Four new books to read this week

FICTION

Saltblood by Francesca De Tores, hardback by Bloomsbury Publishing

Born in a damp cottage in the countryside, Mary Read is forced to take the name and place of her brother, Mark, who has died in infancy. Raised as a boy and shaped into a man, Mary is sent to work as a server in an estate house where her secret is kept closely guarded during her subsequent time in the forces. After revealing her identity, Mary shifts between male and female, while also chasing her desire for the sea. She undertakes a pirate’s life in the Bahamas with Anne Bonny – the pair were thought to be the only documented female pirates of the time. The author traces Mary’s life asking questions about self-identity. An intriguing page-turner. 9/10

The Lifeline by Libby Page, hardback by Orion

Libby Page’s new novel sees the return of Kate – the main character in Page’s hit debut The Lido. Having moved from London to Somerset with her husband and baby girl, Kate finds herself struggling. Her story sits alongside that of Phoebe – a mental health nurse who finds her work rewarding but overwhelming. Many will identify with Kate’s struggle to reconcile her old self and old life with that of being a mother as well as Phoebe’s fight to find balance between private and professional lives. Key characters are well drawn and the plot bobs along like a duck on the river, which plays a central part. This is all about life changes and how we react to them, as well as female friendships. A gentle read. 8/10

The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya, hardback by W&N

Sophia is a young, precocious playwright, the offspring of separated parents, the daughter of an infamous literary talent struggling to adapt to a changing world and increasingly finding himself out of his depth. When his daughter writes a play about a holiday in the Aeolian Islands, Sophia and her parents are forced to examine their relationships with each other and the failures that Sophia’s play lays bare. Set in a pandemic where faces are hidden behind masks, The Hypocrite analyses the power balance between parent and child, and how adult decisions impact those we should care about most. It will appeal to those who enjoy observational literature with a critical take on modern life. 7/10

NON-FICTION Another England by Caroline Lucas, hardback by Hutchinson Heinemann

Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has written a thought-provoking book exploring the political paradigm in the UK since Brexit, and what can be done to repair the rifts. The policies and proposals made in the book read like they would provide a substantive alternative to the current status quo and parties on offer. This has the side effect of the reader possibly wondering why the system in the UK is so biased and why existing parties aren’t offering some of these. Another England provides a positive outlook on UK life should a party choose to adopt any of these and puts a positive spin on them – whether this will ever be tested has yet to be seen. 8/10