April's Literary Highlights: A Curated Selection of New Releases
Martin Chilton presents his reading recommendations for April, showcasing a diverse range of titles from historical exposés to speculative fiction. This month's list includes thought-provoking non-fiction, an insightful biography, and a daring novel that promises to captivate avid readers.
Compelling Non-Fiction: Uncovering Hidden Histories
The Magdalene Laundries & Ireland's Legacy of Silence by Louise Brangan delivers a powerful examination of Ireland's institutional abuse of women. Dr Brangan meticulously documents how Catholic-run laundries operated as detention centers for so-called "fallen women," with the last facility remaining open until 1996. The author condemns the ongoing silence surrounding this dark chapter, describing it as "a villainous act" that continues to suppress victims' voices.
Rosa Campbell's The Book That Taught the World to Orgasm and then Disappeared: Shere Hite and the Hite Report explores the controversial 1972 study that revolutionized discussions about female sexuality. Campbell traces Hite's journey from Playboy model to feminist researcher, detailing how her findings about heterosexual women's sexual dissatisfaction shocked America and ultimately led to her cancellation by conservative forces.
For bibliophiles, Nicholas Royle's Finders, Keepers: The Secret Life of Second-Hand Books offers an engaging look at the world of book collecting, revealing the hidden stories behind pre-owned volumes.
Novel of the Month: Boyhood by David Keenan
David Keenan's Boyhood opens with the 1979 abduction of a young boy outside a Glasgow football ground, then shifts nine years later to focus on his brother Aaron Murray, who possesses "The Precious Gift" of remote viewing. Aaron's visions transport readers from wartime Paris to 1970s Ireland, Mexico City, and 1980s Glasgow, weaving together soldiers, poets, gangsters, and a child killer in a complex narrative tapestry.
Keenan creates a sprawling, multilayered novel that celebrates Glasgow's wild spirit and distinctive dialect. While intentionally politically incorrect and filled with brutal violence and explicit content, the book captures youth's resilience with lyrical grace. Memorable moments include a poignant failed Paris weekend that leaves a character reflecting on blurred boundaries between countries and people.
The novel features clever cultural references, including a police officer's sarcastic response to a hostage situation: "What do you think this is, f***ing Taggart?" Despite occasional strained similes, Boyhood remains a challenging, unconventional work that explores how minor life events can hold major significance.
Biography of the Month: Muriel Spark's Complex Legacy
James Bailey's Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark provides a comprehensive study of the Edinburgh-born author, published around the 20th anniversary of her death at 88. Bailey examines Spark's literary experimentation and public image, noting "there is still something of the monster to Spark's public image."
The biography explores Spark's fascination with cats—she adopted Patricia Highsmith's pet and named her own felines "One-Eyed Riley" and "Pinot Grigio"—and how this influenced her writing philosophy. She compared her character treatment to how "a cat loves a bird," explaining they "love to fondle them."
Bailey doesn't shy from Spark's flaws, including her mean-spirited tendencies, while offering astute analysis of works like Memento Mori, where elderly characters receive mysterious calls reminding them of mortality. Though following Frances Wilson's excellent 2025 biography, Bailey explores different aspects of Spark's elusive genius, making this a valuable addition for literary enthusiasts.
Non-Fiction of the Month: Investigating UFO Beliefs
Daniel Lavelle's Chasing Aliens: Faith and Conspiracy in the UFO Heartlands takes readers on a journey through "America's superstition and conspiracy belt." The Orwell Prize-winning journalist blends sardonic wit with genuine curiosity as he investigates ufology, from ancient Roman sightings to modern claims.
Lavelle examines celebrity encounters—Kurt Russell's Phoenix sighting, Dan Aykroyd's multiple UFO experiences—and significant incidents like the Rendlesham Forest event near RAF Woodbridge, which some believers consider more important than Roswell. He also explores former intelligence officer David Grusch's claims about football field-sized UFOs in government possession.
With 41% of Americans believing aliens have visited Earth, Lavelle contextualizes this desperate need for belief beyond "the rather inadequate human race." He addresses concerning aspects like alleged abduction experiences and how QAnon influencers use UFO communities to expand their audiences. Expert Jason Colavito argues that "right-wing extremists use UFO conspiracies as a kind of gateway drug" to broader conspiracy theories.
Lavelle presents theories about government use of "fake alien stories" to conceal advanced military technology, ultimately letting readers draw their own conclusions about extraterrestrial possibilities in a universe with an estimated 50 sextillion habitable planets.
Publication Details
Boyhood by David Keenan publishes 9 April by White Rabbit (£25). Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark by James Bailey publishes 16 April by Sceptre (£20). Chasing Aliens: Faith and Conspiracy in the UFO Heartlands by Daniel Lavelle publishes 30 April by Viking (£20).
