Memoirs Books

Book Synopsis*How I Rescued My Brain* tells the story of David's neurological difficulties, and of his emotional and cognitive recovery. This is an amazing story of a man's resilience, and his determination to overcome one of the most frightening situations imaginable - the fear that he had lost his mind, and may not get it back.

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Book SynopsisHow did a debutante from Lake Forest, Illinois, end up in Boston''s notorious “Combat Zone” and become its most famous stripper? What led her to convert to Islam and get engaged to Cat Stevens? And how did she end up traveling and performing with Andy Kaufman and hosting a radio show for the sexually bewildered opposite Dr. Ruth? In 1977, an eighteen-year-old Lucy Johnson stripped out of her bellbottoms and Birkenstocks and was crowned the feature attraction at the Naked i Cabaret. Local and national media took note of her toney background and, for the next eleven years, she strutted her way into Beantown history as the "Socialite Stripper." In Princess Cheyenne, Lucy Wightman recounts her wild, Zeligesque life both in and out of the Naked i. Smart and uproarious, this is the untold story of a legendary performer whose stage name is synonymous with “The Zone,” Boston''s most mythical district, and a fount of nostalgia and wonder to this day.

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Book SynopsisA New York Times and Washington Post Notable Book A Best Book of 2021 by BuzzFeed and Real Simple An “unmissable” (Vogue), “exceptional” (The Washington Post), and “evocative” (Chicago Tribune) memoir about three Black girls from the storied Bronzeville section of Chicago that offers a penetrating exploration of race, opportunity, friendship, sisterhood, and the powerful forces at work that allow some to flourish…and others to falter.They were three Black girls. Dawn, tall and studious; her sister, Kim, younger by three years and headstrong as they come; and her best friend, Debra, already prom-queen pretty by third grade. They bonded—fervently and intensely in that unique way of little girls—as they roamed the concrete landscape of Bronzeville, a historic neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, the destination of hundreds of thousands of Black folks who fled the ravages of the Jim Crow South. These third-generation daughters of the Great Migration come of age in the 1970s, in the warm glow of the recent civil rights movement. It has offered them a promise, albeit nascent and fragile, that they will have more opportunities, rights, and freedoms than any generation of Black Americans in history. Their working-class, striving parents are eager for them to realize this hard-fought potential. But the girls have much more immediate concerns: hiding under the dining room table and eavesdropping on grown folks’ business; collecting secret treasures; and daydreaming about their futures—Dawn and Debra, doctors, Kim a teacher. For a brief, wondrous moment the girls are all giggles and dreams and promises of “friends forever.” And then fate intervenes, first slowly and then dramatically, sending them careening in wildly different directions. There’s heartbreak, loss, displacement, and even murder. Dawn struggles to make sense of the shocking turns that consume her sister and her best friend, all the while asking herself a simple but profound question: Why? In the vein of The Other Wes Moore and The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace, Three Girls from Bronzeville is a “deeply personal” (Real Simple) memoir that chronicles Dawn’s attempt to find answers. It’s at once a celebration of sisterhood and friendship, a testimony to the unique struggles of Black women, and a tour-de-force about the complex interplay of race, class, and opportunity, and how those forces shape our lives and our capacity for resilience and redemption.

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Book SynopsisThis A-Z memoir about art publishing celebrates the ten-year anniversary of JRPRingier, created in 2004 by Swiss art curator Lionel Bovier and Ringier AG owner Michael Ringier. With 632 books and 1,800 authors published, 20,000 printing hours, 4,000 tons of books transported and one million sold, JRPRingier continues to work collaboratively with contemporary artists to produce carefully curated, high-quality publications. The book goes from A for Art Publisher and B for Books to Y for Yellowpress and Z for Zombie Books (projects that are in the state of non-death: they are not officially stopped, so they weigh on you, on your program''s list, being revived every now and then by someone who does not want them to die, without being able to make them exist) and is illustrated with images of signings and on-press scenes. This volume is published in the Hapax series.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA Year on Earth With Mr. Hell is the critically acclaimed debut memoir by Young Kim. The book explores a liberated woman's erotic experience in a clandestine affair without the cliched political and cultural stereotypes of modern gender roles. It has garnered accolades from none other than Bret Easton Ellis, Greil Marcus, Matthew D'Ancona, Michael Bracewell and Helen Rumbelow of The Times. A Year on Earth With Mr. Hell is a completely truthful and explicit account about the first ten months of a romantic affair Kim conducted with legendary punk rocker and writer, Richard Hell, starting in the winter of 2016. It is unique in that while it is a diary, in its cinematic sweep, it reads like a novel. Because it was written as the unpredictable affair unfolded, there was always great uncertainty to the realization of this "daybook-cum-docudrama." Known for his own erotic writing, Hell instigated the book inadvertently by asking Kim to write something sexually provocative about their first night together. What resulted was an erotic relationship fueled not only by carnal chemistry but also literary synergy. Unusually, in this instance, Hell, a man, a generation older than Kim, acted as her muse; equally unusual is for a woman to write so explicitly and honestly about sex. Set in a Warholian swirl in the worlds of art, music, and fashion, spanning continents, the narrative is as much about Kim's processing her grief for Malcolm McLaren (most famous for his role as the conceptualizer, art director, and manager of the Sex Pistols, as well as designing the punk style with his then-partner Vivienne Westwood), her romantic and business partner for the last 12 years of his life until his untimely death in 2010.Trade Review'I found the book so engrossing; I really did read it in one sitting. That’s kind of unheard of from me. It all takes place in a beautiful bubble of privilege and thank god. It’s glorious to be allowed to enter into it because fuck the rest of our rotten, barren world in this moment.' – Bret Easton Ellis 'Sex, fashion, celebrities, travel—in the midst of all this swirling glamour and erotic experimentation is the attentive eye of a discerning young woman.' – Edmund White 'The most graphically effective sex writing I've read in a long time. The same material as fiction wouldn't have such an immediate and even threatening effect: when someone is making something up, that gives the reader an out, and this doesn't.' – Greil Marcus 'A fabulous escapist fantasy involving two cool people in amazing clothes having a fine time taking them off in glamorous hotel rooms.' – Helen Rumbelow, The Times 'The spirit of Anais Nin and Georges Bataille is reborn in this wonderful book. Young Kim has written something that is much more than a memoir—a truly modern work of art.' – Matthew D’Ancona

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Book Synopsis''Uncompromising... A masterful writer poised for even more great success'' - Forest Whitaker, Academy award-winning actorA memoir, penned with one good finger, about being profoundly disabled and profoundly successful.Global humanitarian Eddie Ndopu was born with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare degenerative motor neuron disease affecting his mobility. He was told that he wouldn''t live beyond age five and yet, Ndopu thrived. He grew up loving pop music and haute couture, lip syncing to the latest hits, and was the only wheelchair user at his school, where he flourished academically. By his late teens, he had become a sought-after speaker, travelling the world to give talks on disability justice. When he is later accepted on a full scholarship into Oxford University, he soon learns that it''s not just the medical community he must defy - it''s the educational one too. In Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw, we follow Ndopu, sporting his Trade ReviewSipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw is essential reading for anyone who's ever wondered how they can do right and do better by disabled people. Eddie has provided a template for allyship while remaining uncompromising in his self-worth. He is a masterful writer poised for even more great successAs an author, Eddie brings us into his reality - one filled fun and love yet oversaturated with barriers and challenges. Nestled in these expressive pages is a crucial lesson on the importance of humanity, the need for radical, comprehensive person-first careWith unflinching honesty and vulnerability, Ndopu's jaw-dropping story serves as a clarion call for a more inclusive and compassionate world. Prepare to be moved, enlightened, and profoundly touched by the extraordinary life and wisdom of Eddie Ndopu

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Book SynopsisAvailable to pre-order now!The inspiring memoir of one of football''s greatest players - Steph Houghton - in which she recounts the highs and lows of making it to the top of her game as England Captain, star of the London Olympics, and Man City stalwart, via Sunderland, Leeds and Arsenal. With 121 caps for the Lionesses, Steph has been at the heart of the women''s football revolution, inspiring girls and young women around the world but in her own understated way.Leading from the Back is Steph''s incredibly honest account of what it takes to make it to the pinnacle of women''s football when the odds are well and truly stacked against you.Inside, she shares her dreams of becoming professional as a young girl in Sunderland; how reaching that status has been a long and often difficult journey, with many personal struggles both on and off the pitch. In between, she recounts the amazing highs of playi

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Book Synopsis''Delightful . . . an original look at the literature inspired by Britain''s birdlife'' the Guardian, Best Nature Books of 2017''[The] pages light up with feathered magic'' Evening StandardWhen Alex Preston was 15, he stopped being a birdwatcher. Adolescence and the scorn of his peers made him put away his binoculars, leave behind the nature reserves and the quiet companionship of his fellow birders. His love of birds didn''t disappear though. Rather, it went underground, and he began birdwatching in the books that he read, creating his own personal anthology of nature writing that brought the birds of his childhood back to brilliant life. Looking for moments ''when heart and bird are one'', Preston weaves the very best writing about birds into a personal narrative that is as much about the joy of reading and writing as it is about the thrill of wildlife. Beautifully illustrated and illuminated by the celebrated graphic artist NeilTrade Review As Kingfishers Catch Fire is a memoir/gallimaufry of ornithological obsession by Alex Preston. He watches birds in the sky and on the page darting between myths, stories and memoir like a swift. The characterful illustrations by Neil Gower add a whole new dimension to this gorgeous book. * Damian Barr, Guardian Best Books of 2017 *Alex Preston, better known for his novels, joined forces with artist Neil Gower to produce the delightful As Kingfishers Catch Fire, an original look at the literature inspired by Britain's birdlife. * Guardian Best Nature Books of 2017 *Beautifully illustrated . . . Focusing on birds from snow geese to swallows, Preston produces an impressive account of birds both in nature and literature. * The Observer *

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Book Synopsis'This story is the result of long hours of delving into the pasts of my nanny and my ma. I hope it will give some insight into the experiences of one family of colour in Ireland today. Most of all, I just want to start a conversation, because once people come together to talk, the possibilities are endless.' Jade Jordan Jade Jordan's grandmother, Kathleen, left Ireland for England in the late 1950s to train as a nurse. While there, she fell in love and married a Jamaican man. They had two sons and a daughter, Dominique, and settled in London's diverse Walthamstow. But when Kathleen decided to return home to Dublin, she discovered that the colour of her children's skin set them apart - and that their new lives would be very different to the ones they had known.Here, in this honest, warm-hearted and often humorous multi-generational memoir, Kathleen, Dominique and her daughter Jade each tell their story.From Kathleen's determination to raise her children with love and security in inner-city Dublin, to Dominique's struggle to figure out how she fit in as a young Black teenager, to Jade's own experiences as a Black woman growing up in twenty-first-century Ireland, Nanny, Ma & Me is a story about race in a country of contradictions. At its heart lies a tale of the power of community, love and three women for whom family is everything.

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Book SynopsisAt eight years old, Grace Eiko Nishikihama was forcibly removed from her Vancouver home and interned with her parents and siblings in the BC Interior. It was 1942 and more than 22,000 Japanese Canadians on the West Coast were interned and had their belongings, property and homes confiscated, and then sold off by the Government of Canada. After the war ended, restrictions on Japanese Canadians movement continued for another four years and the Government ordered anyone of Japanese ancestry to move east of the Rockies, or be deported to Japan. There was nothing on the West Coast to return to, so the Nishikihama family moved first to rural Manitoba and, when government restrictions were lifted, later to Winnipeg. While translating her mothers journal, Grace began to add her own experiences alongside her mothers, exploring how generational trauma can endure, and how differently she and her mother interpreted those years of struggle. As an advocate for reconciliation, she openly shares her story with the next generations; throughout, Grace returns to her mothers teachings of hope and resilience symbolised in the cherry blossoms around what was once their home.

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Book Synopsis'If Dolly Alderton, Glennon Doyle and Elizabeth Day had a love child, this is the writer they'd produce.' Laura Jane Williams, author and journalist.Stylist's Must Read Book for 2022 Evening Standard's Faces to Watch in 2022Shame is a monster that grows inside us. We all have the monster, it's what we decide to do with it that determines how we live our lives. This is my story... One day in the summer of 2008, I was sat on a train travelling back to London from a weekend of partying with friends when I received a phone call that suddenly changed everything. I was told my boyfriend Richard was in hospital. He died seven days later. I spent most of my twenties pretending this never happened. It has taken me a decade to be able to tell this story, just as it has taken me years to understand that there is no right way to grieve and no right way to live. In our twenties, we are thrown into the adult world without a guidebook. It's a decade that should be about adventure and discovery, so why does it feel catastrophic when we fail? How are we expected to have mastered our lives in such a short amount of time? Saying my shame out loud has made me feel more connected to people in my life. I hope that my story will make you feel less alone, too. It is only by sharing our stories that we can give a voice to the unspoken. Whatever pain you're holding on to, I'm writing this for you.'I wish I'd had this book to guide me into adulthood.' Sathnam Sanghera, bestselling author of Empireland and The Boy with the Topknot 'Will go a long way to helping those struggling with the stigma and shame that, sadly, persistently surrounds mental health.' Vicky Spratt, Refinery29

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Book SynopsisThe moving story of an Irish immigrant's life, from a poverty-stricken childhood in Ireland to becoming a captain of industry, After the Roof Caved In is a powerful, poignant look at how hard work and education enabled one young man to change his life and circumstances completely. Today, Michael J. Dowling is president and CEO of Northwell Health, New York state's largest healthcare provider and private employer, with over 68,000 employees and over 700 facilities. But he grew up in deep poverty in the village of Knockaderry in rural Ireland, in a small home without running water or a stable roof, in a family with little hope for improvement and a place with little opportunity—and he overcame it all to become wildly successful. After the Roof Caved In is Dowling's rags-to-riches story of his life and journey from his destitute youth to his realization of the power of education and his eventual departure from his home to attend university in Cork, and onward through his life as he gradually improved himself and his circumstances. Full of memories both fond and painful, this powerful memoir examines the family dynamics of his childhood—including the lives of his deaf mother and arthritic father—as well as the social systems of the time, the politics and concerns of the day, and the way a variety of disparate events came together to help Dowling change his life completely. Most importantly, it chronicles his lifelong effort to rise above the circumstances into which he was born and to create the sort of life he dreamed possible. For anyone interested in the stories of immigrants, the experiences of the Irish in the mid-20th century, or the value of hard work and education in changing one's life, After the Roof Caved In is an essential read, and a heartfelt, deeply moving meditation on an extraordinary life. Trade Review“Stand and cheer for Mike Dowling's epic journey from the hard road to the high road and for the power of an immigrant life to make a huge difference.” —Jim Dwyer, New York Times best-selling author and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner “An extraordinary book, the most improbable life story I've read in some time. Remarkable!” —Timothy Egan, on Irish America “There are immigrants who are very successful, then there are immigrants who split the atom. The second type are very rare; Michael Dowling is one of just two I have met. He tells a cinematic story of the small villages in Ireland that is emblazoned in his soul, alongside the account of his astonishing achievements that are rooted not in the Harvard Business School manual but in the hard lessons learned tilling that lonely Irish soil. With searing honesty, like ripping a bandage off a deep wound, Dowling recounts his childhood in an impoverished family on the perpetual cusp of danger, violence, penury, separation, and desperation. Yet somehow he did not just endure but triumphed against all odds, brought himself to America, and achieved in one generation what should have taken three. After the Roof Caved In is a stunning and important book.” —Niall O'Dowd, author of A New Ireland “Be you prince or pauper, Irish immigrant, Michael Dowling’s undaunted quest for higher education and a better life is a motivating primer for never giving up. His engaging story of coming to America is alive with Celtic wisdom and wit. This awe-inspiring saga is a life-changing read.” —Dolley Carlson, author of The Red Coat: A Novel of Boston "After the Roof Caved in: An Immigrant's Journey from Ireland to America is sure to become a memoir an entire generation of Irish Americans will identify strongly with. Michael Dowling matches Angela’s Ashes for biting truth and insight. His book charts his amazing journey from the stony fields of rural Limerick to the pinnacle of success in America. It is an extraordinary read that deserves the widest possible recognition, and a story of overcoming great adversity."—Irish Central

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Luna (a.k.a. the Hoodwitch) is a badass witch. . . . Intense, original collage and photographic art throughout underscores the book’s messaging. . . . Luna’s supportive concepts, cultural inclusiveness, frank talk, and unique spells should appeal to readers looking for feminist, representational, badass witchcraft." — Library Journal (starred review) "[A] sumptuous tapestry of magic spells and memories." — Los Angeles Times

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Book SynopsisRead the powerful account of one woman’s struggle to reshape her identity when all normality has fallen away. When lifelong bird-lover Hannah Bourne-Taylor moved with her husband to Ghana seven years ago she couldn’t have anticipated how her life would be forever changed by her unexpected encounters with nature and the subsequent bonds she formed.Plucked from the comfort and predictability of her life before, Hannah struggled to establish herself in her new environment, striving to belong in the rural grasslands far away from home. In this challenging situation, she was forced to turn inwards and interrogate her own sense of identity, however in the animal life around her, and in two wild birds in particular, Hannah found a source of solace and a way to reconnect with the world in which she was living. Fledgling is a portrayal of adaptability, resilience and self-discovery in t

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Book SynopsisWhat is the word for craving a relationship with the earth, plants, rocks, and stars? What do you call someone who finds their spirit sparked by these relationships; whose concept of the sacred is altered by the scent of jasmine in bloom or the deep indigo of a sky awaiting nightfall? We''re taught that doctors know our bodies and priests know our souls. But what if you''re a person seeking to understand both for yourself without an intermediary? What is the word for these feelings and the person we become when we honour them?For writer Maia Toll, that word is magic. Magic points to something intrinsic to, and necessary for, the wholeness of the human spirit. It''s a marker for the gnawing craving for a connection which includes, but also stretches beyond, the human realm. The exploration of this word was part of her search for both personal empowerment and a sense of cosmic connectedness, the yin and yang of our lives. In Letting Magic In Maia shares the story

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Book Synopsis'a delightful and funny memoir of her family's crazy life in the English countryside. Perfect escapist reading for these locked-down times.' - SALMAN RUSHDIE'a heartwarming tale of country living' - SUNDAY EXPRESS'a charming memoir and a perfect choice for these unsettling times' - DEVON LIFE'A total joy... enchanting, hilarious and vivid... Beautifully written, richly informative...' - LIZ CALDER'A gem ... A heart-warming memoir of moving to the glorious Cornish countryside and taking up farming is the perfect antidote to city life.' - NIKOLA SCOTT"A love letter to the British countryside...a wonderfully earthy story of fresh Cornish air...an adventure from start to finish." - TOWN & COUNTRY"A light-hearted account of 30 years of trial and error on a Cornish farm...I loved every minute..." - SAGAEver dream of packing up and escaping to a simpler life on the land, just the Cornish landscape and a few cows and goats rising up to greet you each day? When Rosanne and her husband left city life for the Cornwall idyll they knew little of farming, the seasons and milking; but over time they found their way, rising to each new challenge and embracing all that the land gave them.Growing Goats and Girls lovingly and invitingly charts the rural, hardworking and joyfully haphazard lives of Rosanne and her husband as they escape London to live off the land. In their tumbled-down farmhouse in Cornwall, they learn to rear goats, chickens, cows, bees - and two children - get to grips with unruly machinery and cantankerous farmers, and chart the changing seasons in glorious countryside over thirty years.Heart-warming and uplifting in its celebration of the simple things, this earthy portrait of life on the land taps into our collective imagination. After all, who hasn't dreamed of new beginnings, escaping into nature and living more simply. Growing Goats and Girls reminds us to appreciate the fleeting, timeless moments of beauty, nature and the simple comforts of family life.

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited memoir by movie and theatre legend, Brian Cox.A Guardian, Times, Sunday Times and Independent Book of the Year*Featuring a foreword by the executive producer of Succession, Frank Rich*From Titus Andronicus with the RSC to media magnate Logan Roy in HBO's Succession, Brian Cox has made his name as an actor of unparalleled distinction and versatility. We know him on screen, but few know of his extraordinary life story.Growing up in Dundee, Scotland, Cox lost his father when he was just eight years old and was brought up by his three elder sisters in the aftermath of his mother's nervous breakdowns and ultimate hospitalization. After joining the Dundee Repertory Theatre at the age of fifteen, you could say the rest is history - but that is to overlook the enormous graft that has gone into the making of the legend we know today. This is a rags-to-riches life story like no other - a seminal autobiography that both captures Cox's distinctive voice and his very soul.'One of the best showbiz memoirs ever written... it's as funny as it is furious... Brian Cox has done everything and with this book he leaves everyone else standing' Mail on Sunday'Absolute heaven' Sunday Times'A hugely readable memoir from a giant of stage and screen' Mark Kermode'A life well lived and a story well told. From first page to last Brian Cox the great actor is Brian Cox the great storyteller, and nobody is spared his sharp eye and his caustic wit, himself and some big Hollywood names included' Alastair Campbell'Laced with his characteristic generosity, self-deprecation and cut-the-crap wisdom' Harriet Walter'Mesmerizing' Peter Biskind'Blisteringly brilliant' Bryony Gordon'Funny and irreverent' The TimesTrade ReviewA hugely readable memoir from a giant of stage and screen * Mark Kermode *A life well lived and a story well told. From first page to last Brian Cox the great actor is Brian Cox the great storyteller, and nobody is spared his sharp eye and his caustic wit, himself and some big Hollywood names included. He is brutally honest about who and what he likes and doesn't like, and honest too about his own failings. But what shines through every page is a man who loves being an actor and who has a deep understanding of why culture, and especially theatre and film, really matter. * Alastair Campbell *Rage and vulnerability, loss and passion, self-doubt, triumphs and laughs. Brian Cox's memoir brings to mind the Blake poem "What is the price of experience ? Do men buy it for a song? Or wisdom for a dance in the street? No, it is bought with the price of all that a man hath: his wife, his house his children'." What a treat and privilege to be invited in. I've never read a book that conveys the joy, grace and pain of the journey of being an actor and a human more honestly and with such straightforward blistering charm. * Kate Beckinsale *It is much more than a rabbit Mr. Cox pulls out of his hat. In this candid vision of his life it is revealed how it is he is able so convincingly, authentically and uniquely to play such an abundance of characters. All of them different, all of them real, all of them him. * Hampton Fancher *Brian Cox is not only one of the greatest actors of his generation, he is a gentleman among men. Kind, wise, funny and intense in the best ways possible, Brian is also a wonderful tale teller as this book proves. It is an honor to call him a friend and I'm so proud of him. What a life well lived. * Ryan Murphy *Wonderfully honest, touching and funny. * Gemma Jones *There has always been a coiled spring energy to Brian's acting and, now in his 70s, he has lost none of it. This book is like listening to him talk, switching from anecdote to diatribe to honest self-reflection and back to his original story before he interrupted himself. The effect is of undiminished curiosity and passion for life and work. All his observations are laced with his characteristic generosity, self-deprecation and cut-the-crap wisdom * Harriet Walter *[It] grips from the beginning - a witty prologue about the preposterousness of Steven Segal - and is the sort of riveting, candid read you might expect from the illustrious Succession actor * Martin Chilton, Independent *Simply a delight, so much so that it's tempting to consume it in one sitting [...] mesmerizing * Peter Biskind *An insightful look into his extraordinary life and career - which sees no signs of slowing down * Radio Times *Blisteringly brilliant * Daily Telegraph *A splendid memoir [and] a deeply intelligent exploration of his chosen profession, its joyous rewards and its mind-scratching demands... Throughout, his honesty is disarming * Tortoise *A tale like no other, it's a seminal autobiography * Edinburgh Evening News *Clever, perceptive ... brilliant * The Times *One of the best showbiz memoirs ever written... it's as funny as it is furious... Brian Cox has done everything and with this book he leaves everyone else standing * Mail on Sunday *Cox's book is digressive and gossipy, as all celebrity biographies should be. It's also very funny, and as salty as you would expect from the man who has conclusively proved that there are at least 50 different ways of saying f*** off * Irish Independent *The iconic Scottish actor traces his life story from his childhood in Dundee to his extraordinary career on both screen and stage * Scots Magazine *It's a book full of wonderful stories and huge insight into the whole business of acting and the workings of the human soul... absolute heaven * Sunday Times *Cox writes beautifully... Putting the Rabbit in the Hat is a rare and brilliant thing: an honest, genuinely funny and moving memoir from a star who has a real story to tell * Sunday Business Post *His writing is as compelling as any of his memorable performances * The Lady *Few memoirs are as punchy and funny * Independent *A picaresque odyssey ... opinionated, forthright and sometimes self-lacerating, it's a pungent, engrossing read * Total Film *Wildly enjoyable * Evening Standard *Amusingly irreverent * Guardian *I loved it. It was so refreshing to read a biography where the author was so incredibly up-front and honest * Sunday Post *The actor best known as Succession's Logan Roy reads his irreverent memoir charting a long career on stage and screen * Guardian *One of the funniest, most rip-roaring, irreverent and candid showbusiness memoirs of last year * The Times *

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Book Synopsis*** The Sunday Times Bestseller ***'Intimate, tender and brutally honest ... a remarkable book.' Decca Aitkenhead, The Sunday Times'These are probably the toughest times we have faced in many decades, and we all have to find within us the strength and resilience to get through and to find happiness and love in our futures, whatever life throws at us.'After first contracting Covid in 2020, Kate Garraway's husband, Derek, fought its devastating impact for almost four years. He was left needing 24-hour care and long spells in hospital until he sadly passed away in January 2024.In The Strength of Love, Kate explores issues that resonate with so many of us. She looks at the impact of trauma as well as the importance of resilience, adaptability, curiosity and positivity when recovering from it. She talks about identity, purpose, how to embrace uncertainty and take back control of our lives. Through her and Derek's story, she provides comfort and wisdom that will help anyone who has ever felt desperate, lonely or experienced profound loss, or who is fearful about what the future holds.Despite all that she and her family have had to endure, Kate shows us that love truly is the most powerful and resilient emotion of all.Trade Review'Intimate, tender and brutally honest ... a remarkable book.' * Decca Aitkenhead, The Sunday Times *'It's a book that is both heartbreaking and life-affirming, reminding us how love can fuel us in the darkest hour.' * Psychologies magazine *

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Book SynopsisThis book contains the life stories of ten Ukrainian-Canadian women who survived the turbulent events of twentieth-century Europe. The older women were shaped by their experiences during the First World War and the revolutionary years of 191721, while the younger ones were profoundly affected, if not traumatized, by the trials and tribulations of interwar Polish or Soviet rule, the Soviet and Nazi occupations of Western Ukraine during the Second World War, or their deportation and forced labour in the Third Reich. Some of the women were politically active in Ukraine during the war; some experienced Soviet and Nazi persecution and even imprisonment. All ten women found refuge in the displaced persons camps in postwar Allied-occupied Germany or Austria. From there they immigrated to Canada, where they were active in the life and organizations of the Ukrainian émigré community. One became a published poet and writer. These life stories were selected from among the interviews of 250 Ukrainian émigré women conducted by the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre in Toronto and the Institute of Historical Research at Lviv National University. They are valuable contributions to the oral history of Ukrainian women, twentieth-century Ukraine, and Ukrainians in Canada.

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Book Synopsis'A powerful meditation on what it means to belong.' The Times Literary Supplement'Deeply moving.' David Lammy'Honest, poetic and deeply researched excellence.' Paterson Joseph'It took two decades for me to go in search of the parts of myself I had left behind in the Caribbean. What ghosts were waiting for me there? There was a thick, black journal in my flat, stuffed with letters, postcards, handwritten notes and diary entries. For the first time in years, I opened it.'Twenty years after living there as a child, Alexis Keir returns to the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent. He is keen to uncover lost memories and rediscover old connections. But he also carries with him the childhood scars of being separated from his parents and put into uncaring hands.Inspired by the embrace of his relatives in the Caribbean, Alexis begins to unravel the stories of others who left Saint Vincent, searching through diary pages and newspaper articles, shipping and hospital records and faded photographs. He uncovers tales of exploitation, endeavour and bravery of those who had to find a home far away from where they were born. A child born with vitiligo, torn from his mother's arms to be exhibited as a showground attraction in England; a woman who, in the century before the Windrush generation, became one of the earliest Black nurses to be recorded as working in a London hospital; a young boy who became a footman in a Yorkshire stately home. And Alexis's mother, a student nurse who arrives in 1960s London, ready to start a new life in a cold, grey country - and the man from her island whom she falls in love with.From the Caribbean to England, North America and New Zealand, from windswept islands to the rainy streets of London, and spanning generations of travellers from the 19th century to the present, Windward Family takes you inside the beating heart of a Black British family, separated by thousands of miles but united by love, loss and belonging.Read what everyone is saying about Windward Family:'A powerful meditation on what it means to belong, both as a Black Briton in search of self-knowledge and acceptance... subtly explores the racism experienced by itinerant islanders and their children, and the long shadows cast by slavery and colonialism on St Vincent... a paean to the resilience and courage of those who travel to better the lot of their families and a loving recreation of "small island" Caribbean life... imbued with the pain of separation and loss, and the joy of homecoming.' The Times Literary Supplement'Being Black British is more than an identity, it is a journey into uncharted waters of personal history. Alexis Keir's deeply moving account will ring true for all of those navigating their own stories.' David Lammy'Infused with hope... pertinent and timely... with beautiful touches of memories that will resonate with any child born of Caribbean parents in the UK... honest, poetic and deeply researched excellence.' Paterson Joseph, actor and author of The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho'With a tender mix of prose and historical re-imagining, Alexis creates with words, a symphony of movement that mimics his travels and journeys across continents, in search of identity and belonging. A beautiful ode to migration, love and all that we do for family.' Florence ?lájídé, author of Coconut'By turns heartbreaking and hopeful. Deeply moving.' Anita Sethi'Brilliant... Profound... written in lyrical cinematic prose. I reread many passages strictly for their beauty.' H. Nigel Thomas'Poignant... like reading about your own ancestors, who were once lost but now found and brought to life... a joy to read.' Anni Domingo'A beautiful, illuminating read. Full of heart and wisdom.' Irenosen Okojie'Beautiful, evocative... tells the story of modern Britain as much as it does of this one man.' Stella Duffy'An incredible memoir... truly compelling... truly heartbreaking... I was hooked.' Goodreads reviewer'Heart wrenching... absolutely flawless!' Goodreads reviewer'Beautifully written... had me hooked from the beginning. Refreshing and informative... Fab fab book.' Goodreads reviewer'Heartbreaking... stunning and beautiful.' Goodreads reviewer'Alexis Keir paints a picture so vivid that I could feel the sun on my face, I could smell the sea and taste the food... A brilliant and well deserved 5 stars. The narration was perfect too.' Goodreads reviewer'Sheer beauty... an incredible ancestry, allowing those forgotten to be placed into history forevermore.' Goodreads reviewer'Very powerful and gripping.' Goodreads reviewer'I fell in love with this story.' Goodreads reviewer'A labour of love, and every word is heartfelt.' Goodreads reviewer

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Book SynopsisFrom New York Times Bestselling Author Erica Bauermeister comes a memoir about the power of home and the transformative act of restoring one house in particular. “I think anyone who saves an old house has to be a caretaker at heart, a believer in underdogs, someone whose imagination is inspired by limitations, not endless options.” In this mesmerizing memoir-in-essays, Erica Bauermeister renovates a trash-filled house in eccentric Port Townsend, Washington, and in the process takes readers on a journey to discover the ways our spaces subliminally affect us. A personal, accessible, and literary exploration of the psychology of architecture, as well as a loving tribute to the connections we forge with the homes we care for and live in, this book is designed for anyone who’s ever fallen head over heels for a house. It is also a story of a marriage, of family, and of the kind of roots that settle deep into your heart. Discover what happens when a house has its own lessons to teach in this moving and insightful memoir that ultimately shows us how to make our own homes (and lives) better.Trade ReviewNamed a "Best Book of 2020" by Real SimpleWashington State Book Award FinalistPacific Northwest Booksellers Association Bestseller“One part investigation of architecture and design, one part exploration of identity, House Lessons is a meditation on space and home, and Bauermeister is a Zen master of the self.”—Adrienne Brodeur, author of Wild Game“Almost anyone who’s ever let heart rule head will nod, at the very least, at the stories that a 100-year-old house in Port Townsend, Washington, evokes. In her memoir of falling in love with a house, novelist Bauermeister details every cranny, cove, and piece of plaster...This will resonate with any readers who love words and old houses.”—Booklist, starred review“...a family memoir, a primer of architectural theories and a study of how people relate to their spaces. Fans of [Bauermeister's] four novels know [she] has a keen appreciation of the senses—savoring food in The School of Essential Ingredients, the art of fragrance in The Scent Keeper. She demonstrates that same respect for the renovation.”—Shelf Awareness“Erica Bauermeister’s latest book is a thoughtful, entertaining memoir of the time she and her family spent renovating the mother of all fixer-uppers...Bauermeister has given us a skeleton key to unlock ideas about self and space and place...” —Christian Science Monitor “This beautifully written memoir is for anyone who has wondered where home is and how to find it, fix it, love it, and leave it for later as well. We are lucky to be along for the ride.”—Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is“This deeply moving story of an epic home renovation pulls essential life lessons from the logistics of plaster removal and pipe fitting and moves effortlessly across time and topic to find moments of reflection, optimism, and love in the most unlikely of places.”—Tara Conklin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Romantics and The House Girl “Intimate and gracefully told, here is the irresistible story of a house and a family in transmutation.”—Rikki Ducornet, author of The Deep Zoo “Reading House Lessons is itself like walking through a beloved old home, where strange treasures and beautiful eccentricities reveal themselves around every corner. Generous and artful, this is a hard-won story of the work that goes into building a life.” —Molly Wizenberg, bestselling author of A Homemade Life

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