Memoirs Books
Bene Factum Publishing Ltd Mister Nick: Playing the Field, Sailing the Seas,
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£19.00
Umbria Press One Mistake after Another: A Chronicle of Life
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£12.39
Umbria Press An Elford Childhood: Growing Up in a
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£12.39
Sandstone Press Ltd The Blind Man of Hoy
Book SynopsisThe Old Man of Hoy is a 449 foot high sandstone pillar located just off Hoy, second largest of the Orkney Islands. Highly subject to the North Atlantic weather it was carved by erosion from the nearby cliffs and will eventually, perhaps soon, collapse into the sea. It was first climbed by the crack team of Bonington, Baillie and Patey in 1966 and remains one of the premier challenges of British rock climbing. From the moment he watched the televised ascent of the Old Man of Hoy, Red Széll knew his life would be incomplete until he too stood atop Europe’s tallest sea stack. Those dreams went dark at nineteen when he learned he was going blind, and for twenty years he ignored the pangs of regret and desire every time the Old Man appeared again in his life. He was still climbing, but only indoors until he shared his dream with his buddies, Matthew and Andres, and, with an ever growing following looking on, they set out to confront the Orcadian giant. The Blind Man of Hoy is his story.Trade Review‘An inspiring and engrossing tale of triumph over adversity.’ * The Bookseller *‘Red’s climb, and the excellent book he has written about it, are lyrical and inspiring.’‘The story of a venture that required superhuman efforts.’ * Scottish Islands Explorer *‘He is a very brave man, and this is a great read.’‘Witty and informative . . . eye-opening and inspirational.’ * Outdoor Chics *
£11.99
Evro Publishing Bruce McLaren: From the Cockpit
Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1964, Bruce McLaren's autobiography From the Cockpit is classic motor racing memoir. So scarce and expensive are original copies that Evm Publishing, in collaboration with McLaren, is reissuing a facsimile version for all fans to enjoy. In his own words, Bruce describes his inspiring climb up the ladder of motor racing success, culminating in the inception of Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd in 1963. Engaging to read, his book provides fascinating insight into not only his accomplishments but also his unique character, charm and tenacity. In his own words, 'Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone.'
£999.99
Evro Publishing Take Risk!: The amazing story of the people who
Book SynopsisThis is a very different book from the traditional speed-merchant genre. Richard Noble has had the ambition all his adult life to see Britain excel in engineering on the world stage and throw off the country's dismal culture of safety first and risk aversion. His achievements in the highly insecure world of record-breaking emphatically demonstrate his commitment to his cause: he brought the Land Speed Record back to Britain in 1983 when he drove his Thrust 2 car to 633mph and 14 years later he led the ThrustSSC team to achieve the first supersonic record at 763mph with Andy Green driving. In his book Take Risk! he tells the extraordinary stories of his 11 projects in record-breaking and aviation that all saw people and companies go out of their way to join him in his exciting endeavours - and take risk.
£17.99
Evro Publishing Crusader: John Cobb's ill-fated quest for speed
Book SynopsisThe tale of Crusader, the jet-powered boat of 1952, appears to be a simple one about the ambition of John Cobb and Reid Railton, two unassuming but deeply gifted men, to break the water speed record on Loch Ness only for their efforts to end in tragedy. In fact the story behind that fateful outcome - Cobb's death on his first high-speed run - is a complex web of clever design and inspirational endeavour mixed with personality clashes and errors of judgement. After many years of research, including access to a wealth of original documentation, Steve Holter unravels the entire saga of the ill-fated Crusader and presents a compelling detective story.
£27.00
Evro Publishing Sam's Scrapbook: My Motorsports Memories
Book SynopsisSam Posey raced a huge variety of sports cars, saloons and open-wheel machines in numerous racing arenas - Can-Am, USRRC, Trans-Am, IMSA, Indy, NASCAR, Formula 5000 and Formula 1 - against rivals and friends such as George Follmer, Parnelli Jones, Mark Donohue, Peter Revson, Dan Gurney, David Hobbs and Brian Redman. Sam's Scrapbook gives a first-hand account of a romantic era in racing, through pictures no one has seen and stories no one has heard. Running alongside the images, Posey's commentary is fascinating and thoughtful, and in turns both amusing and emotional. This is an unusual and engaging memoir by one of America's best-loved racing heroes that will appeal to all motorsports enthusiasts.
£22.50
Nine Elms Books An Engineer of Coincidence
Book SynopsisTed Fort's is a life of full of coincidences and lucky pivotal moments, but this memoir is far more than a rags-to-riches" story. Ted writes with refreshing honesty about the ups and downs of establishing a very successful international engineering business, as well as his the peaks and troughs of his personal life.
£19.00
Nine Elms Books Send For Levene
Book SynopsisFrom his early days in establishing United Scientific Holdings PLC as a multi-million pound listed company to his sudden transformation into a senior civil servant as Chief of Defence Procurement at the invitation of Michael Heseltine the then Minister of Defence, followed by a move into investment banking and unexpected appointments to act as Prime Minister John Major’s Efficiency Advisor and then run the Docklands Light Railway before becoming Chairman and Chief Executive of the troubled Canary Wharf development, Peter’s career has uniquely straddled both the public and private sectors at the highest levels, invariably in troubled times. In parallel, he worked his way up the City of London’s civic hierarchy, becoming a Common Councilman, Alderman, Sheriff and finally Lord Mayor of London which gave him the opportunity to promote the image and services of the City across the globe. On return to the commercial world, he resumed his post at Deutsche Bank and subsequently joined the boards of Sainsbury’s, Deutsche Borse, IFSL, Eurotunnel, China Construction Bank and Haymarket Media Group. Breaking with insurance industry tradition, he was appointed as `an outsider’ to the Chairmanship of Lloyd’s of London. Whilst there, he was invited by Liam Fox to chair the newly formed `Defence Reform Group’ which introduced a series of important changes in the structure and workings of the MOD which became known as the `Levene Reforms’. Currently he is Chairman of the Starr Insurance Group in London and continues with a number of other directorships as well as his involvement in several charitable and philanthropic activities.Table of ContentsPreface by Rt Hon the Lord Heseltine ch pc Introduction 1. Family, Childhood and Adolescence 2. United Scientific Holdings 3. Adviser to Michael Heseltine 4. Getting stuck in at the Ministry of Defence 5. Hard Graft at the Ministry of Defence 6. Adviser to the Prime Minister 7. Canary Wharf 8. Alderman and other appointments 9. Lord Mayor of London 10. Chairman of Lloyd’s 11. Director and Chairman 12. Reflections on a Busy Life Acknowledgements Index
£19.00
Murdoch Books Turning Down The Noise: The quiet power of
Book Synopsis'A great Australian journalist on a deeply personal assignment: treading bravely, beautifully into the wonder of silence.' TRENT DALTON'I would never think of myself as a silent retreat person but I kind of felt like Jackman went in my place! She writes so thoughtfully and clearly about feelings that are hard to describe - it's very impressive. Writing a book about something essentially ungraspable is a very bold decision, but thanks to her journalistic method and assured style, Jackman has pulled it off. A counterintuitive modern odyssey in which the heroine sets out from a land of deafening overplenty in search of ... less. Beautifully researched.' - ANNABEL CRABBThrough the centuries, wise men and women have sought silence when seeking insight, wisdom and creative inspiration. Is neuroscience now beginning to catch up, to deliver proof that the mystics, monks and medicine men were onto something?Turning Down the Noise explores, through Christine Jackman's own quest for a better way of being, what is happening to our brains, to our lives and our communities as our world becomes noisier than ever before. More importantly, it asks whether we can reverse the damage through simple daily acts designed to strip out the stimuli and reclaim the silence. Our children have a plethora of devices and technology available to them, but increasingly are distracted, irritable and struggling to learn. The modern search for a better sense of wellbeing has fuelled an industry worth billions of dollars but at the same time the use of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications continue to skyrocket. In the vein of Leigh Sales' Any Ordinary Day (BS 103k copies), this is real-life working mum and respected journalist Christine Jackman's personal quest for a better way of being. Seeking ways to channel and capture the clarity and peace of mind so often lacking in our lives, she writes with a lightness of touch, sharing her own experiences and digging into her subject with the zeal of an investigative journalist with an enquiring mind.Trade ReviewAnnabel Crabb:'I would never think of myself as a silent retreat person but I kind of felt like Jackman went in my place! She writes so thoughtfully and clearly about feelings that are hard to describe - it's very impressive. Writing a book about something essentially ungraspable is a very bold decision, but thanks to her journalistic method and assured style, Jackman has pulled it off. A counterintuitive modern odyssey in which the heroine sets out from a land of deafening overplenty in search of ... less. Beautifully researched.'Trent Dalton:'A great Australian journalist on a deeply personal assignment: treading bravely, beautifully into the wonder of silence.'
£12.34
Can of Worms Press Small Change, BIG DIFFERENCE - The Penny Appeal
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£22.64
Transworld Publishers Ltd That Peckham Boy: Growing Up, Getting Out and
Book Synopsis'Kenny's story shows us that we all have the potential to achieve extraordinary things. What a hero.' Bear Grylls'If you are compelled by a hero's journey, then Kenny Imafidon is a hero for this generation.' Simon SinekFor fans of Poverty Safari and Skint Estate, That Peckham Boy is a real-life manifesto calling for positive change for those on the fringes of society.'When you're writing the story of your life, make sure you're holding the pen. In this life you can be whoever you want to be.'Two days after his eighteenth birthday, Kenny Imafidon was charged with the murder of a seventeen-year-old boy in south-east London. The middle child of a single mother with ambitions for her children, Kenny grew up near an estate in Peckham where deprivation and hopelessness were rife, and gang culture flourished in his community. Kenny faced a minimum of thirty years behind bars - longer than the life he had lived.When the case against Kenny collapsed, he quickly realised that his name was still inextricably linked with a horrific crime he hadn't committed. He decided to rewrite his story. It began with The Kenny Report, which he delivered to the House of Commons and which detailed the experiences of marginalised young people who drift into gangs, and has led to extensive work with charities, communities and policy-makers that is helping to change the narratives of other young people just like Kenny.A candid and unfiltered take on some of the most challenging topics that define our times, That Peckham Boy is a personal manifesto exploring what it means to be young, Black and poor in the city. It is shaped by Kenny's difficult childhood, his transformative time in prison, and the people and conversations that took him from being on trial for murder into the company of some of the most successful people in the world.Trade Review'A clean-hearted guy, even through the BS' -- Giggs'A very real, honest and inspiring book that demonstrates an understanding of the real world while providing hope and inspiration for a better one. Kenny Imafidon's real-life experiences and hardships growing up in the hood of south London are tragic but enlightening. In his inspiring new book, That Peckham Boy, Kenny openly and honesty shares the obstacles, disadvantages and devastating consequences that typically accompany those who grow up on the streets in poverty and need. From drug deals to racial targeting to being wrongly accused of murder, Kenny reveals the flaws and weaknesses of a broken system that we all pay into. But most importantly, he exemplifies how one person's determination and resolve against all odds can triumph and succeed! A remarkable read!' -- Stephen M. R Covey * The New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Speed of Trust and Trust & Inspire *If you are compelled by a hero's journey, then Kenny Imafidon is a hero for this generation. His story is an inspiration to anyone who dreams of making a better life for themselves and having a positive impact on those around them. -- Simon Sinek * New York Times Bestselling author of Start with Why and The Infinite Game *'Shows that sometimes the hardest choices lead to the biggest and brightest outcomes... Kenny's story is now part of the solution that stops stereotypes limiting potential.' * Tim Campbell MBE *Breathtaking * The Observer *
£15.29
Transworld Publishers Ltd A Purposeful Life: What I’ve Learned About
Book Synopsis'Dawn Butler is a history-making, game-changing, ceiling-smashing politician.This powerful book offers a fascinating insight into both the personal and political sides of her journey.'Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London'When I was younger my parents taught me to be resilient and my brothers told me to be resistant, and now I think it's time for a revolution. Let's complete the power of three.'As the third Black woman ever to be elected as an MP, and the first elected African-Caribbean woman to become a Government Minister, Dawn Butler is a true pioneer. Famously ejected from the House of Commons for calling Boris Johnson a liar, her tireless campaigning to eradicate injustice - from the NHS to the Metropolitan Police - has changed lives. Until now, she's never talked openly about what has inspired and motivated her to persevere in the face of oppression.Drawing on lessons from her own life, Dawn shows how traditional routes to power are outdated and reveals that it's easier than we think to disrupt a broken system. From her early life to the Palace of Westminster, she shares the values, people, places and beliefs that have helped her to forge her own authentic path to power.Now she is on a mission to give others the courage and conviction to dream big and make positive change, even when everything feels broken around us.Trade ReviewA funny, lively authorial voice. There are truths here that indisputably needed telling, and an irrepressibly bouncy confidence that inspires. An unexpectedly warm and uplifting read -- Gaby Hinsliff * The Observer *Dawn Butler is a history-making, game-changing, ceiling-smashing politician whose passionate campaigning has transformed the lives of thousands. As the first Black woman to speak at the despatch box in Parliament, Dawn has inspired many others to blaze their own paths. This warm, witty and powerful book offers a fascinating insight into both the personal and political sides of her journey. * Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London *Dawn's story is testimony to her extraordinary abundance of bravery and commitment to seeking and telling the truth in every circumstance.She constantly fills those around her with hope and encouragement. I am continually inspired by Dawn's positivity and dedication to lifting her community with boldness and unwavering honesty. * Emeli Sandé *Dawn Butler writes like she lives: direct, clear, engaged, empathic, funny, principled, outspoken. She is an inspiration: her book is a triumph. * Gary Younge, author of Dispatches from the Diaspora *Dawn Butler's book is a testament to her strength and resilience. A rallying cry to rise above adversity and embrace your innate power, it's a source of inspiration and a call to action for people from all walks of life. * Kanya King, CEO & Founder of the MOBO Awards *Dawn Butler is a trailblazing politician who leads by example: the woman who first christened Boris Johnson a liar whilst others stood back, a great ally to the LGBTQIA community, and she puts that capital D into Diversity, this book is a must-read and will be an inspiration to so many. * Linda Riley, Publisher and Editor of Diva magazine *The Labour movement is where working class people do extraordinary things. None more so than Dawn, whose incredible journey is testimony to the power of solidarity in transforming lives. She has never forgotten where she comes from. * Gary Smith, General Secretary, GMB *Dawn Butler's story is one worthy of telling. How a child of the Windrush generation in a life of activism in the Trade Union movement and the wider community became an MP and Britain's first elected Black woman minister. Her courageous battle against cancer adds to a story marked by a determination to overcome all obstacles. This book deserves to be read. * The Rt Hon. the Lord Boateng CVO DL, Britain's first Black Cabinet Minister *
£17.09
Arkbound Show Me Heaven
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£12.34
Arkbound Just Time: A Journey Through Britain's Fractured
Book SynopsisThe experience of custody is one most of us only usually hear about from outside. All the intricacies of navigating prison life – suicide watch, fights, punishments, abuses of power by officials, and relationships – are rarely shown. This book sets out to reveal these facets of prison life in a depth and diversity never covered before. Right from the opening passages (when the author is arrested at Heathrow Airport) readers will discover aspects of the justice system that simultaneously shock and enthral. Against the backdrop of severe budget cuts, rising violence and suicides, the door is thrown open to reveal the consequences of hastily enforced policies – with legal challenges brought before the High Court. Throughout it all, a lens is cast on all aspects of the UK justice system.Trade Review“This book charts, in entertaining detail, the ebb and flow of Stephen’s passage through the turbulent waters of an imperfect criminal justice system. There are lessons in it for all of us.” - Eoin McLennan-Murray, President of the Prison Governors’ Association
£12.34
Arkbound My Dream
Book SynopsisMy Dream is a gripping novel that follows the struggles of one woman through adversity to be able to achieve her dream. This novel confronts real, dark issues and experiences; following a childhood of abandonment and hard work, this is a tale of perseverance and drive that takes her from the wards of a London hospital to the heart of the Middle East. Esther finds herself prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to be free of her pain. This is a story of love and faith; of despair and betrayal. It is a powerful example of a woman who nearly lost her dream, but who found it in the end.
£9.49
Beacon Books The Merciful Door: Living with a Sufi Teacher in
Book Synopsis"Wherever it may be, the candle burns, and in burning it gives others light. That is the way you must be." When the soul burns with love, the ego softens like wax and dissolves, and others benefit by the light it transmits. So taught Pir Rasheed Kaleemi, a Sufi master who lived in Hyderabad, India. The Merciful Door narrates what his American disciple learned from him over a decade of living in India and translating his teachings into practice in America. This book, born out of a direct request from Pir Rasheed himself, records the intimate conversations, mystical teachings, spiritual practices, and Qawwali songs that they shared. How is the soul related to the spirit? What is the body and how do we discover its hidden treasures? What is the eternal sound and how do we listen of it in music and in nature? How can we navigate interpersonal challenges, gender difference, sexual desire, political conflict and religious fundamentalism? The Sufi teacher offers his disciple insights from the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad''s example, and the rich depths of Sufi poetry in Persian and Urdu to illuminate these questions and other guidance. The book also reveals teachings of the Kaleemi Order, which combines Chishti and Qadiri initiations, with ancient roots in Arabia and India and modern global branches.
£23.70
Mirror Books My Yorkshire Great and Small
Book SynopsisA heartwarming love letter to the places, people and creatures of Yorkshire by the county's beloved vet, Channel 5's Peter Wright.The Yorkshire Vet takes us on an enchanting journey through the hidden gems of the most beautiful county in the world, sharing charming tales of his life in Thirsk as well as fascinating nuggets of local history.Packed with engaging tales of the animals, people and places around him, Peter Wright looks back on the bygone ways of his childhood, while also exploring the fusion of tradition and modernity that characterises the Yorkshire countryside today.Peter's passion for nature shines through on every page, as he explains why our environment is so important - and what we can do to protect it for future generations.
£20.00
Mirror Books The Girl from Nowhere: A Romani Ghetto Life
Book SynopsisMy mother was a prostitute. My grandmother and great-grandmother were prostitutes.Maybe I should have given the family business a chance...BBC RADIO 4 PICK OF THE WEEK, Katie Puckrik'Eliska's story is an extraordinary and powerful read. It's the ultimate book about survival and an against-all-odds fight to make it in life. Highly recommend.' Clover Stroud'A scintillating, devastating memoir, and a fiercely witty and unabashed tribute to the toughness of the human spirit.' Damian Le Bas__________________________________________________To westerners, being Gypsy means being wild, romantic and free.To Eliska Tanzer, it means being rented out to dance for older men. It means living without running water. It means not being allowed a job or an education. It means being stuffed into a bare room with all your aunts and cousins, fighting over the thin, stained blanket the way you fight over the last piece of half-mouldy bread.It means joining the family prostitution ring when you're still a child.But Eliska was given a way out. Slung out of Hoe School and shipped to England in a washing machine box, she thought she had made it. But her dream soon turned into a nightmare.A moving and timely memoir from a powerful new voice in literature.Trade Review'A remarkable book about the hardest of beginnings written in a voice that is vibrant, sparkling, full of irrepressible humour, compassionate intelligence and ultimately forgiveness' Catherine Simpson -- Catherine Simpson'A scintillating, devastating memoir, and a fiercely witty and unabashed tribute to the toughness of the human spirit.' Damian Le Bas'Eliska's story is an extraordinary and powerful read. It's the ultimate book about survival and an against-all-odds fight to make it in life. Highly recommend.' Clover Stroud
£8.09
Mirror Books Unwanted: The true story of a new life grown from
Book SynopsisA true story of resilience, survival and achievement, and a heartbreaking tale of a father's complicity in his own family's disintegration.In Yorkshire in the 1950s, Suz Evasdaughter, aged just 5, is moved to a children's home with her brothers. Confused, little Suz begins to blame herself for her mother's death. Her father eventually brings them back, but instead of finding a safe haven to rebuild their family, Suz finds herself plunged into a life of misery at the mercy of an uncaring and brutal stepmother.Unwanted tells the story of Suz's struggle to escape from her broken home and leave her fractured past behind her. But lurking in the shadows is a dark family secret...
£10.66
2QT Publishing Services Best Foot Forward
Book SynopsisIn April 2021, Colette set off from Lizard Point in Cornwall with the aim of running to Scotland's most north-westerly corner, Cape Wrath Lighthouse. A distance of one-thousand miles. This book tracks her progress gives personal insights into the challenges she faced.
£14.24
Spenwood Books Queen: A People's History
Book SynopsisA history of the band Queen as told through more than 400 eyewitness accounts of seeing them live in concert
£17.99
Monash University Publishing An Imperial Affair: Portrait of an Australian
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£999.99
Monash University Publishing Human Rights and Human Wrongs: A Life Confronting
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£21.59
Rockpool Publishing Sex, Drugs and a Buddhist Monk: A stepping stone
Book SynopsisThis journey is about a trip that became much more than just a story-- but a parable for, and the stepping stone towards a silent mind.Sex, Drugs, and a Buddhist Monk tells the story of a fateful (and nearly fatal) trip to Thailand, which started in debauchery but ended in enlightenment.A severely obese, depressed, anxious alcoholic and drug abuser, Luke Kennedy was trying to get his life together and reset his life, but he ventured over to Thailand for one last hurrah. He partied hard, overdid it, and his path collided with prostitutes, drug dealers, and violence. This story is an action-packed tale of a fight to escape violence and deal with a Monk that forced him to confront his demons.
£14.99
Melbourne Books The Dominatrix Next Door
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£23.39
Monash University Publishing My Father's Shadow: A Memoir
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£19.79
Monash University Publishing A Naga Odyssey: Visier's Long Way Home
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£17.99
Melbourne Books Beggars Belief: Stories from Gerald's Bar
Book SynopsisGerald Diffey has spent four decades immersed in the world of food, wine and hospitality, from early days waiting tables in old English hotels to establishing two of the best places in the world to drink and eat: the award-winning Gerald's Bar in North Carlton -- Heston Blumenthal described it as 'a proper, proper old-fashioned sort of bar' -- and Gerald's Bar in San Sebastian. Beggars Belief is a collection of funny, poignant, insightful and just plain ludicrous stories from Gerald's life in kitchens and behind bars: his formative years in the UK, memories of food and family; tales and tips from forty years of service; journeys and meals, people and places, from lunch on the side of a volcano in Sicily to dinner on a beach in East Timor; stories and recipes and drinks suggestions from North Carlton and San Sebastian; vignettes, slices of life, observations. 'Romance', writes Gerald in the introduction. 'That's what I sell. Sensual pleasures. Sights, sounds, smells, touch, taste. Cyrano de Bergerac said: I have tried to live my whole life with panache. If I said that, I'd sound like a twat. But you get the drift. I'm off to bone some quails.'Trade Review"Sunday was the night we went to Geralds Bar in Carlton. What a lovely thing to do: youve got all these trendy new bars everywhere, and then youve got this proper, proper old-fashioned sort of bar." Heston Blumenthal"(Gerald) displays what distinguishes every exceptional restaurateur: a great eye for detail." Nick Lander, author of The Art of the Restaurateur and On the Menu
£24.29
Wilkinson Publishing The Boxing Butterfly: A Life of Conviction
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£17.99
Spinifex Press Trigger Warning: My Lesbian Feminist Life
Book SynopsisI am in the very fortunate position of having been able to contribute to two waves of feminism: The Women’s Liberation Movement and the new wave that is taking place now. Trigger Warning: My Lesbian Feminist Life is both an engaging autobiography and a fascinating account of feminist history. From the heady days of the Women’s Liberation Movement through to the backlash against radical feminism as neoliberal laissez-faire attitudes took hold. Fast forward to the current re-examination of feminism in light of the #MeToo movement and an emerging new wave of radical feminism. Sheila Jeffreys' bold account makes it clear that the feminism and lesbianism she has championed for decades is needed more than ever. With honesty and frankness, she tells of victories and setbacks in her unrelenting commitment to women’s freedom from men’s violence, especially the violence inherent in pornography and prostitution. We also learn what her steadfastness has cost her in terms of personal and professional rewards. Trigger Warning places radical feminism within a cultural, social and intellectual context while also taking us on a personal journey. Sheila Jeffreys has tirelessly crossed the globe to advance radical feminist theory and practice and we are invited to share in the intellectual and political crossroads she has encountered during her life. Accessible yet detailed and rigorous, this landmark volume is essential reading for everyone who has ever wondered what radical feminism really is.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Chapter 1 | Origins 7 Chapter 2 | Finding Feminism: The 1970s 39 Chapter 3 | Choosing to Be a Lesbian 67 Chapter 4 | Changing Sexuality 95 Chapter 5 | The End of a Dream 125 Chapter 6 | Australia 153 Chapter 7 | The Doldrums 185 Chapter 8 | Back to the Struggle 217 Acknowledgements 233 Other Books by Sheila Jeffreys 235
£17.95
Spinifex Press Once You Cross a Street Youre on the Edge of a
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£19.76
Spinifex Press Flying with Paper Wings
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£17.95
NeWest Press Where It Hurts
Book SynopsisFinalist for the 2017 Governor General''s Literary Awards-Non-Fiction!Finalist for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize at the 2018 BC Book Prizes!Where It Hurts is a highly charged collection of personal essays, haunted by loss, evoking turbulent physical and emotional Canadian landscapes. Sarah de Leeuw''s creative non-fiction captures strange inconsistencies and aberrations of human behaviour, urging us to be observant and aware. The essays are wide in scope and expose what-and who-goes missing.With staggering insight, Sarah de Leeuw reflects on missing geographies and people, including missing women, both those she has known and those whom she will never get to know. The writing is courageously focused, juxtaposing places and things that can be touched and known-emotionally, physically, psychologically-with what has become intangible, unnoticed, or actively ignored. Throughout these essays, de Leeuw''s imagistic memories are layered with meaning, providing a survival guide for the present, including a survival that comes with the profound responsibility to bear witness.
£14.39
Heritage House Publishing Co Ltd Yip Sang: and the First Chinese Canadians
Book SynopsisDuring the second half of the 19th century, thousands of Chinese men arrived on the west coast of North America, seeking to escape poverty and make their fortunes in the goldfields or working on the railroads. Among them was 36-year-old Yip Sang, a native of Guangdong province in southeast China, who arrived in Vancouver in 1881 after failing to strike it rich in California. His luck was about to change. Through perseverance, hard work and an eye for opportunity, the enterprising Yip Sang amassed considerable wealth to pass on to his wives and 23 children when he died in 1927. As the unofficial mayor of Chinatown, Yip Sang was instrumental in helping new Chinese immigrants as they fought to overcome social, economic and political barriers. This fascinating history details the struggles and successes of Yip Sang and the first Chinese Canadians as they built new lives and left a lasting legacy for their families and community.
£10.44
Heritage House Publishing Co Ltd Somebody's Child: Stories about Adoption
Book SynopsisUNIVERSAL STORIES OF LONGING AND BELONGING Our quest for origin and, by extension, identity is universal to the human experience. For the twenty-five contributors to Somebody''s Child, the topic of adoption is not--and perhaps never can be--a neutral issue. With unique courage, each of them discusses their experience of the adoption process. Some share stories of heartbreak; others have discovered joy; some have searched for closure. Somebody''s Child captures the many unforgettable faces and voices of adoption. The third book in a series of anthologies about the twenty-first-century family, Somebody''s Child follows Nobody''s Mother and Nobody''s Father, two essay collections from childless adults on parenthood, family and choices. Together, these three books challenge readers to reexamine traditional definitions of the concept of family.
£18.89
Brindle and Glass Publishing, Ltd In the Flesh: Twenty Writers Explore the Body
Book SynopsisLiving is a process of continuous transformation: we have been embryos, children, adolescents, thin, fat, sick, better again. And as humans, we are always at odds with at least one part of our bodies. Have we inherited the family nose? Is there nothing to be done for our finicky stomach or our limp hair? In the Flesh is an intelligent, witty, and provocative look at how we think about--and live within--our bodies. The editors and writers in this collection describe what human bodies feel now. Each author''s candid essay focuses on one part of the body, and explores its function, its meanings, and the role it has played in his or her life. Featuring original essays by Caroline Adderson, André Alexis, Taiaiake Alfred, Brian Brett, Trevor Cole, Dede Crane, Lorna Crozier, Candace Fertile, Stephen Gauer, Julian Gunn, Heather Kuttai, Susan Olding, Kathy Page, Kate Pullinger, Merilyn Simonds, Richard Steel, Madeleine Thien, Sue Thomas, Margaret Thompson, and Lynne Van Luven.
£22.09
Brindle and Glass Publishing, Ltd A Cowherd in Paradise: From China to Canada
Book SynopsisIn 2006, the Prime Minister apologized to the Chinese people for the legislated discrimination created by Canada''s head tax laws in the first half of the twentieth century, acknowledging the far-reaching and long-term consequences it has had on their families. A Cowherd in Paradise is the story of one such family. The book chronicles the remarkable lives of Wong Guey Dang (1902-1983) and Jiang Tew Thloo (1911-2002). Ah Dang was born into an impoverished family and sold as a child. In 1921, his adoptive father paid a five-hundred-dollar head tax to send Ah Dang to Canada. Eight years later, driven to create a family of his own, Ah Dang returned to China, where he chose Ah Thloo as his bride from a matchmaker''s photo. As a child, Ah Thloo worked as a cowherd and from the age of six was responsible for her family''s fortune--their water buffalo. Ah Thloo not only became a wife and mother, but also grew to be a courageous defender against invaders and a champion of the weak. Married for over half a century, the couple was forced to live apart for twenty-five years because of Canada''s exclusionary immigration laws. In Canada, Ah Dang became a successful Montreal restaurateur; while in China, Ah Thloo struggled to survive through natural disasters, wars, and revolutions. A Cowherd in Paradise is the moving tale of one couple''s search for love, family, and forgiveness.
£22.09
Granville Island Publishing Life, Love and Laughter
Book SynopsisLuck played a major role in the life of John Ellis allowing him to survive WWII. Back home with his war-bride Joan, he worked his way up to being put in charge of Western Canada for the Bank of Montreal. He went on to become Head of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and first head of the Canada Development Corporation. In these roles, John and his wife travelled over a million miles promoting Canadian business and culture.During retirement, and taking advantage of Google, he penned his observations and thoughts about matters and substances that interested him, many of which are included in this book.
£14.39
Granville Island Publishing Light within the Shadows
Book SynopsisThis is a lively and moving memoir that chronicles Pnina Granirers life as an artist, wife and mother. Conceived as a play in three acts, it begins in her hometown in Romania, moves to its second act in Israel, and concludes with her life in North America. It encompasses her years in Israel, the USA, France and Canada, and her travels to Japan, Spain and Mexico, all of which inform her understanding of the world which is then reflected in her art.
£17.99
Granville Island Publishing Too Scared to Tell till Now: a woman's journey to
Book SynopsisHer abusive father and controlling mother hampered Tricia Cook but did not prevent her from accomplishing a lot in life. A stressful childhood in Yorkshire, with bombing, rationing and often being shut up in a cupboard, was followed by nursing school, marriage and children.Then came emigration —surviving the cold of northern Canada — before moving to theVancouver area, where she worked in extended health care. When her back gave out, she experienced the fate of a disabled worker. Forced to retire, she took courses and volunteered for decades in hospice and arthritis care, ultimately becoming a counsellor. After group psychology and finding out her younger sister had also been abused, she knew she had to warn others to speak up.
£14.39
Boulder Books Tomcats & House Calls: Memoir of a Country Doctor
Book Synopsis
£13.29
Boulder Books The Grand Tour: My months of hitchhiking, biking
Book SynopsisLike young people today, Dave Quinton yearned to explore the world after finishing his university studies. In 1960, four years before becoming host of CBCs Land & Sea, Dave his friend Bob hatched a plan: steam across the Atlantic, then hike, hitchhike, and cycle across Europe for as long as their money would hold out. Little did Dave know that his travels would take him within the gates of Buckingham Palace, where he would to meet members of Britains royal family.
£17.99
Anvil Press Publishers Inc Sweet Assorted: 121 Takes From a Tin Box
Book SynopsisAs with many writers, Jim Christy keeps a "source file," notes, scrawled snippets of conversation, observations made on the run, photographs of people known and unknown, scraps of paper with puzzling notes written on them, receipts, matchpacks, and other assorted parapher-nalia that might come in handy for a future story, article, or essay. For Mr. Christy that source file has been an old Peek Frean's tin biscuit box. For nearly forty years the author has thrown-willy-nilly, and with neither rhyme nor reason-such seemingly random items into the box. There has been absolutely no system to it; maybe, the author says, "I thought I'll pay more attention to this later' or, perhaps, I've got to check that one out some day ...give it the attention it deserves." Being a restless traveller, investigative journalist, and raconteur, many of these items have rich and alluring stories attached to them. The Peek Frean's cookie box has provided the essential ingredients for a fascinating assortment of highly entertaining tales.
£14.39
Heritage House Publishing Co Ltd Drugstore Cowgirl: Adventures in the
Book SynopsisIn 1964, Patricia MacKay immigrated to Canada from England in search of the wild-open lands and cowboy culture that captivated her as a child. In the 1960s, the Wild West was still alive and kicking in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, although it had been tamed -- a little. Old-time hospitality and helping anyone in need was the acknowledged way of life. Pat learned the Cariboo-Chilcotin way of life first hand by spending her summers working on guest ranches and finding other jobs to keep her occupied during the winter. From learning how to cook on the job to kitchen disasters and successes, roundups, branding, square dances and falling in love, she slowly gained acceptance into the tight-knit communities of BC''s Interior. Ranching meant long hours, hard work, and a lifestyle all its own. Entertainment was home-made. There were rodeos, dances, and music around campfires in the summer and ice hockey, tobogganing, and parties in the winter. Sadly, that way of life is gradually disappearing, but this book relives the way things were between 1964 and 1976; it tells of a unique brand of people from a variety of backgrounds who made this part of the west their home.
£18.89
Caitlin Press Corky Williams: Cowboy Poet of the Cariboo
Book SynopsisA diminutive cowboy with a full beard and a Texas drawl stands onstage at Expo 86 in Vancouver telling wild and woolly stories of life in the Chilcotin backcountry. The audience is mesmerised by his poetic ballad of an alcoholic dog that rode on the back of his saddle in Anahim Lake. The performer is Luther Corky Williams. Originally from Texas, Corky and his wife, Jeanine, moved from Los Angeles to Anahim Lake, BC, to become ranchers. Corky had grown up on a ranch along the Mexican border before heading to LA to work in the film industry. The learning curve was steep for the family as they tried to get used to sixty-below temperatures, keeping watering holes open for the cattle through four feet of river ice, contending with marauding grizzly bears, getting stuck in impossible bog holes, educating children and surviving the hoards of bloodthirsty mosquitoes. In the West Chilcotin, a country known to be hell on dogs and women, Jeanine says she thrived. I loved the ranching life, she says, but I felt the kids needed a better education. Eventually Jeanine and the children moved to Williams Lake while Corky stayed at the ranch. After a freak accident at the Anahim Lake Stampede, he was unable to continue life as a rancher, so he decided to return to his previous career onstage and in film. Getting chosen to perform at Expo was the big break he needed. From there he got an agent in Vancouver and landed parts in television shows like CBC''s The Beachcombers and CTV''s Bordertown. After Corky and Jeanine split up in 1990, Corky moved back to Texas to work in theatre productions with his brother Jaston Williams, and he performed on some of the major stages across the United States. By 2007, Corky, longing for the wide-open spaces of BC''s Cariboo, moved back to Williams Lake. After living in Texas for fifteen years, I just got a wild hair up my ass to get up and come back to Canada, Corky says. Corky became known as one of Western Canada''s most beloved cowboy poets, performing his spoken word stories and poetry across the province.
£14.39
Caitlin Press Back to the Red Road
Book SynopsisIn June 1967, Norway House Indian Residential School of Manitoba closed its doors after a somewhat questionable past. In 1954, when Florence Kaefer was just nineteen, she accepted a job as a teacher at Norway House. Unaware of the difficult conditions the students were enduring, Florence and her fellow teachers nurtured a school full of lonely and homesick young children. After a few years, Florence moved to Vancouver Island with her new husband where she continued to teach, thinking often of the children of Norway House. Many years later, after the death of her husband, Florence unexpectedly reconnected with one of her Norway House students, Edward Gamblin. Edward had been only five when he was brought to Norway House and Florence remembered him as a shy and polite young boy. Leaving the school at sixteen, Edward faced some challenges in a world that was both hostile and unfamiliar to him. But Edward found success and solace in his career as a musician, writing songs aboutthe many political issues facing Aboriginal people in Canada. On a trip to Manitoba, Florence discovered Edward''s music. She was captivated by his voice, but shocked to hear him singing about the abuse he and the other children had been subjected to at Norway House. Motivated to apologize on behalf of the school and her colleagues, Florence contacted Edward. Yes, I remember you and I accept your apology, Edward told her. Reconciliation will not be one grand, finite act. It will be a multitude of small acts and gestures played out between individuals. The story of their personal reconciliation is both heartfelt and heartbreaking as Edward begins to share his painful truths with his family, Florence and the media. Three years after Edward''s death in in 2010, Florence has continued to advocate for truth and reconciliation. BACK TO THE RED ROAD is more than one man''s story: it is the story of our nation and how healing can begin, one friendship, one apology at a time.
£14.39
