Aria Aber’s Good Girl is set in Berlin where nineteen-year-old aspiring artist Nila, the daughter of Afghan refugees, is spending a year partying trying to escape her childhood in the city’s rundown social housing, telling those who ask that she’s Greek. Her encounter with an ageing American writer opens up a different world but ‘as she finds herself drawn further into his orbit and ugly, barely submerged tensions begin to roil and claw beneath the city’s cosmopolitan veneer, everything she hopes for, hates, and believes about herself will be challenged’ according to the blurb. I’m beginning to feel the Berlin setting is a tad overdone but Nila’s background suggests this one may be a bit different.
I read Emma Jane Unsworth’s Adults six years ago and loved it so I’m hoping for more acerbic entertainment with Slags. Sarah’s still a party girl at forty-one although the shine’s beginning to wear off. She and her sister decide to celebrate Juliette’s birthday with a campervan trip across Scotland. In between visits to whiskey distilleries, the sisters plan some hear-to-hearts, hoping to put some childhood demons to rest. Very keen to read this one which, from Kate’s review, sounds darker that Adults.
It’s some time since I read anything by Caryl Phillips and I’ve a feeling I didn’t take to his writing style very well but the 
First published in 1966, Juan Marsé’s Last Evenings with Teresa is set in 1950s Barcelona where the titular, rebellious daughter of wealthy parents meets Manolo, not averse to stealing motorcycles to make ends meet, and embarks on an affair with him. ‘Juan Marsé’s masterpiece is an unforgettable portrait of post-war Barcelona – a modern classic on the power of desire and love, ambition and hope against all odds’ according to the somewhat sketchy blurb. The period and location is the lure with this one.
That’s it for January. 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. New fiction is here and here.
A very happy Christmas to those who celebrate, and a restful one to those who’ve worked hard in the run up to it. I’ll be back next week with one more look over my shoulder at 2025.
Discover more from A Life in Books
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I read the Caryl Phillips when it first came out, and it’s stayed with me as a fine portrait of displacement alongside belonging. I’ve recently finished Nesting too. Another well-drawn story. Perspectives bemused me somewhat – hanging on to all those characters and political machinations, but it is nevertheless an entertaining read. If the Marsé is set in Barcelona, that’s a must-read for me I guess: and I wouldn’t refuse the chance to read the other two either.
It’s that displacement/belonging theme that attracts me to the Phillips. I thought you might plump for the Marse.
Another Man in the Street fell a bit flat for me because I expected Victor to be more central to the book. Instead there’s quite a focus on other characters. The timeline moves about a bit as well although each period is well evoked.
That’s a shame. It’s his writing style that makes me wary although I’m attracted enough by the themes to read it anyway.
Quite an exciting list for January, with many temptations! I read Perspectives earlier this year (love novels about art/artists). It’s clever and convoluted, like the art of the period it portrays; not a quick read for me but quite enjoyable and, in spots, very funny in a very, very dry way. Like you, Phillips isn’t quite my thing, but Another Man looks interesting & I might get to it. Slags is definitely on my list, as is Good Girl & Last Evenings! Nothing like starting a new year by loading up on the TBR!
Absolutely! And we can all hope for book gift cards to help finance it. Perspectives will certainly be in my pile.
Thanks for the link 🙂
I enjoyed Nesting but really loved Slags. I think Unsworth gets the balance between humour and tragedy right. This one will be in my favourites for the year.
I enjoyed Nesting although I wasn’t entirely convinced by it, especially not by the character’s extraordinary good luck towards the end of it. I like ‘found family’s and a happy ending as much as the next person but it helps if it’s realistic.
As for the theme, I much preferred The Names.
That’s a shame. The Names is also on my list, due out in paperback in March, I think. I like its premise.
Your welcome, Kate. I’m surprised Slags passed me by when it was first published.
Slags is tempting, I’ve enjoyed EJU previously. Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas Susan!
And to you, Madame Bibi!
A lot of interesting books here. I have heard of the first four. I haven’t read the Irish book Nesting. It’s a difficult topic. She recently won the An Post Irish Book Award for it. Happy Christmas Susan.
And to you, Lucy. The An Post is an interesting award, responsible for expanding my tbr considerably!
Ooh, I like the sound of Perspectives! I’ll keep an eye open for that one! Merry Christmas!
I have high hopes for that one. And to you!
Ooh Perspectives sounds intriguing.
It does, doesn’t it. I’m not an historical fiction fan but will be making an exception for this one.