Happy’s Best New Books (28th February – 6th March)
Updated weekly by the fine folk at Happy Mag, these are the best new books that this week has to offer from Australia and around the world!
Margaret Atwood – Burning Questions
In a collection of non-fiction that spans 2004-2021, readers are welcomed to view the world through the eyes of Margaret Atwood. Never prescriptive, these essays offer wisdom, but also wonder — not to mention a healthy dose of humour and irreverence. As Atwood grapples with the world-shaping events of this era while also reflecting on her personal history, readers are left with a fresh perspective on the universal questions and challenges that confront us all.
BUY HERE
MARGARET ATWOOD
BURNING QUESTIONS
Edith Wright (illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis) – Charlie’s Swim
Charlie’s Swim is a new First Nations children’s book that commemorates the story of Uncle Charlie D’Antoine’s heroics in a tragic episode of World War II. A Bardi man living in Broome at the time of a Japanese air raid in 1942, his life-saving rescue mission is thrillingly depicted with words from Edith Wright and illustrations by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis. A vital story to share with a young reader in your life.
BUY HERE
EDITH WRIGHT AND CHARMAINE LEDDEN-LEWIS
CHARLIE’S SWIM
Various Authors – My Pen is the Wing of a Bird
In this collaborative anthology that was two years in the making, a bright light is shone on the myriad voices of women in contemporary Afghan literature. Exploring a diversity of themes including family life, tradition and religious observance, sexuality, and more, the stories told here are universal in their scope and a unique platform for a group of women who are rarely heard.
BUY HERE
VARIOUS AUTHORS
MY PEN IS THE WING OF A BIRD
Kári Gíslason – The Sorrow Stone
On one hand, The Sorrow Stone is a rare view of a distant past and a unique exploration of Icelandic culture. On the other, it’s a fresh and pacy thriller that follows the tale of an unforgettable female protagonist. Kári Gíslason’s evocative retelling of this famous saga lives long in the memory and has the ability to transport you to an ancient time and place.
BUY HERE
KÁRI GÍSLASON
THE SORROW STONE
Becky Manawatu – Auē
Delivered in rapid-fire, punchy prose, Auē is the remarkably assured debut of Becky Manawatu. Tracing the story Taukiri, it’s a confronting portrait of his family life — one that has been devastated by gang violence. Brutal in its themes, but permeated by hope, it’s little wonder that it’s already resonated so strongly with critics and fans alike in Manawatu’s native New Zealand.
BUY HERE
BECKY MANAWATU
AUĒ
Mimi Winsberg, M.D. – Speaking in Thumbs
Speaking in Thumbs meets at the quintessentially modern intersection of Big Data and Big Dating. The language of online dating is based in text, which, of course, leaves a lot of room for interpretation… and confusion. If this is the world that you’re attempting to navigate, Speaking in Thumbs is your indispensable guide.
