Welcome to this week’s news, reviews, and ‘all-things-books’ latest from the team at Waterstone’s Ballymena!
THIS WEEK'S TOP 10...
1. Wonder Brothers by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
2. Millions by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
3. House of Flame and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
4. Noah's Gold by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
5. The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith
6. Love Untold by Ruth Jones
7. The Lock Up by John Banville
8. Dog Man 6: Brawn of the Wild by Dav Pilkey
9. Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
10. In Ascension by Martin MacInnes
FEBRUARY BOOKS OF THE MONTH...
• Fiction of the Month
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
A dazzling psychological thriller about a guerrilla gardening group and their compromised existence working the land of an abandoned farm.
• Non Fiction Book of the Month
Steeple Chasing by Peter Ross
A thoroughly beguiling tour around the manifold riches of Britain's churches, Ross' immersive book ranges from unassuming parish to mighty cathedral and tells a defiantly human story of art, architecture, history and culture.
• Science Fiction & Fantasy Book of the Month
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes
Masterfully combining a cosmic quest with the intimacies of an individual life, MacInnes’ stunningly imaginative speculative novel sees a researcher of ancient algae make a discovery which will propel her on a journey across the universe.
• Children's Book of the Month
Paper Dragons by Siobhan McDermott
Inspired by Chinese culture and folklore, the first instalment of McDermott's breathtaking fantasy series finds orphan Zhi Ging apprenticed to the Immortals and about to begin her magical training in an underwater realm.
• Irish Book of the Month
My Father's House by Joseph O' Connor
From the acclaimed author of Star of the Sea comes a riveting, emotionally acute novel of resistance and rescue during the Second World War as an Irish priest prepares a daring mission in Vatican City from under the noses of the Nazis.
• Thriller Book of the Month
The Claustros by Katy Hays
Penned by an art history professor and combining the rich atmosphere of The Secret History with the sinister thrills of Ninth House, Hays' debut about a mysterious group of art researchers and an invaluable fifteenth-century tarot deck is a mesmerising dark academia classic in the making.
• Young Adult Book Club
The next meeting of our Young Adult Book Club for 13-18 year olds will take place on Thursday 29th February at 7pm.
We will be reading ‘Lightlark’ by Alex Aster. Newcomers are especially welcome!