October Book Reviews

As the autumn evenings draw in the long dark nights, it’s the perfect opportunity to cosy up on the sofa with a great book to read – here are some of this month’s new releases

THE BOOK OF DUST: THE ROSE FIELD

by Phillip Pullman 

Published 30 years after readers were first introduced to Lyra Belacqua in the seminal Northern Lights, The Rose Field is the breathtaking culmination of The Book of Dust trilogy and finds Lyra and Malcolm’s quests converging, as crucial answers to great mysteries are revealed and the power of the Magisterium grows ever stronger. 

In The Rose Field, their quests converge in the most dangerous, breathtaking and world-changing ways. They must take help from spiesand thieves, gryphons and witches, old friends and new, learning all the while; and yet all around them, the world is aflame – made terrifying by fear, power and greed. 

Published October 23rd by Penguin Random House 

ALWAYS REMEMBER: THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX, THE HORSE AND THE STORM

by Charlie Mackesy 

The life-affirming follow up to mega- selling The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, Mackesy’s exquisitely illustrated volume finds our four friends navigating both literal and metaphorical dark clouds.

Far from being a book just for children, this magical tale offers hope for young and old alike during these turbulent times.

Published October 9th by Ebury Publishing 

THE LAND OF SWEET FOREVER

by Harper Lee

From the legendary author of To Kill a Mockingbird comes a remarkable posthumous collection of writing spanning both Harper Lee’s short fiction and non-fiction, which opens a truly fascinating window into the unique mind and talent of one of literature’s greatest enigmas. 

From the Alabama schoolyards of Lee’s youth to the luncheonettes and movie houses of mid-century Manhattan, from Lee’s reflections on the responsible teaching of children to a delightful account of Gregory Peck and the To Kill a Mockingbird film set, The Land of Sweet Forever broadens our understanding of Lee’s extraordinary talent.

Published October 21st by Cornerstone 

WHAT HAVE I DONE? 

by Ben Elton 

Writer and comedian Ben Elton recounts his life and uniquely varied career from his Catford childhood and being the BBC’s youngest ever sitcom writer at 21, right up to the present day, with yet another hit sitcom, Upstart Crow. 

He discusses career, love, a surprise late-life BAFTA, plus offers unique insights into his ground- breaking work, as well as talking honestly about his personal and professional relationships, including inspiring contemporaries and managing foes! 

Published October 9th by Macmillan