New Book Releases, Reviews and Offers

First off – Happy New Year, everyone!

I thought I’d kick off 2012 with the semi-obligatory look back over the previous twelve months, giving a quick rundown of the ten bestselling titles of the year.

1. One Day by David Nicholls – A unique novel which follows the tangled lives of two characters by revisiting them each year on the same day throughout their lives. Razor-sharp dialogue and subtle characterisations make On Day a remarkable read which manages to be at once hilarious and touching.

2. Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals – Britain’s favourite chef Jamie Oliver serves up a string of simple recipes which provide wholesome, delicious meals without requiring the cook to spend hours slaving away in the kitchen.

3. A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French – Best known for her TV double act with Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French has is one of the UK’s most successful comediennes, and her first novel sparkles with her characteristic wit and keen sense of the absurd.

4. Room by Emma Donaghue – This at times harrowing yet always absorbing tale tells the story of five year old Jack and his mother, who live in a single locked room to which they don’t have the key. Powerfully evocative, this book tells a bittersweet story of love in the face of adversity.

5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett – Kathryn Stockett’s novel paints a challenging picture of racial inequality in 60’s America, where domestic servitude is divided along racial lines, and cruelty and injustice are encountered daily.

6. The Guinness Book of World Records 2012 – This perennial Christmas stocking filler continues to prove popular with readers of all ages, documenting the extremes of human experience and endurance.

7. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson – Recently adapted into a Hollywood movie starring Daniel Craig, Larsson’s uncompromising thriller continues to win new fans as it reaches the wider audience it deserves.

8. The Confession by John Grisham – The master of the legal thriller is on top form again with this tale of an innocent man desperate to prove his innocence before he is put to death for a crime he didn’t commit.

9. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson – Part two of the Millenium Trilogy sees Lisbeth Salander again tackling the sordid underbelly of society with her characteristic resolve and determination.

10. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson – Larsson completes his hat trick with all three of his novels hitting the top ten list for 2011.

It’s good to see fiction dominating the top ten – particularly by non-established writers, with only John Grisham being a veteran of the bestseller lists. The Millenium Trilogy continues to go from strength to strength, and deservedly so, as it’s an inventive and original series that expertly guides the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions thanks to Larsson’s masterful storytelling skills.

Here’s hoping that 2012 brings another bumper crop of great books for us to enjoy this year!

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