As we head toward the end of the year, it’s time to hit your reading goals with this season's latest new releases.
From romantic comedy to speculative fiction and magic realism, you’ll be spoiled for choice with various styles and genres by some of the world’s best-selling authors.
Here are The National’s picks for your autumn must-reads.
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
Matt Haig’s stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations have been incredibly popular with readers over the past few years. His latest novel explores the same themes of self reflection, this time with retired math teacher Grace Winters.
After inheriting a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, Grace books a one-way ticket to Ibiza without a real plan.
Surrounded by the bucolic setting of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend’s life, and how it ended, uncovering a truth stranger than she ever imagined, a truth forcing her to come to terms with her past.
Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami
From Japan’s most renowned contemporary novelist comes a speculative fiction novel exploring a dystopian future where humanity is close to extinction.
Having settled in small tribes across the world under the care of so-called "Mothers", some children are made in factories while some live by what little they can forage from nature.
The story unfolds over fourteen sections where hundreds and then thousands of years pass, revealing how the various tribes have adapted and changed over eons. This is a story of survival, not of one character or protagonist but of humanity, and what it will become of us when how we love, reproduce and see ourselves fundamentally changes forever.
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
Set in rural France, this complex and thrilling espionage story follows 34-year-old American mercenary Sadie Smith – if that is her real name.
Sadie begins a relationship with Lucien, a young and well-born Parisian, as part of her top secret mission. But in this region France, filled with centuries-old farms and ancient caves, Sadie becomes entranced by a mysterious figure named Bruno Lacombe, a mentor to the young activists who communicates only by email.
Sadie is now torn between what she was trained to do and what she feels she must do.
Entitlement by Rumaan Alam
Brooke Low is a Black woman raised in a privileged environment by a single mother. Despite her advantages, including an Ivy League education and a network of affluent friends, Brooke has been working as an underpaid inner-city teacher and is feeling unfulfilled and inadequate about her life.
She decides to change her life by taking a job as the administrator of the foundation of the self-made billionaire Asher Jaffee. Responsible for dispersing his fortune, Brooke focuses on all the areas in her life that feel empty, including her fixation on buying an apartment she can’t afford.
Through a thrilling sequence of events, Brooke’s hasty financial decisions concerning her aspirations puts her at risk to lose everything.
The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
The unthinkable happens to Nora when she is still processing the death of her mother. Her father, an affluent businessman named Liam Noone, falls to his death close to his cottage perched on the California coast.
While the authorities have ruled the death accidental, Nora and her estranged brother Sam believe something more sinister was at play. As Nora and Sam team up to uncover the truth, discovering love affairs and a web of strange connections, their relationship is tested as they realise that neither of them never really knew their elusive father.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Set against rural Ireland, estranged brothers Peter and Ivan Koubek are attempting to make sense of life after their father's death. Typical of Rooney’s style, the narrative is character centric, delving into the many facets of the brothers personalities. Peter is an outgoing lawyer while Ivan is more than 10 years his junior and an awkward chess prodigy.
While they come to terms with their father’s death, the brothers lives mirror each other with their struggles at making long lasting intimate connections, living through toxic romantic relationships, leading them to realise that they are more alike than they think.
Adam and Evie's Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen
Evie Lang is navigating through the grief of losing her aunt while also dealing with the repercussions of getting fired from her poetry professorship. She’s stuck in Ohio, unsure what her next move should be when she finds out that her aunt left her the deed to her San Francisco home – with an exception.
To inherit the home, Evie must first attend a matchmaking tour in Vietnam. There she meets Adam Quyen, who seems grumpy and uptight. But he has his own problems. As the CMO of his sister’s matchmaking business, he’s attempting to prove that he does understand the business of love – until he meets Evie, who keeps getting in his way.
Set against Vietnam’s bustling cities and beautiful nature, Evie and Adam soon discover that despite their differences, there’s a lot they can teach each other about love.
The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister
In this gothic fantasy, the Haddesley family have a strange relationship with a cranberry bog. In exchange for taking care of the bog through a ritual sacrifice every generation, the bog in return produces a “bog-wife". She is brought to life from vegetation and is meant to carry on the family line.
But when the bog fails to honour the bargain, warring siblings Eda, Wenna, Percy and Nora and other family members, each with their own beliefs and ideas about what to do next, must find away to work together as they unearth alarming secret about their family and its history.
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
In this historical fantasy inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the renowned four beauties of ancient China, the novel explores themes of love and sacrifice set against the backdrop of two warring kingdoms.
Xishi is a beautiful girl from a poor village who she captures the attention of a famous young military advisor, Fanli. Quickly, he presents her with a special opportunity – to use her beauty as a weapon. With the right training she could improve the lives of her people, avenge her sister’s murder and overthrow the rivalling kingdom of Wu.
As Xishi gets her training, she and Fanli grow close but things are put under further strain when she infiltrates the enemy palace as a spy, and the king starts to show her special affection.
The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
Published in Japan last year but translated and set to be released internationally this November, the renowned Japanese writer Haruki Murakami's latest novel is told in three parts.
Centred around a young mans travels between the real world and a fantasy world across the course of his life, he’s on a journey to find his teenage crush who has vanished. In an imaginary city filled with horned beasts and willow trees, his search leads to a dream library where his teenage crush works, with no memory of their life together.
Slowly the lines between reality and fantasy seep into each other and he must decide where he wants to be and who he will lose in the process.
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Background: Chemical Weapons
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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