I’m Sorry You Feel That Way
Rebecca Wait
Riverrun, £16.99, pp400
Sisters Alice and Hanna have spent their lives negotiating the mercurial tendencies of their manipulative mother. Hanna has escaped abroad, while Alice has perfected the role of the responsible daughter. When Hanna returns home for their aunt’s funeral, the sisters are forced to confront their family’s dysfunctions. Rebecca Wait’s highly entertaining fourth novel is a masterclass in familial tensions, told with razor-sharp dialogue, wit and emotional insight.
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals
Steve Brusatte
Picador, £20, pp528
Following on from The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, paleontologist Steve Brusatte turns his attention to mammals. Contrary to popular belief, they did not emerge after the demise of the dinosaurs but coexisted alongside them and share a common ancestor. Brusatte, who reveals the fascinating story of mammalian evolution and the history of paleontological discoveries, is an impassioned guide and the result is a highly engaging work of popular science.
The Glitter in the Green: In Search of Hummingbirds
Jon Dunn
Bloomsbury, £10.99, pp336 (paperback)
Jon Dunn’s avian odyssey takes him across America, from Alaska (where hummingbirds arrived from Siberia by way of a land bridge) to Tierra del Fuego, in search of different types of hummingbird. Part travelogue, part natural history guide, the book addresses the development of the birds and their place in different cultures, alongside the future of the species given humanity’s impact on their habitats. A beautifully rich account of one of nature’s miniature wonders.
• To order I’m Sorry You Feel That Way, The Rise and Reign of the Mammals or The Glitter in the Green go to guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply
