From Salman Rushdie to RuPaul: the books to look out for in 2024

January

In January, there are several highly anticipated nonfiction books hitting the shelves. "The Showman: The Inside Story of the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky" by Simon Shuster provides insights into the character and motivations of the actor-turned-war hero Ukrainian president. Hannah Ritchie's "Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet" offers a hopeful perspective on environmental issues. Julian Borger's "I Seek a Kind Person: My Father, Seven Children and the Adverts That Helped Them Escape the Holocaust" explores his father's story as one of seven children who escaped the Holocaust with the help of newspaper advertisements placed by their parents. Dr. Jennifer Gunter's "Blood: The Science, Medicine and Mythology of Menstruation" dispels misinformation about women's health and focuses on periods. Clair Wills' "Missing Persons, Or My Grandmother’s Secrets" uncovers the personal history of three generations of women, including the discovery of a secret cousin born into an infamous mother and baby home in Ireland. Sathnam Sanghera's "Empireworld: How British Imperialism Has Shaped the Globe" examines the impact of the British empire on culture, laws, and religion globally. Hannah Durkin's "Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the American Slave Trade" traces the lives of kidnapped passengers on the Clotilda, the last ship to sail as part of the Atlantic slave trade. "Iran’s New Revolution: Women, Life, Freedom" by Arash Azizi explores the movement that grew following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman arrested for violating Iran's strict religious dress codes. In fiction, readers can look forward to Colin Barrett's debut novel "Wild Houses", Michael Cunningham's "Day", Hisham Matar's "My Friends", Kiley Reid's campus novel "Come and Get It", Sigrid Nunez's "The Vulnerables", and Jon Ransom's "The Gallopers".

February

In February, Tom Baldwin's "Keir Starmer: The Biography" provides an authorized account of the Labour Party leader's life and political formation. Sheila Heti's "Alphabetical Diaries" offers an unusual approach to memoir, arranging her journal entries in alphabetical order. Ed Zwick's "Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood" takes readers behind the scenes of the cutthroat world of movie and TV production. Josephine Quinn's "How the World Made the West: A 4,000-Year History" challenges the notion of rise and fall in civilizational history, emphasizing connection and cross-fertilization. Colum McCann and Diane Foley collaborate on "American Mother", recounting the story of journalist James Foley's capture, execution, and aftermath. Cathy Newman's "The Ladder: Life Lessons from Women Who Scaled the Heights (& Dodged the Snakes)" features insights from remarkable women. Sophie Elmhirst's "Maurice and Maralyn" tells the extraordinary tale of a suburban couple's survival on a rubber raft after their boat is struck by a whale. Fiction highlights include Andrew McMillan's debut novel "Pity", Lucas Rijneveld's "My Heavenly Favourite", Howard Jacobson's "What Will Survive of Us", Paul Theroux's "Burma Sahib", Helen Oyeyemi's "Parasol Against the Axe", and Holly Pester's "The Lodgers".

March

In March, Judith Butler's "Who’s Afraid of Gender?" examines the political and liberatory aspects of gender. Charles Spencer's "A Very Private School" reflects on the trauma of being sent to boarding school at a young age. Jenny Kleeman's "The Price of Life: In Search of What We’re Worth and Who Decides" explores the commodification of life and death. Jason Okundaye's "Revolutionary Acts: Love & Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain" delves into the stories of black gay men during the AIDS pandemic. Kent Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey" features lyrics written by the Nobel laureate for jazz singer Stacey Kent. Charan Ranganath's "Why We Remember" debunks myths about memory and provides insights for improving attention. RuPaul's "The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir" tells the story of the drag race presenter's journey from poverty to success. Fiction offerings include "Until August" by Gabriel García Márquez, Armistead Maupin's "Mona of the Manor", Tommy Orange's "Wandering Stars", and Marjane Satrapi's "Woman, Life, Freedom".

April

April brings Salman Rushdie's "Knife", his personal account of an assassination attempt. Suzi Ronson's "Me and Mr Jones: My Life with David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars" tells the story of her time as a stylist for Bowie. Liz Truss warns of the threats posed by left-wing ideologies in "Ten Years to Save the West". Caroline Lucas reimagines English national identity in "Another England: A New Story of Who We Are and Who We Can Be". Zeinab Badawi's "An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Civilisation to Independence" traces the continent's rich history. Caroline Crampton's "A Body Made of Glass: A History of Hypochondria" combines personal experience with a history of health anxiety. Patric Gagne's "Sociopath: A Memoir" offers a rare introspective look at sociopathy. Journalist Tahirah's journey to uncover her family's story unfolds in "Tahirah and Mary". Rebel Wilson's debut memoir "Rebel Rising" explores body image, sexuality, and self-acceptance. Fiction options include "Pity" by Andrew McMillan, "My Heavenly Favourite" by Lucas Rijneveld, Howard Jacobson's "What Will Survive of Us", and Paul Theroux's "Burma Sahib".

May

In May, notable nonfiction releases include Harry Josephine Giles' "Them!", a subversive collection of contemporary trans life poetry, and Jackie Kay's "May Day", a collection of activism-inspired poems. Colm Tóibín's much-anticipated sequel to "Brooklyn", titled "Long Island", explores emigration and alternative lives. Michel Houellebecq's "Annihilation" presents a compassionate and tender perspective alongside Houellebecq's signature rage, disgust, and irony. Eva Baltasar's "Mammoth" offers an account of queer motherhood. Poetry collections include Raymond Antrobus' "Signs, Music" and Jackie Kay's "May Day".

In the children's category, Kate Saunders' "A Drop of Golden Sun" explores the lives of child actors in "The Sound of Music", and Sarah Crossan's "Where the Heart Should Be" follows a story of love and tragedy during Ireland's Great Hunger.

June

In June, Richard Ayoade's "The Unfinished Harauld Hughes" delves into the life of a neglected mid-century poet and screenwriter. Hanif Kureishi's "Shattered" recounts his experiences following a paralyzing fall. Alison Steadman shares her journey from post-war Liverpool to the red carpet in her untitled memoir. On the fiction front, readers can look forward to Haruki Murakami's new novel, Susanna Clarke's short story "The Wood at Midwinter", and Attica Locke's conclusion to the Highway 59 crime series, titled "Guide Me Home".

July

In July, Zandra Rhodes' memoir, "Iconic", tells the story of her life through 50 personal objects. Daniel Lewis shares vivid portraits of 12 trees in "Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future". Anne Applebaum's "Autocracy Inc" examines the erosion of freedom at the hands of strongmen. Fiction offerings include Alan Moore's "The Great When", Susanna Clarke's short story "The Echoes", and Karl Ove Knausgård's third book in the series, titled "The Third Realm".

August

In August, Richard Ayoade explores the life of an enigmatic mid-century poet and screenwriter in "The Unfinished Harauld Hughes". Hanif Kureishi's "Shattered" documents his year of recovery after a paralyzing fall. Alison Steadman's untitled memoir shares her journey from post-war Liverpool to the red carpet. Fiction highlights include a new novel from Haruki Murakami, Susanna Clarke's short story "The Wood at Midwinter", and Rumaan Alam's examination of privilege and racial politics in "Entitlement".

September

In September, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe recounts her wrongful imprisonment in Iran in "A Yard of Sky". Angela Merkel reflects on her political career and personal history in an untitled memoir. Historian William Dalrymple explores ancient India's intellectual and philosophical influence in "The Golden Road". David Spiegelhalter helps readers navigate uncertainty in "The Art of Uncertainty". Rachel Clarke tells the remarkable story of organ donation in "The Story of a Heart". Guy Shrubsole exposes the myth of British landowners as good stewards of the natural environment in "The Lie of the Land". Fiction releases include novels from Richard Powers, Nick Harkaway, Roddy Doyle, and Alex Pheby.

October

In October, Richard Ayoade's "The Unfinished Harauld Hughes" explores the life of an enigmatic mid-century poet and screenwriter. Hanif Kureishi's "Shattered" details his journey of recovery after a paralyzing fall. Alison Steadman shares her personal and professional journey in an untitled memoir. Fiction highlights include Alan Moore's "The Great When", Susanna Clarke's short story "The Wood at Midwinter", and Nick Harkaway's continuation of George Smiley's story in an untitled spy novel.

November

In November, Stuart Flinders delves into the story of a 19th-century religious sect in "A Very British Cult". Vaclav Smil's "How Food Really Works" provides insights into healthy and ethical eating. Fiction releases include new books from Haruki Murakami, Yuri Herrera, Attica Locke, and John Banville.