5 new books to read this week

Mat Osman, brother of The Thursday Murder Club author Richard, writes his first work of fiction…

Fiction

1. The Ghost Theatre by Mat Osman is published in hardback by Bloomsbury, priced £16.99 (ebook £11.89). Available May 11

Hauntingly beautiful, Mat Osman’s The Ghost Theatre is a unique blend of history and fantasy, set against the backdrop of Elizabethan London. The story follows Shay, a messenger-girl and hawk trainer who sees the future in the patterns of birds, and Nonesuch, the dark star of the city’s child theatre scene. Drawn together by their shared love of art, they create The Ghost Theatre, an underground troupe that performs fantastical plays in the city’s hidden corners. As their performances incite rebellion among the city’s outcasts, the pair’s relationship sparks and burns against a backdrop of the plague and London in flames. Osman’s evocative prose brings Elizabethan London to life with vivid detail, seamlessly merging fact and fiction with fantastical brushstrokes, creating a world that is both familiar and completely new. Thrilling and thought-provoking, Osman’s unique creation will leave readers pondering its mysteries long after the final page.
9/10
(Review by Scarlett Sangster)

2. The Story Of The Forest by Linda Grant is published in hardback by Virago, priced £18.99 (ebook £11.49). Available May 11

With her books previously shortlisted for both the Booker and Women’s Prizes, Linda Grant is most comfortable writing period novels – and The Story Of The Forest, set in 1913, is no different. The story begins in Latvia with Mina’s revelatory walk in the forest to collect mushrooms, and follows her escape from an overbearing father – with the help of her older brother – to the city of Liverpool, in a bid to reach New York, but then on to London. The novel has a lightness of touch, and the tale is told with humour and sensitivity. Mina is central to the family saga, and Grant’s own Eastern European roots in a culture with few written records and a strong tradition of storytelling, informs the narrative.
9/10
(Review by Sue Barraclough)

3. August Blue by Deborah Levy is published in hardback by Hamish Hamilton, priced £18.99 (ebook £9.99). Available now

Elsa M. Anderson, a famous pianist who walked out of a concert in Vienna, witnesses a mysterious woman buying mechanical horses in a flea market. From this moment, Deborah Levy takes us on a journey of discovery and introspection, as Elsa attempts to discover the truth behind her identity. Set against a post-pandemic backdrop, where the world is struggling to emerge from years of suppression and control, Elsa is forced to brutally prise open the shell of her restricted and disciplined upbringing in order to set herself free. Through the fractured mirror of Elsa’s sense of self, she chases the woman through cities across the world, as she struggles to understand herself as an artist and a person. Levy’s lyrical, pitch-perfect prose, where every word is weighted with significance, is an exploration of our reasons for living, the forces that drive us and the inner music that controls the rhythms of our dance through life and love.
8/10
(Review by Hannah Colby)

Non-fiction

4. I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was by Ruby Wax is published in hardback by Penguin Life, priced £18.99 (ebook £9.99). Available May 11

There is no one as witty, inspiring and frank as Ruby Wax when it comes to mental health – this novel provides a brutally honest and thoughtful insight into Wax’s journey, including conversations with therapists and the highs and lows of fame. Despite being written by someone in the spotlight, the book is surprisingly relatable to anyone who has had mental health difficulties. Wax combines anecdotes about her time in a mental institution with her incredible celebrity adventures without it feeling disjointed. It feels as though Wax is now ready to start a new, more mindful chapter of her life, and the sense of closure in this novel is cathartic, encouraging readers to do the same. An open account of the benefits of therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy, can only benefit readers and is a firm reminder that everyone can struggle mentally, and you are not alone.
10/10
(Review by Molly Powell)

Children’s book of the week

5. Amy Gets Eaten by Adam Kay, illustrated by Henry Paker, is published in paperback by Puffin, priced £7.99 (ebook £5.99). Available now

This book will have you chuckling throughout – and amidst the laughter, it’s still very much an educational read. It gives a very entertaining and amusing view of the journey of a piece of sweetcorn – called Amy – through a young boy called Noah’s digestion system. Amy is a very happy piece of sweetcorn who helps the other pieces of food throughout their journey, encouraging them to make the most of the adventure. She then takes her own advice. The illustrations are very colourful and keep you focused. Even though the subject might not be one you would normally feel comfortable discussing, this book does help bring the brighter side to the topic. It’s a delightful book.
9/10
(Review by Joanne Brennan)

BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 6

HARDBACK (FICTION)
1. Happy Place by Emily Henry
2. On His Majesty’s Secret Service by Charlie Higson
3. The Hike by Lucy Clarke
4. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
5. Death Of A Bookseller by Alice Slater
6. August Blue by Deborah Levy
7. The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
8. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
9. The Maiden by Kate Foster
10. Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
(Compiled by Waterstones)

HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)
1. The Future Of Geography by Tim Marshall
2. Johnson At 10 by Anthony Seldon & Raymond Newell
3. Bored Of Lunch by Nathan Anthony
4. Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken
5. How Westminster Works… And Why It Doesn’t by Ian Dunt
6. Surviving To Drive by Guenther Steiner
7. The God Desire by David Baddiel
8. How To Read A Tree by Tristan Gooley
9. The Earth Transformed by Professor Peter Frankopan
10. Killing Thatcher by Rory Carroll
(Compiled by Waterstones)

AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)
1. Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken
2. The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
3. The Guilty Couple by C.L. Taylor
4. Atomic Habits by James Clear
5. Spare by The Duke of Sussex
6. Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspe
7. Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
8. SAS: Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre
9. The Lion: Son Of The Forest by Mike Brooks
10. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
(Compiled by Audible)