Humour Books

Book SynopsisThe punctuation workout for sticklers and rookies alike.The punctuation panda is back!Armed with a permanent marker, a smidgen of confidence, and a copy of Can You Eat, Shoot and Leave?', everyone now has the chance to become a member of the punctuation elite.Established punctuation sticklers:Fine-tune existing skills, taking guilty pleasure from testing your (already somewhat unsettling) seventh sense.Confused novices:Never again inflict flawed and perplexing punctuation on your innocent readers.The only official workbook for the international bestseller Eats, Shoots and Leaves.'Introductory Cosmo-style questionnaire helps readers identify their level of punctuation prowess.Mirrors the structure and light-hearted style of Lynne Truss's hugely popular Eats, Shoots and Leaves'. Topics include apostrophes, commas, colons and semicolons, hyphens and more.Each chapter concentrates on one particular punctuation mark. Origin, usage rules and their exceptions introduce the entertaining activi

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Book SynopsisHere, for the first time, is complete collection of actor and entertainer Stanley Holloway's incomparable comic monologues, which he performed between 1929 and 1941. All the much-loved characters such as Albert Ramsbottom (with a stick with an orse's ead andle'), Sam Small (Sam, Sam, pick oop tha' arm), and King Arold (on his orse with his awk in his and') are gathered together and brilliantly illustrated by cartoonist Bill Tidy.

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Book SynopsisIn the 22nd volume of The Complete Peanuts, you'll see the whole gang waiting . . . and waiting . . . and waiting for a bus that never comes. Charlie Brown finally hits a game-winning home run - off Roy Hobbes' great-granddaughter no less! Linus lobbies the White House to nominate Snoopy for an open Supreme Court seat (alas, it goes to Ruth Bader Ginsburg instead). Woodstock discovers his long-lost grandfather's diary, detailing a hard life in captivity (i.e. a birdcage).Trade ReviewIt's impossible to think of another popular art form that reaches across generations the way the daily comic strip does... at the pinnacle of that long tradition, there was Charles Schulz * * Seattle Times * *Charles Schulz was an American treasure - an artist, philosopher, and keen observer of human life -- Bill ClintonThe world of Peanuts is a microcosm, a little human comedy for the innocent reader and for the sophisticated -- Umberto EcoRepublishing Peanuts in one gorgeous volume after another is really the first time we can truly take a step back, appreciate Schulz's work as a whole and ultimately wrap our arms around the accomplishment of Charles Schulz. Sometimes, happiness is a warm book * * Huffington Post * *These timely re-issues illustrate not only the skill and subtle brilliance of his work but also the origins of the form beyond simple merriment * * Sunday Times * *All sorts of important writers have marvelled at the glorious simplicity of [Schulz's] draftsmanship and his unerring jokecraft, all underpinned by a quiet melancholy and stoicism . . . by some miracle, the entire Peanuts oeuvre is gradually being republished in this country, by Canongate . . . in lavishly appointed hardback . . . Unlike almost everything you read as a child, they are actually better than you remember them * * Spectator * *As essential as pop texts get * * The Onion * *Charles Schulz was, plain and simple, a great artist and philosopher... But most importantly, he teaches all ages that if you can learn to laugh at the things that cause you the most pain you will be the strongest of all. Peanuts: a real way of life -- John WatersPeanuts was, is, and will continue to be the finest comic in the world. Bravo -- Ray Bradbury

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Book SynopsisHe's yellow - but he sure ain't mellow! This title features everyone's favourite antisocial prankster, Bart Simpson.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to Europe as you've never known it before, seen through the peculiarities of its languages and dialects. Combining linguistics and cultural history, Gaston Dorren takes us on an intriguing tour of the continent, from Proto-Indo-European (the common ancestor of most European languages) to the rise and rise of English, via the complexities of Welsh plurals and Czech pronunciation. Along the way we learn why Esperanto will never catch on, how the language of William the Conqueror lives on in the Channel Islands and why Finnish is the easiest European language. Surprising, witty and full of extraordinary facts, this book will change the way you think about the languages around you. Polyglot Gaston Dorren might even persuade you that English is like Chinese.Trade ReviewDorren has such a light touch and a brilliantly roving eye that every page is to be savoured, like a local delicacy. His book is a wonderful celebration of cultural as well as linguistic diversity. -- Alex Bellos * Best Books About Language, for The Week *Through sixty compelling stories about European linguistics, it tells us an impressive amount about Europe ... An entertaining, accessible guide. * FT *Dorren's tour of the continent is a richly diverting exercise. He has something interesting to point out about nearly every topic ... brilliant. * The Guardian *The depth and breadth of Dorren's understanding and knowledge are awesome. * The Times *A new approach to understanding the world ... ideal for any cunning linguist. * Wanderlust *Gaston Dorren offers an excellent overview of Europe's languages ... It's very enlightening, and very well done * NRC Handelsblad *Joyful ... Lingo is that rare thing: a book about language the manages to be both genuinely interesting and enormous fun. Particularly impressive is Dorren's ability to flip with ease from jokes and surprising facts to the discussion of complex linguistic ideas ... For the sadly monoglot, Lingo is a wake-up call: a book that brims with joy at linguistic variety and invention, and reminds us what he - and we - are missing -- John Gallagher * Sunday Telegraph Seven *Full of charm and pleasing detail ... [an] amusing tour of Europe's linguistic landscape * Spectator *I love this book. It's witty and informative, with a wealth of engaging comments on all things language-related on our continent ... highly amusing ... the book's mine of information, make[s] this a great seasonal stocking filler - whether you're a lingophile or not. * Morning Star *This year's sleeper Christmas hit ... an amiable and entertaining examination of European languages in all their idiosyncratic glory. * Belfast Telegraph *Full of odd linguistic facts ... fascinating * Times Literary Supplement *I can't praise it enough. If you ever wanted to know how exactly Finnish and Hungarian are related and how Turkish fits in, it is clearly explained here in two to three pages. And so is everything else you ever wanted to learn about European languages but were afraid to ask. Brilliant, witty, excellent! * Times Higher Education *

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Book SynopsisSir Winston Churchill remains a British hero, lauded for his oratorical skill. He wrote histories, biographies, memoirs, and even a novel, while his journalism, speeches and broadcasts run to millions of words. From 1940 he inspired and united the British people and guided their war effort. Behind the public figure, however, was a man of vast humanity and enormous wit. His most famous speeches and sayings have passed into history but many of his aphorisms, puns and jokes are less well known. This enchanting collection brings together hundreds of his wittiest remarks as a record of all that was best about this endearing, conceited, talented and wildly funny Englishman. Also available in the series:(9781782433651) The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II(9781782435426) The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde(9781782435662) The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen

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Book Synopsis"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" features the original text of Jane Austen's beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone crunching zombie action.Trade Review“…a jolly mash-up of Austen’s 1813 classic and the horror tropes of the walking dead…”-Philadelphia Inquirer“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is the ultimate mash-up.” – Newsday “Because every story is better with zombies, Seth Grahame-Smith's bestselling novel-turned-movie is a must-read for Austen lovers... Pride and Prejudice and Zombies needs to be on every P&P fan's shelf.”–Bustle“A delightful horror-comedy that can be kind of scary, but it’s an absolute joy to read. Feel-good horror at its finest!”—BookRiot

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Book SynopsisThis essential phrasebook collects the most colorful, explicit, and outrageous ways to tell people off in every part of the world. Featuring dozens of different languages, the sayings range from everyday swears to family curses to expressions for X-rated relations with animals. Phonetic pronunciation is provided so that readers can curse like a native, and handy illustrations provide visual guides to these foreign exclamations. Perfect for the international traveler who may need to wish an enemy a painful death, insult a person''s grandmother, or accuse someone''s mother of having intimate relations with bears in the forest.

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Book SynopsisGOT A MYSTERY TO SOLVE? DON''T GET STUMPED. GET PSYCHED! You''ve seen him solve unsolvable crimes, stop unstoppable killers, and consume unconsumable breakfast cereals. Now Shawn Spencer, the mastermind from TV''s hit show Psych, shows you how to become a fake psychic-and a real detective-using his patented methods of crime-fighting awesomeness. Along the way, he''ll help you deal with whiny sidekicks (that means you, Gus), interfering police officers (including but not limited to Chief Vick, Lassiter, Henry, Buzz MacNab, and, ah, Juliet), and flashes of genius (like Evel Knievel''s white leather jumpsuit). You''ll discover:How to set up a totally bitchin'' office, where Wednesday = Ladies Night How to convince your sidekick that he''s really your partner How to pick up women at a crime scene Shawn''s Stakeout Survival Guide, including sensible snacks Gus''s Scream-and-Run Method for confronting criminals Unsolved mysteries like who stole Shawn''s Sno-Caps in third grade The ideal sleuth car: Magnum, P.I.''s Ferrari or Knight Rider''s K.I.T.T.? Who should play Shawn in the movie of his life: Christian Bale or Don Cheadle? New names for detectives, such as Rico Solvé and Sherlock Homeboy. . . and way more cool stuff. Packed with insane pop quizzes, unbelievable case studies, unflattering photos, and off-the-chart charts, this all-in-one guide will have you solving crimes and catching crooks like a pro-even if you don''t have a clue.

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Book SynopsisIf DAVID RAKOFF and DAVID SEDARIS had a baby and that baby was Betty. Zoe KazanIf you've ever felt like you were more, or at least weirder, than the world expected?you''re not alone...In this collection, EMMY AWARD-nominated ACTRESS/WRITER Betty Gilpin writes like an avenging angel, weaving a tapestry of light and darkness, hilarity, and pathos. (Dani Shapiro)Oh. Hi. *takes six long gulps of water during which you're like, may I help you?*My name is Betty. I have depression. I have passion. I have tits the size of printers. And also: I have a brain full of women.There's Blanche VonFuckery, Ingrid St. Rash, and a host of otherssome cowering in sweatpants, some howling plans for revolution, and one, oh God, and one . . . slowly vomiting up a crow? Worried for her. These women take turns at the wheel. That's why I feel like a million selves. With a raised eyebrow and a soul-scalpel, I'd

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Book Synopsis''A brilliant, funny and thought-provoking book'' - Jonn Elledge''Compelling, provocative, and utterly brilliant'' - Dr Estelle ParanqueTHIS PAPERBACK FEATURES ADDITIONAL MATERIAL ON HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH IIHow the monarchs of England and Scotland met their deaths has been a wonderful mixture of violence, infections, overindulgence and occasional regicide. In Mortal Monarchs, medical historian Dr Suzie Edge examines 1,000 years of royal deaths to uncover the plots, accusations, rivalries, and ever-present threat of poison that the kings and queens of old faced.From the bloody fascinating story behind Oliver Cromwell''s demise and the subsequent treatment of his corpse and whether the arrow William II caught in the chest was an accident or murder, to Henry IV''s remarkable skin condition and the red-hot poker up Edward II''s rear end, Mortal Monarchs captivates, grosses-out and informs.In schoo

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Book SynopsisFrom Julius Malema's tantrums to President Zuma's plane trips to Bakkies Botha's booting, this record features a big and busy year in news from the Rainbow Nation. Offering a candid South African perspective of current events, this annual utilizes the usual cast of characters to illustrate the country's current political state.Trade Review'Outrageously funny with unerring humour and intelligence' - Cosmopolitan Magazine 'A new niche in popular culture' - The New York Times 'Locates the common national funnybone' - The Washington Post

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Book Synopsis Nudinits is back with a guide to getting it all out in the open. Bernard and Barbara, from the eccentric village of Woolly Bush, deep in the English countryside, are here to give you some helpful reflections on outdoor life. Woolly Bush has all the standard features of a typical village – the cake shop, the vegetable show, the vicar – apart from two big differences: it’s all made of wool, and none of the characters have clothes on! With all the usual bare-bottomed fun from nudinits, brimming with double entendres and jollity, this outdoorsy set of pictures and comments will have you laughing out loud. Bursting with British eccentricity and the odd bare bottom, this enchanting book will appeal to humour-lovers and knitting fans alike. N.B. This book does not contain any knitting patterns. For nudinits knitting patterns, check out Nudinits: Bare-bottomed Fun from the Village of Woolly Bush and Nudinits: A Naughty Knitted Noel.Trade Review‘Filled to the brim with bare-bottomed fun, these knitted tales of village life, complete with hilarious captions, will be sure to get you giggling’ -- Let's Knit‘If you are looking for some cheeky fun, you need to grab a copy of Going Wild in Woolly Bush’ -- Knit Now‘A cheeky treat for any knitter. Keep calm, avert your eye if necessary and carry on crafting’ -- Knitting

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BOLLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR COMIC FICTION 2016SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2016A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK''an ingenious meditation on the true value of art'' Daily Mail''A deliciously wicked satire ... It's exquisitely written, shimmering with eye-catching detail ... a masterpiece'' Mail on SundayWhen lovelorn Annie McDee stumbles across a dirty painting in a junk shop while looking for a present for an unsuitable man, she has no idea what she has discovered. Soon she finds herself drawn unwillingly into the tumultuous London art world, populated by exiled Russian oligarchs, avaricious Sheikas, desperate auctioneers and unscrupulous dealers, all scheming to get their hands on her painting - a lost eighteenth-century masterpiece called The Improbability of Love'.Delving into the painting's past, Annie will uncover not just an illustrious list of former owners, but some of the darkest seTrade ReviewA deliciously wicked satire ... It’s exquisitely written, shimmering with eye-catching detail, whether describing works of art or the dishes on display at an extravagant banquet. Beneath all that, there’s a serious debate about the value we put on things — whether it’s art or relationships — and the prices we’re prepared to pay. A masterpiece * Daily Mail *Novel of the week … It all adds up to an ingenious meditation on the true value of art – timely indeed at a moment when paintings and sculpture seem to have become just another currency * Mail on Sunday *Though this novel goes into the darkest of dark places, the overall tone is totally delicious; conspicuous consumption on this scale hasn’t been seen since the Eighties -- Kate Saunders * The Times *Part of the novel’s charm is that its characters, rich or poor, are all a mixture of frailties. Like a Rococo painting, this clever, funny, beguiling and wholly humane romance is a treat worthy of its subject -- Amanda Craig * Independent *This frothy confection works on many levels, combining a touching love story with an exciting whodunit sat in a hazardous, thrilling world. The story unfolds slowly at first, building up the tension until towards the end the chapters shorten and the pace quickens with staccato satire worthy of the pen of Evelyn Waugh. A real crowd pleaser **** * Daily Express *Hannah Rothschild is finally coming into her own. Soon to be head of the National Gallery, her novel about the art world is bound to be a bestseller -- Lynn Barber * Sunday Times *Her writing shows brain as well as a heart * Economist *The Improbability of Love is a romp, a joy, and an inspired feast of clever delights. Reading this book is like a raid on a high-end pastry shop – you marvel at the expertise and cunning of the creations, while never wanting the deliciousness to end * Elizabeth Gilbert *Every page is a joy. It's funny, sad, profound. The writing dances. It has panache. It's beautifully structured. It wears its scholarship with a balletic lightness and grace that shadows the Rococo painting at its heart. Its many and varied characters are an exquisite joy. Her range and emotional grasp is wonderful. What more can I say? It's my Book of the Year already * Barbara Trapido *Impishly wicked, ruthlessly frank, touchingly percipient and sometimes laugh aloud funny to boot. Hannah Rothschild captures the contradiction between art as money and art as the soul of humanity really well * Rachel Campbell-Johnston, Art Critic for The Times *Both a satire of the art world and a romance … It’s mischievous, fun and on the money * Tatler *A timely reflection on art’s true value * Observer *What a delightful read – a satirical look at the world of art with some love, mystery and comedy thrown in for good measure. There is a darker element to the plot which I won’t spoil here, but it is tempered by a wonderful cast of characters and has the unusual addition of the painting as an occasional narrator. It’s certainly a clever way of weaving the provenance of the painting into the story * Radio 2 Book Club *Part detective story, part romance, the gripping narrative moves between contemporary London and Nazi Germany, examining along the way the meaning of love and loss, morality and greed, sacrifice and decadence … the central theme of Nazi art theft is deftly handled. An excellent and very funny debut * The Lady *Absorbing … Rothschild cleverly has the painting itself tell part of the story and beautifully marshals a wealth of historical detail * Metro *A novel that is so pleasurable I’ve read it twice, and will read it again * Glasgow Sunday Herald *A bittersweet and highly enjoyable satire * Woman & Home *If you did not know much about the passion and power behind the doors of the great auction houses and art dealers, you will by the end of this enchanting tale … Part well-crafted mystery, part thriller, part love story, Rothschild’s The Improbability of Love takes its readers on a wonderful journey into a rarefied world usually only experienced by the wealthy few * Jewish Chronicle *A capacious and fluently knowledgeable tale that excoriates with mischievously satirical intent the viciously competitive world of high-stakes art collecting ... Captivating ... Rothschild, the first woman to chair London's National Gallery, is a dazzling omniscient narrator giving voice to an irresistible cast of reprobates and heroes ... An opulently detailed, suspensefully plotted, shrewdly witty novel of decadence, crimes ordinary and genocidal, and improbable love * Booklist *A frolicsome art-world caper … Ms. Rothschild writes with such exuberance and spins such a propulsive yarn … Her erudition — about restoration, authentication, art history in general – comes through on page after page, and it’s one of the incidental pleasures of reading The Improbability of Love, as are her mouthwatering descriptions of the feasts Annie makes * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisTopsy and Tim find fun and adventure in the real world. Their engaging stories are reassuring for young children having first experiences of their own. In Topsy and Tim: Visit London, the twins have an exciting trip to the capital city. They see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, see the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, and even meet the famous Beefeaters at the Tower of London. A trusted and well-loved pair who can help guide parents and children through ''first experiences'', Topsy and Tim books have been beautifully updated with contemporary artwork. Topsy and Tim remain instantly recognisable to parents while in a fresh style that will appeal to a new generation of fans. These wonderful books deserve a place on every child''s bookshelves.

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Book SynopsisMy 'life goals before 25' when I was 20: mortgage, become an MD or social media sensation, have good hair, have my own sustainable coffee shop, travel to 98 countries. My life goals on the eve of my 25th birthday: afford my rent without getting overdrawn this month, get at least two likes on my Instagram post on my new shoes, remember to pluck nose hairs before work, stop mislaying my refillable coffee cup, visit my parents once a month. Is it just me, or does everyone else have their shit together? Believe me, you’re not alone! If you’re having sleepless nights about your latest social media post, think that you’re a bit of a loser in love, or have a job that you hate (but you need the money and there are no full-time poet positions out there), then this book is your life-jacket and comfort blanket rolled into one sweet package. Learn why you’re not the failure you think you are, and why actually you’re well on your way to being a flawed-but-brilliant grown-up, as this guide helps you navigate your way through the choppy waters of your quarter-life crisis.

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Book SynopsisThe Peanuts gang celebrate the highs and lows of friendship in this beautifully produced gift book for all generations. Friendship can come in many guises and in this addition to the Peanuts Guide to Life series we learn from Linus that man's best friend is perhaps his blanket, Snoopy shows us that happiness is a thoughtful friend who brings supper and Lucy teaches us that a little friendly criticism can go a long way. But most of all, we learn that friendship is being one of the gang.Trade ReviewIt's impossible to think of another popular art form that reaches across generations the way the daily comic strip does . . . at the pinnacle of that long tradition, there was Charles Schulz * * Seattle Times * *Charles Schulz was an American treasure - an artist, philosopher, and keen observer of human life -- BILL CLINTONThe world of Peanuts is a microcosm, a little human comedy for the innocent reader and for the sophisticated -- UMBERTO ECOI became obsessed by it. The obvious thing is the wit, and the irony, but there's also a sort of spiritual simplicity in Woodstock and Snoopy, silent clowns who have the deepest thoughts about the human conundrum. And the set-up of the boy who always underachieves and his dog who's brilliant at everything - it's hilarious. We all went to school with a Lucy, or a Linus, or a Pigpen -- JUDE LAW * * Daily Telegraph * *Charles Schulz was, plain and simple, a great artist and philosopher . . . But most importantly, he teaches all ages that if you can learn to laugh at the things that cause you the most pain you will be the strongest of all. Peanuts: a real way of life -- JOHN WATERS

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Book SynopsisP.G. Wodehouse was, by common consent, the most brilliant writer of English comedy in the 20th century, equally celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. He achieved the unusual distinction of combining the widest possible popularity with the highest literary standards, attracting both the devotion of readers and the respect of his peers from Hilaire Belloc to Graham Greene. Several of his characters have already entered popular mythology. This anthology includes two novels, fourteen short stories and extracts from Wodehouse's autobiography.The Code of the Woosters was written in 1938 when Wodehouse was at the height of his powers. The vintage plot involves Bertie Wooster attempting to steal a cream jug from a country house at the behest of his aunt Dahlia - or, as Bertiehimself puts it, 'the sinister affair of Gussie Fink-Nottle, Madeleine Bassett, old Pop bassett, Stiffy Byng, the Rev H.P. ('Stinker') Pinker, the eighteenth-century cow-creamer and the small, brown, leather-covered notebook.' The outcome is a dazzlingly intricate plot and a wonderfully satisfying farce.Uncle Fred in the Springtime, published in 1939, brings one of the author's favourite characters, Uncle Fred aka Lord Ickenham, to his most celebrated comic location, Blandings Castle, where the dastardly Duke of Dunstable is again attempting to steal Lord Emsworth's prize pig. Called in to thwart the duke, Uncle Fred poses as pompous 'looney-doctor' Sir Roderick Glossop, with complicated results. The short stories feature all Wodehouse's most famous creations - Jeeves and Wooster, Ukridge, Bingo Little, Mr Mulliner, the Earls of Emsworth and Ickenham. Finally, extracts from Over Seventy, a memoir as amusing and beautifully written as the novels, offer an insight into the attitudes and working habits of a very private man.Trade ReviewHe exhausts superlatives * Stephen Fry *The handsome bindings are only the cherry on top of what is already a cake without compare * Evening Standard *Wodehouse's idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in. * Evelyn Waugh *

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Book SynopsisPart of Canongate's Complete Peanuts seriesTrade ReviewBeautifully designed ... One of the high-water marks of post-war popular culture. * * Daily Telegraph * *These timely re-issues illustrate not only the skill and subtle brilliance of his work but also the origins of the form beyond simple merriment. * * Sunday Time * *All sorts of important writers have marveled at the glorious simplicity of [Schulz's] draftsmanship and his unerring jokecraft, all underpinned by a quiet melancholy and stoicism . . . by some miracle, the entire Peanuts oeuvre is gradually being republished in this country, by Canongate . . . in lavishly appointed hardback . . . Unlike almost everything you read as a child, they are actually better than you remember them. * * Spectator * *The world of Peanuts is a microcosm, a little human comedy for the innocent reader and for the sophisticated. -- Umberto Eco

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Book SynopsisWhen a man loses one of his favourite pair of socks at the laundromat, he sets out on a quest to find out what happens to lost socks, and why every sock drawer contains a plethora of single socks. On his eventful journey, he discovers why you always lose the sock you love, visits a sockiatrist who teaches him about the Planet of Lost Socks, and eventually finds his perfect partner at a puppet show. A wryly sweet story of love, loss and destiny.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Oscar-nominated screenwriter (When Harry Met Sally) and successful director (Sleepless in Seattle), Nora Ephron comes a bittersweet autobiographical book about love and loss. Published as part of a beautifully designed series to mark the fortieth anniversary of the Virago Modern Classics.Trade ReviewI am not a great reader of comic novels, but Ephron's hilarious, recipe-strewn, semi-autobiographical account of a heavily pregnant woman whose husband has left her for a woman with a 'neck as long as an arm' is a treat. A perfect example of Ephron's gift for turning tragedy into comedy, Heartburn is evidence that revenge is indeed a dish best served cold[Ephron] chatters up a storm, always on the verge of wisecracking up * Guardian *What really interested Ephron, for all her clever writing about food, politics and overcluttered purses, were matters of the heart. She is the exact opposite of Dorothy Parker. She is wit without cynicism, the ultimate romantic -- Gail Collins * New York Times *I have bought more copies of this book to give to people, in a frenzy of enthusiasm, than any other . . . Heartburn is the perfect, bittersweet, sobbingly funny, all-too-true confessional novel. There is not a wrong word - about food, marriage, life, love, lossFull of cynicism and gags, this autobiographical novel is comic writing at its finest -- Andrew Billen * The Times *Heartburn took the most miserable personal situation and made it hysterically funny, inspiring and utterly relatable to women of all ages. I became obsessed with its author and thinly disguised heroine * Stylist *Heartburn is as hilarious as it is heartbreaking and as brittle (very) as it is steely (even more)It is snortingly funny in its depiction of the death throes of a relationship. And it bursts with recipes. What more could you ask for?Not just the funniest novel ever written about divorce, but the funniest novel ever. Only the truly talented make writing as good as this look easy -- Hadley Freeman * The Week *I kept a copy of Nora Ephron's Heartburn next to me as a reminder of how to be funny and truthful, and all I ended up doing was ignoring my writing and rereading Heartburn -- Amy PoehlerThe real magic of the novel comes from Ephron's nonchalant conversationalism -- Helen Rosner * New Yorker *Simply one of the greatest novels involving food ever written from the writer of When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle. It's about love, sex, adultery and key lime pie -- Jay RaynerThis book taught me about love, loss and writing. It's a timeless classic * Independent *

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Book SynopsisWith its laugh-out-loud guidance on baby care, Safe Baby Handling Tips is a must-have for anyone overwhelmed -- and befuddled -- when it comes to caring for their bundle of joy. Now, it''s updated and refreshed to be even more helpful and relevant to the modern parent. Incompetent parents everywhere can benefit from this indispensable guide -- complete with The Wheel of Responsibility to help moms and dads negotiate baby responsibilities (and shirk diaper duty!) whenever they can. Makes baby-rearing a blast!

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Book SynopsisStar Trek fans and collectors will love this one-of-a-kind, mini-size collectible communicator with light and sound.The communicator is used for voice communication and serves as an emergency-signaling device for Starfleet. Kit includes a replica of the iconic communicator, with light and sound, and a 48-page book on the history of communicators, complete with full-color photos.

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Book SynopsisFeminist Ryan Gosling is a viral blog that will easily make the transition from book to page, with close to 30,000 followers. Ryan Gosling fans will drool over the hunk-worthy photos, and both fans and feminists alike will laugh at the smart captions that poke fun at one of Hollywood's most highly sought-after actors.Trade ReviewThe Huffington Post "Ryan Gosling images and feminism quotes collide in this funny, clever blog that nods to women's rights using the actor's infamous 'Hey Girl' meme." Feministing "A huge fan of Ryan Gosling myself, Henderson's playful tumblr makes my heart swoon even more for this past Mickey Mouse Club member whether or not he truly is feminist. But hey, a girl can dream right?" Time "Feminist Ryan Gosling is a brand new Tumblr that imagines the comely actor as a sensitive, empathetic feminist who'll still call you his girl, but also knows his Judith Butler from his Chandra Mohanty. Plus, it's really funny." Rolling Stone "The Feminist Ryan Gosling meme puts a clever spin on celebrity worship, with fans of the Canadian actor pairing images of his dreamy face with text in which he sweet talks ladies with references to feminist theory." The Daily Beast "I wouldn't question too closely whether or not the words under Ryan Gosling's pictures are real quotes or not. Let's just say they are. He's so sensitive and understanding. *Collective Sigh.*" The Frisky "I didn't think anything could be better than the 'F**k yeah, Ryan Gosling'/'Hey Girl' meme about my boo, but then Feminist Ryan Gosling came along and appealed to my Betty Friedan-loving, bell hooks-reading side." USA Today "Flip through Feminist Ryan Gosling, a gem in this year's barrage of ... novelty coffee table books." New York Magazine "Hey, girl, here's a book of that Tumblr you like so you can look at when you can't look at Tumblr." Entertainment Weekly "Henderson [has] compiled her best quips for the book."Review: "As funny as an LOL cat, with way more sex appeal..." Nylon Black Book Magazine "What do you get your friend who loves The Notebook and/or feminist theory and fighting for gender equity and also has everything? Basically, blogger Danielle Henderson, creator of single-serving Tumblr sensation Feminist Ryan Gosling has you covered for the next dozen Chrisma-hanu-birth-iversaries or so with [this] coffee table book." Paste Magazine "It's more-or-less scientifically proven that no woman can resist the allure of Ryan Gosling's endearing ways, especially when he's saying things like, 'Hey Girl. I just really love Azealia Banks.'"

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Book SynopsisThe third volume in a series of comic cartoons starring the Calvin and Hobbes pair.Calvin, cheeky, hyperactive and mischievous, and Hobbes, his cuddly toy tiger who, as far as Calvin is concerned is very much alive and kicking, are two of the most loveable and hilarious characters to grace the comic strip in years. Sit back and enjoy . . .

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Book SynopsisHow to be Idle is Tom Hodgkinson''s brilliant guide to reclaiming your right to be idle''Well written, funny and with a scholarly knowledge of the literature of laziness, it is both a book to be enjoyed at leisure and to change lives'' Sunday TimesAs Oscar Wilde said, doing nothing is hard work. A burn-out work ethic has most of us in its thrall, and the idlers of this world have the odds stacked against them. But here, at last, is a book that can help. Hodgkinson presents us with a laid-back argument for a new contract between routine and chaos, an argument for experiencing life to the full and living in the moment. Ranging across a host of issues that affect the modern idler:-Sleep-Work-Pleasure and hedonism -Relationships-Bohemian living-Revolution Drawing on the writings of such well-known apologists for idleness as Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson and Nietzsche, his message is clear: t

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Book SynopsisFilled with over 150 of the best riddles around, this fun and challenging puzzle book is designed to give kids’ brains a workout.From quick, easy riddles to keep young minds ticking over to longer riddles that involve some serious thinking power, this book is packed with brain-bending, rib-tickling conundrums to develop logic and lateral-thinking skills.However, this is a riddle book with a difference. Once children have worked out the answer, they then need to find it in the illustration. Sometimes the answer will be hidden in a busy search scene, or sometimes it’ll be among an array of objects. This increases the number of activities to do per page, which makes it all the more fun. There will be decoy options in the scenes as well to make searching more tricky, but kids can find all the answers at the back of the book if they get stuck.Solve the riddle, search for the answer!

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the 80th Anniversary of the little blue engine!

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Book Synopsis''One of the funniest books I have ever read'' HADLEY FREEMANA masterpiece' SATHNAM SANGHERA''The read of the summer'' THE SUNDAY TIMES''Brilliant funny and moving'' ADAM KAYA searingly honest, funny and moving family memoir in which David Baddiel exposes his mother's idiosyncratic sex life, and his father's dementia, to the same affectionate scrutiny.On the surface, David Baddiel's childhood was fairly standard: a lower-middle-class Jewish family living in an ordinary house in Dollis Hill, north-west London. But David came to realise that his mother was in fact not ordinary at all. Having escaped extermination by fleeing Nazi Germany as a child, she was desperate to make her life count, which took the form of a passionate, decades-long affair with a golfing memorabilia salesman. David's detailing of the affair including a hilarious focus on how his mother turned their household over to golf memorabilia, and an eye-popping cache of her erotic writings leads to the inescapable conclusion that Sarah Baddiel was a cross between Jack Niklaus and Erica Jong.Meanwhile, as Baddiel investigates his family's past, his father's memories are fading; dementia is making him moodier and more disinhibited, with an even greater penchant for obscenity. As with his mother's affair, there is both comedy and poignancy to be found: laughter is a constant presence, capable of transforming the darkest of experiences into something redemptive.My Family: The Memoir is David Baddiel's candid examination of his childhood, family and memory offering a twisted love letter to his parents.''An extraordinary, hilarious book'' OBSERVERI lost count of how many times I gasped' CAITLIN MORAN''Outrageously funnyprofoundly thoughtful'' THE SUNDAY TIMES''Explosively funny, brilliantly written'' DAVID WALLIAMS''Infernally funny'' HOWARD JACOBSONA triumph' NINA STIBBE''Baddiel has done his parents proud'GUARDIAN''Had me howling'' PANDORA SYKES

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Book SynopsisDiscover the sixth book in the ludicrously inaccurately named Hitchhiker''s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and featuring original cast members including Simon Jones, Geoff McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey and Sandra Dickinson.Arthur Dent led a perfectly ordinary, uneventful life until the Hitchhiker''s Guide to the Galaxy hurled him deep into outer space. Now he''s convinced a cruelly indifferent universe is out to get him. And who can blame him?His life is about to collide with a pantheon of unemployed gods, a lovestruck green alien, a very irritating computer and at least one very large slab of cheese. If, that is, everyone''s favourite renegade Galactic President can get him off planet Earth before it is destroyed . . . again.''A triumph, fabulous. Colfer has given us a delight'' Observer''I haven''t read anything in a long time that made me laugh as much'' The Times''Chock-full of fanciful, inventive one-liners and asides, brimming with a burning sense of the ridiculousness of life'' Independent on Sunday''The best post-mortem impersonation I have ever read'' Mark Lawson, Guardian

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Book SynopsisHeartbroken? Horrible boss? Confidence crisis? Rubenesque body? Anxious? Lonely?The solution is to find out what's bothering you and change it, right?Sorry lady. WRONG.You aren't going to suddenly start loving yourself. You aren't going to just become the Best Version of Yourself. You can't stop your dad drinking, or your rubbish boyfriend from breaking up with you.Fact is, there are some things you just can't change, and will become miserable trying.Instead, Harvard-educated psychiatrist of 30 years Michael Bennett and his comedian daughter, Sarah, show you how to: Stop overthinking Make smarter decisions so you can manage whatever life throws at you Stick to your values when good luck is nowhere to be found Come away from bad situations with your self-respect and sanity intactThey may not promise lifelong happiness, but they do guarantee strength, pride, and a sense of humour.

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Book SynopsisBrian Bilston is a poet and novelist. His poetry collections include You Took the Last Bus Home, Alexa, what is there to know about love?, Let Sleeping Cats Lie: Pet Poems, Days Like These: An Alternative Guide to the Year in 366 Poems and a festive collection, And So This is Christmas: 51 Seasonally Adjusted Poems. His debut novel, Diary of a Somebody, was shortlisted for the Costa first novel award. He has also published a collection of football poetry, 50 Ways to Score a Goal, and his acclaimed poem Refugees has been made into an illustrated book for children.

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Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERIn this collection of personal essays, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood reveals stories about life, love, and working as a woman in Hollywood, along with behind-the-scenes dispatches from the set of the new Gilmore Girls, where she plays the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore once again.In Talking As Fast As I Can, Lauren Graham hits pause for a moment and looks back on her life, sharing laugh-out-loud stories about growing up, starting out as an actress, and, years later, sitting in her trailer on the Parenthood set and asking herself, Did you, um, make it? She opens up about the challenges of being single in Hollywood (Strangers were worried about me; that''s how long I was single!), the time she was asked to audition her butt for a role, and her experience being a judge onProject Runway (It''s like I had a fashion-induced blackout).In What It Was Like, Part One, Graham sits down for an epic Gilmore Girls marathon and reflects on being cast as the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore. The essay What It Was Like, Part Two reveals how it felt to pick up the role again nine years later, and what doing so has meant to her.Some more things you will learn about Lauren: She once tried to go vegan just to bond with Ellen DeGeneres, she''s aware that meeting guys at awards shows has its pitfalls (If you''re meeting someone for the first time after three hours of hair, makeup, and styling, you''ve already set the bar too high), and she''s a card-carrying REI shopper (My bungee cords now earn points!).Including photos and excerpts from the diary Graham kept during the filming of the recent Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, this book is like a cozy night in, catching up with your best friend, laughing and swapping stories, and-of course-talking as fast as you can.Don''t miss Lauren Graham''s book of advice for graduates and reflections on staying true to yourself , IN CONCLUSION, DON''T WORRY ABOUT IT.

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Book SynopsisBertie may be in danger of having his spine severed in five places by that jealous gorilla G. D''Arcy (Stilton) Cheesewright, but, as Jeeves insists, the priorities still have to be observed. And so, thanks to Jeeves, they are throughout this bumper volume, whatever mayhem may be loosed upon the befuddled head and generous heart of Bertram Wilberforce Wooster. Gathered in this volume are three of Wodehouse''s hilarious Jeeves and Wooster novels: Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit, Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves and Jeeves in the Offing.Trade ReviewThe greatest comic writer ever * Douglas Adams *The funniest writer ever to put words to paper -- Hugh LaurieP.G. Wodehouse wrote the best English comic novels of the century -- Sebastian FaulksSublime comic genius -- Ben Elton

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Book SynopsisThis fun-filled collection includes three books in one: Garfield Survival of the Fattest, Garfield Older & Wider, and Garfield Pigs Out.Fat-cat fans, rejoice! The portly puss with a penchant for pasta is back—and better than ever.Garfield may be born to snooze (he needs his daily eighteen hours of shut-eye), but when he finally wakes up, he's ready for action . . . hacking up a monster hair ball, unleashing a killer burp, or giving Jon a tongue-lashing (with Odie's tongue). It's all in a day's play for the famous feline!The GARFIELD FAT CAT 3-PACK series collects the GARFIELD comic-strip compilation books in a new, full-color format. Garfield may have gone through a few changes, but one thing has stayed the same: his enormous appetite for food and fun. So enjoy some supersized laughs with the insatiable cat, because too much fun is never enough!

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Book SynopsisTop Gear''s James May is back with his hilarious and controversial opinions on . . . just about everything.As well as writing about his first love, cars, James has a go at political correctness, the endless rules and regulations of daily life, the internal combustion engine and traffic wardens. He discusses gastropubs, Jeremy Clarkson and other trials of modern life.His highly entertaining observations from behind the wheel will have you laughing out loud, whether you share his opinions, or not.Car Fever is an indispensable guide to life for the modern driver.Trade ReviewMandatory lavatory reading for a nation of men * Independent *'James May is the best thing ever to come out of Top Gear' * Radio Times *A pacy, rollicking good laugh...you don't need to be a car lover to appreciate the wit and wisdom * Herald Sun *Praise for James May's Magnificent Machines * - *'Smart, sharply written' * Guardian *'The most loveable of the Top Gear presenting trio . . . there's a sharp and interesting mind under the corduroy. Fascinating.' * Nottingham Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisA brand new book from Square Peg coming soon in September 2020

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Book SynopsisComprises three classic works: Without Feathers, Getting Even , and Side Effects

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Book SynopsisJournalist, presenter, broadcaster, husband, father, vigorous all-rounder: Alan Partridge. Star of action blockbuster Alpha Papa; a man with a fascinating past and an amazing future.Gregarious and popular, yet Alan's never happier than when relaxing in his own five-bedroom, south-built house with three acres of land and access to a private stream. But who is this mysterious enigma?Alan Gordon Partridge is the best and best-loved radio presenter in the region. Born into a changing world of rationing, Teddy Boys, apes in space and the launch of ITV, Alan's broadcasting career began as chief DJ of Radio Smile at St. Luke's Hospital in Norwich. After replacing Peter Flint as the presenter of Scout About, he entered the top 8 of BBC sports presenters.But Alan's big break came with his primetime BBC chat show Knowing Me, Knowing You. Sadly, the show battled against poor scheduling, having been put up against News at Ten, then in its heyday. Due to declining ratings, a single catastrophic hitch (the killing of a guest on air) and the dumbing down of network TV, Alan's show was cancelled. Not to be dissuaded, he embraced this opportunity to wind up his production company, leave London and fulfil a lifelong ambition to return to his roots in local radio.Now single, Alan is an intensely private man but he opens up, for the second time, in this candid, entertaining, often deeply emotional and of course compelling memoir, written entirely in his own words. (Alan quickly dispelled the idea of using a ghost writer. With a grade B English Language O-Level, he knew he was up to the task.)He speaks touchingly about his tragic Toblerone addiction, and the painful moment when unsold copies of his first autobiography, Bouncing Back, were pulped like word porridge'. He reveals all about his relationship with his ex-Ukrainian girlfriend, Sonja, with whom he had sex at least twice a day, and the truth about the thick people who make key decisions at the BBC.A literary tour de force, I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan charts the incredible journey of one of our greatest broadcasters.Trade Review‘The funniest book of the year and possibly all time.’ *****Heat ‘This book is a genuinely hilarious read’ Shortlist ‘A rare treat… painfully funny in that inimitable Alan way.’ **** Sunday Express ‘As a parody of celebrity autobiography, it’s sound; but as a sustained piece of comic writing, it’s outstanding.’ **** Time Out ‘Brilliantly witty’ The Times ‘This should be nominated for the Booker prize…it’s a really funny book but it’s actually more than that…it blows my post-modern mind’ David Baddiel 'I, Partridge might just be the funniest book I've ever read. Proper laugh out load moment on every page.' Richard Bacon ‘This fictional memoir … could be the antidote to the celeb biographies that clog the Christmas book market. It's as acute a spoof of the publishing sub-genre as the Alan Partridge character is of a whole tranche of crassly opinionated lowbrow broadcasters…brilliantly sustained wit.’ Evening Standard ‘I, Partridge is an indispensable guide to what it’s like to be an all-round media personality in the 21st Century. In this, it compares very well with the finest in the genre.’ **** Mail on Sunday ***** The Telegraph ‘Extremely funny’ Word Magazine ‘Pure comic genius’ The Independent ‘The best book of the year… without peer… I urge people to go out and buy it.’ Danny Baker ‘An acutely observed mock-memoir, touching on the great man's highs (receiving a Burton's Gold Card) and lows (Toblerone addiction) in equally self-regarding manner.’ Independent on Sunday ‘A magnificent comedy creation’; ‘The significant celebrity book this year.’ The Guardian

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Book SynopsisJilly Cooper is a journalist, author and media superstar. The author of many number one bestselling books, she lives in Gloucestershire. She has been awarded honorary doctorates by the Universities of Gloucestershire and Anglia Ruskin, and won the inaugural Comedy Women in Print lifetime achievement award in 2019. She was also appointed DBE in 2024 for services to literature and charity.Trade ReviewWitheringly funny, illuminated by astonishing brilliance * Observer *Enormously readable and very funny * Cosmopolitan *Highly entertaining, acerbic and wickedly observant... certain to become as much part of the verbal shorthand as was Nancy Mitford's U and Non-U, a generation ago * The Economist *

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Book SynopsisExplores, through a pop-culture lens, the many facets of the cowboy life. This book entertains and educates with an insider's look at topics such as ranching, rodeo, chuck wagon cooking, cowboy music, country and western dancing, and most importantly, the cowboy spirit.

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Book SynopsisDO YOU SUFFER FROM VERY BRITISH PROBLEMS ABROAD?If you...*Carry emergency teabags in your money belt*Quietly tut at badly formed ''queues''*Cleverly avoid blisters by wearing socks with your sandals...then you may have a serious problem for which there is no know vaccination. But don''t worry: Rob Temple is here to explain the symptoms/make fun of you. (In the nicest possible way.)Critics called the first Very British Problems book ''not bad'' and ''easy to gift-wrap'', so in an attempt to outdo himself, Rob''s taking us outside of our comfort zone. We''re going to that alarming place where crisps don''t quite taste the same and where ordering chips get you... well, crisps. We''re going abroad.From the optimum number of times to carry out panicky pre-trip passport checks to the horror of returning home to a milkless house, this is an affectionate into the cultural quirks and strange obessions that make us all so ve

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Book SynopsisA collection of insightful and uproariously funny non-fiction by the bestselling author of INFINITE JEST - one of the most acclaimed and adventurous writers of our time. A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING... brings together Wallace''s musings on a wide range of topics, from his early days as a nationally ranked tennis player to his trip on a commercial cruiseliner. In each of these essays, Wallace''s observations are as keen as they are funny. Filled with hilarious details and invigorating analyses, these essays brilliantly expose the fault line in American culture - and once again reveal David Foster Wallace''s extraordinary talent and gargantuan intellect.Trade ReviewIt's the kind of book you can't even put down while brushing your teeth. He's damn good. I take my hat off to him. * GUARDIAN *Enviably good. * SUNDAY TIMES *Like sea air, David Foster Wallace is so bracing. * GLASGOW HERALD *Brilliant. * MAXIM *

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