13 Shiniest Debut Books of 2018

2018 should be renamed the ‘Year of Debuts’. It showcased the best new talent in the literary scene. In fact the first half of the year was simply incredible and my favourites list had a majority of debut novels.  I discovered so many new writers last year and this might be the first year I have such a big backlog of novels by debut writers.

PS: If you are interested in the new releases, I listed 15 Best Books of 2018 in a piece for Huffington Post India last month.

Here are the stunning debut novels (there’s one non fiction titles too; I could not resist) of the year:

1.Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan

Rainbirds was a gorgeous debut about a man coming into terms with the death of his sister. With a Murakami-esque vibe, the novel explore grief and loneliness in a slow burning prose. It is a novel ‘about quiet agony’. (Check review).

2.The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock was one of the most enjoyable books of 2018. It is historical romp through 1700s told through lyrical, atmospheric prose. A widower, who loses his  merchant vessel in exchange of what appears to be a mermaid meets a courtesan is trying to make her future secure. This debut was a ‘visual treat’ (Check review).

3.The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

The BEST historical fantasy of 2018 (here is why). With opium, shamans, gods, and a military academy that trains only the best in the country, this gory, bloody fantasy just keeps you turning pages one after the other.

4.A Place for us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

Fatima’s debut was the much celebrated book from Sarah Jessica Parker’s new publishing imprint. The book is deliciously slow and follows siblings and their relationship. It opens with a wedding scene and is told in a series of flash backs. It delicately handles ‘themes of belonging and alienation in one’s own family’ (Check review).

5.The Girl who smiled Beads by Clementine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil

In 1994, Clementine and her fifteen-year-old sister, Claire, fled the Rwandan massacre. They spent the next six years wandering through seven African countries until granted asylum by the United States. This book based on real life will make you tear up with with the brutality of war, abuse and hunger, life in refugee camps, and how reunions after a war are more complicated than you think.

6.Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday

Asymmetry is an exploration of love, age, memory and politics. The novel, true to its name, is ‘a jagged look at life and fiction’ (Check review). This might be a hit or miss because of its unique style of storytelling.

7.The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon

R. O. Kwon’s debut is dizzying, just like its colourful cover design. Will has given up his faith in Christianity while Phoebe is drawn to a secret extremist religious cult called Jejah, founded by a former student, John Leal. The Incendiaries explores ‘ faith and fundamentalism and the impact of religious principles on relationships’.

8.The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan

Leigh, half Asian half white, is certain that her mother turned into a bird when she committed suicide. She travels to Taiwan and chases ghosts, learns family secrets and finds solace. One of the best YA novels that explore grief through magical realism.

9.Latitudes of Longing by Shubhangi Swarup

Shubhangi Swarup’s debut is an ambitious novel set in Andaman and Nicobar islands, Karakoram peaks, Kashmir and Bhutan. It is a symphony of man and nature, told in slow and imaginative prose.

10.Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone topped so many lists in 2018. Set in Africa, the novel follows Zelie, who wants to bring back magic and revolt against the monarchy. With characters ‘on the run’ against the enemies, the book is a good foundation for the second novel, which perhaps might feature more magic.

11.The Hazel wood by Melissa Albert

Alice’s mother is kidnapped by someone from Hinterland, the supernatural, fictional world created by her late grandmother. Alice must travel to the land of dark fairy tales with nothing but her grandmother’s book of fairy tales to guide her. I enjoyed the read but I did not love it as much as I hoped to.

12.Vox by Christina Dalcher

Set in a dystopian America where women cannot speak more than 100 words a day, this novel is guaranteed to be one that you will finish in a single setting. It is scary and eerily a possible reality, and perhaps a little too similar to Atwood’s The Handmaid’s tale.

13.Educated by Tara Westover

Sneakily adding a non fiction title to the list. This memoir of a girl who was denied education leaves her survivalist family to graduate the doctoral programme at Cambridge. Very inspiring!

AND MORE!!
Here are some other notable debuts of 2018. I have not finished reading all of them all but they are all on my radar. I am immensely enjoying Friday Black, reading one story in between other books. I have been reading/listening to the rest which reminds me I should NOT read too many books at a time because they all sit unfinished. I’ve not picked up Bearskin and Where the Crawdads sing and neither am I sure that they will suit my taste. But the reviews have certainly gotten me interested.

1. 1. Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah : Speculative stories about violence and racism encountered by black people
   2. Everything is Beautiful by Mira. T. Lee : An immigrant story of two sisters; a young woman’s quest to find fulfilment inspite of her illness
   3. The Ensemble by Aja Gabel : Set in the world of high level musicians, The Ensemble talks about friendship, ambition and youth.
   4. There, There by Tommy Orange : Tommy Orange explores what it means to be a Native American in the 21^st century with this multi generational novel.
   5. Bearskin by James A. McLaughlin : Set in the beauty of Applachia, the book is about the horrors of bear killing and exposing poachers.
   6. Where the Crawdads sing by Delia Owens : Set in 1950s and 1960s in North Carolina, this book is an ode to the natural world and a girl whom the locals call ‘Marsh girl’.
   7. If you leave me by Crystal Hanna Kim : The story of two ill-fated lovers in Korea and the choices they’re forced to make in the years surrounding the civil war.
   8. A thousand perfect notes by C. G. Drews : I was so excited that Cait’s debut was published in 2018. It is blurbed as a ’emotionally charged story of music, abuse and hope’. I hope to read it soon but it has already gotten such raving reviews. Also, this book is testament to how a blogger and writer achieved her dreams. I have been following Cait (aka Paper Fury) for so long that it is surreal to know that she chased her dreams and got them right.

NOT-MY-KIND:

The following debuts were well received but I did not enjoy them much. In fact except for Ponti, which I read for more than three fourth the book, the others were DNF-ed quite early into the books.

• The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn

Every major book list has this book as a notable read. The story of a wife peeping into the neighbour’s house and seeing something she should not have did not make me feel interested enough to keep turning pages (To be honest, I did not reach the part where she ‘sees what she shouldn’t have’. So I left in unfinished. Maybe I would give it a try once again, because the hype is never ending. Or better, if a TV adaptation comes out, I’d choose that.

• A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua

A pregnant, Chinese mom who lived in a secret maternity home in LA tries to make her way to California to live the American dream. I was intrigued by the premise, but it felt like a repetition of the usual narratives of immigrant stories without memorable characters; so I DNF-ed.

• Ponti by Sharlele Teo

Alternating between three timelines and characters, this is a story of friendship and memory. I might revisit this novel because I feel I read it at the wrong time.

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