Otherworldly Reads: 6 titles that will transport you to other worlds
“Books are a portal to another world, but they lead to other places too.” – Willow Winters. Jennifer McShane recommends six immersive stories.
A group of lost souls stumbles upon Mai Mochizuki’s The Full Moon Coffee Shop (Brazen, approx €16.99), a spot run by talking cats under a sparkling Kyoto moon. Each visitor – a struggling screenwriter, a stuck movie director, or a hopeful hairstylist – receives cryptic advice from the cats, helping them find their way with a touch of magic. A quirky, heartwarming page-turner.
The exciting world of Ladies Gaelic Football is not for the fainthearted. Unladylike (New Island Books, approx €16.99) explores the sport’s early struggles and the founding of the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) in 1974, leading to fifty years of incredible growth. Richly illustrated and deeply researched, the book celebrates everyone who has played a part in the sport’s journey so far.
In Jodi Picoult’s By Any Other Name (Michael Joseph, approx €17.99), the stage is set for a tale of two playwrights: Emilia Bassano in 1581 and modern-day Melina Green both fight for their voices in a male-dominated theatre world. Emilia writes secretly under a man’s name, while Melina battles for her play in New York. To be or not to be? That is the question.
Fia and the Last Snow Deer (Penguin, approx €17.99), by Eilish Fisher is an enchanting verse novel set in prehistoric Ireland. Fia and her snow deer, Solas, share a deep bond. As her village faces eternal winter, Fia defies an ancient prophecy and embarks on a perilous journey to save Solas and bring back the sun. An otherworldly debut.
Is there any literary universe quite like J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings (HarperCollins, approx €9.99)? It’s a trilogy that becomes more absorbing as the darker evenings set in, as Sam and Frodo set off on their life-altering journey to destroy the one ring. So vivid are the characters, you’ll truly forget your own troubles for a time.
If there’s one Irish author who instantly transports you into the realm of whodunnit and then twists that on its head, it’s Amanda Cassidy. In her third outing, The Perfect Place (Canelo Press, approx €13.99), Elle Littlewood, a home interiors influencer, seizes the chance to buy a château in France, perfect for her social media. But behind her glamorous posts lies a dark past she’d do anything to keep hidden. A perfect (pun intended) gripping, modern-day thriller.
This article originally appeared in the Autumn 2024 issue of IMAGE.
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