2014 was a fantastic year for new books by some of my favourite authors including ‘Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage‘ by Haruki Murakami, ‘The Paying Guests‘ by Sarah Waters, ‘Us‘ by David Nicholls and ‘The Book of Strange New Things‘ by Michel Faber. 2015 is also shaping up to be a bumper year for long-awaited new novels from both established authors and debut novelists alike. Here are the ones to watch in 2015:
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson isn’t exactly a sequel to ‘Life After Life‘ which was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2013 but will be more of a companion novel focusing on Ursula Todd’s younger brother, Teddy. Due out in May, it hasn’t been confirmed yet if Teddy will live his life several times over like Ursula.
The Buried Giant will be Kazuo Ishiguro‘s first novel in a decade since ‘Never Let Me Go’ is due out in March. Set in a post-Arthurian Britain, it seems likely it will be just as mindbending as ‘The Unconsoled‘.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is tipped to be this year’s ‘Gone Girl’ and I will be posting my review later this month. Other debut novels to watch this year include The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer and Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper. I’m particularly intrigued by Disclaimer by Renee Knight which tells the story of a woman who starts reading a novel about a day in her own life twenty years ago.
Following the publication of a short story ‘The Strange Library’ in November, retranslations of two early novels by Haruki Murakami will make an appearance this autumn. Pinball,1973 and Hear the Wind Sing have both been out of print in English since the 1980s and original copies currently change hands for hundreds of pounds on eBay.
For crime fiction fans, the third novel Camille in the Camille Verhoeven trilogy by Pierre Lemaitre will also be out this spring. When ‘The Silkworm‘ was published last year, it was revealed that the third instalment of the Cormoran Strike series Robert Galbraith should be on its way soon. There hasn’t been any official confirmation from Little, Brown Book Group yet but hopefully this will make an appearance this year.
A date also hasn’t been confirmed yet for The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel to conclude her Thomas Cromwell trilogy but it is widely expected to be published next autumn.
Other novels by established names include family saga A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler out in February and Purity by Jonathan Franzen about a girl in search of her father’s identity. The novel will be out next autumn and reportedly moves away from Franzen’s usual realist style. Zadie Smith will also be back with a new novel Out of Place this summer.
Which books are you looking forward to reading in 2015 (new or old)?
A Little Blog of Books 
Great post. I love Anne Tyler so looking forward to that one.
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Me too! I really liked Breathing Lessons and I also have Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant on my TBR pile.
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I recommend The Accidental Tourist and Noah’s Compass. She’s written so many books which is great if you’re a fan! 🙂
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I didn’t know the next Robert Galbraith book was already finished! How exciting!
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That’s what I’ve heard – hoping for a summer release!
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I’m reading The Girl On The Train at the moment, so far a good read. I’m interested in the Anne Tyler too.
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I’ll be posting my review of The Girl on the Train this weekend – it’s a clever book with lots of twists.
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Wow, that’s some feast. I will be starting with the Flanagen’s Narrow Road to the Deep North, among others on my new pile, also Claire Fuller’s Our Endless Numbered Days, but I’ll add the new Ishiguro into the mix.
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I will definitely be reading the new Ishiguro. I’m not rushing out to read The Narrow Road to the Deep North but may investigate it at some point.
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Wow, didn’t know that “inside info” on the old Murakami works. I’ll keep my out for them. Thanks!
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I’m excited too 🙂 It’s great that they will be available to a wider audience and surprising that they haven’t been reprinted sooner given Murakami’s popularity.
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Good to know about a new book by Kate Atkinson. Thanks! Maybe that will be my birthday present in June :).
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Good choice! I like the idea of it being a companion novel rather than a sequel.
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Reblogged this on kdwilsonauthorblog.
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I believe there is a new Louis de Bernieres out this year which I’m excited about, I’ve read it is more like Captain Correlli etc than recent works like Notwithstanding which I didn’t much enjoy.
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I read Captain Corelli’s Mandolin when I was about 17 and enjoyed it but haven’t read any of his other books – sounds like it could be a return to form hopefully.
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Birds Without Wings is my favourite. V long and no one else I know but my husband likes it, but I think its a masterpiece.
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Really looking forward to the next Kate Atkinson! And super excited about Franzen’s upcoming book but I hope he hasn’t changed his style too much…
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Me too! And the new Franzen novel should be an interesting talking point. I preferred Freedom to The Corrections and would like to see what he does next.
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I’m halfway through an advance copy of The Buried Giant right now and am strangely in love with it. Ishiguro’s novels are always so different from one another, comparable only through the very English-ness that defines them. This one is strangely simple, but that makes it all the more compelling. I can’t wait to see it on shelves this year.
“The Strange Library” was very strange indeed, but I loved the new design Chip Kidd used on the American edition. Any newly available Murakamis are bound to be interesting. Thanks for the heads up!
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That’s great to hear about The Buried Giant! I’m looking forward to the Murakami novels too – it’s surprising they haven’t been made available sooner given how popular he is.
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Loved Murakami’s book this year. And will definitely try to read The Girl on the Train
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It’s a great read and I’m sure it will be everywhere – I’ll be posting my review this weekend 🙂
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I am so excited for the Kate Atkinson!
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Me too – I’m intrigued that it’s a companion novel rather than a sequel. I’m sure it won’t disappoint!
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I’ve just finished The Girl On The Train (at a ridiculous hour this morning!) and imho it will be massive. It’s getting a big push too on social media etc so I’ll expect to see it high in the bestseller lists for a bit…a new Jonathan Franzen? Well that was quicker! Sadie Smith will be interesting – I loved On Beauty, that’s my favourite of her’s. I think Disclaimer will be huge too – I’m trying to resist reading it before I should, but the fact that it provoked quite a bidding contest makes me want to have a peak. More Kate Atkinson is always good. And I MUST read the first two Robert Galbraith books – just haven’t got round to them! Will be looking forward to your thoughts on Girl On The Train.
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I agree The Girl On The Train will definitely be huge – I’ll be posting my review this weekend. Lots to look forward to this year!
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I enjoyed The Girl on the Train – not quite the new Gone Girl but not bad. I’ve just finished the Anne Tyler (my first!) and really enjoyed it, got so involved. Looking forward to The Buried Giant and Out of Place, among many others!
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I enjoyed The Girl on the Train – it’s a clever book and actually quite different from Gone Girl despite the hype. Lots to look forward to this year!
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Ooh! You’ve got a Kate Atkinson I haven’t heard of! I’m need to get it!
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Yes, I can’t wait for this one either! It will be interesting to see how a companion novel compares with Life After Life.
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It’s a companion to Life After Life? I haven’t read about it yet.
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The new Robert Galbraith for me. But: how can we ever keep up? my existing TBR pile is mountainous … sigh …
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I will be tackling my own TBR pile this year but there are so many new books to read too! I will try and strike a good balance between the two 🙂
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I’m looking forward to the ones by Kazuo Ishiguro, Milan Kundera, and Jon Ronson. Any luck we’ll have the 3rd and final installment of Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell Series? If so, I’m looking forward to that most of all!
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It’s possible it could be pushed back to 2016… but most of the big book releases are in the autumn so fingers crossed!
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Oh no! I hope it gets released this year.
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I’m looking froward to Toni Morrison’s new book, God Help the Child. I think it will be out in April.
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I’m really looking forward to Ann Tyler, Zadie Smith and Robert Galbraith, Patrick Gale and Sarah Winman are also on my radar!
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Thanks for these great tips for books coming out this year:I shall definitely go for Zadie Smith’s Out of Place as I loved On Beauty. I’m also looking forward to reading the second in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan trilogy,The Story of a New Name after loving her first, My Brilliant Friend. Also excited about the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize,-longlist published in March, shortlist in April.
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