{"id":129669,"date":"2020-08-31T12:56:10","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T01:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/?p=129669"},"modified":"2020-09-01T12:00:09","modified_gmt":"2020-09-01T01:00:09","slug":"the-best-books-we-read-in-august-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/2020\/08\/31\/the-best-books-we-read-in-august-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Books We Read in August 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Best<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

From a French novel translated by Hollywood star Molly Ringwald to a thrilling history of Prague told by one of Australia’s most beloved broadcasters, here are the best books that Booktopia’s staff read in August 2020!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mark Harding \u2013 Brand & Content Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Lie With Me<\/a><\/em> by Philippe Besson & Molly Ringwald (Translator)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"9780241987094\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> This book was a bestseller and award-winner in France, and it\u2019s clear why. It\u2019s a beautifully told love story about a teenage affair that has deep repercussions for the narrator, who reflects on the events as an adult. Exploring teenage love, shame and sexuality through the melancholy lens of adulthood, this book is deeply moving and has been beautifully translated. I found myself highlighting lines and passages to look back on, and this is one that will stay with me for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Olivia Fricot \u2013 Senior Content Producer<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Olive<\/a><\/em> by Emma Gannon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> Fans of Marian Keyes will surely love to meet Olive, the heroine of Emma Gannon\u2019s eponymously-titled debut novel. What first appears to be another typical tale of a lost millennial blooms instead into a compelling story of a young woman struggling with the decision of whether or not to have children, while navigating the changes in her relationships with her three best friends. Gannon is a compassionate storyteller who handles the issues of motherhood and women\u2019s choice with warmth and a touch of humour. A lovely read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nick Wasiliev \u2013 Social Media Specialist<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Moonflower Murders<\/a><\/em> by Anthony Horowitz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> Moonflower Murders<\/em> unravels itself in a devilishly delightful style, with Horowitz\u2019s style feeling reminiscent of the great crime writers like Agatha Christie. While the story may not look to challenge and subvert expectations around this crime writing formula, it remembers what makes this style so effective in the first place. The book almost feels like a tribute to the golden age of crime novels, complete with a classic Poirot style ending! While some other attempts to stab at the traditional detective fiction tropes often fall into cliche or melodrama, Horowitz\u2019s focus on engaging storytelling makes this feel fun and fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ben Hunter \u2013 Fiction Category Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Tolstoy Estate<\/a><\/em> by Steven Conte<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it: <\/strong>This vibrant, intelligent and moving second novel from Steven Conte makes for unforgettable reading. Over six bitterly cold and bloody weeks during the doomed Nazi assault on Russia, a German field hospital is established at Yasnaya Polyana – the country estate of the late Leo Tolstoy. Surgeon Paul Bauer, an honest man caught up in an industrial death machine, is forced to keep the peace between hostile Russian writer Katerina Trubetzkaya, the estate’s caretaker, and his Commanding Officer, Julius Metz, who is operating on a heady cocktail of German pharmaceuticals and Nazi ideology. It’s a story of death, unlikely connections, encounters with ghosts, and a bittersweet romance powered by the ethereal magic of literature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joel Naoum – Non-Fiction Category Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Golden Maze: A Biography of Prague<\/a><\/em> by Richard Fidler<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> This is a fascinating and engaging mix of history, mythology, myth-busting and ephemera. If you\u2019ve ever been even vaguely interested in Prague, the Czech Republic or European history then this is the book for you. Spanning the years from Prague\u2019s mythological beginning through the medieval period and into the modern day, this book investigates Prague as a crossroads of Europe – a crown to be won, a melting pot, and a people who are fierce, independent and unique in European history. With Fidler\u2019s trademark wit and beautiful turns of phrase, he elevates this history into a personal voyage – and given it\u2019s the only voyage anyone’s likely to be going on right now, it was definitely welcome. Highly recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shanulisa Prasad \u2013 Lifestyle Books Category Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Erasure Initiative<\/a><\/em> by Lili Wilkinson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"9781760525057\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> \u201cA girl wakes up on a self-driving bus. She has no memory of how she got there or who she is. The six other people on the bus are just like her: no memories, only nametags …<\/em>\u201d As soon as I read the premise of this book, I was hooked and I was not disappointed! It\u2019s hard to write about this book without spoiling it, so all I will say is that the plot unfolds in unexpected directions and in a very satisfying way. A gripping YA thriller of the highest order from master of the genre Lili Wilkinson. I thoroughly recommend it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Renae Adolfson \u2013 Books Team Coordinator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom<\/a><\/em> by John Boyne<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"9780857526205\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> This epic narrative had me intrigued from the start, as it follows an unnamed narrator who is reincarnated repeatedly over the period of two millennia. Despite the variations in character names that occur with every movement through time and place, the relationships and pursuits of each character remain the same. Showcasing how certain ambitions and emotions are timeless, transcending both time and place, and reasserting the existence of destiny, John Boyne\u2019s latest book is a marvel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cassandra Sharpe \u2013 Merchandising Coordinator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong<\/a><\/em> by Prudence Shen & Faith Erin Hicks (Illustrator)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"9781596436596\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it: <\/strong>Charlie and Nate\u2019s low-key friendship takes a turn when an unexpected race for student president becomes a prank war. Nate\u2019s robotics club needs money for the finals – but so do the cheerleaders. Shen nails every comedic beat as things escalate between the pair, while Hicks\u2019 art style gives the crew personality with thick lines and lifelike expressions. I read this in one sitting and definitely recommend it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Robert O\u2019Hearn \u2013 Academic & Professional Category Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Eat the Buddha: Life and Death in a Tibetan Town<\/a><\/em> by Barbara Demick<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"9781925498783\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> Award-winning journalist Barbara Demick\u2019s previous book, Nothing to Envy<\/em>, was a breathtaking and moving insight into the lives of North Koreans based on interviews with over 100 defectors. Eat the Buddha<\/em> applies a similar eye to the Tibetan people of Ngaba, Sichuan Province, presenting a sweeping history of the last century. Ngaba town today has been so utterly crushed by Chinese rule that it is the world capital of self-immolation. The once thriving culture has been destroyed and replaced by a ruthless police state, dispossessing the original people. Like Wild Swans<\/em>, this chilling book will enrage and sadden you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ashleigh Berry \u2013 Campaigns Coordinator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Safe Place<\/a><\/em> by Anna Downes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"9781925972658\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> This is an incredibly suspenseful read that thrusts you into the epicentre of tension. Emily is offered a job in France at a remote estate as a live-in assistant. This is almost too good to be true\u2026 The idyllic life soon turns sour as Emily uncovers treacherous secrets held deep. The Safe Place<\/em> is a heart-racing page turner that keeps you alert with twists and unease – an impressive debut thriller from Anna Downes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What was the best book you read in August 2020? Tell us below!<\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Books by Richard Fidler, Lili Wilkinson, John Boyne and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":129714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[6678],"tags":[11629,11838,629,11837,11836,11829,11835,1974,2851,11825,6924,11827,11755,7172,11833,11828,11826,11834,4484,7524,11831,10219,11832,11690,11527,11830,6644],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/BestBooksAugust-Social.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129669"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=129669"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":129767,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129669\/revisions\/129767"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/129714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=129669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=129669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=129669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}