Memoirs Books

Book SynopsisFrom the brilliantly original novelist and cultural critic Lynne Tillman comes Mothercare, an honest and beautifully written account of a sudden, drastically changed relationship to one's mother, and of the time and labor spent navigating the American healthcare system When a mother's unusual health condition, normal pressure hydrocephalus, renders her entirely dependent on you, your sisters, caregivers, and companions, the unthinkable becomes daily life. In Mothercare, Tillman describes doing what seems impossible: handling her mother as if she were a child and coping with a longtime ambivalence toward her. In Tillman's celebrated style and as a 'rich noticer of strange things' (Colm Toibin), she describes, without flinching, the unexpected, heartbreaking, and anxious eleven years of caring for a sick parent. Mothercare is both a cautionary tale and sympathetic guidance for anyone who suddenly becomes a caregiver. This story may be helpful, informative, consoling, or upsetting, but it never fails to underscore how impossible it is to get the job done completely right.Trade Review'A true force in American literature.' - George Saunders; 'A new thought in every sentence.' - Lydia Davis; 'Lynne Tillman has always been a hero of mine.' - Jonathan Safran Foer

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully funny and highly entertaining book gives the reader a unique insight into what it's like to be a military and commercial helicopter pilot. We make brief and joyous visits to Jamaica, Syria, Iran, Germany, Oman, Yemen, the North Sea, Sweden and Saudi Arabia. We live through two wars and we meet VIPs and Heads of State. Highly experience helicopter pilot Nick Mylne constantly dazzles and entertains with his recollections of his professional life in a spin.

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Book SynopsisDespite the often-unimaginable horrors of war, bonds of family and friendship can hold us together… Peter Barth was born in Hamburg during the Second World War. Sound and Fury explores war-time memorabilia, tape-recorded conversations, photographs and letters, to uncover amazing stories about his three closest families during the war. All three families lived close by in Hamburg. Towards the end of July 1943, the RAF bombed the city, creating an enormous firestorm and killing 45,000 people. The families survived and were scattered around Europe. His father and cousin were sent to the siege of Leningrad, both returned severely wounded. The Koschel family moved to Krakow. When the Red Army moved west, they had to flee. They came close to being caught in the RAF firestorm of Dresden. Meanwhile the Barths were refugees in a pretty village close to Bergen-Belsen, the horror of which only emerged when it was liberated by the Allies. Just north of there, the Cap Arcona (with Uncle Adam on board) was anchored in the Bay of Lübeck with two other ships, after rescuing thousands of refugees and wounded soldiers. The SS took command and packed the ships with thousands of concentration camp victims. The day before the German forces surrendered, RAF planes bombed and sank them. No one knows why.

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Book SynopsisCast in the form of an autobiography covering period between 1940 and 2015, After the Order of Melchizedek is, in effect, an account of the Church of England as she was during the second half of the 20th century. Anecdotal, humorous and allusive, much of the material is drawn from Adrian Leak’s life as an Anglican priest including chapters on life at Oxford University, at York Minster and three country parishes. “Melchizedek gives us a glimpse of the Church of England in the second half of the 20th century, seen through the eyes of a priest whose contrasting ministries in council estate, rural parishes, and cathedrals ancient and modern, describe a mostly vanished church and different world. It is a timely warning to the Church of England not to discard completely its care for everyone, whether they go to church or not.” – Nigel McCulloch, former Bishop of Manchester

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Book SynopsisA young Chinese girl forced to work in a New York sweatshop calls child services on her mother in this powerful memoir about labour and self-worth, economic revolution and cultural dislocation. As a teen, Anna Qu is sent by her mother to work in her family’s garment factory in Queens. At home, she is treated as a maid and suffers punishment for doing her homework at night. Her mother wants to teach her a lesson: she is Chinese, not American, and such is their tough path in their new country. But instead of acquiescing, Qu alerts the Office of Children and Family Services, an act with consequences that impact the rest of her life. Nearly twenty years later, estranged from her mother and working at a Manhattan start-up, Qu requests her social services report. When it arrives, key details are wrong. Faced with this false narrative, and on the brink of losing her job as the once-shiny start-up collapses, Qu looks once more at her life’s truths, from abandonment to an abusive family to seeking meaning in work. Travelling from Wenzhou to Xi'an to New York, Made in China is a fierce memoir unafraid to ask thorny questions about trauma and survival, capitalism, and the struggle for individual dignity.Trade Review‘Made in China capture[s] the confusion and wonder of lives spent looking … Qu’s narrative is laced with bitterness and aching … The struggle … seems to be holding all of these conflicting emotions at once … Qu honour[s] these complexities, tell us we were not meant to swallow our pain and survive in this world without support systems.’ -- Chanel Miller * New York Times Book Review *‘Qu’s debut memoir untangles the knots of her complicated, traumatic past as she learns the truth about her own history and reckons with the hopes and constraints of the immigrant experience.’ * Time *‘With quick, vibrant prose, Qu’s memoir is absorbing and disturbing in equal measure.’ -- Christiana Bishop * New Statesman *‘Qu writes with clarity and restraint about her Cinderella-terrible childhood … Qu’s indelible account of her lonesome childhood should gain her everything she lacked then — confidants, witnesses, and fans — who will cheer when she finally reconnects with a long-lost beloved.’ -- Jenny Shank * Star Tribune *‘Anna Qu has written a thoroughly engrossing and nuanced memoir about triumph over trauma and the meaning of home. Made in China brings the immigrant experience to life and makes you root for Anna. A must read.’ -- Sopan Deb, author of Missed Translations‘Made in China is an important story told with intelligence and heart, and a study of discipline as a form of devotion — devotion to a mother, to a legacy, to our own dreams and to those of others, to being good. So much of American rhetoric is about what we are owed. This graceful memoir is about the much trickier problem of what we deserve. Which is, in the end, brightest love.’ -- Lacy Crawford, author of Notes on a Silencing‘Anna masterfully evokes her childhood with a power and grace that speak of an experience that no one should ever have to endure. This moving and unforgettable memoir needs to be read by everyone.’ -- Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of Patsy‘Made in China is a sympathetic, brave portrayal of the confusions, difficulties, and hurts that come with growing up between worlds. Anna Qu’s writing about her journey as an immigrant deftly shows how our origins — of economic status, of country — have lasting effects on the ways we approach family, work, and self. I was captivated and moved by her story.’ -- Alexandra Chang, author of Days of Distraction‘Qu rewrites the bootstrap narrative of immigrants building a better life for their children in her grim and entrancing debut. Her “path to the American dream” amounts to a devastating story of abuse and abandonment … Even in revisiting her harrowing memories, Qu writes from a place of empathy, transcending pain to embrace hope … This marks the arrival of a promising new voice.’ * Publishers Weekly, starred review *‘A nuanced examination of complicated ripple effects of intergenerational emigration. A powerful memoir of finding self-worth.’ * Library Journal *‘A grim yet gripping memoir of an unhappy, nearly loveless childhood and the author’s determined escape to a better adulthood … Well written … Brilliantly insightful … A simultaneously powerful and depressing latter-day Dickensian story sure to elicit sympathy from readers.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘Poignant … Vividly narrated and psychologically perceptive, Qu’s story uses family trauma to find perspective on immigration and perhaps even America itself.’ * Booklist *‘What will haunt readers are the indelible feelings — of loss, fear, anger, and devastation, but, by book’s end, somehow, she has love … Anna Qu’s unflinching memoir recalls the love of her earliest years and the labour she endured to survive into adulthood.’ * Shelf Awareness *‘Lively … Qu presents her recollections in a precise, distressing chronology that sheds light on both the strictures of her Chinese cultural heritage and the sometimes arbitrary carelessness of the American social system meant to protect youngsters from neglect and mistreatment … Qu writes with great fluidity, giving her memoir a novelistic reach that speaks of a new career path in the realm of words and their truest meanings. Her mastery of English and her memory of several Chinese dialects will give her gritty memories a special punch for those trapped in similar circumstances, whether as immigrants, sweatshop workers, survivors of childhood abuse, or simply strong young women overcoming the odds to gain the best that life has to offer.’ -- Barbara Bamberger Scott * bookreporter *‘Made in China is a fierce, provocative look at the sacrifices made by immigrants in a new country, and the sacrifices they pass down to the next generation. It’s a story of family and trauma, resilience and collapse, and Qu is dazzling as she dismantles the mythologies surrounding the immigrant work ethic, making clear that a person’s humanity should never be connected with how “productive” they are.’ -- Kristin Iversen * Refinery29 *‘A heartbreaking reflection of the ripple effects of immigration.’ -- Katherine Ouellette * WBUR *‘A harrowing memoir about the indifference we show toward children, especially those who emigrate to the United States.’ -- Evette Dionne * Bitch *‘A deeply honest rendering of domestic conflict … Made in China is dynamic, a subversive and yet inherently personal piece of work … In this memoir, Qu doesn’t conform to labels. She rips off the tags others have created for her and creates her own.’ -- Valerie Wu * Asia Pacific Arts *‘Anna’s story shares a similar arc to the likes of Educated and The Glass Castle — memoirs with heroines who overcome seemingly insurmountable disadvantages through education and sheer will.’ -- Yoojin Na * BOMB *‘Unravels larger assumptions about immigration, labour, and trauma at both the personal and collective level, demonstrating how many seemingly disparate elements of our lives are deeply connected … It is a clear-eyed look at a reality that many in the United States would otherwise look away from … Remarkable.’ -- Julia Shiota * Ploughshares *‘Anna Qu has a tough story to tell, and she tells it with graceful candour … Made in China isn’t always an easy read, but it will make you examine the intricacies of mother-daughter love and the indelible influence of intergenerational trauma.’ -- Megan Vered * The Rumpus *‘A skillful and emotive excavation of a traumatic childhood split between China and the United States.’ -- Jonathan Chatwin * South China Morning Post *‘There are no easy answers here, and that’s what makes this memoir so absorbing.’ -- Elayna Trucker * Napa Valley Register *‘This candid, heartbreaking story centres on an uncommon immigrant narrative featuring a complicated mother-daughter relationship intermingled with the dark side of the pursuit of opportunity in America.’ * Oprah Daily *‘An emotionally-charged memoir about migration, belonging, and family-based abuse, Made In China is a confronting read. Ultimately, though, readers are left with a profoundly enlightening experience, owing to the skill that Qu applies when unpacking the various details of her experience. A profound story whose impact can be felt on a personal and societal level.’ * Happy Mag *‘[Made in China] vividly and poignantly documents [Anna Qu's] childhood, the darkness, occasional glimmers of light and, eventually, coming through.’ * The Sydney Morning Herald *

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Book SynopsisWhat is it like to radically change your life? Writer Alec Ash meets the Chinese who are doing just this, ‘reverse migrating’ from the cities to the remote countryside of southwest China — and joins them himself, in an extraordinary and inspiring journey of self-discovery. In 2020, Alec Ash left behind his old life as a journalist in buzzy Beijing, and moved to Dali, a rural valley in China’s Yunnan province, centred around a great lake shaped like an ear and overlooked by the Cang mountain range. Here, he hoped to find the space and perspective to mend heartbreak, and escape the trappings of fast-paced, high-pressured city life. Originally home to the Bai people, Dali has become a richly diverse community of people of all ages and backgrounds, with one shared goal: to reject the worst parts of modernity and live more simply, in tune with the natural world and away from the nexus of authoritarian power. It is into this community that Alec embeds himself, charting his first year of life in Dali among these fascinating neighbours, from political dissidents to bohemian hippies. The Mountains Are High is a beautifully written, candid memoir about how reevaluating what is really important and taking a leap of faith to reach it can genuinely transform your life. As one of the ‘new migrants’ tells Alec when he arrives: it is easy to change your environment, far more difficult to change your mind.Trade Review‘The Mountains Are High is a treasure. Part escapist tale, and part a lesson on the history, culture, and people of enchanted Dali. It’s a young man’s journey we all yearn for and only dream of taking.’ -- James M. Zimmerman, author of The Peking Express: the bandits who stole a train, stunned the West, and broke the Republic of China‘The Mountains Are High is a fascinating story of modern China, told from the perspective of those trying to escape it. Alec Ash conjures up the paradise of Dali and the colourful characters that live there with an eye for the surreal. A writer of great talent.’ -- Charlie Gilmour, author of Featherhood‘I am deeply impressed that Alec was able to create a new life for himself in this remote corner of rural China where “the mountains are high and the emperor far away,” and indeed, to gain a new perspective on life. Beautifully crafted, The Mountains are High was a joy to read.’ -- Lijia Zhang, author of Lotus‘A beautiful, reflective book that probes gently but thoroughly into the depths of both the author’s life and China’s modern collision with its storied rural past at a time of global upheaval. Ash’s year spent communing with a colourful cast of China’s believers, burnouts, and internal exiles is by turns elegiac, energising, and uplifting.’ -- Charlie Walker, adventurer and author of Through Sand and Snow and On Roads That Echo‘Beautifully rendered. Equally tender and insightful. Alec Ash deftly weaves personal experiences into a longer history and larger social fabric of the place. The Mountains Are High is not only a loving portrayal of one corner of China, but also an illuminating probe of contemporary society and the meanings of life.’ -- Yangyang Cheng, award-winning writer and research scholar at Yale University‘An immersive, meditative, and constantly surprising search for meaning in a world beset by crisis. It beautifully and limpidly illuminates the extraordinary, eccentric complexity of contemporary China.’ -- Julia Lovell, author of Maoism‘A poetic, intensely personal account of a year-long stay in a town at the edges of China, a place geographically on the margins of the modern country, but one full of memories and meanings that go far beyond the horizon. In this place, Alec moves through his own history and feelings, both towards himself and the country he has lived in for much of three previous decade. China under Xi Jinping is an often epic, overpowering place to make sense of. But this is an account that does that, through engagement with a specific environment, at a specific time, in a way which is humane and sensitive — two qualities desperately lacking in so much work on China today.’ -- Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and Director, Lau China Institute, King’s College London‘A beautiful window into rural China in all its variety, the search for freedom in all its complexity, and what it truly means to begin afresh.’ -- Jade Angeles Fitton, author of Hermit‘A sharply observed and deeply reflective account of a year in rural China. Ash writes with sensitivity and empathy for both people and place, and expertly weaves his own story with that of China’s. The Mountains are High is gentle, lyrical, and reminds us that whatever else happens, spring will always follow winter.’ -- Leon McCarron, author of The Road Headed West‘Dali is a miracle. Bucolic climes, a shimmering lake, and agricultural abundance ringed by mountains, which, as Alec Ash nimbly reveals, preserve an enclave of relative liberty in China. Alec is a superb guide to Dali, his revelations rooted in heartfelt appreciation for the valley and its people.’ -- Dan Wang, Yale Law School and Gavekal Dragonomics‘The Mountains Are High is a gorgeously written meditation on seeking freedom in an unfree country. Even if you think you know China, you will be surprised by Alec Ash’s exploration of an unlikely community of spiritual seekers, dreamers and dissidents, stoners and dropouts, tucked deep in the mountains of Yunnan Province.’ -- Barbara Demick, author of Nothing to Envy‘An insider account of a retreat from China’s relentless urbanism ... Ash offers an alternative view of Chinese rural life which, though often still poor and hardscrabble for many, can also be rewarding, instructive, and even instagammable for those that choose it. A welcome antidote to the constant drum beat of China’s 24/7 rush hour, all-pervasive tech and consumption obsession. It seems that for some there is another potential way.’ -- Paul French, author of Bloody SaturdayPraise for Wish Lanterns: ‘A gem of a book. Its brief chapters flow like a skilfully crafted set of interconnected short stories, yet all are rooted in the real life experiences of six individuals. An impressive debut book by a writer to watch.’ -- Jeffrey Wasserstrom, author of China in the 21st CenturyPraise for Wish Lanterns: ‘A beautiful and thoughtful book ... Alec Ash has succeeded in giving us an intimate and complex portrait of the one child policy generation. It skilfully documents their features, modes of life and dreams of the future. I enthusiastically recommend you to read it.’ -- Xiaolu Guo, author of I Am ChinaPraise for Wish Lanterns: ‘A provocative portrait of a fast-changing society riven by internal contradictions … a fine addition to the field, one of the best I have read about the individuals who make up a country that is all too often regarded as a monolith, but which abounds with diversity on multiple levels. Fluently written with nice touches of humour … this books supplies much food for thought, informing the wider debate while retaining its value as a closely observed picture of how some Chinese live today.’ * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisWhen I've been overtaken, I have stood and watched the water in my porridge simmer away into the air, and then the oats turn black and crackle with dryness, and my ears fill with the smoke alarm's shriek. When Adele Dumont is diagnosed with trichotillomania compulsive hair-pulling it makes sense of much of her life to date. The seemingly harmless quirk of her late teens, which rapidly developed into almost uncontrollable urges and then into trance-like episodes, is a hallmark of the disease, as is the secrecy with which she guarded her condition from her family, friends, and the world at large. The diagnosis also opens up a rich line of inquiry. Where might the origins of this condition be found? How can we distinguish between a nervous habit and a compulsion? And how do we balance the relief of being seen' by others with our experience of shame?The Pulling is a fascinating exploration of the inner workings of a mind. In perfectly judged prose, both probing and affecting, Dumont

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Book SynopsisToxic. Unexplainable. Deadly. This is the reality of living with a mental illness. When your mind becomes your own killer, death seems like a sweet release. This gripping and heart-wrenching story reveals the brutal reality of life with an eating disorder. Stephanie Shott is a bright and life-loving young woman who has had to deal with all the horror and difficulty of anorexia. In this moving and inspirational book, ‘Just Keep Swimming’, Stephanie bravely and boldly opens herself up to the reader and tells her story. This harrowing story of dealing with anorexia and beating it is engrossing, disturbing and utterly inspirational.

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Book SynopsisOne Man’s Mountain’ is a powerful and energetic memoir describing how what seem to be distant and unachievable dreams can become real and develop into a life’s experience that is way beyond what was thought possible. The book depicts life’s experiences leading from war-time to normal peacetime living. An ordinary suburban lifestyle enables the writer to explore and adventure on two wheels and brings to life a competitive spirit, which causes the writer to see and develop an ambition. The goal to be achieved centres upon an island in the Irish Sea, yet seems beyond reach. The difficulty is that it combined the need to ride and earn a living! Yet strangely, work and play relate.

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Book SynopsisTytus Sas Komarnicki was born in 1896 in Warsaw. He had been living in Grenoble since 1942 where he was responsible for the Polish Red Cross. At the same time he was involved in Polish underground movements which meant that the Gestapo agents were constantly on his heels. Before World War Two he had been the Polish Delegate to the League of Nations from 1936 and also Polish Ambassador in Bern. In 1940, after the invasion of his homeland, he and his family moved to France and eventually to Grenoble. After the war he lived with his family in London where he wrote several books on Polish history and was a member of the Board of Directors of the International Law courts in The Hague. He died in London in 1967.Table of ContentsTranslator’s foreword to ‘Despair and Hope’ 5 by Juliusz Komarnicki 5 Chapter 1: Preparations for a journey - September 1943 9 Chapter 2: The journey in France 14 Chapter 3: Andorra 27 Chapter 4: Spain: Puigcerdá to Barcelona 40 Chapter 5: Barcelona 43 Chapter 6: The taxi journey to Madrid 55 Chapter 7: Waiting in Madrid 59 Chapter 8: The train journey through Spain and Portugal 75 Chapter 9: Gibraltar 80 Chapter 10: The flight to England and arrival 94 Chapter 11: The endless wait in London 98 Notes to accompany the text 107

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Book Synopsis"I sank to my knees in despair. Incredibly, despite being in a tropical jungle I was cold, really cold. I was shivering from head to foot. The adrenaline that had brought me this far had finally run out and I collapsed to the ground. And that's when I was attacked.” Running and flying the world for over 40 years was finally coming to an end. During that time, I had become the World's most experienced Boeing 747 Captain. I had combined my flying with running the equivalent of a marathon every week for four decades. My flying career was at an end. Running had been a passion that had taken me into places and situations that were both exciting and dangerous. I could no longer fly the 747 but at least I was still young enough to run as fast as I ever could. And then I was overtaken by a butterfly.

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Book SynopsisOver the days and weeks that followed, it was difficult to keep up with changes as new roads and buildings sprouted up at an alarming rate; I have to say that most were positive changes, with oil revenues allocated to the various Five-Year plans. Ports would be expanded, hospitals and schools created, airports completely built from scratch, and then a plethora of new shopping centres to prevent us going short of anything! Sid Deeky was my Friend is a memoir recalling the days of expat life in Saudi Arabia between 1978-1985. From the daily rigour of port life to the sweeping deserts and hectic roads, Hunt's convivial recounting of his time at the Port of Jeddah covers a broad range of experiences, landscapes and interactions. Whether caught up in the daily drama of the port or cruising down Jeddah's Corniche Road in a signature Datsun, Hunt's account of expat life provides that sense of adventure which enticed so many members of Saudi Arabia's immigrant communities in the first place. Bright, poignant and occasionally tragic, this tale offers a window into expat life during an economic boom which utterly transformed the country - a transformation which would never have been possible without the immense effort of thousands of expats who migrated from Europe, Africa, the Americas and elsewhere in Asia in search of greater opportunities.

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Book SynopsisUnravelling the threads of Sicilian history, Sartorius explores the city's mingling of ancient and modern, Greek and Arab, medieval and baroque, creating a portrait of a city inseparably entwined with its past.

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Book SynopsisIn this stunning debut collection, Quan writes with raw honesty about key moments in their life and transition. Courageous and poignant, these essays deftly explore what it takes to live your own truth and carve a place for yourself in a world that offers no blueprint.

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Book SynopsisThe captivating story of the people and lost places of Little Somerford in Wiltshire:Who ran the village shop, and where was the forge? What is the history of the oak tree opposite the Somerford Arms? And what can a farm pond reveal about Constable's paintingThe Hay Wain?

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Book SynopsisYeti (male 28) seeks mate. Can be seen Christmas/Easter roaming Ben Nevis, Snowdon some weekends in between. Migrates to Alps around June. Very friendly, generally harmless, except on ski-slopes. Very safe experienced motorcyclist Britain and abroad – would get sidecar, if nagged. Please write. . . (Personal ad published in a national mountaineering magazine.) From an asthmatic childhood spent on post-war Birmingham bomb-sites, Mike Leaver escaped from cruel State boarding schools to careers as a lab technician, accountant, pleasure-boat captain, and local builder. Mike has also been: a homeless hermit inhabiting a derelict boat surrounded by drug addicts; an adventurer/mountaineer in the UK, Scandinavia, and North Africa; and finally, a semi-retired handyman writing books while enjoying an ideal life off-grid in a converted lorry in a pretty coastal town. Embark on an extraordinary journey of an eccentric pursuing dreams of love, writing and the path to happiness in a memoir that’s as charming as it is quirky.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Society for Theatre Research Theatre Book Prize 2023 The director Peter Dews prophesied: “You’ll be alright when you’re forty, and even better when you’re fifty.” It turns out that Peter Dews was right, almost to the month. In a study of British theatre through a varied acting career spanning over sixty years, Oliver Ford Davies explores the many changes within the performing arts scene through his experiences on various stages, in a variety of productions, across the country. Davies charts the ups and downs of British theatre in the last sixty years, while offering a unique perspective on life behind the curtain and the daring journey from leaving behind an academic career and into acting. From Shakespeare to Shaw, Chekhov to Pirandello, this is the story of an actor initially struggling to make a mark before making his breakthrough at fifty, winning the Olivier Best Actor award and being propelled into thirty years of leading roles.

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Book Synopsis‘A third presence has arrived in my marriage. Ms Alzheimer’s – I think of her as a hideous, brain-eating monster – has come to live with us. Permanently.’ In April 2017, Susan’s husband Nicholas was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This was followed by 28 months of relentless, rapid decline culminating in Nicholas’ death in August 2019. The Alzheimer’s Diaries (originally published as a blog) charts the progression of his illness, from diagnosis to the funeral. Susan dubbed the illness ‘Ms Alzheimer’s’ and describes the hateful impact on the man she loves. According to Alzheimer’s Research UK one person in 14 over the age of 65 has dementia, and in this thought-provoking account, Susan unflinchingly shares her story.

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Book SynopsisCome through the doors of the care homes with the care home manager, the home to our elderly, vulnerable adults, their final home. Experience the day-to-day life as a Registered manager and share some of her tales she tells. Susie tells her tales of horror and heartbreak but also those that will make you laugh and smile and happenings you will find unbelievable… Life in a care home, written by a care home manager. This little book will touch hearts and give an understanding of what it means to work in our care homes, the people we meet and those we care for, and those we work with. A Most Precious Gift is a token of thanks to all our staff that work in care homes and for those that showed their commitment and empathy working through the Covid Pandemic.

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Book SynopsisGrove chronicles not only his own fascinating Anglo-Argentinian background growing up in Buenos Aires but also the political history of the tango. He writes, In the troubled times of Juan and Evita Peron, the middle classes detested the music and dance so adored by porteños, the ordinary people of Buenos Aires. Too proletarian, sexy and subversive. These days the tango has enthusiasts worldwide, from Finland to Japan, but I didn't see anyone dance it until I was 18 and didn't attempt it myself until I was nearly 60.' He also details the terrifying moment his father was kidnapped by urban guerrillas and his anguish over the Falklands war.

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Book SynopsisWhat does it take to report from conflict zones? What good is neutrality in the face of suffering, and how much difference can one person make?From her first journalistic assignment in Gaza to covering the Arab Spring in Egypt, Sherine Tadros searched for ways to change people's lives for the better. It wasn't until her life fell apart that she found the courage to pursue her true purpose. With compassion and verve, Tadros now shares her remarkable journey, from witnessing injustice to fighting it in the corridors of power. In probing the line between journalism and activism, her memoir Taking Sides demonstrates why stories matter and how we can all use our voices to inspire meaningful change.

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Book SynopsisThis is a paperback edition of Eric Fenby's famous book which has not been available in authorised form for some years. It is a memoir of the last six years of the composer's life when Fenby, then a young organist from Scarborough, volunteered to live in Grez-sur-Loing to help the blind and partly paralysed Delius to continue to compose. The vivid account of the painful and exasperating process whereby Fenby was able to help Delius commit to paper such great works as Songs of Farewell and A Song of Summer is unforgettable. Equally gripping is the description of life in the strange household in which Frederick and Jelka Delius received visitors such as Balfour Gardiner, Roger Quilter, Philip Heseltine, Percy Grainger, Thomas Beecham and Elgar. Delius died in 1934 and Eric Fenby heeded Ernest Newman's advice not to wait but to write down his impressions at once. This he did and Delius As I Knew Him was published in 1936. In 1968 the book inspired Ken Russell's masterly film about the composer Song of Summer. In 1980, Delius and Fenby made an appearance in the song Delius by Kate Bush and subsequently their extraordinary story has influenced other artists too. Today Delius As I Knew Him remains one of the most remarkable books about a composer ever written.Trade ReviewMay I express my wholehearted admiration for your Delius Book...It is an amazing story and an amazing human and musical feat that you accomplished in taking down his last musical thoughts - an enviable feat! Percy Grainger, 6th Dec 1936; A courageous book and worthy of a Yorkshireman. Sir Matthew Smith, Nov 1936; I have read this book many times and never without being deeply moved by its unusual and perhaps unique emotional impact. Sir Malcolm Sergeant, Icon Edition 1966.Table of ContentsIllustrations Publisher's note Author's note to first edition Tommie Haglund...a Personal Introduction Part One: An interlude in the life of Frederick Delius Part Two: How he worked Part Three: Some aspects of the Man and the Composer as I knew him Part Four: The Sundown Appendices 1. Delius's method of composition 2. Notes Author's afterword to 1981 edition The Delius Fenby Legacy Index

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Book SynopsisSet around a small family farm on the edge of a bog, a few miles from the river Shannon, Minor Monuments is a collection of essays unfolding from the landscape of the Irish midlands. Taking in the physical and philosophical power of sound and music, and the effects of Alzheimer's disease on a family, Ian Maleney questions the nature of home, memory and the complex nature of belonging. A thought-provoking and quietly devastating meditation on family and loss, and with echoes of Tim Robinson and Tara Westover, Minor Monuments is a beautiful and unique literary experience.Trade ReviewSALLY ROONEY 'Minor Monuments is a beautiful, touching, and extraordinarily intelligent book. I loved every page.’ FINTAN O’TOOLE ‘Minor Monuments is beautifully poised between the vivid recollection of experience and subtle reflections on the nature of memory itself. Ian Maleney writes with both a poetic serenity and a startling immediacy, a combination as rare as it is absorbing.’ EMILIE PINE ‘Honest, thoughtful, ambitious - a portrait of the essayist as a young man.’ LISA MCINERNEY ‘Minor Monuments is brilliant, pulsing with intellect and insight, with each observation composed so beautifully as to be deeply moving. This is the kind of book that changes its reader.’ KEVIN BARRY ‘These essays are thoughtful, precise, beautifully controlled, and with a nicely wry humour helping us along the way - this is an extremely fine debut.’

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Book SynopsisTravel back in time to the vibrant 1960s, and join Bridget and her friends, students at the Hereford College of Education, as they dare to defy convention and hitchhike their way through an era of change.Armed with sixpenny Esso road maps and thumbing rides from friendly lorry drivers, they journey through Wales, Scotland and onwards to London. Venturing abroad, they find themselves enchanted by the romance of France, navigate Spanish landscapes fraught with both beauty and danger, fend off proposals of marriage on the back of a lorry travelling through the Atlas Mountains, and revel in the soul-stirring folk music of Ireland.Hit the Road, Gals captures a time when the roads were open, the spirits were free and a group of daring young women carved their own path through a world in transition.

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Book Synopsis'Inside Left' is a political memoir with a difference; not the self-justifications of an ex-Prime Minister, but the perspective of a grassroots activist well known in the political circles of Kent in South East England. Roger Truelove also reveals his other great life-long passions, education, and cricket, with some unique and utterly fascinating observations. Prime Ministers and test cricketers also appear but so too does an American PE teacher who believed that when the lights went out in Massachusetts in 1965, it was orchestrated by Hitler. There is both great joy and great sorrow in this book, at a personal level but also anger with our contemporary politics. The book concludes with Roger's unique leadership of a five-party coalition on his council.Table of ContentsCONTENTS Part 1 ~ 1944-1974 1 1 Health complications 3 2 Roots 12 3 Young cricketer 45 4 Teddy Hall 75 5 In and out of Africa 100 Part 2 ~ 1974-1997 119 6 Mwalimu 121 7 The mould survives 144 Part 3 ~ 1997-2023 173 8 New Labour 175 9 The failure of contemporary politics 197 10 Yes, Leader 218

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Book SynopsisAn unvarnished accounting of one man’s struggle toward sexual and emotional maturity. In this unconventional memoir, Jonathan Alexander addresses wry and affecting missives to a conflicted younger self. Focusing on three years—1989, 1993, and 1996—Dear Queer Self follows the author through the homophobic heights of the AIDS epidemic, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the election of Bill Clinton, and the steady advancements in gay rights that followed. With humor and wit afforded by hindsight, Alexander relives his closeted college years, his experiments with his sexuality in graduate school, his first marriage to a woman, and his budding career as a college professor. As he moves from tortured self-denial to hard-won self-acceptance, the author confronts the deeply uncomfortable ways he is implicated in his own story. More than just a coming-out narrative, Dear Queer Self is both an intimate psychological exploration and a cultural examination—a meshing of inner and outer realities and a personal reckoning with how we sometimes torture the truth to make a life. It is also a love letter, an homage to a decade of rapid change, and a playlist of the sounds, sights, and feelings of a difficult, but ultimately transformative, time.Trade Review"The narration is a triumph, establishing instant intimacy. Alexander serves as simultaneous director, guide, and archivist. . . . Dear Queer Self is an intense, daring coming-of-age—and coming out—memoir." * Foreword Reviews, starred review *"I can’t recall the last time I was so moved as I was while reading Dear Queer Self. With unvarnished frankness, Jonathan Alexander pens these letters to his younger queer self about the messy borders that exist between love and obsession, loneliness and acceptance, during moments in history marked by uncertainty and upheaval. What emerges is a striking account of the ways we draw strength from tragedy and learn to face our past transgressions with equal parts humor and resilience." * Alex Espinoza, author of 'Cruising: An Intimate History of a Radical Pastime' *"Alexander's searing memoir, framed as an interrogation of his past self during crucial years of his life, offers a deeply honest portrait of life as a complicated young man in the eighties and nineties, and reaffirms the isolation queer people still feel in a world that gestures its acceptance while withholding its substance. The writing is deeply affecting, brutal in its self-evaluation, evocative in its mapping of Alexander's search for self-acceptance. The book is most valuable for its refusal to adhere to simple categories; sexuality here is complicated, variable, quixotic, and tenacious. Much like the author's vision. I am deeply grateful to have encountered this book." * Jim Grimsley, author of 'How I Shed My Skin' and 'Boulevard' *"Dear Queer Self was included in Lambda Literary’s most anticpated list for March." * Lambda Literary *

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Book SynopsisTemple Grandin offers the world yet another great work, an inspiring and informative book that offers both hope and encouragement.In these pages, Temple presents the personal success stories of fourteen unique individuals that illustrate the extraordinary potential of those on the autism spectrum. One of Temple's primary missions is to help people with autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and ADHD tap into their hidden abilities. Temple chose these contributors from a wide variety of different skill sets to show how it can be done. Each individual tells their own story in their own words about their lives, relationships, and eventual careers. The contributors also share how they dealt with issues they confronted while growing up, such as bullying, making eye contact, and honing social skills. Different...Not Less shows how, with work, each of the contributors: Found invaluable mentors Learned skills necessary for employment when young Became successfully employed Developed self-confidence Faced the challenges of forming and maintaining relationships (and sometimes) Raised families Trade ReviewThis is an inspiring book. The stories of achievement will be encouraging for parents of a young child with an autism spectrum disorder and will be especially inspirational for adolescents and young adults who are feeling despondent that autism could deprive them of a successful career or relationship. This book has antidepressant qualities to rival those of medication." —Dr. Tony Attwood

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Book SynopsisIt's easy to make a New Year's resolution. It's much more difficult to fulfill it. Dr. Paul Semendinger, a 53-year-old father of three, an average runner (who runs about one marathon a year), an author, and a school principal, decided to run every single day for an entire year. That was his New Year's Resolution. This is the story of his quest to do what, for him, seemed to be the impossible. There were no off-days, no chances to take it easy. He made a promise to himself to run every day in 2022. He worked to achieve that goal as one of the biggest parts of his life changed radically. This is his tale of running. It's also the story of a year in his life.Join Dr. Sem as he pushes ever forward. This is a story of motivation, of drive, of success, and even failure. The insights, the humor, the reflection, and the emotion that is part of this true tale is one that should motivate and inspire others to set their own goals for themselves and find ways to achieve them letting nothing get in

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Book SynopsisIn the tradition of the beloved New York Times bestsellers Marley and Me and Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love, “a beautiful, inspiring” (Laura Schroff, New York Times bestselling author) memoir about empathy, resilience, kindness, and an adorable deaf blind pink dog.When veterinarian Melissa Shapiro gets a call about a tiny deaf blind puppy rescued from a hoarding situation in need of fostering, she doesn’t hesitate to say, “yes.” Little does she know how that decision will transform her, her family, and legions of admirers destined to embrace the saga of the indomitable pink “puppy with a purpose” (Good Morning America). The anxious and traumatized Piglet weighed under two pounds upon his welcome into the Shapiro household—which included Melissa’s husband Warren and their three college-aged kids, plus six other rescued dogs. After weeks of reassurance, and lots of love, Piglet connected, gained confidence, and his extraordinary spirit emerged. Melissa soon forged a powerful bond with Piglet, allowing the two to communicate without sound or visual cues. Two months later, when the day arrived to say goodbye to the now dashing, six-pound pink dog with the larger-than-life spirit, Melissa faced a heart-wrenching decision. Could she hand him over to someone willing to give Piglet full-time attention or could she adapt her life to make a permanent place for him? Of course, the answer was simple: love would find a way. Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family fully illustrates this heartwarming story of one special little puppy who teaches the power of empathy, love, and kindness. “Feeling hopeless? Pick up this book, savor its heartwarming messages, and share it widely. It is that good” (Marc Bekoff, PhD, author of Canine Confidential).Trade Review“A puppy with a purpose, Piglet teaches us the power of love and kindness.” -- Good Morning America“Piglet is just getting started on his quest to make the world a better place.” * People.com *"Shapiro’s personal tale will inspire even the most time-pressed among us to take time out for the pups — and people — that matter." -- Zibby Owens * The Washington Post *“A little dog with a big following,helping students learn a powerful lesson about acceptance.” -- Lester Holt * NBC Nightly News *"Such a beautiful, inspiring story of Piglet, and his loving, patient human mom and veterinarian, Melissa Shapiro. This story will warm your heart and brings to life how this beautiful dog came into the Shaprio family with his own purpose. Through sheer love and dedication, Piglet no longer lives in a world of total darkness. This story touched my heart and soul in such a profound way, as it reminded to me how my sweet, blind, and deaf 5-pound poodle, Emma, is happy, content, and loves her precious life too." -- Laura Schroff, #1 internationally and bestselling author of An Invisible Thread“I never thought I would call a book about a dog and their caring and compassionate humans a page-turner. However, I was wrong and pleasantly surprised that Melissa Shapiro's riveting Cinderella story of a tiny deaf blind pink pup called Piglet, who surely would have died had not human hands and hearts intervened, took me on this unexpected joyride. Suffice it to say, Piglet is a beautiful and inspirational story about a beautiful and inspirational dog and his beautiful and inspirational humans who all can be viewed as poster beings who enrich our lives by embracing kindness, compassion, and love when the easy way out would have been to say something like, "This is hopeless." Feeling hopeless? Pick up this book, savor its heartwarming messages, and share it widely. It is that good.” -- Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., author of Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What they Do and A Dog's World: Imagining the Lives of Dogs In a World Without Humans (with Jessica Pierce)“Piglet—a pink, blind, and deaf puppy—inspires others to overcome the odds.” * CBSnews.com *“Sometimes we need a little inspiration to remember to never give up. . . . And a little deaf and blind puppy named Piglet is just that inspiration.” * theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com *“Educators and their students, animal advocacy groups, his legion of social media friends, and now readers of this book, will continue to be inspired by Piglet and his pack face each new challenge with resilience. Including serious factual details as needed while creating an emotional bond with touches of sorrow and joy, this book will rightly gain its canine influencer new followers.” * Booklist *"The heartwarming journey of how Piglet gained confidence and now helps others face their own challenges. Each page of Piglet’s story shows the power of empathy, love and kindness—it’s a joyful respite that is certain to inspire." * Woman's World Magazine *Shapiro and Piglet’s uplifting odyssey, cowritten by Eichler-Rivas (The Pursuit of Happyness), is touching, emotional, and not to be missed.” * Library Journal (starred review) *“Shapiro's inspirational memoir—candid details of her veterinary career, her family, lovable Piglet and his incredibly sweet, resilient spirit—will win hearts.” * Shelf Awareness *I worked with Lassie for many years, one of the most heroic dogs the world has known. I never thought a profoundly disabled, one-pound pink puppy could rival her. But little Piglet does just that, overcoming enormous obstacles to raise awareness for fellow animals in need of rescue, Vet Melissa Shapiro's story of adopting and training Piglet is sweet, funny and very emotional...and above all, entertaining. And just like my adventures with Lassie, Piglet's tale is a love story. Knowing him will enrich your life. -- Jon Provost, Timmy on Lassie and author of Timmy's in the Well

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Book SynopsisWe meet Andrew Leland as he''s suspended in the liminal state of the soon-to-be blind: he''s midway through his life with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that ushers those who live with it from sightedness to blindness over years, even decades. He grew up with full vision, but starting in his teenage years, his sight began to degrade from the outside in, such that he now sees the world as if through a narrow tube. Soon - but without knowing exactly when - he will likely have no vision left. Full of apprehension but also dogged curiosity, Leland embarks on a sweeping exploration of the state of being that awaits him: not only the physical experience of blindness but also its language, politics, and customs. He negotiates his changing relationships with his wife and son, and with his own sense of self, as he moves from his mainstream, ''typical'' life to one with a disability. Part memoir, part historical and cultural investigation, The Country of the Blind represents Leland''s determi

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Book SynopsisExtraordinary stories from a lifetime spent conducting interviews. This is the world of the dreaded door-knock from the other side of the door. Trish Palmer has been working as an interviewer and area manager for market research companies for over 20 years, invited into the homes and private lives of an astonishing array of folk from every lifestyle imaginable. Her experiences on the job entail everything from bare bottoms to angry cats, the desperately struggling to the well-off, and everyone in between. There is comedy and sadness, surprises and the downright odd, from witches to boat-builders, dope growers and more. Poignant, hilarious, and always thought-provoking, this is a highly entertaining read.

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Book SynopsisAged 15 and on track to be an Olympic gymnast, Lucia Osborne-Crowley was violently raped on a night out. The injuries she sustained that evening ended her gymnastics career, and eventually manifested in life-long chronic illnesses, which medical professionals now believe can be caused by untreated trauma. In a brilliantly researched and deeply affecting essay, Osborne-Crowley invites the reader to her on decade-long journey to recovery: from the immediate aftermath of the assault, through years of misdiagnosis, to the solace and strength she found in writers like Elena Ferrante. The author’s investigations reveal profound societal failures – of law, justice, education and the healthcare system. An essential contribution to the field of literature on assault and trauma, I Choose Elena argues that it is only through empathy than we can begin to address the self-perpetuating cycle of sexual violence.Trade ReviewMention of the book in ‘Women essayists shift the rules and boundaries in the literary world’ https://www.ft.com/content/e8126aec-b1e3-11e9-bec9-fdcab53d6959 * Financial Times *Review: I Choose Elena by Lucia Osborne-Crowley ‘a thoroughly researched and deeply affecting essay . . . In the age of #MeToo and Harvey Weinstein allegations this essay is an essential contribution to the field of literature on assault and trauma’ https://thefountain.scot/reviews/2019/09/review-i-choose-elena-by-lucia-osborne-crowley/ -- Keira Brown * The Fountain *‘How Bibliotherapy Helped Me To Deal With Trauma’ ‘There is nothing more comforting than having someone bear witness to your suffering. It is the only thing, I believe, that allows us to feel pain instead of trying to escape from it. It is knowing the writer has felt how you feel, and has done the kindness of putting it into words.’ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-bibliotherapy-helped-me-to-deal-with-trauma-ptwdfhhln * The Sunday Times *‘Write what you want to forget’ ‘Honesty is why I started. So I have accepted the fact that this story is imperfect, that people might try to destroy me in the details. It will not be an easy ending, or a pleasant one, but it will be, for the first time, one that I have chosen.’ http://bookanista.com/write-forget/ * Bookanista.com *‘Love After Abuse’ ‘What I have been able to do is accept the truth of my intimate self. I know now that she is bloodied and broken, and perhaps damaged beyond repair. But I am trying, and will keep trying, because whoever was buried under the weight of abuse is worth fighting for.’ https://granta.com/love-after-abuse/ * Granta.com *‘The Paradox of Dependence’ ‘To keep becoming a woman is so much self-erasing work. I will not be the cool girl, the dream girl, the crane-wife, because she is a lie. She is a straw-woman in a field full of hungry ravens, and I am done with her. She’s not worth it, and neither is he.’ https://meanjin.com.au/blog/the-paradox-of-dependence/ * Meanjin Quarterly *‘Two years on, the literature of #MeToo is coming of age’ ‘A masterful examination of trauma and finding solace in literature.’ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/14/literature-metoo-writing-power-gender-relations-men * Guardian *‘A Cure of One’s Own’ ‘In the past couple of years more than a dozen books have been published by women about women’s pain conditions … including Lucia Osborne-Crowley’s I Choose Elena’ https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2019/11/womens-chronic-illness-pain-conditions-endometriosis-vaginismus-vulvodynia-literature -- Imogen West-Knights * New Statesmen *‘Frozen’ ‘For anyone who has ever doubted a rape story, demanding, “Why did you wait so long before you told anyone?”, Lucia Osborne-Crowley’s short memoir is essential reading.’ https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/i-choose-elena-by-lucia-osborne-crowley-book-review-terri-apter/ -- Terri Apter * The TLS *‘Is it messed up?’ ‘On the surface, I Choose Elena is an exploration of trauma – of the debilitating and disabling physical and mental impact of the author’s rape as a teenager. The way trauma can turn your body against you; the way you think you can outrun or ignore it, but you never can.’ Summer Issue -- Alice Wickenden * Brixton Review of Books *‘It is a ground breaking approach to discussing issues that we know are so often hidden’ https://twitter.com/SLTNorfolk/status/1339189801195630592 -- Sonia (manager) * Sue Lambert Trust *CRÍTICA A DOS VOCES DE ‘ELIJO A ELENA’, DE LUCÍA OSBORNE- CROWLEY (Joint review of I Choose Elena) Tensi: ‘Todo esto lo cuenta en este libro, que huye de eufemismos y cuenta la realidad sin matices, quizás por eso se debe leer sosegadamente, pues el dolor se puede palpar muy adentro.’ (All of this is recounted in this book, which shuns euphemisms and tells reality without nuances, perhaps this is why one should read it gently, because one can feel the pain deep inside.’ Miriam: ‘Yo elijo a Lucía. Ella me ha liberado. Me ha ayudado a encontrarme.’ (I choose Lucia. She has freed me. She has helped me find myself.’ https://lecturafilia.com/2020/12/21/critica-a-dos-voces-de-elijo-a-elena-de-lucia-osborne-crowley/ -- Tensi Gesteira and Miriam Beizana * Lecturafilia *Shameful: Women who write about their pain suffer a double shaming: once for getting injured, twice for their act of self-exposure ‘In her memoir I Choose Elena (2019), Lucia Osborne-Crowley gives a moving account of a violent sexual assault she underwent as a teenager, and its ensuing aftermath in the form of chronic physical illness.’ https://aeon.co/essays/shame-heaps-upon-shame-in-womens-memoirs-of-suffering -- Katherine Angel * Aeon *

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Book Synopsis"I never missed my childhood home / until the tide stopped rolling in and / ochre sand no longer crunched between my toes ..." A little girl grows up to the sounds of the seaside in bustling Cleethorpes. There are family outings through the Lincolnshire Wolds in a tiny Austin 7, and ferry rides across the Humber. Family runs like a comforting thread throughout this 'little gem of a book', and lifelong friendships are forged in unexpected places ... A gentle and heartfelt memoir about the timeless call of the seaTrade Review'There is so much to admire in this little gem of a book ... so much rich, human detail' - Five Stars; 'Warm, welcoming and absolutely a book to treasure' - reader review; 'A compelling journey through post-war seaside adventures ... A touching read!' - reader review

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Book SynopsisAutobiography is a memoir written by John Stuart Mill, one of the most prominent philosophers and political economists of the 19th century. The book details Mill's life from his childhood through his adulthood and his intellectual development as a philosopher and economist. Mill begins the autobiography by discussing his upbringing and the education he received from his father. He goes on to describe his own experiences with education and his struggles with depression and a lack of purpose in his early adulthood. The book also delves into Mill's political and philosophical beliefs, including his advocacy for utilitarianism and his support for women's rights and social equality. Mill discusses his work as a member of parliament and his involvement in the debates over colonialism and the treatment of India by the British Empire. Throughout the autobiography, Mill reflects on the influences and experiences that shaped his intellectual development and his contributions to political and philosophical thought. Autobiography is a fascinating and insightful account of the life and intellectual development of one of the most influential philosophers and political economists of the 19th century.

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Saeeda Bano was the first woman in India to work as a radio newsreader, known then and still as the doyenne of Urdu broadcasting. Over her unconventional and courageous life, she walked out of a suffocating marriage, witnessed the violence of Partition, lost her son for a night in a refugee camp, ate toast with Nehru and fell in love with a married man who would, in the course of their twenty-five year-relationship, become the Mayor of Delhi. Though she was born into privilege in Bhopal the only Indian state to be ruled by women for four successive generations her determination, independence and frankness make this a remarkable memoir and a crucial disruption in India's understanding of her own past

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Book SynopsisIt has been 60 years since I took up chess as a serious pursuit. Considering that sufficient time has passed I think that now I should look back and discuss the results of this effort! In the course of writing, I sought to make the book biographical but that did not always work out and some of the events from my chess life were not included in this work. Perhaps there will be a future book in which these events, as well as events yet to happen, can be told. For the past 10 years my name has had a special mark on the final standings - Veteran. At first this was somewhat confusing, but I soon realized that in all the spheres of human activity the word "veteran" has a noble meaning. My friends often ask me, "Vladimir, are you not tired of playing chess"? I always answer emphatically, "No, I am not tired. Where else can I find such a huge space for self-expression?"? Steinitz once said, " Chess is not for the faint of heart.” I agree 100%! Chess players do not need pumped up muscles, they need a sound mind with which to resist the constant pressure exerted on every nerve that is experienced during combat. I do not always like this constant struggle and the stress that comes with it. It is even worse when one makes a mistake in a winning position. In this past decade another "problem" has been added - incredibly powerful computer engines that younger opponents skillfully use in preparation for the game. But when you win a beautiful game or use a theoretical novelty invented at home (albeit with the help of a computer), or defend a difficult hopeless position, how great it is! And at such moments you do not think about chess being a science or artistic effort or even sport. At times like these, they are just part of your life. Now it is time to let you turn the page and see just how incredibly interesting it is to be an active chess player, even as a veteran!

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