One of the most satisfying parts of working at the library is the discovery of a new author of note and the joy you get by sharing your find with others. It always amazes me when the debut work of fiction turns out to be a fantastic bit of writing. To simply finish a novel is a wonder, as it implies hours of writing, editing, and re-writing while still holding down and maintaining some sense of the normal life that pays the bills. Every year a new crop of wonderful debut novels appears, sometimes heralding the beginning of an amazing career and sometimes they are simply the bright spark that’s never matched again in someone’s writing life. The book stacks at the library are full of great debut novels and here is a small sample of recent first novels that are worth discovering for yourself.
The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
Set in 1914 during the trial of
22-year-old Grace Winter who survived the tragic sinking of an ocean liner and
three weeks aboard a life raft as she and the other remaining passengers
struggled for survival. The novel, which is told retrospectively, asks us
to decide who is the real Grace, was she a lucky survivor or someone culpable
in the deaths of the others.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
This tale of love and survival
set in 1920’s Alaska introduces us to Jack and Mabel, a childless couple
trapped in a crumbling marriage. During the first snowfall, in a moment of
mirth, they build a child out of snow and awake the next morning to see a
little girl running through the forest. The relationship between parent
and child and the role of nature in our lives is beautifully explored.
Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol
Rifka Brunt
When her beloved Uncle Finn
succumbs to AIDS, 15-year-old June is left in despair until the appearance of
Toby, her Uncle Finn’s lover. The two lost souls develop a friendship and
learn to lean on each other in order to move on with their lives.
City of Bohane by Kevin Barry
In a novel, both funny and dark,
2053 Ireland is a lawless land fueled by greed and lust and ruled by
gangs. The characters are on the outset of another gang war and unrest,
and mutiny is in the ranks of the Hartnett Fancy gang. Flamboyant characters,
ridiculous relationships and surreal situations move the novel along to its
fantastical conclusion.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of HaroldFry by Rachel Joyce
The themes of love and devotion
are central to this novel about retiree Harold Fry who suddenly decides to walk
600 miles across England to try to save the life of a dying friend that he
hasn’t seen in 20 years. During the walk Harold re-discovers himself and finds
the joy in his life.
We the Animals by Justin Torres
This is the semi-autobiographical
story of three brothers growing up in a poor family with mixed race parents.
Told from the perspective of the youngest brother, it delves into the darker
aspects of love, violence and death on the fringes of life.
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow
Wilson
In combination thriller and
fantasy novel, Alif is a hacker for hire, dodging the edge of the law as he
works for criminals, political dissidents and religious extremists.
Things go from bad to worse, when the head of State security finds that Alif is
his rival in romance and Alif finds the book of the jinn, which could release
magic into this world.
Lori Kauzlarick
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