This second batch of August’s new fiction begins and ends with slight disappointments from two of my favourite authors. Heart, Be at Peace returns to the 
setting of Donal Ryan’s A Spinning Heart as the town struggles with the fallout from Augie Penrose’s lucrative drug business. Bobby becomes determined to do something about this menace, far from the only one concerned at the damage being done. Ryan unfolds his story through a large cast of interrelated narrators, many familiar to readers of his debut, with Bobby as the moral compass of the novel. The writing is characteristically striking and the plotting meticulous but so many narrative voices left me constantly on the lookout for connections, not as immersed as I would have liked to be. It’s a virtuoso novel, for sure, but I preferred the more straightforward approach of The Queen of Dirt Island. Review to follow…
Lavie Tidhar’s Six Lives sounds like it has a complicated structure, too, spanning six timelines as well as the titular lives, from 1855 when guano merchant Edward Feebes travels to South America to investigate accounting irregularities in the family firm to 2012 when heiress, Isabelle Feebes tries to divest herself of her inglorious heritage, taking in a Titanic passenger, a KGB agent and an actress along the way. It sounds extraordinarily ambitious and could well be an unwieldy mess but definitely worth investigating.
Sam Mills’ The Watermark could also be brilliant or backfire horribly. Trapped in reclusive, once renowned author Augustus Fate’s work-in-progress, Jaime and Rachel are desperately trying to escape. To do so they move from Victorian Oxford to utopian Manchester landing themselves in a Russian winter before wandering into a dystopian near future, reassessing their relationship along the way. ‘The Watermark is a heart-stopping exploration of the narratives we cling to in the course of a life, and the tendency of the world to unravel them. Kaleidoscopic and wildly imaginative, it asks: how can we truly be ourselves, when Fate is pulling the strings?’ says the blurb ringing loud Jasper Fforde bells although no mention of humour. I’m sure I’ll be reading this at some stage.
Much more straightforward, Benjamin Myers’ Rare Singles sees an American singer in his seventies in dire financial straits 
invited to headline a Northern Soul weekender. Over the next three days, Bucky finds himself bemused by Yorkshire, desperate to ease his excruciating hip pain and saved by three capable women who offer the prospect of a very different future. There’s a good deal of quiet humour to enjoy but as Bucky roams the corridors of the Majestic, suffering from jetlag and cold turkey, he revisits memories he’d rather avoid unfolding a life marked by tragedy and hardship. I wasn’t at all sure what to expect when I started it, so different from The Offing, but I grew to love this feelgood novel lightly woven through with a state-of-the-nation theme. The blurb compares it to Jonathan Coe and David Nicholls, both of which seemed appropriate to me. Review shortly…
Danzy Senna’s Colored Television (I so want to add a ‘u’ to that) follows a writer struggling to finish her second novel, and her artist husband who’ve landed a housesitting gig in the hills above Los Angeles. When her plans founder Jane turns to screenwriting, managing to get a meeting with an up-and-coming producer keen to work with a ‘real writer’ but things go terribly wrong. ‘Funny, piercing, and page turning, Colored Television is Senna’s most on-the-pulse, ambitious, and rewarding novel yet’ according to the blurb. Quite like the sound of that.
I still haven’t got around to Clare Chambers’ Simple Pleasures, despite it being much loved by many people whose opinions I trust, but that hasn’t stopped me casting my eye at Shy Creatures, set in 1964 in Croydon where Helen is an art therapist at a psychiatric hospital. When a mute thirty-seven-year-old man is discovered living in a derelict house with his ageing aunt, shut up there for decades, Helen becomes determined to discover his story. ‘Shy Creatures is a life-affirming novel about all the different ways we can be confined, how ordinary lives are built of delicate layers of experience, the joy of freedom and the transformative power of kindness’ says the blurb promisingly.
Death at the Sign of the Rook is the latest episode of Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie series which sees Jackson investigating the theft of a painting with a distinctly cloudy provenance, caught up in a country house murder mystery weekend in the middle of a blizzard and teaming up again with Reggie, his reluctant chief inspector ally. Atkinson seems to have had a lot of fun writing this one. There’s lots of farcical humour to enjoy, and the plot plays out nicely with nods to Agatha Christie but although I enjoyed it, I found it less satisfying than previous Brodie novels; I can’t quite put my finger on why. Review to follow…
That’s it for August’s new fiction. As ever, a click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis should you want to know more, and if you’d like to catch up with part one it’s here. Paperbacks soon…
Oh dear, two of my favourite authors (Ryan and Atkinson) proving a bit disappointing – what a shame! I’ll look forward to your reviews. Rare Singles sounds really tempting.
I did, of course, have sky high hopes for both. I wasn’t a fan of The Spinning Heart which I think you were so I don’t think you’ll share my disappointment. Rare Singles was a treat!
That’s disappointing, your view of the latest Ryan. Ditto Atkinson. I’m glad Myers has stood up to your inspection though. And I’d give your other choices the benefit of my appraisal too!
I had very high expectations of both, has to be said. If you were a fan of The Spinning Heart (I wasn’t) I don’t think you’ll share my disappointment. Hope something hits me spot for you.
I’m sure something will. Only one way to find out …
I’ve already got a NetGalley proof of the Tidhar (I’ve never read him but have heard great things from the sff community about his earlier work), and am definitely also interested in the Myers, Senna, and Chambers. The Mills could be brilliant—she’s the co-founder of small indie press Dodo Ink, and I like the idea of lovers moving through literal narratives: Calvino-esque as well as Ffordeian!
I’ll be interested to see what you think of the Tidhar. Fingers crossed for the Mills – that’s quite a combination!
Six Lives does sound intriguing! I disliked Small Pleasures so I won’t be reading more by Chambers. Atkinson has never worked for me apart from Behind the Scenes at the Museum.
I’m an ardent Atkinson fan so expectations were high. Jackson didn’t quite seem on form for me this time around. I’m not at all sure I’ll get around to the Chambers.
I enjoyed Lavie Tidhar’s Adama & I have Six Lives waiting on my NetGalley shelf. Ditto Heart, Be At Peace because I did like The Spinning Heart. I adored Small Pleasures so I’ve pre-ordered Shy Creatures (rare for me).
In that case, I think you’ll enjoy the Ryan, Cathy. Looking forward to seeing what you think of Six Lives and Small Pleasures.
That’s disappointing to hear about D Ryan. On my radar to pick up. I did really enjoy Small Pleasures so must go explore…
I’m pretty sure I’m going to be in a minority (possibily of one!) on this one, Mairéad. If you’re a fan of The Spinning Heart, I’m sure you’ll love it.
Thankfully (!) I can do without any of these (the damage was done in Part 1).
Phew!
The Watermark sounds absolutely bonkers – which could be a good thing!
Sometimes bonkers is good, isn’t it. Fingers crossed!
Love the sound of the Myers, and Chambers given the Croydon connection. (When I was in the Brownies in the 1960s, we used to go and sing carols at the local psychiatric hospital in Coulsdon, just outside Croydon – it’s now luxury apartments!)
Highly recommend the Myers, and the Chambers sounds a must-read for you!
Colored Television does sound interesting
I think so!
Just starting the new Donal Ryan now!
Looking forward to seeing what you think of it!
I’ll probably still give the latest Kate Atkinson and Donal Ryan a go as I’m a big fan of their previous novels. Will definitely read Benjamin Myers as I love his writing. I’ve read Small Pleasures after it being recommended. I’d been put off by the cover and blurb thinking it might be ‘chick lit’ and not to my taste. But it’s well written and I enjoyed it. Worth a try, I’d say.
I’d hate to put anyone off either the Ryan or the Atkinson. Despite mild disappointment for me, they’re still streets ahead of many writers. Thanks for the Small Pleasures encouragement – I know what you mean about those covers.
I have Rare Singles to read, my first book by this author, and am very much looking forward to it. I enjoyed Senna’s debut but not her last one so not sure I’ll be grabbing that one!
Was that From Caucasia with Love? I remember enjoying that. Hope you like the Myers as much as I did.
What an interesting grouping. I’m curious about Benjamin Myers, although I’ve become a bit despairing of novels that are meant to have a state of the nation thread. (I’ve sort of given up on Coe.) I’d like to see someone go bigger on the rage because it would be justified. I’ve read so many Kate Atkinsons that I think I’ll give this one a miss. Lovely job reviewing and thank you, as ever!
Always a pleasure, Jennifer. Myers handles that message with a light hand but I do know what you mean about Coe. His Brexit novel was creaky although Bournville was excellent, complete with a very angry, very personal afterword.
I enjoyed Bournville, admiring more than loving it. I have a copy of Myers’s The Gallows Pole and will get to it.
People surely get so tired of being angry, and I’ll suppose if I want more rage I ought to write it myself!
I’ve not read The Gallows Pole but loved The Offing.
I’ve been angry for the past fourteen years and am relieved not to be for a while, at least not about my own country. It’s exhausting!
Despite my ongoing irritation with Small Pleasures (the ending!!) I will undoubtedly be reading her next one as I loved her work way back in the 1990s. Can’t wait to read your review on the Sam Mills (and won’t touch it until I hear what you think), and surprised by the description of the Benjamin Myers. I read The Offing and liked it without loving it. This does sound quite different as The Offing was not at all David Nicholls. Mr Litlove read the last Jackson Brodie and wasn’t a fan. His comment was that it was fun but the story never really came together. I still have lots of the earlier Brodie novels to read, so I must catch up at some point! Do love your looks ahead although they are murder on my TBR. :-))
Delighted to hear that, Victoria! Rare Singles is so different from The Offing you wouldn’t think they were both by the same author but I gather from Myers fans that’s what he does. Perhaps I’m Brodied-out although I’d still be more than happy to watch Jason Isaacs in an adaptation of this one.
Too bad about the Donal Ryan book. I too liked the Queen of Dirt Island. I might have to try the Danzy Senna novel … hope it’s a fun one.
I think the Ryan is a matter of personal taste. I’ve no doubt others will love it.
Oh, just in this VERY moment, I would love to reread Jackson Brodie or to read this new one (but I understand you didn’t love it). Sometimes ONE book in a list just seems to perfectly scratch a reading itch that you hadn’t realised you had that needs scratching.
I’m very fond of Jackson. The BBC has adapted several from the series casting Jason Isaacs in the role for which he’s perfect. Well worth watching if you have access.