Memoirs Books
Mirror Books The Boy Who Never Came Home: Philip Cairns
The disappearance of schoolboy Philip Cairns has baffled detectives and his family and remains unsolved 35 years later, despite an intensive garda investigation, extensive searches and multiple media appeals. The quiet 13-year-old was snatched in broad daylight while returning to school in Rathfarnham, Dublin, on a bright autumn day, never to be seen again. The Boy Who Never Came Home will give the inside story on the investigation from the detectives who worked on the case as well as their theories on what they believe may have happened to the missing teenager. The book scrutinises in-depth the only named suspect, prolific paedophile Eamon Cooke, who was dubbed Ireland's Jimmy Savile. New revelations unearthed by the author about the serial child abuser also potentially connect him further to the young boy's disappearance. World renowned forensic psychologist Dr Julian Boon, who is known as the English 'real life Cracker' and worked on high-profile murder cases including that of serial killer Harold Shipman, also gives his thoughts on what he believes happened to the young boy. While behind all the headlines is a family who have never given up searching for Philip and who have had to endure the trauma of not knowing what happened to their loved one. Their only wish now if to be able to recover his body so they can have a grave to visit.
£8.54
Headpress The Heart is Meat
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Oil on Water Press Song Over the Bones
£11.69
Windhorse Publications The Sound of One Hand: A Buddhist life
Book SynopsisFor Satyadasa the Buddhist path has been fulfilling and often joyous, but also full of doubts and obstacles. What does it mean to be a Buddhist in the West in the twenty-first century? And is being born with one hand a curse - or a blessing? "I'm just pretending to be a Buddhist. I'm only on this solitary retreat because I've heard it's a good idea ... successful people don't need to meditate in damp huts ... they go on proper holidays. I am not successful, ergo, here I am."Trade ReviewThis beautifully written memoir goes surprisingly deep because it is so exceptionally honest....' - Vishvapani Blomfield, Buddhist contributor to BBC's Thought for the Day; '...absolutely wonderful - there were times when I laughed out loud, it's utterly delightful, very funny, touching, full of gorgeous details and wonderful characters.' - Mimi Khalvati, poet and founder of The Poetry School; '...both profound and moving as well as hilariously funny in places.... I recommend it wholeheartedly.' - Vidyamala Burch, OBETable of ContentsAbout the author xi Publisher's acknowledgements xii Preface to the second edition xiii 1 Stumped 1 2 The breakfast table 10 3 Ontology 25 4 Out of my head 44 5 A long way to go 60 6 Buddhists in Bethnal Green 71 7 Very strange, very okay 83 8 Cult 91 9 Freedom within 103 10 Moon metaphors 111 11 My guru reads the Daily Telegraph 128 12 Funny teeth 137 13 The Middle Way 147 14 Cats and dogs 163 15 After the ecstasy, the laundry basket 174 16 On solitary 181 17 It makes sense at every level, except the one on which I live 190 18 Prosthetics 205 19 We are where we are 217 20 Big mind 230 21 Making merit 242 22 In the bardo 255 23 Death and rebirth 262 24 Lineage 279 Author's Note 292
£11.39
The Book Guild Ltd A Midland Meander: A Circular Walk around the
Book SynopsisFollowing on from Brian’s escapades in South-East England, this ramble of 150 miles circumnavigates the West Midlands conurbation. Being closer to his home in Birmingham and partly undertaken over two Covid ravaged years, this walk is a testament to the author’s resilience and determination to complete the project. In this book, in travelogue style, Brian shares his experiences of walking around the built-up area in a clockwise direction. Brian delights in sharing anecdotes with his readers gleaned from various observations and encounters on the journey. A Midland Meander is an examination of the geography, geology and landscape, the history, the people and places of this heart of England, ranging from the River Severn to the River Tame. More than just a walking guide, this book, like his previous publications, is essential reading for walkers and lovers of the great outdoors. For those who can only sit at home, it is an opportunity to share in the experience and the author’s consuming interest in environmental issues shines through on every page.
£13.46
The Book Guild Ltd We Still Wrote Letters Then...: Reflections of
Book SynopsisConscious that the culture of letter-writing has largely been lost, Diana Miserez felt urged to share in print some of the letters exchanged mainly between herself and her parents throughout the years she worked as a humanitarian aid worker with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Red Cross. Illustrated with photographs reflecting the reality of two of her assignments in Africa and Asia (and some unusual handicrafts), We Still Wrote Letters Then gives readers insights into situations across the world so far removed from the lives of family members living in peaceful Britain. It is also a testimony to the author’s parents, whose letters demonstrate their dignity, modesty and open-mindedness, and whose support buoyed the author throughout her many years working on fascinating and potentially alarming assignments overseas.
£13.49
The Book Guild Ltd Travels with Maridadi: Harley-Davidson Adventures
Book SynopsisAfter a botched spinal operation left her partially paralysed aged forty-five, Bizzie Frost found herself unable to enjoy the active lifestyle she loved in Saudi Arabia. That was remedied six years later when her airline captain husband, Frosty, proposed they buy a Harley-Davidson. An invitation to join friends on a 2,500km ride to Oman was irresistible and they bought a customised Road King. They named her Maridadi, meaning 'beautiful' in Swahili. Travels with Maridadi is an epic account of their adventures on Maridadi in Saudi Arabia, a country rarely visited by outsiders during the thirty years that Bizzie called it home. Riding pillion with Frosty, she travelled thousands of kilometres across the deserts and mountains of the Kingdom, as well as other Middle Eastern countries. Her stories and photographs breathe life into the scenery, people and culture of the Kingdom, and convey the freedom and healing power of motorcycling on the open road.
£9.49
Eyewear Publishing Jack And Me: How Not To Live After Loss
Book SynopsisAfter the suicide of his son Jack in 2015, journalist Cosmo Landesman set out to write an anti-suicide/ anti-grief memoir that was angry and cynical about the way we look at death, suicide and grief. Where others parents of suicides were motivated to try and do good in the world, Landesman took the do nothing, say nothing and feel as bad as possible option. Seven years later he wonders if he made a terrible mistake. But Jack and Me is more than about suicide - it''s about a clueless father trying to save his troubled son.
£17.00
Eyewear Publishing Flame Ash Feather
Book SynopsisA memoir about the author's trauma of losing her sister Flora in the Lockerbie bombing and how raising chickens helped her through her grief.
£17.00
The Conrad Press The Whistling Wind: the true story of a black
Book SynopsisWeird can be wonderful, mysterious and magical, the word conveys all levels of emotion. In this remarkable book, 'The Whistling Wind', the author John T. Hope takes the reader on a trip to the underbelly of today's society and the ugly underworld in gripping poetic prose. Born in the United Kingdom out of the Windrush generation, John T. Hope is an ordinary hardworking single black man writing a true story of romance in the midst of racism, unemployment, and the economic exploitation so many ethnic minorities face in the workplace. Stemming out of an impoverished background with a poor education, he confronts many unlucky turns of event on his life's journey, then ends up in prison. Upon his release, he's undeterred by the problems he encounters. Striving to survive, he writes to articulate why life is so hard in modern society and asks, why we can't all live together as equals.Table of ContentsIntroduction 4 Preface 5 The Whistling Wind intro 11 Chapter 1 - How one feels 13 Chapter 2 - In the beginning 17 Chapter 3 - In need of help 25 Chapter 4 - Not feeling the same 30 Chapter 5 - Trying to tell 36 Chapter 6 - Wordsworth 40 Chapter 7 - Sense of self 45 Chapter 8 - My Mind 47 Chapter 9 - First night’s raving 48 Chapter 10 - The body’s role 51 Chapter 11 - Lessons in love 53 Chapter 12 - It happens 57 Chapter 13 - Am I well or not? 67 Chapter 14 - What’s happening? 69 Chapter 15 - Stop writing. 79 Chapter 16 - Constant thoughts 80 Chapter 17 - Back in the day 82 Chapter 18 - Music lovers 86 Chapter 19 - Taboos cause and effect. 91 Chapter 20 - Expressing self-awareness 95 Chapter 21 - Stress conscious related 98 Chapter 22 - Crack lives 102 Chapter 23 - Was it fun? 105 Chapter 24 - Poetic flair 109 Chapter 25 - Can’t help it! 112 Chapter 26 - Unaware conscious 115 Chapter 27 - Is it really worth it? 119 Chapter 28 - Love hate is not love 124 Chapter 29 - Forewarned is enlightened 126 Chapter 30 - Always proving 132 Chapter 31 - Professional attitude 136 Chapter 32 - Employment rights 138 Chapter 33 - Life’s pleasure 143 Chapter 34 - H.M.P. tour of duty 146 Chapter 35 - Exploiting Innocence 150 Chapter 36 - False twist on love, marriage 154 Chapter 37 - Sheep follow sheep. 157 Chapter 38 - Benny’s Radcliff 159 Chapter 39 - Two can play 164 Chapter 40 - Not a care in the world 167 Chapter 41 - Forgive them not 169 Chapter 42 - Booze & Bury 171 Chapter 43 - Pad mate’s story 175 Chapter 44 - My luck or not 177 Chapter 45 - The hand of God 180 Chapter 46 - Pump up the jam. 186 Chapter 47 - H.M.P. Buckley Hall 189 Chapter 48 - Mounting stress 193 Chapter 49 - Determined 196 Chapter 50 - Girl Tuesday 197 Chapter 51 - Free I thought 202 Chapter 52 - Confrontation 203 Chapter 53 - H.M.P. Riots 207 Chapter 54 - Just to get a rep 209 Chapter 55 - Free am I not 214 Chapter 56 - Back in the swing 218 Chapter 57 - Uptown girl 224 Chapter 58 - Headache, heartache 231 Chapter 59 - Chasing a dream 234 Chapter 60 - Looking forward 237 Chapter 61 - Built-up stress 242 Chapter 62 - Yesterday, today 247 Chapter 63 - Joe’s story 249 Chapter 64 - Never ending 253 Chapter 65 - Divine Authority 255 Chapter 66 - The journey 259 Chapter 67 - The whistling wind outro 270
£10.44
The Conrad Press Clockwork of the Gods
Book SynopsisIn this remarkable and highly original book, ‘Clockwork of the Gods’, the author shares a haunted lifetime of shocking encounters with the unseen spirit world, changing forever how you view life and the physical world. Robert Bakowski’s first terrifying brush with the hidden world of spirits came when he was a small child. A lifetime of supernatural events followed. A frightening escalation sees the author battle with terrifying spectral phenomena in his own home and reason is sought in a world where not all is at it seems. Revealed is the truth about why we are here, our eternal soul and our divine connectedness. A must-read for the ardent believer and the sceptic alike.Table of ContentsPRELUDE We are 11 CHAPTER ONEThe child who sees dead people 15 CHAPTER TWOSilver Jubilee 23 CHAPTER THREENaturally the supernatural 30 CHAPTER FOUR Rude awakening 40 CHAPTER FIVE My haunted life 48 CHAPTER SIX Life after life 73 CHAPTER SEVEN Miracles 88 CHAPTER EIGHT Poltergeist 98 CHAPTER NINE Life before death 114 CHAPTER TEN Poltergeist 2 the sequel 125 CHAPTER ELEVENPoltergeist 3 finale 150 CHAPTER TWELVE The light and the dark 169 CHAPTER THIRTEEN 2009 – 2015 A new home, a fresh start 186 CHAPTER FOURTEEN 2009 – 2015 They walk among us 211 CHAPTER FIFTEEN Astrology 221 CHAPTER SIXTEEN 2015-2016 Alone 233 CHAPTER SEVENTEENRegency charm 244 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Reincarnation Part One – Several lives in two chapters 259 CHAPTER NINETEENVacant possession 277 CHAPTER TWENTYIn the bleak midwinter 300 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Reincarnation Part Two 322 CHAPTER TWENTY-TWOThe haunted lamp 339 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREEGeorge 356 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Do you want change? 365 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVEThe most haunted house in town 375 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIXDark forces 382 CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Judging others 396 CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTThe beguiling of Merlin 404 CHAPTER TWENTY-NINEManifestation 429 CHAPTER THIRTY Compassion for the self 452 CHAPTER THIRTY-ONEThe rescue 455 CHAPTER THIRTY-TWOVisitations 469 CHAPTER THIRTY-THREEUniversal adapter 485 CHAPTER THIRTY-FOURSaved by the bell 494 CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVESooty and Sweep 520 CHAPTER THIRTY-SIXA spiritual life 534 CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVENBohemian Rhapsody 548 CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHTTwin flames 562 CHAPTER THIRTY-NINEPhysical, mental and spiritual wellbeing 575 CHAPTER FORTYEpilogue 590
£14.24
The Conrad Press Escaping the Dark Shadow
Book Synopsis‘Escaping the Dark Shadow’ is an unforgettable memoir that takes the reader on an exciting, highly personal, emotional, and informative journey from the 1950s to the present. It is the true story of a sensitive boy and the man he grew into. This is also the true story of living through a remarkable period of liberation through fashion, Mary Quant’s miniskirts, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, technology, Telstar, and a man on the moon. As well as this, ‘Escaping the Dark Shadow’ is a chronicle of many of the most significant changes in world history since about 1960.
£10.44
Scribe Publications Abortion: a personal story, a political choice
Book Synopsis‘How better to honour the women who have fought for abortion rights, those who are still fighting around the world, those who have suffered from its illegality, those who still suffer from its limitations, than to continue to talk about it?’ In this timely essay, Pauline Harmange provides an intimate, detailed account of her abortion. Reminiscent of Annie Ernaux’s Happening, Abortion is nuanced, complex, honest, and precise. Harmange gives voice to the emotions, reflections, and contradictions that someone could experience when they choose to terminate a pregnancy. At a time in which women’s reproductive rights are being called into question around the world, Abortion is a clarion call, a powerful personal testimony, and a resolutely political vision: to restore power to our experiences, all our experiences, by sharing them, and to transform society for the better.Trade Review‘Abortion: a personal story, a political choice … defuses arguments on both sides of the abortion rights issue by presenting an intelligent, heartfelt understanding of what matters most … a solid, thought-provoking read that proves to be a noteworthy effort to open a much-needed discussion about a societal taboo.’ * Shelf Awareness *‘In this nuanced account, Harmange (I Hate Men) reflects on her decision to have an abortion … She uses her story as a launching pad to explore the politics of abortion and laments that taboo inhibits frank discussion of the “feelings of ambiguity, negativity, sadness, and insecurity” that can accompany the procedure … Harmange excels at illuminating intersections between the personal and the political, and her willingness to probe her own pain makes for powerful reading. Timely and affecting, this packs a punch.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Harmange’s essay so perfectly marries the personal and political, illustrating why we need to keep the conversation going around abortion and the nuances of experience.’ * Ramona Magazine *‘In this personal essay, [Harmane] explores the need for a space in which women are free to talk about the feelings of ambivalence, negativity, sadness and insecurity that can follow an abortion. When she decided to undergo this procedure because of her economic circumstances, she thought it would be “quick and easy, over and done”. But it wasn’t that simple. While she didn’t regret it, she still had to live with the legacy of society’s attitudes toward the termination of pregnancy and her own body’s visceral response. Her candid ruminations add valuable nuance to this fraught debate.’ -- Fiona Capp * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘The vulnerability and openness with which Harmange shares her emotions reveal that for many women who find themselves pregnant — often despite contraception, the decision to abort is not an easy one…In many ways, Abortion is a bookend to Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux’s book Happening.’ * The Arts Fuse *Praise for I Hate Men: ‘A delightful book.’ -- Roxane GayPraise for I Hate Men: ‘Rousing … a call to liberation. Her writing is full of hope, unwavering in its trust of other women and their abilities.’ * Independent *Praise for I Hate Men: ‘Written in wise prose, devoid of excess or rage, I Hate Men explores the terrain of contemporary feminism, its arguments in keeping with those of writers like Rebecca Solnit, as well as the movement’s key ideas: patriarchy, the mental load, #MeToo, and solidarity.’ * L’Obs *Praise for I Hate Men: ‘An exhilarating essay to be read in one sitting.’ * Libération *
£9.49
Book Guild Publishing Ltd The Cornwall Sabbatical: Observations Through a
Book SynopsisAfter thirty years abroad, Jonathan Cox, a Cornishman and former journalist, returns to Cornwall to study at Falmouth University, accompanied by his Swiss wife, Marlis. The Cornwall Sabbatical is a humorous chronicle of their experience as they explore picture-perfect fishing villages and coastal coves and crisscross a granite landscape of rugby posts, old mine stacks and the barely discernible ruins of an ancient Celtic nation. The gritty Cornwall of his childhood has gentrified into one of the most desirable locations in the UK and become a magnet for Michelin restaurants even as sharp inequalities remain. A touching story about a lost way of life, The Cornwall Sabbatical reveals how Cornwall’s unique geology, climate, natural history and position as the end of the known world for much of antiquity has created a pioneering libertarian spirit and distinctive culture that is timeless.
£10.44
Valley Press Slipstream: On Memory and Migration
Book Synopsis
£16.99
The Emma Press Blood & Cord: Writers on Early Parenthood
Book SynopsisA child is born and everything is made anew. In this blur of new beginnings there are tears and laughter, new words and new silences: this is an unmaking and remaking of the self. From short stories about unnerved fathers and lost mothers, to poems about 'half-built Lego palaces' and friends who share their deepest secrets, Blood & Cord is a raw exploration of new parenthood. Voicing silenced conversations about loss, grief, and loneliness, as well as the joys and laughter that are part and parcel of becoming a parent, the stories told within offer a refreshingly honest account of life after new life. This collection is a hand in the dark, offering comfort and solidarity to any new parent. Edited by Abi Curtis, with prose pieces from Naomi Booth, Jennifer Cooke, Rebecca Goss, Daisy Hildyard, Caleb Klaces and Malcolm Taylor, and poems from Liz Berry, Rachel Bower, Tommy Brad, Janine Bradbury, Ruth Charnock, Abi Curtis, Paige Davis, Gail McConnell, Elizabeth Hogarth, Alex McRae Dimsdale, Sandra Simonds and Sylvie Simonds.Trade Review'Many kinds of parenthood are presented in this superb new collection of poems and stories. Mothers and fathers convey the spectrum of ways in which the self is remade by parenthood, the 'complete subjugation' of this task - bodily, mentally, spiritually - tearing apart the boundaries of love for which new language is required. Thankfully, the writers herein are more than up to this otherwise monumental task. New and experienced parents alike will find solace and resonance in this wonderful book.' - Carolyn Jess-Cooke
£10.79
Whitefox Publishing Ltd Felicity Bryan: A Memoir
Book SynopsisFelicity Bryan was best known as one of Britain’s leading literary agents. She packed an extraordinary life with adventure, her many passions – literature, journalism, ballet and opera, art and gardening – and her deep friendships across the world. In the summer of 2019, she was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. True to character, she set about using her time well. Among her many activities during her final year, she wrote this memoir, which covers the period from when she left school in the early sixties to her marriage in 1981.
£16.49
Whitefox Publishing Ltd The Real Doc Martin
Book Synopsis''Near the end would be good.''For over thirty years a GP called Martin sat at his desk on the outskirts of Manchester, as patients from all streams of life settled across from him and began with one familiar line: ''I don't know where to start, Doc.''The Real Doc Martintakes us on the journey of the daily ups and downs for a real GP, in a setting less picturesque, but certainly no less amusing, than in a fictional TV seaside town. Martin Stagg reveals the humour, sadness and frequent absurdities of a career at the grassroots of medical care in the UK, as well as the traverses and changes to our beloved NHS over the years.From the poignant and moving to hilarious moments of chaos and confusion, this is a true glimpse into the unpredictable rollercoaster ride that is a life in ge
£999.99
Whitefox Publishing Ltd Mother Country: A Story of Love and Lies
Book SynopsisA true story of the passionate and tragi-comic relationship between a mother running from her past in Hitler’s Germany and a daughter running towards it. Inge was German, half-Jewish and a Holocaust survivor, all of which she chose to deny until the very end. Talented and able, charismatic and infuriating, she surged through life constantly reinventing herself. Sent out of Nazi Germany to the souks of Meknés, she fled a freezing attic in war-torn Brussels to land in a council estate in Birkenhead. London offered the escapee a new start until her past caught up with her. Triumph finally came in France where nobody knew who she was – least of all the friends who adored her. Led by emotions she could barely understand, let alone control, Inge divided, and often she conquered. After her death, deep secrets emerged. Her daughters knew that she had always misled others – but not that they, too, might be collateral damage. Compelling, frank, and witty, this memoir is part detective story, part daughterly fury. Drawn to embrace the identity her mother could not bear, Monique Charlesworth has dug deep into Inge’s story, unveiling tragedy, passion, heartbreak and, finally, the truth.Trade Review'Mother Country is Charlesworth's moving attempt to come to terms with her own dysfunctional childhood: her obedient yet deeply ambivalent relationship with Inge, who was generous and loving yet unempathetic and self-centred ... A book is another way to honour the dead, and with this fine memoir Charlesworth ensures that her family’s past will not be forgotten.' -- Natasha Lehrer * TLS *‘An affectionate, daughterly memoir that has as many twists and turns as a fast-paced thriller.’ -- Liz Hodgkinson * The Lady *
£999.99
Bluemoose Books Ltd Twelve Words
Book Synopsis'Extraordinary chapters by four ordinary women. Twelve Words were the secret ingredients that unlocked truths, secrets, confessions and released trauma. Without any formal expressive writing experience, three women born in Moss-side and inner-city Manchester, embarked on an excavation of their lives, sculpted by Linda Brogan, that together fused into a book of self-discovery and pride. It is rippled with pain, anger, violence and compensated with fun, laughter and Manc humour. This book will be beneficial to a whole spectrum of disciplines, including those studying, Cultural Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Criminology and Creative Writers but its true intent is to reach girls and young women that feel like they are facing the impossible. This one's for you.'
£9.50
Little Peak Press High Inspiration: Mountains, Running and
Book SynopsisWith a back-story of running round the route of the classic Alpine journey the Tour de Mont Blanc, Heather Dawe explores the drive behind mountain running and racing, and how simply being in the mountains has inspired herself and other climbers, writers, artists and innovators through the years.
£11.88
Little Peak Press Mountain Stories: Remembered journeys in the
Book SynopsisMountain Stories is an illustrated memoir of journeys through some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes, including Skye's Cuillin, Knoydart, Assynt and the Far North. Writing during lockdown, author and artist Heather Dawe finds telling these stories a powerful means of reconnection with the mountains when they are physically inaccessible. Dawe's journeys are made by walking, running, cycling or sea-kayak. The stories are a reflection of the importance of wild places and the inspiration, art and culture associated with them.
£15.19
Word After Word Press 36 Hours: 2022
Book SynopsisShorlisted for the East Anglian Book Awards 2023Less than a year after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer, Fiona's husband died at home. She was his carer. Unflinching in its detail, 36 Hours is a delicate chronicle of his last day; one that changerd her life.Trade ReviewThis is a beautiful and moving account by Fiona Mason of her husband’s death at home. Their experience of care professionals, who attended in person yet without compassion, is so deftly observed it made me wince. A perfect 36 Hour memoir. It’s incredibly powerful. It’s beautifully told. It’s a gem. I think this is a book that has the power to make a difference. DR KATHRYN MANNIX; Fiona's intimate account of the last 36 hours of a man's life is a powerful work of life writing. It's courageous, tender, exasperated, angry, lyrical and occasionally even funny, but never voyeuristic. The simplicity of the prose and the honesty of observation are compelling. BLAKE MORRISON; Very moving and beautifully written. Marvellously clear and brave. JENNY UGLOW; Powerful and precise writing. It tackles elusive emotional states in a highly nuanced way. The detail is so lovingly preserved and presented. SASHA DUGDALE; Rarely have I felt so transported by someone else's words. Fiona draws you into the most intimate and personal of spaces and offers you the privilege of sharing 36 hours that would normally be invisible to the outside world. With great honesty and generosity, she invites us into her home as she cares for her dying husband. It's an invitation you won't want to turn down. BOBBIE FARSIDES, Professor of Clinical and Biomedical Ethics, Brighton and Sussex Medical School; 36 Hours addresses an area of real current debate and interest and does so in a way that prioritises both aesthetic and human concerns equally. Committed and talented writing. CHRIS GRIBBLE, National Centre for Writing; The writing is vivid and very clear, highlighting the delicate balance and poignancy of the work involved in end-of-life care and the minutiae of support involved in the simplest of daily activities, making the mundane poetic. A remarkable piece of work. KATE FLATT OBE; 36 Hours is such a powerful, moving and beautifully written book. Fi share’s the truth of such an intimate and harrowing experience with so much clarity, grace and compassion. This story speaks to the need for more humanity in the treatment and care for those facing end of life. TOBY OLIVER, Author, Rise and Shine. Deeply moving and intensely raw. LI MILLS, Death Doula; I'm in awe of the honesty and openness with which Fiona described her experience. Her account is a wonderful way of opening up some much-needed conversations about death and dying, not only at a public/societal level but, also at the patient-professional level. DR SIMONE ALI, Consultant in Palliative Medicine;
£7.99
Sarnia House LLP Fifty Miles with my Dad: A journey on the Suffolk
Book SynopsisThis is the true story of how a ten-year-old's charity challenge led through young philanthropy to a calling in medicine. Recalled by the girl as a young woman, it is a light-hearted but poignant memoir of parent-child journey, set amid the cultural and natural heritage of a beautiful part of the world. May gives a moving account of a trek prompted initially by bereavement. Clashes of attitudes and interests give the dialogue a playful vein; but as the miles go by, often with no other person in sight, father and daughter find new depths of conversation. Relics of war prompt her to ask of past generations, whose legacies he tries to convey; and as she reconnects him with childhood, its innocence and imagination, both see their worlds from new perspectives. Having made front-page news their venture bears lasting fruit. She raises enough for a permanent endowment providing grants from its income, giving her a role in selecting local charities, and allowing her to see their work at first hand. As a budding musician she gains insight into the therapy that music can bring, and while still at school she becomes a recorded composer; meanwhile, seeing different forms of disability and treatment, she learns what fulfilment can be gained from making a difference. Warmly received as an enchanting and inspirational story, ‘Fifty Miles with my Dad' is a celebration of quality time and of rewards from philanthropy that are open to all.Trade ReviewThis is an enchanting book that any parent will relate to. Full of wise observations on life as seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old child. Delightful and moving. MIRANDA AND WILLIAM KENDALL DL; This moving story is living proof of how philanthropy is open to everyone and of how even a child's walk on the coast with a parent can turn into such a seismic inspiration. DAVID SHEEPSHANKS CBE DL, FORMER CHAIRMAN, SUFFOLK AND UK COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS; This will be an inspirational read for anyone wondering about how to encourage a spirit of giving in young people, for anyone embarking on their own philanthropic journey and for anyone interested in working with their local Community Foundation. THERESA LLOYD, FOUNDER DIRECTOR, PHILANTHROPY UK; AUTHOR (WITH DR. BETH BREEZE), 'RICHER LIVES'; May's touching book provides an insight into the special nature of this beautiful part of the world. The East Coast is rich in culture and heritage, and it is heart-warming to have these qualities portrayed so personally and in aid of such an important cause. ROGER WRIGHT CBE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SNAPE MALTINGS; A smashing read evoking the special nature of this stretch of our coastline. ADAM BURROWS, NATURAL ENGLAND; A fantastic celebration of a journey along the Suffolk coast, sharing the best of all that binds us inextricably to the natural world through the lens of intergenerational discovery. MICHAEL STRAND, SUFFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST; This beautiful and deeply personal account of ten-year-old May's journey along our incomparable Suffolk coast challenges us to rediscover the wisdom of childhood, the difference between achievement and fulfilment, and whether we are 'soldier, poet, or soldier-poet.' Reminding us of the life-changing power of music, May recalls the parts music played in her walk. Above all, she invites us to make that journey ourselves, a 'sort of treasure hunt without any clues,' asking: "so what are you going to do?" PHILIP SHAW OBE, CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES, THE CHORAL FOUNDATION FOR ST MARY-LE-TOUR CHURCH, IPSWICH; FORMER DIRECTOR, SUFFOLK YOUTH ORCHESTRA; A lovely insight into a very beautiful part of the world, rich in culture and heritage. JO HENRY, BOOKBRUNCH; This is a lovely portrait of a very special part of the world and a hugely inspirational story. EDWARD CREASY, 2021/22 HIGH SHERIFF OF SUFFOLK; It has been a privilege to be a part of May's journey. This moving story will provide an inspiration for many people from all walks of life. STEPHEN SINGLETON MBE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SUFFOLK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
£17.10
Sarnia House LLP Fifty Miles with my Dad: A journey on the Suffolk
Book SynopsisThis is the true story of how a ten-year-old's charity challenge led through young philanthropy to a calling in medicine. Recalled by the girl as a young woman, it is a light-hearted but poignant memoir of parent-child journey, set amid the cultural and natural heritage of a beautiful part of the world. May gives a moving account of a trek prompted initially by bereavement. Clashes of attitudes and interests give the dialogue a playful vein; but as the miles go by, often with no other person in sight, father and daughter find new depths of conversation. Relics of war prompt her to ask of past generations, whose legacies he tries to convey; and as she reconnects him with childhood, its innocence and imagination, both see their worlds from new perspectives. Having made front-page news their venture bears lasting fruit. She raises enough for a permanent endowment providing grants from its income, giving her a role in selecting local charities, and allowing her to see their work at first hand. As a budding musician she gains insight into the therapy that music can bring, and while still at school she becomes a recorded composer; meanwhile, seeing different forms of disability and treatment, she learns what fulfilment can be gained from making a difference. Warmly received as an enchanting and inspirational story, ‘Fifty Miles with my Dad' is a celebration of quality time and of rewards from philanthropy that are open to all.Trade ReviewThis is an enchanting book that any parent will relate to. Full of wise observations on life as seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old child. Delightful and moving. MIRANDA AND WILLIAM KENDALL DL. This moving story is living proof of how philanthropy is open to everyone and of how even a child's walk on the coast with a parent can turn into such a seismic inspiration. DAVID SHEEPSHANKS CBE DL, FORMER CHAIRMAN, SUFFOLK AND UK COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS. This will be an inspirational read for anyone wondering about how to encourage a spirit of giving in young people, for anyone embarking on their own philanthropic journey and for anyone interested in working with their local Community Foundation. THERESA LLOYD, FOUNDER DIRECTOR, PHILANTHROPY UK; AUTHOR (WITH DR. BETH BREEZE), 'RICHER LIVES'. May's touching book provides an insight into the special nature of this beautiful part of the world. The East Coast is rich in culture and heritage, and it is heart-warming to have these qualities portrayed so personally and in aid of such an important cause. ROGER WRIGHT CBE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SNAPE MALTINGS. A smashing read evoking the special nature of this stretch of our coastline. ADAM BURROWS, NATURAL ENGLAND. A fantastic celebration of a journey along the Suffolk coast, sharing the best of all that binds us inextricably to the natural world through the lens of intergenerational discovery. MICHAEL STRAND, SUFFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST. This beautiful and deeply personal account of ten-year-old May's journey along our incomparable Suffolk coast challenges us to rediscover the wisdom of childhood, the difference between achievement and fulfilment, and whether we are 'soldier, poet, or soldier-poet.' Reminding us of the life-changing power of music, May recalls the parts music played in her walk. Above all, she invites us to make that journey ourselves, a 'sort of treasure hunt without any clues,' asking: "so what are you going to do?" PHILIP SHAW OBE, CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES, THE CHORAL FOUNDATION FOR ST MARY-LE-TOUR CHURCH, IPSWICH; FORMER DIRECTOR, SUFFOLK YOUTH ORCHESTRA. A lovely insight into a very beautiful part of the world, rich in culture and heritage. JO HENRY, BOOKBRUNCH. This is a lovely portrait of a very special part of the world and a hugely inspirational story. EDWARD CREASY, 2021/22 HIGH SHERIFF OF SUFFOLK. It has been a privilege to be a part of May's journey. This moving story will provide an inspiration for many people from all walks of life. STEPHEN SINGLETON MBE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SUFFOLK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
£9.45
Tramp Press Corpsing: My Body and Other Horror Shows
Book Synopsis"It's extraordinary. Painful, powerful, visceral and spiritual. A remarkable book.' - Marian Keyes Nora Ephron meets Bram Stoker in Sophie White's vivid and ambitious literary non-fiction collection. White asks uncomfortable questions about the lived reality of womanhood in the 21st century, and the fear that must be internalised in order to find your path through it. White balances vivid storytelling with sharp-witted observations about the horrors of grief, mental illness, and the casual and sometimes hilarious cruelty of life.Trade Review'It feels strange to describe a book that discusses suicide, self-harm and alcoholism as fun, but Corpsing is a joyride through misery.' - The Times 'We can only hope for more like this from her.' - RTE 'So perceptive and rounded are these pieces that I come away feeling I know a great deal about White but also, a great deal more about the topics she writes on. And that, in a world that needs understanding, is something vital.' - Independent
£11.69
i2i Publishing Who Said Life Should Be Easy?
Book SynopsisAuto-biography of a Doctor whose experiences both in personal and professional life are inspirational
£8.50
Muswell Press Trouble Brewing in the Loire
Book SynopsisBurt, the hound of Beelzebub, has risen from the dead, Gadget the miniature horse has moved into the kitchen and Tommy has decided to expand his beer business, and on the advice of his wife Rose, is thinking about distilling gin, what can possibly go wrong? With Brexit looming, a second baby on the way, and sales of IPA beer plummeting, trouble is brewing in the Loire. Shortlisted for the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2019, Tommy Barnes' first book, A Beer in the Loire, told the tale of a year lurching from disaster to disaster as attempted to escape the rat race by starting a brewery in one of the finest wine-producing regions on the planet.Trade Review'A candid, brilliantly human book full of laugh out loud moments, and lots of beer'. Rosie Birkett. 'An anti-hero to the home brewer, Barnes' writing froths and unexpectedly eddies, his second work is certainly no stuck fermentation' 'Douglas Blyde, Drinks columnist Evening Standard magazine. 'If, like the late Peter Mayle, Tommy Barnes decides to write a sequel it will be a must read.' Life Begins at 40. 'He writes so well and is funny too' James McConnachie, author of The Rough Guide to France. 'Delicious' Daily Telegraph'. 'Tommy's antics are hilarious. Like Brewing meets Bake Off in rural France'. James Dowdeswell.
£11.69
Helen Evangelou Tales from Riding House Street: A faded London
Book SynopsisIn Riding House Street in the West End of London, a young Greek Cypriot couple, Photis Evangelou and Vasilou Ktori, carved out a life for themselves through the Depression, World War II and into the Swinging Sixties. London's burgeoning Greek Cypriot community also included Panagis, the `tough guy' who wore a hair net, Panos, the boy with an alarming interest in chemistry, and enough aunts, uncles and cousins to fill a double-decker bus. In this vivid memoir, Helen Evangelou pays tribute to the enterprise and spirit of the Greek Cypriots, evokes the grit and glory of 20th-century London, and honours her indefatigable parents, for whom Cyprus and its magical beauty never stopped calling.Table of Contents1. Welcome to London 2. The Beginning 3. On the Map 4. Our House 5. House Mates 6. Local Heroes 7. Celebrations 8. Liquid Gold 9. Chief Mouser 10. Flying the Flag 11. Kids in the City 12. Family Restaurants 13. The Glory 14. Down the Aisle 15. Pratt Street 16. The Beautiful Game 17. Pocket Money 18. The Doctor and the Dentist 19. Language and Learning 20. High School 21. Rag Trade Friends 22. Family Holidays 23. Jo's Flight 24. Back to Roots 25. Anglo Akanthou Aid Society 26. Greeks on Film 27. Oxford Street and Beyond 28. The Food of Love 29. Career Girl 30. The F Word 31. And in the End 32. Acknowledgements
£7.99
i2i Publishing Behind & Beyond the Letters
Book SynopsisThe name Cliff Slade will be instantly recognised as a frequent and indefatigable correspondent to the Letters to the Editor columns. This book is written in the first person, as being most appropriate for someone who is speaking directly to his audience. This is a very personal journey in letters. It is touching and different insofar as it provides detailed insight into the life and mind of a man, the author, his relationships with his family and his take on local society, business, and politics. This is accomplished through the sharing of letters, only some of which have previously been published. However, this is not just a book of letters, along the lines of `The Times Great Letters’ as there is depth, emotion, pain, laughter, joy, sadness, and a progressive personal and emotional journey of accomplishment and enlightenment. Each correspondence is introduced, and most have accompanying explanations and information about the background and reason for each of the letters that have been included. Beginning with what motivated his writing, he reflects on his upbringing by delving into his childhood and the reasons that explain why he finds it easier to communicate through the written word, rather than verbally. An excellent sense of humour is clearly evident in the self-depreciatory letters written to the paper under a pseudonym and in his letters to himself. The account of when the author met his wife and their marriage, ups and downs and all, along with his thoughts about life as a parent and his children, is very touching in its openness and honesty. He doesn’t claim celebrity status and claims to be from an ordinary walk of life. In this remarkable book, Cliff shares his life and part of himself with the audience with a great deal of emotion. With an auto-biographical narrative, we are regularly moved from tears to amusement and back again.
£9.45
Geoff Thompson Ltd Notes From A Factory Floor: How I got from there
Book Synopsis
£12.34
Chiselbury Publishing A Crack of the Whip
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£9.49
The Book Guild Ltd All Booked Up
Book SynopsisReflecting on seventy years of voracious reading, All Booked Up invites you to reflect on the transformative power of literature on a life through fifteen captivating chapters, each focusing on a different book.Opening with Five Go Off In A Caravan, the very first full-length novel that the author read, and ending with Miss Benson's Beetle, a recently admired book, you'll encounter beloved classics such as Rebecca, which marked the author's teenage years, as well as reflections on The Light and the Dark during her college days. Along the way, enjoy reflections on learning to read, teaching others to read, becoming a vegetarian, falling in love, motherhood, music making and much more.Whatever the author did, wherever she went and whoever she met, books were always at the heart of it this memoir will appeal to anyone who finds solace and joy in the world of reading.
£9.49
The Book Guild Ltd Lakeland Larks Laughter and Lunacies
Book SynopsisLakeland Larks, Laughter and Lunacies is a quirky memoir poking fun at the travails and tribulations of Anna Nolan's car-less exploration of the Lake District, her home and playground, and reflecting her Polish ebullience.This exuberant and frolicsome book is shot through with humour, suffused with satire and drenched in comedy, striving to strike a balance between her mountain escapades and mishaps on one hand and jocular musings and satirical asides on the other. The latter touch on a wide range of topics including the hilarities arising out of culture clashes between native Britons and a foreigner in their midst, the quirks of human nature and the delights of a more mature age.Lakeland Larks, Laughter and Lunacies is a series of humorous anecdotes and witty digressions richly interspersed with comic verse with no particular chronology, which makes it perfect for being dipped in and out.
£8.54
Whitefox Publishing Ltd Radbourne Racing
Book SynopsisThe 1960s was the golden age of European motorsport, with two countries leading the saloon car field: Britain with the Mini and Italy with the Fiats 500 and 600. As their rivalry was further ignited by the creation of the Mini Cooper and Fiat Abarth, there was a fervent need for tuning and go faster' component companies and here, one of Britain's most iconic, Radbourne Racing, was born.In this captivating memoir, Lincoln Small the last surviving co-founder of Radbourne Racing shares the untold story of how a small company, fuelled by ingenuity, left an indelible mark on British motorsport history. Through a retelling rich with anecdotes of both rivalries and triumphs, Small brings to life the glamour, grit and camaraderie of those unforgettable halcyon days, offering a heartfelt tribute to the people, cars and innovations that shaped motorsport's most exhilarating era.Featuring rare, personal photographs and comprehensive appendices, Abarth, Radbourne Racing and Me is both a nostalgic celebration and a vital record of a team and a time when every lap was a leap into the unknown. For petrol-heads and racing enthusiasts alike, this is a story of inspiration and legacy that will resonate long after the final page.
£23.74
Spenwood Books Thin Lizzy - A People's History
Book SynopsisThe story of Thin Lizzy as told in the words of over 350 fans
£17.99
Propolis Sea-Change
Book SynopsisJessica Streeting and her family - sister Alice, mother Judith and father Revered Paul Farnham - move east in their ancient London taxi to the deep countryside of Norfolk. It is 1975 and the rector has a new position at the church of St Agnes in the village of Cawston. Here they find a world populated by people who embody both the ancient and new of late 20th century rural life. Children of the soil, whose parents work it and depend on it, living a simple life as old as their church. The musical ones. The clever ones. The artists, accountants, shopkeepers and publicans. Among it all, their vicar plays a role for all people; guide, educator, lighter of the way. Admired and adored he strove to buoy his congregation week after week, unwittingly mythologising himself as he went. The hole he left then, when in a moment he was ripped from the community, was vast. In this epic poem Jess revisits that place, for the first time addressing the grief she so quickly suppressed in the manner of the age. She brings to life in heart-breaking clarity the joy of a world made by industrious children and their imaginations, until unforeseen tragedy muted the colours of that golden time. With a foreword by Stephen Fry - for whom Paul Farnham played an inspirational role - Sea-Change is a book whose potency reminds us not only of the power of shared stories, but also that how they are told can make us all feel like players in their drama.
£10.45
Propolis Opposite The Cross-Keys
Book SynopsisThe childhood memoirs of crime writer ST Haymon, chronicling her time growing up in Norwich and rural east Anglia in the 1920s
£10.80
Propolis The Quivering Tree
Book SynopsisThe second volume of memoir by crime writer ST Haymon chronicling her childhood in 1920s Norwich and rural Norfolk
£10.80
Parthian Books My Oxford
Book SynopsisWritten for the sister of a man who died from anorexia, this is a young woman's experience of the disorder while studying at the University of Oxford.
£9.34
Parthian Books Slatehead
Book SynopsisJoin Peter as he ascends Orangutan Overhang, Supermassive Black Hole and Mental Lentils in the disused Dinorwig slate quarries of Snowdonia. Part creative nonfiction, part memoir and sports documentary, Slatehead is set in Thatcher's Britain and the present day. This was Thatcher's lost generation.
£10.00
Reach plc The Black Widow
Book SynopsisUPDATED PAPERBACK FOR 2025If you think you know everything about the East End's toughest gangsters, think again.Meet Linda Calvey, aka the Black Widow.
£8.99
Malcolm Down Publishing Ltd No Ones Child
£10.44
Whitefox Publishing Ltd Before You Go
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£15.99
Cogito Publishing Limited Believe in Them: One Woman's Fight for Justice
Book SynopsisBelieve in Them is the first-ever memoir of Luma Mufleh, the widely honoured founder and director of Fugees Family, a non-profit organisation devoted to child survivors of war. She tells her extraordinary story with the moving, inspirational force with which she delivered her TED talk, viewed over 1.8 million times. Herself a refugee, Luma fled from her native Jordan to the U.S. in fear for her life if she continued living in Jordan as a gay Muslim, leaving behind a family who had trouble accepting her when she came out as gay. One day, while driving through Georgia she took a wrong turn and noticed some boys playing football in the street. She discovered that they were refugees. The Fugees football team was created. Soon she was not just 'coach' but also friend and mentor to these children and their families. As time passed, it became clear to Luma that the Fugees needed more than just football coaching from her - they needed support, encouragement and education. "Don't feel sorry for them," were Mufleh's grandmother's words about refugee children to her young granddaughter. "Believe in them." And that is precisely what Mufleh has done.Trade Review"I highly encourage you to read Mufleh's wonderful memoir, Believe in Them. Mufleh is a gifted storyteller who delivers provocative, indelible portraits of student after student making leaps in learning that aren't supposed to be possible for children born into trauma." Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
£9.99
Wilkinson Publishing American Nazi
Book SynopsisSometimes chilling but always compelling and unflinchingly honest, American Nazi is an unforgettable memoir that chronicles the extraordinary life of Jeff Schoep, the former national leader of America's largest Nazi party.
£19.12
Murdoch Books The Space Between the Stars: On love, loss and
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the ABIA Nonfiction Book of the Year'A tender, touching and at times bloody funny meditation on life. And death. And how to live.' David Wenham'For as long as I can remember, there has always been just the three of us. Three sisters. Only a year between each. Inseparable. It's been like that for almost 50 years ... Until my youngest sister walked out into her suburban backyard and took her life.Is it possible to ever heal a tear in your universe?'After her younger sister died suddenly, broadcaster Indira Naidoo's world was shattered. Turning to her urban landscape for solace, Indira found herself drawn to a fig tree overlooking Sydney harbour. A connection began to build between the two - one with a fractured heart, the other a centurion offering quiet companionship while asking nothing in return.As Indira grappled with her heartbreak, an unnoticed universe of infinite beauty revealed itself: pale vanilla clouds pirouetting across the sky, resilient weeds pushing through cracks in the footpath, the magical biodiversity of tiny puddles. With the help of a posse of urban guides, she began to explore how nature - whatever bits of nature are within reach - can heal us during life's darker chapters, whether nursing a broken heart or an anxious mind.The Space Between the Stars is a heart-rending, at times funny, and uplifting tribute to love and our innate need to connect to the natural world, a celebration of the reassuring cycle of renewal that sustains and nourishes us all.'As long as you can see the stars, you can never truly be lost.'Trade Review'A tender, touching and at times bloody funny meditation on life. And death. And how to live. The Space Between the Stars is a little treasure. I am richer for having read this book.' David Wenham'Indira Naidoo's writing beats with the strength and power of love and hope, and is a moving meditation on the solace and healing we find in the natural world.' Holly Ringland'The world is crying out for more intimate and granular paths through the landscape of grief right now. Thank you dear Indira for taking our hand and bravely showing us how being in nature can provide our way.' Sarah Wilson'This book is life-changing - from deep loss and despair there is also light. Put your face towards it. It may be the only thing that feels real at this time. Let nature do its job and fix what has been broken in all of us.' Kate Ceberano'A powerfully moving and insightful journey. Careful attention is a form of love, and Indira Naidoo's vivid writing shows us how such love can lift and expand our minds and spirits, drawing us into the wonders of the universe.' David George Haskell, author of Pulitzer finalist The Forest Unseen and Burroughs medallist The Songs of the Trees.'Part memoir, part requiem, part journalistic meditation on the natural world ... Naidoo has penned a beautiful reflection on grief, and the unexpected pathway she took to overcome it.' Chris TaylorTable of ContentsPrologue: In the beginningChapter 1: StargirlChapter 2: Exit woundChapter 3: MooksChapter 4: Under the milky wayChapter 5: Aiya's sari and the curtains Chapter 6: Tree of life Chapter 7: CricketChapter 8: Birds of a featherChapter 9: Highland dancingChapter 10: On a wing and a prayerChapter 11: Ice-cream and apartheidChapter 12: Weeds in the cracksChapter 13: Peas in a podChapter 14: The shape of thingsChapter 15: Smiley hair clip and birthday party Chapter 16: Garden in the skyChapter 17: Dad's toupe Chapter 18: The secret life of puddlesChapter 19: High as a kiteChapter 20: Ants in your pantsChapter 21: DrivingChapter 22: 40th and surprise weddingChapter 23: Uber goodbyeEpilogue: Dust to dust
£13.49
Tellwell Talent Robust in Love: My Brave Heart Journey
Book Synopsis
£8.70
