Fiction
Run And Hide
Pankaj Mishra
Hutchinson Heinemann, £16.99 (ebook £9.99).
Pankaj Mishra's first novel in 20 years is an unusual read, as it uses first person direct address, with the "you" suggesting the narrator Arun is speaking to a close acquaintance. This can prove disconcerting, but overall doesn't detract from a well-written and engaging tale. It follows Arun and his friends from their time at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology in the Eighties, to their involvement in the emergence of modern India - with some becoming embroiled in financial and sexual scandals. Arun is a wholly believable character and the description of his impoverished childhood in a small railway town is evocative and poetic, skilfully conjuring a sense of place - among the most effective writing in Run And Hide. Covering caste, religion, politics and the impact of technology amid the globalisation of India, this sweeping novel is, at its heart, about family ties and relationships.
8/10
(Review by Laura Paterson)
Again, Rachel
Marian Keyes
Michael Joseph, £20 (ebook £10.99)
The sequel to fan favourite Rachel's Holiday (1998) has felt like a long time coming - and it doesn't disappoint. In Again, Rachel, the lovable protagonist is her same funny, slightly neurotic self, who, 20 years on from her stint in rehab, has a new boyfriend Quin and a counselling job at the Cloisters. Readers will love meeting (and rooting for) a whole new set of addicts, and trying to figure out what exactly happened in her marriage to Luke. Keyes' wonderful ability to deal with messy relationship issues, grief and imperfect, but ultimately good, people uncovering painful truths, somehow sits perfectly alongside her comedic touch and warmness towards her characters - and that's what's so special about her writing. There was always a danger the sequel wouldn't live up to the hype, and although it takes a while to draw you in, this is Keyes at her best. It's honest and vulnerable but, just like Rachel's Holiday, treats the issue of addiction in a compassionate way that skilfully forces readers to take stock of their own judgements and biases.
8/10
(Review by Lauren Taylor)
The Swimmers
Julie Otsuka
Fig Tree, £12.99 (ebook £7.99)
Julie Otsuka's third novel begins with the strict order and hierarchy of a swimming pool, where the regulars have their obsessive routines and swift judgments of those who do not respect them. But when a crack appears underwater, that world is thrown into chaos. But Otsuka swiftly switches focus - the real crack is the dementia that has set in for one swimmer, Alice. When she loses her pool, the dementia takes over, as Alice's long-estranged daughter - a Japanese-American novelist whose resemblance to the author is obvious - takes over the job of chronicling her mother's decline, and the care system managing it. The novel is written in an incantatory style - there are times where it spins so fast, gaps are left. The spinning rhythms are both addictive but, at times, a stylistic straightjacket.
6/10
(Review by Ian Parker)
Non-fiction
Outside, The Sky Is Blue
Christina Patterson
Tinder Press, £16.99 (ebook £7.99)
As a writer by trade, there was no doubt Christina Patterson was going to pen a beautiful book. And she has - but what it's lacking is a bit of light and shade. As Patterson cleans through her recently dead brother's belongings, she reflects on her life - growing up with a schizophrenic sister, finding God, and struggling with serious ill health while building a career in the arts. The Patterson family is plagued with bad luck - mental illness, cancer, and all manners of unexpected plights. It makes for quite depressing reading, and feels like one blow after another as the family battles on - ultimately leaving Patterson alone. While she is a talented writer, as a reader, it feels like you've been invited into a too personal world of family struggles.
6/10
(Review by Prudence Wade)
Children's book of the week
Like A Charm
Elle McNicoll
Knights Of, £6.99
Elle McNicoll takes us on a journey through the magical underworld of Edinburgh in Like A Charm. Ramya Knox is our brilliant, beret-wearing hero with bravery as big as Loch Ness - and she also happens to have dyspraxia (McNicoll is a big advocate for better representation of neurodiversity, and continues to do just that in her novels). There are gripping twists and turns as Ramya tries to navigate a muddling menagerie of magical creatures and people with powers, in order to follow through on her grandfather's final wish. A story that delves into diversity and promotes perseverance, there are great messages for kids weaved into every chapter. Beautifully written and hard to put down, it may be better suited to teenagers or stronger readers, as there are quite a few unfamiliar words, and it can be tricky for a child to follow in places. But it makes for a fabulous feelgood read, which any family members will cherish enjoying together - and feel positively unstoppable by the end.
9/10
(Review by Claire Spreadbury)
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here