Memoirs Books

Book SynopsisThe key missing piece of Jon Krakauer's multi million, multi territory bestseller and widely acclaimed Sean Penn film Into the Wild is finally revealed by his best friend and sister, Carine.The story of Chris McCandless, who gave away his savings, hitchhiked to Alaska, walked into the wilderness alone, and starved to death in 1992, fascinated not just New York Times bestselling author Jon Krakauer, but the rest of the nation too. Krakauer's book and a Sean Penn film skyrocketed Chris McCandless to worldwide fame, but the real story of his life and his journey has not yet been told until now.Carine McCandless, Chris's sister, featured in both the book and film, was the person with whom he had the closest bond, and who witnessed firsthand the dysfunctional and violent family dynamic that made Chris willing to embrace the harsh wilderness of Alaska. Growing up in the same troubled and volatile household that sent Chris on his fatal journey into the wild, Carine finally reveals the broade

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Book SynopsisIn 1951 the Australian writers Charmian Clift and George Johnston left grey, post-war London for Greece. Settling first on the tiny island of Kalymnos, then Hydra, their plan was to live simply and focus on their writing, away from the noise of the big city. The result is two of Charmian Clift's best known and most loved books, the memoirs Mermaid Singing and Peel Me a Lotus. Mermaid Singing relays the culture shock and the sheer delight of their first year on the tiny sponge-fishing island of Kalymnos. Clift paints an evocative picture of the characters and sun-drenched rhythms of traditional life, long before backpackers and mass tourism descended. On Hydra, featured in the companion volume, Peel Me a Lotus, Clift and Johnston became the centre of an informal community of artists and writers including the then unknown Leonard Cohen who lodged with them, and his future girlfriend Marianne Ihlen.Trade Review'These are blissful reissues that will bring Grecian heat and light to your life, and much more besides' Editor's Travel Choice. The Bookseller. 'A really beautiful writer who just puts you right there' Polly Samson. 'Her bold beautiful writing endures' Daily Mail.'What a delight that she should have been discovered again' The Times. 'They were an inspiration' Leonard Cohen on Charmian Clift and George Johnston. 'Clift's immersive 1950's memoirs capture the magic, and the menace of Greek island life' Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe history of the island of Cyprus is in many ways a world history. Its strategic position means it has been coveted by one foreign power after another. All came here: the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, crusaders, Venetians, Genoese, Ottomans, British, and they all left their mark. Aside from the Roman and early-Byzantine ruins of Salamis, the most impressive monuments date from the Frankish and Venetian times: the Abbey of Bellapais, the fortified harbour of Kyrenia, the magnificent cathedrals of Nicosia and Famagusta, the setting for Shakespeare's Othello. Sartorius lived in Cyprus for three years. In My Cyprus he returns to the cultures and legends, to the colours and the light of the Levant, sifting the sediments of the island's history, including its division after the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the difficulties that followed. Yet this is not the work of a historian or a political scientist, but of a poet, who with the help of friends, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, tries to understand this unique place.Trade Review“A delightful book.” * Times Literary Supplement *“A must-read for anyone heading to Cyprus or in need of a summery armchair getaway.” * Metro *“[A] delightful book… Sartorius is a skilled poet and writer… A joy to read.” * Cyprus Mail *

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Book SynopsisONE REMARKABLE WOMAN. OVER 30 YEARS OF FOSTERING. THE STORY OF ONE CHILD SHE COULD NEVER FORGET.Seven-year-old Reece is the last of six siblings to be taken into foster care. He can''t cope with school and is often excluded for his violent and aggressive outbursts. But behind that anger is a kind little boy with secrets he''s just too scared to tell.When Reece arrives at Cathy''s door aged 7 years old, he has already passed through the hands of four different carers in four weeks. As the details of his short life emerge, it becomes clear that to help him, Cathy will face her biggest challenge yet.Reece is the last of six siblings to be fostered. Having been in care for four months his aggressive and disruptive behaviour has seen him passed from carer to carer. Although only 7, he has been excluded from school, and bites people so often that his mother calls him ''Sharky''.Cathy wants to find the answers for Reece's distressing behaviour, but he has been sworn to secrecy by his mother, and will not tell them anything. As the social worker prepares for the final hearing, he finds five different files on Reece's family, and is incredulous that he had not been removed from them as a baby. When the darkest of family secrets is revealed to Cathy, Reece's behaviour suddenly starts to make sense, and together they can begin to rebuild his life.The latest title from the author of Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Damaged.

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR NEW TV SERIES: CAROL DRINKWATER''S SECRET PROVENCEThe first in Carol Drinkwater''s bestselling series set on a Provencal olive farm.''She writes so well you can almost smell the sun-baked countryside'' BELLA''Spellbinding'' CHOICE''Vibrant, intoxicating and heart-warming'' SUNDAY EXPRESS''All my life, I have dreamed of acquiring a crumbling, shabby-chic house overlooking the sea. In my mind''s eye, I have pictured a corner of paradise where friends can gather to swim, relax, debate, eat fresh fruits picked directly from the garden and great steaming plates of food served from an al fresco kitchen and dished up on to a candlelit table the length of a railway sleeper...''When Carol Drinkwater and her partner Michel have the opportunity to buy 10 acres of disused olive farm in Provence, the idea seems absurd. After all, they don''t have a lot of money, and they''ve only been together a littleTrade ReviewThe new leader of the pack * THE TIMES *She writes so well you can almost smell the sun-baked countryside * BELLA *Beautifully written with a great sense of humour, it captures perfectly the dreamy atmosphere of the South of France and its people * WOMAN & HOME *A spellbinding memoir * CHOICE *One cannot resist Drinkwater's courage and joie de vivre, nor the enormous appetite and enthusiasm for her subject * DAILY MAIL *Drinkwater is a rare writer who tackles other people brilliantly...Vibrant, intoxicating and heart-warming * SUNDAY EXPRESS *I love Carol Drinkwater's Olive Farm series about her life in Provence. I read them on the beach, thinking how wonderful a summer in France would be -- Jane Brown * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *

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Book SynopsisWe live in a world that prizes the fast over the slow, the new over the familiar and work over rest. Birds Art Life Death is Kyo Maclear's beautiful journey to stake out a sense of meaning amid the crushing rush.One winter Kyo Maclear felt unmoored. Her father had recently fallen ill and she suddenly found herself a little lost. In the midst of this crisis, she met a musician who loved birds. When he watched birds and began to photograph them, his worries dissipated. Curious, she began to accompany him on his urban birdwatching expeditions and witnessed the magic of a transient city. Birds Art Life Death asks how we might gain perspective and overcome our anxieties by learning to cherish the urban wild spaces in which we live. Kyo urges us to find a subtle but restorative meaning in the everyday.Trade Review‘Original, charming, a little eccentric even. This book is a delight’ Nigel Slater ‘A literary jewel box … [Maclear's] tiny gems of thought are borne of purposeful waiting, quietude and reflection … Maclear's book is appealing in its appreciation of non-human nature in the midst of city life, agnosticism about the place of human activity in the midst of nature's rhythms and exploration of the relationship between captivity and freedom’ Publishers Weekly ‘A meditation on freedom and confinement and the creative tension between the two. … The simple precision of Maclear’s prose belies the depth, as if the book were the tip of the iceberg and what she has elided or omitted constitutes the rest. Writers and others will find inspiration in the advice to stop and hear the birds’ Kirkus Reviews ‘Intricate and delicate as birdsong, Kyo Maclear’s clear-eyed observations of the natural world and our place in it challenge the velocity of modern life. A year spent birding is a year spent in passionate introspection. As she discovers beauty in urban cityscape, she leads us to turn fresh eyes to our surroundings. Her beloved birds become messengers of both loss and hope’ Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way ‘A beautifully crafted memoir that elevates the ordinary with intelligence and humility’ Leslie Feist, musician ‘Maclear’s writing is fresh and focused. If you’ve ever felt any of the emotions she discusses – worry for one’s parents, feeling stuck, feeling insignificant, feeling lost – there will be a passage in this book that will resonate’ Emerald Street

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Book SynopsisRecalls how much of the rebellious queer culture, cheap rents, and a vibrant downtown arts movement vanished almost overnight to be replaced by gay conservative spokespeople and mainstream consumerism.Trade Review"This bracing, powerful, and well-reasoned work reaffirms the author's stature as a distinctive American woman of letters... Highly recommended." -- Richard Drezen Library Journal "The book that's inspired me more than any other this year is Sarah Schulman's Gentrification of the Mind: Witness to a Lost Imagination, a razor-sharp memoir of New York in the heyday of the AIDS crisis." -- Jason King Slate "Teeming with ideas, necessary commentary, refreshing connections and examination of the status quo." Lambda Literary "A brilliant critique of contemporary culture... This is the most important book of the year." -- Jeff Miller Cult MTL "Schulman's personal recollections... are sharp and vivid." Gay & Lesbian Review/Worldwide "This is a very good, very sad book about the aftershock of the AIDS crisis in New York. Schulman is a truly gifted thinker." -- Alex Frank Fader Magazine "The author, a true woman of letters, makes a persuasive case." -- Roberto Friedman Bay Area Reporter "This is why the book is so successful and demands our attention: through a focus on the pulse of the queer community (of the 80s), it touches upon the individual condition (of today)." -- Marcie Bianco Velvetpark "A polemic, a passionate, provocative ... account of disappearance, forgetfulness and untimely death." -- Olivia Laing New Statesman "No book has rocked my world in recent times more than Sarah Schulman's 'The Gentrification of the Mind: Witness to a Lost Imagination' ... [it ranks] among the best alternative histories published in the last 50 years." -- Don Shewey Culturevulture.net "A galvanizing account of the transformation, both external and mental, in New York City life." -- Emily Douglas Los Angeles Review Of Books "The essence of what Schulman calls gentrification is to pretend that privilege and difference do not exist and that any attempt to remember that they do is mere 'political correctness' rather than facing up to the reality to who does what to whom. To forget these things, is to deceive ourselves-and Schulman's harsh, bitter prose is a useful way of waking ourselves up." -- Roz Kaveney Times Literary Supplement (TLS) "It's a beautifully written screed (not a bad word in my books)... Schulman shines when she taps her deep knowledge of the AIDS movement... She can be brilliant." -- Susan G. Cole NowTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Making Record from Memory Part I. Understanding the Past 1. The Dynamics of Death and Replacement 2. The Gentrification of AIDS 3. Realizing That They're Gone Part II. The Consequences Of Loss 4. The Gentrification of Creation 5. The Gentrification of Gay Politics 6. The Gentrification of Our Literature Conclusion: Degentrification--The Pleasure of Being Uncomfortable

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Book SynopsisFiery and candid, I Killed Scheherazade is a provocative exploration of what it means to be an 'Arab woman' today.Trade Review'Haddad is a revolutionary, this book is the manifesto. Read it or be left behind.' Rabih Alameddine 'Haddad is a poet who inhabits the storm.' Tahar Ben Jelloun 'In this courageous book Haddad breaks down the taboo of the silent absent Arab woman.' Elfriede Jelinek 'Courageous and illuminating - it opens our eyes, destroys our prejudices and is very entertaining.' Mario Vargas Llosa 'Haddad cannot be intimidated. This book is a lesson of courage for all those who fight to go beyond their own limits and chains.' Roberto Saviano 'A spirited call to arms' New York Times 'A vivid assertion of individuality, free speech, free choice and dignity against religious bigotry, prejudice and the herd instinct both within and outside the Arab world.' Guardian 'Lifts the veil on love and sex' Marie Claire 'Provocative and sensual' Huffington Post 'Beirut's body language pioneer' Washington PostTable of ContentsCONTENTS: TO START WITH - On camels, belly dancing, schizophrenia and other disasters 1 AN ARAB WOMAN READING THE MARQUIS DE SADE 2 AN ARAB WOMAN NOT BELONGING ANYWHERE 3 AN ARAB WOMAN WRITING EROTIC POETRY 4 AN ARAB WOMAN CREATING A MAGAZINE ABOUT THE BODY 5 AN ARAB WOMAN REDEFINING HER WOMANHOOD 6 AN ARAB WOMAN SAYING NO 7 AN ARAB WOMAN FLYING AN AIRPLANE 8 AN ARAB WOMAN SEIZING THE MOMENT 9 AN ARAB WOMAN UNAFRAID OF PROVOKING ALLAH 10 AN ARAB WOMAN TALKING TO HER SON ABOUT SEX TO START again - Am I really an 'Arab Woman'? POST PARTUM - I killed Scheherazade THE MISSING CHAPTER - Attempt at an autobiography

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Book SynopsisThis is not a manifesto against men in general. Nor is it a manifesto against Arab men in particular. It is, however, a howl in the face of a particular species of men: the macho species, Supermen, as they like to envision themselves. But Superman is a lie. In this explosive sequel to I Killed Scheherazade, Joumana Haddad examines the patriarchal system that continues to dominate in the Arab world and beyond. From monotheist religions and the concept of marriage to institutionalised machismo and widespread double standards, Joumana reflects upon the vital need for a new masculinity in these times of revolution and change in the Middle East.Trade Review'A blast of fresh, fiery air - Haddad has produced a vital, topical must-read for all sexes, races and cultures. Her book is a timely and completely unique addition to the commentary surrounding misogynist oppression, religion, politics and social freedom which have ignited commentators, activists and politicians around the world. The revolution and its backlash are not just being fought in the streets, squares and elections across the Middle East, but also on the faces and bodies of millions of Arab women and their sisters across the world. Haddad speaks for all of us. It's time to listen.' Bidisha 'Joumana Haddad, a Lebanese poet and journalist, has written a bold and often very funny polemic on patriarchy in the Arab world.' Lucy Popescu, The IndependentTable of ContentsContents: Once upon a time - 11 Why this book? 17 The poem Lost and found The rant In praise of egoism The narrative Note to the reader How it all started (in general) 23 The poem Beginning again The rant Heads or tails The narrative Genesis, not the way they'd like to think it occurred How it all started (for me) 31 The poem A love metaphor The rant In and out The narrative Close encounters with the second kind The disastrous invention of monotheism 45 The poem Saying grace The rant Why not The narrative Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor donkey The disastrous invention of the original sin 61 The poem All over again The rant Politically incorrect questions The narrative The bad, the evil and the ugly The disastrous invention of machismo 73 The poem Think again The rant The macho's rule book The narrative Balls come with a price The disastrous invention of the battle of the sexes 91 The poem I am a woman The rant He says she says The narrative 'Arab Spring', they claim The disastrous invention of chastity 111 The poem Recipe for the insatiable The rant Penis: directions for use The narrative Abandon all innocence ye who enter here The disastrous invention of marriage 125 The poem Still The rant Dynamics of a millenary gaffe The narrative I take thee to be my temporary love The disastrous invention of getting old 145 The poem The artichoke theory The rant So what? The narrative We can all be Peter Pan Their beautiful voices in my head 155 Letter to my sons 163 Happily ever after - 167 Further reading 169 Acknowledgements 171

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Book Synopsis'Life, like a poem, is a series of choices' In her long-awaited debut memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, award-winning poet Maggie Smith explores in lyrical vignettes the end of her marriage and the beginning of a surprising new life. With the spirit of reflection and empathy she's known for, Smith interweaves snapshots of a life with meditations on secrets, anger, forgiveness and narrative itself. It is a story about a mother's fierce and constant love for her children, and a woman's love and regard for herself. Above all, this memoir is an argument for possibility. Smith reveals how, in the aftermath of loss, we can discover our power and make something new. Something beautiful.Trade ReviewThis book is extraordinary -- ANN PATCHETTThis is a memoir of a woman who recommits to herself after heartbreak, but it's also a meditation on patriarchal power dynamics, a mother's love for her children and what that means in today's world and how to bet on yourself, even and especially when we're told not to. A balm for the soul and a rallying cry for the heart. * * Good Housekeeping * *A composite of creativity, motherhood and determination * * New York Times * *Rich in nuance and unrelenting in its honesty, Smith's memoir is a bittersweet study in both grief and joy * * TIME * *[A] meditation on what it means to be a modern woman, this is as beautiful and lyrical as they come * * Red * *Reminds you that you can [ . . . ] survive deep loss, sink into life's deep beauty, and constantly, constantly make yourself new -- GLENNON DOYLEA poet's memoir . . . [Smith] has an uncanny ability to boil down giant ideas into tiny, dense sentences that are both playful and heartbreaking * * SHONDALAND * *Smith turns to prose to chronicle the end of her marriage and the hard, beautiful work of loving and valuing herself * * PEOPLE * *Smith confronts our collective desire for a clean narrative. You Could Make This Place Beautiful shows a writer wondering why we use the narrative vocabulary we have to make sense of life's ups and downs. Smith breaks the fourth wall constantly in her memoir, calling out the real-life moments that feel too on the nose, evaluating the fallout of her husband's infidelity * * Vanity Fair * *In this lightning bolt of a debut memoir, Maggie Smith gives us the truth of healing in form as much as story: getting through is no pretty, linear narrative. It's one chapter forward and five chapters back. You Could Make This Place Beautiful gave me back a part of myself I thought was gone for good: the knowledge that beauty isn't something out there to find. It's in us -- MEGAN STIELSTRA, author of THE WRONG WAY TO SAVE YOUR LIFEYou Could Make This Place Beautiful is a sparklingly brilliant memoir-in-vignettes that only Maggie Smith could write. Yet this is a book for everyone - who among us has never had our world upended by the loss of a relationship? Maggie Smith's powerful mastery of language, and amazing ability to portray life in all its rich messiness, is on full display in this bold, brutally candid, and yes, beautiful, book -- ISAAC FITZGERALD, New York Times bestselling author of DIRTBAG, MASSACHUSETTSA beautiful book . . . stunning * * Oprah Daily * *Beautifully written . . . Smith should be just as celebrated for her prose * * Town and Country * *Listen, you may not need me to tell you what you already know about the shining star that is Maggie Smith, but you can certainly add me to the chorus of those singing her praises about You Could Make This Place Beautiful. Among her singular gifts as a writer are the way she swiftly brings her poetry to her prose; her willingness to show up to the page with aspirational levels of vulnerability, grace and joy; and a clarity of heart amid the heartbreak that together makes this a moving and gorgeous must read -- ELIZABETH CRANE, author of THIS STORY WILL CHANGEThis book is a gift -- LESLIE JAMISON, author of THE EMPATHY EXAMSWhen personal tragedy strikes us, first we have to survive, then we have to begin healing. This exquisite book will help you do both. Reading Smith's memoir, I laughed and gasped and ugly-cried and somehow began to process ten years of my own pent-up, frozen grief. This book is nothing less than a cathartic miracle -- ALISSA NUTTING, author of MADE FOR LOVE

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Book SynopsisCandice Brathwaite's much-anticipated second book about all the things she wishes she'd been told when she was young and needed guidance.I Am Not Your Baby Mother was a landmark publication in 2020. A thought-provoking, urgent and inspirational guide to life as a Black British mum, it was an important call-to-arms allowing mothers to take control and scrap the parenting rulebook to do it their own way. It was a Sunday Times top five bestseller.Sista Sister goes further. It is a compilation of essays about all the things Candice wishes someone had talked to her about when she was a young Black girl growing up in London. From family and money to Black hair and fashion, as well as relationships between people of different races and colourism, this will be a fascinating read that will have another profound impact on conversations about Black Lives Matter.Written in Candice's trademark straight-talking, warm and funny style, it will delight her fans, old and new.Trade ReviewDirect, accessible and in parts, very funny * Guardian *A sharp, sometimes moving self-help book * Observer *[I] inhaled this. Fans of I Am Not Your Baby Mother, brace for another corker from Candice Brathwaite * Pandora Sykes *This book is like the older sibling you wish you'd had growing up. Looking at family, sex, money and Blackness, bestselling author Brathwaite deftly navigates even the trickiest of topics in this compilation of essays, holding up a lens to joy, heartbreak and exactly what it really means to be a young woman * Cosmopolitan *One of the best books I've read this year * Yewande Biala *Wise, honest, confronting, beautiful and funny * Sheerluxe *Inspiring and provocative * Heat *A witty, honest and transformative collection of essays * The Strategist *Wise, witty * Evening Standard *[Sista Sister is like] that older and wiser friend you always wish you'd had * Independent *The honest and profound words have been chosen carefully and speak volumes about society, making this a must read. Hugely emotive in parts, the author's warmth and humour radiates off the page * Woman’s Way Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFrom one of India's finest writers, thinkers and commentators, a memoir of a love affair with cricket.As a fan, player, writer, scholar, controversialist and administrator, Ramachandra Guha has spent a life with cricket.In this book, Guha offers both a brilliantly charming memoir and a charter of the life of cricket in India.He traces the game across every level at which it is played: school, college, club, state and country. He offers vivid portraits of local heroes, provincial icons and international stars.Following the narrative of his life intertwined and in love with the sport, Guha captures the magic of bat and ball that has ensnared billions.Trade Review A DAILY TELEGRAPH BEST SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 ‘Guha is a distinguished historian, biographer of Gandhi, a courageous political activist — and also an absolute cricket nut … Watching a serious intellectual grapple with his own relationship with sport is always revealing … [A] passionate, unique book … Guha’s totally in love, that’s the thing – and it’s the love that shines through on every page’Ed Smith, Financial Times ‘Guha also fills the same role within India that Scyld Berry and Gideon Haigh do in England and Australia. In other words, he is the deepest and wisest chronicler of his cricketing nation’Daily Telegraph, Best Sport Books of the Year, 2020 ‘Guha is an historian, environmentalist, journalist and political biographer of wide-ranging distinction … An engagingly generous celebration of cricket and cricketers, Indian and firangis alike … A book that should not be ignored’David Crane, Spectator ‘Delightful … Guha, one of India’s best-known historians and public intellectuals, is a bona fide cricket obsessive … His deep knowledge of the game allows him to bring a historian’s perspective when writing about players … The Commonwealth of Cricket is a return to his cherished first love. It should be celebrated’Soumya Bhattacharya, New Statesman ‘Powerful … The Commonwealth of Cricket is a memoir of his lifelong obsession with the game … It is, not surprisingly, a delightful read – but it also carries a political message’Emma John, Guardian ‘Guha’s book is timely … It is also at odds with the way many see the game in India today … In that sense it is a love-letter to a game as it was and can be again’Mike Atherton, The Times ‘Enchanting … Deeply enriching … He writes about the game as he first knew it, with the unguarded fondness of youth’Paul Edwards, The Cricketer

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Book Synopsis*Featured in The Times'' ''Best Books of the Year So Far''*What do you do when you realise you have everything you think you''ve ever wanted but still feel completely empty? What do you do when it all starts to fall apart? The second volume of Moby''s extraordinary life story is a journey into the dark heart of fame and the demons that lurk just beneath the bling and bluster of the celebrity lifestyle. In summer 1999, Moby released the album that defined the millennium, PLAY. Like generation-defining albums before it, PLAY was ubiquitous, and catapulted Moby to superstardom. Suddenly he was hanging out with David Bowie and Lou Reed, Christina Ricci and Madonna, taking esctasy for breakfast (most days), drinking litres of vodka (every day), and sleeping with super models (infrequently). It was a diet that couldn''t last. And then it fell apart. The second volume of Moby''s memoir is a classic about the banality of fame. It is shocking, r

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Book SynopsisWith his sharp wit and poet's eye, Tim Heath writes of a forty-year career, mostly in New Zealand but also in Samoa. He's worked in small country schools, in big city schools, at the Correspondence School, in primary schools and in secondary schools. He's been a principal and a deputy principal.Teaching wasn't his first choice, but once in the classroom he found his calling.Tim is a passionate advocate for children and their learning, and his educational philosophy is illustrated through touching anecdotes of children and their struggles and successes.Written against the backdrop of changing times in New Zealand, this memoir is a deep dive into education and its place in our world.

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Book SynopsisIn October 2016, Udo Kischka suffered a severe stroke. A large intra-cerebral bleed, a bleed deep in the right side of his brain. He was not a typical stroke patient: Professor Kischka was a neurologist and specialist in stroke rehabilitation. Like all stroke patients, he embarked on a journey of recovery. In his case, it was a re-education in his field of expertise. When he uttered the words, ''This is a life changing event'' to his wife a few hours after the stroke, he had no idea just how life changing it would be or that there would be still be a good life to be had. Written by experts on both sides of the fence - a stroke victim who is a stroke specialist, and a psychologist who helps others and now has to help herself and her family - this is a personal and brutally honest story of a family''s survival. This accessible and relatable book provides insight and realistic hope about what might lie ahead following a stroke, as well as offering both practTrade Review'Inspired, Surviving Stroke is a poignant, intimate and passionate response to a life-changing experience; a book that adds appreciably to our understanding of the psychological, emotional and physical toll a 'brain attack' can have on its victims. Udo and Helen's story broadens our knowledge of stroke because of the years of clinical experience they bring to Udo's unique and debilitating event. This is a book to be welcomed by all stroke survivors, their families, caregivers and health professionals?a vital and vivid story that speaks to treatment and recovery from brain damage of any sort'? - Ron Smith, D. Litt., author of The Defiant Mind: Living Inside a Stroke'[This book] gives a clear description and explanation of exactly how shattering a stroke can be. There is no magic moment; there are downs as well as ups; things happen for no reason; it is all agonisingly slow; uncertainty is crippling and exhausting; loss of control and choice is frightening and severe. It paints a very real picture, stripped of all gloss yet still allowing hope and restoration' - Professor Derick Wade, Consultant in Neurological Rehabilitation'Even though stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide and a leading cause of death, people remain woefully ignorant of stroke and the havoc it wreaks. Surviving Stroke is an evocative account of the challenges one family faced and the strategies they employed to cope with the "carpet bombing" of Udo's brain. By telling their story, Professor Udo Kischka and Dr. Helen Kennerley have mapped out an inspiring blueprint for everyone, but especially for those who have to pick up the pieces and rediscover their lives' - Patricia Jean Smith, author of The Caregiver's Companion'The combination of Kennerley and Kischka's personal and professional expertise make this book unique. The writing is engaging and accessible. They communicate complex ideas about difficult topics sensitively and without jargon. And they strike the delicate balance between realism and hope successfully. It is an extremely good resource for people with brain injuries, their families, and professionals working in brain injury. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone' - Dr Jessica Fish, British Psychological Society Division of Neuropsychology Newsletter'This is a powerful and deeply moving account of a family surviving the physical and psychological trauma of a stroke. This book will be extremely useful to people who have experienced a stroke and their loved ones. Far from simply surviving a stroke, Helen and Udo have expertly turned their experiences into a source of strength, hope and resilience for many people all over the world with bravery, humanity and compassion' - Dr Michael Bloomfield, Head of the Translational Psychiatry Research Group, University College London

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Book SynopsisHomecoming, haunting, nostalgia, desire: these are some of the themes evoked by the beguiling motif of the lighted window in literature and art. In this innovative combination of place-writing, memoir and cultural study, Peter Davidson takes us on atmospheric walks through nocturnal cities in Britain, Europe and North America, and revisits the field paths of rural England. Surveying a wide range of material, the book extends, chronologically, from early romantic painting to contemporary fiction, and geographically, from the Low Countries to Japan. It features familiar lighted windows in English literature (in the works of poets such as Thomas Hardy and Matthew Arnold and in the novels of Virginia Woolf, Arthur Conan Doyle and Kenneth Grahame) and examines the painted nocturnes of James Whistler, John Atkinson Grimshaw and the ruralist Samuel Palmer. It also considers Japanese prints of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; German romanticism in painting, poetry and music; Proust and the painters of the French belle époque; René Magritte’s 'L’Empire des Lumières'; and North American painters such as Edward Hopper and Linden Frederick. By interpreting the interactions of art, literature and geography around this evocative motif, Peter Davidson shows how it has inspired an extraordinary variety of moods and ideas, from the romantic period to the present day.Trade Review'This is an art-history and English-literature lesson rolled into one, best enjoyed in the glow of your own bedside lamp, ideally with a storm raging outside.' * Country Life *'Davidson creates his own idiosyncratic, hybrid genre in which cultural history, nature writing and place writing are channelled through personal experience. … [he is] an excellent guide not just along pavements and footpaths but around paintings too, teasing out shades of meaning. ... Imagination and memory, the book suggests, create their own lighted windows in the darkest of journeys and have the power to change the world around us.' * TLS *'Erudite, companionable, and hypnotically satisfying.' * Financial Times *'While it's beautiful to peruse, this is no coffee-table book but a beguiling work of academia and an excellent festive offering for anyone who has walked past a lighted window on a dark evening and wondered about the goings-on inside.' * The Field *'There isn’t a Faber Book of Windows at Night, but Davidson is certainly the man for the job and The Lighted Window is a sort of memoir of the thought processes that would have produced one.' * The Literary Review *'A beautiful and timely book.' * Radio 4 Open Book *'A must-read if you've ever been captivated by a glimpse into another life on your evening stroll.' * OX Magazine *'Will evoke fond memories for any alumnus … the book will banish away winter nights while evoking the anticipation of spring and summer.' * QUAD Magazine *'A connoisseur of the crepuscular, the in-between zone dividing night and day, and all its electrifying implications. ... Winter cities, London nocturnes, northern townscapes … These generate aesthetically significant representations within the boundaries of Peter Davidson’s pungent and particular theme. He brings us some unexpected and enlightening assessments and observations, as his book proceeds on its scholarly and seductive way.' * Dublin Review of Books *'In this gorgeous book, Peter Davidson heads out into Oxford at nightfall, to consider cities in winter and rural summer twilights that embrace the warmth of the day. ... Enchanting.' * The Simple Things *Table of ContentsContents 1. Introduction 2. Winter Cities 3. London Nocturne 4. Windows in the Landscape 5. Northern Townscapes; Western Suburbs 6. Summer Night Illuminations Notes Further Reading Acknowledgments Picture Credits Index

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Book SynopsisOne of the most original and talented young writers we have.' Sathnam SangheraA must-read.' Elizabeth DayA beautiful, searingly personal account of a world defined by money, full of courage and truth telling.' Owen JonesAn extraordinarily candid personal account of the ups and downs wrought by money,We Need To Talk About Moneyis a vital exploration of stories and issues that will be familiar to most. This is a book about toxic workplaces and misogynist men, about getting payrises and getting evicted. About class and privilege and racism and beauty. About shame and pride, compulsion and fear.In unpicking the shroud of secrecy surrounding money who has it, how they got it, and how it shapes our lives this boldly honest account of one woman's journey upturns countless social conventions, and uncovers some startling truths about our complex relationships with money in the process.Trade Review Praise for We Need To Talk About Money: ‘A beautiful, searingly personal account of a world defined by money, full of courage and truth telling.’ Owen Jones ‘In this compelling book, Otegha confronts the British aversion to discussing money and in doing so reveals she is one of the most original and talented young writers we have.’ Sathnam Sanghera ‘A brilliant book that moved, amused, challenged and made me re-evaluate my own relationship with money. Otegha Uwagba writes with real intelligence and insight about the things many of us suspect but leave unsaid. A must-read.’ Elizabeth Day ‘This brilliant book has made me re-evaluate my money privileges, past and present. A must-read for anyone who thinks their money is just their monthly cash flow.’ Raven Smith ‘A riveting, confronting memoir – as beautifully written as it is provocative and thoughtful.’ Pandora Sykes ‘Refreshingly honest – Otegha captures the creeping realisation in your twenties that your feelings about what you earn defines so much, from self-image to who we date, who we are friends with to what we will – or won’t – put up with at the office.’ Laura Whateley ‘Personal but universal, Uwagba’s story of navigating university and the world of work while dealing with the pressures of class, lack of privilege and misogyny, is illuminating, eye-opening and reassuring.’ The Bookseller ‘Dosh, dough, bread, cash, pecunia – whatever you call it, there’s no excuse for not understanding it. We Need to Talk About Money, the new, must-read book by Otegha Uwagba.’ The Gentlewoman ‘A smart take on finance that delves deep into both the personal and the political. Uwagba does not shy away from the knottier topics – in fact, she asks us to lean in and think about how we might untangle them ourselves.’ Stylist ‘Highly original.’ The Times

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Book SynopsisOn the coldest morning of the year, Vicki Myron found a tiny, bedraggled kitten almost frozen to death in the night drop box of the library where she worked, and her life -- and the town of Spencer, Iowa -- would never be the same.Vicki was a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm and an alcoholic, abusive husband. But her biggest challenge as the new head librarian in Spencer was to raise the spirits of a small, out-of-the-way town mired deep in the farm crisis of the 1980s.Dewey, as the townspeople named the kitten, quickly grew into a strutting, adorable library cat whose antics kept patrons in stitches, and whose sixth sense about those in need created hundreds of deep and loving friendships. As his fame grew, people drove hundreds of miles to meet Dewey, and people all over the world fell in love with him.Through it all, Dewey remained a loyal companion, a beacon of hope not just for Vicki, but for the entire town of Spencer as it slowly, steadily pulled itself up from the worst financial crisis in its long history. Dewey won hearts and proved to everyone he encountered that unconditional love comes in many forms.Trade ReviewInspiring hope and happiness * Daily Telegraph *feelgood feline biography * Evening Standard *Even confirmed cat-haters would warm to the true story of Dewey... Far more than just a cute cat book, it is a real feel good story about the whole community whose lives Dewey touched * The Bookseller *An irresistible story... This is a wonderful book about the foibles of small-town America and the people who live there - it's Peyton Place with a cat.... * Daily Mail *'heart-warming' ***** * Star Magazine *

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Book SynopsisWhen Reece arrives at Cathy''s door aged 7 years old, he has already passed through the hands of four different carers in four weeks. As the details of his short life emerge, it becomes clear that to help him, Cathy will face her biggest challenge yet.The latest title from the author of Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Damaged.Reece is the last of six siblings to be fostered. Having been in care for four months his aggressive and disruptive behaviour has seen him passed from carer to carer. Although only 7, he has been excluded from school, and bites people so often that his mother calls him ''Sharky''.Cathy wants to find the answers for Reece's distressing behaviour, but he has been sworn to secrecy by his mother, and will not tell them anything. As the social worker prepares for the final hearing, he finds five different files on Reece's family, and is incredulous that he had not been removed from them as a baby. When the darkest of family secrets is revealed to Cathy, ReecTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.'Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.'Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.'OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’Star magazine

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Book SynopsisHow can I enjoy my hot disabled body whilst dealing with internalised ableism?How can I best navigate my sex life with mobility issues or a carer?Why are queer spaces so inaccessible - and what can I do about it?Andrew Gurza is seriously hot. He''s also seriously disabled. Having spent a lifetime navigating the bars, clubs and apps of the queer scene, he''s learned a thing or two about sparking queer crip joy amidst the hellscape of ableism, microaggressions and ''pity sex''. With advice on everything from sexual autonomy and self-pleasure to date-prep and disability disclosure - this is both a self-care bible and an urgent call for the queer community to do better.

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Book SynopsisThe much-anticipated sequel to Bacon in Moscow, Gilbert & George and the Communists charts daring art dealer James Birch's next implausible transcultural mission.

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times bestseller, Terrified is the first book from well-loved foster carer Angela Hart. It tells the emotionally devastating but ultimately uplifting true story of Vicky, a little girl who arrives on Angela's doorstep unwanted and unloved after suffering years of emotional abuse at the hands of her mother. Desperate never to return home, Vicky is haunted by many demons and waking nightmares. This book tells the moving story of Angela's determination to set Vicky free.'A no holds barred insight into the reality of looking after someone else's children. A remarkable story from a remarkable woman, it brought back a lot of memories for me.' – Casey Watson, author of A Dark Secret.'A moving story that testifies to the redemptive power of love. I hope Angela Hart inspires many others to foster.' – Torey Hayden, author of Lost Child.Trade ReviewAngela Hart gives a no holds barred insight into the reality of looking after someone else's children. A remarkable story from a remarkable woman, it brought back a lot of memories for me. * Casey Watson, Sunday Times bestselling author *A moving story that testifies to the redemptive power of love. I hope Angela Hart inspires many others to foster. * Torey Hayden, Sunday Times bestselling author *A true tear-jerking tale of love and compassion. * Sunday Mirror *Table of ContentsSection - 1: 'What have we done?' Section - 2: 'I'm not staying long' Section - 3: 'She was always there for me' Section - 4: 'My mum frightened me' Section - 5: 'I had to lie to keep myself' Section - 6: 'STOP! I'M GETTING OUT...!' Section - 7: 'She made me watch' Section - 8: 'Vicky can go to hell!' Section - 9: 'You're the biggest mistake I ever made' Section - 10: 'I don't want to know about Vicky' Section - 11: 'It's too much to take' Section - 12: 'You don't know how much she terrified me' Section - 13: 'When I was living with her I had to be resourceful' Section - 14: 'My head hurt a lot when I was little' Section - 15: 'I don't want to talk about it or think about it or ANYTHING!' Section - 16: 'It was our mum who did this' Section - 17: 'It's not fair! It's torture!' Section - 18: 'I used to live in a scary house' Section - 19: 'Everything is different' Section - i: Epilogue

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Book SynopsisRole Models is a wild and witty self-portrait of John Waters, America''s ''Pope of Trash'', told through intimate profiles of his favourite personalities - some famous, some unknown, some criminal, some surprisingly middle of the road. From Esther Martin, owner of the scariest bar in Baltimore, to the playwright Tennessee Williams; from the atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair to the insane martyr Saint Catherine of Siena; from the English novelist Denton Welch to the timelessly appealing singer Johnny Mathis - these are the extreme figures who helped John Waters form his own brand of neurotic happiness.A paean to the power of subversive inspiration that delights, amuses and happily horrifies in equal measure...Trade ReviewA delirious descent into Waters World, Role Models is a true-life confessional from one of America's greatest ironists. John Waters is a man always ready and willing to say the unsayable. He is the dark mirror of contemporary culture. From haute couture to low culture, from literary outsiders to lapsed actors, he delivers razor-sharp pen portraits of the women and men who have perverted and inspired him by turns. And yet Waters's warped imagination is always humane, his judgments insightful. Role Models is as much a philosophical manifesto as it is an utterly hilarious and shamelessly entertaining read. -- Philip Hoare, author of Leviathan, or The WhaleDisarmingly unfiltered confessions that capture Waters' singular blend of weirdness and guileless honesty. * San Francisco Chronicle *John Waters has a great gift for appreciation - whether for toothless lesbian strippers in Baltimore or the most rarefied painters and writers of our day. He is a dandy who has done away with everyone else's hierarchies and created a new world that conforms only to his own taste for trash and the sublime. He is frank, funny, and (strangely enough) both sensible and outrageous. -- Edmund White, author of City Boy

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Book SynopsisWhen Anne Darwin told the world and her family that her husband, John, had disappeared while canoeing in the North Sea, her life changed forever.She had just lied to the police, the press, her friends and neighbours, insurance companies and her own sons.While her husband hid in a bedsit in their rental house next door, Anne had to face the music. She claimed the life insurance payouts, endured the police questioning, accepted the consolations and left the country she loved to start her life again.But why, when she had been perfectly happy with her lifestyle, knowing her actions would hurt those she held most dear, did she do it?After years of remaining silent, Anne Darwin finally reveals the truth behind the crime that tore her family apart.

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Book SynopsisThis book charts the author's long journey of healing from the trauma caused by having to go into hiding as a child and having to deny that she was Jewish. Marika Henriques records in words and images how she was shaped and her profession determined by historical events.Trade Review“Marika Henriques weaves word, poetry, drawing and tapestry to explore and make sense of her dark past as a Holocaust child survivor. The Hidden Girl is a beautiful book. Dreamlike and nuanced it celebrates the redemptive power of creativity and Judaism. It is a moving testament to the indomitable power of the human spirit.” Charlotte Bogard, Playwright // “Marika Henriques’s book made a lasting impact on me. I thought I knew all there is to know about the horrors of the Holocaust until I read it. It is a unique rendering which reaches one’s deepest self, the dimension of emotions we all share. Marika shows through her own experience the lasting damage that trauma inflicts on children - the difficulties they have as a consequence to become emotionally independent from their past and to regain their true identity. In her analytic way she demonstrates her struggles and her courage, and above all her determination to be herself. It is a great book.” Colette Littman, Director of The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation // “A powerful and moving story unlike any other Holocaust story I have read or seen, because it expresses deeply buried feelings not only in words but in extraordinary drawings, tapestries and poems. The combination is unique. This story will help many others who had traumatic beginnings.” Lenka Murphy, formerly with The Prince’s Charities // “This is a book which has the ability to give hope and inspiration to anyone who has suffered. It is moving, written with courageous honesty, about profound experiences. It is a living example of the beneficial power of the psyche and our souls, if we follow and trust them, to lead us to a deep understanding of our personal selves and the collective world around us, accepting both the good and the evil, life and death. It is a remarkable book.” Maggie Stanway, Chair of C. G. Jung Club London

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Book SynopsisTo the outside world, Lizzie McGlynn''s father was a model citizen. To little Lizzie he was a violent and depraved monster.For years, Lizzie was raped and beaten by her father, whilst her alcoholic mother stood by, helpless. She eventually found the courage to report him and her father was imprisoned - but 12 weeks later he was allowed to return to the family home and continue his reign of terror. He seemed to be above the law.Battered and violated, Lizzie knew she had to stay alive to protect her two little brothers. She went on to escape her father''s evil clutches, but the physical and mental scars continued to haunt her. Then, as her father lay dying, she summoned the strength and courage to forgive the man who had caused her so much pain.

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Book SynopsisThe emotional stories behind Delta Goodrem’s sixth studio album. In her first-ever book, Australian singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem shares the intimate stories behind each of the tracks on her sixth studio album, Bridge Over Troubled Dreams, taking readers on a deep dive into her inspiration for each song and revealing the truth behind the lyrics. From the touching account of her birth – two months premature – to battling bouts of missing home and many incredible self-discoveries along the way, Bridge Over Troubled Dreams is truly the book of the artist’s life. She speaks candidly about love, family, highs and lows, patience, freedom, faith, hope and survival, and how she uses lessons learned to drive herself forward. Delta’s heartfelt stories are accompanied by never-before-seen pictures from her personal collection: candid behind-the-scenes shots, unreleased tour photos and even personal snaps from her childhood.

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Book SynopsisThis is the true story of Aziz BineBine who, unwittingly entangled in a failed coup against King Hassan II, found himself locked in a small, underground cell in a prison thought to be a mere horror story: Tazmamart. For 18 years, no one knew where the prison’s inmates were. No one knew if they were even alive. In many ways, they hardly were: confined for 24 hours a day, with the barest rations, no hygiene or medical help, and accompanied by cockroaches, scorpions, and tarantulas. One of the few to survive, Aziz writes not only to tell his own remarkable story but to remember and honour the men that lived – and died – alongside him. Against the backdrop of this unimaginable suffering, Aziz shows the strength of the human spirit to keep going against all the odds, to smile in the face of misery, and to forgive rather than condemn. Set to become a cult classic of survival literature, Tazmamart is a hellish journey through the abyss of despair – and out the other side.

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Book SynopsisThe autobiography of a courageous singer-songwriter, activist, and American icon."Barbara Dane is someone who is willing to follow her conscience. She is, if the term must be used, a hero."—Bob DylanA renowned folk, blues, and jazz singer who performed with some of the twentieth century’s most celebrated musicians, from Louis Armstrong to Bob Dylan. A proud progressive who has tirelessly championed racial equality and economic justice in America, and who has traveled the world to sing out against war and tyranny. An organizer, a venue owner, a record label founder, and a woman who has charted her own creative and political path for more than ninety years. Barbara Dane has led an epic, trailblazing life in music and activism, and This Bell Still Rings tells her story in her own adventurous voice. Dane’s memoir charts her trajectory from singing in union halls and at factory gates in World War II–era Detroit, to her rise as a respected blues and jazz singer, to her prominence as a folk musician frequently performing at and participating in civil rights and peace demonstrations across the US and abroad—from post-revolutionary Cuba to wartime Vietnam. This Bell Still Rings illuminates “one of the true unsung heroes of American music” (Boston Globe), and it offers a wealth of inspiration for artists, activists, and anyone seeking a life defined by courage and integrity.Trade Review"Barbara is someone who is willing to follow her conscience. She is, if the term must be used, a hero."—Bob Dylan"I first met Barbara when I was seventeen. She taught me that 'Wild women don't worry, wild women don't get the blues.'"—Linda Ronstadt“What a life of service in the fight for civil rights and human dignity. Barbara Dane's music lifted us as it lifted me when we were together in Mississippi in 1964 to register African American voters. Thank you for keeping the faith all these years."—Judy Collins“Barbara Dane has always been a role model and a hero of mine, both musically and politically, and for her lifelong commitment to truth, justice, equality, and representation for all.”—Bonnie Raitt“An important read: the amazing story of Barbara Dane, a powerful radical citizen-artist whose magnificent voice, and uncompromising dedication to freedom, social justice, and global liberation continues to ring.”—Danny Glover“A true unsung hero of American music [with] a jazz musician's sense of rhythm, a blues singer's deep investment in the material, and a folk stylist's attention to authenticity."—James Reed, The Boston Globe“Barbara Dane is a long-haul kind of woman: committed, loyal, gifted, and steadfast in the struggle for deep social change. And here's something none of you know: She persuaded me to make the movie Klute."—Jane Fonda"This book is medicine for the soul in these dark times; not a book of songs but a book that sings. It tells the story of movements that have transformed American consciousness, told from the perspective of a life lived for giving."—Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of An Indigenous Peoples's History of the United States"Barbara Dane has led the way, showing us, through the choices she made throughout her life, how to use music as a tool for more than just entertainment. She knew it best, that when we sing about what matters, songs can change hearts, and changed hearts will change minds. This is how music changes the world: one changed heart at a time."—Mary Gauthier"Dane’s new memoir This Bell Still Rings offers a fascinating look at a time when Berkeley nurtured a bohemian culture that would come to shape the nation in the following decade."—BerkeleysideTable of ContentsContentsPart One: Let My Little Light Shine1. Memories Don’t Fade2. A Chronic Truant Sings3. The Atomic Age Begins4. Everything Changes5. Postwar Dreams6. From People’s Songs to the Home Front7. California, Here It Comes!8. The Party’s Over9. Digging Underground10. Byron Dances In11. Gateway Swings to Berkeley12. Yonder Come the Blues13. San Francisco Bay Blues14. Trouble in Mind Part Two: On My Way15. From the Alley to the Grove16. From Breakout to Blacklist17. Livin’ with the Blues18. Priorities19. Strange Bedfellows20. Riding High on Sugar Hill21. Buzz, Biz, Boom, Blam!22. On the Emes, This Is True23. Wake Up and Sing!24. Do You, Mister Jones?25. Which Side Are You On?26. The Times, They Are a-Changin’ Part Three: My American Dream27. Irwin Calls, Lightnin’ Strikes, Mississippi Beckons28. Go Tell It on the Mountain29. Navigating Obstacles Blanketed in Bliss30. You Don’t Know Me31. Hard Rains Are a-Fallin’32. Three-Mile Walk of Hope33. Good Morning Blues34. Cuba Sí, Yanqui No!35. Paul Becomes Pablo36. He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands37. Singers of the World, Unite!38. Levitate the Pentagon!39. United We Are Strong40. Unidentified Flying Object41. Play Your Guitars, American Friends42. La Voce dell’altra America43. Building a Big Wall of Music44. Free the Army!45. Solidarity Forever Crossing Borders46. Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues47. Give Peace a Chance Part Four: Nobody Gonna Turn Me ’Round48. Pack Up Your Sorrows49. A Musical Road Trip to Nowhere50. You Just Can’t Make It by Yourself51. Will the Circle Be Unbroken?52. Take It Slow and Easy53. Throw It Away Some Rules for the Road Ahead GratitudeBarbara Dane Discography, Key Links, and MoreIndexAbout the Author

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times, Times, Irish Times and Mojo Book of the YearRough Trade #1 Book of the YearResident Music #1 Book of the Year''Were you there? Well this is as close as it gets! Thurston Moore's compelling and spirited account of the streets, the songs, the clothes, the clubs and the contenders! A sensitive and authentic testimony to Moore's life lived through art and music. Beats with the heart of a true artist and mutineer.'' Viv Albertine''Downtown scientists rejoice! For Thurston Moore has unearthed the missing links, the sacred texts, the forgotten stories, and the secret maps of the lost golden age. This is historyscuffed, slightly bent, plenty noisy, and indispensable.'' Colson WhiteheadA music-obsessed retrospective, beginning with his childhood epiphany of rock 'n' roll in the early 1960s into an infatuation with the subversive world of 1970s punk and no wave blasting forth from New York Cit

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Book Synopsis BE THE FIRST TO READ DAVID WILSON''S NEW TRUE CRIME BOOK A PLOT TO KILL BY PRE-ORDERING NOW ''Hugely insightful and thought provoking . . . I read it from cover to cover in one go'' - Emilia Fox''With characteristic brilliance and admirable sensitivity, Wilson illuminates the complex causes of their often horrific crimes'' - Professor Simon Winlow, Vice President of the British Society of CriminologyProfessor David Wilson has spent his professional life working with violent men - especially men who have committed murder. Aged twenty-nine he became, at that time, the UK''s youngest ever prison Governor in charge of a jail and his career since then has seen him sat across a table with all sorts of killers: sometimes in a tense interview; sometimes sharing a cup of tea (or something a little stronger); sometimes looking them in the eye to tell them thTrade ReviewA riveting exploration of the psychology of those who have committed unthinkable crimes. It's also hugely insightful and thought provoking about our justice system, I read it from cover to cover in one go. David's professional experiences make an absolutely compelling read for anyone who is interested in the criminal mind and its motivationsWilson's fascinating career brought him into contact with Britain's most violent criminals. In this gripping book, he moves beyond the usual media sensationalism to discuss in detail his life among our prison system's most notorious murderers, serial killers, sex offenders and hitmen. With characteristic brilliance and admirable sensitivity, Wilson illuminates the complex causes of their often horrific crimes. And in the background of Wilson's pitch-perfect central narrative, lies an accompanying account of a strained criminal justice system and the gradual disintegration of the rehabilitative ideal. Page-turning stuff. I'm sure this book will prove to be a great hit

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Book SynopsisFrom Torey Hayden, the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of One Child comes Lost Girl, a poignant and deeply moving account of a lost little girl and an extraordinary educational psychologist's courage and determination.Jessie is nine years old and looks like the perfect little girl, with red hair, green eyes and a beguiling smile. She even has a talent for drawing gorgeous and intricate pictures. But Jessie also knows how to get her own way and will lie, scream, shout and hurt to get just exactly what she wants.Her parents say they can't take her back, and her social workers struggle to deal with her destructive behaviour and wild mood swings. After her chaotic passage through numerous foster placements, Jessie has finally received a diagnosis of an attachment disorder. Attachment disorders arise when children are deprived of the all-important close bonds with trustworthy adults that allow them to develop emotionally and thrive. Finally educational psychologist Torey Hayden is called in to help. Torey agrees to weekly meetings with Jessie to try and uncover why she is acting out. Torey's gentle care and attention reveal shocking truths behind Jessie's lies. Can Torey and the other social workers help to provide the consistent loving care that has so far been missing in Jessie’s life, or will she push them away too?Trade ReviewHayden is a fine storyteller, recounting the touching bonds that form among children and between Hayden and her students. -- Washington PostTorey Hayden deserves the kind of respect I can’t give many people. She isn’t valuable, she’s incredible. The world needs more like Torey Hayden. -- Boston Globe

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Book SynopsisRamachandra Guha's book, The Commonwealth of Cricket, traces India's journey to cricket dominance in 50 years. It delves into the sport's impact at various levels in India, combining personal stories, journalism, and political analysis to offer a comprehensive view of cricket's importance in the nation's social and historical fabric.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBFF? ... inspired me to try to be braver about confronting niggling issues with friends in future. -- Helen Brown * The Telegraph *Claire's writing is as clever as it is kind - cheering, wise and reassuring. BFF is like having a best mate on your bookshelf, and I'll be giving it to all of the women I love! -- Daisy Buchanan * author of Careering, Insatiable and How to Be a Grown Up *Having seriously struggled with friendship over the years, I picked up this wonderful book feeling like an imposter and put it down feeling hugely relieved. Claire Cohen calmly and brilliantly irons out the shaming crinkles in how we can think about female friendship, reframing it with analysis, understanding, and appreciation. This terrific book more than stands its ground against the tyrannical memories of Forever Friends merchandise while making a heartening case for a portfolio of friendship types. -- Kat Brown * editor of No One Talks about This Stuff *GRAZIA SUMMER READ. With input from psychologists, experts and women's women like Jane Garvey and MP Jess Phillips, Cohen interrogates the myths and pop culture tropes around female friendship and highlights the pressure points. -- Summer reads * Grazia *

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Book SynopsisThe first essay collection from one of the most acclaimed writers of our time.This trenchant, unrepentant collection reminds you that she's a brilliant writer Order a copy in case she's cancelled by Christmas' THE TIMES (Book of the Year)You may disagree with Lionel Shriver's bracing journalism, but her right to spark disquiet goes to the heart of the freedom of expression issue' Rachel Cooke, OBSERVERMutinous essays about modern politics and culture An independent mind and a sense of humour are dangerous things to possess. The spiky, politically incorrect novelist Lionel Shriver has them in abundance' THE TIMESTestament to the fierce intelligence of a writer who wants us to think more, probe more, challenge more and who also makes it fun' THE SUNDAY TIMESNovelist, cultural observer and social satirist Lionel Shriver is among the sharpest talents of our age. A writer who embraces under-expressed, unpopular or downright dangerous' points of view, she regularly deplores the conformity oTrade Review‘This trenchant, unrepentant collection reminds you that she’s a brilliant writer… Order a copy in case she’s cancelled by Christmas’ THE TIMES (Book of the Year) This trenchant, unrepentant collection reminds you that she’s a brilliant writer on writing’ THE TIMES ‘Abominations is a refreshing mix of the personal and the political. Shriver’s essays beat with deliciously, dangerous opinions, but the cadence is catchingly humane. The world and my mind feel a little bigger and a little clearer’ Laura Dodsworth ‘Provocative, funny, original and pithy’ THE TIMES ‘Testament to the fierce intelligence of a writer who wants us to think more, probe more, challenge more — and who also makes it fun’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘You may disagree with Lionel Shriver’s bracing journalism, but her right to spark disquiet goes to the heart of the freedom of expression issue’ Rachel Cooke, OBSERVER ‘Mutinous essays about modern politics and culture… An independent mind and a sense of humour are dangerous things to possess. The spiky, politically incorrect novelist Lionel Shriver has them in abundance’ THE TIMES

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2023 Highland Book PrizeJoyful and mindful, a powerful argument for being still and listening' Sunday TimesA book about birds, birdsong and the countryside they inhabit, from the critically acclaimed author of Raptor.In Wild Air, James Macdonald Lockhart sets out to write about a series of birds as though he has his granny's role of listening to birds' songs and calls and relaying what she heard to her aged and by then quite deaf father the famous naturalist Seton Gordon. From a nightjar's strange churring song on a heath in the south of England, to a lapwing displaying over the machair in the Outer Hebrides, he writes about eight different birds who he has spent most time with, returned to most often and relays what he hears.The eight species are all representative of a different habitat. Nightjars on a lowland heath; shearwaters on a mountain overlooking the sea; dippers on a river; skylarks in farmland; ravens in woodland; divers on a loch; lapwings on the coastTrade Review'My oh my this is a beautiful book. My favourite kind of nature writing: quiet, subtle, watchful, immanent.' Helen Jukes, author of A Honeybee Heart Has Five Openings ‘Lockhart is committed to understanding each (bird) in its habitat, and to capturing that sense of place in the song… It is both joyful and mindful, a powerful argument for being still and listening.Lockhart doesn’t make the point explicitly, but I think he would say that these songs, and these creatures, are beautiful in themselves, and that beauty alone justifies protecting them and enjoying them — and writing about them. At the close of the book, he passes a fellow enthusiast in the dark out listening for nightingales. It’s “just extraordinary”, the man says. The book is pretty extraordinary too.’Sunday Times ‘As I see it, Lockhart is really attempting to enter into the realm of these creatures, and to convey a feeling of what their lives are like… He writes beautifully, using words to paint exquisite portraits of his subjects… Poetry, folklore and natural history are woven into the mix. But what I particularly liked about this book is that Lockhart treats the birds and their surroundings as inextricably linked. A dipper’s stream is painted as vividly as the animal itself, giving a sense of clear, cold, running water, small pools, mossy banks.’ Financial Times ‘(A) fascinating insight into the lives of the twittering, fluttering creatures that share our world.’ The Herald ‘Lockhart’s skills as a naturalist are second to none, his observations of skylarks especially fresh and sharp.’ Countryfile ‘Enchanting’ Nature

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Book SynopsisBruce Springsteen arrived on the world's stage in 1973 with two incredible albums in one year, a prolificacy that would define his career for the next half-century. In his tenure at the top of the rock and roll charts, Springsteen received worldwide adoration for crafting lyrics and music that symbolised all facets of his, and his home nation's, history; songs that enthralled with passion and purpose, stinging political vitriol and the sweetest of melody. No other American artist captured America's heart, and soul, than Springsteen.Containing Springsteen's most prominent non-lyrical poetry and life philosophies, from his earliest interviews to his most recent statements of truth, fact, and soul-baring, each one spanning the entirety of his musical output with the E-Street Band, his solo soundtracks, iconic live performances and a wealth of TV, magazine, and newspaper conversations.In the early days when Springsteen and the E-Street Band played gigs in small venues, it was Bruce's job (as frontman) to collect the money and pay the rest of the band. This led them to start calling him 'The Boss', a nickname which has stuck. Springsteen – the patron saint of the working man, who greatly dislikes bosses – naturally loathes this nickname!Table of ContentsBorn in the USA - Humble New Jersey beginnings and the origin of his songs • Born to Run - The first sparks of fame and success • The Rising - Global stardom, seminal moments, and iconic performances with his E-Street Band • Human Touch - Springsteen discusses his song writing genius • Glory Days - Favourite moments and a few secrets • Tougher Than The Rest - Springsteen's allegiance to America's past, present and future.

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Book Synopsis'Captivating. Kent effortlessly weaves travels that are close to his heart into a bigger story of Turkey’s past and present' – Mishal Husain'A rich, spellbinding book: dense with people, stories, history, colour, lived experience . . . The book is alive on every page' – Neel Mukherjee, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Lives of OthersThe Endless Country takes a journey through Turkey’s past – the nation the author’s father left decades ago and he returns to as a young man.It is not about Erdogan or Atatürk, the two towering Presidents who have book-ended that history, and at times have appeared impossible to escape. Instead Sami Kent’s book goes deep beyond them, revealing a history as rich, layered and absurd as his family’s favourite dessert, künefe: a shredded wheat pastry with a core of melted cheese, a topping of pistachios, and a drowning of syrup.

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Book Synopsis''A tender but substantive family memoir'' Sunday Independent''An acute eye and a lightness of touch ensures that this is never anything other than truly engrossing'' The FieldA few years ago Lally Snow moved to a Dorset village with her husband and three small children, having spent over a decade as a war photographer, foreign correspondent and film maker living in Kabul. She covered the conflict there as well as other wars from Gaza to Eastern Ukraine, and Iraq.In the late winter of 2021-22, Lally decided to rent an allotment, despite having only a rudimentary knowledge of gardening. She was starting from scratch and setting herself the dual challenge of growing an allotment at the same time as growing a family.This is a heart-warming, wry and at times tearful account of Lally''s travails as a mother and novice allotment holder, counterpointing horticultural progress with the perils of parenting. Along the way she reflect

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Book Synopsis''Immersive and compelling. I read it in a single day! Everyone should take a plunge into this book.'' CATHY RENTZENBRINK''The Tidal Year is some of the best writing on wild swimming that I have encountered.'' MARIANNE LEVYFreya is still searching. For four years, she''s been looking for a way to fill the empty space her brother''s death left behind. Ready for another distraction, Freya decides to swim every tidal pool in Britain in a year with her friend Miri. The adventure takes them from a pool hidden in the cliffs of fishing-village Polperro to the quarry lagoon of Abereiddi via the Trinkie where locals meet each year to give the pool wall a fresh lick of paint. As Freya travels further from London, she finds herself closer to memories of her brother. With every swim, and every stranger they meet in the water, the challenge becomes more than just a way to explore the coast, but a journey of self-discovery.The Tidal Year is Trade ReviewImmersive and compelling. I read it in a single day! Everyone should take a plunge into this book -- Cathy RentzenbrinkFunny, sad and honest, but ultimately also hopeful, The Tidal Year is a wonderful and welcome addition to the growing canon of books exploring the restorative power of wild swimming -- Sophie PierceReads like a lusciously languid dream sequence... It's not just about how water can redeem us but how words can too. A powerful debut -- Christopher BeanlandFunny and moving, brimming with bracingly refreshing uncertainty and a salty refusal of resolution, it is a book to float away in -- Polly AtkinA heart-rending depiction of a young woman growing through grief and the healing, restorative power of nature -- Nick BradleyBright and tender-hearted... candid and vulnerable -- Jessica J. LeeA moving and memorable book... Her writing is contained, clear and as powerful as the changing tides she swims in. She is a talent to watch -- Raffaella BarkerAstonishing in its frankness, raw, poignant, bracing, funny; a very human story -- Derek Niemann, Guardian country diaristThe Tidal Year is some of the best writing on wild swimming that I have encountered -- Marianne LevyA beautiful, brilliantly written book on grief, self-discovery and swimming. I loved following along on the tidal pool adventure and thought all the observations, of people and places, were so vividly captured. It's not every day you gobble up a 400+ page memoir in a matter of days -- Emma GannonBeautifully written * Jersey Evening Post *A poignant, funny tribute to the complex, tidal nature of grief. The Tidal Year delivers inspirational waves of hope and renewal to its readers, demonstrating the restorative power of immersion in the natural world -- Jade Angeles Fitton, author of HERMIT

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Book Synopsis'His erudition is enorous, his prose as beautiful and clear as the blue ocean on a crisp morning . . . Passage to Juneau is a wonderfully fluid read' – Sunday Times Passage to Juneau is an account of Raban's voyage from Seattle to the Alaskan capital by boat, and the devastating news that awaits him when he returns to dry land. In Raban's capable hands, the passage from Seattle to Alaska is less a journey than a backdrop for musings on history, art, myth, and philosophy.Reissued with a new introduction from Robert Macfarlane, author of Underland: A Deep Time Journey, this is extraordinary travel writing, defying at every turns the constrains of genre.'Raban at his best' – Ian McEwanTrade ReviewRaban's inability to write a mere travel book opens the way for Passage to Juneau to become something richer and stranger: a book that defies categories, unless it simply be called a portrait of the journeying soul . . . Evoking the sea, Raban is incomparable * Times Literary Supplement *A moving, complex mosaic of memory, history and adventure * Sunday Telegraph *'Passage to Juneau is a rich and complex book – a beautifully crafted travelogue, a subtle exercise in anthropology and an involving account of the personal crises which gripped Raban during his voyage to Alaska' * Express on Sunday *'Jonathan Raban is one of the most satisfying writers of his generation' * Observer *This is an extraordinary book . . . The epic jounrey through the eddies, rips, whirlpools, and various other marine terrors quickly becomes intensely personal . . . Passage to Juneau is far more thna a meditation on the sea and its meanings; it is also an unsparing self-exaomination, written with mordant humour and forensic ruthlessness * Telegraph *A thrilling adventure and a telling internal exploration . . . the writing contains natural description of breathtaking exactness . . . and the sea itself – in all its moods – has surely never been so intricately painted * Evening Standard *His erudition is enormous, his prose as beautiful and clear as the blue ocean on a crisp morning and his sense of joy at having found his place in the world is immensely rewarding. Passage to Juneau is a wonderfully fluid read. It is also a thought-provoking and challenging work that is likely to splash around in the memory long after the volume has been consigned to the shelf * Sunday Times *Raban's journey itself is most beautifully told, vivid and fresh with observation * Spectator *A work of great beauty and inexhaustible fervour * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisThe chart-topping singer/songwriter's powerful story, told for the first time, in her own words.

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Book SynopsisTrapped in History tells how the British colonised Kenya and how African nationalism arose under Jomo Kenyatta. It describes the terrifying first attacks by the guerrilla freedom fighters known as Mau Mau. Though defeated, the Mau Mau hastened the end of British rule in Kenya. Trapped in History explores the effect the uprising on the author, who grew up as a child in the Kenya colony.The book is both a history, as well as a memoir, of the end of Empire.

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