5 books not to miss: Author behind 'Schindler's List' returns, 'Story of a Goat'
In search of something good to read? USA TODAY's Barbara VanDenburgh scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases.
1. “The Story of a Goat,” by Perumal Murugan (Black Cat/Grove, fiction, on sale Dec. 10)
What it’s about: A supernatural figure gifts an old farming couple a runty black goat named Poonachi, who brings wonder and hardship to the farm in this magical fable that tackles the injustices of caste, prejudice and sexism. It’s a welcome return for Murugan, who once swore off literature.
The buzz: In a ★★★½ review for USA TODAY, Eliot Schrefer writes, “The greatest achievement of this remarkable novel is the empathy its adult readers will feel for a non-human creature; through Poonachi’s tale we are reminded how much bonds us with the animal world.”
2. “The Book of Science and Antiquities,” by Thomas Keneally (Atria Books, fiction, on sale Dec. 10)
What it’s about: The author of “Schindler’s Ark,” which inspired the movie “Schindler’s List,” sets his new novel in Australia, exploring the parallel lives of a modern-day documentary filmmaker and a prehistoric man, both of whom are forced to come to terms with their mortality.
The buzz: “Keneally is a writer of immeasurable talents, with an eye for the human drama that makes history. The intertwined stories of men from different eras keep the reader wondering how it will all come together,” Patty Rhule says in her ★★½ review for USA TODAY.
3. “Crossroad,” by W.H. Cameron (Crooked Lane Books, fiction, on sale Dec. 10)
What it’s about: Apprentice mortician Melisende Dulac stumbles across a deadly car crash on a desolate road in the Oregon high desert, and one of the bodies is that of a newborn girl, lying an impossible distance from the wreckage. And then the bodies go missing from Melisende’s mortuary.
The buzz: “This pulse-pounding tale begs to be read in one sitting,” says Publishers Weekly.
4. “The Wonderful,” by Saskia Sarginson (Flatiron, fiction, on sale Dec. 10)
What it’s about: Hedy Delaney is an American girl trying to make the best of her new life on a U.S. airbase in post-war England with her parents and twin brother. But an unforeseen tragedy rips her family apart, and Hedy devotes her life to finding out the truth of what happened that day.
The buzz: “A gripping and devastating tale of a family torn apart by secrets, war, and human brutality,” says Kirkus Reviews.
5. “Regretting You,” by Colleen Hoover (Montlake, fiction, on sale Dec. 10)
What it’s about: Morgan Grant and her 16-year-old daughter, Clara, are shattered when Chris (their husband and father, respectively) dies in a tragic accident under dubious conditions that unearths long-buried secrets. Mother and daughter couldn’t be more unalike but must navigate their contentious relationship to rebuild their lives.
The buzz: "The emotions run high, the conversations run deep, and the relationships ebb and flow with grace," according to Kirkus Reviews.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New books: Author behind 'Schindler's List' returns, 'Story of a Goat'
