A monthly feature where I do a round up of the books I’m most excited to read (or have already read and think you should be excited for). Fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books are all included.
Fiction
- Wakenhyrst (9781788549561) by Michelle Paver
A new thriller from one of the best ghost story writer ever. - Doggerland (9780008313364) by Ben Smith
A debut set in the North Sea on a wind farm on top of the lost European land bridge. - The Confessions of Frannie Langton (9780241349199) by Sara Collins
A Gothic-novel about a double murder and slavery. - The Unnatural Death of a Jacobite (9781912147618) by Douglas Watt
I’ve not read the series yet, but this makes me want to read the other three now. - The Crying Machine (9780008308773) by Greg Chivers
Smugglers, spies, extremists, and A.I., all add up to a book I want to read. - Other Words for Smoke (9781789090086) by Sarah Maria Griffin
I really enjoyed Spare and Found Parts, and a talking cat swung it. - A People’s History of the Vampire Uprising (9781789091885) by Raymond A Villareal
A début containing socio-political satire threaded through a vampire epidemic, sounds really interesting. - Circe (9781408890042) by Madeline Miller
I missed this when it came out in hardback, always lovely to get a second chance - Machines Like Me (9781787331662) by Ian McEwan
Britain lost the Argentine war, Turing develops AI. So want. - All My Colours (9781785658570) by David Quantick
Quirky and darkly comic, does the book that this person remembers actually exist?
Non-Fiction
- Medieval Bodies (9781781256800) by Jack Hartnell
Medieval illustrations and art of the body should be beautiful and striking. - The Honey Bus (9780263936988) by Meredith May
An enticing read about growth, survival and nature. - The Science of Storytelling (9780008276935) by Will Storr
Historical and social look at storytelling and its importance. - The Ecology Book (9780241350386) introduction by Tony Juniper
A colourful DK book exploring 85 key ideas that define ecology. - Sensations: The Story of British Art from Hogarth to Banksy (9781786272973) by Jonathan Jones
A look at the development of a distinctly British style of art, that developed into Realism and Modern Art. - The Lumber Jills: Britain’s Forgotten Army (9780750990905) by Joanna Foat
Strange how the forgotten armies always seem to be women’s part in war efforts. - The 100 Best Children’s Books (9781903385982) edited by Brian Alderson
It’s always fascinating to see these lists and see how you agree (or not) with them. - Extraordinary Insects: Weird. Wonderful. Indispensable. How They Run the World (9780008316358) by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
It couldn’t be more apt, with the extinction of insect life predicted for less than a hundred years from now. - The Gentle Art of Tramping (9781448217243) by Stephen Graham
A dream from a time gone past, or is it? - Outpost (9781786891556) by Dan Richards
Wildness, out of the way, untrammelled. These places hold a fascination for us all. - Abandoned Places (9780008333331) edited by Richard Harper
I have a photogaphic project on abandoned places and always want to see how other people interpret this
Children’s
- Pog (9781911490395) by Padraig Kenny
I loved Tin, and this dark fantasy sounds like a great follow up. - Matisse’s Magical Trail (9780192767264) by Tim Hopgood and illustrated by Sam Broughton
A fun book about an artistic slug. - We Are Blood and Thunder (9781408898055) by Kesia Lupo
Magic is outlawed, a mage is on the run. - Big Cat (9781843654018) by Emma Lazell
Sounds fun and surrealism in illustrated books is always welcomed. - My Little Book of Big Questions (9783791373768) by Britta Teckentrup
A beautifully illustrated philosophical book for children. - Lightning Mary (9781783448296) by Anthea Simmons
A fictional account of Mary Anning, the fossil hunter. - Scar (9781407172866) by Alice Broadway
The finale of the INK trilogy, really want to find out how it all ends. - What a Waste (9780241366912) by Jess French
An ecology primer in an illustrated format, start early. - The Brotherhood of Shades (9781912818037) by Dawn Finch
A post-apocalyptic story of secret societies and the dead rising. - Dear Ally, How Do I Write a Book (9781408354872) by Ally Carter
A great guide on how to write a book aimed at teens