This month it’s all about the fiction (plus one book about giving up the fiction and getting back to the real you). Get lost in these new books for January 2015:
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
For all of you historical fiction lovers, don’t miss out on Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, a lush, sweeping tale that takes place in France during the Second World War. The Nightingale tells the story of Vianne Mauriac and her daughter as they struggle to survive after the Nazis invade France, and of Vianne’s sister, who joins the resistance movement. It’s a wonderful fictional female take on World War II.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
The Girl on the Train has been hailed as an even better version of Gone Girl by critics, thanks to its spellbinding unreliable narrative, story twist and turns, and a haunting uneasy that grips and intrigues the reader from the start. The book starts with Rachel, who is mourning her former life while becoming obsessed with her ex-husband, his new wife, and their neighbour. But from there, nothing is as it seems in this psychological thriller!
Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman
Rejoice Neil Gaiman fans! The author is back with a collection of magical short stories that span science fiction, supernatural horror and fairy tales, plus a special Doctor Who feature, which was written for the fiftieth anniversary of the British series. Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances will please diehard Gaiman fans and thrill new readers with Gaiman’s iconic blend of spooky, nerdy, and, of course, cool.
Funny Girl by Nick Hornby
Another well-known and loved author has released a book this month, too. Nick Hornby, author of About A Boy, High Fidelity and How to be Good, now bring us Funny Girl, the story of Sophie Straw, a young woman who comes from a working-class background to become a TV star and lives it up in glamorous London during the swinging ’60s. The story is great and Hornby fleshes it out with tonnes of great cultural and historical references from the time period.
Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy by Donald Miller
It sounds like a cheesy self-help book but don’t judge a book by its title! Donald Miller’s Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy is actually a funny, charming, and has a lot of truth in it. Scary Close came about after Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, decided that after a decade of failed relationships he would be himself at all cost in hope of making more meaningful connections with people. Along the way, Miller finds value in a strong family, satisfying work, and freedom from acting to impress people.