“Sing, I” by Ethel Rohan, available from Triquarterly Books at £23.95, is a gripping narrative set amidst the scenic backdrop of California’s Half Moon Bay. The tale kicks off with a peculiar incident involving a man in a giraffe mask executing an armed robbery in a small shop. Ester Prynne, our unwavering heroine and namesake of “The Scarlet Letter”, comes out unscathed, while her colleague Crystal is promptly dispatched to the hospital. Despite the thief remaining at large, the thriller expectedly devolves into a quiet domestic drama. Ester, rather than seeking reprisal, must tackle her own complex emotions, including past sorrows, marital disillusionments, her father’s mental decline, and her dread of getting older. The story, “Sing, I”, satisfyingly portrays the suffocating dreariness of maturity, while hinting at a glimmer of optimism through societal unity, sexual diversity, and the potential for change. – RUBY EASTWOOD
Noémi Kiss-Déaki, in her inaugural publication, “Mary and the Rabbit Dream” (offered by Galley Beggar Press at £10.99), creatively retells the remarkable historical tale of a young illiterate woman hailing from the market town of Godalming in Surrey, who once deceived many, even medical professionals, by claiming that she had the ability to deliver rabbits. Whilst this isn’t the first time the medical scam has been fictionalised, Kiss-Déaki’s novel sings in her deft handling of the subject matter, her narrative swiftly swinging from hilarity to agony. The reader is left questioning the true antagonist in Mary’s life, as the author explores how desperation can birth deception and the loss of bodily autonomy. – MANON GILBART
Also in new publication news, Maurice Casey explores radical politics and queer love against the daunting backdrop of Stalinism in “Hotel Lux”. A review of the book “A Life Among the Dead” offers insights and compassionate reflections on death rituals. “Feeding the Monster” by Anna Bogutskaya offers a renewed vision of horror as an ‘art form that encourages understanding’. Lastly, another worth mentioning is Ethel Rohan’s work that encapsulates the limiting monotony of being a grown-up yet hints at hope.
“The Medieval Scriptorium: Creating Manuscripts in the Dark Ages” is a captivating book by Sara J Charles, published by Reaktion Books for £16.99. It beams light upon the odd and intriguing process of manuscript creation in medieval times, where material involved ranged from shiny gold polished with an animal’s tooth to stinking ingredients for illuminating texts, and even blood, urine, and earwax. Admirably, Charles elicits a sense of awe at the intense labour and precision involved in making what is now often attributed solely to secluded monks. However, the book also portrays that the truth about early literature’s creation is more complex, involving more visceral and political aspects.
In another compelling read, “Feeding the Machine” by James Muldoon, Mark Graham, and Callum Cant available at Canongate for £20, they explore the underbelly of the artificial intelligence industry. This industry, valued at a staggering $200 billion in 2023, is propelled by vast volumes of text data gathered painstakingly by low-wage workers for the most affluent firms. The number of workers associated with this sector worldwide remains undisclosed. The authors use this unnerving book to unfold bleak narratives about AI’s growth which is set to reach $2 trillion by the year 2030. At the same time, they propose ways to ameliorate working conditions by spotlighting the workers and their roles.
Claire Lombardo, in her book “Same As It Ever Was,” priced at £20 and published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, delivers yet another enthralling narrative.
In the novel, Same As It Ever Was, Lombardo once again demonstrates her deep knowledge of human nature. This sweeping story navigates the complex world of motherhood and family dynamics, often stretching the bonds to the limit before reeling them back in. Julia, the main character, juggles multiple roles – a mother, a wife, and a daughter, while dealing with deep-seated loneliness that influences her ambiguous and unstable approach to love. With a profound understanding of human relationships, Lombardo delves into the ordinary life of family love, highlighting the extraordinary aspects of these ties, which can usually only be appreciated in retrospect. Although the book, with almost 500 pages, may seem a demanding read, it’s undoubtedly worth it as the final hundred pages deliver a highly emotional impact, akin to David Nicholl’s iconic One Day.
Meanwhile, in Irvine Welsh’s book, Resolution, ex-police officer Ray Lennox is in search of a new beginning, leaving behind Edinburgh and his battle with addiction. In Brighton, he lands a new job and starts a relationship with a younger woman who is eager for sexual exploration. His life takes a new turn when he encounters Matthew Cardingworth, a property magnate with a familiar aura. Linking the man to the vanishing of foster boys, Lennox spirals back into his old nightmares. Welsh incrementally builds up the harsh realism he is renowned for, compelling the reader to uncover the truth Lennox is frantically searching for. Despite its initial gradual pacing, Resolution provides a gripping narrative, offering its lead character a chance at absolution and concluding Welsh’s highly acclaimed Crime series with a powerful finale.