Aqilah Rahman

Looking for a new book to add to your reading list? Here are eight critically acclaimed books published this month.

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE BY VE SCHWAB

Desperate to live a life without any ties and obligations, Addie LaRue makes a deal with the devil and gains immortality. But in exchange, she is doomed to be forgotten by everyone she meets, as if she has never existed at all.

After 300 years later, Addie meets a man who, strangely enough, remembers her name.

OVER THE WOODWARD WALL BY A DEBORAH BAKER

This is the first instalment of a new fantasy series by Seanan McGuire. While on their way to school, Zib and Avery come across a mysterious wall and decide to climb over it.

Instead of landing on their school ground, they find themselves in a strange yet magical placed called the Up-and-Under, inhabited by talking trees, mermaids, and other mythical beings.

Fun fact: Over The Woodward Wall started off as a book within a book. Deborah Baker is a pseudonym based on the alchemist in Seanans best-selling novel Middlegame, who wrote about Zib and Avery.

THE MINISTRY FOR THE FUTURE BY KIM STANLEY ROBINSON

In 2025, the Earth faces its biggest and inevitable crisis climate change. The Ministry for the Future is formed to protect the present and future generations.

The story is narrated by multiple third-party witnesses over the next few decades, with narrators ranging from farmers and scientists, to the less conventional including photons and molecules.

IS THIS ANYTHING? BY JERRY SEINFELD

If youre looking for a laugh and you happen to be a fan of Seinfeld, you may want to read Jerry Seinfelds new book. Is This Anything? is a compilation of jokes Jerry has come up with over the past decades, since his very first stand-up in the 70s when he was just a

college student. Its worth noting that the audiobook is narrated by Jerry himself, which is bound to be a different experience compared to reading the book yourself.

THE PUPPETMASTERS APPRENTICE BY LISA DESELM

A puppetmaster is given a task by the citys ruler to create an army of marionette soldiers. Unable to cope with the orders, the puppetmaster falls ill and is thrown into prison. His daughter a marionette that he created and brought to life on the night of blue moon must fill in his shoes.

The tension escalates even further when the puppetmasters daughter is given another task: to create an assassin with a life of its own.

THE DEVIL AND THE DARK WATER BY STUART TURTON

Set in 1634, the story follows Detective Samuel Pipps who is convicted of a crime and is due to be executed. He sets off on a voyage to Amsterdam for his execution with his bodyguard Arent Hayes.

But then strange things happen: a leper without a tongue appears onboard, saying theres a devil on the ship coming after the passengers. The leper bursts into flames, and a string of seemingly supernatural events take place on the ship.

With Samuel behind bars, Arent is determined to find out who, or what, is behind these strange cases, before every passenger meets their end.

CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 BY LISA UNGER

While on her way commuting home, Selena Murphy strikes up a conversation on the train with a stranger named Martha. The two women exchange seemingly harmless confessions. Martha confesses of having an affair with her boss, while Selena confesses that she suspects her husband is having an affair with the nanny.

A few days later, Selenas nanny goes missing, and Selena begins to wonder if Martha has anything to do with it.

THE NEIL GAIMAN READER: SELECTED FICTION BY NEIL GAIMAN

As the title implies, this is a collection of Neil Gaimans stories, selected based on the votes of his readers all around the world.

The stories range from some of his earlier works to his most recent writings.

With 52 pieces of writing that span over 700 pages, this book is best enjoyed in small chunks.

Its suitable for both long-time fans and readers who are new to Neils works.

Link:
Books to pick up this October - Borneo Bulletin Online