On the bookshelves: December 2016

New releases coming in December.

FICTION

The Complete Peanuts 1950–2000, by Charles M. Schulz and Jean Schulz: This bonus 26th volume of The Complete Peanuts collects all of Schulz’s non-strip related Peanuts art: storybooks, comic book stories, single-panel gags, advertising art, book illustrations, photographs and even a recipe (Canongate, RRP $33).

The Fifth Avenue Artist’s Society, by Joy Callaway: A richly told historical novel of family loyalties, loss and artistic desires (Allen & Unwin, RRP $33).

Ride Free, by Jessica Whitman: Betrayal, secrets and passion all feature in the third book in the Polo series, from the author of Wild One and High Season (Arena, RRP $33).

The Blind Astronomer’s Daughter, by John Pipkin: In late-eighteenth-century Ireland, Caroline Ainsworth is an accidental stargazer. The latest from the award-winning author of Woodsburner (Bloomsbury, RRP $30).

Forever Words, edited by Paul Muldoon, foreword by John Carter Cash: The unknown poems Johnny Cash. Newly discovered in the Cash family archives, this is a treasury of never-before-published poems and songs (Canongate, RRP $33).

Himself, by Jess Kidd: When Mahony returns to Mulderrig, a speck of a place on Ireland’s west coast, no one will tell him what happened to the teenage mother who abandoned him as a baby (Canongate, RRP $33).

Murder under the Christmas Tree, edited by Cecily Gayford: Classic mysteries for the festive season (Profile Books, RRP $23).

I Hate the Internet, by Jarett Kobek: Set in a San Francisco hollowed out by tech money, greed and rampant gentrification, I Hate the Internet is a savage indictment of the intolerable bullshit of unregulated capitalism and an uproarious, hilarious but, above all, furious satire of our Internet Age (Profile Books, RRP $33).

Cove, by Cynan Jones: A man finds himself adrift in a kayak with no memory of who he is (Granta, RRP $25).

NON-FICTION

Knives & Ink, by Isaac Fitzgerald and Wendy MacNaughton: Chefs and the stories behind their tattoos (with recipes). Isaac Fitzgerald and Wendy MacNaughton are co-authors of Pen & Ink (Bloomsbury, RRP $33).

Build a Rocket, by Ian Graham:  The perfect, accessible and interactive guide to rockets and their role in space exploration—with a full-scale model rocket to build included! (Crows Nest, RRP $33).

Aliens, edited by Jim Al-Khalilil: Science asks: is anyone out there? (Profile Books, RRP $33).

Treasure Palaces, edited by Maggie Fergusson: Brings together more than 20 of the world’s greatest writers to give their own personal tours of the museums that have awed, haunted and inspired them (Profile Books, RRP $33).

Go Figure, by Tom Standage: Subtitled “Things you didn’t know you didn’t know: The Economist explains”, this is a book of answers to universal questions, from the highly popular Economist Explains and Daily Chart blogs (Profile Books, RRP $25).

The Brontesaurus, An A–Z of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte (and Branwell), by John Sutherland: This A-to-Z ramble through the world of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte (and not forgetting their dissolute brother Branwell) will delight any enthusiast of classic literature. It explores the Brontes’ lives, their characters, their novels and poems and the ways in which we interpret them today (Icon, RRP $27).

How to be Cool, by Thomas Hodgkinson: Anyone can increase their cool quotient so as well as identifying the nine defining qualities of cool, this book takes you on a tour of the 75 Idols (from William Blake to Kate Moss, via Marlon Brando and Lou Reed) and 50 ideas and ideals (Icon, RRP $33).

What Colour is the Sun, by Brian Clegg: Mind-bending science facts in the solar system’s brightest quiz (Icon, RRP $20).

V&A Gallery of Fashion, by Claire Wilcox and Jenny Lister: Spanning four centuries, the V&A’s fashion collection is the most comprehensive in the world, housing unrivalled collections of dress, accessories, shoes and hats from the 17th century to the present day (V&A, RRP $33).

YOUNGER READERS

The Amateurs, by Sara Shepherd: An addictive new teen crime series from the international bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars. For ages 12-16 (Hotkey, RRP $19).

Stories from Stella Street, by Elizabeth Honey: Special anniversary edition celebrating 21 years of Stella Street. For ages 8-12 (Allen & Unwin, RRP $23).

Trollhunters, by Guillermo Del Toro and Daniel Kraus: In San Bernardino, California, children are going missing. The townspeople don’t believe the rumours of trolls. For ages 12-18 (Hotkey, RRP $19).

Fly on the Wall, by E. Lockhart: At the Manhattan School of Art and Music, where everyone is different, Gretchen Yee feels ordinary. She has one wish: to be a fly on the wall in the boy’s locker room. What are boys really like? This is the story of how one girl’s wish came true. For ages 12–16 (Hotkey, RRP $19).

The Girl Who Saved Christmas, & A Boy Called Christmas, both by Matt Haig: Two offerings from award-winning children’s writer Matt Haig, who also writes for adults (both published by Cannongate, RRP $23 for The Girl Who Saved Christmas, $RRP $17 for A Boy Called Christmas).

The Princess and the Christmas Rescue, by Caryl Hart, illustrated by Sarah Warburton: A fabulously festive rhyming picture book celebrating the joy of giving (and making) gifts. For ages 3-6 (Nosy Crow, RRP $27).

The Hundred Names of Darkness, by Nilanjana Roy: Book 2 of the Wildings series. For ages 12-plus (Puskin Children’s, RRP $19).

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