Welcome to this week’s news, reviews, and ‘all-things-books’ latest from the team at Waterstone’s Ballymena!
THIS WEEKS TOP 10....
1. Bored of Lunch: Healthy Airfryer Cookbook - Nathan Anthony
2. Robodog - David Walliams
3. There's Been a Little Incident - Alice Ryan
4. Yellowface - R.F. Kuang
5. The Three Dahlias - Katy Watson
6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - The Deep En
7. It Ends with Us - Colleen Hoover
8. King of Pride - Ana Huang
9. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling
10. Killing Thatcher - Rory Carroll
JUNE BOOKS OF THE MONTH...
• Fiction Book of the Month: Trust - Hernan Diaz
A gleefully addictive postmodern puzzle from the author of In the Distance, Diaz's dazzling novel plays off competing versions of the truth about a fabulously wealthy 1920s couple to spectacular effect. Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2022.
• Non-Fiction Book of the Month: The Escape Artist - Jonathan Freedland
Both a thrilling story of escape and fortitude and a profoundly important contribution to Holocaust literature, Freedland's expertly crafted account of two Jewish inmates who broke out of Auschwitz and alerted the world to the horrors practiced there is an instant classic of World War II writing.
• Children's Book of the Month: The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder - Kereen Getten
The electrifying opening instalment of the Di Island Crew series finds budding detective Fayson and her friends investigate a mysterious shadow appearing in the island's lighthouse.
• Thriller Book of the Month: The Sanctuary - Andrew Hunter Murray
The QI elf and author of The Last Day delivers a disturbing vision of a dystopian Britain in this lean, intelligent thriller about a jilted lover venturing to the remote island his fiancé refuses to leave.
• Irish Book of the Month: There's Been a Little Incident - Alice Ryan
Brilliantly pitched between belly laughs and affecting pathos, Ryan's debut novel of a woman struggling to confront the death of her parents is a warm-hearted and life-affirming read from an exciting new literary voice.
SATURDAY STORYTIME...
The next Saturday Storytime will take place on Saturday 10th June at 12pm.
We will be reading 'The Book Who Wanted To Be Loved' by John Bittles.
This is a heartwarming tale about friendship and adventure. Perfect for inspiring joy about books in the youngest of children. We look forward to seeing everyone there, it's completely free and no need to book. There will also be some colouring in afterwards.
ADULT BOOK CLUB...
The next meeting of the Adult Book Club will take place on Thursday 6th July at 7pm.
We will be discussing 'There's Been a Little Incident' by Alice Ryan. We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting.
YOUNG ADULT BOOK CLUB...
The next meeting of our Young Adult Book Club for 13-18 year olds will take place on Friday 16th June at 4pm.
We will be discussing the BookTok sensation 'If He Had Been With Me' by Laura Nowlin.
This is a heart-rendingly romantic story of lost love and second chances that has taken TikTok by storm, If He Had Been With Me charts the ebb and flow of Autumn and Finn's feelings for each other. We look forward to seeing everyone there, make sure to bring some friends with you!
KIDS BOOK CLUB...
The next meeting of our Kids Book Club for the 9-12 year old age group will take place on Friday 23rd June at 4pm.
We will be discussing 'Moon Flight' by Gill Lewis.
This book contains more classic storytelling from the acclaimed author of Sky Hawk and Song of the River, as a shy rat is forced to undergo a perilous quest to return a diamond to its rightful owners. We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting.
SCI-FI/FANTASY BOOK CLUB...
The first meeting of our brand new Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club takes place on Thursday 22nd June at 7pm.
We will be discussing 'The Children of Gods and Fighting Men' by Shauna Lawless.
This book deftly intertwining Irish history with evocative folklore, the first instalment of Lawless' epic fantasy finds competing immortal races battling for control of tenth-century Ireland. We would love to see as many people as possible at our first meeting, so make sure to tell your friends about this one!