FICTION

From the Booker-shortlisted author of The Overstory and Bewilderment'If you have children or will have children, if you know children or can remember being a child, dare to read Operation Wandering Soul ... it is bedtime reading for the future' USA TODAY'Powers' prose soars like the most magnificent of choirs' WASHINGTON POST'The most intellectually stimulating novelist at work in the English language today' DAILY TELEGRAPHIn the paediatrics ward of a public hospital, a group of sick children gather, their lives brightened only by the power of imagination. The surrogate parents of this group - Kraft, a tired, overworked surgical resident, and Espera, a dedicated therapist - are charged with prolonging their lives using storytelling and make-believe alone.Using the boundless reach of imagination, Operation Wandering Soul is a novel that celebrates the wonder of childhood. Both social indictment and emotional account of intimate needs, it asks how we might keep alive a little longer the enduring magic of childhood dreams.

Soyangri Book KitchenWelcome to Soyangri Book KitchenIn a peaceful village in the countryside, far from the bustling heart of Seoul, lies a book lovers' paradise. With its wafts of delicious food and book-filled shelves, Soyangri Book Kitchen is dotingly managed by its plucky proprietor Yoojin. Her aim? To create a sanctuary for weary souls like herself.But the book kitchen is more than just a place to eat or read - it's a place which offers its guests a true escape, not just inside the pages of its many books, but in the warm embrace of an overnight bookstay.Over the course of a year, seven individuals, all at a crossroads in their lives, find their way to Yoojin's book kitchen. Among them are Da-in, a singer grappling with an identity crisis, Sohee, a promising lawyer confronted with a daunting medical diagnosis, and Soohyuk, a young musical director whose dreams have been stifled by failure.As they arrive in Soyangri, each of them will find their life subtly transformed by the magic of its books and the kindness of its people.

Bitter HoneyFrom 3 times winner of The Welsh Book of The Year award, a stunningly lyrical beautiful novel about a beekeeper and his daughter, told through eleven letters.From the multi award-winning author of Drift, winner of the Welsh Book of the Year'Extraordinary...this book will absolutely tug at your soul. One to re-read and treasure....glorious, heart-breaking, yet ultimately full of hope.' Liz Hyder, author of The Twelve'A gentle and tender novel about the power of forgiveness and how humans might thrive when given the space to grow. Richly rewarding fiction.' Kirsty Capes, author of Careless and Girls____'A seed in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible' Old Welsh ProverbHannah has lived at Berllan Deg all her life, her husband came to live at the orchard when they got married. Tonight, she prepares for his funeral as he lies in the parlour. Over fifty years of marriage, a lifetime of memories dissipating in the impossibility of his stillness. He was a writer and a beekeeper who came to understand the world through the language of bees. He has left her eleven letters; the exact same number as there are frames in a bee's nest. Each letter is an examination of an aspect of their marriage. The morning of the funeral, Sadie, Hannah's estranged little sister comes back home for the service. As the letters unfold, they reveal a devastating secret that will make Hannah have to re-evaluate her whole life.Bitter Honey is a novel which brings three very different women together into a broken Eden and examines how they rebuild it on their own terms.

Two women awaken from a drugged sleep to find themselves imprisoned in an abandoned property in the middle of a desert in a story of two friends, sisterly love and courage - a gripping, starkly imaginative exploration of contemporary misogyny and corporate control, and of what it means to hunt and be hunted.

The WarrumbarOn the day man first walks on the moon thirteen-year-old Robbie Brennan meets Moses, an old man camped by the side of the road. Over the following months, Robbie is drawn to Moses’ stories — tales of hardship, war, and redemption — unearthing a past entwined with his own. When Robbie learns that Moses grew up at the Mission, the Aboriginal reserve that once existed on the outskirts of town, with his mother Delsie, Robbie’s understanding of his family’s history and identity is forever changed.At home, Robbie must navigate the unpredictable wrath of his beloved but sometimes violent father, a man whose temper keeps the household in a constant state of anxiety. But when Robbie witnesses a tragic event at the Warrumbar dam, his world is shaken further. Haunted by his past in the boys' home and terrified of the consequences, he faces a choice: speak the truth and risk everything or stay silent and carry the burden forever.But in a small country town where a boy like Robbie — poor, on society’s margins, and with ‘some of that black blood in him’ — is rarely believed, does the truth matter? Set against the backdrop of 1969 Australia, The Warrumbar is a compelling coming-of-age story about love, injustice, and the courage it takes to do what’s right.

The Lion Women Of Tehran A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK'As heart-wrenching as it is achingly beautiful' Sadeqa Johnson, author of The House of Eve'Heartbreaking and life affirming' Adrienne Brodeur, author of Little Monsters'Courage, friendship, loyalty, hardship, love – this novel has everything' Mary Beth Keane, Ask Again, YesFrom the author of The Stationery Shop of Tehran, a heartfelt, epic new novel of friendship, betrayal and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran.In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams of a friend to alleviate her isolation.Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind, passionate girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions for becoming 'lion women.'But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives.Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences. Praise for Marjan Kamali‘Evocative, devastating, and hauntingly beautiful’ Whitney Scharer, author of The Age of Light‘A beautifully immersive tale’ Jasmin Darznik, author of The Good Daughter and Song of a Captive Bird‘At once masterfully plotted, beautifully written, and populated by characters who are arresting, lovable and so real’ Elinor Lipman, author of Turpentine Lane‘A sweeping romantic tale of thwarted love’ Kirkus Reviews‘Enchanting’ My Weekly

The bestselling debut novel by the winner of the Allen & Unwin Fiction Prize. If you loved Lessons in Chemistry and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, you will adore Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts.

The Song Of Achilles: The 10th Anniversary Edition Of The Women's Prize-Winning Bestseller OVER 1.5 MILLION COPIES SOLD A 10th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION, FEATURING A NEW FOREWORD BY THE AUTHOR WINNER OF THE ORANGE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION THE INTERNATIONAL SENSATION A SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'Captivating' DONNA TARTT 'I loved it' J K ROWLING 'Ravishingly vivid' EMMA DONOGHUE Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear. 'A book I could not put down' ANN PATCHETT 'An exciting, sexy, violent Superman version of The Iliad' GUARDIAN 'Sexy, dangerous, mystical' BETTANY HUGHES

Circe: The Stunning New Anniversary Edition From The Author Of International Bestseller The Song Of Achilles A FIFTH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION, FEATURING A NEW FOREWORD BY THE AUTHORWoman. Witch. Myth. Mortal. Outcast. Lover. Destroyer. Survivor. CIRCE.In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Circe is a strange child not powerful and terrible, like her father, nor gorgeous and mercenary like her mother. Scorned and rejected, Circe grows up in the shadows, at home in neither the world of gods or mortals. But Circe has a dark power of her own- witchcraft. When her gift threatens the gods, she is banished to the island of Aiaia where she hones her occult craft, casting spells, gathering strange herbs and taming wild beasts. Yet a woman who stands alone will never be left in peace for long and among her island's guests is an unexpected visitor- the mortal Odysseus, for whom Circe will risk everything. So Circe sets forth her tale, a vivid, mesmerizing epic of family rivalry, love and loss the defiant, inextinguishable song of woman burning hot and bright through the darkness of a man's world.Companion to the bestselling special hardback edition of The Song of AchillesShortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction

The FarmJessica Mansour-Nahra was a communications consultant and writer in Brisbane, London and Sydney, before tree-changing to a hamlet in Wiradjuri Country, where she lives with her husband and their beloved dog. Jessica holds degrees in history and law from The University of Queensland. The Farm is her first novel.

The Body FarmThe long-awaited new book from the critically acclaimed author of The Lightkeepers and The Wildlands- an intense and insightful collection that celebrates the horrors and joys of inhabiting our bodiesThe body cannot tell any lies. From birth to death, and through all the transitions in between, the body stores our knowledge and history, our feelings and experiences. Our betrayals. These insightful and empathetic stories, from the critically acclaimed author of The Last Animal, shine new light on our physical vessels set against our physical world, two landscapes irretrievably connected and altered over time.An entomologist solves cold cases and upholds a sense of justice by studying the decay of corpses in a field and the insect life they develop. A caregiver obsesses over a stained-glass lampshade to deal with the elegiac losses of Alzheimer's. A sister with webbed fingers highlights the often-universal belief that our siblings just might be creatures brought forth from the deep. The memory of a scent evokes the haunting legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.These eleven stories display Abby Geni's great capacity to take us into the lives and experiences of others to scrutinize the physical self- birth, childhood, transition, mental health, trauma, aging, illness, love, sex, and death.

The Watervale Ladies' Writing And Firefighting SocietyIt's never too late to start over - sometimes all you need is a spark. In the tradition of Sophie Green, Joanna Nell and Tricia Stringer comes an absolutely sparkling, feelgood delight of a novel, where four very different women are thrown together in a creative writing course in the library of a small country town.When international lawyer Matilda 'Tilly' Marr is summoned back from London to a small town in South Australia's wine country, she expects to close a billion-dollar deal in a matter of days. Instead, she's handed an ultimatum: stay for a month and serve as the town's only solicitor, or watch the opportunity slip away. Setting up shop in the Beechwood Cafe, Tilly braces for a brief detour, but life in Watervale Downs soon proves to be anything but simple.Drawn into the orbit of three very different women - fierce matriarch Bev Jackson, fallen TV star Fenna de Vries, and warm-hearted librarian Jane Robertson - Tilly unexpectedly finds herself joining a local writing group and training with the country fire service. Slowly, friendships form, long-held secrets surface, and the rhythms of country life begin to change her in ways she didn't anticipate.As the season turns and challenges mount, each woman finds herself at a crossroads. Bev must confront a past she has kept hidden for sixty years, Fenna must decide whether she is ready to stop running, Jane must summon the courage to reimagine her future, and Tilly must ask whether the life she has built is truly the one she wants. And in the meantime, bushfire season is approaching and a day of reckoning is coming for them all.Sparkling, warm, heartfelt, wise, and irresistibly uplifting, The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society is a story of friendship, second chances, and the bravery it takes to begin again. For anyone who has ever felt stuck, adrift, or quietly wondered, 'Could there be more to life for me?', this novel will feel like an open door.'An uplifting story of friendship and being true to oneself ... a delightful dose of sunshine. I loved it' Tricia Stringer, Birds of a Feather'A charming and layered exploration of unexpected friendship, personal reinvention and the quiet strength of women who show up for themselves and each other ... [with] a satisfying emotional centre. A thoroughly enjoyable and easy-to-devour read' Books+Publishing

The Poppy FieldsFrom the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit The Measure— a runaway bestseller and a Read with Jenna TODAY Show pick— comes a stunning speculative story of healing, self-discovery, forgiveness, and found friendship."A masterful, tender exploration of love, loss, and the poignant echoes of memory... A profoundly moving read." —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong MoyWelcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal.Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert, lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain...and keep on sleeping. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed. But only if they’re willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects.On a journey to this mystical destination are four very different strangers and one little dog: Ava, a book illustrator; Ray, a fireman; Sasha, an occupational therapist; Sky, a free spirit; and a friendly pup named PJ. As they attempt to make their way from the Midwest all the way to the Poppy Fields— where they hope to find Ellis, its brilliant, enigmatic founder—each of their past secrets and mysterious motivations threaten to derail their voyage.A high-concept speculative novel about heartache, hope, and human resilience, The Poppy Fields explores the path of grief and healing, a journey at once profoundly universal and unique to every person, posing the questions: How do we heal in the wake of great loss And how far are we willing to go in order to be healed