BOOKMARK February 2020 Book recommendations
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February Titles
All books are available from Waterstones in Perth and Adventure Into Books in Blairgowrie.
The Other Bennett Sister by Janice Hadlow
(Henry HoltMantle, 2020)
For all lovers of Pride and Prejudice, Janice Hadlow brings the middle sister, Mary to the fore. With all eyes and expectations on her two older sisters, and the scandal surrounding her younger one, what does Mary expect from life – and how does her family treat her? Janice Hadlow treats her readers to a welcome return to world of the Bennets and all their ups and downs.
Dark Town by Thomas Mullen
(Atria, 2016)
This is quite simply one of the best novels I’ve read in recent years. Set in Alabama in the 50s, this is the story of the city’s first black policemen and is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of that time. Mullen shows an extraordinary ability to give his readers a gripping story-line and unforgettable characters who avoid stereotypes. His sequel Lightning Men proved to be just as good, and there’s a third novel in this series due this year.
Motherwell: A Girlhood by Deborah Orr
(Orian, 2020)
This memoir from late and much-loved journalist has garnered so much acclaim over the past few months since its publication. She writes movingly about her relationship with her mother and her need to leave Motherwell to go to London. This will not disappoint.
The Zoo of the New by Edited by Nick Laird and Don Patterson
(Blackwelloxford, 2018)
Two of the best contemporary poets have compiled an outstanding anthology of poems, listed in alphabetical order by title. Its eclectic range covers the world of poetry, with the one proviso that all living poets had to be over 60. You’ll reconnect with the famous (Sappho, Burns, Browning, Plath) and meet the new, including poets in translation such as Nobel Laureate Zymborska. A leading critic said this collection ‘captures poetry’s visceral thrill’ – a must for all poetry lovers.