It’s the start of yet another year, and as bookworms patiently wait for those new releases, Pearl Mathias & Pranika Sharma bring you a list to ensure that you complete your reading goals for the year
Every bibliophile’s best moments consist of opening a new book and being enchanted by the smell as it wafts across the room, before indulging in its fulfilling pages. A book gives us a comfort like nothing else can. We can easily lose ourselves among the pages and in the story, as it unfolds the life of a stranger and as we familiarise ourselves with them and their surroundings. So, here’s a list of new releases that you simply must read, even if it’s just a few odd pages, as the new year unfolds.
ROMANCE
An American Marriage
by Tayari Jones
Unexpected circumstances rip newlywed couple Roy, a young executive, and Celestial, an artist on the brink of an exciting career, apart as they start to settle into their routine lives. Roy is sentenced to twelve years in prison for a crime he hasn’t committed. But, when the twelve-year sentence is reduced to five years, Roy returns home to find that Celestial has sought comfort in Andre, her childhood best friend and the best man at their wedding. Explore the heartfelt tale of three young people as they flit through life controlled by its forces.
Neon in Daylight: A Novel
by Hermione Hoby
Roam the streets of New York City with a young British native, Kate, as she encounters two strangers who transform her stay. As her future hangs in the balance, she become infatuated with the two strangers, Bill, an embittered writer, and his daughter, a high school graduate who is a regular visitor at the café where she works. Neon in Daylight sets itself apart from regular clichéd romances as it explores themes of desire, solitude and the thin line that separates life and art through its charismatic characters.
SHORT STORIES
The Largesse of the Sea Maiden
by Denis Johnson
A collection of stories brought to you from the beyond, Denis Johnson’s The Largesse of the Sea Maiden is fervently awaited by many. Written shortly before Johnson’s death, the collection showcases his brilliance as he explores the extraordinary ways in which the mysteries of the universe assert themselves and as he inspects the ghosts of the past. Written in luminous prose, the collection highlights the struggles of middle-aged life and marks the individuality of a writer whose work will be remembered in the days to come.
The First Last Unicorn and Other Beginnings
by Peter S. Beagle
Embark upon an adventure with Peter S. Beagle’s novella, which follows the last unicorn in search of her lost brethren as she partners up with a pair of ambivalent demons. This collection of short stories will take you into the writer’s head, which is full of curiosity and imagination. Coming from the heart and soul of a much beloved fantasy king, the novella includes chapters from A Fine and Private Place and the unpublished novel Mirror Kingdoms, as well as instances from Beagle’s childhood and teenage years.
THRILLER
Grist Mill Road: A Novel
by Christopher J. Yates
Christopher J. Yeats paints a picture of a lone hamlet located beyond the suburbs of New York in the year 1982 in his new novel. Associated with mental puzzles, this thriller will take you through the life of three friends as they are bound by a mysterious crime and find themselves, 26 years later, faced with devastating results in the midst of New York City. Yeats is known for his masterful characters, and the novel is sure to keep you biting your nails as your turn the last page.
The Black Painting: A Novel
by Neil Olson
A painting, the self-portrait of Goya, that is rumoured to cause madness or death upon viewing, disappears from the possession of a renowned family. Protagonist Teresa, one of four cousins, finds her grandfather dead, his horrified gaze at the spot where the painting once hung. Follow Teresa as she uncovers the mystery of her grandfather’s death and family secrets. Filled with captivating family drama, secrets, suspense, mystery and horror, The Black Painting is brewed to perfection and consists of all the elements that make a good thriller.
RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
The Wisdom Journal: The Companion to The Wisdom of Sundays
by Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey has been keeping journals since she was 15-years-old. She has long considered the act of writing down her most personal experiences and giving thanks at the end of the day to be a form of therapy. The Wisdom Journal features an exclusive introduction by Winfrey and includes hand-picked quotations from world renowned thought-leaders who have enlightened her over the years. “The most valuable gift you can give yourself is the time to nurture the unique spirit that is you,” she writes.
I’ve Been Thinking . . .: Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life
by Maria Shriver
In this powerful book, Maria Shriver shares inspiring quotes, prayers and reflections designed to get readers thinking, feeling and laughing, and to help them on their journey to what she calls The Open Field, a place of acceptance, purpose and passion — a place of joy. Whether you feel like you’ve got it all together or like it’s all falling apart, this is an ideal read for anyone at any point in their life. We’re sure you’ll turn to it time and again.
POETRY
Sea Of Strangers
by Lang Leav
Her writing has always managed to stir up something in our souls, whether we’re in a place of loss, love, hope or sadness. And, with Sea of Strangers, Lang Leav sets sail on a grand new adventure. This original collection of poetry and prose invites you to go beyond love and loss to explore themes of self discovery and empowerment as you navigate your way around the human heart. If you enjoyed flipping through Love & Misadventure, Lullabies, and The Universe of Us, you must pick this one up.
Take Me With You
by Andrea Gibson
In this small carry-along book, Andrea Gibson explores themes of love, gender, politics, sexuality, family and forgiveness with stunning imagery and a fierce willingness to delve into the exploration of what it means to heal and to be different in this strange age. Illustrated throughout with evocative line drawings by Sarah J. Coleman, this read will soon become a companion for those who could use its wisdom.
BUSINESS & CAREER
The Motivation Myth:
How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win
by Jeff Haden
Penned by Inc.com’s most popular columnist, The Motivation Myth is a highly practical guide to finding and maintaining the motivation to achieve great things. Haden meets us at our level — at the beginning of any big goal we have for our lives, a little anxious and unsure about our way forward, a little burned by self-help books and strategies that have failed us in the past — and offers practical advice that anyone can use to stop stalling and start working on those dreams.
The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups
by Daniel Coyle
The New York Times bestselling author of The Talent Code, Daniel Coyle goes inside some of the world’s most successful organisations — including the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six, IDEO and the San Antonio Spurs — and reveals what makes them tick. Coyle unearths helpful stories of failure that illustrate what not to do, troubleshoots common pitfalls and shares advice about reforming a toxic culture. The book offers a roadmap for creating an environment where innovation flourishes, problems are solved and expectations are exceeded.
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
Thrawn
by Timothy Zahn
A book that Star Wars fans have been waiting for, Thrawn chronicles the origins of one of the most captivating characters in the Star Wars universe. Through the first two books of the trilogy, Heir to the Empire and Dark Force Rising, Thrawn’s origins and the story of his rise in the Imperial ranks have remained mysterious. The wait is almost over, as the book traces the story of the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare and what propelled him into the highest realms of power and infamy.
Beneath the Sugar Sky
by Seanan McGuire
The third book in McGuire’s Wayward Children series, Beneath the Sugar Sky takes us back to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. The book traces the story of Rini, on a quest to save the world, who lands in this home, only to find that her mother, Sumi, died years before she was even conceived! Rini must find a way to restore her mother or she will have more than a world to save: she will never have been born! And, in a world without magic, she doesn’t have long before Reality notices her existence and washes her away.