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The Waterstones Round Up: October's Best Books

Posted on 26th September 2024 by Mark Skinner

Packed with gifting opportunities and big name memoirs, take a tour of October's bumper crop of books.


Literary heavyweights are out in force this October with masterful new fiction from Alan Hollinghurst, Ali Smith and Susanna Clarke amongst others. Elsewhere, Jodi Picoult delivers a historical page-turner and Kate Mosse concludes the bestselling Joubert Family Chronicles, whilst Margaret Atwood and Pam Ayres enjoy definitive retrospectives of their poetry careers. 

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Spanning half a century and written with Hollinghurst's trademark eloquence and insight, Our Evenings traces the journey of Dave Win from boarding school childhood to an artistic flourishing in experimental theatre, against the backdrop of an ever-changing Britain.
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The incomparable Ali Smith returns with a characteristically oblique and audacious tour de force revolving loosely around the concept of resistance in a dystopian society.
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From the revered author of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and Piranesi comes a bewitching seasonal novella about a young woman who can talk to animals and the mysterious events that befall her in the woods.
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From the bestselling author of Mad Honey comes a sweeping and insightful novel of female identity and inequality set in both Elizabethan England and present-day Manhattan, as two women centuries apart struggle to assert their artistic expression in a sphere dominated by men.
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The final instalment of the sweeping Joubert Family Chronicles spans centuries as two descendants of the dynasty seek answers about the disappearance of a third, who vanished from the Cape of Good Hope in the early seventeenth century.
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From the masterful pen of the author of Pure and Oxygen comes a painfully acute dissection of resentment and betrayal, as two couples find themselves cut off from the rest of the world during the devastating winter of 1962.
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Filled with captivating stories that draw inspiration from the world of film and TV, The American No is the engrossing first fiction collection from the beloved actor and author of To the End of the World and Vanished Years.
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The Norwegian maestro delivers an engrossing sequel to The Morning Star, mining familial bonds, human connection and the way the past keeps shaping the present through the story of two half-siblings, one living in Norway and one in Russia.
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The beloved comedian and author of Ayoade on Top and The Grip of Film delivers another pitch-perfect pastiche with this delicious account of a little-known and blazingly pretentious writer, poet and filmmaker.
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Return to Dream Harbor at Christmastime in the third of Gilmore's bestselling romance series, as a grumpy Christmas tree farm owner begins to thaw when in contact with a hot holidaymaker.
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Spanning six decades of the double Booker-winner's extraordinary poetic career, Paper Boat confirms Atwood as one of contemporary literature's most versatile and accomplished voices.
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The poetic national treasure gathers together five decades worth of warm, witty and dazzlingly clever verse in this definitive collection.
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A new thriller from the pen of Paula 'The Girl on the Train' Hawkins is always a major literary event and The Blue Hour is a dazzling return to form set on a remote Scottish island. Fellow big hitters Ian Rankin and Lee Child spin more compelling cases for Rebus and Reacher respectively, whilst Nick Harkaway follows in his father John le Carre's footsteps with a brand new George Smiley novel.  

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A truly unputdownable thriller from the bestselling author of The Girl on the Train and A Slow Fire Burning that pitches three people on a Scottish tidal island into a nightmare when a bone at the centre of a sculpture turns out to be human.
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The twenty-fifth page-turning instalment in the mega-selling series from the king of tartan noir finds Inspector John Rebus embroiled in a terrifying game of cat-and-mouse, as he is forced to join the crowd of Edinburgh's deadliest criminals.
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Reacher finds himself the captive of a gang who have some very disturbing plans in this rollercoaster ride of a thriller from Lee and Andrew Child.
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Nick Harkaway - John le Carré's son - returns readers to the shadowy world of George Smiley in this enthralling slice of espionage fiction, which introduces the redoubtable agent's steely nemesis in a page-turning plot of deceit and danger.
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From the bestselling queen of hard-edged crime thrillers comes a page-turning story of violence and betrayal, as the owner of a women's refuge starts investigating the disappearance of local prostitutes.
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The gripping sixth instalment in Connelly's bestselling series featuring Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch, The Waiting finds the pair on the heels of terrifying serial rapist.
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Whether you're a fan of cosy, wintry romantasy or darkly fantastical psychogeography with occult leanings, there is something to tickle your literary tastebuds as both Stephanie Garber and Alan Moore deliver unputdownable new novels. Meanwhile, get used to the name M.L. Wang, as on the evidence of their electrifying debut, Blood Over Bright Haven, they are going to be a fixture of dark academia fantasy for some time. 

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Featuring clockwork boys, poisoned candy and impish snow globes, this enchanting holiday novella set in the bestselling world of Garber's Caraval series is a heartwarming delight from start to finish.
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The opening instalment in the Long London series, The Great When finds the creative genius behind Watchmen, From Hell and Jerusalem weave an intricate tale of sorcerers, booksellers and the occult in a mystical version of the capital.
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Dark academia at its most intoxicating, Blood Over Bright Haven finds a slighted highmage and a hunter-turned-janitor join forces in a quest to uncover the deadly secrets swirling around the University of Magics and Industry.
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The mega-selling author of the Atlas Six series delivers a luminous collection of short stories that take the reader on mesmerising journeys through revised fairytales, present day heists and absurdist poetry.
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A decade after Vandermeer's acclaimed Southern Reach Trilogy comes the blockbuster fourth instalment, in which crucial questions are answered about the true nature of Area X.
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Say hello to movie legend Al Pacino's fascinating memoir Sonny Boy this month, alongside the autobiography of a true pop survivor in Rick Astley's Never and the raw, poignant and eye-opening last testament of Lisa Marie Presley. 

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Movie legends don't get much bigger than Al Pacino and in this appropriately cinematic love letter to the actor's craft the star of The Godfather and Scarface reflects on a career at the apex of Hollywood.
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The thoughtful and revealing memoir from the 80s pop icon who became a 21st century national treasure, Never charts Rick Astley's complex journey through fame, shame and ultimate acclaim.
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The uncompromising and charismatic pop star tells the story of a life lived to the fullest in this dynamic memoir suffused with a love of family, community and music.
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A fascinating window into the last decade of John Lennon's life and his relationship with Yoko Ono from the music insider and friend who knew them best.
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Confronting a difficult decade with charming candour and engaging wit, Hart's memoir-cum-self-help manual is essential reading for all fans of the beloved comedian.
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A truly fascinating and deeply moving window into one of the most iconic families in the world, Lisa Marie Presley's memoir - recorded on hours of tape and compiled by her daughter Riley Keough after Lisa Marie's death - makes for raw, emotive and utterly compelling reading.
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One of the nation's best loved actors recounts her inspiring and exhilarating journey from Liverpool to drama school in London and a succession of stellar roles from Abigail's Party to Gavin and Stacey.
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The popular comedian recounts her rites of passage through the male-dominated, nicotine-stained stand-up circuit of the 1980s in this side-splitting and scabrously funny snapshot of a vanished era.
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Combining heartwarming memoir with uplifting positive thinking guide, this volume from the legendary actor behind Del Boy Trotter focuses on Jason's famous optimistic outlook and how it has served him well throughout his career.
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Recounting the aftermath of Kureishi's horrific fall on Boxing Day 2022 that left him paralysed, Shattered is a bracingly candid and deeply moving series of dispatches from the acclaimed author's hospital bed, as dictated to various family members.
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From exploring haunted houses to interviewing psychics, actor and comedian Daisy May Cooper explores all things spooky as well as her own relationship with the paranormal in this entertaining volume.
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October sees the final publication from the much-loved Hairy Bikers, following the sad passing of Dave Myers, covering some of the duo's favourite comforting recipes from throughout their career. Elsewhere, the ever-reliable Mary Berry serves up more delicious dishes and Hollywood star and author of Taste Stanley Tucci reflects on a year of culinary highlights.   

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The acclaimed actor and author of Taste reveals the importance of food in his life as he takes readers through a year of family meals, delicious dishes consumed on film sets and much more.
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Completed by Si King after the sad passing of his fellow Biker Dave Myers, Our Family Favourites showcases the comforting dishes that the beloved duo most enjoyed during their time together.
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Catering for home cooks with any level of experience, this indispensable recipe collection from national treasure Mary Berry brims with easy supper delights, along with cooking tips and techniques.
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Mob
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Focusing on affordability, ease and maximum flavour, the much-loved Mob Kitchen team delivers over a hundred new recipes from vodka orzotto to coffee-roasted pork belly that can be cooked in just one pan.
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The founder of ZOE and author of Food for Life and Spoon-Fed serves up over 100 delicious recipes for optimal gut health in this essential cookbook.
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Seeking to restore readers' lust for life and sense of agency, the bestselling author of Women Don't Owe You Pretty instils the truth that female bodies are to be lived in rather than looked at in this empowering volume.
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From footballing heroes like Martin Keown and Geoff Hurst to more combustible views courtesy of F1's inimitable Guenther Steiner, there are sport books fit for champions coming your way this month.  

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Chronicling his incredible decade at Team Haas, Guenther Steiner's compelling and candid memoir is packed with entertaining stories from the very top of the Formula One world.
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Highly respected as both Arsenal and England defender and also footballing pundit, Martin Keown delivers his eagerly awaited autobiography reflecting on his eventful life and career.
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Reflecting on both the unprecedented success and significance of the 1966 World Cup-winning England team and the bittersweet aftermath of such a colossal victory, Geoff Hurst's poignant, inspiring memoir is full of anecdotes and memories about some of the nation's most iconic footballers.
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Filled with powerful reflection and insight from the much-missed former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, A Beautiful Game charts his path from a small football club in his native Sweden to competing at the very top of the game and ultimately receiving his devastating cancer diagnosis.
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In this insightful memoir that doubles as a captivating love letter to cricket, the broadcasting legend reflects on his childhood in the Caribbean, his extensive journalistic career and the passion for the game that has always accompanied him.
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Both a chronicle of a stellar footballing career and an intimate and courageous account of the fallout from the Ukraine War, Believe is Oleksandr Zinchenko's inspiring sporting memoir.
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The author of true crime cornerstone The Suspicions of Mr Whicher returns this October with a thoroughly engrossing account of the murders at 10 Rillington Place and the notorious miscarriage of justice which occurred as a result. In politics, the eagerly awaited autobiography of former PM Boris Johnson lands, as does the haunting and inspiring memoir from the late Alexei Navalny.    

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As relentlessly compelling as the most page-turning fiction, this true story of murder, sensation and miscarriages of justice in 1950s Britain is another tour de force of historical recreation from the author of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher.
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From the Romans to the Nazis, the genius behind Horrible Histories retells the story of Britain in hilarious yet always enlightening prose, through our relationships with our bitterest enemies.
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From Brexit to Covid and beyond, the former Prime Minister reflects on his turbulent premiership in this memoir of Westminster power politics.
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The only meaningful opposition to Putin until his death in a Russian prison in February 2024, Navalny recounts the turbulent events of his life and issues a clarion call to continue the struggle for change in this landmark memoir begun shortly after his near-fatal poisoning.
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In this authoritative and eye-opening book, the twice Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist chronicles one of the most dramatic periods in recent American politics, exploring the challenging decisions resting on President Biden in relation to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
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The Conservative peer and Britain's first Muslim cabinet minister delivers a trenchant and impassioned polemic against the rising tide of Islamophobia in the UK and elucidates how to challenge this toxic bigotry.
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Filled to the brim with satirical skewerings of the highest calibre, the Private Eye's annual collection sheds unsparing light on the absurdity of political life once more.
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A quarter of a century on from The Tipping Point - one of the books that helped define the smart thinking genre - Malcolm Gladwell analyses the extent to which things have changed in the essential Revenge of the Tipping Point. Meanwhile in nature writing, the incomparable John Lewis-Stempel hymns the diversity of British wildlife, James Rebanks recounts his experiences in the Vega archipelago and comedian Bill Bailey pays tribute to the amazing animals he has known.  

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Returning to the themes of the seminal The Tipping Point twenty-five years after its original publication, Gladwell's revelatory volume examines modern society's turbocharged epidemics and how tipping points must be taken seriously if we want to create a better world.
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From coast to moor and park to village, the acclaimed naturalist and author of Meadowland weaves an elegant natural history of England in luminous prose.
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In this mesmerising meditation on friendship, the past and redemption, the award-winning author of The Shepherd's Life and English Pastoral recounts the story of his transformative encounter with an old woman living in the Vega archipelago off the North coast of Norway.
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More hilarious agricultural agony for Jeremy Clarkson and his ramshackle farming enterprise, as crops fail, animals rebel and petty bureaucracy continues to get in the way.
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A perfect gift for all bird and nature lovers, this gorgeous volume from Jim Moir is filled with more of his stunning bird paintings combined with fascinating facts about each feathered friend.
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From terriers to the orangutans of Sumatra, the beloved comedian, actor and musician shares hilarious and moving stories of important animals in his life in this endlessly entertaining memoir.
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Heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure, Dogs and Their Humans revisits a wide range of canine cases from Noel 'Supervet' Fitzpatrick's consulting room.
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The journalist and author of the bestselling Ruskin Park delivers a moving and hopeful account of how he and his family, after losing their beloved Collie Cross, opened their hearts and home to a Romanian rescue dog.
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An irresistible union of art and anecdotes from a titan of comedy and an endlessly fascinating chronicle of British Vogue lead the charge for art and fashion publishing this October.   

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Bringing together both Billy Connolly's evocative artwork and his wonderful stories, this stunning volume is the perfect showcase for the unique imagination of the legendary comedian.
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The definitive account of a fashion institution, this stunningly presented volume traces the full story of British Vogue from the trauma of two world wars through the Swinging Sixties and onto today's supermodel stars.
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