The Best Books to Read in July: New Paperbacks from Andrew O’Hagan, Miriam Toews, and Oyinkan Braithwaite

In a season marked by an increasing obsession with escapism, four new novels offer unflinching gazes into the abyss that lies within and around us. Among them are Oyinkan Braithwaite’s Cursed Daughters, Michael Clune’s Pan, Hal Ebbott’s Among Friends, and Alice Jolly’s The Matchbox Girl.

Braithwaite’s novel is a gripping exploration of family secrets and the curse that binds three generations of women in Nigeria. The Falodun curse becomes a metaphor for the devastating consequences of patriarchal power and its destructive influence on even the strongest bonds between women. Braithwaite raises important questions about the legacy of trauma, how it can shape individuals and communities, and the complex interplay between family history, cultural context, and personal identity.

In contrast to the intense focus on family secrets in Cursed Daughters, Michael Clune’s Pan delves into the dark world of mental health. This debut novel tells the story of Nicholas, a 15-year-old boy struggling with adolescence and mental illness, who becomes convinced he is being possessed by the god Pan. The result is a chaotic descent into despair that raises important questions about the vulnerabilities of adolescents and their susceptibility to false idols.

Hal Ebbott’s Among Friends takes a more nuanced approach to human relationships. On its surface, it appears to be a heartwarming tale about male friendship, but as the story unfolds, it reveals a darker reality. The novel explores power dynamics, consent, and the ways in which even our closest relationships can be fraught with danger.

Finally, Alice Jolly’s The Matchbox Girl offers a haunting portrayal of children living in a Vienna hospital during World War II. Adelheid Brunner, the novel’s fierce narrator, is a force to be reckoned with, her determination to thrive in a world that seeks to discard her inspiring and heartbreaking. Jolly raises important questions about humanity and what makes us destroy our own kind through her exploration of Asperger’s research on autism and its connections to the rise of Nazism.

These four novels offer a much-needed antidote to the darkness that lies within and around us, reminding us that human relationships are complex, multifaceted, and often fraught with danger. But they also show us that it is through our most intimate connections that we find our humanity – and our capacity for both good and evil.

In a world increasingly obsessed with escapism and distraction, these novels force us to confront the shadows that lie at the heart of human relationships. They are a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope for redemption, forgiveness, and a chance to start anew.