Bit of a mixed bag of book recs this week! I’ve been waiting with baited breath for The Night Manager — which you know, in Australia means it’s going to be next year at the rate the channels here work — so I was pleased to find a book by one of the leads! There’s a modern version of one of my favourite Shakespeare’s comedies and what looks to be an interesting take on how society views beauty. It’s funny, so I’m hopeful! There’s a scifi novel being released later this year that’s asking what’s real and what’s not and a story about a prisoner given a deal to leave prison early, but of course, there’s a price.
The Vinegar Girl: Is a retelling of The Taming of the Shrew! Kate’s father asks her for an impossible favour… and proceeds to win her over with what the blurb calls a ludicrous campaign! It sounds brilliant!
The Unfortunate Importance of Beauty: Barb and Lily are friends: one is gorgeous and one is not, and both fear their looks will hold them back from finding love. Throw in a murder and you have an interesting mix of commentary and whodunnit. I’m still digesting this blurb, but I can’t deny part of me desperately wants to see how this all comes together.
Dark Matter: Jason wakes up in a world that isn’t his own. But what is real? The world he remembers or the one he’s just woken up in? I love books with questions like this!
The Second Life of Nick Mason: Despite the title, Nick’s life isn’t as positive as it sounds. His early release from prison comes with a price he has to pay to a criminal mastermind who is spending his life in prison. What it comes down to is: Nick will receive a call and he has to do whatever the caller says. Whatever he does, it sets a cop on his trail and gets his family involved and it’s messy — messy enough to make good reading!
The Gun Seller: Hugh Laurie wrote a book! And a comedy to boot, though that probably shouldn’t be as surprising as I sound. It’s a spoof of the spy genre, and basically features a nice guy assassin who warns his victim about the contract on his life and promptly finds out being a nice guy causes him a whole lot of trouble. I swear, I was laughing just reading the blurb!
What do you think of these recs? Does any strike your fancy?
I feel like Shakespeare re-tellings are a bit hit or miss, but I’ll definitely look for your review of The Night Manager, Verushka 🙂
I hope you’re having a great week!
Thanks Lexxie! And you too — I’ve only just managed to sit down and answer everything.
Yes, The Gun Seller is really good! I don’t know when I found out Laurie wrote a book but I read it years ago. I need to own a copy; mine was from the library.
YAY it’s good! I’m soooo excited for it !!