Collins Booksellers Christmas Reading Guide 2016 Collins Booksellers Christmas Reading Guide 2016 | Page 6

6 Visit us today! collinsbooks.com.au FICTION THE BIRDMAN’S WIFE THE SPY Melissa Ashley RRP $32.99 Paulo Coelho RRP $29.99 Inspired by letters from John Gould’s wife, Elizabeth, The Birdman’s Wife recreates the life of a woman whose talent and adventurous spirit led her from the salons of London to the wilds of a new land. It brings to life another time, as Elizabeth struggles with the demands of her own art, her children and living with genius. From the acclaimed and bestselling author Paolo Coehlo, The Spy tells the unforgettable story of Mata Hari, a woman who dared to break the conventions of her time and paid the price. DUE 22ND NOVEMBER ON THE BLUE TRAIN GOODWOOD Kristel Thornell RRP $29.99 Holly Throsby RRP $29.99 What really did happen to Agatha Christie during her mysterious eleven-day disappearance just as she was on the cusp of fame? In this entrancing novel of creativity and grief, Kristel Thornell writes of Agatha Christie’s retreat from a life that had become too difficult. FIFTH AVENUE ARTISTS SOCIETY Joy Callaway RRP $29.99 Devastated after being jilted by the boy next door, Ginny Loftin turns to writing. But it is among the painters, musicians, actors and other writers she meets at a Fifth Avenue salon that she finds new purpose and a second chance at love. Rich in character and complexity, Goodwood is a compelling ride into a small community, torn apart by dark rumours and mystery. This is a delightful novel of secrets and small town obsessions from singer/songwriter, Holly Throsby. WEDDING BUSH ROAD David Francis RRP $29.99 When Daniel, an Australian lawyer based in Los Angeles, is called back to his family’s farm, he has to contend not only with a philandering father and a sick mother, but also the burden of memory. Wedding Bush Road is a stunning novel about the choices we make and the inevitable pull of home. DUE 1ST DECEMBER DUE 1ST DECEMBER DUE 1ST DECEMBER THE GERMAN GIRL THE BEST OF ADAM SHARP Armando Lucas Correa RRP $29.99 Graeme Simsion RRP $29.99 Before everything changed, Hannah Rosenthal lived a charmed life. But now the streets of Berlin are draped in swastikas and Hannah is no longer welcome in the places she once considered home. A glimmer of hope appears in the shape of the St Louis, a transatlantic liner that promises Jews safe passage to Cuba… Adam Sharp has a loyal partner. He has the lifestyle he wanted, but something’s missing. Years ago he had a relationship with Angelina Brown but he didn’t continue with it. Now he wonders what might have been. Then, Angelina gets in touch. What does she want? Does Adam dare to live dangerously? How far will he go for a second chance? THE BLIND ASTRONOMER’S DAUGHTER SKYLARKING John Pipkin RRP $27.99 Kate Mildenhall RRP $24.99 The Blind Astronomer’s Daughter is a novel of lives torn between personal desire and historical urgency, set in a time of fiery rebellion and stunning scientific advancement - intricate, lushly rendered, and unforgettable. Kate and Harriet are best friends living on an isolated cape in the 1880s. The two girls share everything, until a fisherman, McPhail, arrives in their small community. When desire flares up between him and Harriet, Kate is torn by her feelings of envy and longing. Ultimately, a moment of skylarking will change the course of their lives forever.