DJ Taylor writes in the Literary Review “While a certain kind of novel has grown denser…(and gets commended for the diligence of its research),.. ‘life writing’ has turned more eclectic, less constrained by chronological decencies and sometimes regarding even facts as a hindrance to its schemes.’
Much as I enjoyed them, his first comment definitely reminded me of The Lacuna and The Children’s Book . Whether the 2nd part applies to the books listed under New Books I leave it to you to judge.