This is one of the many books released on 3rd September that I can recommend.
As a huge fan of Angela Carter’s ‘Nights at the Circus’, I’m always up for a book about the glamour and grit of life in a circus and this one promised much. The story of The Greatest Funambulist Who Ever Lived proved too much of a temptation for me so I had to read this ahead of publication on 3rd September.
The story follows a girl born into a circus family – her father tends the animals while her mother is a star attraction due to her act of swimming with crocodiles. Neglected by her parents, the girl (who is not given a name in the book) is taken under the wing of a flame-haired tightrope walker called Serendipity Wilson; from her, she learns the circus skills that will be central to her future and sets in motion events that will see her seeking a missing child and uncovering truths about her own past.
This book is told mainly by an older narrator who is reflecting on the events of her life while revisiting documents – letters, photos, a book page – that prompt her telling of the story. She is ostensibly telling her story to a journalist (the first chapter is a transcribed conversation) but – as the novel progresses – it becomes a written account interspersed with folk tales from the Isle of Man as told to the narrator by Serendipity Wilson.
There was lots to like in the novel, from the brushes with magic realism (as in the glow of Serendipity’s hair) to the cast of characters who – while not all nice – are certainly distinctive. I particularly liked Big Gen and Cubby, although they were all vivid and interesting, from tragic Marina to larger-than-life Serendipity. I loved the settings – the duality of the circus is especially well evoked, with its grim and earthy seediness set alongside its veneer of glamour. I also really enjoyed the snippets of the folk tales which made engaging diversions from the main narrative. The inclusion of tiny bits of history from the world outside the circus also worked really well – lots of the novel felt quite timeless, but the references to the Berlin Olympic Games and the Holocaust gave the story compelling historical roots.
Personally, I found the beginning of the book a little slow compared to the second half where the story really picked up its purpose and moved on to another interesting location (no spoilers!) However, the opening sections did explain the emotional ties (or lack of) between characters which are important to the rest of the novel.
Overall, I would recommend this as an engaging story with some excellent characterisation and setting choices. It doesn’t quite have the glorious grotesqueness of Angela Carter, but it does have an emotional pull that kept me reading.
I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
If you’d like to buy a copy of this book (and it is a gorgeous hardback!), the link is below. I may earn commission on this at no extra cost to you.
Header photo with thanks to Miikka Luotio for sharing their work on Unsplash.
It’s been another busy month on the blog…soon to be scuppered by my return to work in September.
Once I’m back teaching full time, there’s no way I’ll be reading as much!
Still, for now, let’s look at what I read last month and what I’d like to read in September.
I read 14 books this month and am now on 80/100 on my Goodreads challenge.
AUGUST’S READS
‘The Child Who Never Was’ by Jane Renshaw
This twisty psychological thriller about a missing child and mental health was the focus of my first ever blog tour for Damp Pebbles Tours. You can read my review here.
‘Evil Things’ by Katja Ivar
Gifted to me by Bitter Lemon Press, this is an excellent historical crime novel set in 1950s Finland. The bleak and remote conditions of Lapland make an eerie setting and Inspector Hella Mauzer is one to watch! You can read my review here.
‘The Betrayals’ by Bridget Collins
A fabulous historical novel with a similar feel to Collins’ first novel, ‘The Binding’. Far too intricate to do justice here, I’ll be reviewing this on the blog closer to the publication date in November.
‘Their Silent Graves’ by Carla Kovach
The latest installment of the excellent police procedural series featuring DI Gina Harte. This one is all-out scary as a serial killer starts to bury the inhabitants of Cleevesford alive at Halloween! This is to be published on 17th September so my review will be on the blog then.
‘Longhand’ by Andy Hamilton
This is for a blog tour in early September for Random Things Tours, so watch this space for my review of this funny, poignant, bizarre and truly wonderful novel.
‘People of Abandoned Character’ by Claire Whitfield
This is a brilliant take on the Jack the Ripper story set on the streets of Victorian London. Refreshingly focused on the plight of the women and with a strong heroine, this is one to watch for. Due for publication on October 1st so review will follow closer to that time.
‘The Quickening’ by Rhiannon Ward
A gorgeous, gothic tale of séances and spookiness! The dual narrative flits between 1896 and 1925 with a story about a crumbling family estate and the pregnant female photographer who has been commissioned to work there. You can read my review here.
‘The Watcher’ by Kate Medina
Another blog tour read (for Random Things Tours) so watch this space for my review of this tense and terrifying crime novel!
‘The Great Godden’ by Meg Rosoff
A lovely coming-of-age novel in which the narrator grapples with an obsession with the glorious Kit Godden over a long, hot beach summer.
‘Shakespearean’ by Robert McCrum
One of the many books to be released on 3rd September, this one is a lively and informative jaunt through Shakespeare’s plays and the legacy of the man himself. Packed with historical context and literary criticism, this book also details the way that McCrum turned to Shakespeare in the aftermath of his stroke. Review to follow on the blog this week.
‘State of the Union’ by Nick Hornby
This was (I think) the only Nick Hornby book I haven’t read so thought I had better complete the set! It follows ten conversations between a couple who meet in the pub before their weekly marriage guidance sessions in which they are working through some big issues. As with all Hornby’s writing, it is relateable and witty.
‘A Girl Made of Air’ by Nydia Hetherington
Another one of the huge number of books due for release on 3rd September, this one is about a circus performer on a quest for a missing child in post-war England and America. It is an immersive and engaging read and my review of it will be on the blog next week.
‘Women Don’t Owe You Pretty by Florence Givens
I’m always up for a feminist tome and this one is fabulously illustrated. As someone of the *ahem* slightly older generation of feminists, there wasn’t much new here for me, but this would make excellent reading for all young women.
‘A Chip Shop in Poznan: My Unlikely Year in Poland’by Ben Aitken
Ahead of the publication of Aitken’s new book ‘The Gran Tour’ next week (review to follow), I thought I’d read this one which was given to me as a birthday present. It’s an interesting and engaging insight into Poland and its people as Aitken spent a year in the country.
SEPTEMBER’S TBR PILE
I find it really hard to commit to a selection of books as I’m very much a mood reader. However, these look amazing and I really want to get through them (if my workload permits!)
‘Unto This Last’ by Rebecca Lipkin
This MASSIVE novel about John Ruskin is for a blog tour so I’ll definitely be reading this one soon. It sounds perfect for me – a Victorian setting, Pre-Raphaelite art and the promise of an insight into this intriguing figure from history.
‘The Devil and the Dark Water’ by Stuart Turton
Highly anticipated book from the writer of ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ which I loved! I have a NetGalley copy, but I’ve also pre-ordered the gorgeous hardback with sprayed edges from Forbidden Planet. That’s how confident I am that it’ll be good!
‘And Now for the Good News’ by Ruby Wax
I chose this because we all need good news right now! Although it was written before the pandemic, Wax offers us a cheerful view of the world and the progress humanity has made.
‘Pandora’s Jar’ by Natalie Haynes
Carried over from last month’s TBR but still there! I love a myth retelling so am excited to read this.
‘Maiden Voyages’ by Sian Evans
Thanks to Erwan Hesry for sharing their work on Unsplash.
This looks to be fascinating – an account of a selection of the women travelling by ocean liner during the interwar years. I love history and even more so when it focuses on women’s lives so I am looking forward to reading this.
‘The Sanatorium’ by Sarah Pearse
This one isn’t due out until 2021 but it has rocketed up my TBR pile because it looks brilliant! A thrilling mystery set in a remote hotel (ex-sanatorium) high in the Swiss Alps…what’s not to like?
With thanks to NetGalley, Random Things Tours, Damp Pebbles Tours, Bitter Lemon Press and my friends and family for keeping me in books! As always, opinions are entirely my own.
Header photo with thanks to Nong Vang for sharing their work on Unsplash.
Everyone in the book world knows that 3rd September is going to be absolutely massive for new releases. Over 600 books are published that day and – it is far to say – some great books are going to fall by the wayside because of the overwhelming supply.
I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing a number of these titles and will be featuring them on my blog in the coming few weeks. Now would be a great time to follow me here or on Twitter if you’re interested in any of my top picks:
‘Longhand’ by Andy Hamilton
This hand-written novel by comedian Andy Hamilton is published by the excellent crowdfunded publisher Unbound. It is a funny, quirky and ultimately very moving letter from a man to a woman that he is being forced to leave. I cannot praise this one highly enough and will be joining a blog tour for it through Random Things Through My Letterbox.
‘The Watcher’ by Kate Medina
Another blog tour for Random Things Through My Letterbox – this book is a very tense and graphic police procedural. It is part of a series featuring psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn and DI ‘Marilyn’ Simmons (a man – don’t be confused by the nickname!) However, it can also be read as a stand alone novel and is just great – though terrifying and stomach-churning in places!
‘The Gran Tour’ by Ben Aitken
A warm and surprising book that I just loved – this is about Aitken’s travels on various coach tours with (mainly) the older generation. In the vein of Bill Bryson’s travel writing, this is an affectionate look at the lessons learnt from the various coach trips and the lively fellow travellers. It’s gentle and funny and sweet and highly recommended.
‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman
There has been a lot of hype around Osman’s debut novel, set in a retirement community. It is a clever and funny novel and will easily hit the bestseller lists.
‘A Girl Made of Air’ by Nydia Hetherington
This one is still on my TBR, but it looks to be a gorgeous story of circus life with all the contrasting highs and seediness that entails. It was publicised as being ideal for fans of Angela Carter, so I can’t wait to read this one.
‘Shakespearean: On Life and Language in Times of Disruption’ by Robert McCrum
A personal account of what Shakespeare has meant to this writer and journalist, plus musings on what ‘Shakespearean’ has come to mean as a concept.
All of the above were provided to me either by NetGalley or Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review.
However, I have also spent my own hard-earned pennies pre-ordering the following which I have heard great things about:
‘More than a Woman’ by Caitlin Moran
I would literally read a shopping list written by this woman – she is hilarious while tackling some really big issues for women. I love her and cannot wait to read this.
‘A Tomb with a View’ by Peter Ross
I’ve heard really good things about this book which tells the stories behind graveyards and considers the ways in which we remember the dead. I love history and this promises some really interesting tales from our past.
On Twitter, the lovely @EHawkes13 has a thread of many of 3rd September books – worth keeping an eye on!
Header photo with thanks to Jaredd Craig for sharing their work on Unsplash.
