Entertainment Books

Book SynopsisTelling their story in their own words, with exclusive photos and behind-the-scenes gossip, this is a must-have for any Little Mix fan. Little Mix are the UK''s most successful girl band. They first found fame - and each other - on The X Factor in 2011. Five years later they have gone from strength to strength, achieving huge global success. With three platinum-selling albums in the UK and over 14 million record sales worldwide, the band are both adored by their fans and critically acclaimed for their brilliant music. In this book the girls share the real behind-the-scenes story of both their personal lives and their success. They reveal the many highs - what it feels like to perform in front of thousands of people; the excitement of seeing your music soar to Number One around the world - but also the lows. Through it all the girls have had each other, and their incredibly close friendship has grown stronger and stronger as the years have gone by. NTrade ReviewCelebrate Little Mix's first UK number-one album - Glory Days - by reading the full story of the girls' astonishing rise to pop super stardom. Our World is full of exclusive photos and inspirational stories about Jade, Perrie, Jesy and Leigh-Anne's unique friendship. * from the publisher's description *Our World is the official tell-all book from the UK's biggest girl band, Little Mix. Brimming with exclusive photos, the girls share their hopes and dreams for the future, their families, their relationships, their style advice and above all their friendship. This is Little Mix's story in their own words, telling you everything you need to know about their lives both in and out of the spotlight. * from the publisher's description *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn The Doors Unhinged, New York Times bestselling author and legendary Doors drummer John Densmore offers a powerful exploration of the ''greed gene'' - that part of the human psyche that propels us toward the accumulation of more and more wealth, even at the expense of our principles, friendships and the well-being of society. This is the gripping account of the legal battle to control The Doors''s artistic destiny. In it, Densmore looks at the conflict between his bandmates and him as they fought over the right to use The Doors''s name, revealing the ways in which this struggle mirrored and reflected a much larger societal issue: that no amount of money seems to be enough for even the wealthiest people.The Doors continue to attract new generations of fans, with more than one hundred million albums sold worldwide and counting, and nearly twenty million followers on the band''s social media accounts. As such, Densmore occupies a rarefied space in popular cultur

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlright guys? It''s me, Arron. Or as some people call me, ''that guy with the phone, the skinny jeans and the really fat head on Facebook''.In a world that seems to be freefalling without a parachute towards utter chaos, I''m here to remind you that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. No, in fact, when life gives you lemons, make a fool out of yourself in the lemonade aisle.*Because there''s more to life than Brexit, Bake Off and banging on about being vegan. Yes, with this book - which is my take on the world - you will learn how to survive a proper lads'' holiday, become a master in the art of takeaway ordering and find out about the pitfalls of seriously inappropriate tattoos.So do yourself a favour: turn off the news, cancel that juice cleanse, open your eyes to the brilliant, hilarious world we live in and most importantly . . . buy this book.SEE YA LATER! Arron x*Actually, don''t do exactly that, that''s

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnyone responsible for organizing a voluntary or public event will want to do it safely and well, complying with the legislation relating to different aspects of their event. This book will help you to research, plan, organize, manage and deliver any event, match, show, tournament or function that will be attended by more than a handful of people. You may be running a gymkhana, fete, fun run, steam fayre, half marathon, carnival, school sports day, jumble sale, tennis tournament, car boot sale, model aircraft show or even a huge pop festival or Formula 1 car race. Whatever it is, the principles are the same. As event manager you will need to research, plan, liaise with authorities, obtain permissions and licences, comply with legal requirements and then deliver the event to the public.Contents: 1. Introduction; 2. The event manager; 3. The event objective; 4. Planning the event; 5. Health & safety; 6. Type of event; 7. When to run the event; 8. Defining y

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 - SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEARSports Report is as much a 75-year history of sport as a BBC radio institution and Pat Murphy pays handsome tribute to a programme that is still followed affectionately by millions.For nearly 75 years, one BBC programme has been a constant factor in chronicling the way sport is covered, in all its many facets. It has been a window on the sporting world all over the globe packed tightly into every Saturday evening for the bulk of the year. First broadcast in 1948, Sports Report is the longest-running radio sporting programme in the world and one of the BBC's hardy perennials. Pat Murphy has been a reporter on the programme since 1981 and here he sifts comprehensively through the experiences of his contemporaries and those who made their mark on Sports Report in earlier decades.He hears from commentators, reporters, producers, presenters and the production tTrade ReviewThe living history of a huge part of all our lives - and there's no one in the world better to tell it than Pat Murphy -- Lee Child, bestselling authorOpens the doors to one of the great radio institutions and makes you realise how much effort and love goes into making it so special -- Dan WalkerPat’s reporting has always been engaging, expressive and arresting. Delighted his Sports Report book is just the same -- Mark PougatchThat opening tune always quickens the pulse. Out of the Blue, into the drama of the sporting day. Insight, interviews, inspirational -- Henry WinterIt was the opening theme tune that sucked you in – it’s synonymous with British sport and a staple diet of listening and watching sport on a Saturday afternoon. -- Joe Root, England CricketerFull of superb anecdotes, brilliantly told, marvellous characters. -- Jim RosenthalIf you have that sporting gene within you, it’s a book that soundtracks your life ... Every stage of that sporting cycle, that familiar tune, those familiar voices, coming at you through each beautifully researched page ... An absolute joy to read -- John InverdaleThis marvellous book will delight anyone who has ever shrieked or howled in response to something they heard on Sports Report, and that, surely, must be everybody. -- Mark Steel, comedianSports Report has run longer than Les Miserables and The Lion King put together. Patrick Murphy is the show’s perfect leading performer to tell its story from opening night in 1948 through the turbulent, exciting three-quarters of a century that followed, both on the fields of play and in the studio. -- Sir Tim RiceAn emotional, revealing opus to mark 75 years of the show. -- Henry Winter * The Times *A definitive history * Daily Mirror *A labour of love -- Adrian Chiles * BBC 5 Live *A lovingly curated, profoundly researched book about the history of the show. * The Telegraph *Pat Murphy does it proud... he skilfully weaves tales of the programme’s beginnings, the challenges it has faced over the years and the big stories that have been covered. * Late Tackle *It brings home the enormously long cast list of distinguished people who have reported or worked on the programme… Sports Report is a great institution and Pat’s book does justice to it. -- Lord King, former Governor of the Bank of England and Aston Villa supporterAn absolute joy of a book. A better Christmas present I cannot possible fathom -- Graeme SwannOf great interest to anyone wanting to gain an insight into how programmes are produced… a worthy addition to the books published recently commemorating the 100th anniversary of the BBC * Practical Wireless *Beautifully written. It brought back great memories of all my old friends at the best time of my life. -- Des LynamTable of ContentsPreface The Weekly Miracle The Beginnings Angus and Eamonn – The Odd Couple The Signature Tune Memorable Programmes 1948–1988 The Front of House In the Studio Moments to Savour At the Sharp End There were Some Laughs as Well Reading the Classifieds Gender on the Agenda – At Last! Memorable Programmes 1989-2021 Troughs Among the Peaks In Praise of Sports Report The Last Word Acknowledgements

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom warm up DJ at the birth of Acid House to global main stage headline artist today, Carl Cox continues to inspire and influence audiences and artists. Carl has been everything from a recording artist and producer to label owner, radio DJ and broadcaster. He is still all these things and much more with his star shining brighter than ever. Oh yes, oh yes! tells the story, in his own words, of the man known as ''The Three Deck Wizard'' on the rave scene before evolving into ''The People''s Choice'' and the King of Ibiza; a DJ and artist who remains at the very top of his game and continues to innovate and thrill music-lovers on the world''s biggest stages.Starting off as a shelf-stacker, grass cutter and scaffolder in the south London suburbs, Carl''s phenomenal talents as a DJ grew out of a love of music nurtured in his parents'' front room. In Oh yes, oh yes! he takes us to the heart of the party, from the UK rave scene to Burning Man and from Ibiza to Melbou

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 2000–2001, Michael Jackson sat down with his close friend and spiritual guide, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, to record what turned out to be the most intimate and revealing conversations of his life. It was Michael’s wish to bare his soul and unburden himself to a public that he knew was deeply suspicious of him. The resulting thirty hours are the basis of The Soul of Michael Jackson. There has never been, and never will be, anything like them. In these searingly honest conversations, Michael exposes his emotional pain and profound loneliness, his longing to be loved, and the emptiness of his fame. You discover why he was suspicious of women and how only children provided the innocence for which he so desperately longed. In his own words, he takes us into the jarring moments of his childhood and speaks of the measures he took to try and heal. He divulges how he came to be alienated from his strong religious anchor and describes his views on the nature of faith. Michael brings us into his tortured yet loving relationship with his siblings. He opens up about his father and his yearning for a time when they might finally reconcile. He talks about his most personal friendships and shares with us his terror of growing old. Despite his unprecedented fame and recent death, there remain unanswered questions about his life. The answers, presented here in The Soul of Michael Jackson, will both intrigue and move you. You will be surprised, riveted, and troubled as you peer into the soul of a tragic icon whose life is an American morality tale and whose flame was extinguished much too early.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn imagination of possibilities, of miscalculations, of futures off-kilter “Probability is a chimera, its head is true, its tail a suggestion. Futurologists attempt to compel the head to eat the tail (ouroboros). Here, though, we will try to wag the tail.” —Vilém Flusser Two years after his Vampyroteuthis Infernalis, the philosopher Vilém Flusser engaged in another thought experiment: a collection of twenty-two “scenarios for the future” to be produced as computer-generated media, or technical images, that would break the imaginative logjam in conceiving the social, political, and economic future of the universe. What If? is not just an “impossible journey” to which Flusser invites us in the first scenario; it functions also as a distorting mirror held up to humanity. Flusser’s disarming scenarios of an Anthropocene fraught with nightmares offer new visions that range from the scientific to the fantastic to the playful and whimsical. Each essay reflects our present sense of understanding the world, considering the exploitation of nature and the dangers of global warming, overpopulation, and blind reliance on the promises of scientific knowledge and invention. What If? offers insight into the radical futures of a slipstream Anthropocene that have much to do with speculative fiction, with Flusser’s concept of design as “crafty” or slippery, and with art and the immense creative potential of failure versus reasonable, “good” computing or calculability. As such, the book is both a warning and a nudge to imagine what we may yet become and be.Trade Review"While the universe Flusser created with his previous book, Vampyroteuthis Infernalis, explores a single alternate lifeworld coherent in its mirroring of the human species by a cephalopod, each scenario in What If? suggests a variety of new ideas, given the speculative, projecting nature of their setting—in the best and most creative sense of ‘what if’—in the past, the present, or the future."—from the IntroductionTable of ContentsIntroduction: What If? Into the Slipstream of Flusser’s “Field of Possibilities”Anke FingerFirst Scenario: What If . . .Part I. Scenes from Family LifeSecond Scenario: GrandmotherThird Scenario: GrandfatherFourth Scenario: Great UncleFifth Scenario: BrothersSixth Scenario: SonSeventh Scenario: GrandchildrenEighth Scenario: Great-GrandchildrenPart II. Scenes from Economic LifeNinth Scenario: Economic MiracleTenth Scenario: Foreign AidEleventh Scenario: Mechanical EngineeringTwelfth Scenario: AgricultureThirteenth Scenario: Chemical IndustryFourteenth Scenario: Animal HusbandryPart III. Scenes from PoliticsFifteenth Scenario: WarSixteenth Scenario: Aural ObedienceSeventeenth Scenario: Perpetual PeaceEighteenth Scenario: RevolutionNineteenth Scenario: Parliamentary DemocracyTwentieth Scenario: Aryan ImperialismTwenty-First Scenario: Black Is BeautifulPart IV. ShowdownTwenty-Second Scenario: A BreatherAfterwordKenneth GoldsmithAcknowledgmentsNotes

Read more less

Book SynopsisDoctor Who – new dawn explores the latest cultural moment in this long-running BBC TV series: the casting of a female lead. Analysing showrunner Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker’s era means considering contemporary Doctor Who as an inclusive, regendered brand. Featuring original interview material with cast members, this edited collection also includes an in-depth discussion with Segun Akinola, composer of the iconic theme tune’s current version. The book critically address the series’ representations of diversity, as well as fan responses to the thirteenth Doctor via the likes of memes, cosplay and even translation into Spanish as a grammatically gendered language. In addition, concluding essays look at how this moment of Who has been merchandised, especially via the ‘experience economy’, and how official/unofficial reactions to UK lockdown helped the show to further re-emphasise its public-service potential.Table of ContentsIntroduction: new dawn, new moment – Brigid Cherry, Matt Hills and Andrew O’DayPart I: Creating Thirteen 1 Variations on a theme: temporal and cultural diversity in Segun Akinola’s music for Doctor Who – David Butler2 ‘She is wise and unafraid’: writing the first female Doctor and a diverse universe for her to protect – Rosanne Welch3 Shooting stars: modes of TV spectacle in the Jodie Whittaker era of Doctor Who – Dene October4 About time: addressing intersectionality in the casting and performance of Chris Chibnall/Jodie Whittaker era Doctor Who– Christopher HoggPart II: Diversifying Doctor Who5 Casual queerness and desire lines in Doctor Who– Lorna Jowett6 Postracial amnesia: Doctor Who in the Brexit era – Susana Loza7 All in the ‘fam’: interrogating kinship networks with the thirteenth Doctor – Hannah HamadPart III: Fan responses8 Doctor Whumour: internet meme culture, Chris Chibnall’s Doctor Who and fan mockery – Brigid Cherry9 Braces, culottes and coloured stripes: constructing and characterizing Doctor Who’s Thirteen in fashion design and cosplay – Nicolle Lamerichs 10 Regendering and the chaos of translation: fan practices and reception of the female Doctor in Spanish fandom – Saida HerreroPart IV: Beyond the text11 By any other name: gender and Doctor Who Barbie dolls, adventure dolls and 1:6 scale figures– Victoria L. Godwin12 Outside the box in the Chris Chibnall/Jodie Whittaker era: Doctor Who’s experience economy and tourism – Paul Booth13 The thirteenth Doctor during UK lockdown: paratexts of hope and care – Matt HillsIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe book presents a systematic method of interpreting Shakespeare film adaptations based on their cinematic genres. Its approach is both scholarly and reader-friendly, and its subject is fundamentally interdisciplinary, combining the findings of Shakespeare scholarship with film and media studies, particularly genre theory. The book is organised into six large chapters, discussing films that form broad generic groups. Part I looks at three genres from the classical Hollywood era (western, melodrama and gangster-noir), while Part II deals with three contemporary blockbuster genres (teen film, undead horror and biopic). Beside a few better-known examples of mainstream cinema, the volume also highlights the Shakespearean elements in several nearly forgotten films, bringing them back to critical attention.Trade Review'Kinga Földváry’s new book is a masterful treatment of numerous genres that not only provides crucial descriptions and historical information but also lucidly explains the intersections between various generic discourses and their disparate iterations.'Melissa Croteau, Adaptation'[T]his is a well-structured study that examines a wide variety of movies in some detail. It provides a useful reference for the genre, adaptation, and Shakespeare studies and is an entertaining addition to the discourse on screen Shakespeare.'Peter Lewis, Cahiers Élisabéthains: A Journal of English Renaissance Studies -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: Shakespeare meets genre filmPart I: Classical Hollywood cinema1 Will in the Wild West: western adaptations of Shakespeare2 Shakespeare the tear-jerker: from woman’s film to global melodrama3 Dark-minded Othellos, mobster Macbeths: film noir, gangster, gangster noirPart II: Contemporary blockbusters4 Back to school, Will: Shakespeare the teen idol5 Shakespeare the undead: a renaissance of vampires and zombies6 Will, Bill and the Earl: versions of the author in contemporary biopicsConclusionIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner at the 2022 Parlimentary Book AwardsBaroness Floella Benjamin is an inspiration, an actress and much-loved children’s television presenter who is a member of the House of Lords. But how did the girl from Trinidad end up lunching with the Queen?In What Are You Doing Here? Floella describes arriving in London as a child, part of the Windrush generation, and the pain caused by the racism she encountered every day. It was offset by the love of her parents, who gave her the pride in her heritage, self-belief and confidence that have carried her through life. From winning a role in groundbreaking musical Hair (while clearly stating she would not take her clothes off) to breaking down barriers on Play School, from refusing to be typecast in roles to speaking out for diversity at the BBC and BAFTA, she has remained true to herself.She also reveals how she met husband Keith, became a mother of two, was befriended by Kenneth Williams, hugged President Obama, and found a purpose that would underpin everything she did – campaigning for the needs of children. Sharing the lessons she has learned, imbued with her joy and positivity, this autobiography is the moving testimony of a remarkable woman.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDenise Van Outen, original 90s 'ladette', West End star and primetime TV favourite, reveals for the first time the true story of grit and graft beneath the famous Essex sparkle.In this refreshingly candid memoir, Denise speaks openly and sensitively about her rollercoaster career, her struggles in a past high-profile relationship and the betrayal she suffered at the hands of those once closest to her, with the hope that in doing so, she can help empower others to avoid and overcome any similar difficulties they may face.Denise shot to fame on The Big Breakfast in her early twenties. After a decade grafting through theatre jobs and children's TV shows, she was finally living the dream. However her life soon turned into a nightmare off-screen and behind the headlines as her heart was broken in a very public relationship, whilst her every move was printed in the tabloids thanks to her phone being tapped. After receiving a panning by the critics for her late night TV show aimed at the post-pub crowd, she then auditioned for and accepted an offer to play Roxie Hart in Chicago, which turned out to be a life-changing experience. The role took her to Broadway, where she caught the eye of one Andrew Lloyd Webber, eventually landing a judging role on Any Dream Will Do, which saw her rise back to primetime and the career that she loves, where she has stayed and flourished. Now, in her first memoir, Denise tells her story with disarming candour, unafraid to reveal vulnerabilities beneath the cheerful exterior. Tackling difficult subjects of corrosive self-doubt, betrayal, invasions of privacy and professional struggles, interjected with the familiar humour that we all know and love, A Bit of Me is personal, at times raw, often mischievous and always compelling. Denise has lived the life, learned the lessons, and Basildon to Broadway and back is a hell of a journey.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A stunning, emotionally satisfying tale about the art of storytelling. I never wanted the lights to come up. I could not put it down' GRAHAM NORTON'It's its own universe, complete with a sun, a cast of circling planets, and a limitless number of stars. Its gravity pulls you in and its far reaching, multi-layered, rollicking exuberance holds you in place. I would have been happy to live inside this book forever' ANN PATCHETTA wildly ambitious story of the making of a colossal, star-studded, multimillion-dollar superhero action film, and the humble comic book that inspired it all. Spanning 80 years of a changing America and culminating in the opening of the film, we meet a colourful cast of characters including a troubled soldier returning from war, a young boy with an artistic gift, an inspired and eccentric director, a pompous film star on the rise, a tireless production assistant and countless film crew members that together create Hollywood magic.Funny, touching, and wonderfully thought-provoking, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece offers an insider's take on the momentous efforts it takes to make a film. At once a reflection on America's past and present, on the world of show business and the real world we all live in.Praise for Tom Hanks:'Authentically geniune . . . a Writer with a capital W.' Stephen Fry'Hanks's prose is impressive . . . fluent, convincing and confident.' The Times'Tom Hanks is a wise and hilarious writer with an endlessly surprising mind.' Steve MartinTrade ReviewAffectionate and endlessly entertaining. Hanks writes with such tenderness about human connection and the magic of the movies -- Richard OsmanWith a unique insight and a rare eye for detail, Tom Hanks delivers a stunning, emotionally satisfying tale about the art of storytelling. I never wanted the lights to come up. I could not put it down -- Graham NortonTHE MAKING OF ANOTHER MAJOR MOTION PICTURE MASTERPIECE is its own universe, complete with a sun, a cast of circling planets, and a limitless number of stars. Its gravity pulls you in and its far reaching, multi-layered, rollicking exuberance holds you in place. I would have been happy to live inside this book forever -- Ann PatchettA proper literary belter * The Times *An extravagant, buoyant, joyfully sprawling book, bursting with affection for its characters, for the intricate lore of the movie business, and for the many ways in which human beings are one another's greatest opportunity -- Tana FrenchThis is a wild, ambitious and exceptionally enjoyable novel. A story about how stories happen, with a swirling kaleidoscope of characters across the best part of a century, and a real beating emotional heart. It has a lot of astute and fascinating things to say about comic books, movies, show business, America and human beings. I loved every page -- Matt HaigVibrant, jazzy, witty, snazzily written, with a great sense of time and place, this novel-cum-comic book is one of those rare, unique, pieces of fiction. Loved it -- Kate MosseDo you want to go on an adventure? Who doesn't? This was a joy to read in that certain kind of way that only happens when it was a joy to write. Tom Hanks is such a natural storyteller that everything feels like he's telling this story just for you, at a dinner table, and you don't want the night to end -- Fredrik BackmanA heartfelt tribute to movies and the people who make them . . . Lovingly crafted, a wildly entertaining story beautifully told . . . You'll love this book * Booklist *An impressive debut * Daily Express *Tom Hanks' novel is smart and sharp * The Telegraph *A thoroughly likeable gem of a novel with hidden depths - rightly securing Hanks's place in the literary world * Press Association *At once a love letter to the movies and an affectionate portrait of small-town America, told with insider insight and considerable charm * Mail on Sunday *An impressive debut * Daily Mirror *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith a foreword by Paul McCartney'It's semi-devotional -- a really special place' Florence Welch'There are certain things that are mythical. Abbey Road is mythical' Nile RodgersMany people will recognise the famous zebra crossing. Some visitors may have graffitied their name on its hallowed outer walls. Others might even have managed to penetrate the iron gates. But what draws in these thousands of fans here, year after year? What is it that really happens behind the doors of the most celebrated recording studio in the world?It may have begun life as an affluent suburban house, but it soon became a creative hub renowned around the world as a place where great music, ground-breaking sounds and unforgettable tunes were forged - nothing less than a witness to, and a key participant in, the history of popular music itself.What has been going on there for over ninety years has called for skills that are musical, creative, technical, mechanical, interpersonal, logistical, managerial, chemical and, romantics might be tempted add, close to magic.This is for the people who believe in the magic.Trade ReviewEngrossing...A stirring narrative that mirrors pop's twists and turns from its earliest days to the present * Slate *A hugely enjoyable read for anyone who has ever bought a record, told with Hepworth's characteristic dry humour, beautifully illustrated and with a foreword by Paul McCartney...Engrossing, extansively researched -- Roger Alton * Daily Mail *Hepworth captures the feeling of immediacy and excitement that exemplified the storied St John's Wood studio...An appropriately pacy chronicle of rapid cultural/technological evolution -- Ian Fortnum * Classic Rock *The story of recorded music itself. Great details leap from every page -- Tom Doyle * Mojo *Hepworth, one of the most authoritative music journalists and historians, brings the studio in suburban London to life * Big Issue *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA TIMES BEST COMEDY BOOK OF 2021 'Phil Wang makes me laugh out loud with every single thing he does and this book is no exception' JAMES ACASTER'An hilarious breath of fresh air' AMY SCHUMER'Phil Wang is as original a writer as he is a comedian. Sidesplitter is predictably hilarious but also quietly moving' SATHNAM SANGHERA'A razor-sharp dissection of cultural connections, divides and differences. And yes, it's side-splittingly funny' ADAM KAY'But where are you REALLY from?' Phil Wang has been asked this question so many times he's finally written a book about it. In this mix of comic memoir and observational essay, one of the UK's most exciting stand-up comedians reflects on his experiences as a Eurasian man in the West and in the East. Phil was born in Stoke-on-Trent, raised in Malaysia, and then came of age in Bath - 'a spa town for people who find Cheltenham too ethnic'. Phil takes an incisive look at what it means to be mixed race, as he explores the contrasts between cultures and delves into Britain and Malaysia's shared histories, bringing his trademark cynicism and wit to topics ranging from family, food, and comedy to race, empire, and colonialism.Trade ReviewA book packed with witty, profound and candid reflections on race and belonging * Woman's Own *Phil Wang makes me laugh out loud with every single thing he does and this book is no exception -- James AcasterSidesplitter is elegantly written and unexpectedly moving * Observer Magazine *Phil Wang is one of my all time favorite comedians, a true original. His comedy and words here are a hilarious breath of fresh air we all need -- Amy SchumerPhil Wang is as original a writer as he is a comedian - Sidesplitter is predictably hilarious, but also quietly moving -- Sathnam SangheraPhil Wang runs headlong towards difficult subjects, firing off jokes as he goes. This brutally funny book will appeal to anyone who's ever felt like an outsider. -- Helen LewisA beautiful book about home, history and family. Told with Phil's trademark sharp wit and deadpan humour it captures the nuances of his experiences perfectly. -- Tom AllenA razor-sharp dissection of cultural connections, divides and differences. And yes, it's side-splitting funny -- Adam KayPeople often ask Phil Wang 'But where are you really from?' I can confirm, after reading Sidesplitter, that the answer is 'Funnyland'. -- David BaddielA terrific writer. I've laughed out loud at least once on every page -- Victoria Coren MitchellFunny and disarmingly moving... Britain's most original and promising young comedian * Times Magazine *A funny and moving look at what it means to be of dual heritage -- Elizabeth DayEloquently laced with laughs and bittersweet observations. * BBC News *

Read more less

Book Synopsis"One of the great novels to have been written in our language" MARIO VARGAS LLOSA"Beautifully written and gripping" GuardianHe thought that memories were invisible like light, and just as smoke made light show, there must be a way for memories to be seen... In October 2016, the real-life Colombian film director Sergio Cabrera is attending a retrospective of his films in Barcelona. It's a difficult time for him: his father, Fausto Cabrera, has just died; his marriage is in crisis; and his country has rejected peace agreements that might have ended more than fifty years of war. In the course of a few turbulent and intense days, Sergio will recall the events that marked the family's life, and especially his father's, his sister Marianella's and his own. From the Spanish Civil War to the exile of his republican family in Latin America, and from the Cultural Revolution in China to the guerrilla movements of 1960s Latin America, not only will do we discover a series of adventures extraordinary by any standards, but also a devastating portrait of the forces that for half a century turned the world upside down and created the one we now inhabit. Retrospective is a revelatory and unforgettable novel.Translated from the Spanish by Anne McLeanTrade ReviewOne of the great novels to have been written in our language -- Mario Vargas Llosa * El Pais *The story of their political indoctrination, active deployment, growing unease and ultimate disillusionment is both fascinating and terrifying -- Melissa Harrison * Guardian *Hours and hours of recordings and conversations over the years have resulted in an extraordinary novel of adventures and nightmares, a ruthless exploration of the delusions of political utopianism and moral totalitarianism, an excursion into the dark and buried side of history when history becomes political faith -- Jordi Gracia * El Pais *A true international writer -- Yiyun Li * New York Times *A fascinating novelistic narration of the adventures of the family of the filmmaker Sergio Cabrera, that travels through the twentieth century and three continents, from the flight of his father and grandfather in the Spanish Civil War to his own participation in the Colombian guerrilla after a Kafkaesque and bizarre revolutionary training in China * La Vanguardia *It bites, it hits, it hurts pain, it makes sparks fly. Literature struggles to become life and life struggles to be told. Such an incredible book! -- Manuel RivasWritten with an enviably full style and a superb control of the novelist's impulses * La Vanguardia *A lucid and subtle metaphor for how ideologies marked the private lives of the twentieth century * El Cultural *Vásquez is a Colombian writer with the talent to keep a magician's equilibrium between reality and fiction. . . . Beautifully written and gripping -- Gioconda Belli * Guardian *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis This is the most in-depth exploration of Metallica's songs ever written.From their widely circulated demo, No Life 'til Leather, all the way to their 10th studio album Hardwired... to Self-Destruct - Metallica have earned the title of the biggest heavy metal band on the planet. Their albums, including the hugely influential Master of Puppets, are now considered classics of rock and metal, while singles such as Enter Sandman, Fade to Black and For Whom the Bell Tolls have stood the test of time. Follow the epic journey of the godfathers of thrash metal, song-by-song, and see how they became one of the biggest selling bands in the world.No stone is left unturned across more than 500 pages, illustrated with incredible photography throughout, from the inspiration behind the lyrics and melodies to the recording process and even the musicians and producers who worked on each track.Uncover the stories behind the music in this truly definitive book - a must-have for every Metallica fan.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'What started as a book on the frustration of funding led to the writing of an autobiography at forty... I had so little to do in the daylight hours, I stayed up late unbuttoning Levis in back rooms.'In 1984 at the age of 40, the polymath film-maker Derek Jarman began to write his journals. In the first of these diaries, Dancing Ledge, we see his origins as a young artist, written with Jarman's distinctive immediacy, curiosity, and candour. Behind-the-scenes of his first controversial films and stage designs, at glamorous launch parties with friends like David Hockney, Ossie Clarke and Patrick Proktor, to the trials of securing funding, Dancing Ledge is a coming-of-age memoir for all fledgling artists.Dancing Ledge also chronicles a unique time in British history, capturing gay nightlife from the end of the war to the beginning of the AIDS epidemic.Trade ReviewJarman's light illuminates the wilderness as brightly as ever * New Statesman *Jarman [is] the sort of troublemaking visionary who one day may be compared with Blake * Time Out *

Read more less

Book SynopsisUNLOCK THE MAGIC OF THEATRE THIS CHRISTMAS - GO BEHIND THE CURTAIN WITH WEST END LEGEND, MICHAEL BALL IN HIS FIRST MEMOIR 'Love, laughter and tears abound in this warm, entertaining read' Woman and Home 'Glittering' Daily Mail'Wonderful' The SunIn 1989, a young Michael Ball landed the lead role in the musical Aspects of Love. It was a moment that changed his life forever. It was the first time he worked with legends of the stage like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn; the show featured his smash hit song, Love Changes Everything, which rode high in the charts for 15 weeks; it was then, also, that he first met his long-term partner Cathy McGowan and battled back against the stage fright that had threatened his career. Over three decades later, Michael returned to a new production of the same show where he made his name, and with a lifetime's worth of stories to tell.In Different Aspects, Michael takes us backstage inside the making of a West End hit, while also diving back into his memories to share untold anecdotes and explore a glittering career that has made him a household name - from his first stage experiences in Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera, to delighting and shocking his audiences in equal measure in Hairspray and Sweeney Todd, as well as his chart-topping musical success (and some howlers too!). Exploring Michael's life, career and relationships alongside the pitfalls and pratfalls of modern theatre, Different Aspects is the story of a life lived on the stage. There will be laughter, tears and an abundance of heart. There's even some Roger Moore, though, famously, not quite enough.Take your seats ladies and gentlemen, the lights are dimming, the performance is about to start.Readers are loving Different Aspects...'A very funny, insightful glimpse of the highs and lows of a musical theatre star''If you love Michael Ball, you'll love this''His story made me smile''Filled with wonderful little stories''Interesting, honest and revealing'Trade Review'This wonderful memoir is an insight into the world of theatre and Michael's life.' * The Sun *'There is much to enjoy about Different Aspects as Ball is such an unaffected, enthusiastic ambassador for musical theatre.' * Daily Mail *'Love, laughter and tears abound in this warm, entertaining read' * Woman and Home *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Let Every Little Thing Make You Happy, singer-songwriter and TikTok sensation, Peach Martine delivers her uplifting, refreshingly honest and magnetic poems and lyrics, which have caught the attention of millions of fans across the globe. And alongside her well-known favourites, Peach has dreamed up striking new poems to make you laugh, cry, forget your ex and find your chosen family.Accompanied by sumptuous musical scores and refreshing ways to enable you to manifest your best life, these modern words of wisdom will help you make the most of the present and choose happiness at every turn. This ultimate collection of empowering words will give you the insight to flourish, feel fierce and learn to love yourself.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhether in Yes, Asia, GTR, ABWH, Tomorrow or the Steve Howe Trio and – there's more – Steve Howe has continually proved himself to be one of the world's greatest guitarists. Here, for the first time, he looks back on his five-decade long career. From jamming onstage with Jimi Hendrix to sharing Abbey Road studios with The Beatles, Steve's stories are steeped in rock 'n' roll history. Including a number of unseen photographs and a full discography, All My Yesterdays is a must-read for fans of Yes, one of prog rock's most legendary bands.

Read more less

Book SynopsisViolin Star Theory is an activity book for young players in the early stages of learning the violin. Packed full of engaging exercises and games, it can be used alongside any beginner violin tutor to help develop a student's understanding of musical notation. The imaginative activities link to practical music-making, building aural awareness and boosting the confidence of young musicians. Key features: * Written and practical theory activities, covering the note values, rests, pitches, time signatures and other symbols most commonly found in beginner violin tutors * Short, specially written pieces which can be sung, clapped or played * Quizzes, puzzles and a Violin Star Theory board game * Colourful illustrations and fun stickers * Complements the Violin Star beginner repertoire book.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book brings together selected exam pieces, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and audio downloads, to support ABRSM's Grade 3 Flute syllabus from 2022. Key features: Nine pieces in a range of styles, chosen from Lists A, B and C - Includes flute part and piano accompaniment -Classic repertoire and newly commissioned pieces and arrangements - Scales and arpeggios, and sample sight-reading tests, for requirements from the current syllabus.- Audio performances of the nine pieces by expert musicians, plus accompaniment-only tracks for use when practising (download code included in the book) The Exam Pack is an ideal resource for preparation for ABRSM's Practical Grade 3 Flute exam, as well as providing an excellent toolkit for the general development of technical skills at this level.

Read more less

Book SynopsisABRSM's official Music Theory Practice Papers 2022 are essential resources for candidates preparing for our online Music Theory exams. They provide authentic practice material and are a reliable guide as to what to expect in the exam. -Essential practice material for ABRSM Grade 5 Theory exams -Model answers also available

Read more less

This book contains nine pieces from ABRSM's Grade 1 Violin syllabus from 2024, three pieces chosen from each of Lists A, B and C - ideal for both Practical and Performance Grade exams. The pieces have been carefully selected to offer an attractive and varied range of styles, creating a collection that provides an excellent source of repertoire to suit every performer. The book also contains helpful footnotes and, for those preparing for exams, useful syllabus information. An edition of this book with audio is also available - it includes downloadable recordings of all nine pieces, plus piano accompaniment tracks.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book contains nine pieces in a range of styles, from Lists A, B and C of the syllabus

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book contains nine pieces in a range of styles, from Lists A, B and C of the syllabus

Read more less

Book SynopsisToday, over half a century later, great films are measured by those of the 70s. Has there been a more impactful 10-year period? For the first time, cinema reflected life and society, presenting both on the big screen with a compelling and penetrating truth. Directors became household names, often overnight, and films routinely broke box office records. With censorship relaxed, the subject matter could include alienation, descents into madness, drug addiction, dysfunctional relationships, promiscuity, alcoholism, PTSD, and any big news story of the day. Audiences gladly absorbed this new, shocking reality; in fact, they avoided films that candy-coated the truth. Musicals evolved, westerns all but died for several years, science fiction and fantasy made an incredible resurgence, and horror dominated the box office along with disaster films. But by and large, films about social issues were the best draw. This book celebrates the cinema of the 70s. What a decade!Trade Review'A film book that's hard to put down!' -- The Recs Magazine

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe perfect gift for Disney lovers, this quote book is filled with wise words from Disney's most inspirational characters.Each quote is typographically designed, incorporating elements from the animated film it is drawn from. With over 50 quotes, there's a quote for every situation from advice on love and relationships, to motivational quotes on success, working as a team and achieving your dreams.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the first English monograph of legendary French musique-concrete pioneer Luc Ferrari (1929-2005). Founding member of Groupe de Recherches (GRM) with Pierre Schaeffer-the group and studio were dedicated to the electronic medium that changed composition forever. This sumptuous volume includes facsimiles of Ferrari's original compositions, notebooks, and the first English translations of his writings, including poetry and fictional works and correspondence, as well as a special full-colour section that includes the composer's own collage artwork.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIan Hunter's fifty-year-long career and extensive repertoire of percipient, creative songs have earned him a reputation as a true rock phenomenon. This first part of a two-volume, authorised biography charts Ian's unique musical journey from his formative rock 'n' roll years to his commercial success as the face and voice of legendary Seventies British band, Mott the Hoople. Featuring insider accounts of the group's roller coaster ride and international triumphs via classic records including `All the Young Dudes', `Roll Away the Stone' and MOTT, this captivating book exposes personal trials and tribulations, the bizarre aspects of the rock business and the absurdity of music-related fame. Based on interviews with Hunter, all his Hoople band mates and an impressive cast of supporting characters, Rock 'n' Roll Sweepstakes: Mott's the Story is a fascinating, frank biography of a highly influential band and a special music icon.

Read more less

Book Synopsis Foreword by Alexander Armstrong. Think you know classical music? It's time to put your knowledge to the test with this collection of questions and puzzles designed to challenge, to entertain - and to educate.Blending together basic trivia, complex wordplay and a range of visual teasers, the book calls on the knowledge of the Classic FM experts to provide hours of music-themed challenges.With difficulty levels varying from pleasantly tricky to fiendishly hard, The Classic FM Puzzle Book will entertain from the first bar until the very last note.

Read more less

Book Synopsis***'Wise and playful...'BBC Music MagazineWith a foreword by James NaughtieWithin the pages of this book lie musical prescriptions that offer comfort, solace and strength in the face of dark times.Whether you suffer from loneliness or laziness, from bereavement or betrayal, a heartbreak or a mere hangover, here you'll find the perfect piece of classical music to heal the heart, soothe the soul and cure the maladies of the modern world.Musician and writer Oliver Condy takes the role of musical physician, using his years of experience to prescribe remedies for all manner of ailments in the form of classical music.A beautifully-packaged gift book with more than 100 recommendations, Symphonies for the Soul is filled with fascinating stories behind the pieces and composers selected, and how in their own unique ways they can nourish the spirit in times of need.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSongs to stir the souland move the feet, raisea roar or bring a tear to the eye. From Danny Boy toBoulavogue and more, this book celebrates the cream of Irish ballads,explaining the origins of each song, along with words, melodies and chords. Illustrated with evocative photographs and woodcuts..

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Superb celebration of his life and work ... a must-read tribute' CLASSIC POP, 5/5'The funniest and most revealing of all music journalists' - NEIL TENNANT 'A laugh riot' - CLASSIC ROCKA Classic Pop Book of the Year4/5 - Mojo 4/5 - Record Collector8/10 - Uncut Idiosyncratic.Iconoclastic.Acerbic.Hilarious.The influence of Tom Hibbert's music writing across print, radio, TV and podcasts is incomparable. From his genre-defining work at Smash Hits to his 'Who the Hell ... ?' profiles for Q magazine and beyond, this book brings together many of Hibbert's funniest writings.Compiled by Barney Hoskyns and Jasper Murison-Bowie at Rock's Backpages, the archive of music journalism, Phew, Eh Readers? showcases some of Hibbert's greatest pieces. Presented thematically and chronologically, they highlight his marvellously eccentric perspective on life and popular culture.Many leading writers and journalists attest to Hibbert's genius. This compendium supplements his writing with new reflections on Tom from some of his peers, colleagues and admirers, including Mark Ellen, Bob Stanley, Tom Doyle, Chris Heath, Sylvia Patterson, along with his widow Allyce.Phew, Eh Readers? is a must-read homage to one of the most influential writers of our time, a man who left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape.

Read more less