APRIL BOOK COLUMN: the books you need to read this month

Monthly book column from Bookbag book shop, 7-10 McCoy's Arcade, Exeter

This month’s column comes from Bookbag’s Reo, who recommends some much-anticipated April releases.

"Sure to divide opinion, this one. In The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality bestselling author of Cultish, Amanda Montell, brings insight to the cult of popular psychology. Universe got your back? Manifesting good vibes? Healing damaged relationships through loyalty alone?

Montell explores the disadvantages and dangers of this kind of ‘magical thinking’, including such practices as manifestation and psychic healing. But how do these cognitive bias and irrational coping mechanisms sit in the modern hyper-information age? In this book, Montell reminds us that it is possible to reclaim agency amidst the chaos and we don’t need to sacrifice our ability to reason and empathise. The main takeaway - hope and forgiveness for our anxiety riddled human selves.

Next up, fiction. Following on from Water, the second installment of John Boyne’s Elements Quartet is Earth, a contemporary drama about the dark secrets of two well-known footballers and the trial that will bring everything to light. Boyne is the internationally bestselling Irish author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Just like with Water, Boyne tells a story of small-town scandals and secrets. Earth is a novel that explores masculinity, fame, and the two-fold relationship of sexual/trauma with a main character who asks the question we all eventually face: am I the person who I always wanted to be? Another quiet classic from the author.

The Borrowed Hills by Scott Preston is a debut novel that reimagines the adventure and danger of the American Wild West transposed onto the rural countryside of Northern England. Two down-on-their-luck farmers decide to pull off a great sheep rustling scheme that leads them down a path of forbidden longing and a dangerous conflict against a lawless outsider. This thrilling novel reimagines the idyllic rural landscape for a visceral portrayal of an unyielding land steeped in local folklore.

Finally, another much-anticipated April release is Manny and the Baby, a dual timeline debut novel set in 1936 London and 2012 Bath. It is a story about music, sisterhood, and Black British identity by the formidable short story writer Varaidzo, who also had an essay in The Good Immigrant. Against the backdrop of the 1930’s and the growing threat of facism, Varaidzo weaves fresh historical context into a period that has been written about extensively, with writing that crackles with life. Varaidzo will be appearing at Africa Writes – Exeter, a literary festival taking place on 7-9 June, with three days of author talks, workshops and performances. Now in its third year, the festival is friendly, accessible and everyone is welcome – sign up to www.bookbag.shop newsletter to keep up to date."