“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than a book!”
– Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Just like Jane Austen said, for us bibliophiles, there is nothing more enjoyable than reading. We are lucky to live in a world where a plethora of books are available at our fingertips. With only a click of our mouse or a tap on our smartphones, we can access just about any book that we wish for. However, this was always not the case.
There was a time when reading was the privilege of only a select few. With the invention of the printing press, more books were made available. Still, there was just not enough. Censorship laws and a general prejudice against reading kept a large number of people away from books. It breaks my heart to think about all the valuable manuscripts that were burned just to appease some people in power.
We are fortunate that we do not have to go through this anymore. We are free to read any book that we want just like authors are free to write without the threat of persecution, at least figuratively. Naturally, we have a large number of books available. With the advent of self-publishing, more and more books are being published. Among this sea of literary treasures, there are indeed a lot of gems. One only needs to look carefully to get their hands on some astounding books written by contemporary authors.
Let us have a look at the new books of 2023 that became the winners and finalists of the prestigious BREW Book Excellence Award.
Table of Contents
Story and Structure by Leon Conrad
Award: BREW Book Excellence Award 2023 New Book Category Winner
Story and Structure is an innovative nonfiction book penned by the acclaimed literary stalwart Leon Conrad. The book depicts the importance of story and its structure in our daily lives. Conrad adopts George Spencer-Brown’s six symbols from Laws of Form to easily explain story structures. He uses simple diagrams to help us visualize the eighteen story structures and how they are relevant to our real lives. Story and Structure by Leon Conrad is well-researched and is a testament to his knowledge in this field. To explain his points, he narrates a variety of stories all belonging to diverse cultures. This makes the book all the more interesting. In just twenty-two chapters Conrad details how understanding story can help us attain balance in our lives and make strides in different arenas. Story and Structure is indeed a must-read, especially for this in the literary field. It has deservedly won the BREW Book Excellence Award for New Books, 2023.
The Connection Game by SS Turner
Award: BREW Book Excellence Award 2023 New Book Category Winner
SS Turner’s The Connection Game is a psychological that will blow your mind. The novel revolves around the Basilworth family. The patriarch, Benny Basilworth is a genius. His wife, Belinda, is very much in love with him. They lead a happy life with their children Will and Wendy. However, everything changes when Benny takes part in the television game show, The Connection Game. He proves his extraordinary intellect and astounds the world by solving all the questions and winning the show in no time. After a short time of relative prosperity, the Basilworths’ lives change. They are forced to move to a flat with only one window in Hackney. The only view from the window is the view of the passing feet of the pedestrian. This view presents a new form of The Connection Game to Benny. Soon, he involves the entire family in his game. It is astounding to discover the truth behind Benny’s game. It boggles the mind and makes the reader question everything. I highly recommend this award-winning book to fans of psychological thrillers.
This is Dodger: A Story About the Life of a Rescue by Dawn R. Smith
Award: BREW Book Excellence Award 2023 New Book Category Finalist
This is Dodger: A Story About the Life of a Rescue is a heartwarming children’s book penned by Dawn R. Smith. Though it is a children’s book, I am sure even adults will love this delightful book. The story revolves around Dodger, a rescue dog who is adopted by a loving family from a local adoption fair. Before he found his place in his home, Doodger had a very turbulent life. Yet, he overcame his past and gave life a fresh new start. His ability to love unconditionally is imitable. There is a lot to learn from Dodger and his shenanigans with his dog sister, Roxy, and the neighborhood children.
Peace in War by Lindsay Ann Fink
Award: BREW Book Excellence Award 2023 New Book Category Finalist
Lindsay Ann Fink’s Peace in War is an inspiring children’s picture book. The book propagates the message of peace. The author uses age-appropriate language to teach us the importance of finding the silver lining. She shows us how it is necessary to find peace even in war, if we wish to create a better world for our children. Fink urges us to look inward and see the beauty of things even when the world is smothered in chaos. Peace in War is an eye-opening read that imparts life lessons to adults and children alike.
It Could Happen Here – A Roadmap to Disaster by J. F. Cronin
Award: BREW Book Excellence Award 2023 New Book Category Finalist
It Could Happen Here – A Roadmap to Disaster is penned by J.F. Cronin. The book revolves around Eric King, the CEO of International Surveillance, Security and Construction. He is a trusted friend of Wilbur Barron, the President of the United States. Barron does not trust the elected ministers of his cabinet. In fact, he secretly vests a lot of power to his friends like King. In It Could Happen Here – A Roadmap to Disaster, Cronin presents to us an alternate reality where those in power do anything and everything without any regard to the public. The book warns us of the consequences if such things happen in real life.
Conclusion
As Stephen King rightly said in On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” We can never get enough of them. They not only entertain us but also instill within us values and life lessons.
Do comment and let me know which of these new books got your attention.
