Contemporary - Page 1

A very special Book People Debut Fiction Choice from Karen Thompson Walker, The Age of Miracles describes a world where the 24-hour day has grown longer. First it was just minutes, then it was hours and soon day had become night and night had become day. This strange event was known only as The Slowing and the book looks at the effect it had on the world through the eyes of 11-year-old Julia, who lives in suburban California with her family. How would the phenomenon change the lives of the birds in the sky, the whales in the sea and the astronauts in space? And especially how would it change the life of Julia, a girl grappling with emotional changes of her own? The enormity of Earth's rotation slowing is beyond comprehension but, as some assert, day-to-day life must go on. Julia witnesses the impact of this phenomenon on the world, the community, her family and on herself as she comes of age during this unexplained event. A book that will appeal to fans of dystopian fiction, coming of age novels and well-drawn characters, this is a story to make you think.

From Adele Parks, the bestselling author of Playing Away and The Other Woman's Shoes, comes another powerful and emotional novel in Whatever It Takes. Eloise Hamilton is a proud Londoner, so it is a momentous occasion when she reluctantly agrees to uproot and relocate to Dartmouth, leaving behind her perfect world so her husband can finally live in his. But life is never straightforward and Eloise finds herself holding everything together. As her world implodes with the strain of being responsible for all that is around her, she ponders the poignant question: what if love's not enough? A fascinating read for anyone with an interest in romantic fiction.

Written by Barbara Kingsolver, the Orange Prize-winning author of The Lacuna and million-selling The Poisonwood Bible, Flight Behaviour is a novel about catastrophe and denial. On the Appalachian Mountains above her home, a young mother discovers a beautiful and terrible marvel of nature. As the world around her is suddenly transformed by a seeming miracle, can the old certainties that people have lived by for centuries remain unchallenged? The book delves into topical issues including poverty, class and climate change as it answers this question. This brilliant hardback is a suspenseful and extraordinary tale that is epic in scope, rich in content and Kingsolver's most accessible novel so far. Essential reading for any fan of contemporary fiction.

Jonathan Coe delivers something quite different. His is a unique voice that is deeply intelligent as well as funny, quirky and brilliantly observed. The Rotters' Club skilfully captures the 1970s with its strikes, terrorist attacks and growing racial tension. The Dwarves of Death is a clever and funny novel that manages to marry murder with music, while The Accidental Woman is the sensationally good tale of a woman unable to find any purpose or direction in her life. Coe discusses serious issues with a supreme satirical wit.

Two powerful books that earned international acclaim and bestseller status, Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven are included in this Mitch Albom Collection, which acts as a perfect introduction for those who are new to this thoughtful and poignant author. Filled with philosophical insight and fascinating reflections on life, Albom’s writing is the stuff of fiction but leaves you willing his every word to be true. Written with great feeling, these are thought-provoking and inspirational reads.

Mari Strachan's unforgettable debut novel The Earth Hums in B Flat was one of the most acclaimed and successful debuts of its time. The story of Gwenni Morgan, an inquisitive young girl fascinated by the world, it was a touching story about growing up. It is available here with her new novel Dead Man's Embers, another memorable and very special book, this time a touching read that combines family strength with wartime drama.