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Shuffling of the Shelves: November Part Two

By Anais Aguilera, Emily Mawson, Ava Barnaby and Olivia Paris


Take a look at some of the recent best sellers across charts such as Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmith and social media – including a piece on the winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, Han Kang.


Amazon


As the days darken, thriller is seizing control of the Amazon charts. 


In Too Deep by Lee and Andrew Child – the latest in the Jack Reacher series – has shot straight into second place, proving the brother and co-authors’ popularity in the genre. Once again, trouble claws its way towards ex-military police Major Jack Reacher who wakes up handcuffed to a bed, in the dark. He can remember a car crash, but not how he got here. Though this is the twenty-ninth book in the series, prepare for a self-contained read with racing twists and turns – easily digestible and perfect for quenching the thirst for thrill.


In tenth position is Never Lie by Freida McFadden, who began by self-publishing eleven years ago and is now a top-selling thriller writer following the immense success of The Housemaid. Never Lie's two-week hold on the tenth spot as a backlist title marks the force of McFadden’s popularity. In it, Tricia and Ethan’s search for the perfect home leads them to the isolated manor of missing psychiatrist Dr Adrienne Hale, but a violent blizzard hits and the newlyweds are snowed in. When Tricia discovers tape recordings of Dr Hale's patient interviews, she unravels a string of lies revealing the horrifying truth behind her disappearance.


WHSmith


Stephen Fry’s series of mythological retellings came to a close this past September with Odyssey. Much like the other three books in the series, this is a retelling of Homer’s great work that retains the epic nature of the original, with the addition of Fry’s own unique wit. Classics enthusiasts and newcomers alike will enjoy sinking their teeth into this story of humans, gods and monsters.


Next up on the list is a novella by the number one bestselling author Sophie Kinsella. What Does it Feel Like is a short but powerful story about a woman whose life as a novelist and happy mother is turned upside down after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumour. As she works to reclaim her personal and writing life, she grapples with what really matters and how to live through uncertainty. Inspired by Kinsella’s own experiences, this is her most autobiographical work to date.


Waterstones


Something spectral is emerging in the sci-fi, fantasy and horror corner of Waterstones’ bestseller list this month. 


The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard has been leaping across the chart rooftops since its August publication. Following his debut Library Cat, Howard has amassed a following on TikTok (@HouseDoctorAlex) and so too has his second novel. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh’s macabre history and dramatic architecture, the tale is told from the perspective of an inquisitive feline-spirit, through whose eyes and ears we observe the passing of two centuries. With the ghost cat as our guide, readers sniff out the changing inhabitants of an old tenement, as well as the shifting society around them, in this cosy and insightful read. 


Securing its bestseller badge following the release of its English translation in September is The Empusium by Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk, alluringly subtitled “A Health Resort Horror Story.” Set in 1913, and summoning the spirit of The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann, this novel spies on its young protagonist Mieczysław Wojnicz as he resides at Wilhelm Opitz’s Guesthouse for Gentlemen, where it soon becomes clear the sickly inhabitants are being preyed upon – or at least watched – by an inexplicable presence. Shapes are ever-shifting in this story where, amongst drunken discussions and forest escapades, readers learn that nothing is as it first appears.


Social Media


Despite the fact that it was first published over thirty years ago, The Secret History by Donna Tartt still sits comfortably in today’s bubble of popularity, both in the sales charts and on social media. On BookTok and Bookstagram alike, the dark academia novel has been labelled as a perfect autumn read, being equal parts enchanting and disturbing. Following the lives of a small yet intense friendship group enrolled within an intimate Ancient Greek study group at a rural Vermont college, themes of death, deception and mystery quickly emerge. It’s no surprise that this novel is still celebrated for its striking intellect, complex protagonists and thrilling plot. Without a doubt, this Gothic modern classic makes the perfect autumn winter read. 


Also receiving praise online is Coco Mellors’ second novel Blue Sisters. Appointed by many as one of the best releases of 2024, Blue Sisters is following in the footsteps of Mellors’ hugely popular debut novel Cleopatra and Frankenstein. A touching and honest novel covering topics such as addiction and a complicated family dynamic, the novel profiles three estranged sisters who are brought back together after the loss of their fourth sister. We follow the characters as they navigate not only their grief together, but also the complexities of sisterhood in this emotional and reflective tale brimming with character development.


Noteworthy Author


Han Kang is a South Korean writer who recently won the Nobel Prize in Literature for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” She is the first Korean writer and first female Asian writer to receive the award. Han is known for her deeply moving prose regarding human life, violence and trauma where she uses the human body as a symbol of this. Some of her work includes The Vegetarian, Mongolian Mark and Human Acts, amongst others – all of which have won awards and received global recognition. 

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