The bookshelf: New books to read this week

Niamh O'Donoghue, 18 Aug


No Small Thing by Orlaine McDonald
Orlaine McDonald presents her first novel, a crackling fire of a story
following three generations of a Black family in working-class London.
Livia has been wilfully running away from her life for years, until
daughter Mickey and granddaughter Summer arrive on her doorstep with
emotional baggage in tow. Over the course of a year spent begrudgingly
cohabiting, the trauma, guilt and abandonment that haunts their pasts
threatens to destroy their futures too. Opening with a suicide observed
by the women’s neighbour who watches the three spark against each other
for one tumultuous year, No Small Thing is a poetic, emotional and
gripping insight into race, parenthood and class in modern Britain.
Compelling and unforgettable, this is a marvellous debut.
9/10
(Review by Holly Cowell)

The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre
The Cracked Mirror brings together two unlikely detectives, Penny Coyne
– who’s in Miss Marple’s ilk, and Johnny Hawke, a hard-bitten maverick
LA cop in the style of a Michael Connelly protagonist. Two different
strands are woven together following two deaths, with the pair arriving
at a wedding of a wealthy family whose business chicanery rivals
Succession, where a mysterious locked-room death occurs. Action-packed,
the plot makes you wonder what the inside of Brookmyre’s head is like –
as where it ends up isn’t what you expect from the start. There’s
classic plotting alongside bigger questions about artificial
intelligence, intellectual property, dementia, sibling rivalry and the
privilege of wealth. It’s an interesting mix of classic crime and
something a little more cutting edge, while being readable.
8/10
(Review by Bridie Pritchard)

Gold Rush by Olivia Petter
Gold Rush offers a timely exploration of the darker side of celebrity
culture in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Narrated by a Rose, a young
woman working in PR, it unveils the competitive and often unglamorous
reality of showbusiness, highlighting how icons can exploit their
power. The story resonates with its unflinching portrayal of abuse and
the struggle for accountability. Rose’s struggle to speak out resonates
with the guilt and blame that many women feel in these situations. This
compelling read sheds light on the pervasive issues of power imbalance
and the courage required to challenge the status quo, urging the reader
to confront uncomfortable truths about exploitation and the price of
fame.
8/10
(Review by Jacqueline Ling)

Non-fiction
Our Country in Crisis by Kwajo Tweneboa
A sad and poignant reminder of how far the housing quality in the UK
has fallen, this book should be a must-read for anyone who has an
interest in UK housing and the solutions to its problems. Writer and
campaigner, Kwajo Tweneboa, does a great job of bringing to bear his
experience and knowledge of the problems faced in and by the UK housing
sector, simplifying it all in a series of story-like chapters across
different areas. It is rare that someone who has lived experience
writes it down, and it is even rarer that it is in such a crucial area
as this. A really important and compelling read.
9/10
(Review by Frances Taylor-Cook)

Children’s book of the week
Billie’s Buzz by Alison Brown
Billie is a confident bee who wants to show off her skills in a talent
show – but she needs to be a pet in order to participate. She befriends
a boy who agrees to enter her into the competition, on the condition
that she hides her true identity. As the story unfolds, we get to find
out more about the importance of bees and how they are vital for all
sorts of plant growth. There are also lovely messages in it around how
important it is to be yourself too. So will Billie get the win she so
desperately desires? Can a little bee really beat a whole host of pets
on an agility course?
9/10
(Review by Lauren Westmoreland)