Memoirs Books
Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press Graveyard of the Pacific
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPraise for Graveyard of the Pacific: “Vividly evoking Sullivan’s deep fascination with the Pacific Northwest and thirst for friendship and adventure, this is a thrill ride.” —Publishers Weekly“A riveting story of maritime tragedies and a personal passage… It is Sullivan’s gripping, vividly detailed accounts of nautical disasters at the Columbia Bar that make the book such an achievement… The author’s personal story—from growing up with an abusive father to his 2021 attempt to cross the Bar by trimaran—courses through the book like an intermittent current… A strikingly rendered tale of the hard and lasting costs of courage.” —Kirkus (starred review)“The point where the Columbia River spills into the Pacific Ocean has long been known as the ‘Graveyard of the Pacific’ for all the deadly shipwrecks that have occurred there over the centuries... Sullivan challenges himself to traverse these turbid waters in a fragile trimaran… Defying nature’s fury, Sullivan also faces down his own demons… Ultimately, the struggle to cross both physical and emotional bars defines for Sullivan manhood in the contemporary world.” – Booklist
£16.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd Spare
Book SynopsisPrince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, is a husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist. He resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his family and three dogs.
£23.80
Mark Davison A Wrens Tale the Secret Link to Bletchley Park
Book Synopsis
£9.45
John Calder Publishers Scotland The Garden of Eros The Story of the Paris
Book SynopsisThe Garden of Eros brings to life some of last century's leading cultural figures, who shaped our modern thinking and defined the tastes of an entire generation, changing for ever the way we look at literature and the world around us. Drawing from the accounts of two fellow publishers Maurice Girodias and Barney Rosset, who were also active in the heady days of 1950s and 1960s Paris, London and New York and from his own personal recollections, John Calder talks about the challenges of being a publisher in that era of censorship and political persecution and the problems faced by such writers as Beckett, Burroughs, Trocchi and Miller to have their work accepted and recognized.Told in John Calder's trademark raconteur style and peppered with salacious, revealing and entertaining anecdotes, The Garden of Eros will appeal both to the general reader and anyone who is interested in the social and cultural history of the twentieth century.
£12.34
Ignite Books But after the gig
Book Synopsis
£14.00
Pan Macmillan Will You Care If I Die
Book SynopsisNicolas Lunabba is one of the most influential voices in the Swedish debate regarding young people at risk of spiralling into violence and crime in neglected areas of the country. He runs Helamalmö, an organization committed to social justice, which aims to create a sense of safety and stability for the marginalized. In 2022 Lunabba was awarded the Swedish Martin Luther King prize for his work. He also has an honorary doctorate in social work from Malmö University. Will You Care If I Die? is his first book.
£10.44
Pan Macmillan Awake
Book SynopsisJen Hatmaker is an author, podcaster, speaker, advocate, educator and mother. She is the author of four New York Times bestsellers, speaks frequently to large audiences, runs courses and book club communities. Guests on her podcast For The Love include Brené Brown, Glennon Doyle, Roxane Gay, Melinda French-Gates and Jada Pinkett-Smith.
£17.09
Headline Publishing Group Why Its OK to Talk About Trauma
Book SynopsisIn her new book Why It''s OK to Talk About Trauma, she forges a new path for all survivors of trauma, as well as breathing much-needed humour into a stigmatised condition. - Lucy Morgan, Glamour, May 2024THIS IS THE BOOK YOUR BRAIN, BODY AND FUTURE SELF NEED TO READ.More than half of us will have experienced some kind of trauma in our lives - many of us multiple times over. But most of us ignore or avoid our traumatic experiences, and struggle alone in the emotional pain that remains. In Why It''s OK to Talk About Trauma, award-winning journalist and campaigner Charlie Webster explores what trauma is, how trauma impacts us mentally, emotionally and physically, and why our past experiences influence our day-to-day behaviours. She draws on her own story, research and insight, backed by the clinical psychologist that treated her.''I wrote this book following my journey through trauma recovery. I''ve included everything I''ve learnt in the hope that it will also help you. I want to show you that it is okay to talk about trauma, but I know it''s not easy. Sometimes it''s hard to admit that what has happened to us affects us so deeply. But by the time you turn the final page, my intention is that you will feel different; what has happened will not have disappeared but it will feel more manageable and you will be equipped to deal with trauma and life moving forward.Whatever has happened to you, we can face it together in this book. I am with you on this journey.''
£11.69
Austin Macauley Publishers Chocolate Crackle Saturdays
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Austin Macauley Publishers The Bend in the River
Book Synopsis
£16.19
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Killing Season
£21.25
Flatiron Books How to Stop Trying
Book SynopsisAn unflinchingly honest and sometimes hilarious look at hustle culture, exploring the forces that have shaped a generation of overachieving women who now find themselves in search of a better way forward.Have you ever heard someone say, I'm trying to make it work, and thought, That sounds like a great idea? Probably not. Because the thing about trying is that it's tiring; it's labor. Anyone who has tried to have fun or to relax or to fall asleep knows this to be true.And yet: we exist within a culture that encourages us-often with a frantic urgency-to try, and try harder. We are told to try a different approach, try to do or be better, try to squeeze in a little bit more. This is especially true of women, who not only have to try harder than men to receive access to the same opportunities and resources, but who are also conditioned to try in the name of meeting others' needs and expectations, often at the expense of their own well-being.In this
£21.74
Penguin Random House Group Camp
Book Synopsis
£16.19
Amberley Publishing We Have a Library in Mind
Book SynopsisWith short biographies of the main protagonists, descriptions of what they had to endure and a concise examination of the 'library' itself, Lucy Alexander has revealed an astonishing exercise in mental survival under the most appalling circumstances. What would your books be?
£19.54
Amberley Publishing Lady Dorothie Feilding at War
Book Synopsis'She was frequently exposed to risks which probably no other woman has undergone. She has always displayed a devotion to duty and contempt of danger which has been a source of admiration to all.' H C Halahan, Officer Commanding Royal Naval Siege Guns.
£19.54
Austin Macauley Publishers Work and Play
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd Making a Scene
Book SynopsisFrom influential and iconic star Constance Wu, a powerful and poignant memoir-in-essays full of funny and intimate observations that will resonate with readers everywhere. ‘Like her, the book is bold, emotional and unexpurgated; the story of an Asian American who always wanted to fit in, and ended up just wanting to be her true self.’Independent ‘A startling insight into the reality of trials by social media and sexual exploitation in Hollywood… Most powerful is her #MeToo rallying cry, which will make your skin crawl and your blood boil.’ Sunday Times Growing up in the friendly suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, Constance Wu thought that girls were supposed to be reserved, graceful, and polite. Everyone around her praised ladylike behaviour while seeming to disapprove of the louder, rougher girls – the kind of girls who made scenes. And while she spent most of her Trade Review“Constance Wu writes with originality, ferocity, and unsparing honesty that doesn't let anyone — especially herself — off the hook. Making A Scene is as much about acting as it is about heartbreak, forgiveness, and being messily human. It made me laugh and it made my heart hurt; it reminded me of how necessary — and life giving — art is. This is a vital book by a singular talent.” —Rachel Khong, author of Goodbye, Vitamin "Constance Wu is a beautiful writer, a hilarious storyteller, and unafraid to tell the truth about her experiences. Don't miss Making a Scene." —Amy Schumer, author of The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo“There were times when I was reading Making a Scene that I didn’t realize I was holding my breath; it’s that riveting and personal. Making a Scene is a treasure and so is Constance Wu. I feel so lucky to call this talented and hilarious woman my friend.” —Mindy Kaling, author of Why Not Me?
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd SAS South Georgia Boating Club
Book SynopsisRare memoir of service with the SAS.
£21.25
Orion Publishing Co Toffee Apples and Quail Feathers
Book SynopsisFollowing the death of her beloved mother Jennifer Worth in 2011, Suzannah Worth discovered amongst her manuscripts a folder simply labelled ''Fifth Book''. Imagine her excitement when she sat down to read and her mother''s distinctive voice came flooding back. This enchanting new collection from Jennifer Worth''s Call the Midwife takes you back to the East End of London in the 1950s. Heart-warming and funny, these never-before-seen stories feature all Worth''s beloved characters, with a particular focus on Fred, the irresistible Poplar boiler man. A selection of Suzannah''s favourites from the original memoirs, featuring Chummy and Sister Monica Joan, join the new stories to make a very special addition to the Call the Midwife family.Trade ReviewWorth writes beautifully of her memories of that period's poverty and suffering, mixed with great joy, humour and compassion. She has an eye for detail and social history, and above all, for the extraordinary characters that she brings vibrantly alive . . . Underneath these attractive, amusing stories, Worth had a profound moral sense that people could use their difficulties and suffering creatively * Church Times *Fans of Call the Midwife rejoice, for there are more stories from London's East End of the 1950s to devour from Jennifer Worth . . . Featuring beloved characters like Chummy, Sister Monica Joan and Fred Buckle, it's a charming addition to the ever-popular series' * Radio Times *
£10.44
HarperCollins Focus Born Lucky
£18.70
Penguin Books Ltd This Is Me
Book SynopsisGet to know the woman behind the Instagram cleaning sensation, Mrs Hinch, in her fascinating and remarkably honest memoir*** FEATURING A BONUS PAPERBACK CHAPTER ABOUT THE BIRTH OF LENNIE ***THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER''Gut-wrenchingly honest'' The Mail on Sunday''I love that woman so much, she is just so great'' Rylan Clark-Neal, BBC Radio 2_____________I sometimes can''t believe just how much has happened in the last couple of life-changing years. It''s been a total whirlwind of a journey, and I''m so grateful to all my followers for their amazing love and support along the way.From my very first toy kitchen which was my pride and joy right through to the my very first Instagram posts stories of my cleaning routine, I''m going to take you back to the start of how it all began. But there is so much more to my story than just cleaning tips; there have been Trade ReviewI love that woman so much, she is just so great * Rylan Clark-Neal, BBC Radio 2 *A gut-wrenchingly honest account. This book isn't about dust-busting, it's myth-busting * Mail on Sunday *Takes you through her highest of highs and her heart-breaking lows, keeping you hooked from the very first word * Hello! *An inspirational read whether you're a casual hincher or a die-hard fan * Ideal Home *Candid * Glamour *Gripping * Mirror *A great gift . . . a candid memoir, so you can stop cleaning, and get reading * Real Homes *
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group Paper Doll
Book SynopsisActress and content creator Dylan Mulvaney's honest account of her journey through girlhood.
£18.70
Little, Brown Book Group Becky Lynch The Man
Book SynopsisBestseller in the UK, Sunday Times, April 2024By age seven, Rebecca Quin, now known in the ring as Becky Lynch, was already defying what the world expected of her.Raised in Dublin, Ireland in a devoutly Catholic family, Rebecca constantly invented new ways to make her mother worry - roughhousing with the neighbourhood kids, getting older and hosting secret parties while her parents were away, enrolling in a warehouse wrestling school, nearly breaking her neck and almost kneecapping a WWE star before her own wrestling career even began - and she was always in search of a thrilling escape from the ordinary.Rebecca''s deep love of wrestling as a child set her on an unlikely path. With few female athletes to look to for guidance, Rebecca pursued a wrestling career hoping to change the culture and move away from the antiquated disrespect so often shown directed at the elite female athletes that grace the ring. Even as a teenager, she knew that she wo
£21.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Maggie Me
Book SynopsisA unique, tender and witty memoir of surviving the tough streets of small town Scotland during the Margaret Thatcher years________________________''Shocking and funny in equal measure, and will have you weeping with laughter and sorrow'' Independent on Sunday''A work of stealthy genius'' Maggie O''Farrell''Certain memoirs catch a moment and seem to define it, bottle it ... hugely entertaining'' Sunday TimesIt''s 12 October 1984. An IRA bomb blows apart the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Miraculously, Margaret Thatcher survives. In small-town Scotland, eight-year-old Damian Barr watches in horror as his mum rips her wedding ring off and packs their bags. He knows he, too, must survive. Damian, his sister and his Catholic mum move in with her sinister new boyfriend while his Protestant dad shacks up with the glamorous Mary the Canary. Divided by sectarian suspicion, the community is held together by the sprawling Ravenscraig Steelworks. BuTrade ReviewShocking and funny in equal measure, and will have you weeping with laughter and sorrow -- Katy Guest * Independent on Sunday *The wonderful story of a remarkable man, Maggie & Me is heartbreaking and heartwarming. As gripping as a thriller, laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching, this book will resonate long after you finish it. A triumph -- SJ Watson, author of Before I Go to SleepOut of poverty, brutality and prejudice, Damian Barr builds something riveting, touching and painfully funny. His account of growing up under Thatcher's regime defines the experience of a generation. At once personal and universal, Maggie & Me is a work of stealthy genius -- Maggie O’FarrellA marvellous memoir – wrenching, funny and wise. I loved it! * Joanne Harris *This amazing book tells the story of an appalling childhood with truth and clarity unsmudged by self-pity. It grips from beginning to end and leaves the reader elated at the fact that such experiences can be overcome and produce a man who can write a book so vivid, so unsentimentally forgiving, and so memorable * Diana Athill *This book will break your heart and make you angry; then it will lift your heart and make you glad; because Damian Barr has transmuted a grim childhood into a work of art and brought forth beauty from ashes * Richard Holloway *That Damian Barr survived his childhood is testament to his startling courage and determination.That he was then able to write about the experience with such wit, verve and candour is equally astonishing. Maggie & Me is a cause for celebration on all kinds of levels. Rejoice! * Rupert Thomson *Damian Barr sifts through the wreckage of a horrific childhood and manages to extract humour, generosity of spirit and ultimately joy, and he does it with a literary élan that had me re-reading whole paragraphs, just for the pleasure of it. To say I loved it doesn't begin to convey the mixture of emotions - tears, laughter, anger - I felt while reading it. This book should be required reading for children who need to know that there is life beyond an appalling beginning, and for politicians who prefer to look the other way -- Jojo Moyes author of Me Before YouLike all too few memoirs, in a bloated, me-me age, Maggie & Me ends all too soon. Imagine one of the sharper Mitford sisters cruelly reborn into the family from Shameless and you’ve an idea of the treat in store. Barr tells his engaging, sad-funny story of a camp, bright lad in dire circumstances in Thatcher-era Motherwell in such a beguilingly confiding, arm-linking style, that I felt I'd made a new best friend only to lose them to a world of glittering opportunities. Read this at once before someone films it, as they most surely will -- Patrick GaleThis is the most vital, visceral memoir since Jeanette Winterson’s Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal? … Barr’s depiction is so pungent, so earth-shattering it's a universal story of alienation – one for anyone who's ever felt desperate to escape. His childhood, evoked with such cheek-biting tenderness, now seems more real and more Technicolor than my own. I won't be happy until everyone reads this book -- Patrick StrudwickTimely confessional – zestfully observed, sharply written, and sprinkled with more lyricism and humour than a memoir of misery in Motherwell suggests -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Maggie & Me is a perfect chip supper of a memoir: nostalgic, tart, crisp and seductive. It's also sad, kind, witty, and sexy. And alarmingly educational -- Louisa YoungBrilliantly observed, searingly intimate and painfully truthful, Maggie & Me brought the eighties back to me at the same time as making me question my established views of the whole decade. In other words, like the very best books, it changed me a little -- Sathnam Sanghera author of The Boy with the Topknot‘A nuanced, subtle and original account ... What could have been a flip idea with no real substance turns out to be a memoir which is both personally moving and a valuable historical document. Barr’s style is conversational, intimate and convincing, and he resists every opportunity to show off. He holds his nerve tackling the unfashionableness of his thesis – that Thatcher inspired even those she seemed to despise – and makes us smile along the way -- Christena Appleyard * Literary Review *Certain memoirs catch a moment and seem to define it, bottle it ... Damian Barr, I suspect, is about to do something of the same with this hugely entertaining book ... Full to the brim with poignancy, humour, brutality and energetic and sometimes shimmering prose, the book confounds one’s assumptions about those years and drenches the whole era in an emotionally charged comic grandeur. It is hugely affecting -- Andrew Holgate * Sunday Times *Beyond his Maggie cult, this memoir can boast a humour, bravery and brio that cross all party lines * Independent *This memoir of deprivation and survival is shrewdly constructed and written with a winning dry humour -- Adam Mars-Jones * Guardian *A brilliant, laugh-out-loud and profoundly moving Eighties memoir * GQ *An inspiring read * Marie Claire *By turns funny, tender, and heartbreaking, it is also a useful primer for anyone too young to remember what life was like in the industrial areas of Britain enduring the changes wrought by Thatcherism... A gifted storyteller, weaving skilfully back and forth through time, and his unfussy prose flows delightfully... Splendid * Independent on Sunday *Hugely affecting memoir * Sunday Times *Unlike most volumes of this kind, Maggie & Me is short on jokes and long on raw, pungent atmosphere. Barr has a keen eye for wincingly evocative detail... Expressed with a kind of grim lyricism * New Statesman *A touching and darkly humorous memoir... Topical and heartfelt * TNT Magazine *Witty, gritty and inspiring * Glamour *Maggie and Me by Damian Barr has a startling new take on the former PM -- Mark Smith * Herald *Comi-tragic memoir * Evening Standard *A refreshing, affecting and ultimately triumphant account -- Ben Felsenburg * Metro *Timely confessional – zestfully observed, sharply written, and sprinkled with more lyricism and humour than a memoir of misery in Motherwell suggests -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *A real storyline, touching and personal, and I found myself laughing * Mail on Sunday *[A] talented writer ... Barr captures very well how it is possible to learn and to love even in the most unpropitious environment. His book is the better for the strange loyalty it shows to the place he fled * Daily Telegraph *I was dazzled by the energy and verve of Damian Barr’s memoir, Maggie & Me ... I’ve been shoving copies into people’s hands all year -- Johanna Thomas-Corr, Books of the Year * Evening Standard *Damian Barr’s wonderful memoir Maggie & Me … was the coming-of-age story of this year -- Louise Doughty, Books of the Year * Observer *Written with beautiful clarity and no self-pity – I look forward to seeing what he does next -- Stephanie Merritt, Books of the Year * Observer *Damian Barr’s Maggie & Me is easily my favourite book of 2013 ... There isn’t a trace of bitterness in the beautiful book. Only the radiant eloquence of a man whose courage and humanity shine from its pages -- Alan Johnson, Books of the Year * New Statesman *Charming, life-enhancing -- Melanie Reid, Books of the Year * The Times *Barr’s moving, funny, inspiring memoir of growing up gay in Motherwell is a virtuoso piece of autobiography that paints a vivid portrait of our country’s recent past -- Patricia Nicol, Non-fiction Books of the Year * Metro *The surprisingly funny and positive story of growing up gay in a working-class town in Thatcher’s Britain. It’s worth the cover price for the Dirty Dancing scene alone -- Katy Guest, Books of the Year * Independent on Sunday *
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co All the Young Men
Book SynopsisErin Brockovich meets Dallas Buyers Club, All The Young Men is a gripping and triumphant tale of human compassion, telling the true story of a young single mother who finds herself driven to the forefront of the AIDS crisis, and who risks everything to give victims back their humanity.Trade ReviewMy friend Ruth Coker Burks is one of the most amazing people I know. The care she gave HIV-positive gay men in and around our hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas during the desperate early days of the AIDS crisis helped them live and die with dignity in the face of stigma and discrimination. In All the Young Men, Ruth tells their stories and hers with the same warmth, wit, grace, and gumption that I have admired for decades. This book will make you love her as much as I do. * FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON *Deeply moving memoir [that] honours the extraordinary life of Ruth Coker Burks and the beloved men who fought valiantly for their lives during a most hostile and misinformed time... a must read * RU PAUL *It's a tale of high drama and mesmerising detail, but also of breath-taking courage and compassion [...]a beautiful book, catching [Ruth's] Southern sass and charm. * The Sunday Times *It's a brighter story of human nature [...] this is a paean to making friendships across boundaries, to being kind even when the cost is nearly unbearable. * The Guardian *shocking but ultimately uplifting... an extraordinary tale, and its publication now in the midst of a very different pandemic - one in which compassion appears to be universal - resonates in a way that makes it all the more powerful. * Evening Standard *a remarkable tale of suffering, kindness and courage... vivid portrait of this community, which never lost hope and which looked after its own, got dressed up and found joy amid the tragedy. * i newspaper *it's [...] a reminder of the goodness in people and that we have come through worse things before. At its heart, it's a story of overcoming fear. And, right now, that might be just what we need. * Irish Sunday Independent *A brilliantly evocative memoir about the 1980s pandemic some people would still sooner forget - and about a woman who could have easily turned the other cheek. More Dolly Parton than Mother Teresa, Ruth Coker Burks doesn't try to paint herself as a heroine: just someone who couldn't help but do the right thing for hundreds of men dying alone of AIDS. Ru Paul was right: it's a must-read. * VIV GROSKOP *A moving, inspiring testament to one woman's courage, love and kindness in the midst of a deadly hate-filled pandemic. * Peter Tatchell *A truly incredible story told with the most fullest heart warming honesty. Ruth is an inspiration. * CARIAD LLOYD *Know this will be an incredible important read... * SIMON SAVIDGE, Savidge Reads *This astonishing modern-day Good Samaritan story will move you to tears of sadness and outrage, but also buoy you. For Coker Burns is a do-gooder with sass. And hers is a story of ordinary but heroic human empathy that we could all do with reading right now. * CAROLINE SANDERSON, The Bookseller *In this gripping account, Ruth Coker Burks explains how she became an 'accidental activist' [...] Her own family life and friendships were tested to the limit by this work, but her story highlights the transformative power of kindness.' * WOMAN *All The Young Men was extraordinary - she's extraordinary. Love in action. * SARAH WINMAN *A powerful memoir... Burks's spirited, straightforward prose balances the heartbreak of her story with just enough humor and toughness. A must-read for anyone interested in narratives of front-line responses to the early AIDS crisis as well as personal accounts of kindness and determination. * Library Journal, starred review *Burks' vivid memories of 'my guys' and the trials she endured fighting against prejudice offer a portrait of courageous compassion that is both rare and inspiring . . . [A] deeply moving, meaningful book. * Kirkus Reviews *Anecdotes of small-town gay bars and drag queen rivalries add levity to tales of hardship and sacrifice-crosses set ablaze on her lawn, her young daughter ostracized at school . . . This worthy account offers as much bitter as sweet. * Publishers Weekly *If you are hungry for a humane approach to an epidemic, read this astonishing book. * RICHIE JACKSON, author of Gay Like *Throughout the memoir, it's hard not to fall in love with Burks for her big-heartedness and enduring sense of humor in the face of suffering...As Burks forges a path alongside these vulnerable men, her embrace of education and rejection of bigotry light the way forward for us all * Book Page *All The Young Men is an urgent story that needs to be told about the early years of AIDS in the American South. From her first moving encounter with an abandoned young man hours before he died, Ruth Coker Burks cares for ill gay men and fights homophobia with compassion, wit, courage and righteous anger. It's inspiring and compelling to read of her battles against indignities and intimidation, bigoted families and churches, and demeaning health care. The reader cheers her on when Coker Burks finds both opponents and allies in her work. She writes of Jimmy, Howard, Douglas, Danny, Neil, Tim and Jim, Marc, Bob and Phil, Chip, Luke, Angel, Jerry, Misty, Billy and all her 'guys': 'I wanted them to be counted, to have their lives matter.' All The Young Men achieves that beautifully, memorably, in their honour. * ROBERT HAMBERGER, author of A Length of Road *An extraordinary story of an extraordinary woman fighting for the rights of people with AIDS - and for the very acknowledgement of their existence - in her native Arkansas, in the early years of the crisis. Challenging, and sometimes changing hostile attitudes of individuals, communities, church and state she battled with courage, wit, knowledge, compassion, and a heart of solid gold for the local gay community and for those gay men who, coming home to die, were rejected by their families. Because for Ruth, this was love in action - it was the right thing to do. She and her daughter Allie became family with 'her guys'; a simply astonishing memoir. * KATE CHARLESWORTH *this gripping account [...] highlights the transformative power of kindness. * Woman & Home *A beautifully written, moving account of a time that I remember all too vividly. I'm a long-term survivor with almost thirty years facing stigma, discrimination and often rejection. We need to remember how badly the world at large behaved towards a small group of people who often died alone and in fear, we also need to honour those few who offered love and support at that time. A deeply emotional read. * JUNO ROCHE *All The Young Men is extraordinary and so is the woman whose story this is. You just want to hug her and all the young men she fought for * DAMIAN BARR *A story of ordinary but heroic human empathy -- CAROLINE SANDERSON * The Plymouth Herald *
£11.07
John Murray Press Where Memories Go
Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER (2014) AND RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK''A fine book'' The Sunday Times''Powerful'' Guardian''Wonderful'' The Telegraph''Moving, funny, warm'' Mail on Sunday''Brave, compassionate, tender and honest'' Metro''This book began as an attempt to hold on to my witty, storytelling mother with the one thing I had to hand. Words. Then, as the enormity of the social crisis my family was part of began to dawn, I wrote with the thought that other forgotten lives might be nudged into the light along with hers. Dementia is one of the greatest social, medical, economic, scientific, philosophical and moral challenges of our times.'' Sally MagnussonSad and funny, wise and honest, Where Memories Go is a deeply intimate account of insidious losses and unexpected joys in the terrible face of dementia, and a call to arms thaTrade ReviewTouching... There are many moments of heartwarming sentiment. Literary snowdrops grow out of the barren earth... This book is the constant, tenuous but vital reconnection between a child and its mother... A fine book. * AA Gill, The Sunday Times *The whole point of this book is that it starts with love. It opens out into medicine, philosophy, reportage from both sides of the Atlantic, but it only is able to be the profoundly moving book it is because it is infused with love to begin with.Books like this are difficult to get right: just a hint of emotional dishonesty, whether self-pity or even lightly veiled self-praise, and they flounder. There's none of that here, just the opposite: this is a book written with a rare combination of analytical inquiry - Magnusson is clearly appalled by our collective lack of care for those with dementia and determined to do what she can to improve things - and intimate, deeply moving memoir. * Scotsman *Powerful. * Guardian *A wonderful book... Part memoir and part manifesto for how we should treat older people, it had me hooked from the moment I picked it up. It's pitch-perfect in the way it describes what sufferers' families go through... It's had me enthralled. It helps that Magnusson is a journalist and tackles the subject with insight and perspicacity. It should be compulsory reading for every doctor and nurse, because it reminds us that behind every patient with dementia, there are friends and families who are grieving for the person that we will never know. * Max Pemberton, The Telegraph *Moving. * The Times *Sally Magnusson set out to write a book about dementia and in this she has succeeded wonderfully. But Where Memories Go is also - perhaps primarily - a book about love... Although this book is full of interesting facts, with forays into laboratories, hospitals and care homes, tenderness is its most striking quality. It is a description of a terrible disease, but also of redemptive love. * Mail on Sunday *It is impressive that a book that can be so clear-eyed in its reporting can often leave the readers' eyes brimming... A brave, compassionate, tender and honest portrait of a mother and family that also informs a conversation we all need to be having. I daresay this book will prove to be what Mamie felt so frustrated in her declining years at not being: useful. * Metro *A deeply moving, yet ultimately triumphant story of a family coping with the loss of a loved one... Written with extraordinary empathy and tenderness... What stands out most amid the chaos and heartache are not sadness and gloom, but rather the strength of human love and the versatility of the human spirit, as we witness the family bravely coming to terms with their bereavement. A shining example of courage in adversity. * The Lady *Moving, funny, warm account of her mother's demise and a clarion call for change. * Mail on Sunday (You Magazine) *A heartfelt memoir about the love between parents and children. * Good Housekeeping *It is an emotional book, beautifully written, well observed, and important for all of us who at some stage or another be caught up in a similar tragedy... It is hard to read it without weeping -- Magnus Linklater * West Highland Press - Books of the Year 2014 *Sally Magnuson's new book, radiating artistry and integrity, is an inspiring and extraordinarily gripping testament to a mother with dementia and to the enduring grace of love. * WI Life *A heart rending and touching portrait... incredibly moving. * Psychologies *Scottish BBC journalist Magnusson writes movingly and beautifully about her love for her mother, Mamie Magnusson, a journalist who struggled as Alzheimer's robbed her of her memory and her gift with words... Much of her beautifully written memoir is an appeal to readers to treat people with dementia with dignity rather than focus only on treating them with drugs... This memoir should go a long way toward easing any shame that families feel about loved ones with Alzheimer's * Booklist *This is an extraordinarily moving memoir which is, at the same time, a fascinating exploration of a condition that touches virtually every family. This book will help our understanding. * Alexander McCall Smith *I was bowled over by this book. Intensely moving and inspiring, it is as much about living, laughing and family life as it is about loss and death. I read it in one sitting and thought about it again and again. * Joanna Lumley *A brave story of a family's love for their mother, told with affection, steadfastness and humour - and a cool-headed battle-cry to do more and better. * Sarah Brown, global campaigner for Health and Education *Never has the subject of dementia been dealt with so movingly and with such penetrating intelligence. Sally Magnusson writes with the deep love of a daughter, and the calm professionalism of a journalist. The result is a work of genuine significance, that brings understanding and analysis to an affliction that thousands of families must face in the years ahead. A beautiful and important book. * Magnus Linklater, Times columnist, Scottish commentator and former editor of The Scotsman *I was in tears on the very first page. * Kirsty Wark *The story of remarkable women from a remarkable family living through the journey of dementia. At times funny and heartening, and at times desperately sad, it is an inspiration to others who will walk this path. All who work in the field need to read this and reflect on what we can do to improve on the services we currently provide. * Dr June Andrews, director of the Dementia Services Development Centre, Stirling University *A wonderful book. * Dr Frank Gunn-Moore, molecular neurobiologist *A lovely book - so intimate and truthful, painful and joyous. * Liz Lochhead, National Poet for Scotland *This is simply beautiful, honest, piercingly intelligent, page-turning and written from the heart. A stunning piece of writing and experience. * Alistair Moffat, author, broadcaster and book festival director. Rector of the University of St. Andrews *A remarkable and courageous book which will have immense positive benefits for many different people - those who care, those who are entering the long walk into the gloaming, and those who are responsible for making and implementing policy. Mostly dementia does not alight simply on one person: its eddies can encompass a whole family. This book tells one such story in an exquisite, but sometimes painful way. * Lord Sutherland of Houndwood, philosopher, former chair of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care of Older People and President of Alzheimer Scotland *Beautifully written and honest. * Candis Magazine *A life-changing book... shot through on every page with insights about love, the strength of family life and the enduring human spirit... Where Memories Go is a triumph over the darkness of dementia * Sunday Post *
£10.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Ascent
Book SynopsisThe complete life story of arguably Britain’s greatest mountaineer, whose career has spanned six decades of climbing peaks, across all continents and still being able to summit The Old Man of Hoy aged eighty years of age in 2015.Trade Review'He is the icon of British climbing' * Daily Mirror *'These well chronicled chapters of Chris’s life read like the pages of an epic saga with all the battle and victory, triumph and tragedy, love and loss one would expect of a mythical hero' -- Leo Houlding'Bonington was a fabulous and very creative climber. He brought Britain back to being a leading nation of climbers' -- Reinhold Messner
£10.79
Little, Brown Book Group Mr KnowItAll
Book SynopsisNo one knows more about everything - especially everything rude, clever, and offensively compelling - than John Waters. The man in the pencil-thin mustache, auteur of the transgressive movie classics Pink Flamingos, Polyester, the original Hairspray, Cry-Baby, and A Dirty Shame, is one of the world''s great sophisticates, and in Mr. Know-It-All he serves it up raw: how to fail upward in Hollywood; how to develop musical taste from Nervous Norvus to Maria Callas; how to build a home so ugly and trendy that no one but you would dare live in it; more important, how to tell someone you love them without emotional risk; and yes, how to cheat death itself. Through it all, Waters swears by one undeniable truth: Whatever you might have heard, there is absolutely no downside to being famous. None at all.Studded with cameos of Waters''s stars, from Divine and Mink Stole to Johnny Depp, Kathleen Turner, Patricia Hearst, and Tracey Ullman, and iTrade ReviewThe essays are wildly discursive and funny. * The Guardian *There are walk-on parts for the likes of Kathleen Turner ("Sure, Kathleen liked a cocktail") and Justin Bieber (who drew a Waters moustache on to his own hairless upper lip), and freewheeling musings on music and food. Waters here is a raconteur on top form. * New Statesman *This is the work of a deliciously entertaining, irreverent genius * Attitude magazine *Even if you've never seen a single frame of the sublimely trashy oeuvre of director John Waters, Mr-Know-it-All is this year's standout film autobiography. * Evening Standard *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group The Yellow House
Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION''A major book that I suspect will come to be considered among the essential memoirs of this vexing decade'' New York Times Book ReviewIn 1961, Sarah M. Broom''s mother Ivory Mae bought a shotgun house in the then-promising neighborhood of New Orleans East and built her world inside of it. It was the height of the Space Race and the neighborhood was home to a major NASA plant - the postwar optimism seemed assured. Widowed, Ivory Mae remarried Sarah''s father Simon Broom; their combined family would eventually number twelve children. But after Simon died, six months after Sarah''s birth, the house would become Ivory Mae''s thirteenth and most unruly child.A book of great ambition, Sarah M. Broom''s The Yellow House tells a hundred years of her family and their relationship to home in a neglected area of one of America''s most mythologized ciTrade ReviewPart oral history, part urban history, part celebration of a bygone way of life, The Yellow House is a full indictment of the greed, discrimination, indifference and poor city planning that led her family's home to be wiped off the map. It is an instantly essential text, examining the past, present and possible future of the city of New Orleans, and of America writ large -- Angela Flournoy * New York Times Book Review *A brilliant account of life before and after Hurricane Katrina . . .What unfolds is a fiercely resonant account of living somewhere ignored, unloved and in decline, but also the endless fight to survive it . . . In precise, dovetail-jointed sentences Broom writes beautifully about interior spaces of all kinds. The house comes alive, but so too, for example, does the psychology behind her grandmother's impeccable appearance . . . Monumental * Victoria Segal, The Sunday Times *Since, as the author writes, "it's hard to know what you cannot see", this book will also help you know a great many things much better. More marvellous than that, these pages might inspire you to sit with your mother, your grandmothers - to ride out to the cemetery and check your dead friend's plot - to gather with your siblings for an evening on the stone slab where once your childhood home stood. With The Yellow House, Sarah Broom has shown us a way to go back home, perhaps to heal * Casey Gerald, Observer Book of the Week *This is a major book that I suspect will come to be considered among the essential memoirs of this vexing decade * New York Times *Part oral history, part urban investigation, The Yellow House goes beyond the perimeters of memoir: it is an exposition of the fault lines under the American dream. Katrina may have felled the Yellow House, but it was built on rotten foundations. * Mia Levitin, The Spectator *Masterful. Large-scale and granular at once. Quietly stunning prose. Wow.Sarah M. Broom's gorgeous debut, The Yellow House, reads as elegy and prayer . . . Broom is a writer of great intellect and breadth * NPR *Gorgeously written, intimate and wise, Sarah M. Broom's The Yellow House is an astonishing memoir of family, love, and survival. It's also a history of New Orleans unlike any we've seen before, one that should be required readingThe Yellow House is both personal and sharply political . . . Readers may hear echoes of James Baldwin in the relentlessness of her inquiry, and in the sinewy cadences of her sentences . . . Pared down to its studs, The Yellow House is a love story. It is a declaration of unconditional devotion and commitment to place. * Los Angeles Times *A beautiful memoir . . . rich and complex * Guardian 'Books of the Year' *Every few years, a book comes along that teaches readers of memoir how to read and writers of memoir how to write. Calling Sarah M. Broom's The Yellow House a memoir feels wrong . . . Broom narratively glides through choppy air almost in slow-motion, and when I least expect it, she digs into the ground of New Orleans conjuring the most humanely massive intervention I've read in 21st century memoir writingA great, multigenerational family story . . . Broom is an engaging guide; she has some of David Simon's effortless reporting style, and her meditations on eroding places recall Jeannette Walls. The house didn't survive Katrina, but its destruction strengthened Broom's appreciation of home. Broom's memoir serves as a touching tribute to family and a unique exploration of the American experience * Publishers Weekly *
£15.29
John Murray Press Homing
Book SynopsisA SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEARLonglisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year''Rich and joyous ...The book''s quiet optimism about our ability to change, and to learn to love small things passionately, will stay with me for a long time'' Helen Macdonald''Big-hearted and quietly gripping'' Guardian''I love Jon Day''s writing and his birds. A marvellous, soaring account'' Olivia Laing''[A] beautiful book about unbeautiful birds'' Observer''This is nature writing at its best'' Financial Times''Awash with historical and literary detail, and moving moments ... Wonderful''Telegraph''Every page of this beautifully written book brought me pleasure'' Charlotte Higgins''A vivid evocation of a remarkable speTrade ReviewPrecise and poignant * Spectator *I love Jon Day's writing and his birds. A marvellous, soaring account * Olivia Laing *A compelling blend of personal memoir, nature writing and popular science, Day's book considers the humble pigeon, probably our oldest companion species. * Mail on Sunday *Homing did something I thought would be impossible - made me fall in love with the humble, familiar feral pigeon. It is both a repository of fascinating stories and memorable characters, and a deeply felt personal enquiry into the nature of 'home'. Every page of this beautifully written book brought me pleasure * Charlotte Higgins *'A terrific book which explores the sport inside out, as well as our own human concept of what home is' * Daily Telegraph *In this lucid and beguiling book, Jon Day has written marvellously interwoven tale of our two species * Jonathan Raban *A meditation that swoops agilely over topics from tyranny of technology to the paradoxes of parenting and the rewards of simply staying put. . . . A joyful, richly rewarding book * Mail on Sunday *Big-hearted and quietly gripping * The Guardian *[A] Vivid evocation of a remarkable species and a rich working-class tradition...a charming defence of a much-maligned bird * Daily Mail *Day's stories from the history of human-pigeon relations are well chosen and well told ... there's a great deal to like in the simple imagery of a young family and their pigeons growing up together in an east London home * Literary Review *This beautiful book by an English lecturer-cum-pigeon fancier reveals eerie parallels between human and bird life ... [A] beautiful book about unbeautiful birds * The Observer *Jon Day takes on the humble racing pigeon to ask just what home is, how we establish it, miss it and depart and return to it. He elevates this heroic bird to its rightful place in natural history and our history too, and celebrates its shared instinct with us for home... the art his own family and academic career... He has many fascinating accounts of how we've exploited these miraculous birds' homing instincts in war and peace... Day swoops and soars over many fields of art and science to unravel our instinct for homeEndlessly interesting and dazzlingly erudite, this wonderful book will make a home for itself in your heart * Prospect Magazine *I totally love Jon Day's new book Homing. For people who recognise that feeling familiar to Freud, of being homesick for nowhere, Jon's sense of making a particular home, or of knowing your way back to one, is a miracle-narrative of birds and men. Humane and beautifully navigated, it is hands down a book of the year -- Andrew O'HaganA dazzlingly erudite memoir about family, children and pigeon-fancying. An unlikely combination perhaps, but Day pulls it off. * Prospect Magazine *Day's stories from the history of human-pigeon relations are well chosen and well told ... there's a great deal to like in the simple imagery of a young family and their pigeons growing up together in an east London home * Literary Review *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Muhammad Ali A Memoir
Book Synopsis''A riveting read about an amazing man'' THE SUNLegendary boxer Muhammad Ali visited Michael Parkinson''s chat show sofa four times, culminating in an iconic interview in 1971. Muhammad Ali: A Memoir is a fresh, revealing and personal account of the life of the most important and enduring cultural figures of our age. An icon of boxing who has inspired the biggest names in boxing, from Mike Tyson to Anthony Joshua, this is the story of boxing''s biggest star. Muhammad Ali was God''s Gift to the interviewer. Funny, articulate, outspoken with a fascinating life story, unparalleled talent and controversial views. These 4 interviews charted Ali''s life, revealing significant phases at different times, charting the rise and fall of this kaleidoscope of a man.In Muhammad Ali: A Memoir Sir Michael Parkinson will bring his award-winning journalistic talents to bear on this extraordinary man. The book will mix personal recollTrade ReviewEvery time they met, Parky found Ali the perfect interviewee - funny, articulate and not afraid to share his controversial views - a far cry from today's media trained 'celebrities'. This wonderful book mixes Parky's recollections with transcripts of the interviews. It makes for a riveting read about an amazing man. * The Sun *
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co How Does It Feel
Book Synopsis''Wonderful - such a terrific read. Brilliantly captures the passion, commitment, searing self-knowledge and dizzy happiness that comes with loving music. An enchanting book'' STEPHEN FRY***Following a formative encounter with the British pop movie Slade in Flame in 1975, Mark Kermode decided that musical superstardom was totally attainable. And so, armed with a homemade electric guitar and very little talent, he embarked on an alternative career - a chaotic journey which would take him from the halls and youth clubs of North London to the stages of Glastonbury, the London Palladium and The Royal Albert Hall. Hilarious and blissfully nostalgic, this is a riotous account of a bedroom dreamer''s attempts to conquer the world armed with nothing more than a chancer''s enthusiasm and a simple philosophy: how hard can it be? *** ''At the heart of this entertaining memoir is a little boy in his back garden in Finchley, banging out a rhythm on sauceTrade ReviewWonderful - such a terrific read. HOW DOES IT FEEL? hit me right between the eyes. It brilliantly captures the passion, commitment, searing self-knowledge and dizzy happiness that comes with loving music. An enchanting book -- STEPHEN FRYMark Kermode's warmly salubrious memoir reveals, unexpectedly, a teenager who found skiffle as addictive - and sometimes as dangerous - as crack -- CAITLIN MORAN[A] witty, self-deprecating account . . . at the heart of this entertaining memoir is a little boy in his back garden in Finchley, banging out a rhythm on saucepans with a couple of wooden spoons * Daily Mail *Mark Kermode's wonderful and wry book is a compelling combination of heartfelt enthusiasm, merciless self-analysis and a pleasingly full Rolodex of terrible band names. A true fan, he has the rare gift of making you want to discover things from the margins while never looking down on the mainstream. His writing feels like one of those letters you always wish to receive, one whose sole purpose seems to be to increase your zest for life -- RICHARD AYOADEMark Kermode deftly and winningly manages to have one foot in knotty film criticism and one in popular entertainment . . . If you enjoyed [Danny] Baker's various volumes of autobiography, Kermode's romp through his own 'back story' will appeal too, since he has much of his mentor's style: breezily anecdotal, big on dialogue and set-pieces * New Statesman *Kermode's insistent perfecting of musical failure is madly funny. I loved this book and cringed at every awful stage fail, but his passion shines through. His unrequited desire to be a rock star in a time when every idiot had a band is bum-clenchingly funny and forensically recalled. How life isn't always the movie in your mind -- GARY KEMPEntertaining . . . wry . . . rendered with self-deprecating humour. Overwhelmingly, what comes through every anecdote is the author's genuine enthusiasm for music * Spectator *A delight. If Nick Hornby's HIGH FIDELITY and the Kinks' greatest hits had a baby, and that baby could play skiffle, it would be this book -- HADLEY FREEMANAn entertaining read by anyone's standards, but if you've ever been in a band, if you understand the idea of throwing yourself body and soul into making music with the absolute surety that what you're doing amounts to genius, even - and especially - when it definitely, definitely doesn't, then it's a book you're going to adore * Drowned in Sound *Oh boy! A rocking whirlwind of a tale. People get into bands originally for the sheer love of the life and the music. Few manage to retain that dizzying adolescent crush like Mark Kermode -- DANNY BAKERAn engaging tribute to the under-sung glories of skiffle, written with the joyful enthusiasm of someone clearly dedicated to making music -- JONNY GREENWOODFrom a garden with one person and a cat, to the Barbican Concert Hall. From a cassette recorder in a bedroom in North London to the legendary Sun studios in Memphis, Mark Kermode's self-deprecatory wit exemplifies and celebrates the wonderful unstoppable force of innocence and youthful dreams. Part Spinal Tap, part Nick Hornby, a rock'n'rollercoaster memoir of never giving up on your passions -- SANJEEV BHASKARYou know when you read a biography of your favourite band? And the best bit is the first few chapters where they're chancing it, sleeping on floors, borrowing amps and not believing they've blagged their way onto a bill with Rick Wakeman. Well, imagine that breathless, innocent excitement lasted their whole career. That's what reading HOW DOES IT FEEL? is like. It's the biography of your favourite band who never quite got famous -- JOHN ROBINS
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co When the Mountains Dance
Book Synopsis''In the wake of the strongest earthquake in Italy for nearly forty years and the many aftershocks that followed, Italians began speaking of the earth beneath our feet as la terra ballerina, the dancing earth. The dance they spoke of was unrelenting.''Foreign correspondent Christine Toomey spent years renovating her glorious, long-abandoned hill-top home in Le Marche, Italy, as a haven of rest from covering crises around the world. But in 2016, the peace and beauty of this beloved landscape were thrown into chaos when a series of powerful earthquakes struck the heart of the Apennines.Wracked with grief for a place still reverberating with seismic aftershocks, Christine decided that one way of preserving the community was to tell its history.Fuelled by the artefacts uncovered in her attic - including oil paintings and lithographs, a map, thick with dust but showing details of the earthquake that obliterated Messina in 1908, and century-old letter
£10.44
Pan Macmillan A Different Kind of Daughter: The Girl Who Hid
Book SynopsisA Different Kind of Daughter is a powerful memoir about a young Pakistani girl who, until the age of twelve, was disguised as a boy so she could compete in sports.'Maria Toorpakai has risen from the turmoil of tribal life in Pakistan to become not only a world-class athlete, but a true inspiration, a pioneer for millions of other women struggling to pave their own paths to autonomy, fulfilment and genuine personhood' – Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite RunnerMaria Toorpakai Wazir has lived her life disguised as a boy, defying the Taliban, in order to pursue her love of sport. Coming second in a national junior weightlifting event for boys, Maria decided to put her future in her own hands by going in disguise. When she discovered squash and was easily beating all the boys, life became more dangerous.Heart-stopping and profoundly moving, Maria shares the story of her long road and eventual triumph, pursuing the sport she loved, defying death threats and following her dream.Trade ReviewIt's hard enough to become the best in the world at anything. It's even harder when people want to kill you just for trying. -- Mary Carillo - NBC SportsA vivid personal account of a courageous young woman standing up to one of the world's most oppressive theocracies -- Kirkus ReviewsBeyond Brave -- Sunday ExpressA remarkably vivid book -- Herald ScotlandTable of ContentsChapter - 1: Prologue Chapter - 2: Between the Mountains Chapter - 3: The Mullah Chapter - 4: An Unlikely Bride Chapter - 5: Genghis Khan Chapter - 6: Bhutto's Muse Chapter - 7: The Wall Chapter - 8: the City of Guns Chapter - 9: Deities, Temples and Angels Chapter - 10: Out of the Tribal Lands Chapter - 11: The Capital of Empires Chapter - 12: I Am Maria Chapter - 13: Playing Like a Girl Chapter - 14: Smoking Scorpions Chapter - 15: Rupees for My Mother Chapter - 16: The Giver of Treasure Chapter - 17: Number One Chapter - 18: In the Crosshairs Chapter - 19: Purdah Chapter - 20: Breakbone Fever Chapter - 21: Liberty Bell Chapter - 22: Epilogue: One Thousand Marias Acknowledgements - 23: Acknowledgments Chapter - 24: About the Authors Chapter - 25: A Letter about MariaToorpakai.org
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Scattered
Book Synopsis**A Guardian book to look out for in 2024**''An exceptional book: a meditation on family; an interrogation of movement and borders; a reflection on how someone can become separated from their own personal history; and an argument that it is never too late to reconnect with what was lost'' SALLY HAYDENA compelling story from a gifted storyteller In a moment where refugees are often talked about but rarely heard from, her voice breaks through' GARY YOUNGEA staggering investigation into the costs and consequences of displacement, from a young woman uniquely placed to explore the refugee experience and its aftershocksIn 2015, Aamna Mohdin travelled to Calais to report from the frontlines of the refugee crisis. When she returned to London, and discussed what she had seen with her parents, their response surprised her: didn't she remember being a refugee herself?Aamna was faced with a reality she had been outrunni
£17.09
Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) Believe
Book SynopsisA remarkable memoir from one of football's most versatile players and the Ukraine's most invaluable advocate
£10.44
Pen & Sword Books Ltd RAF and East German Fast-Jet Pilots in the Cold
Book SynopsisRAF and East German Fast-Jet Pilots in the Cold War is the result of ten years of research, involving many visits to the former German Democratic Republic by a small Anglo/German team of military specialists. Their purpose was to explore the lives of RAF and East German ?ghter and ?ghter-bomber pilots, in the air and on the ground, at work and play, during the Cold War in North Germany. The book is based largely on personal testimony from these pilots, coupled with facts drawn from of?cial archives and comment from other historical sources. Where possible, political considerations have been avoided and no outright criticism has been intended, readers being left to draw their own conclusions on the thinking, strategies, equipment and tactics discussed. Far from being an intellectual polemic on the Cold War, the text and photographs merely record a slice of history as seen through the eyes of a select few who took up arms in the defence of their respective homelands - and faced each other daily across the Iron Curtain. In an insightful conclusion, Nigel Walpole reassess the threat that both sides believed was genuine during those tense decades of the Cold War and examines the possible course and nature of a conflict which neither NATO nor the Warsaw Pact wanted but both actively planned for.
£16.99
MusicFootballFatherhood DAD: Untold stories of Fatherhood, Love, Mental
Book SynopsisDAD is a deeply moving and inspiring collection of stories that represent the diversity of modern fatherhood and seeks to start a conversation that challenges the traditions associated with masculinity. Including 20 powerful and defiant stories about postnatal depression, becoming a new dad during the pandemic, miscarriage, widowhood, stillbirth, co-parenting, childbirth trauma, work-life balance, new dads at work, shared parental leave, being a stay-at-home dad, gay fatherhood and surrogacy, being a stepdad, black fatherhood, raising a child of dual heritage, being a single dad, faith and fatherhood, raising a child with autism, gender stereotypes and more. This is a ground-breaking book. A movement. Never before have a group of men come together to bare their souls and speak so openly and honestly about their fatherhood experiences. This book aims to encourage better dialogue between colleagues, friends, and especially within families; between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, dads and children. We know that men and dads don't always have the space to speak openly about their experiences. We believe DAD can change the world and move forward the conversations around fatherhood, masculinity, mental health and gender equality. DAD has a diverse range of contributors who represent all aspects of race, class, age, and sexuality. Each dad has written in their raw and authentic voice. This was extremely important to make sure underrepresented voices, ordinary people whose stories often go unheard, are now listened to and part of the mainstream conversation. These are ordinary men, being extraordinary by sharing their story with the world. Our contributors have come together, from different walks of life, because they believe in the shared purpose, vision and movement. Each chapter will take you on a journey; you will be immersed in that dad’s world. Underlying each of the dad’s stories is a persistent and driving force of love, defiance, humility and strength to be the best fathers they can be for their families. Our call to action is for more open conversations, like the ones you are about to read.
£999.99
Pan Macmillan From Rags to Ricky
Book SynopsisFrom one of the stars of C4's Banged Up, this is Sid Owen's entertaining and poignant autobiography, as the troubled kid heading towards a life of crime found success in EastEnders.Sid Owen is best known for playing the hapless but loveable EastEnders character Ricky Butcher, one of Britain’s most enduring soap icons. What people don’t know is that Sid’s early life saw more drama than anything his character endured. His father was an armed robber who was sent to prison when Sid was very young. Sid went out 'on the rob' from an early age, breaking into shops and seeing it as a big adventure.Sid lived happily with his mum and siblings on a sprawling north London council estate until he was seven, when his mum died and the brothers were split up. Feeling confused, unloved and unhappy, Sid was heading towards a life of crime. Acting offered an escape from his troubled home life and his teen years played out between extremes – at thirteen he was working with Al Pacino and Donald Sutherland on the movie Revolution; at sixteen he was living in an Islington squat with his brothers when his work brought him to the attention of the EastEnders producers.From Rags to Ricky is Sid’s moving, unforgettable account of his north London childhood during the late 1970s and 80s. His natural storytelling skills, authentic voice, ear for dialogue and sharp eye for detail transform this story of loss and deprivation into a timeless tale of one individual’s struggle to defy the hand fate dealt him and come out winning.
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Lights Out, Full Throttle: The Good the Bad and
Book SynopsisDrawing on a lifetime of sniffing petrol fumes, Lights Out, Full Throttle stands large over the landscape of Formula One and takes the temperature of the good, the bad and the ugly of the petrolhead’s paradise.Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill between them competed in 261 Grands Prix, amassing twenty-five wins, forty-nine podium finishes, one World Championship, 458 championship points, a Le Mans win, two smashed ankles, a broken arm, wrist and leg, sixty broken ribs, and two bruised egos.Having retired from racing, Johnny and Damon have become the one constant for passionate English F1 fans in a rapidly changing landscape. They have earned cult status as commentators and pundits, with viewers loving their unerring dedication to the sport’s greatness.It offers F1 fans a tour of the sport – from Monaco to Silverstone; Johnny’s crowd surfing and Bernie’s burger bar; the genius of Adrian Newey and Colin Chapman; why Lewis Hamilton will never, ever move to Ferrari (probably); getting the yips; money; safety; what it’s like to have an out-of-body experience while driving a car in the pouring rain at 200 mph; and the future of the sport in the wake of Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter.Whether you’re a fan of Nigel, Niki, Kimi or Britney, pine for the glory days of Brabham, Williams, Jim Clark and Fangio, or believe that Lewis is one year away from retiring as the GOAT, Lights Out, Full Throttle is the oily rag for the petrolhead fan to inhale while waiting for the racers to line up on the grid.
£17.00
Pan Macmillan Dragged Up Proppa
Book SynopsisPip Fallow grew up on a council estate deep in the coal fields of County Durham. Spewed out of the newly implemented comprehensive education system and destined for a life of cutting coal he found no coal to cut. He moved around for work and lived on his wits for a decade before landing back in a broken North East, now literate and ready to write. He is a bricklayer, published author and calls himself a former young socialist'. He was shortlisted for the Sid Chaplin Award for working class writing and has dabbled in acting, with a brief role in a Ken Loach film. Dragged Up Proppa is his first book.
£10.44
Pan Macmillan Maybe I Don't Belong Here: A Memoir of Race,
Book SynopsisA Book of the Year in The Observer and The Times and winner of the Visionary Honours Award.'David Harewood writes with rare honesty and fearless self-analysis about his experiences of racism and what ultimately led to his descent into psychosis . . . This book is, in itself, a physical manifestation of that hopeful journey.' - David Olusoga, author of Black and BritishThis powerful and provocative memoir charts critically acclaimed actor David Harewood’s life from working class Birmingham to the bright lights of Hollywood. He shares insights from his recovery after an experience of psychosis and uncovers devastating family history. Maybe I Don't Belong Here is a groundbreaking account of the impact of everyday racism on Black mental health and a rallying cry to examine the biases that shape our society.As a young actor, David had a psychotic breakdown and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. He was physically restrained by six police officers, sedated, then hospitalized and transferred to a locked ward. Only now, thirty years later, has he been able to process what he went through.What caused this breakdown and how did David recover to become a successful actor? How did his experiences growing up contribute to a rupture in his sense of his place in the world? David’s compelling story poses the question: Is it possible to be Black and British and feel welcome and whole?'One of the best books on mental health, race, Britain and the thrill of acting I have ever read.' – Stephen FryTrade ReviewOne of the best books on mental health, race, Britain and the thrill of acting I have ever read. You will fall in love with the miraculous David Harewood as he grows up, stumbles, falls and rises in triumph. This incredible, touching and inspiring story will change lives. -- Stephen FryDavid Harewood writes with rare honesty and fearless self-analysis about his experiences of racism and what ultimately led to his descent into psychosis at the age of twenty-three. With equal candour, David plots the story of his recovery. This book is, in itself, a physical manifestation of that hopeful journey. -- David Olusoga, author of Black and BritishHeartwarming, eye-opening, gut-wrenching... Maybe I Don’t Belong Here shines a light on the interplay between race, identity and mental well-being with tremendous moral courage. -- David Lammy, MPAn eye-opening read and a subject we don’t hear enough about -- The GuardianStartling and thought-provoking -- The Sunday TimesSuch a powerful and necessary read...Don't wait until Black History Month to pick up this book, it's a must-read just now. -- Candice Brathwaite, Sunday Times bestselling author of I Am Not Your Baby Mother and Sista, Sister
£9.99
Cornerstone Shine: Discover a Brighter You
Book Synopsis'This is an utter tonic. Lorraine at her most honest; a genuinely helpful book' DAWN FRENCH'I love this book!' DAVINA MCCALL________________________________Lorraine has been a fixture on our TV screens for 35 years and is beloved by thousands for her warmth and down-to-earth interviewing style. Whatever life throws at her, she always manages to keep that signature twinkle in her eye. Now, she's ready to share her life lessons.There's a lot to keep up with nowadays: family, home, work, social media, the news... It's all too easy for days go by in a blur and before you know it, you're exhausted and the year has passed in the blink of an eye. Despite her hectic schedule, Lorraine has learned how important it is to listen to your body and your heart, and to take control of your life. Whether making small changes to your daily routine or overhauling your lifestyle and achieving those bucket-list goals, Shine will show you how to live every day to the fullest. Let Lorraine guide you on the journey to your best self with candid anecdotes from her own life, tips from the experts and practical exercises. You'll learn how to:- Spark: how to stay positive, confident and calm whatever life throws at you.- Glow: encouragement and strategies for keeping your body healthy and your look fresh, whatever your age.- Dazzle: how to get the best out of your relationships, family and work and make a difference to the world, even if it's just your patch.Uplifting, warm, and with beautiful hand-painted illustrations, Shine is a self-help book told from the heart.Trade ReviewThis is an utter tonic. Lorraine at her most honest; a genuinely helpful book’ -- Dawn FrenchI love this book, especially the chapter on aging * Davina McCall *Very Lorraine: no psychobabble, no self-indulgence, no nonsense, just matter-of-fact advice. The book is based on her own experiences, from looking your best to dealing with bullying, anxiety, menopause, friendships, parents and parenthood. It is the sort of age-old female wisdom and compassionate common sense a mother would pass on . . . The message she puts across in her book [is]: be real, make the most of yourself and your opportunities, and have a blast * YOU magazine *A thoughtful, supportive guide to living your best life . . . Lorraine draws freely on her own challenging life experiences from menopausal anxiety and miscarriage to discrimination. And she offers tips on everything from ageing and sleep to developing confidence and building self-esteem, as well as suggesting practical exercises to help challenge negative thinking, all delivered with her trademark warmth. -- Charlotte Heathcote * Mirror *This is all about living life to the full. nurturing mind, body and relationships, with advice on everything from ageing to Zumba. Kelly's own life has had its trials, but her sunny optimism will ward off winter's chill. * Saga Magazine *
£17.00
Ebury Publishing No Shame: How to drop the guilt … from some who’s
Book SynopsisShame, shame we know your nameDo we own it? Being a woman that is. Do we fuck! We live in fear of how we look, what we eat, how we age and what we do. Wow, it's 2022 and we're still churning out that same old shit. I've been told as you get older you care less. Fucking great. I can't wait to be menopausal with skunk-like grey track lines in my hair, saggier tits, and miserable as shit. I don't know about you, but I'd quite like to have that experience - the no-fucks-experience that is - now, before that all happens. To have the confidence to believe in who I am. It's a push we all have to make - whether it be in our confidence over our bodies, who we are as people, or what goes on inside our mind - and we all have to work at it. It's baby steps. So let's take it back to those tiny steps, because all mountains that are climbed don't happen without practice, perseverance, self-belief and a fuck ton of work.
£15.29
Transworld Touching Cloth
Book Synopsis''Touching Cloth can be compared to Adam Kay''s This Is Going to Hurt and the writings of the Secret Barrister'' Observer''I laughed my way through this... Funny, fascinating, and gorgeously humane'' Marina Hyde''Funny and touching in equal measure'' Tom HollandA laugh-out-loud memoir of becoming a 21st-century priest, Touching Cloth is also a love letter to the Prayer Book, Liverpool, funerals, cake tins, lager and, above all, to what the Church of England can be at its best. The very word ''reverend'' inspires solemnity. To be a priest is to dedicate one''s life to quiet prayer and spiritual contemplation. Isn''t it?Fergus Butler-Gallie reveals what it''s like to become a priest in the twenty-first century. Find out why black really is slimming, how to keep a straight face when someone is inadvertently hot-boxing a funeral, and which royal-themed biscuit tin can best contain a very loud person
£10.44
Ebury Publishing A Better Tomorrow
Book SynopsisThere is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you - Maya AngelouMina Smallman has lived through the unimaginable. On Saturday 6 June 2020, her daughters, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, were killed in a park by a male stranger as they celebrated Bibaa's birthday. Mina has been fighting for justice ever since - for her daughters, and for the rest of us, by challenging the toxic culture in the Metropolitan Police and calling out the wider institutional misogyny, racism and classism in Britain. Now, she tells her story for the first time. Starting from her childhood in foster care and arriving at the present day, Mina looks back on her time as a schoolteacher, and then as the first woman of colour to be an Archdeacon in the Church of England, before sharing her experience of losing her two daughters, Bibaa and Nicole. Told through grief and with compassion, humour and love, this deeply personal memoir is Mina's beacon of hope, which calls for all of us to step up, collectively, and work together for a better future.
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Where the Light Fell: A Memoir
Book Synopsis'Not until college days do I discover the shocking secret of my father's death.'With a journalist's background Philip Yancey is widely admired for taking on the more difficult and confusing aspects of faith. Now in Where the Light Fell he shares, for the first time, the painful details of his own origins - taking us on an evocative journey from the backwoods and Bible-belt pockets of the South to the bustling streets of Philadelphia; from trailer parks to church parking lots; from dark secrets and family oddballs to fire-and-brimstone preachers and interminable church services. Raised by their impoverished single mother, Philip and his brother Marshall struggle to comprehend her speeches about their dead father, an Old Testament Bible story, and sons sacrificed for a divine cause.This coming-of-age story is a slice of life, both intensely personal and broadly resonant, set against a turbulent time in post-WWII American history shaped by the racism and paranoia of fundamentalist Christianity and reshaped by the mounting pressures of the Civil Rights movement and 60s-era forces of social change. An unforgettable read, it is at once hugely funny, deeply disturbing and achingly poignant. A testament to the power of the human spirit, Where the Light Fell illuminates Yancey's ability to bring comfort to those bruised by the church, and hope to those who can't imagine ever finding a healthy faith.Trade ReviewAmong the many writings of Philip Yancey you will find evocative glimpses of a past and present family life that has been hugely impactful. Yet that family life is a history that has been deeply relevant to his significant contributions to contemporary Christian literature. And at last we find out more.' * The Baptist Times *offers hope of healing and reveals the depths of grace. * Woman Alive *Searing. Heartrending. In his gorgeous memoir, Philip Yancey finally reveals the story behind his relentless quest to separate a true faith from its counterfeit. He learned the value of grace - because he was denied it. This stunning tale reminds us that the only way to keep living is to ask God for the impossible: love, forgiveness, and hope. * Kate Bowler, New York Times bestselling author of Everything Happens for a Reason and The Preacher’s Wife *A gripping memoir ... Yancey's eloquent descriptions of coming to faith and his exacting self-examination make this a standout. Exploring the corrosive role of fear in faith, Yancey's piercing and painful account invites comparison to Hillbilly Elegy. * Publishers Weekly (Starred review) *One of the world's finest Christian writers has written his most personal and gripping book. Where the Light Fell is a stunning memoir - beautifully written, transparent and vulnerable, raw and honest, evocative and unforgettable. It is a story of pain and redemption, of shattered lives and healing grace. Yancey's remarkable ministry of empathy and grace can't be understood apart from the wounds he sustained during his early life. His gifts have been shaped by his scars. Where the Light Fell is the book Philip Yancey had to write, and the book we needed him to write. * Peter Wehner, former senior White House advisor; Contributing Writer, The Atlantic and New York Times *a compelling and well-written account. * Woman Alive Magazine *It reads like the best of fiction, Angela's Ashes, say, or Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. It is searing and sensory, brutally honest, and frequently humorous: the story of an impoverished childhood and youth in a fundamentalist church, dominated by fear of hellfire and a wildly unpredictable mother... How on earth, as a journalist and the author of 25 books to date, did he manage to hang on to all this rich material until now? * The Church Times *Among the many writings of Philip Yancey you will find evocative glimpses of a past and present family life that has been hugely impactful. Yet that family life is a history that has been deeply relevant to his significant contributions to contemporary Christian literature. And at last we find out more. * The Baptist Times *
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton General Division Small Town Girl: Love, Lies and the Undercover
Book Synopsis'Utterly compelling from the first page' - Kerry Hudson'Gripping . . . this is one not to miss' - Irish TimesFor two years, Donna McLean lived a life of bliss with her boyfriend, Carlo. But her great love story wasn't just built on lies - it was one. Because Carlo wasn't a bike-obsessed Italian locksmith at all; he was a British police officer, part of a unit that had worked undercover for years to infiltrate activist groups across the country. More than twenty of those officers deliberately targeted women and duped them into relationships, posing as socialists, environmental campaigners and union reps, before vanishing without a trace.Small Town Girl is Donna's shattering story of a life turned upside down overnight, and her reclamation of a truth that was shamelessly buried by those who should be protecting the most vulnerable in society.'Mind-blowing, gut-wrenching, shocking and beautifully written' - Chris Atkins
£10.44
