Autobiography: general Books

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Book Synopsis"So to the person that broke my heart in 2021 by way of a casual voice-note. Thank you."Told from the perspective of some of the finest contemporary Black writers and thinkers, MANDEM is an ode to the moments in our pasts that shape us, and gratitude at being able to appreciate these lessons in the present.In a beautiful blend of prose and lyricism, each essay sees its author tap into their most vulnerable place - engaging honestly in conversations often silently grappled with by Black British men because of socially enforced beliefs around Black masculinity.The themes in this essay collection range from the importance of male role-models, and the unique relationship between mother and son to the sexual pressure placed on young heterosexual men, while also asking the question: "what does contemporary Black queerness actually look like?"Edited by award-winning artist Iggy London and featuring essays from Yomi Sode, Jeffrey Boakye, Christian Adofo, Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Athian Akec, Dipo Faloyin, Okechukwu Nzelu, Phil Samba, Sope Soetan, and Jordan Stephens, MANDEM is an unmissable, thoughtful anthology of Black male expression.

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Book SynopsisFollowing Kate Marshall’s first year in the mortuary at a north of England NHS hospital, with each month exploring the people she meets, in life and death, as well as her own growing awareness of life behind the veil. Meet Mr X Found in his apartment months after his death, Mr X has no relatives that can be traced. He is the longest-serving resident of the mortuary, having been there for almost a year while the search for his elusive family continues. The staff talk to him like an old friend, but Mr X is disintegrating and a decision has to be made soon. Meet Mary Her baby girl has been lost in the 15th week of pregnancy, Mary’s last chance to have a child. Mary won’t allow Abigail to leave the mortuary until she has finished reading a book to her. She visits twice each day, sitting with her baby, reading to her, speaking to no one, until she finally opens up to Kate. Meet Joe A loving husband and father who has died suddenly of a heart attack. Joe is visited by his wife, his children – and his mistress. On the day that all his worlds collide, Kate witnesses how death can finally reveal the truth of years of lies. Sorry for Your Loss is haunting, uplifting and informative, with many moments of laughter, and shows us that the way we approach death can make life all the more precious.

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Book SynopsisAn unvarnished accounting of one man’s struggle toward sexual and emotional maturity. In this unconventional memoir, Jonathan Alexander addresses wry and affecting missives to a conflicted younger self. Focusing on three years—1989, 1993, and 1996—Dear Queer Self follows the author through the homophobic heights of the AIDS epidemic, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the election of Bill Clinton, and the steady advancements in gay rights that followed. With humor and wit afforded by hindsight, Alexander relives his closeted college years, his experiments with his sexuality in graduate school, his first marriage to a woman, and his budding career as a college professor. As he moves from tortured self-denial to hard-won self-acceptance, the author confronts the deeply uncomfortable ways he is implicated in his own story. More than just a coming-out narrative, Dear Queer Self is both an intimate psychological exploration and a cultural examination—a meshing of inner and outer realities and a personal reckoning with how we sometimes torture the truth to make a life. It is also a love letter, an homage to a decade of rapid change, and a playlist of the sounds, sights, and feelings of a difficult, but ultimately transformative, time.Trade Review"The narration is a triumph, establishing instant intimacy. Alexander serves as simultaneous director, guide, and archivist. . . . Dear Queer Self is an intense, daring coming-of-age—and coming out—memoir." * Foreword Reviews, starred review *"I can’t recall the last time I was so moved as I was while reading Dear Queer Self. With unvarnished frankness, Jonathan Alexander pens these letters to his younger queer self about the messy borders that exist between love and obsession, loneliness and acceptance, during moments in history marked by uncertainty and upheaval. What emerges is a striking account of the ways we draw strength from tragedy and learn to face our past transgressions with equal parts humor and resilience." * Alex Espinoza, author of 'Cruising: An Intimate History of a Radical Pastime' *"Alexander's searing memoir, framed as an interrogation of his past self during crucial years of his life, offers a deeply honest portrait of life as a complicated young man in the eighties and nineties, and reaffirms the isolation queer people still feel in a world that gestures its acceptance while withholding its substance. The writing is deeply affecting, brutal in its self-evaluation, evocative in its mapping of Alexander's search for self-acceptance. The book is most valuable for its refusal to adhere to simple categories; sexuality here is complicated, variable, quixotic, and tenacious. Much like the author's vision. I am deeply grateful to have encountered this book." * Jim Grimsley, author of 'How I Shed My Skin' and 'Boulevard' *"Dear Queer Self was included in Lambda Literary’s most anticpated list for March." * Lambda Literary *

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Book SynopsisWeaving together the narratives of non-conformist women from realife with those imagined, An Unsuitable Woman introduces you to the everyday heroines in the Indian society confronting patriarchy.This book includes seventeen inspirational and touching contributions in the form of prose and poetry, from writersike Anand Neelakantan, Madhavi Mahadevan, Sukla Singha, Humra Quraishi and Mitra Phukan, among others. It offers fascinating glimpses of everyday rebellion against patriarchy by a handful of womenfrom Amrita Sher-Gil, the rebel artist toeila Seth, the first female chief justice of a state High Court and to Social Activist Chandraprabha''s unassailable belief in her reforms; theegendary Nangeli who severed her breasts to assert her dissent against an unjust social order to Jahnavi Barua''s nameless protagonist who renders all social stigmas.Plunge into the world of these unsuitable'' women and partake of their undaunted spirit.

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Book SynopsisBorn in South China before 1949, brought up and educated in Southeast Asia and Australia, and having worked in Southeast Asia, Australia and Hong Kong, Professor Yen has a unique personal experience in telling the fascinating stories of the encounter and clashes of cultural and social values between East and West. Imbued with many traditional Chinese cultural values such as diligence, perseverance, resilience and determination, in this book, he tells his life story of how he was determined to climb the pinnacle of scholarship. As an ethnic minority in Australian society, he devoted himself to fight for the interests of the the Chinese diaspora and help promote multi-culturalism in Australia.This book also provides first-hand source materials for the study of intellectuals, from the Chinese diaspora, studying and working in a Western university through his eyes: his initial problem of adjusting to a new western environment, his experience of cultural dislocation, the clashes of cultural values and social mores, his experience of racial discrimination, and his pursuit of academic excellence.

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Book Synopsis‘The idea of owning anything except the experience is hubris.’Unknown Pleasures is a collection of works by the climber and award-winning author Andy Kirkpatrick.Obsessed with climbing and addicted to writing, Kirkpatrick is a master storyteller. Covering subjects as diverse as climbing, relationships, fatherhood, mental health and the media, it is easy to read, sometimes difficult to digest, and impossible to forget.One moment he is attempting a rare solo ascent of Norway’s Troll Wall, the next he is surrounded by the TV circus while climbing Moonlight Buttress with the BBC’s The One Show presenter Alex Jones. Yosemite’s El Capitan is ever-present; he climbs it alone – strung out for weeks, and he climbs it with his thirteen-year-old daughter Ella – her first big wall.His eye for observation and skilled wordcraft make for laugh-out-loud funny moments, while in more hard-hitting pieces he is unflinchingly honest about past and present love and relationships, and pulls no punches with an alternative perspective of our place in the world. Unknown Pleasures is Andy Kirkpatrick at his brilliant best.Trade Review'A wonderful book, I raise a glass to you.' – Stevie Haston'Eminently readable, perfectly written, thought provoking, challenging and very current. Read every page, think about them, agree or disagree, but don’t miss out on these superbly expressed cogent tales. This book deserves to be read widely and not just by those who know Andy Kirkpatrick is “a bit of a climber”!' – John Hall, Professional Mountaineer magazine'I have no doubt that some will find this book controversial, demanding and challenging. But I enjoyed reading it, and would recommend others to do the same. It is well produced, and is a case bound book that meets the high standards Vertebrate have set for this type of production.' – Dennis Gray, Footless Crow'Kirkpatrick is at his strongest (which is very strong indeed) in the climbing pieces. It is climbing that gives him the lens through which he can most clearly see what it means to be alive.' – Ian Crofton, Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal

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Book SynopsisPart cookbook and part storybook of a family's life in France, The Cook's Atelier combines classic French recipes, step-by-step instructions on technique, and narratives of living in French wine country from mother-and-daughter duo Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith FranchiniTrade Review"It is a little early, but I think this may be one of the Cook’s Library’s books of the year. I have already sat down and read it aloud to my children as it is written so evocatively, photographed superbly, and thick with the substance of French food" The Times "WE STILL PINCH ourselves,’ admits Marjorie Taylor as she describes the cookery school and cookware and wine shop she runs with her daughter, Kendall Smith Franchini." The Telegraph Magazine “If you want to master a new skill, a cooking school's book is a good place to start. Especially when it's from this French one of the same name, which is where I imagine Julia Child would have gone if she were going to school now. It has promising recipes, inviting photos, heartwarming stories and tips that will make you a better home cook.” Tasting Table “The authors are remarkably adept at conveying what makes their adopted home so special, and their seductive book is likely to have readers fantasizing about their own escapes to France.” Publishers Weekly "The Cook’s Atelier by Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchini, is no ordinary cookery book, but a 360º love letter to French cooking, from the kitchen environment and its tools right through to the selection of ingredients, cooking techniques, and wine pairings. Serious about perfecting your culinary skills? This book is for you." Image Magazine, Ireland "Featuring more than 100 market-inspired recipes alongside beautiful images, a read of this book is the next best thing to actually visiting the Beaune atelier, and is one that provides a gorgeous take on classic French cuisine." Living France "These seasonal menus and thorough instructions for traditional techniques are seasoned with personal stories, accounts of their relationships with local suppliers and portrayals of life in the region. From basic butchering to beurre blanc, and from madeleines to mousseline, their take on French cuisine is fresh and inviting." The Lady “Since 2008, mother and daughter duo Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchini have taught legions of would-be chefs to cook at their school in Beaune, Burgundy. In this, their first cookbook, they’ve brought their collective teaching experience to the page, guiding the reader through classic French recipes like plum tarte tatin, watermelon and vineyard peach salad, and baby leek galettes with goat cheese and wild garlic.” Departures.com

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Book SynopsisA first-hand account of the life of travel writer Dervla Murphy in which she tells of her early life in Lismore, Co. Waterford, in her rather unusual household. Her father was the county librarian and her mother a chronic invalid. An only child, Dervla was allowed from the age of seven to freely roam on her own. At ten, she cycled ten miles to a local mountain, climbed it, then lost herself on the way down, and was forced to stay out all night - much to the distress of her parents. Living in a house that was crumbling around their ears, she reveals how her family hid a Republican who was later hanged, how she tested herself (with hot water) to increase her pain threshold, how she avoided an insane and shrieking maid, who was convinced that Dervla's parents were fried eggs, and how she helped another maid give birth under the kitchen table. An early love of books and writing, led her to enter a writing competition arranged by a local newspaper, and she won first prize for five weeks in a row.

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Book SynopsisTo the outside world, Lizzie McGlynn''s father was a model citizen. To little Lizzie he was a violent and depraved monster.For years, Lizzie was raped and beaten by her father, whilst her alcoholic mother stood by, helpless. She eventually found the courage to report him and her father was imprisoned - but 12 weeks later he was allowed to return to the family home and continue his reign of terror. He seemed to be above the law.Battered and violated, Lizzie knew she had to stay alive to protect her two little brothers. She went on to escape her father''s evil clutches, but the physical and mental scars continued to haunt her. Then, as her father lay dying, she summoned the strength and courage to forgive the man who had caused her so much pain.

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Book SynopsisDiagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) at aged 12 and writing this memoir at age 37, Julia Daunt depicts the ins and out of PDA and its symptoms, while maintaining a positive outlook on what is possible to achieve. Co-written with professional specialist Ruth Fidler, it covers how PDA impacts Julia's life, including meltdowns, sensory issues and communication in relationships.Including examples of school reports and handwritten letters, a chapter written from Julia's partner's perspective and even an example of Julia's favourite recipe, this warm and personal look at living and thriving with PDA is informative and inspiring.Trade ReviewThis is a unique personal insight into PDA, following Julia and her family from early childhood to present day adulthood and relationship with her partner Paul. Julia is honest about the challenges throughout, with the benefits of a positive approach and acceptance shining through. PDA individuals, family members and professionals will all benefit from reading this book. -- The PDA Society trusteesBeing Julia is a hugely insightful and eye-opening account of living with PDA. Honest, from the heart and with humour, this book is very informative and will give hope to parents who are wondering what happens when their children become adults. Being Julia is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand more about PDA. -- Steph Curtis, parent of a PDA girl and blog writer at www.stephstwogirls.co.ukThis biography has been put together so it describes PDA like a text book whilst simultaneously telling Julia's individual story, making clear that it's her personal experience, and other PDA experiences will be different. Being a fellow adult PDAer, I had been excited to read Julia's biography, and quickly discovered astounding similarities between us, as well as differences, revealed in her honest account. I think this is what makes Being Julia so important: it shines a clear light, from the inside outwards, onto what PDA is. -- Sally Cat, adult PDAer author and illustratorTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. What is PDA?; 2. Childhood - the younger years; 3.Childhood: Growing up; 4. Making sense of my PDA; 5. My avoidance; 6. Sensory differences; 7. Language and communication; 8. Friendships and relationships; 9. Meltdowns; 10. Events and Appointments; 11. Julia through Paul's lens; 12. Now and next; References

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Book SynopsisIn Superyacht Captain, a professional at the zenith of the world''s most lavish and exclusive industry gives a rare insight into a career that is entertaining, instructive and at times daunting in its scale.The tale of an ordinary boy whose career takes him on a most extraordinary journey, this book begins with Brendan messing about in boats in a sleepy coastal Australian town, and ends with him becoming one of the most successful and respected superyacht captains in the World the consummate ''Billionaire''s Captain''. Spanning two decades and circling the globe, his story intimately draws readers into the real world of superyachts, their crew and their owners. It is Brendan's love letter to an industry he respects and holds so dear to his heart.It''s the story of stepping out and embracing uncertainty - failing, learning and repeating - weaving in in the lessons he's learned as he's progressed from deck hand to captain, Brendan''s insights are valuable for anyone leadTrade ReviewSuperyacht Captain is the Kitchen Confidential of yachting. -- Evan Osnos, Winner of the American Book Award, and author of Age of AmbitionA realistic view that gets beyond both the glamour and horror stories...a rewarding read for any any Nautilus member considerign a shift into the superyacht industry. * Nautilus Telegraph *the writing is vivid, the experiences fascinating, and the insights of interest even to skippers of more modest vessels. * Yachting Monthly *Table of ContentsPrologue PART 1: My journey: before the captain was the boy You can have the shoes What’s ‘porn’ in Russian? There is no second place To lead to excel The tuck and tape How much for the flag? Greed is good PART 2: Best of the best Learning the ‘why’ It’s not about the boat Wind of change Master under God Run, Forrest, run Advancing my journey Will it be rough tonight? Making better decisions A defining moment A personal board of directors Is that the Prince? I thought he was taller Parties and paparazzi Everything has a purpose Fantasy staff game Waitlessness The illusion of normalcy Saint-Tropez sunset Bubbles and troubles Driving Miss Daisy Ego is the enemy Is that Santa? The helicopter view When perfect is not good enough Time to say goodbye Endnote

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Book SynopsisFully updated to include a new introduction by Lynda Thomas, CEO of Macmillan Cancer Support.''I can''t bear not to be with these three most important people in my life. I can''t bear not to be there alongside Mark as my children grow up. My bright, funny, affectionate boys who are never embarrassed to say, love you mummy, and say it ten times day.'' Renowned as a much-loved and highly respected BBC journalist, Victoria Derbyshire has spent 20 years finding the human story behind the headlines. In 2015 she found herself at the heart of the news, with a devastating breast cancer diagnosis. With honesty and openness, she decided to live out her treatment and recovery in the spotlight in a series of video diaries that encouraged thousands to seek diagnosis and help. Victoria has kept a diary since she was nine years old and in DEAR CANCER, LOVE VICTORIA she shares her day to day experiences of life following her diagnosis and coming to Trade ReviewVictoria is exactly the type of friend everyone would want by their side after being diagnosed with cancer. Although her story is at times heartbreaking, it is also frank, funny and succeeds in demystifying an illness often discussed in hushed tones. -- Elizabeth Archer * DAILY EXPRESS *'This powerful account of Victoria Derbyshire's struggle to deal with her breast cancer diagnosis is told with honesty and courage that gives strength to those touched by cancer.' DAILY TELEGRAPH[Victoria Derbyshire] shares her day to day experiences of life folloiwng her diagnosis and coming to terms with a future that wasn't planned. From the moment she woke up to find her right breast had collapsed, to telling her partner and children, through to mastectomy and chemotherapy, we are there with her. * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *'Wonderful, courageous, spirited and just plain honest...a gift to all those folk who are suddenly blasted into the scary, bleak world of cancer.' Dame Julie Walters'Truly brilliant' Claudia Winkleman'A really good, searingly honest book...a must read' Lorraine Kelly'A powerful diary... highlighting the huge value of support.' Susanna ReidThe broadcaster - and mother of two - has written an affectingly honest diary of her treatment for breast cancer. * READERS DIGEST *

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Book SynopsisThe Girl and the Ghosts is the third book from well-loved foster carer and Sunday Times bestselling author Angela Hart.‘So, is it a girl or a boy, and how old?’ Jonathan asked as soon as we were alone in the shop.My husband knew from the animated look on my face, and the way I was itching to talk to him, that our social worker had been asking us to look after another child. Seven-year-old Maria holds lots of secrets. Why won’t she tell how she got the bruises on her body? Why does she run and hide? And why does she so want to please her sinister stepfather?It takes years for devoted foster carer Angela Hart to uncover the truth as she helps Maria leave the ghosts of her past behind.Trade ReviewPraise for Angela Hart:A true tear-jerking tale of love and compassion * Sunday Mirror *

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Book Synopsis‘He pushed open the door, and I saw that he was pulling something out of a bag he was carrying. It was a gun – a sawn-off shotgun.’Featured on ITV's Lorraine with Michael Sheen and Rachel Williams. Darren was funny and attractive, and 21-year-old Rachel fell head-over-heels for him; it wasn’t long before they moved in together, and she fell pregnant with his child. But his inner demons soon surfaced... Weakened and alone, Rachel was beaten and tormented by him for 18 years, until one day, Darren turned up at her place of work with a shotgun and left her for dead. But her ordeal wasn’t over… Devastating yet inspiring, Rachel’s story of hope tells of how you can always find the light, even in the very darkest of times.‘Incredibly poignant and powerful.’ – Victoria Derbyshire ‘Transformative. Life changing.’ – Michael SheenTrade ReviewIncredibly poignant and powerful -- Victoria Derbyshire

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller Suzanne suffered five heart attacks and made it through open heart surgery. But even that pales in comparison to the horrors she faced as a young girl. Her childhood became the ‘stuff of nightmares’ after her father passed away and her mother, unable to get a job in Ireland, had to seek work in London. So ‘Mammy’ was forced into the heartbreaking decision to put Suzanne and her five siblings into church-run orphanages in Dublin while she worked away. It was just meant to be temporary. Her life soon became a daily struggle to avoid beatings with canes and rosary beads. Suzanne and the other children worked from dawn until midnight, living on disgusting scraps of food, while the nuns dined on fresh fruit, meat and cakes that the ‘orphans’ had cooked for them. Suzanne tried her best to shield her younger sisters from the terror of these hateful ‘women of God’. But it was only the beginning of their troubles… Eventually, their mother returned from London, after four years, with enough money to take her children out and the family was reunited. However, too scared to speak out, the children vowed to take the horrors they had experienced at the orphanages to their graves. What really happened behind those church doors? This is Suzanne's heartbreaking and touching story.Trade Review'A deeply powerful and harrowing memoir that will remain with you long after the final page.' * John Marrs, author of The One *'This heart wrenching story kept me riveted from start to finish.' * Kristin Chenoweth, Actress *'A riveting story told through the eyes of an innocent young girl who was still dealing with the repercussions of her grief and anger 50 years later. Suzanne’s bravery in speaking out against the evil she faced, is so powerful it will help many other victims.' * Molly Shannon, Actress *'Suzanne Walsh’s Vow of Silence is a beautifully written memoir of her and her siblings childhood experiences. From their early start as a loving family unit, through the heartache of grief, and trauma from abuse by those trusted to care for them. Suzanne’s story is one of courage, strength resilience and love. Honest, compelling, heartbreaking and inspiring, her words stay with you.' * Joanne Froggatt, Actress. *"Melissa should be so proud of her mum for standing up to the child abuse, to speak out and tell her heart-wrenching story. Suzanne’s bravery in speaking out against the evil she faced, will help so many other victims." * Molly Shannon, Actress *"This is wild. It’s almost hard to imagine places like this exist. I definitely appreciate the research that went into this and the exploration of such a dark topic." * Netgalley *"An honest and heartbreaking account of a loving Irish family separated by events beyond their control. Walsh writes about her youth with her loving family, especially her dear father, who has leukemia, leaving his wife and six children. Walsh's mother is forced to place her children in orphanages in Dublin, Ireland, and moves to London to find work to support her family. Walsh tells what she, her sisters, and brothers go through as they do their best to survive the conditions of hunger, malnutrition, beatings, and humiliation by the nuns. Somewhat repetitive at times, Walsh begins her story recounting her disdain and naming the nuns who were particularly brutal to the children in their care. She feels concerned and anguished when she thinks of how those children fared as adults after being traumatized in the orphanages. Walsh's accounts of her four years subjected to the ill-treatment of the nuns are historical and eye-opening. A sad piece of Irish history." * Netgalley *"Have faith in yourself A sad story of a family torn apart by the death of their father, and the financial inability of their mom to care for them, they spent years in an orphanage. The boys were sent to one orphanage with the brothers and the girls to an orphanage with the nuns. They were abused physically and mentally in these orphanages. I had to admire their love for each other, and how they not only looked out for each other, but helped look after the other orphans that needed help. They became very good at surviving. Because of the abuse and malnutrition they suffered under their care in the orphanage they suffered many problems later in life. It was sad that in a religious institution they were treated so badly. No child should ever be treated as these children were. I enjoyed reading their story and the ending was good. I would recommend this book." * Netgalley *"Emotional and moving account. This was a good, quick read. It has fairly brief chapters which moves it along nicely. It's the 1950s, and Suzy and her family live in Ireland. This is a balanced account, as the author first talks of her lovely childhood memories. Then very hard circumstances are to hit the family. Their mammy has no alternative but to look for work in London, to make some money so the family could be together again. For the time being, she leaves them to be looked after at an orphanage. Suzy was only 10 at the time. This is the second book of this type I have read, and I find it shocking that nuns; people who you would suppose to be pure and good, would treat children so terribly. An emotional, tragic story, well told." * Netgalley *"This is a heartbreaking story. This poor family went through a lot, the worst of it being the 4 years these children were in the care of orphanages. Through no fault of their own, after losing their father, their mother had a lot on her plate and no choice but to place them in these orphanages which she went to London for work. Mom was just sure these nuns would take very good care of her children. Unfortunately, there is a lot of hypocrisy in the world of religion and these children ended up suffering from abuse and neglect. For these 6 children to keep quiet about it so as to not put more worry on their mother, is such a tough thing to imagine." * Netgalley *"Suzanne Walsh is a genius story teller. The book was an effortless, emotional journey through the Walsh’s family history; I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it all in a day. The Walsh’s live in a working class suburb near Dublin, Ireland in the early 1950’s. The six close siblings are living a idyllic childhood until tragedy strikes and their beloved father dies. Their Mother does everything she can to keep the family together but nobody wants to employ a single mother of six, so has to leave the children in the care of the Catholic Church’s orphanages whilst she goes to find work in London. The neglect and abuse they suffered at the hands of the nuns is horrifying. The fact that so many of these children had no family made them perfect victims for the sadistic abusers as well as free labour for the church. The book will send you on a rollercoaster of emotions but it’s definitely a ride worth taking." * Netgalley *"A heartbreaking story of child abuse at the hands of people the children had been in the care of by a mother very much down on her luck. Suzanne and her 5 siblings went into the ' care ' of a Catholic orphanage , and as we have sadly learnt from the media this often , too often , does not lead into having a good childhood. This a touching , sad and horrific account of the terrible life she endured whilst there.. Due to the subject of the story I don't think you can say you enjoyed it , but I can say it was an insight into the life of a child that should never be allowed to happen again . I wish you well Suzanne." * Netgalley *"What a gut wrenching, very emotional read. Suzanne and her siblings had a good childhood. Until their entire world shattered with the passing of their dad. Her mammy, which is the best she could do with 6 kids. But them in an orphanage, where unbeknownst to her they were several abused. Some years later she’s saved enough to move her kids away. These poor babies having to keep secret the pain they each with through." * Netgalley *

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Book SynopsisIn the aftermath of a traumatic event, a young man navigates small-town gossip, grief and recovery amidst a culture of toxic masculinity. “A heart-soaring act of literary bravery,” Car Crash is a hopeful, raw coming-of-age story for our times (Trent Dalton). “Bruisingly insightful.”—The Guardian • “Delivers from the first arresting page.”—Inside Story • “Moving, lyrical, warmly told and very funny.”—Brooke Davis, author of Lost & Found • “Shines with a fierce intelligence.”—Kristina Olsson, author of Shell Why did he get to live, and not them? This question has plagued Lech Blaine ever since he was a teenager, when he got into a car that never arrived at its destination. Of his crew of friends who were in the car, Blaine was the only passenger who made it out unscathed. In the aftermath of the accident that sent shockwaves through his small town, Blain was thrust into the local spotlight, fielding questions from journalists, police, and feeling pressure to perform his grief in public and on social media. In a community where men were expected to be strong and silent, Blaine felt that he had no one to turn to with his complicated emotions. In Car Crash, Blaine offers an intimate, brave account of what it’s like to survive a tragedy that others didn’t––and a moving portrait of a young person struggling to define his own masculinity. Blaine was raised to believe that being masculine meant projecting toughness, stoicism, and dominance, and this belief leads him to alcohol and disordered eating to cope with his pain. But as Blaine finally learns to open up with family, friends, and a therapist, he comes to realize the meaning of true strength, and the power of vulnerability to bring hope and healing. “Some books just have to be written. And some books just have to be read.”—Trent Dalton, author of Boy Swallows UniverseTrade Review“It’s an affecting portrait of a survivor.” —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisNational Bestseller Legendary musician Richard Marx offers an enlightening, entertaining look at his life and career.Richard Marx is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters in the history of popular music. His self-titled 1987 album went triple platinum and made him the first male solo artist (and second solo artist overall after Whitney Houston) to have four singles from their debut crack the top three on the Billboard Hot 100. His follow-up, 1989’s Repeat Offender, was an even bigger smash, going quadruple platinum and landing two singles at number one. He has written fourteen number one songs in total, shared a Song of the Year Grammy with Luther Vandross, and collaborated with a variety of artists including NSYNC, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, and Keith Urban. Lately, he’s also become a Twitter celebrity thanks to his outspokenness on social issues and his ability to out-troll his trolls. In Stories to Tell, Marx uses this same engaging, straight-talking style to look back on his life and career. He writes of how Kenny Rogers changed a single line of a song he’d written for him then asked for a 50% cut—which inspired Marx to write one of his biggest hits. He tells the uncanny story of how he wound up curled up on the couch of Olivia Newton-John, his childhood crush, watching Xanadu. He shares the tribulations of working with the all-female hair metal band Vixen and appearing in their video. Yet amid these entertaining celebrity encounters, Marx offers a more sobering assessment of the music business as he’s experienced it over four decades—the challenges of navigating greedy executives and grueling tour schedules, and the rewards of connecting with thousands of fans at sold-out shows that make all the drama worthwhile. He also provides an illuminating look at his songwriting process and talks honestly about how his personal life has inspired his work, including finding love with wife Daisy Fuentes and the mystery illness that recently struck him—and that doctors haven’t been able to solve. Stories to Tell is a remarkably candid, wildly entertaining memoir about the art and business of music.Trade Review“[Marx] takes readers on a roller­coaster ride of a rock and roll story…Marx has led a fascinating life; fans of his music and those less familiar with him will be absorbed.” –Traci Glass, Library Journal

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Book SynopsisA blackly funny account of everyday life in Ramallah and refreshingly different from most writing on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Sharon and My Mother-in-Law describes Suad Amiry's life on the West Bank from the early 1980s to the first decade of the new millennium. Vividly evoking her neighbourhood and her moving family history, Amiry creates a fascinating account of her attempts to live a normal life in an insane situation: from the impossibility of acquiring gas masks during the first Gulf War to her dog acquiring a Jerusalem passport when thousands of Palestinians couldn't. During the Israeli invasion of Ramallah in March 2002, Amiry's feisty ninety-two-year-old mother-in-law came to live with them, and Amiry's diary of this time is at the heart of this wonderful book about the absurdity (and agony) of life in the Occupied Territories.Trade ReviewA refreshingly funny account of the absurdities of everyday life in the occupied territories -- Stephanie Merritt * Observer *Amiry's acute ear for gossip makes it almost a kind of Palestinian Desperate Housewives -- Christina Lamb * The Sunday Times *Spirited, thought-provoking and shockingly entertaining -- Hephzibah Anderson * Daily Mail *Not only is it really funny but it also shows the kind of courage, vision and humanity needed to bring peace to the Middle East -- Eve Ensler, author of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

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Book SynopsisA memoir of hope, healing and restoration, from star of TV's The Repair Shop, Suzie Fletcher.Suzie Fletcher is the warm and friendly face on TV's The Repair Shop that viewers look forward to watching every week as the resident leather expert - a craft she has honed over four decades and was born out of her love of horses. But while she tends to be the one repairing and offering a gentle kindness to others, Suzie has also been in a process of change, reflection, and healing.In her first book Suzie looks back over her life - which moves from England to Colorado and back again - and the places, people and experiences that have shaped the person she is today. We'll hear for the first time, how Suzie has overcome some of life's most difficult challenges, from complicated relationships to grief.A self-confessed free spirit with a deep connection to nature, Suzie's exceptional warmth and zest for life shine through on every page, making The Sun Over the Mountains a truly inspiring read that will resonate with anyone who has faced uncertainty but has the courage and power within them to overcome it.

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Book SynopsisRaw and unflinchingThis is a mother's account of her daughter's lifeAnd of Katie Price and her turbulent rise to fameThe Sunday Times bestselling memoir from Amy Price.Katie Price's life has long been lived in the public eye, documented both by her own books, reality tv, and the tabloids. But what does this story look like from the inside?While battling a terminal illness, Katie's mother, Amy Price, has the last word in this honest and insightful memoir, where she reveals how her family's past has shaped her daughter's future.The Last Word is the definitive story of how Katrina Amy Alexandria Alexis Infield became Katie Price. It documents how her life has been shaped by a tradition of strong women, by cycles of abuse which have been repeated through generations, and by the impact of fame and trauma on a close family unit.The Last Word was Number 2 in the Sunday Times Hardback Non-Fiction bestseller list on Sunday 16th July.

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Book Synopsis'The master storyteller of our times' Hillary Rodham Clinton'The whole story of his truly astonishing life' Bob Woodward'The book was damn near addictive. I loved it' Ron Howard'At times his poignant narrative will bring you to tears' Patricia Cornwell'A compelling account of the life events that shaped an extraordinary man' Nicholas Sparks'So much content and inspiration from one of the world's most successful authors' Sir David Jason'This is a poignant, funny and inspiring account of a phenomenally successful career from a master storyteller' Jake Humphrey______________________________HIS BEST STORIES ARE THE STORIES OF HIS LIFE· His father grew up in a New York poorhouse called the 'Pogie'.· He worked at a psychiatric hospital where he met the singer James Taylor and the poet Robert Lowell. Both were patients.· He was at Woodstock and was also an usher at the Fillmore East.· He was CEO of advertising agency J. Walter Thompson North America when he was thirty-seven. He wrote the ad jingle, 'I'm a Toys 'R' Us Kid'.· He once watched Norman Mailer and James Baldwin square off to fight.· He's played golf with three US presidents and has nine holes-in-one.· Dolly Parton sang Happy Birthday to him over the phone. She calls him Jimmy James.James says, 'I always wanted to write the kind of novel that is read and re-read so many times the binding breaks, and the book literally falls apart, pages scattered in the wind. I'm still working on that one.'______________________________More praise for The Stories of My Life'A masterpiece of storytelling! Funny, poignant, brutally honest' Admiral Willam H. McRaven'Will delight fans, and even non-fans, of America's storied storyteller' Ben Bradlee Jr.'James Patterson makes his own life as addictively enjoyable as his novels' Nadine Dorries'Jim Patterson's life is a thriller itself . . . This book is a pure joy to read' Stephen A. Schwarzman'Always entertaining . . . You will enjoy the read' Phil Knight'James Patterson's first rule of storytelling is "be there". And that's the genius of his autobiography' Mike Lupica'Anyone who has ever started a James Patterson thriller knows how damned difficult it is to put down. And the same is true of this vivid, invigorating memoir' Daily MailTrade ReviewI felt I was interviewing James Patterson under the highest permissible dose of sodium pentothal, the truth serum, for hours - and he spilled the whole story of his truly astonishing life and experiences and the absolute unlikelihood that he would become the best-selling fiction author of all time. -- BOB WOODWARDJames Patterson does it again. The master storyteller of our times takes us on a funny, poignant, and ultimately triumphant journey through his own life. If you are among the many millions of us who enjoy reading Patterson's books, or if you haven't discovered him yet, you'll love reading this one too. -- HILLARY RODHAM CLINTONOne of the greatest storytellers of all time, Patterson has led an amazing life. James Patterson By James Patterson brings to mind Hemingway's A Moveable Feast. I love the pithy, bright anecdotes, and at times his poignant narrative will bring you to tears. -- PATRICIA CORNWELL, New York Times bestselling authorThe book was damn near addictive. I loved it. Patterson recounts turning points and life-shaping lessons in short, riveting bursts that inform, entertain, and satisfy-then propel you into the next story. That Patterson guy can write! -- RON HOWARDAs the author of more than two hundred novels James Patterson has shown considerable potential as a writer. He reveals how he is working on that potential in his memoir. The book is always entertaining. You will enjoy the read. -- PHIL KNIGHT, creator of Nike and author of Shoe DogA masterpiece of storytelling! Funny, poignant, brutally honest, filled with life and love and heartbreak; it is the most entertaining book I have read in the past fifty years. Patterson reminds us all that even in our smallest moments, there are great stories to be told. -- ADMIRAL WILLIAM H. McRAVEN, author of Make Your BedA compelling account of the life events that shaped an extraordinary man - combining elements of a tragic love story, counterculture youth, and cutthroat corporate success, this memoir will be a fascinating read for fans of his thrillers and beyond. -- NICHOLAS SPARKS, bestselling author of The NotebookIn this breezy and revealing autobiography, James Patterson packs his narrative with scores of personal stories that will delight fans, and even non-fans, of America's storied storyteller. -- BEN BRADLEE JR., author of The ForgottenJames Patterson's first rule of storytelling is 'be there.' And that's the genius of his autobiography. You're right there with him as he's growing up in Newburgh, New York; then on Madison Avenue; and as he begins to sell more books than anybody else on the planet. -- MIKE LUPICA, New York Times bestselling authorJim Patterson's life is a thriller itself. From his hardscrabble upbringing as a great athlete from a small town in upstate New York, to his time as a hippie in the 1960s and a great ad copywriter in the 1970s, Jim became the bestselling author of all time. This book is a pure joy to read. -- STEPHEN SCHWARZMAN, cofounder, chairman and CEO of BlackstoneThis is a poignant, funny and inspiring account of a phenomenally successful career from a master storyteller. -- JAKE HUMPHREY, creator of the High Performance podcastAnyone who has ever started a James Patterson thriller knows how damned difficult it is to put down. And the same is true of this vivid, invigorating memoir. * DAILY MAIL *

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Book Synopsis''Inspiring and heart-wrenching'' Paloma Faith ''Love Rhyannon. Love this book'' Grace Dent The remarkable transgender memoir you won''t stop hearing about. Rhyannon Styles will do for transgender what Matt Haig did for mental health. Elle columnist Rhyannon Styles tells her unforgettable life story in THE NEW GIRL, reflecting on her past and charting her incredible journey from male to female. A raw, frank and utterly moving celebration of life.Imagine feeling lost in your own body. Imagine spending years living a lie, denying what makes you ''you''. This was Ryan''s reality. He had to choose: die as a man or live as a woman.In 2012, Ryan chose Rhyannon. At the age of thirty she began her transition, taking the first steps on the long road to her true self.Rhyannon holds nothing back in THE NEW GIRL, a heartbreakingly honest telling of her life. Through her catastrophic lows and incredible highTrade ReviewI watched Rhyannon Styles begin as the most inspiring and heart-wrenching cocoon I ever saw and now she is a glorious butterfly -- Paloma FaithLove Rhyannon. Love this book. Everything you've ever wondered about transition, cocooned in an epic tale of fleeing suburbia and big city fabulousness -- Grace DentI loved this book - Rhyannon doesn't just shine a light on this subject, she sets off a bloody fireworks display -- Cherry HealeyI am changed for having read this - congratulations, Rhyannon, on a bold life that inspires and lifts - the world needed this truth -- Laura Jane Williams, author and bloggerA story that will make you smile and sob in equal measure, and challenge everything you thought you knew about gender, sex, and fashion. Once read, never forgotten -- Rebecca RootA wonderful asset to our community -- Caroline Tula, Trans icon, model and Bond girlProud to be holding this book ... The best and worst of times in a wonderful memoir -- Lorraine Candy, Sunday TimesRhyannon is such a great ambassador for the trans community. She writes with such class while also keeping it super real. I've got a book coming out later this year and all I'm saying is I'm glad my book isn't a memoir, because I'd hate to have to compete with this -- Charlie CraggsRhyannon Styles journey of transition is fraught with the unique issues of her generation. Honest and unflinching, she walks the tightrope of uncertainty with confidence in the unknowing. A modern Artemis in the queer wilderness, midwifing her own becoming -- Penny ArcadeA deeply honest and candid memoir ... In a beautifully moving account of her life, Rhyannon left us captured until the very last page * Marie Claire South Africa *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“beautifully written, complex, provocative, painful, genuine…an unforgettable memoir” — ROXANE GAY, bestselling author of Bad Feminist “An authentic and profound book on the complexities of being human. Painfully beautiful, wonderfully lyrical and uncomfortably honest in a way that is so rare, yet so needed." — JENNY LAWSON, bestselling author of Furiously Happy “I started reading All of This as soon as it arrived, and quickly realized that it was going to have my full and feverish attention until I'd devoured the whole thing. It's truly a rare combination of gripping story and immaculate, genius-in-her-prime writing. I had to re-do my makeup like 4 times during the process of reading. I just kept crying. All of This reminded me that honesty saves lives, and that it's an act of love to be truthful about feelings and experiences.” — DIABLO CODY, Oscar Award Winning screenwriter and producer of Juno, Jennifer’s Body, and Young Adult "Unflinching and brutally precise. Woolf has taken an inventory of the barbaric accouterments of illness, and she presses these details into her scenes like spikes. The barf bags and spit cups, the sponge pops and no-slip socks, the folding canes that give way to tennis-ball-padded walkers and then wheelchairs: It’s a singular category of horror and she nails it." — Meghan Daum, The New York Times Book Review “Disturbing and profound, this intimate book about one woman’s path to personal liberation also reveals the sometimes-labyrinthine nature of the bonds that unite people in love A provocative and memorable work of autobiography.” — Kirkus Reviews “Woolf takes readers on a journey that is nothing if not unforgettable… brutally honest and empowering tale of a woman who emerges from her marriage and her husband’s final illness like a butterfly from a chrysalis—not neatly or painlessly, but nonetheless beautiful to behold… Be prepared to laugh, to cry …readers will definitely be glad they got on this roller coaster with her." — Library Journal "Stark, real, and very brave, Rebecca Woolf's All of This is one of the most true books I've ever read about grief and the relationships that bring it to us. Add to cart now because this astounding book is going to blow your mind." — Claire Bidwell Smith, author of Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief “This book is an absolute hurricane force of truth and beauty. This book takes our conceptions of love and happiness and throws them into the inferno of reality. Rebecca’s writing is bloody, beautiful, and tender, All of This not only cracks the surface of love and relationships it spelunks into the depths of the human heart. No one is spared and no one ought to be. This book is a triumph.” — LYZ LENZ, author of Belabored and God Land, and contributing essayist to Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture by Roxane Gay

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Book Synopsis''Man still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin''On topics ranging from intelligent design and climate change to the politics of gender and race, the evolutionary writings of Charles Darwin occupy a pivotal position in contemporary public debate. This volume brings together the key chapters of his most important and accessible books, including the Journal of Researches on the Beagle voyage (1845), the Origin of Species (1871), and the Descent of Man, along with the full text of his delightful autobiography. They are accompanied by generous selections of responses from Darwin''s nineteenth-century readers from across the world. More than anything, they give a keen sense of the controversial nature of Darwin''s ideas, and his position within Victorian debates about man''s place in nature.The wide-ranging introduction by James A. Secord, Director of the Darwin Correspondence Project, explores the global impact and origins of Darwin''s work and the reasons forTrade ReviewPerceptive introduction. * The Guardian *Table of ContentsJOURNAL OF RESEARCHES; ORIGIN OF SPECIES; DESCENT OF MAN; AUTOBIOGRAPHIES

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Book SynopsisA richly recounted memoir of growing up in an Irish farming community in the 1940sA love of Ireland and the Irish is what shines through this little memoir. Growing up amongst the fields, woods and characters of a farming community near Cork, Kathleen Iggulden depicts a world that is both immediate and real, yet belongs to a now-distant past. Here is a pony and trap to church every Sunday, evenings full of fiddle, flute and song, and new shoes and clothes twice a year. Kathleen''s childhood in the 1930s involved two or three generations - her parents, her brother and sisters, as well as the daily lives of farmworkers and craftsmen, friends and relations. She beautifully chronicles rural celebrations and forgotten practicalities of country life - all painted with a sensitive touch and a freshness of observation. She saw her people as intensely polite, decent and innocent, with humour and music always ready. She saw them as poets, and poetry as the highe

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Book SynopsisFor anyone who feels less-than about your work, your worth, your body, or the life you''re building, find here an incredible hope: you don''t have to have it all together to qualify for your life''s calling.Just ask Caitlin Crosby, the former Hollywood talent who didn''t finish college, never got an MBA, and wasn''t supposed to become a CEO--yet that''s exactly what she did. Caitlin''s passion for people led her to launch The Giving Keys, a give-back jewelry brand with the mission of helping its employees transition out of homelessness. Each of their one million keys sold represents a person who wore it and shared it with someone else, in a unique pay-it-forward model.In You Are the Key, Caitlin opens up about her own secret flaw that rocked her sense of self-worth for the better part of two decades and her private battle to believe that our scars are not sources of shame but proof of courage and prompts toward purpose.<

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Book SynopsisIn the 1950s the Romani people lived on the brink of great change. In their bright wooden wagons they journeyed between horse-fairs and traditional stopping places - stoic, humorous and wild, often poverty-stricken but protective of their freedom - on the fringes of a society that was soon to close around them. Dominic Reeve describes his life among the Gypsies: the feuds and fairs, the joyful muddy squalor of an outdoor existence. He evokes an unforgettable cast of fireside characters - bold children, fierce matriarchs and dandyish villains in snap-brimmed hats - and tells of sharp deals done and rings run round country policemen, of love affairs, dances and open-air feasting. Smoke in the Lanes is the vivid, memorable record of a disappeared world.Trade ReviewThe real deal ... a fascinating, unflinching portrait of the rich diversity of characters and traditions of the Romani life at a time when it was threatened as never before' * Choice magazine *

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Book SynopsisAward-winning writer Heather Lanier''s memoir about raising a child with a rare syndrome, defying the tyranny of normal, and embracing parenthood as a spiritual practice that breaks us open in the best of ways.Like many women of her generation, writer Heather Lanier did everything by the book when she was expecting her first child. She ate organic foods, recited affirmations and drew up a birth plan for an unmedicated labour in the hopes that she could create a SuperBaby, an ultra-healthy human destined for a high-achieving future.But her daughter Fiona challenged all of Lanier''s preconceptions. Born with an ultra-rare syndrome known as Wolf-Hirschhorn, Fiona received a daunting prognosis: she would experience significant developmental delays and might not reach her second birthday. Not only had Lanier failed to produce a SuperBaby, she now fiercely loved a child that the world would sometimes reject. The diagnosis obliterated Lanier''s perfectionist tendenciTrade ReviewHeather Lanier's Raising a Rare Girl is that rare soaring book: a gripping read that delivers spiritual reflection and serious cultural analysis on disability and parenthood. These sentences are sheer poetry, and in the service of dissecting the ableism in our culture, they are also piercing and necessary. -- Sonya Huber * author of Pain Woman Takes Your Keys and Other Essays from a Nervous System *Raising a Rare Girl is not just a memoir about Heather Lanier's first few years as a mother, nor is it only about the challenges of raising a child with a rare syndrome in a world that does not welcome differences. It's a tender and powerful book that asks us to look honestly at what we expect of our children, each other, and ourselves, and explores the unexpected joy that comes when we release those expectations. Lanier had no choice but to let go of her expectations of motherhood, herself, and her baby when Fiona came into this world, and we are the lucky recipients of the loving wisdom she gained in doing so. -- Kerry Egan * author of On Living *

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Book Synopsis“A masterpiece... Farah Jasmine Griffin’s magical words enchant and empower us like those of her towering heroes.”—Cornel WestTrade Review"Slim and quietly captivating... This a life lived among books, then reinterpreted through them." -- Carlos Lozada - The Washington Post

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Book SynopsisThe second book in the 'My Life as an Architect' series, looking at the Seoul buildings that have shaped the practice and outlook of the celebrated Korean architect Byoung Cho. Since founding his practice BCHO Architects Associates in Seoul in 1994, Byoung Cho has built a reputation as the key architect driving the expansion of one of the worldâs most densely populated cities. Influenced by Koreaâs rich aesthetic tradition, Cho utilizes understated forms to create serene buildings that yield powerful and subtle experiences for their inhabitants. His work focuses on seemingly simple structures and has a strong regard for nature and sustainability. This companion to Kengo Kuma: My Life as an Architect in Tokyo presents twenty-nine portraits of the buildings and districts of Seoul that have most influenced Cho, from a 12th-century shrine to a 14-metre-square concrete box, and includes a number of his own designs. Lively texts are interspersed with the architectâs own drawings and elTable of ContentsIntroduction 29 buildings and districts Directory Buildings by BCHO Architects Buildings by other architects Acknowledgments

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Book Synopsis''A life-affirming book'' Daily Mail''An uplifting personal story of a year lived like no other'' Daily ExpressTwo days after her husband of sixty-seven years dies, nonagenarian Miss Norma is diagnosed with cancer. When given her treatment options - surgery, chemo and radiotherapy - she rises to her full five feet and says in the strongest voice she can muster: ''I'm ninety years old. I'm hitting the road!'' Driving Miss Norma is the story of her inspirational road trip across the US in a thirty-six-foot motorhome with her son, Tim, his wife, Ramie and their Poodle, Ringo - showing us that it''s never too late to begin an adventure, inspire hope or become a trailblazer. As the journey unfolds, Miss Norma finally spreads her wings and lives life on her own terms for the very first time. With each adventure a once timid Miss Norma says YES to living in the face of death - whether it''s experiencing her very first pedicure or tTrade ReviewProfound * The Guardian *This life-affirming book is an inspirational account... It's about three people learning to let go of their fears and find love and trust in each other and the world around them. * Daily Mail *The author celebrates life and offers a heartfelt vision of what dying a good death really means . . . Uplifting and life-affirming. * Kirkus Reviews *Joyful and moving… offers profound insights into how we choose to live. * Publishers Weekly (starred review). This text refers to the Audio CD edition. *An uplifiting personal story of a year lived like no other... a touching and eloquently argued manifesto for a different kind of care for the elderly, one that embraces joy, life and human connection. -- Jane Warren * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis''An excellent book, the most objective short account I know of all the various approaches to depression.'' Anthony Storr Several years ago, Lewis Wolpert had a severe episode of depression. Despite a happy marriage and successful scientific career, he could think only of suicide. When he did recover, he became aware of the stigma attached to depression - and just how difficult it was to get reliable information. With characteristic candour and determination he set about writing this book, an acclaimed investigation into the causes and treatments of depression, which formed the basis for a BBC TV series.This paperback edition features a new introduction, in which Wolpert discusses the reaction to his book and BBC series, and recounts his own recurring struggle with depression.Trade Review"'An excellent book, the most objective short account I know of all the various approaches to depression.' Anthony Storr 'Erudite, scholarly, sober and stylish.' Anthony Clare, Sunday Times"

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Book Synopsis''The king of character comedy.'' Good Housekeeping''A lynchpin of British comedy.'' Alan MooreThe nation's favourite comedian opens up about two extraordinary decades at the heart of British comedy. Packed with inside stories and wisdom, this is a heartfelt, inspiring and always-hilarious memoir of a true comedy legend.Relayed with characteristic exuberance and self-deprecation.' Fiona Sturges, Book of the Day GuardianHighly enjoyable . . . Funny, pacy and sharp.' Mail on SundayMoving and honest.' ObserverThis paperback edition contains a new chapter in which Lenny Henry wrestles with Shakespeare as he searches for a new direction in his career.

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Book SynopsisBrian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian are among Ireland's most beloved television personalities and social media stars. The internet exploded when the couple announced they were expecting their first child, with Brian's sister Aoife acting as their surrogate. Their daughter, Blake, was born in September 2022. In this book, Brian and Arthur detail their long journeys, separately and together, before finally realising the dream of creating their own very happy family.From births, to deaths, marriage and everything in between this heartfelt and hilarious memoir brings Arthur and Brian's positive and inspiring attitude to the page as they journey towards parenthood. Brian and Arthur's Modern Family reflects on the universal cycles of adversity, love and grief experienced byall of us as we strive to achieve our dreams, sharing what they have learned along the way about what really matters.

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Book SynopsisOne man’s personal travelogue of his journeys throughout BR’s Western Region, Wales and the Welsh Marches during the final months of steam

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Book SynopsisNot today, Satan.The cheeky, larger-than-life drag queen and outrageous comic - ''The Joan Rivers of the Drag World'' (New York Times) - who isn''t afraid to shock or offend brings her trademark acerbic wit and sharp commentary to the page in an uproarious illustrated collection of advice.When it comes to insult comics, Bianca Del Rio is in a class by herself. Fierce, funny, and fabulous - a would-be love child sired by John Waters and birthed by Joan Rivers - Bianca sandblasted her name in the annals of pop culture on RuPaul''s Drag Race. Thanks to her snarky frankness, impeccable comedic timing, and politically incorrect humour, she became the show''s breakout star, winning its sixth season.In Blame It On Bianca Del Rio, Bianca shares her opinions loudly and proudly, offering raucous, hilarious, no-holds-barred commentary on the everyday annoyances, big and small, that color her world, and make it a living, albeit amusing, hell f

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Book SynopsisMarrying the memoir and essay forms while exploring desire, Prince, and racism, Hilton Als’s My Pinup expands and delivers love.Trade Review"Reviews of Hilton Als’ White Girls: Als is one of the most consistently unpredictable and surprising essayists out there, an author who confounds our expectations virtually every time he writes: Magnificent. " -- David L. Ulin - The Los Angeles Times"Effortless, honest and fearless." -- Rich Benjamin - The New York Times Book Review"Als is a fine, piercing observer and interpreter, a writer of lashing exactitude and veracity." -- Donna Seaman - Booklist"Als has a serious claim to be regarded as the next James Baldwin." -- Alexander Larman - The Observer"In this slim and brilliant memoir, Als explores race, power, and desire through the lens of Prince. Styling the legendary musician in the image of his lovers and himself, Als explores injustice on multiple levels, from racist record labels to the world's hostility to gay Black boys...These 48 meandering pages are difficult to describe, but trust us: My Pinup is a heady cocktail you won’t soon forget." -- Esquire"Originally published as an essay in Harper’s, My Pinup is smart, sensual writing on a life of loving Prince and on the life of Prince himself. Hilton Als’s Prince is a clear, Black, queer vixen; an idol whose lyrics and performance provide instructions for living — he also serves as frame, filter, and soundtrack for Als’s navigations of romance and heartbreak. This paean, an art object reminiscent of a chapbook or novella, goes down like a tiny fruit tart made from a keenly demarcated recipe: complex, ambrosian, and brief. For a moment you want more, but you’ve already been given enough. Fire and elegance abound in these intimate pages." -- Kyle Carrero Lopez - Vulture"A tale of a brief encounter and long obsession with the late musical icon Prince. Undeniably engrossing." -- Kirkus Reviews"[A] world of difficult loves and lovers...What Prince had—and, by comparison, no one else has ever had—was style, by which I mean insolence, which offers its own kind of protection. He could show his ass (a high compliment). This was something Als learned to do “through language.” It was defiance through prowess." -- Blair McClendon - 4Columns"A triumph of loving erudition." -- Raúl Niño - Booklist" My Pinup is a gem. " -- John M. Clum - The New York Journal of Books"[A] powerful ponderance on the power and influence of Prince, Pulitzer Prize winner Hilton Als ruminates on how his sexuality commingles with an obsession with the superstar. A unique braiding of memoir and essay...This is an outspoken, exacting work of observation and conclusion on Black brotherhood, racism, and celebrity fandom." -- Jim Piechota - The Bay Area Reporter"Pulitzer Prize-winning theater critic Hilton Als needs only a few dozen pages to pierce the heart. With My Pinup (Nov 1), the New Yorker writer deftly transforms a paean to Prince into a lyrical shape-shifting memoir about his sexuality and desire as a queer Black man. It's a prism that refracts facets of Prince's identity and his profound cultural impact." -- Zoomer Magazine"If we don't know what love is until we look Prince in the eye and need him forever after, then maybe we're his pinups and puppets and he's translating for us an emotion we've kept so remote from our conscious minds that he has to go beneath his soul to dig it up. That is the solace of Als's close encounters, his flash of a songbook—that it honors Prince's commitment to being untranslatable, unsampleable." -- Harmony Holiday - Bookforum"Who could be a better guide to Prince—to his polymorphous sexuality, his gleeful dismantling of the racial compartmentalization of American popular music, his seemingly effortless sprezzatura as a performer—than Hilton Als?" -- Paul Scott Stanfield - Ploughshares"In this slim volume by Hilton Als, explores love, loss, sex, queerness, and the potent allure of Prince and his music. Written originally for Harper’s and then expanded for New Directions, Als uses Prince’s life and his contradictions in order to interrogate the many complexities of his own personal life: Als’ failed love affairs, his reckoning with his queerness, and the white power structure that he lived under. The result is a short and tender exploration of Als’ and Prince’s life that is very human." -- Bennard Fajardo - A Politics & Prose Staff Pick"Als has perfected the difficult art of being a discerning fan." -- Tiana Reid - Bomb

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Book SynopsisJames Herriot (19161995) was the pen name of James Alfred 'Alf' Wight, an English vet whose tales of veterinary practice and country life in the Yorkshire Dales have delighted generations. Many of Herriot's works - including All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All, and Every Living Thing - became international bestsellers and have been adapted for film and television.Trade ReviewHerriot's enchanting tales of life in the Dales are deservedly classics. Full of extraordinary characters, animal and human, the books never fail to delight. -- Amanda OwenBulls with sunstroke, pigs on the run and a cake-eating Peke with a betting habit . . . I grew up reading James Herriot's book and I'm delighted that thirty years on they are still every bit as charming, heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny as they were then. -- Kate HumbleThe attraction of Herriot's ever popular memoirs of a country vet . . . is their alternating highs and lows, humour and pathos, and gripping anecdotes about delivering lambs, grumpy farmers, hypochondriac pet-owners, stroppy cows and blunt Yorkshire characters. And, of course, there's a powerful nostalgia element in these stories about our green and pleasant land in the day before the ravages of ribbon development. * Daily Mail *

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