Autobiography: arts and entertainment Books

Book Synopsis'Read any history of the Nineties in Britain and you will read about Britpop, Blair, the birth of the Premier League and the rise of new lads. I played no part in any of these events. Growing up in a tiny rural village on Dartmoor, no bands came within 100 miles, all the local farmers voted Tory, our nearest football team was in the fourth division, and the closest I got to being a new lad was when my older brother let me drink some of his Hooch.' In Watching the Nineties, much-loved comedian Josh Widdicombe tells the story of a strange rural childhood, the kind of childhood he only realised was weird when he left home and started telling people about it. From only having four people in his year at school, to living in a family home where they didn't just not bother locking the front door, they didn't even have a key. Using a different television show of the time as it's starting point for each chapter Watching the Nineties is part-childhood memoir, part-comic history of 90s television and culture. It will discuss everything from the dangers of recreating Gladiators in your front room, to Josh's belief that Mr Blobby is one of the great comic characters, to being the only vegetarian child west of Bristol. Together it tells the story of the end of an era, the last time when watching television was a shared experience for the family and the nation, before the internet meant everyone watched different things at different times on different devices, headphones on to make absolutely sure no one could watch it with them.Trade ReviewYou know when your mate does something really impressive, and you look at them with a renewed sense of admiration? That's how I feel about Josh's book. Beautifully written, cleverly crafted and charmingly funny. -- Adam HillsIf you read only one book by Josh Widdicombe this year, make it this one -- Jack DeeA wonderful blend of nostalgia, hilarity and personal anecdotes that only Josh Widdicombe could deliver -- James AcasterBrilliantly observed -- Romesh RanganathanWarmth, wit and Widdicombe - with big laughs and pure nostalgia at its heart. Made me want to watch Neighbours with him. Twice.' -- Danny WallaceThis book is genius -- Dawn O'PorterFantastic -- David BaddielA '90s TV throwback dream -- Katherine RyanAnnoyingly very funny -- Sean WalshRetro heaven -- Alan CarrBrilliantly funny and nostalgic -- Russell Kane

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Book SynopsisLaura Cumming has been chief art critic of the Observer since 1999. Her books include A Face to the World: On Self-Portraits (2009) and The Vanishing Man: In Pursuit of Velázquez (2016) which won the James Tait Black Biography Prize. Her family memoir, On Chapel Sands: my Mother and other Missing Persons (2019) was a Sunday Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford, Costa and Rathbone's Folio prizes.

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Book Synopsis''Birkin''s diary entries ultimately expose the toxic reality behind one of the 20th century''s most glamorous couples'' Sunday TimesJane Birkin - actor, singer, songwriter and model - may have shot to worldwide fame through her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg and their controversial hit ''Je t''aime ... moi non plus'', but it would be her wide-ranging acting career and effortless Gallic cool that was to truly cement her legacy as an enduring international icon. In Munkey Diaries, the first volume of Birkin''s diaries, we''re transported to the flamboyant world of London in the Swinging Sixties and Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 1970s. There are intimate revelations about Jane''s tumultuous life with her first husband, the composer John Barry, and her romantic and professional collaboration with Gainsbourg, as well as keen insights into her working life as an actor, singer and songwriter.Far from an ordinary memoir, Munkey DiariesTrade ReviewBirkin's diary entries ultimately expose the toxic reality behind one of the 20th century's most glamorous couples * Sunday Times *Painfully honest * Daily Mail *Birkin's diary entries ultimately expose the toxic reality behind one of the 20th century's most glamorous couples. * The Sunday Times *touching memoir * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe moving, Pulitzer Prize-winning coming-of-age memoir of music, outsiders and the relationships that make us.Trade ReviewAt once a coming-of-age memoir, a devastating elegy for a departed friend, and a mixtape of all the music and other shards of culture and experience that coalesce into an identity, Stay True is wildly original . . . A glorious, unforgettable book -- Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Empire of Pain and Say NothingImpossible to put down . . . profoundly moving . . . a work of intellect, honesty and love * The Guardian *A remarkably moving account of male affection and grief * The Observer *A quiet, occasionally hilarious, ultimately devastating book . . . the most moving and memorable piece of autobiography I read this year. * The Independent, 'The Ten Best Books of 2023' *An exceptional portrait of male affection and a young life senselessly cut short * The Independent, 'Best Memoir: 2023' *A powerful and beautifully written meditation on guilt, memory and male friendship * The Guardian, 'Best Books of the Year' *Quietly wrenching . . . This is a memoir that gathers power through accretion — all those moments and gestures that constitute experience, the bits and pieces that coalesce into a life * The New York Times *A beautiful memoir that goes deep into the heart of friendships * The Financial Times *A luminous and tender-hearted story. . . Stay True is a nuanced and beautiful evocation of young adulthood in all its sloppy, exuberant glory * The Wall Street Journal *[Hsu writes] with devastating emotional precision, questioning the possibility of meaning in tragedy and the value of the stories we tell while attempting to find it . . . an extraordinary, devotional act of friendship * The Washington Post *This book is exquisite and excruciating and I will be thinking about it for years and years to come -- Rachel Kushner, author of The Mars RoomRemarkable . . . an evocative coming-of-age story about the formation of identity, friendship, and grief * AnOther Magazine *This is writing at its best . . . one of those books that is the sum total of a writer’s life in thinking, craft, and curiosity, made felt at last, so that when the sentences come, they come with a deliberate, patient, and precise force -- Ocean Vuong, author of On Earth We're Briefly GorgeousI was softly heartbroken by Stay True . . . [A] once-in-a-lifetime book -- Jia Tolentino, author of Trick MirrorNot since Ann Patchett wrote about her friend Lucy Grealy in Truth and Beauty has there been such an achingly tender book about a platonic friendship * Los Angeles Times *Funny and wise . . . What a gift it is to remember the people you loved, and who loved you, while you were busy becoming yourself * The Atlantic *Stay True is about the beautiful, unpredictable alchemy of how friendship—particularly male friendship—forms in the first place * GQ *A moving portrait of a persona undone by tragedy * Vogue *This book is going to break your heart. * The Australian *

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Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids 'Magical' GUARDIAN 'A gripping tale of the search for meaning in times of turbulence - expressed with Smith’s signature poetic flair' VOGUE 'Extraordinary ... A tense, teasing mix of reality and dream' SUNDAY TIMES 'Her willingness to look closely at life’s closing chapters makes for a magical book' WASHINGTON POST, 'The 10 books to read in September' Following a run of New Year’s concerts at San Francisco’s legendary Fillmore, Patti Smith finds herself tramping the coast of Santa Cruz, about to embark on a year of solitary wandering. Unfettered by logic or time, she draws us into her private wonderland, with no design yet heeding signs, including a talking sign that looms above her, prodding and sparring like the Cheshire Cat. In February, a surreal lunar year begins, bringing with it unexpected turns, heightened mischief, and inescapable sorrow. In a stranger’s words, “Anything is possible: after all, it’s the year of the monkey.” For Patti Smith - inveterately curious, always exploring, tracking thoughts, writing the year evolves as one of reckoning with the changes in life’s gyre: with loss, aging, and a dramatic shift in the political landscape of America. Smith melds the Western landscape with her own dreamscape. Taking us from Southern California to the Arizona desert; to a Kentucky farm as the amanuensis of a friend in crisis; to the hospital room of a valued mentor; and by turns to remembered and imagined places - this haunting memoir blends fact and fiction with poetic mastery. The unexpected happens; grief and disillusionment. But as Patti Smith heads toward a new decade in her own life, she offers this balm to the reader: her wisdom, wit, gimlet eye, and above all, a rugged hope of a better world. Riveting, elegant, often humorous, illustrated by Smith’s signature Polaroids, Year of the Monkey is a moving and original work, a touchstone for our turbulent times.Trade ReviewBoth mundane and magical … Moves constantly between reverie and memory … Portents and symbols lurk in unexpected places, and everyday objects become freighted with meaning … A reflection both on mortality and of the times in which Smith finds herself, but rich in detail * Guardian *A gripping tale of the search for meaning in times of turbulence - expressed with Smith’s signature poetic flair * Vogue *A moving account of the emotional stumbles, physical and intellectual wanderings and deep losses Smith experienced in her 70th year * Independent *Some rock stars shut themselves away from life, but Smith’s engagement with the world only deepens, as this dreamy memoir shows * Daily Telegraph *Extraordinary … A tense, teasing mix of reality and dream … It’s a drifter’s book, in time, space and the imagination * Sunday Times *A picaresque voyage through her dreams and life as she faced 70, dealing with flashes of “sorrow’s vertigo” as she remembers all the loves and rock contemporaries who are gone, with a kaleidoscope of references from “Mr. Robot” to Marcus Aurelius to Martin Beck mysteries to Maria Callas’s Medea -- Maureen Dowd * International New York Times *A profoundly beautiful book, poetic in its prose and metaphysical in its meaning, it’s quite a stunning read * Financial Times *The narrating voice is the voice of Smith's music, twisting between the incantations of a priestess and laconic poetry … There is plenty of wonderful in this small, sly, mystic book * Spectator *A beatnik Alice in Wonderland, measured out in black coffee and Polaroids, it’s full of quiet puzzles, small epiphanies, more little clues how to live * Q Magazine *Arresting … Diverting and often unexpected, fresh and diverting * Literary Review *A profoundly lyrical, digressive mapping of her fame-and-family decades … This third memoir finds Smith unhomed, at times almost unhinged, as she does her utmost to ward off those Beaten Generation blues * Mojo *Elegiac … A strikingly intimate portrait of a woman growing older and missing those who are no longer with us but remaining wide awake to the world and hopeful for its future * Sunday Express *A melancholy mood and poetic language distinguish Smith’s third memoir * BBC *Poet and performer Smith’s latest memoir zooms in tight ... Her willingness to look closely at life’s closing chapters makes for a magical book * Washington Post, 'The 10 books to read in September' *Lovely ... a slim volume [with a] minor-key melancholy * Entertainment Weekly *Patti Smith’s brilliant new memoir about love, loss and growing older … I’m already captivated by her poetic prose * Daily Mirror *Smith’s grace and erudite philosophy is a welcome balm in these times * Town & Country *Smith’s reflections on a wrenching yet grace-filled year are elegiac, vital, and magical. … Smith’s large, loyal following will seek out this spellbinding memoir, just as they embraced Just Kids (2010) and M Train (2015) * Booklist *Luminous ... Smith casts a mesmerizing spell with exquisite prose * Publishers Weekly *This is the modern-day Patti Smith: older, wiser, seeing the world, and reporting it all back to us in only the way she can. You can’t read this and not feel inspired after you put it down * Inside Hook *An incantatory, ambulatory travelogue * New Statesman *Captivating ... Redemptive * Kirkus *She weaves the threads of her thoughts and past relationships together, creating a dreamy memoir on the passage of time and our changing world * Wanderlust *One of the great diarists of her, or any other time, with an exquisite voice which manages to somehow transform even the most ordinary event into something otherworldly … An enchanting hitchhike through 2016 … Every occurrence sears into the reader’s psyche in vivid detail … Time spent in the company of Patti is always a pleasure * Classic Pop *A rock-star prophetess … Meditative, messy, poignant, deeply personal, allusive, occasionally bombastic and, crucially, still defiant, Year of the Monkey is a mercurial fusion of the mundane and visionary that only an unconquerable spirit like Patti Smith could write * Herald *She can find artistic endeavour in the mundane; or bone-deep comfort in a cup of black coffee and a cinnamon doughnut … Incredibly moving … As much a glimpse of a troubled year in Patti’s life, as a portal into our own * Record Collector *

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Book SynopsisI was saying things in songs that female singers didn't really say back then. I wasn't submissive or begging him to come back, I was kicking his ass, kicking him out, kicking my own ass too. My Blondie character was an inflatable doll but with a dark, provocative, aggressive side. I was playing it up, yet I was very serious.'BRAVE, BEAUTIFUL AND BORN TO BE PUNKDEBBIE HARRY is a musician, actor, activist and the iconic face of New York City cool. As the front-woman of Blondie, she and the band forged a new sound that brought together the worlds of rock, punk, disco, reggae and hip-hop to create some of the most beloved pop songs of all time. As a muse, she collaborated with some of the boldest artists of the past four decades. The scope of Debbie Harry's impact on our culture has been matched only by her reticence to reveal her rich inner life until now.In an arresting mix of visceral, soulful storytelling and stunning visuals that includes never-before-seen photographs, bespoke illustrations and fan art installations, Face It upends the standard music memoir while delivering a truly prismatic portrait. With all the grit, grime, and glory recounted in intimate detail, Face It recreates the downtown scene of 1970s New York City, where Blondie played alongside the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop and David Bowie.Following her path from glorious commercial success to heroin addiction, the near-death of partner Chris Stein, a heart-wrenching bankruptcy, and Blondie's break-up as a band to her multifaceted acting career in more than thirty films, a stunning solo career and the triumphant return of her band, and her tireless advocacy for the environment and LGBTQ rights, Face It is a cinematic story of a woman who made her own path, and set the standard for a generation of artists who followed in her footsteps a memoir as dynamic as its subject.Trade Review‘In this whirlwind tour of her life, Harry deploys an irreverent style well suited to her story. Her tales are intermixed with interludes that capture the eclectic and electric passion she has for the creative process. In a narrative that feels simultaneously heartfelt and spontaneous, Harry recounts close encounters with violence and harassment with the same immediacy as the moments that catapulted Blondie to worldwide fame. Readers will find reflection on life with a budding band and an uncensored view of what it took to succeed.’Kirkus ‘Blondie fans will love its piquant atmospherics and the energy and honesty of Harry’s take on her singular saga.’Entertainment Weekly ‘The ultimate rock’n’roll memoir’Sunday Times ‘A rollercoaster ride that music lovers will adore’Good Housekeeping ‘An entertaining reveal-all read’Woman & Home ‘Extra special’Red ‘[This] autobiography documents, brilliantly and brutally, the lawless, druggy streets of early 70s New York, living the hazy cosmic jive of the legendary downtown loft scene’Stylist ‘Harry offers a vivid portrait of a seedy, bohemian scene in late-60s New York… Engaging’Guardian ‘Face It: Debbie Harry’s cool and forthright memoir… The Blondie singer is a reluctant memoirist and what drove her to write this is unclear – but thank God she did’New Statesman ‘Intoxicating… This candid memoir is an absorbing read.’Daily Mirror, book of the week ‘Face It is a rollicking, riotous read, taking in Blondie’s ascent from gritty downtown New York to pop superstars to the band’s nosedive of heroin addiction, bankruptcy and break-up, and phoenix-like return to the top of the charts in 1999… a real page-turner… often jaw-dropping’NME ‘An astonishing memoir’The i ‘Debbie has us in raptures … Its tone is matter-of-fact, honest, self-aware and often humorous’Daily Express ‘An eye-opening memoir’The Times

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Book SynopsisAnthony Bourdain''s long-awaited sequel to Kitchen Confidential, the worldwide bestseller''As ferociously rude as anything Bourdain has done before'' GuardianTerrific ... his love for his subjects - both the food and the cook - sings'' TelegraphBourdain has insight, access and good taste, and he''s a naturally engaging writer'' New York TimesA lot has changed since Kitchen Confidential - for the subculture of chefs and cooks, for the restaurant business - and for Anthony Bourdain.Medium Raw explores these changes, moving back and forth from the author''s bad old days to the present. Tracking his own strange and unexpected voyage from journeyman cook to globe-travelling professional eater and drinker, Bourdain compares and contrasts what he''s seen and what he''s seeing, pausing along the way for a series of confessions, rants, investigations, and interrogations of some of the most controversial figures in foodTrade Review'As ferociously rude as anything Bourdain has done before' * Kathryn Hughes, Guardian *‘Terrific ... his love for his subjects - both the food and the cook - sings as it once did in Kitchen Confidential' * Daily Telegraph *‘Bourdain has insight, access and good taste, and he's a naturally engaging writer ... [he] is a hopeless romantic when it comes to food and the people who cook' * New York Times *‘Bourdain is a vivid, bawdy and often foul-mouthed writer. He thrills in the attack, but he is also an enthusiast who writes well about things he holds dear' * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisWhen Krystal Evans was 14, the house that she shared with her mother and little sister burned down. Krystal narrowly escaped by breaking a window and jumping out head-first; suffering burns, smoke inhalation, PTSD - and the unimaginable tragedy of losing her six year-old sister. But horrific as events were, the account of what led the family to that fatal night, and how they coped with its aftermath, is a richer and more complex story. Writing with skill and candour to find light in the darkest of places, this is Krystal Evans'' story of growing up poor in America, living with a mentally ill mother, and having a wolf for a pet (really). From the indignities of being rejected from ''burn camp'' for being ''too attractive'', to putting up with a succession of her mom''s increasingly dangerous and shady friends and partners, Krystal and Katie''s childhoods were marked by adult chaos, inappropriate behaviour, and never knowing what the next day would bring.The Hottest Girl At Burn Camp is Krystal''s story of how she grew from the ashes of disaster into the confident, funny, and (reasonably) well-hinged adult, mother and comedian that she is today.At the same time, funny, tragic and inspiring, it is the story of a family dangerously close to the edge, and of a girl struggling to make her way into adulthood, once the smoke clears.

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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 SynopsisTHE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*************************************'Witty, dark, devastating' Caitlin Moran'Unflinching, unputdownable' Guardian'Brutally honest, funny, emotionally raw' Matt Haig'I love it' Jon Ronson*************************************So, this is me. Lily Allen.I am a mother, and I was a wife. I'm also a singer and a songwriter. I have loved and been let down. I've been stalked and assaulted. I am a success and a failure. I've been broken and full of hope. I am all these things and more.I'm telling my truth because when women share their stories, loudly and clearly and honestly, things begin to change - for the better.So, this is my story. These are my thoughts exactly.**Includes an exclusive new chapter**

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Book SynopsisTerry Prone got into an argument on a TV show at thirteen. It marked her out as a fearless teenager willing to take on anybody. Soon she was a regular panellist on The Late Late Show. At fifteen, she lied about her age to get into the Abbey Theatre School of Acting, became an actor with the Abbey and starred in a West End production. Later, as Ireland's Outstanding Teenager, she was interviewed by Barbara Walters on US television. That was just the beginning of a phenomenal story that made her one of the most successful businesswomen in Ireland from the 1970s, training people all over the world in communications while publishing more than twenty books and thousands of newspaper columns. But at the heart of this book is the love story that forced Terry to throw caution to the wind. Because she fell in love with Tom Savage. Father Tom Savage. All hell broke loose. He was fired. She was fired. They weren't allowed to marry. The two of them fought back. Tom became the first producer of RTE's Morning Ireland and Terry was picked for the team setting up the Gay Byrne Hour. They set up a business where they trained captains of industry and politicians. Their company became a household name. Filled with laughter and love, with triumph and disaster, Caution to the Wind is an honest, funny account of an astonishing life. While Terry Prone is a seasoned writer, Caution to the Wind is the first book she has written about her personal life, and it proves to be thoughtful, evocative and engaging.

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Book SynopsisIf you were to only have one Slater cookbook in your life, this is it' OFM, Books of the YearHe is king among food writers' Nigella LawsonSlater's best book' Diana Henry, Sunday TelegraphA Cook's Book is the story of Nigel Slater's life in the kitchen.From the first jam tart Nigel made with his mum standing on a chair trying to reach the Aga, through to what he is cooking now, this is the ultimate Nigel Slater collection brimming with over 200 recipes.Hewrites about how his cooking has changed from discovering the best way to roast a chicken to the trick to smoky, smooth aubergine mash. He gives the tales behind the recipes and recalls the first time he ate a baguette in Paris, his love of jewel-bright Japanese pickled radishes and his initial slice of buttercream-topped chocolate cake. These are the favourite recipes Nigel Slater cooks at home every day; the heart and soul of his cooking. Chapters include: a slice of tart, a chicken in the pot, everyday greens, the solace of soup and Trade Review‘A Cook’s Book, all 500 pages and nearly one and a half kilos of it, enters the world as if from the kitchen of someone fresh to the world of food writing, a-brim with ideas, vital and enthusiastic . . . He is king among food writers . . . There is not a cook or a reader in the land who wouldn’t gratefully hug this new volume of his to their chest’ Nigella Lawson ‘A magnificent volume of comfort. After all these years, no one describes the simple sensuous pleasures of food better than Slater’ Bee Wilson ‘This is a book for life . . . This, and it’s high praise, is Slater’s best book’ Diana Henry, Sunday Telegraph ‘It’s so good. I think it’s his best one, and I say that because every single recipe is something you’d make tonight, for supper, with no fuss or stress . . . It’s super-homey and a friendly, comfortable book for people who don’t view recipes as projects. Divinely written, as per’ India Knight, Sunday Times ‘I've got five Nigel Slaters – and in all honesty I don't need a single new recipe in my life . . . But that's absolutely nothing to do with it. Cookery books are like new clothes – you imagine a whole life to go with them’ Alexandra Schulman, Daily Mail ‘It is beautiful’ Grace Dent ‘This beautiful book has all you’ll ever need’ Graham Norton, Virgin Radio ‘Every time Nigel Slater announces a new book, I quickly make a spot next to all his other books that sit on my bookshelf. His latest book, A Cook’s Book is like your favourite chocolate cake, sweetened with fond memories and layered with Nigel’s wisdom to make us all better cooks in the kitchen’ Nik Sharma ‘It’s gorgeous’ Felicity Spector ‘It’s beautifully designed, spilling over with tempting ideas’ Express Books of the Year ‘The beauty of his prose is matched to the warmth of his recipes’ Tom Parker-Bowles, Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisIn this entertaining and surprisingly moving autobiography, Timmy shares his journey through TV stardom, cycling the Camino and his passion for art.Trade ReviewI am reading and LOVING and being both amused and moved by Timmy Mallett’s Utterly Brilliant! -- Gyles BrandrethA vivid, beautifully written and often moving book, skilfully dovetailing memoir, history, art and a cycling pilgrimage across Europe into a unique and uplifting whole. If you think you know who Timmy Mallett is, you’re in for a rewarding surprise! -- Professor Brian CoxA must read. This is a journey brimming with love and laughter that's also deeply moving. Timmy's glass isn't just half full, it's positively overflowing! -- Lorraine KellyImagine as an adult the joy of bumping into someone you watched weekly as a kid on Saturday morning TV. Someone who kicked off the weekend, entertaining me with joyous fun and silliness. Someone I would send pictures to; I even won competitions on their show. Timmy Mallett, I still have my WAC PAC and all its contents! You’re the kind of hero who has probably influenced me more than I realize. What a lovely man! -- Keith LemonThere are not many people who would put themselves through this much to achieve their dream. Timmy has always aimed for the summit and, most importantly, remembers to smile and take time to reflect along the way. -- Chris EvansI loved this book. It’s absolutely delightful. An adventure told in a uniquely Timmy way, full of humour and charm. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. -- Michaela Strachan, from the forewordThe world is a dark and confusing place to be right now, but there are still times that make a person glad to be in it. Timmy's journey throughout this book is one of them. -- The Secret FootballerA beautiful, life-affirming book. It shows Timmy in a new light and demonstrates his talents and astonishing versatility. Read it! I am sure you'll be as captivated as I was. -- Wendy CraigFunny, fascinating and insightful, just like Timmy himself. A must read for anyone who likes an adventure. -- Yvette FieldingHighly entertaining . . . Much of the joy of Mallett's memoir is his unselfconscious tone. * The Mail on Sunday *A riveting read, full of love and laughter. * S Magazine, the weekly magazine with the Sunday Express *Mallett’s book is a fun read – at once a history lesson, travelogue, love letter to cycling, autobiography and motivational manual, with some perhaps unintended but endearingly hilarious lines such as "tarmac is the same all over the world". * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisOnly when we're being honest with ourselves -rather than the public, or an interviewer - do we admit truths which we wouldnormally avoid talking about. Over 18 years we have asked thousands of celebritieswhat they would tell their younger selves. Featuring Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Rod Stewart and more...

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Book Synopsis THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING MEMOIR, NOW UPDATED WITH NEW MATERIAL Readers LOVE Everything is Everything:''Clive Myrie is one heck of an author'' ?????''Well written and thought provoking. One to come back to again'' ?????''Thoughtful, analytical, deeply caring and, at times, very funny'' ?????-----------------As a Bolton teenager with a paper round, Clive Myrie read all the newspapers he delivered from cover to cover and dreamed of becoming a journalist. In this deeply personal memoir, he tells how his family history has influenced his view of the world, introducing us to his Windrush generation parents, a great grandfather who helped build the Panama Canal, and a great uncle who fought in the First World War, later to become a prominent police detective in Jamaica.He reflects on how being black has affected his perspective on issues he''s encountered in thirty years reporting some of the biggest stories

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Book SynopsisGet to know the real Philip Schofield in his funny, uplifting, occasionally heartbreaking and always honest life story THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Searingly honest, brave, highly readable'' Sunday Express''[A] fantastic read on such an interesting life'' Lorraine Kelly''A really smashing book'' Michael Ball_________For forty years we''ve been watching Phillip - from children''s TV to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and This Morning - but what is life like behind the scenes and who is he when the camera is off?In Life''s What You Make It Phillip tells us his secrets, whisking us from an idyllic Cornwall childhood via pestering the BBC for a job to hanging out with stars of stage and screen.Packed with stories he''s never told, here''s all the excitement of live TV, the mayhem and mistakes, the friendships with beloved co-stars and the sadness of onscreen bTrade ReviewIt's fascinating, it's funny and it's beautifully written . . . brilliant -- Chris Moyles, Radio XWhat a fascinating memoir -- Tim PeakeExplosive * Sun *[A] fantastic read on such an interesting life * Lorraine Kelly *A really smashing book -- Michael BallCandid, brave and readable . . . This Morning fans will love stories of his 18 years on the show * Sunday Express *A beautiful book. There are amazing stories in there about meeting Princess Diana, the Red Arrows and all of our favourite telly shows. It's a delight -- Zoe Ball * BBC Radio 2 *The book we've all been waiting for . . . we haven't been able to put it down * New *A fantastic read! -- Steve Wright * BBC Radio 2 *We have loved your book - you've been so honest, open, everything that anyone knows you so well will have hoped to get from this book . . . you get it. A stroll through your incredible career and you also tackle, head on, in a really beautiful way what happened earlier this year -- Andrea McLean * Loose Women *A bona fide national treasure . . . He tells his story in his way, with great honesty * Prima *One of our favourite things is the many hilarious anecdotes he has to share about his good friend Holly Willoughby * Hello! *Phillip Schofield has spoken candidly about his coming out process and his current mental health struggles in his autobiography * Pink News *Takes readers on the journey Phillip has taken to get to where he is today. Fans will delight at a nostalgic look back at Phillip's life, relish the behind the scenes stories, and feel touched by the emotional honesty in his writing * Northern Life Magazine *Dazzling * Evening Standard *Full of anecdotes about onscreen mishaps and meeting the famous * Daily Mail *The silver-haired overlord of daytime TV . . . Schofe's candour is admirable * Evening Standard *In this soul-bearing autobiography, Phillip looks back on his broadcasting career . . . A frank and highly readable life story * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisA new selection of post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gough''s letters, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh put a human face on one of the most haunting figures in modern Western culture. In this Penguin Classics edition, the letters are selected and edited by Ronald de Leeuw, and translated by Arnold Pomerans in Penguin Classics.Few artists'' letters are as self-revelatory as Vincent van Gogh''s, and this selection, spanning his artistic career, sheds light on every facet of the life and work of this complex and tortured man. Engaging candidly and movingly with his religious struggles, his ill-fated search for love, his attacks of mental illness and his relation with his brother Theo, the letters contradict the popular myth of van Gogh as an anti-social madman and a martyr to art, showing instead a man of great emotional and spiritual depths. Above all, they stand as an intense personal narrative of artistic development and a unique account of the process of creation. The letters are linked by explanatory biographical passages, revealing van Gogh''s inner journey as well as the outer facts of his life. This edition also includes the drawings that originally illustrated the letters.Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853-1890) was born in Holland. In 1885 he painted his first masterpiece, The Potato Eaters, a haunting scene of domestic poverty. A year later he began studying in Paris, where he met Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec and Seurat, who became very important influences on his work. In 1888 he left Paris for the Provencal landscape at Arles, the subject of many of his best works, including Sunflowers.If you enjoyed The Letters of Vincent van Gogh, you might also like 100 Artists Manifestos, available in Penguin Modern Classics.''If there was ever any doubt that Van Gogh''s letters belong beside those great classics of artistic self-revelation, Cellini''s autobiography and Delacroix''s journal, this excellent new edition dispels it''The TimesTable of ContentsThe Letters of Vincent van GoghAbout This EditionTranslator's NoteIntroductionBiographical OutlineEarly LettersRamsgate and IsleworthDordrechtAmsterdamThe BorinageEttenThe HagueThe Hague, Drenthe and NuenenFrom Nuenen to AntwerpParisArlesSaint-RémyAuvers-sur-OiseBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisRemarkably honest, brutally heroic and darkly humorous memoir following a devastating diagnosis of early onset Parkinson's disease. Twitch is a frank and funny memoir about picking up the pieces when personal tragedy hits.

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'Uproarious memoir packed with anecdotes about the Harry Potter films' Daily Mail'Very funny and fascinating' Mail on Sunday'Brave and brilliant' Cosmopolitan'Highly readable' The TimesThey called for a break, and Gambon magicked up a cigarette from out of his beard. He and I were often to be found outside the stage that housed the Astronomy Tower, having 'a breath of fresh air' as we referred to it. There would be painters and plasterers and chippies and sparks, and among them all would be me and Dumbledore having a crafty cigarette.From Borrower to wizard, Tom Felton's childhood was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame saw him catapulted into the limelight aged just twelve when he landed the iconic role of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.Speaking with candour and his own trademark humour, Tom shares his experience of growing up on screen and as part of the wizarding world for the very first time. He tells all about his big break, what filming was really like and the lasting friendships he made during ten years with the franchise, as well as the highs and lows of fame and the reality of navigating adult life after filming finished.Prepare to meet a real-life wizard.The instant New York Times bestseller, November 2022Sunday Times bestseller, December 2022Trade ReviewHighly readable * Times *Brave and brilliant * Cosmopolitan *Very funny and fascinating, 5 out of 5 stars * Mail on Sunday *A brilliant memoir * Alex Zane *Uproarious * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''Magical and transporting . . . Wayward proves that Bunyan has lived the best possible life, on her own idiosyncratic terms''Maggie O''Farrell''A gorgeous account of outsiderness and survival: a map of how to live outside the boundaries and of striving for an authentic artistic life. A quietly defiant and moving work'' Sinéad Gleeson''An epic in miniature . . . I loved - and lived - every sentence'' Benjamin MyersIn 1968, Vashti Bunyan gave up everything and everybody she knew in London to take to the road with a horse, wagon, dog, guitar and her then partner. They made the long journey up to the Outer Hebrides in an odyssey of discovery and heartbreak, full of the joy of freedom and the trudge of everyday reality, sleeping in the woods, fighting freezing winters and homelessness. Along the way, Vashti wrote the songs that would lead to the recording of her 1970''s album Just Another Diamond Day, the lilting lyrics and guitar conveying innocent wonder at the world around her, whilst disguising a deeper turmoil under the surface. From an unconventional childhood in post-war London, to a fledgling career in mid-sixties pop - recording a single written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards - to the despair and failure to make any headway with her own songs, she rejected the music world altogether and left it all behind. After retreating to a musical wilderness for thirty years, the rediscovery of her recordings in 2000 brought Vashti a second chance to write, record and perform once more. One of the great hippie myths of the 1960s, Wayward, Just Another Life to Live, rewrites the narrative of a barefoot girl on the road to describe a life lived at full tilt from the first, revealing what it means to change course and her emotional struggle, learning to take back control of her own life.Trade ReviewThis is a magical and transporting memoir, relating how Bunyan ducked out of the London music scene, instead choosing to make her way - by foot and wagon - to the Outer Hebrides. Her mesmerising viewpoint and lyrical outlook on life will be familiar to anyone who, like me, loves her music, but Wayward proves that Bunyan has lived the best possible life, on her own idiosyncratic terms -- Maggie O'FarrellA gorgeous account of outsiderness and survival; a map of how to live outside the boundaries and of striving for an authentic artistic life. A quietly defiant and moving work -- Sinéad GleesonVashti Bunyan possesses one of the purest voices English music has ever produced, and now that unique otherness translates to literature. Wayward is an epic in miniature, a mythical tale with echoes of her ancestor John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, made all the more magical by the fact it actually happened. I loved - and lived - every sentence -- Benjamin MyersA quietly beautiful and gentle read, full of light and kindness. Underneath its easygoing exterior is a proud story about gut instinct and persistence, and I have much affection for what it showed me about choosing a pace of life, and how we might find our place in the world as we move through it -- Jennifer Lucy AllanThis simply beautiful memoir cast the same spell on me as Vashti Bunyan's music. Her account of a legendary road-trip taken at horse pace through a gone England is hedgerow rich in vivid detail. But this is no nostalgia piece: Bunyan is needle-sharp on the way so many men tried to cut her - and her songs - down to size: essential reading for women in the arts now. I read the last pages through tears, deeply moved by the wilder life she embarked on, step by step, song by song. If you loved Patti Smith's Just Kids then you need to read Wayward next. -- Tanya Shadrick, author of The Cure for SleepBunyan weaves her captivating nomad's tale with a rambler's eye for detail and a dreamer's visionary ambition. Her perpetual search for utopia, and the experiences behind her songs of innocence, are romantic and revelatory -- Rob YoungDefiant and surprisingly unromantic, painting her cross-country journey in shades of muddy green, this is a fascinating and brave memoir -- Bob StanleyLike the music she makes, Vashti Bunyan's writing in this memoir of an unusual musical life is ethereal and dream-like, skipping from one thought to the next, lingering long enough to leave a clear impression but not to overburden the reader's experience . . . a story of finding meaning in the right location, with beautiful music as a backdrop * Record Collector *Extraordinary * Mojo *

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Book SynopsisJulian Cope's highly acclaimed autobiography and its long-awaited sequel in one extraordinary volume.Julian Cope shot to fame with eighties band Teardrop Explodes'' during the Punk era. Hailed as a visionary by those people who recognise his genius and a madman by those who find him perplexing, he has become a cult figure in the music world.Head-On/Repossessed is written in Cope's own inimitable style and follows his journey through a time of incredible change within the music industry.Head-on is the highly acclaimed autobiography that The Observer viewed as book of the year when it was first released. Repossesed picks up in 1983 where Head On ends and continues up until 1989.Trade Review'Hilarious, observant and deeply subversive.' I-D 'Considered and self-deprecating…Mighty.' TIME OUT 'Repossessed…is one of the best books about the 80s ever written and without doubt the best book about toy cars, hermiting, integrity and drug paranoia.' THE GUARDIAN 'Cope's passion and intelligence are well served by a vein of self-deprecating wit.' THE DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Wondrous memoirs of fleeting stardom and LSD-induced psychosis.' Q MAGAZINE [The 50 Best Music Books Ever, 2001] 'Cope's rocking writing at its most infectious, moving and hilarious.' NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS 'Compulsive reading…This man is truly a genius.' LOADED 'A wryly rendered masterpiece.' Q MAGAZINE

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Book SynopsisOut of the cocaine-fuelled, rock''n''roll debauchery of the 1970s came an iconic collaboration between an influential rocker and a visionary filmmaker.From The Last Waltz to The Wolf of Wall Street and The Irishman, the creative legacy of Robbie Robertson and Martin Scorcese has spanned decades. Filled with high octane exploits, bacchanalian parties and untold amounts of debauchery, this is the intimate and unvarnished behind-the-scenes story of a partnership that has shaped American culture like no other.PRAISE FOR TESTIMONY''A book of memories and wonders, a personal testament of a magical time in American music from someone who was there, at the center of it all . . . Robbie brings you along with him, keeps you right by his side first to last, just the way his songs do, drawing you close, spellbound by his easy sorcery. You can feel the music in every word'' Martin Scorsese''Robust, wry, gritty and wise'' Wall Street Journal''Confident and well oiled. At times it has the mythic sweep of an early Terrence Malick movie'' New York Times''Captivating... this is essential reading'' Rolling Stone''Robertson is an immensely capable storyteller and a keen observer'' New Yorker

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Book SynopsisAnita's debut novel Baby Does a Runner is available to pre-order now - coming July 2023!Fizzing with energy, hilarity and charm, The Right Sort of Girl is the Sunday Times bestseller from Countryfile's Anita Rani.'Warm, honest and funny, filled with hope and inspiration' Nikesh Shukla'Funny, touching, occasionally veering into beautifully controlled, quiet rage... a must-read' Viv Groskop'Like a bloody good natter with your down-to-earth friend' Shappi Khorsandi'A joy from start to finish' Emma Kennedy'Empowering... I will be recommending to everyone I know' Nikita Gill'I'm a girl and northern and brown, didn't you know? A triple threat!' Trying to navigate her Indian world at home and the British world outside her front door, Anita Rani was a girl who didn't ­fit in anywhere. She was always destined to stand out: from playing Mary in her otherwise all white nursery nativity to growing up in eighties Yorkshire with her Punjabi family, spending evenings in the factory her parents owned whilst trying to ­figure out how best to get rid of hair that seemed to be growing EVERYWHERE.Anita shares the lessons she wishes her younger self could have known: 'Freedom is Complicated', 'You Will Fall in Love and Be Loved' and, most importantly, 'Your Anger is Legitimate'. How did she manage to become the powerhouse she is, whilst battling against being too white inside her home and too brown outside of it?This story of a second-generation British Indian woman up north is also a tale of tenacity and a life lived with positivity and humour. If you have ever felt alone, different, or just not the right sort of girl, this is the book for you.Trade ReviewWarm, honest and funny, filled with hope and inspiration... A must-read for every young person with big dreams -- Nikesh ShuklaFunny, touching, nostalgic and occasionally veering into beautifully controlled, quiet rage, Anita's story is a must-read. If she's not exactly "the right sort of girl", then who is? -- Viv GroskopLike a bloody good natter with your down-to-earth friend who never sugars the pill -- Shappi Khorsandi'Warm and wonderful, Anita's book is a joy from start to finish' -- Emma KennedyAnita Rani's empowering, brilliant memoir is bursting full of insight and resilience. Her words are elegant and powerful - they will resonate with women everywhere for generations to come. Truly a splendid read in every way, I will be recommending this book to everyone I know. * Nikita Gill *

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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 SynopsisJerry Seinfeld picks out his best comedy writing over the last five decades

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Book SynopsisThis book is inspired by true events but is not a biography.The truth is My Truth is not The Truth, and that''s as honest as I can be. It''s partially true, rather than painfully true, and I have possibly been economical with the truth, Your Honour.Basically, I made this sh*t up . . .While James Blunt''s crimes against music are well-documented, he also has some stories that are not. In Loosely Based On A Made-Up Story, James reveals his most riotous anecdotes to date for your amusement - and his parents'' horror - in this highly anticipated non-memoir.From his questionable Norfolk roots, eccentric family, boarding school antics, misjudged military service, rise to music stardom and tour escapades, James delves into his (surprisingly) fascinating life to date. What do you do when your mother writes irate emails to the future prime minister defending your honour? What does it take to run a male escort agency? And why exactly should

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Book SynopsisPitched somewhere between Almost Famous and Withnail & I, Apathy for the Devil is a unique document of this most fascinating and troubling of decades - a story of inspiration, success and serious burn out.As a 20-something college dropout Nick Kent''s first five interviews as a young writer were with the MC5, Captain Beefheart, The Grateful Dead, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. Along with Charles Shaar Murray and Ian MacDonald he would go on to define and establish the NME as the home of serious music writing. And as apprentice to Lester Bangs, boyfriend of Chrissie Hynde, confidant of Iggy Pop, trusted scribe for Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, and early member of the Sex Pistols, he was witness to both the beautiful and the damned of this turbulent decade.

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Book SynopsisAs he films the final episode, actor David Suchet recalls his experience of playing Agatha Christie's world-famous detective, Hercule Poirot, for almost a quarter of a century.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent book about the psychopathology of an exceptional actor... -- Roger Lewis * Daily Mail *David Suchet writes with tremendous warmth and sincerity about his most famous alter ego... -- Paul Whitelaw * Metro *

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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 SynopsisRick Bucklers autobiography is the first from a member of The Jam, who some considered were the ultimate Mod band. Rick tells The Jam story from growing up in Woking and meeting fellow members Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton at school, through their formation in 1972 and tells of the band's early years before signing to Polydor records. He provides a year by year account of The Jam's progress whilst describing what it was like being a part of the music industry during the 70's and 80's and some of the characters who he met along the way including the Ramones, John Enwistle, Sid Vicious, Blondie, Boy George and Paul McCartney. Rick shares his own experiences and thoughts about what it was like to be in one of the UK's most successful bands who spent a great deal of time recording, performing and touring. Following The Jam's split in 1982, Rick gives a candid account of how he coped and his subsequent relationship with Paul and Bruce. All three members of The Jam stayed within the music industry and Rick takes the reader through his years in Time UK and various other bands up until forming From the Jam. A must read for any Jam fan.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERNIGEL - One of Britain''s favourite dogs! MONTY DON - One of Britain''s favourite presenters. When Monty Don''s golden retriever Nigel became the surprise star of BBC Gardeners'' World inspiring huge interest, fan mail and his own social media accounts, Monty Don wanted to explore what makes us connect with animals quite so deeply. In many respects Nigel is a very ordinary dog; charming, handsome and obedient, as so many are. He is a much loved family pet. He is also a star. By telling Nigel''s story, Monty relates his relationships with the other special dogs in his life in a memoir of his dogs past and very much present. Witty, touching and life-affirming, Nigel: My family and other dogs is wonderfully heart-warming. Monty Don is a great writer coming out of the garden and into the hearts and homes of every dog lover in the UK.<Trade ReviewHumane, engaging and eloquent * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsis***NOMINATED FOR THE NME BEST BOOK AWARD 2017 *** The first and only OFFICIAL book from ZAYN, for his ultimate fans. Zayn''s autobiography features exclusive, never-before-seen photographs alongside his story. -------------------------------- ''This book is my diary of a period that I would like to share with you all. I hope that there are things in the book that contextualise some of the moments and memories we have all shared together. There are things I address in the book that are very personal to me, things that I have never told anyone, things I still find hard to talk about. It''s a part of a journey I''m still on'' - ZAYN ZAYN opens up with this collection of thoughts, inspiration, and never-before-seen personal photographs. After five years of massive success with One Direction, ZAYN launched his career as a solo artist with Mind of Mine, becoming one of the most successful artists in the world. NowTrade ReviewThe first and only official book from ZAYN. Global superstar ZAYN shares a photographic journey of his life since leaving One Direction. from the publisher's description

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2016 PEN ACKERLEY PRIZE'An intense, succulent read that's intermittently dazzling' THE TIMES'Chilling, exquisitely moving' DAILY TELEGRAPH'A superb memoir - and one of the best books on addiction I have ever read' EVENING STANDARDA. A. Gill's memoir begins in the dark of a dormitory with six strangers. He is an alcoholic, dying in the last-chance saloon. He tells the truth - as far as he can remember it - about drinking and about what it is like to be drunk. He recalls the lost days, lost friends, failed marriages ... But there was also an 'optimum inebriation, a time when it was all golden'.Sobriety regained, there are painterly descriptions of people and places, unforgettable musings about childhood and family, art and religion; and most movingly, the connections between his cooking, dyslexia and his missing brother. Full of raw and unvarnished truths, exquisitely written throughout, POUR ME is about lost time and self-discovery. Lacerating, unflinching, uplifting, it is a classic about drunken abandon.Trade Review'His mind, officially measured as off the Mensa scale, is an object of wonder. But it swivels everywhere like a dropped high-pressure hosepipe . . . Gill is explosive. God knows what a frightening thing he must have been in drink. He is bad enough as a dry drunk, the kind of sober person who gets thrown out of restaurants (in his case, Gordon Ramsay's). But the end of the book dwells on a recently evolved philanthropic side to Gill's character. He has become very anxious about the world. He travels to awful places, eloquently and genuinely compassionate with the suffering he witnesses there ... One deduces that he has transcended his suffering but he now has a hypersensitive sympathy with the suffering of others. A A Gill is 61, 30 years sober and surviving. Those who admire him (and I am one) will not merely read him over the years to come but follow him wherever he is now going. It will, one guesses, be an interesting journey' -- John Sutherland * NEW STATESMAN *'A.A. Gill, the man who makes a living getting beneath the skin of things, whether it's television, restaurants or places round the world - has skinned himself ... The funny, curious, sad and often sodden stories are told using combinations of words and ideas that shouldn't be friends, but hold hands at the behest of Gill, like a circus master with a comma for a whip. This is a book full of darkness, laughs and dark laughs. Personal truths by a man whose love of language is ultimately the protagonist' * VANITY FAIR *'[Gill] writes passionately and movingly about his struggle with dyslexia; disarmingly and defensively about his lifelong feelings of intellectual insecurity; evocatively about his relationships with his parents and the disappearance of his brother . . . stirringly about his love of journalism . . . It might not all be beautiful; it might not all be true. But that does little to diminish the pleasure to be found in its story' -- Matthew Adams * INDEPENDENT *'Fluent, cocky and dense with gags . . . he is a brilliant raconteur, and a gifted satirist of place and person. He is also, perhaps through a history of AA meetings (those initials are well chosen), unafraid to take risks of self-exposure. The baroque debauchery of his drinking days gives way to frank and often moving examinations of his growing up . . . his loves and lusts and marriages, and his own efforts at fatherhood: the role that has done most to keep him sober' -- Tim Adams * OBSERVER *'As readers of Gill's journalism will expect, Pour Me is alert, emphatic, mordant, unforgiving. It is often moving, but never tries to be likeable. Honesty about alcoholism is not its chief attraction. It is a full-blooded retrospective by a man aged 61, who has travelled in remote and dangerous places, and has considered most human possibilities. He apologises for his book being insufficiently amusing ("it's about me, and I'm not really funny"), but his gallows comedy gives a hefty kick, many sections are beautifully droll, and some scenes are hilarious' -- Richard Davenport-Hines * SUNDAY TIMES *'In this chilling, exquisitely moving book, Gill defines the seductive, addictive and destructive power of drink . . . Gill's trademark is slamming the truth down hard on the page. It is his honesty that accounts for the intensity of this haunting memoir . . . and although he says this is not a funny book, it is . . . there are meditative passages of beauty here . . . A book that began by discussing lost time becomes one of recovered time, of a new way of life that is worth not only living but also celebrating' -- Juliet Nicolson * DAILY TELEGRAPH *'It's an intense, succulent read that's intermittently dazzling - 250 pages about a young life nullified by anxiety and addiction and not one cliche, each sentence earning its keep. Gill's regular readers might expect that but his willingness to expose his deepest insecurities, his apparent belief that, even now, he's an imposter, method-acting being normal, makes him newly vulnerable . . . There's no triumphant, teary-eyed conclusion: Gill says he's still no clearer on whether he drank because he was anxious and depressed or that he was anxious and depressed because he drank. As he says, it probably doesn't matter. What he knows is that for all his success now, he will always mourn the blackout of those years, the prime decade of his life just a cigar box of dog-eared postcards and incoherent memories. The saddest thing of all, it turns out, is absence' -- Carol Midgley * THE TIMES *'Pour Me, Gill's sweet-sour memoir of his drinking days and subsequent reform . . . is a delight. In pages of well-turned anecdote, Gill chronicles a rackety life made good. The book is nicely designed, moreover, and I liked the discussions of, among other things, the difficulties of parenting and marriage in late middle age' -- Ian Thomson * SPECTATOR *'This tonic memoir is the absolute works . . . As an autobiographer, A.A. Gill is unhampered by introspection. He observes his former self from without, dispassionately, unsparingly, as if grimacing at some squalid exhibit in memory's museum, an exhibit from a different age that has little to do with the successful, prolific sexagenarian journalist and random stirrer. Indeed he's promiscuously interested in just about everything save himself. The scope of his knowledge is phenomenal . . . His descriptive prose is polychromatic and specific. He is impatient with 'impressionistic' approximations . . . He judges neither himself nor others . . . The aberrant behaviour, the bodily dysfunctions, the wondering how you ended up here, with these people you have never seen before - all this is recalled with impeccably grim comic timing' -- Jonathan Meades * COUNTRY LIFE *'A superb memoir - and one of the best books on addiction I have ever read . . . beautifully written. Gill describes many things - people, works of art, parts of London - wonderfully well. He says he wanted to be an artist. He is - with words' -- William Leith * EVENING STANDARD *'Pour Me by the jounalist A.A. Gill is a sour-sweet memoir of his alcoholism and its attendant woes. Gill's early years of drinking brought only a squalid self-denial and low self-esteem; liquor had got him well and truly licked. Often funny, the book is dedicated to the "friends of Bill", after the Bill Wilson who, in 1935, co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous' * THE TABLET *'Funny, infuriating and moving' * CATHOLIC HERALD *'The restaurant and television critic defines the seductive power of drink in this amusing, exquisitely moving memoir about alcoholism, full of riffs and detours, from Gill's parents' affairs while he was a child to his own first shaky detox days. His verbal dexterity is all the more remarkable for his dyslexia, the "wordcurdling" from which he has suffered since he was a schoolboy' * DAILY TELEGRAPH *'A.A. Gill's new memoir Pour Me is a prodigiously well-penned tale of addiction, misery, shame and rehabilitation - sometimes pompous, sometimes self-lacerating, but always unflinching and gripping' * MR HYDE *'A.A. Gill hangs his ferociously entertaining autobiography on his youthful spell as an alcoholic . . . with grimly comic scenes from bars and clubs, and confused fragments in between blackouts, garishly lit by guilt and shame . . . But Pour Me is more than an extended act of "sharing" at an AA meeting . . . He also writes about many aspects of his life that are much more interesting than his drinking, such as his family . . . He writes brilliantly about art - in a superb account of Gericault's 'Raft of the Medusa', for example - as he does about anything he turns his hand to, most surprisingly the plight of refugees. He has a terrific relish for simile . . . His favourite is "like a slap", which is what his writing is like; that or an electric shock: in any case, always stimulating' -- Lewis Jones * THE OLDIE *'Gill's memoir, Pour Me, focuses on his alcoholism and recovery from an earlier exclusive view of his own mortality. Like all his writings it combines a willingness to say the unsayable, and an intention to say it colourfully . . . it evokes a character of fearless intelligence, determined to find out everything for himself, and happy to tweak sensibilities along the way' -- David Horspool * TLS *

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Book SynopsisFull of candid reflections on the struggles and triumphs that were happening both in the public eye and behind closed doors, this is the autobiography of one of the nation's favourite TV diet and fitness experts of the past 50 years.Trade Review‘Through Thick and Thin is a fascinating, frank and honest account of one woman’s rollercoaster ride to success, triumph and transformation by way of frequent trials, tribulations and heartache. Her trailblazing influence has carried immeasurable wellbeing, happiness and good health to countless followers, and this is the story of how she did it. If you want to learn about resilience read this!' * Dr Hilary Jones MBE *‘A story of glamour, success and achievement, mixed with vulnerability, near despair and searing honesty. * Rob Parsons OBE *

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''A mind-blowing and emotionally honest tale of survival against all odds.'' BERNARDINE EVARISTO''A breathtaking memoir...I was so moved by this book.'' Oprah''It is startlingly honest and, at times, a jaw-dropping read, charting her rise from poverty and abuse to becoming the first African-American to win the triple crown of an Oscar, Emmy and Tony for acting.'' BBC NewsTHE DEEPLY PERSONAL, BRUTALLY HONEST ACCOUNT OF VIOLA''S INSPIRING LIFEIn my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life changing decision to stop running forever.This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose and my strength, but also to finding my voice in a world that didn''t always see me.As I wrote Finding Me, my eyes were open to the truth

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Book SynopsisAre We Still Rolling? is more than a recollection of treasured music-making over 50 years. It is one man's journey through a life where drug abuse, chaos, rampant egos, greed, lies and the increasingly invasive record business all took their toll.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisWhy do we make things? Why do we choose the emotionally and physically demanding work of bringing new objects into the world with creativity and skill? Why does it matter that we make things well? What is the nature of work? And what is the nature of a good life?Whether you're honing your craft or turning your hand to a new skill, discover the true value in what it means to be a craftsman in a mass-produced world.Part memoir, part polemic, part philosophical reflection, this is a book about the process of creation. For woodworker Peter Korn, the challenging work of bringing something new and meaningful into the world through one's own efforts is exactly what generates authenticity, meaning, and fulfilment, for which many of us yearn. This is not a 'how-to' book in any sense, Korn wants to get at the 'why' of craft in particular, and the satisfaction of creative work in general, to understand its essential nature.How does the making of objects shape our identities? How do the products of creative work inform society? In short, what does the process of making things reveal to us about ourselves? Korn draws on four decades of hands-on experience to answer these questions eloquently in this heartfelt, personal and revealing book.'If you are in the building trade or just love creating things as a hobby, you will find this book fascinating' The Sun Trade ReviewIt’s a beautifully written account of one man’s journey, making beautiful items over his lifetime. -- Vanessa King * Psychologies *

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Book SynopsisA nostalgic, warm-hearted memoir from one of the producers of the cult-hit TV show Father Ted.''What a treat - it brought the whole experience flooding back. A feast for fans of the show or indeed anyone interested in the creative chaos of making television'' Graham NortonThree decades after it first appeared on screen, Father Ted is still cherished, quoted and endlessly re-watched. Its beloved main characters, unforgettable lines and extraordinary visual jokes have given birth to a thousand gifs and t-shirts and a million catchphrases.Unforgettable to watch, it was also unforgettable to work on. Lissa Evans, as producer of the second and third series, spent three years hovering anxiously over every moment, from the first glimpse of script to the last revolution of a runaway milk-float round a specially-built plywood roundabout. There was no average Father Ted episode' each of them was stuffed with challenges; endless rain, lustful rabbits, clerics crashing through windows, sheep doubles, collapsing crosses and a never-ending stream of eccentric priests and the work that went into its creation was often nearly as bizarre as what was happening on screen.Picnic on Craggy Island is a hugely affectionate and anecdotal account of what lay behind some of those moments of comic genius so pull on your kagoule, spread out your blanket, unwrap the sandwiches (they're all egg) and enjoy the picnic

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Book SynopsisENTERTAINMENT SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024What Goes on Tour, Stays on Tour?Until Now!As a cricketer, broadcaster and celebrity jungle-dweller, Phil Tufnell has travelled the world far and wide. From the great cricket tours of Australia and South Africa to his equally memorable jaunts to Benidorm and Blackpool, Phil has spent much of his life living out of a suitcase, meeting a host of colourful and memorable characters along the way.The Tourist takes you out on the road, into the dressing room and behind the scenes of the commentary box to reveal just what really happens on Tour. Did Phil once push a baby grand piano down the stairs of a plush hotel? Did he accidentally eat a rat? Was he blamed for England being bowled out for 46 against the West Indies without even being in the team?There?s only one way to find out?It?s time to take a hilarious trip across the world with one of our most treasured sports personalities.

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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 SynopsisSuzi Ruffell is an award-winning stand up comedian, writer, radio presenter and podcast host. She appears regularly on TV favourites such as Live at the Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show and Mock the Week, and sells out headline shows at leading venues around the country. Her video clips - on everything ranging from smear tests to having a geezer dad - have been viewed by tens of millions on TikTok, Youtube and Instagram.Suzi's hit podcasts include Like Minded Friends with Tom Allen, Big Kick Energy with Maisie Adam, and nine seasons of her solo offering, Out, on which she has interviewed LGBTQ+ luminaries including Dame Kelly Holmes, Self Esteem, Scott Mills, Hannah Gadsby, the Reverend Richard Coles, Mae Martin and Skin.

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