed from the start. Hope it hits the spot for you!
The Towles is on my pile to read soon, and I have my name on the list for the Garner – fingers crossed it arrives. These two are my most anticipated of the autumn
Loved the Towles! Do you think you’ll review the Garner?
If I don’t get a copy from the publisher, I’ll be purchasing it anyway. So I’ll probably review it for Shiny.
I’ll look out for that.
Oh dear, turns out I’m still alarmed seeing the White Horse of Uffington on the Garner book even though I thought I’d allayed that by running past him and going to see him twice when I was doing my ultramarathon. Some interesting looking books here, anyway!
Oh no! Not so easy to see these days as it seems to be gradually disappearing or at least that’s how it seems each time I take train to London.
I have the Amor Towles from Netgalley and am looking forward to it as I loved Rules of Attraction. I always end up putting books on my wish list courtesy of your monthly round-up and Trust has just gone on there!
Delighted to hear that, Cathy! I’d be surprised if you didn’t love the Towles.
Great to hear your verdict on the Towles. I loved both of his previous books but have to admit a preference for Moscow! Such an enchanting, beautifully written novel – I found it so immersive. How does the prose style of this new one compare? I’d be interested in your view.
I didn’t get far enough into Moscow to make a fair comparison, Jacqui, but I can say that The Lincoln Highway instantly took off for me. I’ll be interested to see how the two compare for you.
I did enjoy Gentleman of Moscow but haven’t yet read Rules of Engagement so can’t compare – however I am looking forward to the new one.
His Bloody Project was an audacious book, so convincing I wasn’t absolutely sure if it was fiction or a true story. So of course I want to read his new one
I wish I could remember what it was I disliked about Gentleman of Moscow but I abandoned it very early on. I’ve not read His Bloody Project but perhaps I should.
Best of the three! Maybe this will be the one I read…
I am also strongly tempted by Trust. Will wait to hear your verdict on it. 🙂
I finished Trust today which was excellent, so carefully translated by Jhumpa Lahiri. I’m sure you’d enjoy the Towles, too.
I’m intrigued by Mirror, both for the workplace setting and the connections between characters. But they all sound good to me, just for different reading moods.
Yes, I like the sound of that one. Always keen on multiple perspectives.