SHOPPING
THIS SUMMER’S TOP TEN READS
Whether you’re curling up on a couch with your Kindle or heading to the beach with a book, our pick of the hottest reads around will transport you from the daily grind to faraway lands weaving the narrative threads of characters including a dim-witted journalist and a jaded geisha. Dhs45
The Art Of Fielding
FICTION State Of Wonder
Ann Patchett When doctor turned researcher Marina Singh, who lives in barren Minnesota, is tasked with the job of bringing home the body of her lost colleague from the depths of the Amazon her life comes is filled with into rich colour. Joining a group of scientists studying fertility of one of the local tribes (whose women can give birth into their 70s), Marina learns about herself, the remote location and what really happened to her friend in the jungle. Dhs45
The Chaperone
Laura Moriarty With Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming interpretation of The Great Gatsby already getting film fans and fashion lovers hot under their beaded collars, it seems the roaring 1920s are having something of a moment. Moriarty’s novel The Chaperone, set in 1922, follows Cora Carlisle as she leaves her unhappy marriage for a new life in New York, where she is put in charge of 15-year-old Louise Brooks, a young woman with a striking hairstyle who will go on to become a legend. Full of glamour, bright lights and speakeasies, the book takes you on the women’s journies to their respective destinies. Dhs95 60 WHAT’S ON JULY 2012
Gold
Chris Cleave A strategically timed book to tie-in with the summer’s Olympic fever, Gold introduces the reader to Zoe and Kate, two cyclists going for gold at the 2004 games. Starkly different, Zoe is ruthless and happily single while kinder Kate marries fellow cyclist Jack and they have a daughter, who becomes seriously ill. Flitting between the protagonists meeting and the events leading up to the main event, the book is a look at family strife, ambition and what it takes to win.
Afterwards
Rosamund Lupton It’s sports day on a sunny afternoon in England when tragedy strikes. As the school goes up in flames a community is thrown into a sinister whodunnit, with everyone a suspect while two people lie in hospital, one of whom is determined to solve the crime despite being in a coma. Blending a ghost story and a thriller, this is a class page-turner. Dhs45
Glass Geishas
Susanna Quinn As informative as it is entertaining, Glass Geishas takes a look at the seedy world of hostesses in Tokyo. Featuring gangsters, cash and illicit activities, author Quinn drew on her own experiences in the city,
Chad Harbach Already being heralded as a modern classic, The Art Of Fielding is set on an American college campus and centres on Henry, a young, gifted shortstop. There is heavy use of baseball references but delve beneath and you’ll find a novel that studies the human condition as Henry struggles with a lull in his performance. Full of symbolism and literary references, this is a book for thinking sports fans wanting more than on-field action. Dhs50
Bring Me The Head Of Ryan Giggs
Rodge Glass A dark but amusing look at the life of Mikey Wilson, the fictional friend of Ryan Giggs and fellow Manchester United trainee whose life has not panned out quite as sweetly as the football megastar’s. Is he bitter? You bet. Depressed and utterly deluded about his level of fame, Wilson is out for revenge. Dhs52
NON-FICTION How To Eat Out: Lessons Learnt From A Life Spent Mostly In Restaurant
Giles Coren Famed restaurant critic Giles Coren tells his life story through a compendium of his finest writing, interspersed with cheeky ‘how-to’ paragraphs on offering wine and tipping. Bitingly witty, Coren
serves up his opinion one every possible cuisine plus some choice opinions of his family and various ex-girlfriends. Prepare to chuckle and feel very hungry indeed. Dhs48
Imagine: How Creativity Works
Jonah Lehrer Don’t expect a guide to being creative here (although you will pick up some tips from history and get some inside info from Bob Dylan’s muse), instead this book sets out to explain how science is linked to our imagination. It’s a heavy topic, but an easy read that will leave you full of facts and inspiration. Dhs48
I, Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan
Alan Partridge While not strictly speaking nonfiction, this parody of a celeb biography explores the life of Alan Partridge, written 100 per cent in character with incredible accuracy. A must for fans of the comedic legend, you’ll be treated to hilarious anecdotes, insights into his supporting cast and a laugh out loud tales on every page. Dhs45 All books available for Kindle download from amazon.com, and from Book World by Kinokuniya, The Dubai Mall, Dubai. Tel: (04) 44340111. kinokuniya.com