Six best new books to read this month

From an unnerving story about a boy who reappears 50 years after his drowning to a spirited satire about a group of fortysomething moms (a debut novel by Nick Hornby's sister!), here's the buzz on the latest must-read books.

By Chatelaine

October 5, 2013

Add as preferred on Google(opens in a new tab)

iStockphoto

October book reviews 2013

The Orenda, Joseph Boyden, $32

Bird, a powerful Huron warrior, kidnaps and adopts Snow Falls, a gifted Iroquois girl, who plots to avenge herself and her family against his tribe. But Bird’s act forever binds their lives together — along with that of Christophe, a Jesuit missionary, who has followed his calling to the unforgiving New World wilderness. The three unforgettable characters Joseph Boyden creates reveal what the human spirit is capable of surviving. A truly fascinating look at the peoples of Canada and what makes us unique. — Lora Grady

Available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.

Minister Without Portfolio, Michael Winter, $30

The Hive, Gill Hornby, $29

As many fortysomething moms waiting for their children in the playground can attest, not much changes from girl to grown-up: There are the same social hierarchies, the same jealous insecurities and the same formidable cliques. At the centre of The Hive is blond, beautiful, bossy Bea —the self-important mom who magically gets everyone around her to do her bidding. The narrative begins when Rachel, recently abandoned by her husband, realizes she has also lost her position as Bea’s best friend and suddenly finds herself observing all the action from the fringes of the playground at pickup. Adjusting to her new status (and dropped from planning committees and spa lunches), she soon strengthens her ties to other outcasts— the indomitable Georgie, desperate-to-be-included Heather and sad, sarcastic Jo, each with her own domestic hardships and relationship hurdles chronicled neatly between 8:45 a.m. drop-off and 3:15 p.m. pickup. Can the women withstand Bea’s passive-aggressive attacks on their characters? And what happens when another queen bee threatens the sanctity of the hive? Told with humour and empathy, the debut novel by Gill Hornby (yes, the sister of novelist Nick Hornby) is a spirited social satire that celebrates both the strengths and weaknesses of female friendships. — Sydney Loney

Available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.

The Twins, Saskia Sarginson, $18

Twin sisters Isolte and Viola were inseparable, growing up in a tiny Welsh village with their beloved hippie mother. Life was full of daydreaming and endless exploration —until an innocent mistake with irrevocable consequences sets the sisters on hugely divergent paths. Now they’re in their 20s, and Issy’s method of coping is to work hard and live in the now, while Viola struggles with an eating disorder and tries to survive on childhood memories. Will the two ever be as close as they were as children? — Dominique Lamberton

Available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.

Burial Rites, Hannah Kent, $29

Before an official ordered them to house the murderer Agnes Magnúsdóttir in the days leading up to her execution, the Jónsson family lived quiet lives on their small Icelandic farm. Now they’re a source of gossip and intrigue as Agnes’ deep, dark secrets slowly seep to the surface. An intriguing work of historical fiction, Hannah Kent’s debut novel tells the devastatingly emotional tale of the last prisoner ever put to death in Iceland. — Anna Redman

Available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.

The Returned, Jason Mott, $28

When eight-year-old Jacob arrives on his parents’ doorstep, still a child, more than 50 years after his tragic drowning, the Hargraves must decide if their son’s reappearance — and others like it happening all around the world — is a divine miracle, or an ominous sign of troubling times ahead. Unnerving and insightful, Jason Mott’s debut novel explores the healing powers of love and redefines the intricacies of life and loss. An original and unforgettable read. — Jenna Wallace

Available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.

The very best of Chatelaine straight to your inbox.

Chatelaine

Chatelaine celebrates, inspires, informs and empowers. We know that Canadian women contain multitudes, and we cover all of the issues—big and small—that matter to them, from climate change to caregiving, Canadian fashion and what to cook now.

FILED UNDER: