What We're Reading – December 2019

Text Me When You Get Home: the Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship by Kayleen SchaeferIt’s a non-fiction book about the change in perspective around female friendship over the last few years, featuring interviews with a huge range of people including Judy Blume. The book looks at the radical potential of female friendships, how women support one another in a way that runs counter to the often one-dimensional representations of these friendships in the media. The bit I’ve found most interesting so far is an examination of how the idea that ‘girls are mean’ became mainstream. Many of Schaefer’s interviewees point out that if you tell a group repeatedly that they are a certain way, it becomes self-fulfilling, whether it has any basis in fact originally or not.It’s a very interesting book which sparks lots of thoughts and further discussions.Harriet Williams, Literatutre Programme ManagerThe Stubborn Archivist by Yara Rodriques FowlerThis month I’ve been reading The Stubborn Archivist, by Yara Rodrigues Fowler which was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writers Award. It’s a really sophisticated debut novel set in London and Brazil, exploring the intricacies of the relationship between the narrator who is a ‘third-culture’ half British half Brazilian young woman, her family, and their histories. The author plays with form in such a way that connects fragments of memories together or makes them jar against each other revealing trauma that lives across the... Continue reading at 'British Council global'

[ British Council global | 2019-12-17 09:49:28 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "What We're Reading – December 2019"


W&N bags debut novel from comedian Isy Suttie

Weidenfeld & Nicolson is publishing the debut novel of comedian, actress and writer Isy Suttie, Jane is Trying, in July. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-27 11:15:14 UTC ]
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Ione Gamble signs with Dialogue Books

Dialogue Books is publishing Poor Little Sick Girls, Ione Gamble's debut non-fiction book about "what it's like to be at the centre of a feminist movement that has no real place for you". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-27 11:02:13 UTC ]
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Lauren Oyler’s ‘Fake Accounts’ Captures the Relentlessness of Online Life

Oyler’s debut novel is about a smart, irascible narrator who is steeped in the concerns and tone of social media. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-01-26 21:16:27 UTC ]
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Girl A: Abigail Dean on her shocking debut novel that's taking the book world by storm

Has this Google lawyer written the book of the year? The part-time author talks about the inspiration for her thriller about siblings who flee abusive parents and their ‘house of horror’Abigail Dean was about to turn 30 when she suddenly realised that her job as a lawyer was using up all the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-25 06:00:07 UTC ]
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‘The Divines’: Featured Fiction from Ellie Eaton

An excerpt from a debut novel Booklist calls "sharp and haunting." The post ‘The Divines’: Featured Fiction from Ellie Eaton appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2021-01-19 17:00:59 UTC ]
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Let Us Be Negative Role Models for Each Other

For me, reading Torrey Peters’ debut novel Detransition, Baby is akin to listening to your favorite hometown band headlining their first stadium concert. You end up marveling over how experiences you thought you knew well are rendered in utterly unexpected ways, and realize how patterns from... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2021-01-15 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Watch the first trailer for the adaptation of Nico Walker’s Cherry.

Less than a month on from the movie poster controversy (Cherrk!) that rocked the internet to its very core, the first trailer for Cherry—the Tom Holland-starring film adaptation of Nico Walker’s 2018 semi-autobiographical debut novel about an Iraq War veteran turned drug addict turned bank... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-14 19:34:29 UTC ]
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Fourth Estate picks up Goddard's 'exquisite' Hourglass

Fourth Estate has picked up Hourglass, the “exquisite” debut novel from Keiran Goddard. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-13 22:27:32 UTC ]
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Holliday Grainger to narrate Girl A audio

Holliday Grainger has been confirmed as the narrator of Girl A (HarperCollins), the hotly tipped debut novel by Abigail Dean. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-13 06:22:44 UTC ]
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Duchess of York's debut novel scooped by Mills & Boon

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, has penned her debut novel, a fictional account of her great-great aunt's life, to be published by Mills & Boon. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-12 22:12:59 UTC ]
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A Black Salesman Tries to Bring Down Corporate Racism from the Inside

It’s no secret that the tech world has a troubling track record with diversity in the workplace, especially with the dearth of Black and Latinx employees in key roles. Author Mateo Askaripour confronts the lack of diversity within the workplace with satire in his debut novel Black Buck. Some... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2021-01-07 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Titan swoops for Deadpool co-creator Nicieza's debut

Titan Books has swooped for Suburban Dicks, the "knock-out" debut novel by Deadpool co-creator Fabian Nicieza. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-06 00:00:41 UTC ]
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Review: A striking debut novel imagines two enslaved men in love

"The Prophets," by Robert Jones Jr., depicts an intense bond between Isaiah and Samuel on a plantation in unbearable and untenable circumstances. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-12-29 15:00:38 UTC ]
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Richard Osman becomes first debut author to land Christmas No 1

The Thursday Murder Club sees off titles by Barack Obama and David Walliams in chaotic week for Britain’s book tradeRichard Osman’s cosy mystery about a group of elderly sleuths, The Thursday Murder Club, has become the first debut novel ever to become the Christmas No 1, selling a remarkable... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-12-22 15:00:18 UTC ]
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Penned in the Margins bags Acts of Resistance

Independent publisher Penned in the Margins has acquired an "inspirational" creative non-fiction book by writer and arts professional Amber Massie-Blomfield. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-21 22:14:34 UTC ]
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Puffin scoops ''magical' Stachera debut

Puffin has scooped The Ice Whisperers, a "haunting and magical" debut novel from Helenka Stachera, in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-17 14:35:34 UTC ]
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Cape wins Crooks' 'phenomenal' debut novel in 10-way auction

Jonathan Cape has won a 10-publisher auction for Fire Rush, the “phenomenal” debut novel by Jacqueline Crooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-09 10:11:08 UTC ]
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What We're Reading December 2020

Take a look at previous What We’re Reading blogs for more reading inspiration.Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris HaughtonAll Chris Haughton’s delightful picture books for young children open with a quotation, which the story then evinces. His latest, surprisingly, quotes Anaïs Nin: ‘Life shrinks... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2020-12-08 12:08:02 UTC ]
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Brit Bennett is one of EW’s Entertainers of the Year.

What do Brit Bennett, Megan Thee Stallion, and Sascha Baron Cohen all have in common? They’ve all joined The Weeknd in being named Entertainment Weekly’s 2020 Entertainers of the Year. Though I’ve loved Bennett since her 2017 debut novel The Mothers, this well-deserved recognition comes on the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-12-03 16:03:02 UTC ]
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Boys Will Be Boys, Girls Have to Cover Up

In Fariha Róisín’s debut novel Like a Bird, protagonist Taylia Chatterjee lives a privileged life on Manhattan’s Upper West Side with her sister Alyssa. Alyssa often receives preferential treatment from their liberal, overbearing parents—a white Jewish mom, a Hindu Bengali dad. Taylia is... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2020-12-01 12:00:00 UTC ]
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