Autobiography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisA heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life. Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income. In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants. Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.Trade Review“[A] layered account of a woman reckoning with love and violence at once…[Not] a flippant exposé of childhood stardom, nor an angry diatribe directed at an abuser. This complexity is what makes I’m Glad My Mom Died feel real…Some supposed literary types will think the immense popularity of I’m Glad My Mom Died—the hardcover initially sold out at many major bookstores—is merely the result of McCurdy’s former stardom and modern culture’s thirst for a sensational take. With its bold headline and bright cover featuring a smirking McCurdy holding a pink urn, the book feels deliberately marketed for virality, perfect for sharing on the internet and catching the eye of bookstore browsers. I’ve mentioned the title of this memoir to some people who have dismissed it out of hand, remarking that being glad one’s parent is dead is crude and a sentiment that should be kept to oneself. But those people haven’t read the book. McCurdy takes her time to remember difficult and complex moments of her life, staying true to her younger self while ultimately trying to come to terms with who she is as an independent adult. It’s a triumph of the confessional genre.”—Nina Li Coomes, The Atlantic “Not many people rise to her level of fame or are so deeply abused, but McCurdy’s narrative will feel familiar to anyone who has navigated poverty and trauma. Taking advantage of the store discount at your dad’s retail job, tuning out screaming matches between parents, avoiding calls from debt collectors … this is what childhood is like for millions of Americans. Like many, I recognized myself in her words.”—Sabrina Cartan, Slate “Unflinching…This year’s most candid book…I'm Glad My Mom Died made me laugh; it made me cry. It's such a funny, dark, moving, honest, real, uncensored book, and it's unlike anything I've ever read.”—Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon “[The] number-one New York Times-bestselling memoir that has also achieved pop-cultural phenomenon status…I'm Glad My Mom Died is more than source material for a deluge of headlines about Grande and the slimy advances of a Nickelodeon svengali McCurdy calls simply ‘The Creator.’ McCurdy distinguishes herself from standard-issue celebrity memoir fare with a vivid, biting, darkly comic tone and an immersive present tense.”—Michelle Ruiz, Vogue “For McCurdy, this book isn't just her writing debut. It's a reckoning with guilt and grief after her mother's premature death. It's healing from multiple eating disorders and processing decades of trauma. It's finally doing what she wants for the first time: not acting. Writing…Healing from trauma looks different for everyone: For McCurdy, writing this memoir symbolized empowerment over her narrative. And understanding that it's OK not to forgive her late mother provided her peace.”—Jenna Ryu, USA Today “Judging simply by the shocking title of Jennette McCurdy’s debut memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, you may think the book is a no-holds-barred, scathing takedown of her mother and everyone else who perpetuated the horrifying upbringing that the former iCarly star endured, but you’d be wrong. McCurdy’s book is certainly revealing, describing the abuse she endured from her mother, who pushed her into acting at age 6, then guided her directly into an eating disorder and much worse until her death in 2013. But beyond that, it’s a measured, heartbreakingly poignant, and often laugh-out-loud-funny memoir with McCurdy showing more sympathy for her complicated mother than most people could even imagine mustering. However, what is perhaps most important about her memoir, which is smart, well-written, and powerful, is just how much hope and help it will surely provide to those suffering similar abuses right now.”—Scott Neumyer, Shondaland “The new memoir from former child star Jennette McCurdy has an attention-grabbing title: I’m Glad My Mom Died. Over the course of the book, McCurdy, who built her name on Nickelodeon’s iCarly and Sam and Cat, more than makes her case, detailing years of her mother’s mental and physical abuse. The result is a detailed look at a very specific and individual childhood of horrors, but it also points to a major systemic problem. I’m Glad My Mom Died doubles as a damning indictment of the child star system…She paints a vivid picture of child stardom as a system in which children find themselves turned into walking piles of other people’s cash, and summarily dismantled when they lose their value. It’s damning both for the horrors she experienced as an individual and the systemic failures to which her story points.”—Constance Grady, Vox “McCurdy’s book must be written by someone. Why? It must be done because there is someone out there right now who truly believes that life will never be any different. They truly believe that they will live under their parent’s thumb, never have the life they wanted, not trust their own agency, their own minds, and people like Jennette exist to tell them: You are not wrong, you can trust yourself. You can do this too.”—Erin Taylor, Observer “A stunning memoir…[McCurdy] reveals herself to be a stingingly funny and insightful writer, capable of great empathy and a brutal punchline. It’s a document not just of all she’s endured, but also of the wisdom she accrued along the way.”—Sam Lansky, Time “A coming-of-age story that is alternately harrowing and mordantly funny.”—Dave Itzkoff, The New York Times “[A] magnum opus…sharply funny and empathetic.”—Ashley Spencer, The Washington Post “McCurdy strips away the candy-coated facade of her sitcom experiences.”—Vanity Fair “[The] US summer publishing sensation that—in short, punchy sentences delivered with a high level of self-perception—could transform the trauma memoir business…[T]he book, and the reception it has received, could return the focus of the trauma narratives to the mother and create new demand for mother-daughter accounts.”—Edward Helmore, The Guardian “[An] explosive debut…insightful and incisive, heartbreaking and raw, McCurdy’s narrative reveals a strong woman who triumphs over unimaginable pressure to emerge whole on the other side. Fans will be rapt.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “McCurdy asks readers a question: When and how does one rid oneself of the cage created by others and walk freely? Her stunning debut offers fierce honesty, empathy for those that contributed to her grief, and insights into the hard-fought attachments and detachments of growing older.”—Booklist (starred review) “Delivered with captivating candor and grace.”—Kirkus (starred review) “Jennette McCurdy is the queen of lemonade from lemons, using her trauma to weave a painfully funny story that also illuminates the commodification of teenage girls in America. An important cultural document just as much as a searingly personal one.”—Lena Dunham “Jennette’s road to finding herself—removed from the expectations of her mother—is impressively funny. She fuses nuanced relationships, complex grief, religious whiplash and Hollywood trauma into a bold story with a specific comedic voice.”—Jerrod Carmichael “How can a book be so sad and also so funny? It's an art, and Jennette McCurdy has mastered it here. I’m Glad My Mom Died is hysterical and heartbreaking and fascinating all at the same time.”—Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things and Broken (in the Best Possible Way) “I'm Glad My Mom Died is furious, sad, brave, knowing, honest, heart-wrenching, and utterly compelling. McCurdy writes with a keen insight and startling compassion. Whether showing how dysfunction can seem normal to those most affected, the torture of eating disorders, or the mindfuck that is child stardom, McCurdy brings readers deep into the milieu so often hidden from outsiders. This is a beautifully crafted coming-of-age story as fearless as its author.” —Lauren Hough, New York Times bestselling author of Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing “Jennette McCurdy’s book is a coruscating picture of her life as a child actor, devastatingly honest and with great understanding of the psychology and emotions operating at a deep level. It’s a riveting read, entertaining and very touching.”—Hayley Mills, New York Times bestselling author of Forever Young “Jennette’s career as an actor was simply a character in a much more important story. She is a natural writer with a wonderful sense of humor. Her story is heartbreaking with a nice balance of hopeful. I could not put this book down.”—Laraine Newman, original cast member of Saturday Night Live and author of May You Live in Interesting Times

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Book SynopsisIn his signature larger-than-life style, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall is a revealing self-portrait of his illustrious, controversial and truly unique life. Born in a small Austrian town in 1947, a year of famine, he was the son of an austere police chief. He dreamed of moving to America to become a bodybuilding champion and a movie star. By the age of 21, he was living in Los Angeles and had been crowned Mr Universe. Within five years, he had learned English and become the greatest bodybuilder in the world. Within ten years, he had earned his college degree and was a millionaire from his business enterprises in real estate, landscaping and bodybuilding. He was also the winner of a Golden Globe Award for his debut as a dramatic actor in Stay Hungry. But that was only the beginning. The Terminator spawned numerous sequels and made him one of Hollywood's biggest stars, as he had a series of hit films including Predator, Total Recall, True Lies and Twins. He married Maria Shriver, becoming part of the Kennedy clan, while going on to become the Republican governor of California, where he led the state through a budget crisis, natural disasters and political turmoil. It is the greatest immigrant success story of our time. His story is unique, and uniquely entertaining, and he tells it brilliantly in these pages. Until now, he has never told the full story of his life, in his own voice. Here is Arnold, with total recall.Trade Review'As brick solid as its author' * Independent on Sunday *'His accounts of the heady times of Terminator and Total Recall are indispensable for fans' * Sunday Times *'Fascinating behind-the-scenes trivia' * Sunday Express *'A classic reworking of the American dream' * Daily Express *'A kind of Literary Uzi 9mm' * Sunday Telegraph *'Schwarzenegger's autobiography is a lesson in the importance of knowing what you want' * Irish Times *'Schwarzenegger is extremely engaging company…a highly entertaining story teller' * Empire *'The revelations in its pages certainly pack a punch' * Hello *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTELLERUtterly brilliant. We all need to read this book' CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN''Patrick's book is fascinating and sobering and makes a compelling argument for going back to basics' JOE LYCETTWe used to care a lot about our clothes. We didn't have many but those we had were important to us. We'd cherish them, repair them and pass them on. And making them provided fulfilling work for millions of skilled people locally. ?Today the average person has nearly five times as many clothes as they did just 50 years ago. Last year, 100 billion garments were produced worldwide, most made from oil, 30% of which were not even sold, and the equivalent of one bin lorry full of clothing is dumped in landfill or burned every single second. Our wardrobes are full to bursting with clothes we never wear so why do we keep buying more?In this passionate and revealing book about loving clothes but despairing of a broken global system Patrick Grant considers the crisis of consumption and quality

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERDavid Lynch - co-creator of Twin Peaks and writer and director of groundbreaking films such as Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive - opens up about a lifetime of extraordinary creativity, the friendships he has made along the way and the struggles he has faced to bring his projects to fruition.Room to Dream is both an astonishing memoir told in Lynch's own words and a landmark biography based on hundreds of interviews, that offers unique insights into the life and mind of one of the world's most enigmatic and original artists.Trade ReviewIf you expected a David Lynch biography to be just like any other biography, you've never seen a David Lynch movie . . . Fascinating * * New York Times * *A hybrid biography bulging with more than 100 interviews . . . it shows us Lynch the artist, the director, the lover, the child . . . Room to Dream provides contours and edges, brief splashes of insight and teasing tugs on the line. But the man at the centre remains a beautiful mystery . . . Illuminating * * Guardian * *Lynch is the master of the perverse, the unsettling and the plain bonkers * * Sunday Times * *Lynch's life as an artist is genuinely fascinating, and his observations on it are illuminating * * Mail on Sunday * *Intriguing . . . David Lynch has never lacked room to dream, for which we and he must thank our lucky stars * * Daily Telegraph * *David Lynch's memoir illuminates the origins of his art . . . the humour and eccentricity of Mr Lynch's own reminiscences and observations are the book's main pleasure * * The Economist * *Reassuringly unconventional . . . Engrossing . . . Lynch writes like he speaks. He's disarmingly direct, cheerfully profane and prone to bursts of giddy enthusiasm * * The Big Issue * *Room to Dream is a memorable portrait of one of cinema's great auteurs . . . Provides a remarkable insight into Lynch's intense commitment to the "art life", from his painting, photography and music to furniture design * * Guardian * *With the publication of Room to Dream, he has sought to reinvent the celebrity memoir * * Financial Times * *Playfully disrupts the genre of memoir-writing * * Financial Times * *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER   ‘He writes as well as he acts, with insight, truth and passion’ – Sir Ian McKellen ‘Highly entertaining... You don’t need to be a fan of Stewart the man of stage and screen to be as beguiled by the decades of professional acting that follow’ – The TimesThe long-awaited memoir from iconic, beloved actor and living legend Sir Patrick Stewart. From his acclaimed stage triumphs to his legendary onscreen work, Sir Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations in a career spanning six decades with his indelible command of stage and screen.  No other British working actor enjoys such career variety, universal respect and unending popularity, as witnessed through his seminal roles – whether as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek fame,Trade Review‘Patrick’s early life is a Dickensian tale of domestic violence and misfortune, transformed by chance and some good folk into the actor internationally admired and loved. He writes as well as he acts, with insight, truth and passion. Another Stewart Triumph!’ -- Sir Ian McKellen‘There is so much to say about Sir Patrick. He is an amazing actor, great to look at, really funny and up for anything. He is a kind man… compassionate and sensitive…. but, as you will find when you read the book, his greatest asset as a human being is the fact that he is so completely and unapologetically himself’ -- Whoopi Goldberg‘I read this book in a state of wonder, not just for the author’s gifts as a nuanced storyteller and sharp observer, but for those other remarkable gifts, of intelligence, sensitivity, wit, intuition, self-awareness and élan that were bestowed on him when he came into the world – all of which he has freely shared with us so long and so beautifully; and finished reading in a state of deep gratitude for the gifts, and the gift, of Patrick Stewart’ -- Michael Chabon‘What a glorious memoir Sir Patrick Stewart has written. His prose is elegant and beautiful, diamond-like in its clarity and precision, and his recollections of his life are full of tenderness, insight, candour and pathos. If he hadn't been so busy all these years being a great actor, delighting us all, he could have been a great writer, and now with this book, he is one’ -- Jonathan Ames

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Book Synopsis**THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**''I don''t think I''ve ever read a book that has made me cry with laughter as much as this one. It was very difficult reading it in public as I looked like a madman'' - Richard Herring James Acaster has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award five times and has appeared on prime-time TV shows like TASKMASTER,MOCK THE WEEK, LIVE AT THE APOLLO and WOULD I LIE TO YOU?But behind the fame and critical acclaim is a man perpetually getting into trouble. Whether it''s disappointing a skydiving instructor mid-flight, hiding from thugs in a bush wearing a bright red dress, or annoying the Kettering Board Games club, a didgeridoo-playing conspiracy theorist and some bemused Christians, James is always finding new ways to embarrass himself.Appearing on Josh Widdicombe''s radio show to recount these stories, the feature was christened ''James Acaster''s classic scrapes''. Here, iTrade ReviewJames Acaster has a brilliant comic mind, crackling with energy every bit as much as his corduroy slacks * Milton Jones *An amazing book of grimly hilarious true stories . . . with devastating deadpanlines. A total, bleak treat. * Daily Star *

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Book SynopsisA lover of books like The Alchemist and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Russ delivers a short, potent, inspirational, raw, and honest book that gives readers a way to find self-belief and unlock their potential.

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Book SynopsisThe Woman in Meis a brave andastonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope.

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Book SynopsisAn instant Top 10 UK bestseller Shortlisted for Lifestyle & Illustrated Book of the Year at The British Book Awards 2025

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Book SynopsisRead this meditative and inspiring diary of Derek Jarman's famous garden at Dungeness, which is also a powerful account of his life as an HIV positive man in the 1980s. In 1986 Derek Jarman discovered he was HIV positive and decided to make a garden at his cottage on the barren coast of Dungeness. Facing an uncertain future, he nevertheless found solace in nature, growing all manner of plants. While some perished beneath wind and sea-spray others flourished, creating brilliant, unexpected beauty in the wilderness. Modern Nature is both a diary of the garden and a meditation by Jarman on his own life: his childhood, his time as a young gay man in the 1960s, his renowned career as an artist, writer and film-maker. It is at once a lament for a lost generation, an unabashed celebration of gay sexuality, and a devotion to all that is living. 'An essential - urgent - book for the 21st Century' Hans Ulrich Obrist This new edition features an introduction from Olivia Laing, the author of CrudoTrade ReviewThe most beautiful & furious book of all time -- Olivia LaingAn essential – urgent – book for the 21st Century -- Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director of the Serpentine GalleryA marvellous, moving book * Sunday Telegraph *Jarman gave his garden a certain narrative; perhaps he treated it a bit like a film or theatre set. His films were visionary, eccentric, romantic and rebellious, all of which could also be said about his garden * Guardian *It's hard not to warm to the man who, in the face of all the personal and professional hardships described in this book, can still regard himself as 'the most fortunate film-maker of my generation * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisEveryone thinks they know the real Gordon Ramsay: rude, loud, pathologically driven, stubborn as hell. But this is his bestselling real storyHumble Pie tells the full story of how he became the world's most famous and infamous chef: his difficult childhood, his brother's heroin addiction and his failed first career as a footballer: all of these things have made him the celebrated culinary talent and media powerhouse that he is today. Gordon talks frankly about:his tough childhood: his father's alcoholism and violence and the effects on his relationships with his mother and siblings,his first career as a footballer: how the whole family moved to Scotland when he was signed by Glasgow Rangers at the age of fifteen, and how he coped when his career was over due to injury just three years later,his brother's heroin addiction.Gordon's early career: learning his trade in Paris and London; how his career developed from there: his time in Paris under Albert Roux and his seven Michelin-starred Trade Review‘Gordon Ramsay’s Humble Pie – so exuberantly angry boastful, cliche-ridden, expletive-laden and touchingly sincere that I can’t believe that a single sentence has been written by anyone but the failed footballer, great cook, telly star and businessman himself. He’s the genuine bollocks, as he’s so fond of saying, and this is the tale of his personal class struggle.’ – The Observer 'Inspirational stuff.' Heat ‘I cannot recommend strongly enough that every BII member reads it. It's so refreshing and energising – and oddly the fact that every fifth word begins with 'F' adds to its charm, its passion and its delight…The book is an inspiration. Anybody running any kind of business will benefit from reading this.’ BII Business magazine

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Book Synopsis*NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* *A TIME MUST-READ BOOK OF 2024* *NAMED ONE OF PEOPLE'S BEST CELEBRITY MEMOIRS OF 2024* A deliciously witty and inspiring memoir by One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz about her decade in a cult and her quest to break free. In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show's millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult. An only child who often had to fend for herself and always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she'd been searching for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group soon morphed into something more sinistera slow

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Book Synopsis#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER ?President Donald J. Trump lays out his professional and personal worldview in this classic work?a firsthand account of the rise of America?s foremost businessman.?Donald Trump is a deal maker. He is a deal maker the way lions are carnivores and water is wet.??Chicago Tribune ?I like thinking big. I always have. To me it?s very simple: If you?re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.??Donald J. TrumpHere is Trump in action?how he runs his organization and how he runs his life?as he meets the people he needs to meet, chats with family and friends, clashes with enemies, and challenges conventional thinking. But even a maverick plays by rules, and Trump has formulated time-tested guidelines for success. He isolates the common elements in his greatest accomplishments; he shatters myths; he names names, spells out the zeros, and fully reveals the deal-maker?s art. And throughout, Trump talks?really talks?about how he does it. Trump: The Art of the Deal is an unguarded look at the mind of a brilliant entrepreneur?the ultimate read for anyone interested in the man behind the spotlight.

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Book SynopsisIt seems excessive...but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Saul "Slash" Hudson was born in Hampstead to a Jewish father, an album cover artist, and a black American mother of Nigerian descent, who created David Bowie's look in The Man Who Fell to Earth. He was raised in Stoke until he was 11, when he and his mother moved to LA. Frequent visitors to the house were David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Ron Wood and Iggy Pop, . At this time Slash got into BMX bikes, and would eventually turn professional, winning won major awards and money, but at 15 his grandmother gave him his first guitar. Even though it had just one string he began teaching himself to play, and soon school was forgotten as he devoted up to 12 hours a day to honing his skills. Sessions with numerous local LA rock bands followed until a fateful meeting with singer W Axl Rose! and the rest was rock history.Trade Review‘Brilliant stuff’ **** News of the World ‘The most insane rock n’ roll autobiography you’ll ever read.’ Observer ‘A raucous rock yarn’, (Top 10 Rock Books) The Independent **** Q Magazine ‘A fitting monument… Slash’s memoirs are an unexpectedly intoxicating cocktail of irresponsibility and dedication.’ Independent on Sunday ‘Slash’s story is harrowingly compulsive reading, presenting the most graphically spot-on account of hardcore drug addiction since William Burroughs’ The Record Collector

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER   ‘He writes as well as he acts, with insight, truth and passion’ – Sir Ian McKellen ‘Highly entertaining... You don’t need to be a fan of Stewart the man of stage and screen to be as beguiled by the decades of professional acting that follow’ – The TimesThe long-awaited memoir from iconic, beloved actor and living legend Sir Patrick Stewart. From his acclaimed stage triumphs to his legendary onscreen work, Sir Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations in a career spanning six decades with his indelible command of stage and screen.  No other British working actor enjoys such career variety, universal respect and unending popularity, as witnessed through his seminal roles – whether as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek fame,

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Book Synopsis''An attempt to retell an oft-told tale, this time informed by a desire to suck the hot air out of the more inflated earlier versions . . . this late-arriving history is perhaps the most reliable, and certainly the most entertaining, of all'' GuardianFew bands are as shrouded in the murky haze of rock mythology as The Doors, and parsing fact from fiction has been a virtually impossible task. But now, after fifty years, The Doors'' notoriously quiet guitarist is finally breaking his silence to set the record straight. Through a series of vignettes, Robby takes readers back to where it all happened: the pawn shop where he bought his first guitar; the jail cell he was tossed into after a teenage drug bust; his parents'' living room where his first songwriting sessions with Jim Morrison took place; and the many concert venues that erupted into historic riots. Both a time capsule of the 1960s counterculture and a moving reflection on what it means to find onesel

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Book SynopsisTikTok sensation and beloved home cook Nadia Caterina Munno, a.k.a. The Pasta Queen, presents a cookbook featuring the signature pasta tips and tricks that are 100% authentic to Italian traditionsand just as gorgeous as you are.In the first-ever cookbook from TikTok star and social media sensation Nadia Caterina Munnoa.k.a. The Pasta QueenNadia is opening the recipe box from her online trattoria to share the dishes that have made her pasta royalty. In this delectable antipasto platter of over 100 recipes, cooking techniques, and the tales behind Italy's most famous dishes (some true, some not-so-true), Nadia will guide you through the process of creating the perfect pasta, from a bowl of naked noodles to a dish large and complex enough to draw tears from the gods. Whether it's her viral Pasta Al Limone, a classic Carbonara, or dish that's entirely Nadia'slike her famous Assassin's SpaghettiThe Pasta Queen's recipes will enchant even the newest of pasta chefs.Featuring a colourful tour

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Book SynopsisFor all the West''s failings - terrible food, cold weather, and questionable politicians with funny hair to name a few - it has its upsides. Konstantin would know. Growing up in the Soviet Union, he experienced first-hand the horrors of a socialist paradise gone wrong, having lived in extreme poverty with little access to even the most basic of necessities. It wasn''t until he moved to the UK that Kisin found himself thriving in an open and tolerant society, receiving countless opportunities he would never have had otherwise. Funny, provocative and unswervingly perceptive, An Immigrant''s Love letter to the West interrogates the developing sense of self-loathing the Western sphere has adopted and offers an alternative perspective. Exploring race politics, free speech, immigration and more, Kisin argues that wrongdoing and guilt need not pervade how we feel about the West - and Britain - today, and that despite all its ups and downs, it remains one of the best places tTrade ReviewKisin has written a lively and spirited book defending the society he is grateful to have found himself in. If I can return the compliment, we are lucky to have him. -- Douglas Murray * Telegraph *Kisin's book [has] a powerful moral quality that ultimately makes it worth reading * Sunday Times *An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West is a paean to the freedom and dignity that many in the West take for granted. With solemnity and irreverence, Kisin, who grew up in the Soviet Union, explains that the loss off liberty is not imprisonment - it is horror. We are not born valuing self-determination, free speech and open inquiry. Each generation must relearn and fight for these values or we will revisit the horrors of the past upon ourselves. This book is a reminder of what's at stake. -- Peter BoghossianKisin's cool, steady but urgent message, that we should value and protect what we have, could not be more timely amid today's shrill screams about the various 'isms' and 'phobias' of which our country is irredeemably guilty * spiked *[Kisin is] a comedian by trade, but a writer by nature . . . powerful . . . a deadly warning which somehow manages to be bright and breezy * Spectator *[An] excellent book . . . both a thank-you to the country [Kisin] now calls home and a reminder to many of his generation that they should be careful what they wish for. * Daily Mail *An engaging writer with a nice line in self-deprecating wit * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThis is the definitive autobiography of John Lydon, one of the most recognizable icons in the annals of music history. As Johnny Rotten, he was the lead singer of the Sex Pistols - the world''s most notorious band, who shot to fame in the mid-1970s with singles such as ''Anarchy in the UK'' and ''God Save the Queen''. Via his music and invective he spearheaded a generation of young people across the world who were clamouring for change - and found it in the style and attitude of this most unlikely figurehead.With his next band, Public Image Ltd (PiL) Lydon expressed an equally urgent impulse in his make-up - the constant need to reinvent himself. From their beginnings in 1978 he set the template for a band that continues to challenge and thrive in the 2010s. He also found time for making innovative new dance records with the likes of Afrika Baambaata and Leftfield. Following the release of a solo record in 1997, John took a sabbatical from his music career into other me

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Book Synopsis''There''s never been a more honest or raw memoir . . . and it may just save lives'' Daily Mail''Funny, fascinating, compelling . . . also a wonderful read for fans of Friends'' The Times''HI, MY NAME IS MATTHEW, although you may know me by my full name. My friends call me Matty.''So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who travelled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us . . . and so much more.In an extraordinary story that onlyTrade ReviewFriends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is a raw, unflinching memoir that took courage to write. As it turns out, Matthew Perry has a lot of courage. He takes us through his addiction, his illness and his paralyzing loneliness. Somehow, during the course of his life, Matthew was able to turn his pain into comedic joy for others, but, he tells us, it was at a cost. Matthew takes us through his "hell" but doesn't wallow. Ultimately, this book is filled with hope for the future. If you want to know about who Matthew Perry is, stay away from the rags and read this. * Marta Kauffman, co-creator of the NBC sitcom Friends *A fascinating, gruesome tale of addiction * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewJohn Romero’s remarkable memory called up names and events that I hadn’t thought about in a very long time, taking me back to the stress and joy of throwing everything we had at projects that truly did break new ground and touched millions of people. It was an amaz- ing mad dash from humble beginnings to the well-known classics Wolfenstein 3-D, DOOM, and Quake, filled with exploration, learning, and the sharing of knowledge. For years, I thought that I had been born too late and missed out on participating in the heroic eras of computing. Only much later did I realize that Romero and I were at the nexus of a new era—the 3D game hackers. -- John Carmack, cofounder of id Software and founder of Keen TechnologiesDOOM made gaming cool and transformed game developers from nerds into rock stars, and John Romero’s brazen public persona defined the era. Reconciling the legend of John Romero with the warm, supportive game designer with whom I met as an unknown young programmer is a mystery that this book finally reveals in a wonderful narrative following Romero from modest game programming roots to the apex of video game stardom. -- Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic GamesA fascinating deep dive into one of the game industry’s greatest success stories, Romero’s autobiography does for aspiring game designers what Stephen King’s On Writing did for budding writers. DOOM Guy is an engaging account of Romero’s extraordinary life and career. A must for industry professionals, newcomers, and enthusiasts. -- Rhianna Pratchett, writerJohn Romero is a gaming legend and seminal figure in video game history, known for his prodigious technical and design skills. In DOOM Guy, John offers valuable game design lessons, but as important he introduces readers to a man with a real commitment to helping others achieve their dreams. Deus Ex, the game I always dreamed of making, wouldn’t have been possible if John hadn’t lived up to every promise he made to me (a story you’ll read about in the pages of DOOM Guy). John’s games have inspired countless gamers and game developers. In his memoir you’ll learn that his life is as inspirational as his work. -- Warren Spector, creator of Deus ExYou know John as the designer of seminal games Wolfenstein 3-D, DOOM, and Quake, but this memoir also captures the essence of John as an innovator and business leader. While John tells the behind-the-scenes stories about making many elements of today’s gaming industry—first-person shooting style games, multiplayer games, free-to-play games, to name just a few—it’s the personal stories about his challenges, his choices, and his relationships that I love in this book. -- Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president and COO of Nintendo of America“The video game–creating legend recounts a life in the programming trenches…Students of game-making and business alike will find useful, sometimes rueful lessons.” * Kirkus *“[a] surprisingly moving autobiography…[Romero] manages to appeal to gamers and non-gamers alike with this celebration of triumphing over adversity.” * Publisher's Weekly *“DOOM GUY: Life in First Person is the best piece of historical nonfiction that has been written about video games to date and everyone should read it.” * Screenrant *??“a straight-talking insider account of an inspiring self-made career marked by amazing highs and difficult lows.” * Daily Beast *"Romero’s Doom Guy: Life in First Person is not only among the most interesting windows into the rapidly evolving videogame scene of the 80s and 90s–it’s arguably the best non-fiction gaming book of all time, giving a unique insight into one of the industry’s most transformative eras through the eyes of one of its groundbreaking pioneers.” * Forbes *“Enthralling, informative, entertaining, exciting, mesmerizing, jaw-dropping, a wild ride, brilliant, well-written, fun, and so much more. These are just some of the terms I can use when describing John Romero’s new book.” * Native Viewpoint *“[a] highly entertaining and thoughtful memoir” * The Wall Street Journal *“[an] exuberant firsthand account” * Wired.com *“Doom Guy tells the fascinating story of the life and times of one of the greatest PC game developers of them all.” * New York Journal of Books *“It’s this openness that makes Doom Guy absolutely necessary reading for anyone with even a passing interest in the history of the video game medium.” * Comic Book Video Games *

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Book SynopsisBorn in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire in 1966, musician Rick Astley started his career at the music production company Stock Aitken Waterman. His 1987 debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody, sold 15.2m copies worldwide and made him a household name. Since then he has gone on to release eight studio albums, selling over 40 million records worldwide, and played and toured around the world multiple times, including, in 2024, a sell-out UK arena tour. Never is his first and only official autobiography.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Funny, wicked, naughty, eye-popping and compulsively, joyously brilliant''STEPHEN FRYFrom the ingenious comic performer, founding member of Monty Python, and creator of Spamalot, comes an absurdly funny memoir of unparalleled wit and heartfelt candour.Best known for his unforgettable roles in Monty Python, from the Flying Circus to The Meaning of Life, Eric Idle reflects on the meaning of his own life in this brilliantly entertaining memoir that takes us on an unforgettable journey from his childhood in an austere boarding school through his successful career in comedy, television, theatre and film. 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of The Pythons, and this laugh-out-loud memoir is the perfect celebration, chock-full of behind-the-scenes stories from a high-flying life that features everyone from Princess Leia to the Queen. With anecdotes sprinkled throughoTrade ReviewAs funny, wicked, naughty, eye-popping and compulsively, joyously brilliant as the genius who wrote it -- Stephen FryOn the last day, when the last human beings look out at the blackened cinders of their world, I can only hope that one of them will sing, "Some things in life are bad, they can really make you mad," and "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" will ring out as humanity's final words. I loved this biography of a song and the man who made it, and the picture he paints of his life, his friends, his passions, five Pythons and a Beatle -- Neil GaimanThe Monty Python man embraced fame and became friends with George Harrison, David Bowie, Paul Simon and many others. This is an unashamedly starry autobiography, packed with hilarious name-dropping anecdotes -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday Books of the Year *The pleasingly jolly tone of what he calls his "sortabiography" captures the daft glee with which the he and his fellow Pythons lampooned British authority -- Fiona Sturges * Guardian Best Books of 2018 *I read Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from cover to cover. My next mission is to read what's between the covers. It's a joy to read Eric Idle's fully transparent personal stories of what got him to the present from birth. Any Monty Python lover or lover of honesty and the crafting of a hilarious comedian and musical genius will love this book. And love Eric as I do. Not to spoil-alert, but his stating that "Laughter is the best revenge" sums it up. Read every word of this book or I will hunt you down and read it to you. And you don't want me in your house -- Bob SagetIf you're Christmas shopping then Eric Idle's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is the perfect present. Very funny and touching -- Matt LucasIf I could go back in time and observe any comedian's journey, I think it would be a terrible waste of time travel. That said, I'd want to see just how Eric idle and a few friends changed comedy forever. This is the book that've been waiting for most of my life -- Conan O'BrienA thoroughly pleasurable read ... [It captures] the infectious glee with which the Monty Python troupe went about subverting the British establishment -- Alexander Larman * Observer *Charming ... A treasure trove of comedy insights * Rolling Stone *A hilarious, charming, book by this incredible, insufferable genius -- Steve MartinInevitably, Eric Idle's memoir, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, is no ordinary celebrity autobiography ... [Showbiz anecdotes] are combined with frank, fresh insights into five decades as part of Monty Python -- Hannah Shaddock * Radio Times *Idle is engaging company -- Roland White * Sunday Times *When you have a tour guide as engaging as Eric Idle, you'll gladly go wherever he takes you. The writer and comedian best known as a member of the British sketch troupe Monty Python has curated an intimate journey of what it was like to be a writer who suddenly found himself a massively famous actor. . . . It's also the kind of book you'll want to read twice-once when the genius of Python sketches are fresh in your memory, and once when those scenes have faded so you can be reminded how these comedy rebels shook up an art form that was due for a dose of surreal silliness * Washington Post *This tell-all from my comedy hero Eric Idle is brilliant, hilarious, touching, enlightening, filled with swashbuckling adventure, edge-of-your-seat suspense, heart-pounding romance, and contained several typos and one inaccurate fact about the Spanish-American war. I expected more out of Mr Idle's proofreading skills, quite frankly -- Paul FeigIdeal for Python lovers -- Sarah Hughes * i Best book gifts to buy this Chrismas *A remarkable and very entertaining memoir * The People's Friend *

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Book SynopsisUpdated edition including new materialHeiress. Party girl. Problem child. Model. Reality star. Self-created. Icon.The future belongs to girls who refuse to do as they're told.Heiress. Party girl. Problem child. Model. Reality star.The labels attached to Paris Hilton.Entrepreneur. Innovator. Survivor. Activist. Daughter. Sister. Wife. Mother.?The roles Paris embraces as a fully realized woman.Paris Hilton rose to fame as the It Girl of the aughts and despite coming of age under the scrutiny of a tabloid culture that that wrote her off famous for being famous, she built her own global empire and became a modern icon beloved around the world.Now, with courage, honesty, and humour, Paris is ready to share her side of the story. Paris: The Memoir reveals the truth about her privileged yet traumatic upbringing, takes us to wild parties, follows the success and love she found on her own terms and shares new stories that chart her difficult road to motherhood; stories that reveal the truth abo

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Book SynopsisElsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973) was one of the leading fashion designers of the 1920s and 1930s with a flair for the unusual. The first to use shoulder pads, animal print and the inventor of shocking pink, Schiaparelli collaborated with artists including Jean Cocteau, Alberto Giacometti and Salvador Dali, to create extraordinary garments such as the Dali Lobster Dress. Schiaparelli had an affluent clientele, from Katherine Hepburn to Marlene Dietrich, who embraced her outrageous but elegant designs. She designed aviator Amy Johnson's wardrobe for her solo flight to Cape Town in 1936, the culottes for tennis champion Lily d'Alvarez that outraged the lawn tennis establishment, and her clothes appeared in more than 30 films including Every Day's a Holiday with Mae West and Moulin Rouge. Schiaparelli's fascinating autobiography charts her rise from resident of a rat-infested apartment to designer to the stars.Trade Review"There's no better way to understand Daniel Roseberry's work for the French maison than looking at the novel-esque life of its founder Elsa Schiaparelli.", Eleonora dal Bosco, 1 Granary, January 3rd 2022

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Book SynopsisThe saying goes that God only gives you what you can handle. Well God didn''t grow up in my atheist, Wiccan, fame-laden, oversexed, teetotalling, drug-free, cloistered, chaotic, non-communicative, workaholic, feral-feeling house.''For Moon Unit, daughter of musician Frank Zappa and his ''manager'', Gail, processing a life so unique, so punctuated by the whims of creative urges, the tastes of popular culture and the calculus of celebrity, has at times been eviscerating. But it is her deep sense of humour and unshakeable humility that keeps her - and this memoir - pinned to the ground.A child-star at age 14 after her accidental international hit single (recorded with her father), ''Valley Girl'', turned her into a reluctant celebrity, Moon Unit Zappa''s life has been utterly extraordinary from her birth in 1967 into a family that was already blessed/cursed as music royalty thanks to the acknowledged genius of Frank. But what are the consequences of growing up in

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Book SynopsisIn this darkly humorous memoir-in-essays, actress and singer-songwriter Lola Kirke untangles an extraordinary upbringing in a family of eccentric, messy artists and explains how a big city girl went a little bit country. ?Lola is a wise, witty, and unsparing writer.? ?Lena Dunham ?Probably the only book I?ll read this year.? ?Zoë Kravitz The youngest daughter of a rock star father and clothing designer mother, Lola and her siblings (including actress Jemima and celebrity doula Domino), spent their childhoods freshly plucked from their English heritage in an eclectic West Village brownstone, hosting everyone from Cuban exiles to Courtney Love. But behind the enviable exterior of worldly coolness, was a home in disarray.In Wild West Village, Kirke chronicles a search for self amidst the chaos of the affairs, addictions, and afflictions surrounding her, detailing misadventures in everything from masturbation to marijuana, Cadbury?s to country music, and a dream of salvation on the silver screen. Filled with unforgettable characters and insights into identities forged in fire, Wild West Village locates humor and lightness in life?s darker situations. Irreverent and high-spirited, these are the stories of a young woman, teetering between a twang and a British accent, trying to fit in with larger-than-life personalities while secretly coming into her own.

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Book SynopsisDolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton's personal and business archives.Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 150 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics. - Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia - Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songsDolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries.Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan. - Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more. - The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and countryAdd it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.Trade ReviewPart annotated songbook, part potted history and part balm for the soul, with Dolly Parton's personality shining out of every page... a lovely peak behind the rhinestone curtain of a true talent. * Daily Express *I do unreservedly love Parton's book - who wouldn't want to know the stories behind some of the past century's greatest songs? -- Marina O’Loughlin * The Sunday Times Magazine *Now, for the first time, the Smoky Mountain songbird reveals the secrets behind her greatest hits and the real-life events that inspired them. * Sunday Star *

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Book SynopsisThe Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope. In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.   Written with remarkable candour and humour, Spears’s ground-breaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.  ____________________________________'The sharpness of her perspective is a miracle... May her truth pose a legitimate threat to the system that exploited herTrade Review'It’s nearly impossible to come out of it without empathy for and real outrage on behalf of Spears, whose admitted bitterness over the dire circumstances of the last decade-plus of her life – she no longer speaks to her family, and says she has no immediate plans to return to recording – is tempered by an enduring, insistent optimism' * New York Times *'The Woman in Me tells a focused story that makes inarguable the ties between patriarchy and exploitation, and deserves to be read as a cautionary tale and an indictment, not a grab-bag of tabloid revelations. After all Spears has lost, the sharpness of her perspective is a miracle … May her truth pose a legitimate threat to the system that exploited her.' * Guardian *'A cautionary tale about fame and the corrupting influence of money. And, just maybe, a glimmer of hope for a woman whose adult life has been dictated by others.' * BBC News *'Britney Spears holds nothing back in her short, bittersweet and extremely powerful memoir. Ultimately, The Woman in Me is a story not about music so much as about the way that women are still routinely mistreated in the music business. That it hasn’t turned into a complete tragedy is a testament to Spears’s essential fortitude of spirit – something that burns off these pages.' * Telegraph *'Anyone who has followed Spears over the years – and, due to the sheer force of her cultural ubiquity, that’s probably all of us – will want the very best for her. There is nothing tidy about trauma and recovery, and I hope The Woman in Me has been cathartic for her. It’s certainly not the end of her pain, but it’d be nice if it’s the beginning of a new chapter.' * Independent *'There are anecdotes and namedrops, sure, and the writing is casual, conversational as though she’s spilling it all in a classic Britney Instagram caption, but to see it as simply a famous person’s memoir is underselling it: this is a text that dissects the notion of the “mad woman”, that unpicks the nature of celebrity and highlights some huge failings in the American legal system. The power of this book is the fact that it exists at all.' * i *'Spears’s prose contains more compassion and perspective than bitterness or self-pity.' * The Times *'A cautionary tale about coercion, misogyny, control, exploitation, and the insidious grip of the patriarchy… Spears shares this story, which will undoubtedly be dissected and recounted elsewhere, with astonishing clarity.' * Dazed *‘one of pop’s great cautionary tales. . . erases the people-pleasing Mouseketeer to express rage against the music industry, celebrity culture and her family. Whether it’s read as a document of Noughties misogynist pop culture. . . it’s a remarkably intimate testimony from somebody still coming back from the edge' * The Times, Books of the Year *‘one of the biggest book deals ever…a genuine page-turner’ * Financial Times *'With quietly vengeful fury, the pop star recounts how she was exploited by not just her industry but her own family. The most riveting music book of the year by far' * Telegraph, Best Books of 2023 *

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Book Synopsis*** THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***From adventures at Central Saint Martins to The Great British Sewing Bee, go behind the scenes of Esme Young's amazing life...At age five, Esme was asked to write in her notebook, but instead, she filled it with drawings - the only way she knew to express herself. At seven, when it was discovered she was partially deaf, she found refuge in her sketchbooks. Shortly after, Esme made her first garment and a passion for sewing and designing was born. As a teenager, she made her way to London where her creative journey truly began.Living in a squat with other young creatives, Esme made the most of her time; studying at Central Saint Martins, launching a clothing line called Swanky Modes with three friends and £50 each, watching Notting Hill Carnival with David Bowie, and altering a dress for Cher. The '90s saw a career move into costumes for films, where she designed outfits for Trainspotting, Bridget Jones's Diary and The Beach, before she moved onto the small screen herself.A celebration of a creative life lived differently, Behind the Seams is a reminder that it's never too early, or too late to pick up a needle and start stitching in a new direction.

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Book SynopsisWhen Alexander McQueen committed suicide in February 2010, aged just 40, a shocked world mourned the loss of its most visionary fashion designer. McQueen had risen from humble beginnings as the youngest child of an East London taxi driver to scale the heights of fame, fortune and glamour. He designed clothes for the world's most beautiful women including Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. In business he created a multi-million pound luxury brand that became a favourite with both celebrities and royalty, most famously the Duchess of Cambridge who wore a McQueen dress on her wedding day. But behind the confident facade and bad-boy image, lay a sensitive soul who struggled to survive in the ruthless world of fashion. As the pressures of work intensified, so McQueen became increasingly dependent on the drugs that contributed to his tragic end. Meanwhile, in his private life, his failure to find lasting love with a string of boyfriends only added to his despair.

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Book SynopsisA hero to millions who adored his portrayals of Robin Hood and Fletcher Christian, Errol Flynn (1909– 59) lived a life that far surpassed any adventure he ever acted out on screen: exotic travels, criminal exploits, passionate love affairs, violent confrontations, scandals, and international fame. In this highly readable, witty and colourful autobiography, Flynn reveals himself and his remarkable life as he did nowhere else. Trade Review‘The most entertaining autobiography ever by an actor’‘Its greatest distinction is that it manages to pass beyond the conventionally “frank” to the unconventionally truthful in its portrait of an engaging but by no means overscrupulous romantic extrovert’‘An obstinately unabashed report’‘ The most entertaining autobiography ever by an actor’ ‘ Its greatest distinction is that it manages to pass beyond the conventionally “ frank” to the unconventionally truthful in its portrait of an engaging but by no means overscrupulous romantic extrovert’ ‘ A major autobiography in the tradition of Cellini, Casanova and Frank Harris. Perhaps it is not the book to leave alone in the house with your daughter, but Flynn was not the man to leave in the house with your daughter.’ ‘ The confessions of a rake, unsparing of himself or anyone else’ ‘ An obstinately unabashed report’

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Book SynopsisADRIAN CHARLES EDMONDSON is an English actor, comedian, musician, writer and television presenter. He studied drama at Manchester University, where he met his comedy partner Rik Mayall. The influence of the absurdist dramatists he studied and his early love for The Goons, The Muppets and Monty Python are all reflected in his comedy practice. He and Rik were part of the first wave of alternative comedy, where their glorious pursuit of laughter and anarchic performances changed the comedic landscape forever.He starred as Vyvyan in The Young Ones, a series that blasted its way onto our screens and tore into our preconceptions of what television comedy could be. In later years, Edmondson's career has also taken him into straight' acting including at the RSC and in the BBC's War and Peace and EastEnders and into writing books for adults and children. He has also had an award-winning music career with his band The Bad Shepherds, which fused punk and f

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Book Synopsis''A simply astonishing achievement. The quality, depth, emotional power and terrifying honesty of Alan Davies''s story-telling take the breath away'' Stephen Fry''This hugely affecting book is brave, insightful and, at times, funny about things it is hard to be funny about'' Jo BrandThe story of a life built on sand. In the rain.In this compelling memoir, comedian and actor Alan Davies recalls his boyhood with vivid insight and devastating humour. Shifting between his 1970s upbringing and his life today, Davies moves poignantly from innocence to experience to the clarity of hindsight, always with a keen sense of the absurd.From sibling dynamics, to his voiceless, misunderstood progression through school, sexuality and humiliating ''accidents'', Davies inhabits his younger mind with spectacular accuracy, sharply evoking an era when Green Shield Stamps, Bob-a-Job week and Whizzer & Chips loomed large, a bus fare was 2p - and childreTrade ReviewA simply astonishing achievement. The quality, depth, emotional power and terrifying honesty of Alan Davies's story-telling take the breath away. And what a story he has to tell. What a writer he is. Alternately funny, sad, frightening, sweet, savage and tender, Just Ignore Him will never leave you. I always knew that the dumb bewildered puppy persona that Alan so brilliantly projects was a mask for an acute, sensitive, powerfully intelligent and insightful mind, but nothing prepared me for such a tour de force of writing, for what is destined to become an instant classic. Not a klaxon but a peal of church bells and a twenty-one gun salute. Just Adore HimTender, funny and unusually inspiring -- David SedarisOne oft repeated speculation about comedians is that their "otherness", as children, led them to take on the mantle of class clown in order to deflect bullying. In truth, the reality is so much more difficult to unravel. In this book Alan Davies explores the complexity of events in his childhood whilst maintaining his trademark sardonic humour, warmth and intelligence. It's very, very sad at times, but a fascinating look at how childhood tragedy and trauma were treated in that era and how, leavened with humour, one individual/stand-up comic tries to make his way from the dark to the light -- Jo BrandA heart breaking but also uplifting memoir written with wit, wisdom and great humanity -- Ben EltonThe book is written extremely well . . . There have always been many reasons to admire Alan Davies. Now we can add extraordinary courage -- Jake Kerridge * Mirror *Davies explores the complexity of his youth with warmth, intelligence and at times even humour. The narrative shifts seamlessly between the 1970s and the present day . . . important and insightful -- Emma-Lee Potter * Daily Express *Raw and compelling * Observer *Suffused with Davies's trademark dry humour, balancing heartbreak and hope with a steady hand * Radio Times *Surely the bravest memoir of the year * Sunday Times *An intimate, open-hearted book * Guardian *Required reading . . . fantastic -- Graham NortonA sad, brave and beautifully written memoir * Independent *

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Book SynopsisGriffin Dunne has been an actor, producer and director since the late 70s. Among his work, he produced and acted in After Hours, directed Practical Magic and the documentary The Center Will Not Hold about his aunt, Joan Didion. Griffin and his dog Mary live in the East Village of Manhattan.

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Book SynopsisThe international Number One bestseller. Over a million copies sold in the English language. Published in 23 foreign languages. ‘A heartfelt memoir . . . there is a fearlessness to his prose, a willingness to engage with his past, that chimes with his songwriter’s desire to give voice to the people around him’ Sunday Times “Writing about yourself is a funny business…But in a project like this, the writer has made one promise, to show the reader his mind. In these pages, I’ve tried to do this.” —Bruce Springsteen, from the pages of Born to Run In 2009, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed at the Super Bowl’s halftime show. The experience was so exhilarating that Bruce decided to write about it. That’s how this extraordinary autobiography began. Over the past seven years, Bruce

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Book SynopsisDespite a glamorous lifestyle full of globetrotting adventures, travel expert and entrepreneur Anna Kloots felt lost and directionless. Now, for every woman searching for her voice, Anna shares her story of finding and believing in her own magic.Trade Review'Captivating and powerful. Anna's story will touch your heart and inspire you to embrace self-love and adventure and go after the life you've always dreamed of living.' * Vanessa Rivers, Travel Writer and Co-Founder of We Are Travel Girls *'I stayed up well into morning sailing through this book and I miss Anna and her enchanted indomitable spirit already. It isn't often I find a book that prompts me to smile and hope again. Hope for love, hope for staying true to that which nurtures, and a deep wish for falling under the spell of wherever I find myself. Anna Kloots writes so effortlessly and thoughtfully about plans derailed, the bliss of travel and the revelation of metamorphosis, I fell asleep wishing I was a part of her energetic and beautiful family. It's a grand place to be, so open this book and read on.' * Selma Blair, actress *'This book is a ride and journey we all need to be reminded what is possible. That listening to our inner voice, dreaming big, loving with all we have, and investing in ourselves like we would for others is our magic.' * Jennifer Love Hewitt, actress *'To expose one's soul, trials, and journey on paper is a feat that Anna does with the adventurous grace, charismatic nuance, and relatable vulnerability in each paragraph. An easy page-turner that made me miss Paris and reinstated excitement for new chapters of life.' * Ashley Park, actress *'My Own Magic is an honest and illuminating, coming of age story about heartache and hope, resilience and reinvention that will inspire all who read it to live life fully and believe in themselves.' * Jamie Beck, New York Times bestselling author and photographer *

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Book Synopsis'There is no one on earth quite so wonderful' STEPHEN FRY'As outrageously entertaining as you'd expect' Daily ExpressBAFTA-winning actor, voice of everything from Monkey to the Cadbury's Caramel Rabbit, creator of a myriad of unforgettable characters from Lady Whiteadder to Professor Sprout, MIRIAM MARGOLYES, OBE, is the nation's favourite (and naughtiest) treasure. Now, at the age of 80, she has finally decided to tell her extraordinary life story - and it's well worth the wait.Find out how being conceived in an air-raid gave her curly hair; what pranks led to her being known as the naughtiest girl Oxford High School ever had; how she ended up posing nude for Augustus John as a teenager; why Bob Monkhouse was the best (male) kiss she's ever had; and what happened next after Warren Beatty asked 'Do you fuck?' From declaring her love to Vanessa Redgrave to being told to be quiet by the Queen, this book is packed with brilliant, hilarious stories. With a cast list stretching from Scorsese to Streisand, a cross-dressing Leonardo di Caprio to Isaiah Berlin, This Much Is True is as warm and honest, as full of life and surprises, as its inimitable author.Trade ReviewGleefully outspoken and bursting with hilarious anecdotes, gloriously larger than life . . . I pity every person that is not me right now, drinking in the glory of Margolyes at 80 -- Eva Wiseman * Observer *Startling, thrillingly outspoken, provocative, potty-mouthed and exhilarating . . . THIS MUCH IS TRUE is never boring. Her personality is so likeable she can only leave you wanting more -- Lynn Barber * Daily Telegraph *Reads like the Wife of Bath's memoirs -- Simon CallowWickedly honest . . . When I was reading this book on a train, a stranger asked if I was OK because I was crying with laughter -- Hadley Freeman * Guardian *An irreverent, straight-talking, riotous romp through an extraordinary life * Sunday Post *If there is a silver lining to last year's lockdown, it's the fact that Miriam Margolyes finally had time to write her life story . . . invigoratingly outspoken . . . gloriously shocking . . . and captures her force-of-nature personality. Buckle up, you're in for a wild ride -- Charlotte Heathcote * Daily Mirror *Now 80 - and no less outrageous and outspoken, the actress presents vignettes from her life that will induce guffaws as much as gasps * The i *Blisteringly honest and hugely entertaining * Daily Record *Ebullient and bosomy -- Roger Lewis * The Times *Stories galore . . . Miriam Margolyes has a life worth immortalising in print . . . An unapologetic account of a life well lived. As irrepressible as ever, Margolyes's warmth and wit shines through * Radio Times *Blisteringly honest and hugely entertaining * Daily Record *There's so much in the book; each chapter offering a tidbit of information both interesting and hilarious... It's full of life and vigour, as if you're conversing with a friend you've known for a long time * Irish Examiner *Brilliant stories abound in this memoir... which is honest, poignant and wildly indiscreet. * The Guardian *As compelling, forthright and irrepressible as its author * Choice Magazine *Miriam Margolyes' autobiography is crass, brash, rude, crude, funny and sad, and as delightful and surprising as Miriam herself * Good Housekeeping *As outrageously entertaining as you'd expect * Daily Express *Potty-mouthed and thrillingly candid, Margolyes's account of her career from teenage nudemodelling for Augustus John to sexy voiceover work for Ann Summers to playing Harry Potter's Professor Sprout is a riotous joy * Daily Telegraph *

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