Narrative theme: identity / belonging
HarperCollins Publishers All Is Not Forgotten The bestselling gripping
Book SynopsisHow far would you go to protect your daughter?Deeply intriguing and provocative, ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN is not to be missed'KARIN SLAUGHTERSince the night she was attacked, Jenny Kramer hasn''t been able to recall what happened. Her parents and the doctors saw to that. Her mother couldn't prevent the terror in the woods, but she's done all she can to stop it ruining Jenny's life. The only thing that now bothers Jenny is the scar carved into her lower back. Which she can't stop touching.But if Jenny can't remember her attacker, he can't be caught. He could be the man next to her right now, the one who caught just her eye.And he hasn't forgotten anythingTrade Review‘Unpredictable’MAIL ON SUNDAY ‘Disturbing’WOMAN ‘Deeply intriguing and provocative, ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN explores intricate family relationships against the backdrop of searing suspense. A novel filled with twists, surprises and a plot that keeps you guessing, ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN is not to be missed’–Karin Slaughter 'Original, compelling and very, very clever'–BA Paris, author of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ‘An assured, powerful, polished novel that blends suspense and rich family drama. Built on a fascinating scientific premise and laced with moral complexity, it is, in a word, unforgettable’ –William Landay, author of DEFENDING JACOB ‘Captivating and bold, Wendy Walker takes an incisive look at the importance of memory and the power of manipulation. Fascinating and at times shocking, ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN is one book you won t easily forget. Not to be missed! – Mary Kubica, author of THE GOOD GIRL
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers The Alibi Girl
Book SynopsisBrilliantly-written characters, original and engaging. It's so good!'BA ParisJOANNE HAYNES HAS A SECRET.THAT IS NOT HER REAL NAME.And there's more. Her flat isn't hers. Her cats aren''t hers. Even her hair isn't really hers.Nor is she any of the other women she pretends to be. Not the bestselling romance novelist who gets her morning snack from the doughnut van on the seafront. Nor the pregnant woman in the dental surgery. Nor the chemo patient in the supermarket for whom the cashier feels ever so sorry. They''re all just alibis.In fact, the only thing that's real about Joanne is that nobody can know who she really is.But someone has got too close. It looks like her alibis have begun to run out.Your favourite authors are loving The Alibi GirlHeart-wrenching, impossible to predict and completely absorbing' John MarrsThe master of dark, sexy psychological suspense' Suzy K QuinnA dark, addictive read' Phoebe MorganTrade Review Praise for The Alibi Girl: ‘It has everything you’d expect from Skuse; tragic twists and turns but always with heart at its core. Heart-wrenching, impossible to predict and completely absorbing’ John Marrs ‘Riveting and gripping’ Sunday Post ‘Brilliantly-written characters, original, engaging and moving storyline. It’s so good!’ BA Paris ‘An edge-of-your-seat thriller’ Woman and Home ‘Another stunner from the master of dark, sexy psychological suspense’ Suzy K Quinn ‘A fast-moving, complex and troubling study of family lives that manages to make you laugh and cry at the same time’ Daily Mail ‘A dark, addictive read with CJ Skuse’s trademark humour – I loved it’ Phoebe Morgan ‘A hilarious, hair-raising, nail-biting tale’ Saga ‘A chilling tale with an interesting perspective’ Woman Magazine Praise for CJ Skuse: ‘An absolute marvel of a book – SO dark, SO laugh-out-loud funny, the world through Rhiannon's eyes is perfectly, acutely observed. Brilliant!’ SJI Holliday ‘This darkly comic novel…has the potential to become a cult classic’ Daily Mail ‘Sweetpea hits all the right buttons. A dark, twisted read about a female serial killer with dollops of humour, sarcasm and a lightweight approach…keeping you gripped and on the hook, both smiling and squirming’ Maxim Jakubowski, Lovereading ‘You MUST read this book especially if you like your (anti) heroes dirty-mouthed, deadly and dark, dark dark. ADORED IT' Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle ‘This isn’t a book for the squeamish or the faint-hearted … think Bridget Jones meets American Psycho’ Red ‘This book is OUTRAGEOUS’ Compulsive Readers ‘This anti-hero is psychotic without doubt, sexually voracious and incredibly funny’ Shots magazine
£9.45
HarperCollins Publishers Feast Days
Book Synopsis‘Brilliant. Among the best novels I know about the fate of American innocence abroad’ Garth GreenwellTrade Review‘Brutal, dazzling … a devastatingly truthful take on class, race, marriage and politics. Ian MacKenzie writes about cities with the same verve and vigour as Salman Rushdie and Zadie Smith’ Daisy Johnson, Guardian ‘A sophisticated and astute story of expatriate life told from a truly convincing, captivating female voice’ Irish Times ‘Sharp and unsettling’ Financial Times ‘A story about love and power, luxury and empire, set in one of the most socially stratified countries on the planet. MacKenzie’s slender novel feels heavier than many novels twice its weight’ San Francisco Chronicle ‘The novel of the ugly American living abroad has bloomed into a genre all its own … Charles Portis’s Gringos, Ben Lerner’s Leaving the Atocha Station, Nell Zink’s The Wallcreeper … Ian MacKenzie’s second novel arrives as a worthy addition to that list’ New York Times ‘Feast Days is a triumph of compression and range. Its scenes seemed to me small rooms of grand proportions and multiple doors – through each door a different world glimpsed, something light, something dark, something irreverent, something sublime, all of this often in one observation of a single moment which explodes into the reader's mind’Samantha Harvey ‘This brilliant novel has no time for platitudes or conventional, ankle-deep morality; it plunges us straight to the depths. I'm not sure I know another book that feels at once so disaffected and so full of longing, so expansive in its sympathy and so terrifying in its candour. Devastating, funny and wise, it's among the best novels I know about the fate of American innocence abroad’ Garth Greenwell, author of What Belongs to You ‘Feast Days is so much more than a novel. It's an all-consuming meditation on the modern condition, the search for rootedness in the ever-shifting worlds of our own creation, told by a writer so gifted with language that you forget who you are in the poetry of his prose’ Uzodinma Iweala, author of Beasts of No Nation
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers You Were Always Mine
Book SynopsisSits squarely at the tender intersection of race, class, and ethics wrapped in beautiful prose and a killer plot that keeps you turning the pages' JODI PICOULTOh my goodness this book; quite possibly one of the most emotionally powerful, heart wrenching books about motherhood that I have ever read I laughed and cried, and I know that this book will stay with me forever I would give this book six stars if I could' Reader review ?????It is a beautifully written book with a sensitivity and nuance that makes it an immensely rewarding read. I couldn't recommend it more highly and if you are looking for the perfect book club read, this is it!' Reader review ?????* * * *Is the truest family the one we're born into, or the one we make for ourselves?Cinnamon Haynes has fought hard for everything she has her marriage, a stable job as a career counsellor, and home of her own. She's overcome the difficult circumstances of her childhood to build this life, and yet, she can't help but wonder isTrade Review Praise for You Were Always Mine ‘The work of Jo Piazza and Christine Pride sits squarely at the tender intersection of race, class, and ethics – wrapped in beautiful prose and a killer plot that keeps you turning the pages. Before you begin You Were Always Mine, ask yourself why you often see white foster parents with Black kids . . . but rarely the other way around. What makes a family? Who has the right to raise a child? Does race matter more than love or security? And perhaps most important of all – why don't we feel comfortable asking these questions? This novel will spark one of many conversations America should be having’ Jodi Picoult Praise for Christine Pride and Jo Piazza ‘A painfully amazing read teaching us that sometimes, when it comes to race, the real enemy is ignorance’ Rhys Stephenson, actor and TV presenter ‘Provides a starting point for conversations which are crucial, at times uncomfortable, but long overdue’ Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things ‘The best kind of book, one that manages to educate readers as it entertains them. Riveting, timely and honest, this powerful page-turner explores the complexity of friendship and race – and will stay with you long after its stunning conclusion’ Greer Hendricks, Sunday Times bestselling co-author of The Wife Between Us ‘A brilliant novel from Christine Pride and Jo Piazza capturing today’s complex issues of race and class’ HELLO! ‘This is one of those books that is guaranteed to get people talking’ Joanne Finney, Good Housekeeping ‘A powerful story race, compassion, friendship and justice[…] a challenging and important read’ Daily Mail ‘I rarely say this, but I think everyone should read this’ Platinum ‘Powerful, accessible and wholly relatable’ Stylist
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers The Twilight Garden Escape with the charming
Book SynopsisThe uplifting, unforgettable new novel from the acclaimed author of The Reading List ‘It was a complete joy to spend time in The Twilight Garden’ Sally Page, bestselling author of The Keeper of Stories_____________________________________________________________Trade Review‘It was a complete joy to spend time in The Twilight Garden, especially with the wonderful Winston by my side’ Sally Page ‘A gorgeous story of love, friendship and gardening which really moved me. A magical novel’ Ajay Chowdhury ‘Sara's done it again, woven a beautiful story of isolation versus community, with characters you really want to see happy’ Tracy Rees ‘I LOVED this book. I get lost in every single page of a Sara Nisha Adams book, and I never quite want to find my way out again!’ Debbie Johnson ‘This was such a tender, nuanced and hopeful story of connection; I thought it was wonderful’ Huma Qureshi ‘Beautiful and moving and so, so warm all at once’ Rosie Price
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers A Nurses Tale
Book SynopsisInspired by a true storyDaughterMidwifePrincessA fascinating story reflecting the past moving alongside the present day' USA Today Bestseller Glynis PetersBorn Nigerian royalty, Princess Adenrele Ademola trained as a nurse at Guy's Hospital in London and stepped up to serve the people of Britain when war broke out facing both the devastation of the Blitz and the prejudice of some of the people she was trying to help.80 years later, Ade's great-niece Yemi arrives in London clutching the Princess's precious diaries and longs to uncover the mysteries they holdA richly-detailed, compelling historical novel shining a light on a hidden voice of WW2 and one woman's courageous contribution to BritainA wonderful unfurling of such an important history I was utterly absorbed in Ade''s life!' Chioma OkerekeReaders love A Nurse's Tale:I must admit I knew very little about Nigeria, its history, culture, heritage and traditions and now I doa great debut novel and perfect for readers who enjoy histo
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers When The Lights Go Out
Book SynopsisWho can you trustWHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUTA group of new friends. But can she trust them? For struggling actress Ava, landing a role with the Chimera Theatre Group could lead to her big break. And relocating to a remote country village means stepping out from the shadow of her boyfrienddespite his determination not to let her go.Everyone in the group seems so welcoming, they're one big happy family. But, like all families, they each have secrets. And someone in the group doesn't want certain secrets to get outEveryone is GRIPPED by this thrilling book:I loved it! It''s such an immersive readthe story hurtles towards its compelling climax. Brilliant stuff!' Kate Rhodes, bestselling author of The Brutal TideA wonderful, character-driven thriller where alliances and friendships are put to the test' Sarah Ward, bestselling author of The QuickeningA dark psychological thriller that carefully draws you in as the tension mounts. Utterly fabulous' Victoria Dowd, winner of The People''s Book PrizeTrade Review'Subtle slow burner, which starts with pranks and ends somewhere else entirely…What a page turner!' Tina Baker ‘As the tension mounts we share Ava's fears that the lights may go out forever' Martin Edwards ‘The tangled knot of lies in this book is constantly being loosened then quickly pulled tight again. Leading and misleading, I enjoyed All the Little Lies all the way to the very last page’ June Taylor ‘A multi-layered psychological thriller with compelling characters’ Jackie Baldwin Praise for Chris Curran: ‘A cracker of a read! Will have you turning the pages, gripped, until you find answers’ The Welsh Librarian ‘Grabbed me from the first chapter and kept me gripped’ Rather Too Fond of Books ‘A truly engrossing and compelling tale of lies and loss. Loved it’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews ‘Powerful story telling with a dark mystery at its heart’ Amanda Hodgkinson, New York Times bestselling author of SPILT MILK and 22 BRITANNIA ROAD ‘Gripping and tense in all the right places’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews ‘Truly gripping’ SUNDAY EXPRESS ‘Rich cast, believable characters, powerful premise, lovely prose and proof that crime fiction can be intelligent and pulse-racing’ JJ Marsh, author of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ‘I would highly recommend this novel for readers who enjoy excellently narrated dark and thrilling crime mysteries’ Liza Perrat, author of WOLFSANGEL ‘I look forward to reading more from Chris Curran and recommend to all who enjoy a good mystery with lots of twists’Julia Connor, Goodreads
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers For Her Consideration The most charming and sexy
Book SynopsisPure romance magic' Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The UnhoneymoonersJoyful thoughtful and real' Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling authorWhat if her Hollywood job turns into her Hollywood ending?***Since a crushing breakup three years ago, Nina Rice has written romance, friends, her dreams of scriptwriting for TV, and even L.A. proper out of her life. Instead, she's safely out in the suburbs in her aunt's condo working her talent agency job from home, managing celebrity email accounts, and certain that's plenty of writingand plotfor her life. But a surprise meeting called by Ari Fox, a young actress on everyone's radar, stirs up all kinds of feelings Nina thought she'd deleted for goodAri is sexy, out and proud, and a serious control freak, according to Nina's boss. She has her own ideas about how Nina should handle her emailsand about getting to know her ghostwriter. When she tells Nina she should be writing again, Nina suddenly finds it less scary t
£8.54
Vintage Publishing Ten Little Indians
Book SynopsisSherman Alexie offers nine poignant and emotionally resonant stories about Native Americans who find themselves at personal and cultural crossroads. In ''The Life and Times of Estelle Walks Above'', an intellectual feminist Spokane Indian woman saves the lives of dozens of white women all around her, to the bewilderment of her only child. In ''Do You Know Where I Am?'' two college sweethearts rescue a lost cat - a simple act that has profound moral consequences for the rest of their lives together. In ''What You Pawn I Will Redeem'', a homeless Indian man must raise $1,000 in twenty-four hours to buy back the fancy dance outfit stolen from his grandmother fifty years earlier. Even as they often make us laugh, Sherman Alexie''s stories are driven by a haunting lyricism and naked candour that cut to the heart of the human experience.Trade Review[Written] with engaging humour and acuity... These stories irreverently explore the yearning for the sacred * Guardian *Arresting and funny * Times Literary Supplement *Intensely absorbing...Like Raymond Chandler, small deeds ripple through these lives without necessarily changing them, but Alexie's rich tales will certainly affect, if not change, yours * Scotsman *Alexie's painfully funny and astute stories chase the dilemmas of the Spokane diaspora, stripped of any myth or presumption of what Indian might be * Independent *A potent collection that takes a swipe at modern life and gives it a universal human face * Herald *
£13.85
Vintage Publishing The Road Home
Book Synopsis''Rose Tremain does not disappoint. As always her writing has a delicious, crunchy precision.'' ObserverA wise and witty look at the contemporary migrant experience.Lev is on his way from Eastern Europe to Britain, seeking work. Behind him loom the figures of his dead wife, his beloved young daughter and his outrageous friend Rudi who - dreaming of the wealthy West - lives largely for his battered Chevrolet. Ahead of Lev lies the deep strangeness of the British: their hostile streets, their clannish pubs, their obsession with celebrity. London holds out the alluring possibility of friendship, sex, money and a new career and, if Lev is lucky, a new sense of belonging...''A novel of urgent humanity'' Sunday TelegraphTrade ReviewA novel of urgent humanity * Sunday Telegraph *Rose Tremain does not disappoint. The Road Home is thematically rich, dealing with loss and separation, mourning and melancholia... As always her writing has a delicious, crunchy precision * Observer *Filled with emotional richness, complex sensibility and a passionate insistence on the humanity of the poor * Sunday Times *A classic work by the gifted Tremain * Guardian *'Tremain is a magnificent story-teller' * Independent on sunday *
£10.44
Vintage Publishing Inheritance
Book SynopsisWhat would you do if you suddenly and unexpectedly inherited 17million? This is what happens to Andy Larkham, recently jilted lover, and resentfully underpaid publishing minion. Arriving late to the funeral of his favourite schoolteacher, he ends up in the wrong chapel with one other mourner, too embarrassed to leave. Pressured to sign the register, little does he realise what effect that signature will have upon his life.The extraordinary story that follows tells of one man''s failed love, the temptations of unanticipated wealth, the secrets of damaged families and the price of being true to oneself. It is a romance for our times.Trade ReviewOne of our best and truest novelists * The Times *Enviably good -- Louis de Bernières * Sunday Times *Thoughtful and beautifully observed... Never predictable, this novel combines a remarkable narrative force with the lightest of touches. A book to savour and pass on * The Economist *Utterly absorbing and enjoyable...a romance which moves with assurance from wild improbability to a reconciliation with things as they may truly be * Scotsman *Completely riveting and very funny indeed. Shakespeare at his empathetic best, as he mines the fragile seam of our desire to be loved for who we are * Sunday Telegraph *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Bread Givers
Book SynopsisA timeless American novel about an immigrant girl growing up on the Lower East Side who dares to challenge her Orthodox Jewish family?s narrow conceptions of a woman?s place in the world, featuring a new foreword by the author of the New York Times bestseller Unorthodox?the basis for the hit Netflix series?and cover art by New Yorker cartoonist Liana FinckA Penguin ClassicThe youngest of four daughters in a family that left Poland in the 1920s for the crowded tenements of New York City?s Lower East Side, Sara Smolinsky has seen her sisters resign themselves, under their rabbi father?s iron fist, to loveless marriages and empty futures. They are ?bread givers,? working to feed the family while their father studies the Torah?according to which, as their father reminds them, a woman without her father or husband is ?less than nothing.? But Sara hungers for more. In defiance of her father, she breaks free, escaping home to see what the American dream holds for her in this poignant coming-of-age tale and striking portrait of feminist rebellion.For more than seventy-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 2,000 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.Trade ReviewBread Givers enables us to see our life more clearly, to test its values, to reckon up what it is that our aims and achievements may mean. It has a raw, uncontrollable poetry * New York Times *A fine novel ... Yezierska's sense of vernacular is wonderful * Kirkus Reviews *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Mr Loverman From the Booker prizewinning author
Book SynopsisTreat a loved one to this joyful, big-hearted read from Booker Prize-winning novelist Bernardine Evaristo...''[Mr Loverman is] Brokeback Mountain with ackee and saltfish and old people'' Dawn FrenchWINNER OF THE JERWOOD FICTION UNCOVERED PRIZE 2014 and FERRO GRUMLEY AWARD FOR LGBT FICTION 2015Barrington Jedidiah Walker is seventy-four and leads a double life. Born and bred in Antigua, he''s lived in Hackney since the sixties. A flamboyant, wise-cracking local character with a dapper taste in retro suits and a fondness for quoting Shakespeare, Barrington is a husband, father and grandfather - but he is also secretly homosexual, lovers with his great childhood friend, Morris.His deeply religious and disappointed wife, Carmel, thinks he sleeps with other women. When their marriage goes into meltdown, Barrington wants to divorce Carmel and live with Morris, but after a lifetime of fear and deception, will he manaTrade ReviewBernardine Evaristo can take any story from any time and turn it into something vibrating with life -- Ali SmithThis riproaring, full-bodied riff on sex, secrecy and family is Bernardine Evaristo's seventh book. If you don't yet know her work, you should - she says things about modern Britain that no one else does * Guardian *Transforms our often narrow perceptions of gay men in England . . . Comical, agonising and, ultimately, moving * Independent *Evaristo has a lot going on in this unusual urban romance, but beneath her careful study of race and sexuality is a beautiful love story. Not many writers could have two old men having sexual intercourse in a bedsit to a soundtrack of Shabba Ranks's Mr Loverman and save it from bad taste, much less make it sublime. But the hero of this book, and his canny creator, make everything taste just fine * Daily Telegraph *An undeniably bold and energetic writer, whose world view is anything but one-dimensional * Sunday Times *Audacious genre-bending, in-yer-face wit and masterly retellings of underwritten corners of history are the hallmarks of Evaristo's wit * New Statesman *Heartbreaking yet witty, this is a story that needed to be told * Observer *I loved this novel. Barrington is flamboyant, complex and in love with his childhood friend Morris. It really makes you think of all the stories, forbidden and forgotten, from the elders who made England their home -- Luan Goldie * Guardian *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd When The Emperor Was Divine
Book Synopsis''A compelling, powerful portrait of a terrible endurance. Terrific'' The TimesFour months after Pearl Harbor, signs begin appearing up and down the West Coast instructing all persons of Japanese ancestry to report to ''assembly centers''. For one family - reclassified, virtually overnight, as unwelcome enemies - it is the beginning of a nightmare of oppression and alienation that will alter their lives forever.There is the mother, reeling from the order to ''evacuate'', and the daughter, travelling on the long train journey away from freedom. There is the son, who struggles to adapt to their new life in the dust of the Utah desert, and the father, who, after four bitter years in captivity, returns to his family a stranger.Based on a true story, Julie Otsuka''s powerful, deeply humane first novel tells of a forgotten generation who found themselves imprisoned in their own country, and evokes an unjustly overlooked episode in America''s wartime hTrade ReviewA remarkable, beautifully written story of panic, prejudice and shame ... outstandingly accomplished and moving * Sunday Telegraph *An intense jewel of a book written with clarity and beauty * Marie Claire *Vindicates the suffering of the Japanese in America . . . a blistering first novel * The Times Literary Supplement *A compelling, powerful portrait of a terrible endurance. Terrific * The Times *Exceptional * New Yorker *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Funny Girl
Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER SOON TO BE A TV SERIES STARRING GEMMA ARTERTON AND RUPERT EVERETT''Simply unputdownable'' Guardian''Hilarious'' Daily Telegraph''Highly entertaining'' Sunday Times _________________Make them laugh, and they''re yours forever . . .Barbara Parker is Miss Blackpool of 1964, but she doesn''t want to be a beauty queen. She wants to make people laugh.So she leaves her hometown behind, takes herself to London, and overnight she becomes the lead in a new BBC comedy, Sophie Straw: charming, gorgeous, destined to win the nation''s hearts.Funny Girl is the story of a smash-hit TV show and the people behind the scenes. But when life starts imitating art, they all face a choice. How long can they keep going before it''s time to change the channel? ______________''Warm, funny, touching . . . winningly perceptive about human relationshiTrade ReviewSo simple, so easy to read and yet so sensitive and profound at the same time. This is a world that feels real and one you don't want to leave * Independent on Sunday *Like all Hornby's best work, it is both hugely enjoyable and deceptively artful * Spectator *Everything Hornby writes is addictively readable and clever, but with Funny Girl he has surpassed himself * Red *Hornby's sunniest novel * Metro *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd New Daughters of Africa
Book SynopsisThree decades after her pioneering anthology, Daughters of Africa, Margaret Busby curates an extraordinary collection of contemporary writing by 200 women writers of African descent, including Zadie Smith, Bernardine Evaristo and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. A glorious portrayal of the richness and range of African women''s voices, this major international book brings together their achievements across a wealth of genres. From Antigua to Zimbabwe and Angola to the USA, overlooked artists of the past join key figures, popular contemporaries and emerging writers in paying tribute to the heritage that unites them, the strong links that endure from generation to generation, and their common obstacles around issues of race, gender and class.Bold and insightful, brilliant in its intimacy and universality, this landmark anthology honours the talents of African daughters and the inspiring legacy that connects them-and all of us.The New Daughters of AfricaDiane AbbottYassmin Abdel-MagiedLeila AboulelaAyobami AdebayoSade AdeniranChimamanda Ngozi AdichieZoe AdjonyohPatience AgbabiAgnès AgbotonCandace AllenLisa Allen-AgostiniEllah Wakatama AllfreyAndaiyeHarriet AnenaJoan Anim-AddoMonica Arac de NyekoYemisi AribisalaYolanda Arroyo PizarroAmma AsanteMichelle AsantewaNana Asma''uSefi AttaAyesha Harruna AttahGabeba BaderoonYaba BadoeYvonne Bailey-SmithDoreen BainganaEllen Banda-AakuAngela BarryMildred K. BaryaJackee Budesta BatandaSimi BedfordLinda BellosJay BernardMarion BethelAma BineyJacqueline BishopMalorie BlackmanTanella BoniMalika BookerNana Ekua Brew-HammondBeverley BryanAkosua BusiaCandice Carty-WilliamsRutendo ChabikwaBarbara Chase-RiboudPanashe ChigumadziGabrielle CivilMaxine Beneba ClarkeAngela CobbinahCarolyn CooperJuanita CoxMeta Davis CumberbatchPatricia CumperStella DadzieYrsa Daley-WardNana-Ama DanquahEdwidge DanticatNadia DavidsTjawangwa DemaYvonne Denis RosarioAnni DomingoNah DoveEdwige-Renée DroCamille T. DungyAnaïs DuplanReni Eddo-LodgeAida EdemariamEsi EdugyanSummer EdwardYvvette EdwardsZena EdwardsSafia ElhilloZetta ElliottNawal El SaadawiDiana EvansBernardine EvaristoEve L. EwingDeise Faria NunesDiana FerrusNikky FinneyAminatta FornaIfeona FulaniVangile GantshoRoxane GayDanielle Legros GeorgesPatricia Glinton-MeicholasHawa Jande GolakaiWangui wa GoroBonnie GreerJane Ulysses GrellRachel Eliza GriffithsCarmen Harriszakia henderson-brownJoanne C. HillhouseAfua HirschZita HolbourneNalo HopkinsonRashidah IsmailiNaomi JacksonSandra Jackson-OpokuDelia Jarrett-MacauleyMargo JeffersonBarbara JenkinsCatherine JohnsonEthel Irene KabwatoElizabeth KeckleyFatimah KelleherDonika KellyAdrienne KennedySusan Nalugwa KiguliRosamond S. KingDonu KogbaraLauri KubuitsileGoretti KyomuhendoBeatrice LamwakaPatrice LawrenceAndrea LevyLesley LokkoKaren LordKaren Ládípò ManyikaRos MartinLebogang MashileIsabella MatambanadzoNomaVenda MathianeImbolo MbueMaaza MengisteArthenia Bates MillicanBridget MinamoreNadifa MohamedNatalia MolebatsiWame MolefheAja MonetSisonke MsimangBlessing MusaririGlaydah NamukasaMarie NDiayeJuliana Makuchi Nfah-AbbenyiWanjiku wa NgugiKetty NivyabandiElizabeth NunezSelina NwuluTrifonia Melibea ObonoNana Oforiatta AyimIrenosen OkojieNnedi OkoraforJuliane Okot BitekChinelo OkparantaYewande OmotosoMakena OnjerikaChibundu OnuzoTess OnwuemeYvonne Adhiambo OwuorLouisa Adjoa ParkerDjaimilia Pereira de AlmeidaAlake PilgrimWinsome PinnockHannah Azieb PoolOlúmìdé Pópó?láClaudia RankineH. Cordelia RaySarah Parker RemondFlorida Ruffin RidleyZandria F. RobinsonZuleica Romay GuerraAndrea Rosario-GborieLeone RossJosephine St. Pierre RuffinMinna SalamiMarina Salandy-BrownSapphireNoo Saro-WiwaTaiye SelasiNamwali SerpellKadija SesayClaire ShepherdVerene A. ShepherdWarsan ShireLola ShoneyinDorothea SmarttZadie SmithAdeola SolankeCelia SorhaindoAttillah SpringerAndrea StuartSuAndiValerie Joan TagwiraJennifer TeegeJean évenetNatasha TretheweyNovuyo Rosa TshumaHilda J. TwongyeirweChika UnigweYvonne VeraPhillippa Yaa de VilliersKit de WaalElizabeth Walcott-HackshawEffie Waller SmithRebecca WalkerAyeta Anne WangusaZukiswa WannerJesmyn WardVerna Allette WilkinsCharlotte WilliamsSue Woodford-HollickMakhosazana XabaTiphanie YaniqueTrade ReviewBusby opens the door wide and allows her readers to witness the conversations that have occurred between black women writers, conversations about culture, love, inheritance and more, without mediation from the powerful institutions of publishing and academia. The effect is marvellous. It is also necessary -- Imani Perry * Financial Times *An incredible introduction to black women's writing from around the world -- Bernardine EvaristoThis remarkable book constitutes a powerful affirmation of literary achievement, demonstrating that contemporary black women writers are part of a vital and extensive tradition * Times Literary Supplement *New Daughters of Africa is a beautiful, essential anthology. It is both long-awaited and urgently needed; it recognises the individual voices and interwoven histories of every facet of womanhood -- Preti TanejaNew Daughters of Africa is indispensable because African voices have been silenced or diminished throughout history, and women's voices even more so * The Irish Times *
£19.00
Penguin Books Ltd The Angel of Rome Jess Walter
Book SynopsisIn this dazzling collection of stories, a son must repeatedly come out to his senile father while looking for a place that will care for the old man. An elderly couple confronts the note-taking fiction writer eavesdropping on their conversation. A famous actor in recovery has a one-night stand with the world''s most surprising film critic. And in the beautifully romantic title story, a shy twenty-one-year-old studying Latin in Rome during the year of my reinvention finds himself face-to-face with the gorgeous Italian actress of his adolescent dreams.Funny, poignant, and redemptive, this collection takes the reader to Italy and Idaho, Washington and Mississippi. With his signature wit and bighearted approach to the darkest parts of humanity, Walter tackles the modern condition with a timeless touch.Trade ReviewWalter is a writer whose work deserves a wide readership * Sunday Times on The Cold Millions *One of our most gifted builders of fictional worlds * Esquire on The Cold Millions *Walter is a believer in capricious destiny with a fine, freewheeling sense of humour * New York Times on The Cold Millions *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Dats Love
Book SynopsisA brilliant collection of short stories from Leonora Brito exploring race, identity, and love''Magical, enigmatic, distinctive, accomplished and haunting . . . Brito was ahead of her time'' BERNARDINE EVARISTO, FROM THE INTRODUCTIONLeonora Brito was a writer of exceptional stories. In Dat''s Love, she soaks up the sights, sounds and colours of Cardiff to boldly explore race and history.With each electric story, Brito introduces a unique cast of characters, vibrantly elevating their everyday lives. From 59-year-old Dorothy taking up nude modelling to black aristocrat Dido Elizabeth Belle absconding her uncle''s estate, from the assassination of JFK to what''s going down at the Blue Bayou bar, Brito blends the surreal and the mundane to redress history and immerse the reader in a vibrantly painted world.Containing an unusual exactness and sense of place, Brito''s stories are unique in Welsh fiction in presenting an insider''s perspective oTrade ReviewScintillating . . . Dat’s Love conjures into being a vivid and vital picture of life in Cardiff’s Tiger Bay . . . Brito’s communicable zest for language fizzes like a seltzer . . . a high-water mark in Welsh fiction, with stories that have a real sense of a real place and stand proud on the shelf * Nation Cymru *Outstanding . . . Leonora Brito shares stirring social observations that cut to the core of the human condition through intimate portraits of a diverse cast of characters. These are stories that stir the soul, quiver the heart, and quicken the brain * LoveReading *Leonora Brito's perspective is utterly unique and her voice is remarkable. I feel incredibly lucky to have discovered this book and to have made this connection to her legacy -- Orla Mackey, author of MOUTHINGA collection that is sometimes funny and always highly original. Brito's narrators and characters are freetalkers and freethinkers with strikingly singular perspectives * Publishers Weekly *The themes of race, community, a sense of place, history and identity (and specifically a Welsh identity) explored in Brito's writing are timeless and relevant as ever, making Dat's Love a must-read for everyone * Wales Arts Review *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group True Biz
Book Synopsis''Original, tender, thoughtful and true'' Reese Witherspoon''Part tender coming of age story, part electrifying tale of political awakening, part heartfelt love letter to Deaf culture, True Biz is a wholly a wonder'' Celeste NgNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - REESE''S BOOK CLUB PICK - A ''tender, beautiful and radiantly outraged'' (The New York Times Book Review) novel that follows a year of seismic romantic, political, and familial shifts for a teacher and her students at a boarding school for the deaf, from the acclaimed author of Girl at War.True biz (adj./exclamation; American Sign Language): really, seriously, definitely, real-talkTrue biz? The students at the River Valley School for the Deaf just want to hook up, pass their history finals, and have politicians, doctors, and their parents stop telling them what to do with their bodies. This revelatory novel plunges readers into the halls of a residential school for the deaf, where they''ll meet Charlie, a rebellious transfer student who''s never met another deaf person before; Austin, the school''s golden boy, whose world is rocked when his baby sister is born hearing; and February, the headmistress, who is fighting to keep her school open and her marriage intact, but might not be able to do both. As a series of crises both personal and political threaten to unravel each of them, Charlie, Austin, and February find their lives inextricable from one another - and changed forever.This is a story of sign language and lip-reading, disability and civil rights, isolation and injustice, first love and loss, and, above all, great persistence, daring, and joy. Absorbing and assured, idiosyncratic and relatable, this is an unforgettable journey into the Deaf community and a universal celebration of human connection.Trade ReviewGoodness, I can't even begin to put into words all the feelings this book provoked!...An eye-opening and heartfelt story about human connection and the beauty and adversity woven into the deaf community and culture. It is both an educational and electrifying peek into a family's life as they fight to forge connections even as the outside world threatens to close the door on them. I loved this story so much, it is not one to miss * Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club April ’22 Pick) *Tender, beautiful and radiantly outraged...True Biz is moving, fast-paced and spirited... Novic, who is deaf and spent time at deaf schools researching the novel, makes an urgent and heartfelt case for the schools' importance in providing language access, and in nurturing community and a sense of self. Great stories create empathy and awareness more effectively than facts do, and this important novel should - true biz - change minds and transform the conversation. * Maile Meloy, New York Times Book Review *For those who loved the Oscar-winning film CODA, a boarding school for deaf students is the setting for a kaleidoscope of experience * Washington Post *Part tender coming of age story, part electrifying tale of political awakening, part heartfelt love letter to Deaf culture, True Biz is a wholly a wonder. Sara Novic examines the ways language can include, exclude, or help forge an identity - as well as what it means to carve out a place for yourself in a world that sees you as other * Celeste Ng *I fell in love with Sara Novic's True Biz from the first page: delicate, nuanced, playful, and at the same time sweeping in its ideas and reach, this book is a literary novel that is a page turner with a vision which will speak to many a reader in our times and beyond. Sara Novic is one of the best writers of my generation - not just *the* novelist of Deaf culture, but of human nature writ large. Do yourself a favor and get this book- it is inimitable * Ilya Kaminsky, author of Deaf Republic and Dancing in Odessa *I loved True Biz, it's warm, complex and compelling. Of course I love the way it provides a window into a culture that will be unfamiliar to many of us, but what really marks it out is its humanity and intelligence - the threads of coming-of-age, birth, death, and all the rites of passage are interwoven brilliantly, surrounding a core of passion for justice and equality.' * Bridget Collins *This is my favorite kind of novel, fascinating and smart and brimming with contrasts. It's a coming-of-age story but also one of anarchy and protest. It's about the ways communities are bound but also the ways they bind. It's about belonging versus conforming, individual strength alongside solidarity. I laughed. I learned. I entered a world I knew too little about, at once different from mine and of course the same. I will be recommending this book to absolutely everyone * Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is and One Two Three *Reading True Biz was a transformative experience - it's as important a book as I've read in years. I was in awe of the care and love and hard-won wisdom that went into the writing of it. Sara Novic is the real deal * Jami Attenberg, author of All This Could Be Yours *True Biz is exquisitely crafted and absolutely riveting * Vendela Vida, author of We Run the Tides *Sara Novic's gifts for character, story, and language are evident from the first page. True Biz feels like the discovery of a new written form, a love letter to language itself * Liz Moore, New York Times bestselling author of Long Bright River *Rollicking, immersive, and boldly, exquisitely felt, True Biz delves into the deepest questions about community, communication, and collective action, inviting the reader into a world of language made new * Alexandra Kleeman, author of Something New Under the Sun *An electrifying narrativeset at a present-day boarding school for Deaf high school students, where they find love and friendship and battle a series of injustices...With complex characters seething with rage against the injustices they face, and an immersive and novel treatment of Charlie's experience learning ASL, Novic offers an unforgettable homage to resilience. This is brilliant * Publishers Weekly starred review *
£9.49
Dialogue Diary of a Film
Book Synopsis''Niven Govinden''s Diary of a Film, his sixth novel, is also his best yet. Smart, sexy and cinematic (in many senses), it is a love letter to Italy and to film'' Observer''Immersive . . . This is a wise and skilfully controlled novel that can be read in an afternoon, but which radiates in the mind for much longer'' Financial Times''A beautiful, poignant novel of love and longing'' TelegraphAn auteur, together with his lead actors, is at a prestigious European festival to premiere his latest film.Alone one morning at a backstreet café, he strikes up a conversation with a local woman who takes him on a walk to uncover the city''s secrets, historic and personal. As the walk unwinds, a story of love and tragedy emerges, and he begins to see the chance meeting as fate. He is entranced, wholly clear in his mind: her story must surely form the basis for his next film.This is a novel about cinema, flânTrade ReviewDiary of a Film is an achingly intimate novel--tender and wise like Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet through the lens of Luca Guadagnino. Govinden drops us into the fray of an Italian film festival only to reveal a secret garden of quiet and stolen moments with a director whose film is about to premiere. In hotel rooms, abandoned buildings, and in a whisper in front of the international press corps, joy blooms, ideas are born, liberties are taken. Trust holds it all afloat. A stunning meditation on the art of creation and the nature of the artist -- Saskia VogelDiary of a Film is about how art ravages and redeems. It is about the responsibility artists bear both for their art and the world that must contain it; about the imperative to create something substantial in a world that moves too quickly to capture beauty to one's satisfaction; it is about living an ideal, committing to a principle whatever the potential cost, leaping into love and trusting that it will hold you -- Stephen Kelman, author of Pigeon EnglishVicariously I experienced again the freedom to travel and visit a European city just to catch an exhibition, go dancing or merely escape the mundane for a weekend. Diary of a Film is about seeing the familiar in new ways, finding friends wherever we are and coming to terms with the past being the past. Set amongst the gourmet surroundings of a Northern Italian film festival, it reads like an elegy for a just-gone era -- Paul Mendez, author of Rainbow MilkA wonderful mediation on why we tell stories, and who gets to tell those stories - and the grief of your masterpiece belonging only to its audience once it's finished. Sentence by sentence, one of the most beautiful novels I've read all year -- Nikesh ShuklaA meditation on film-making, art, grief and privacy. Constructed with the skill of a watchmaker, with a precise, consistent pitch of intensity -- Keith RidgewayPrecision engineered European modernism from a master stylist. It walks us into a luminous and loving conversational drama, rich with complex erotics and interwoven private agonies. He writes exquisitely about art making, about obsession and responsibility. It's a gorgeous novel -- Max PorterGovinden has created a work of taut and enveloping beauty, which gets to the heart of what it is to live an artistic life caught in the never-present of the piece just made and the piece as yet uncreated -- Andrew McMillanA serious, elegant and elegiac novel: an evocative tribute to the lost world of high cinematic glamour and a lament for the artists' struggle towards greatness. When the time comes again, this is the book I'll carry to read during days spent wandering around the grandeur of a city, moving from cafe to cafe, dreaming of the beautiful life -- Preti TanejaI truly fell in love with this book. It gifts the reader, offering complex human relationships, beautifully-written; I felt a genuine sadness when each scene ended. Reading Diary of a Film, I was powerfully reminded of the depth of the human heart, and of the work which proceeds from it -- Okechukwu NzeluImmensely talented -- Sarah Hughes * i newspaper *Niven Govinden's Diary of a Film, his sixth novel, is also his best yet. Smart, sexy and cinematic (in many senses), it is a love letter to Italy and to film -- Alex Preston * Observer *One for literary fiction fans, Niven's prose is intoxicating * Cosmopolitan *Immersive . . . This is a wise and skilfully controlled novel that can be read in an afternoon, but which radiates in the mind for much longer * Financial Times *Govinden's prose flows with the smooth lilt of a moving camera . . . an outstanding, luxurious novel * The i *Fall into its rhythms, and a few nights at a film festival will become an existential exploration of the creative process * The Skinny *A beautiful, poignant novel of love and longing . . . This tale of a director beguilingly captures the agony of making a film - and letting the public see it -- Tim Robey * Telegraph *A sophisticated and sensitive book about storytelling and queer kinship * Attitude *Elegant . . . In a strong, clear tone that's unfettered by hyperbole, Govinden allows us access to the narrator's mind as he muses on love, work and who should tell whose stories * Monocle *A beguiling exploration of artistic obsession -- Colin Grant * The Guardian *It is a book about the dysfunctions of grief and about what rights the artist has to take liberties with somebody else's story. Gorgeously written, Diary of a Film is a book quite ripe, fittingly, for film adaptation * Literary Review *Because this is a novel of introspection - the narrator ponders his relationship to his lead actors, themselves embarking on a relationship with one another, and his life's work - its tone is one of intimacy and shared confidences that draws the listener ever further inwards * Financial Times *What a pleasure it is to read this love letter to art and to human connection (fragile, powerful, transforming), at a time when we're masked and lonesome and can't kiss our own hand without washing it afterwards -- Deborah Levy * New Statesman *Stole my heart . . . it captures a sense of the fragility and intimacy of human endeavour, but also the silence and resilience needed to survive as a woman, a man, as lovers and as artists in a market-driven world. -- Preti Taneja * New Statesman Book of the Year *A passionate director goes to an Italian film festival for the premiere of his latest work. He meets a young woman. They share a cigarette, talk for hours about coffee and gentrification, before she takes him to see a painted mural in an empty apartment block. If Diary of a Film is filmic in spirit, it is not a straightforward paean to art. The book continually returns to the inadequacy of art at representing real life, which, as the narrator realises, "would continue to burn long after the life of the film". Govinden handles it all with great subtlety, posing probing questions but never letting dogma get in the way of what is an outstanding, luxurious novel * i News, Best Books of the Year *Niven Govinden's sixth novel is an unequivocal triumph; everything in his practice has come together . . . With great subtlety, Govinden helps us see we are on a journey of discovery ourselves, as to who owns stories, and who has the right to tell them. -- Paul Mendez
£13.49
Dialogue Diary of a Film
Book Synopsis''Niven Govinden''s Diary of a Film, his sixth novel, is also his best yet. Smart, sexy and cinematic (in many senses), it is a love letter to Italy and to film'' Observer''Immersive . . . This is a wise and skilfully controlled novel that can be read in an afternoon, but which radiates in the mind for much longer'' Financial Times''A beautiful, poignant novel of love and longing'' TelegraphAn auteur, together with his lead actors, is at a prestigious European festival to premiere his latest film.Alone one morning at a backstreet café, he strikes up a conversation with a local woman who takes him on a walk to uncover the city''s secrets, historic and personal. As the walk unwinds, a story of love and tragedy emerges, and he begins to see the chance meeting as fate. He is entranced, wholly clear in his mind: her story must surely form the basis for his next film.This is a novel about cinema, flânTrade ReviewDiary of a Film is an achingly intimate novel--tender and wise like Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet through the lens of Luca Guadagnino. Govinden drops us into the fray of an Italian film festival only to reveal a secret garden of quiet and stolen moments with a director whose film is about to premiere. In hotel rooms, abandoned buildings, and in a whisper in front of the international press corps, joy blooms, ideas are born, liberties are taken. Trust holds it all afloat. A stunning meditation on the art of creation and the nature of the artist -- Saskia VogelDiary of a Film is about how art ravages and redeems. It is about the responsibility artists bear both for their art and the world that must contain it; about the imperative to create something substantial in a world that moves too quickly to capture beauty to one's satisfaction; it is about living an ideal, committing to a principle whatever the potential cost, leaping into love and trusting that it will hold you -- Stephen Kelman, author of Pigeon EnglishVicariously I experienced again the freedom to travel and visit a European city just to catch an exhibition, go dancing or merely escape the mundane for a weekend. Diary of a Film is about seeing the familiar in new ways, finding friends wherever we are and coming to terms with the past being the past. Set amongst the gourmet surroundings of a Northern Italian film festival, it reads like an elegy for a just-gone era -- Paul Mendez, author of Rainbow MilkA wonderful mediation on why we tell stories, and who gets to tell those stories - and the grief of your masterpiece belonging only to its audience once it's finished. Sentence by sentence, one of the most beautiful novels I've read all year -- Nikesh ShuklaA meditation on film-making, art, grief and privacy. Constructed with the skill of a watchmaker, with a precise, consistent pitch of intensity -- Keith RidgewayPrecision engineered European modernism from a master stylist. It walks us into a luminous and loving conversational drama, rich with complex erotics and interwoven private agonies. He writes exquisitely about art making, about obsession and responsibility. It's a gorgeous novel -- Max PorterGovinden has created a work of taut and enveloping beauty, which gets to the heart of what it is to live an artistic life caught in the never-present of the piece just made and the piece as yet uncreated -- Andrew McMillanA serious, elegant and elegiac novel: an evocative tribute to the lost world of high cinematic glamour and a lament for the artists' struggle towards greatness. When the time comes again, this is the book I'll carry to read during days spent wandering around the grandeur of a city, moving from cafe to cafe, dreaming of the beautiful life -- Preti TanejaI truly fell in love with this book. It gifts the reader, offering complex human relationships, beautifully-written; I felt a genuine sadness when each scene ended. Reading Diary of a Film, I was powerfully reminded of the depth of the human heart, and of the work which proceeds from it -- Okechukwu NzeluImmensely talented -- Sarah Hughes * i newspaper *Niven Govinden's Diary of a Film, his sixth novel, is also his best yet. Smart, sexy and cinematic (in many senses), it is a love letter to Italy and to film -- Alex Preston * Observer *One for literary fiction fans, Niven's prose is intoxicating * Cosmopolitan *Immersive . . . This is a wise and skilfully controlled novel that can be read in an afternoon, but which radiates in the mind for much longer * Financial Times *Govinden's prose flows with the smooth lilt of a moving camera . . . an outstanding, luxurious novel * The i *Fall into its rhythms, and a few nights at a film festival will become an existential exploration of the creative process * The Skinny *A beautiful, poignant novel of love and longing . . . This tale of a director beguilingly captures the agony of making a film - and letting the public see it -- Tim Robey * Telegraph *A sophisticated and sensitive book about storytelling and queer kinship * Attitude *Elegant . . . In a strong, clear tone that's unfettered by hyperbole, Govinden allows us access to the narrator's mind as he muses on love, work and who should tell whose stories * Monocle *A beguiling exploration of artistic obsession -- Colin Grant * The Guardian *It is a book about the dysfunctions of grief and about what rights the artist has to take liberties with somebody else's story. Gorgeously written, Diary of a Film is a book quite ripe, fittingly, for film adaptation * Literary Review *Because this is a novel of introspection - the narrator ponders his relationship to his lead actors, themselves embarking on a relationship with one another, and his life's work - its tone is one of intimacy and shared confidences that draws the listener ever further inwards * Financial Times *What a pleasure it is to read this love letter to art and to human connection (fragile, powerful, transforming), at a time when we're masked and lonesome and can't kiss our own hand without washing it afterwards -- Deborah Levy * New Statesman *Stole my heart . . . it captures a sense of the fragility and intimacy of human endeavour, but also the silence and resilience needed to survive as a woman, a man, as lovers and as artists in a market-driven world. -- Preti Taneja * New Statesman Book of the Year *A passionate director goes to an Italian film festival for the premiere of his latest work. He meets a young woman. They share a cigarette, talk for hours about coffee and gentrification, before she takes him to see a painted mural in an empty apartment block. If Diary of a Film is filmic in spirit, it is not a straightforward paean to art. The book continually returns to the inadequacy of art at representing real life, which, as the narrator realises, "would continue to burn long after the life of the film". Govinden handles it all with great subtlety, posing probing questions but never letting dogma get in the way of what is an outstanding, luxurious novel * i News, Best Books of the Year *Niven Govinden's sixth novel is an unequivocal triumph; everything in his practice has come together . . . With great subtlety, Govinden helps us see we are on a journey of discovery ourselves, as to who owns stories, and who has the right to tell them. -- Paul Mendez
£9.49
Faber & Faber Patricia Wants to Cuddle
Book SynopsisSo much fun!' Lilly WachowskiHorrifying and delightful' Kristen ArnettRenee has made it: she's in the final four. But is she dying to win?Renee should be thrilled to have been chosen as one of the final four contestants in The Catch, the world's biggest reality show. But now she, the other contestants, and Jeremy the Catch' have arrived on the remote, wooded island for the final show, Renee begins to wonder if there's something wrong. Is she taking a bigger risk than she realised?And as she and the other contestants begin their final challenges, they slowly start to realise that the island they've been taken to is hiding a terrifying secret one that could make the final Elimination Event all too real.''Not one to miss . . . a funny, eccentric page-turner that you will absolutely love.'' Daily Mail''A really fun read that's ultimately about finding a place in the world where
£8.99
Headline Publishing Group Towelhead
Book SynopsisA dark, deliciously grown-up take on Judy Blume - the story of a young girl''s challenging coming-of-age that is funnier than it ought to be.Jasira, a teenaged Arab-American girl, is sent away by her mother to live with her father, after the mother''s boyfriend begins paying her too much attention. But Jasira''s father is unable to show her the affection she craves, or to handle her feelings about her rapidly changing body. America is about to go to war in Kuwait, and Jasira becomes ever more isolated at school, and begins to look for love in all the wrong places. Mr Vuoso, a neighbour and army reservist who catches her looking at his copy of Playboy while she is babysitting his son, is quick to take advantage of her vulnerability. Things look very bad for Jasira until a pregnant neighbour, Melina, offers her a lifeline, and in the novel''s hilarious, and heartbreaking climax, manages to bring father and daughter, finally, a little closer to one another.Trade Review'An arch, coyly sexy book that's as nervy as its title... Erian gives this gutsy book its full share of unthinkable questions' * New York Times *'Sexy, sad and subtly written... a ferociously funny, tartly individual voice' * Scotland on Sunday *'At once innocent and knowing, childlike and sinister' * Independent *'As funny, disturbing and gripping a coming-of-age story as I can imagine' * Alan Bissett *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Legends Lattes
Book SynopsisTravis Baldree is a full-time audiobook narrator who has lent his voice to hundreds of stories. Before that, he spent decades designing and building video games like Torchlight, Rebel Galaxy, and Fate. Apparently, he now also writes books. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his very patient family and their small, nervous dog. He is the author of Legends & Lattes.Trade ReviewThe most fun I've ever had in a coffee shop -- Ben Aaronovitch, author of the Rivers of London seriesThis is a story about following your dreams, even when they take you away from who you thought you had to be. It's sweet, beautiful and, most of all, kind. I hugely recommend this book -- Seanan McGuire, author of the Wayward Children seriesLegends & Lattes is a big-hearted story about the small things in life. A lovingly written ode to the genre, it is a must-read for every D&D player who has ever wondered what happens after ‘happily ever after -- Cassandra Khaw, author of Nothing But Blackened TeethLegends & Lattes is a uniquely beautiful book, unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s wonderfully wholesome, and its success may (one can hope) herald the rise of a ‘slice-of-life’ sub-genre in modern fantasy -- Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the WyldTake a break from epic battles and saving the world. Legends & Lattes is a low-stakes fantasy that delivers exactly what's advertised: a wholesome, cozy novel that feels like a warm hug. This is my new comfort read -- Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Weaver and the Witch QueenI absolutely loved this book. It's a heartwarming story of how effort, intention and coffee can work together to change the world for the better. Fills my hunger for happy endings -- Genevieve Cogman, author of the Invisible Library seriesLegends & Lattes is the definition of a cosy fantasy comfort read . . . Lovely -- Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Roman Stories
Book SynopsisJhumpa Lahiri, a bilingual writer and translator, is the Millicent C. McIntosh Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Barnard College (Columbia University). She received the Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for Interpreter of Maladies, her debut story collection. She is also the author of The Namesake, Unaccustomed Earth, and The Lowland, which was a finalist for both the Booker Prize and the National Book Award in fiction. Since 2015, Lahiri has been writing fiction, essays, and poetry in Italian: In Altre Parole (In Other Words), Il vestito dei libri (The Clothing of Books), Dove mi trovo (self-translated as Whereabouts), Il quaderno di Nerina, and Racconti romani. She has translated three novels by Domenico Starnone and is the editor of The Penguin Classics Book of Italian Short Stories, which was published in Italy as Racconti italiani. Lahiri received the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama in 2014, and in 2019 she was named Commendatore of the Italian Republic by President Sergio Mattarella. Her most recent book in English, Translating Myself and Others, was a finalist for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay.Trade ReviewA writer of formidable powers and great depth of feeling * The Observer *One of the most interesting American writers at work today * The Sunday Times *Lahiri steps back from the action, gets out of the way, so the people and things in her stories can exist the way real things do: richly, ambiguously, without explanation. * Time *A writer of uncommon elegance and poise * The New York Times *Lahiri has a talent for capturing the everyday * Spectator *Jhumpa Lahiri is intelligent, astute, informed and genuine * The Irish Times *Jhumpa Lahiri is an elegant stylist, effortlessly placing the perfect words in the perfect order time and again so we’re transported seamlessly into another place * Vanity Fair *Jhumpa Lahiri's writing is wonderful in the literal sense: on every page there is something to take your breath away * Sainsbury's Magazine *Lahiri has an extraordinary voice -- Salman RushdieJhumpa Lahiri is the kind of writer who makes you want to grab the next person you see and say “Read this!” She’s a dazzling storyteller with a distinctive voice, an eye for nuance, an ear for irony. She is one of the finest short story writers I’ve read. -- Amy Tan
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Patchwork
Book SynopsisWinner of the 2010 Penguin Prize for African Writing. In this coming-of-age novel, acclaimed author Ellen Banda-Aaku offers a profound exploration into the effects of stigma, class, and family dynamics in 1970s Zambia.''Everyone calls me Pumpkin. Firstly, because I was a fat, chubby-cheeked baby. And, secondly, because when Ma was pregnant with me, no matter how much pumpkin she ate, she just couldn''t get enough...''Pumpkin is a nine-year-old girl pulled between two vastly different worlds that of her father, the wealthy and power-hungry Joseph Sakavungo, and her mother, his unstable mistress.As Pumpkin attempts to come to terms with her own identity, will she be able to fashion a future for herself out of the torn patchwork of her life?Beautifully constructed, Banda-Aaku moulds a story that is heart-rending and bittersweet.
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The New Tribe
Book SynopsisIn The New Tribe, pioneering author Buchi Emecheta tells the tale of a young Nigerian boy adopted by a white family. Life changes overnight for the Arlingtons when an abandoned baby girl, Julia, arrives unexpectedly on their doorstep. The couple take her in and settle into family life. But then, just two years later, their lives change once again when they are told a Nigerian mother is in desperate need of a loving home for her baby boy, Chester. Instantly marked as different from the other children in his school and even from his own family Chester's pain and confusion at growing up an outcast ignites in him a desire to find out about his biological family.In this poignant, heartwarming story of Chester's journey through childhood, Buchi Emecheta weaves together a tale of love and acceptance while illuminating the vital importance of self-discovery.''We are able to speak because [Buchi Emecheta] first spoke.'' Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie''Her name deserves to be emTrade ReviewWe are able to speak because [Buchi Emecheta] first spoke -- Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieHer name deserves to be embedded in our literary history -- Bernardine EvaristoA pioneer among female African writers * Guardian *
£14.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Orimili
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 1992 Commonwealth Best First Book Award. Orimili is the profound story of a father desperate to deepen his cultural roots and find identity within his community. Despite the respect and wealth Orimili has accumulated over the years, there remains one last barrier to his recognition the title of Ozo. The most important symbol of nobility and honour, he is desperate to finally have the status he deserves. But gaining the town elders'' respect proves more difficult than he ever could have imagined. Writing with remarkable poise, Amechi Akwanya charts Orimili''s difficult journey to citizenship, offering a compelling insight into the customs of mid-twentieth century Nigeria.
£15.29
St Martin's Press The Second Home
Book SynopsisTender and compassionate, incisive and heartbreaking, Christina Clancy''s The Second Home is the story of a family you''ll quickly fall in love with, and won''t soon forget.A novel of family and place and belonging. Rebecca Makkai, Pulitzer Prize finalistTender and suspenseful. Chloe Benjamin, New York Times bestselling authorSome places never leave you...After a disastrous summer spent at her family's home on Cape Cod when she is seventeen, Ann Gordon is very happy to never visit Wellfleet again. If only she'd stayed in Wisconsin, she might never have met Anthony Shaw, and she would have held onto the future she'd so carefully planned for herself. Instead, Ann ends up harboring a devastating secret that strains her relationship with her parents, sends her sister Poppy to every corner of the world chasing waves (and her next fling), and leaves her adopted brother Michael estranged from the
£10.33
Simon & Schuster Ltd Small Joys
Book SynopsisThe sensational debut novel about love, friendship and finding happiness in the most unexpected places. 'It's as fun as it is thoughtful: a tender and generous novel about finding your people, getting vulnerable, and celebrating every joy - big or small.' Buzzfeed 'Elvin James Mensah's Small Joys is breathtaking and heartrending, by turns hilarious and devastating and surprising and wild. Mensah's prose makes the intangible deft and tremendous — from the balm of friendship, to the beauty of queerness, and the all-encompassing elixir of community. Tender, thrilling, and honest; Small Joys is a beam of light.' Bryan Washington, author of Memorial 'A beautiful, moving story of love, male intimacy, chosen family and finding self worth.' Paul Mendez, author of Rainbow Milk ‘I adored Sma
£13.49
Orion Publishing Co Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon
Book Synopsis The Nommo Award Winner.The Nebula Award Finalist.The World Fantasy Award Finalist.The British Science Fiction Award Nominee.A contemporary fantasy filled with the mythos of Nigeria, featuring Yoruba gods liberating an artefact from the depths of the British Museum. Shigidi is a disgruntled nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering the prayers of his few remaining believers to satisfy the demands of the company board. When he meets Nneoma, a sort-of succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes.Together, they attempt to break free of their constraints and live on their owns terms. But the elder gods have other plans for Shigidi, and the Orisha Spirit Company is not so easy to leave. The chairman has a final job for Shigidi and Nneoma, one that will take them to the very heart of the British Museum.From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the rooftop bars Trade ReviewFast and sharp as talons, Shigidi is a high-stakes art heist love story with Nigerian gods and demons and some Succession-level corporate politics and Alan Moore-ish deep dives into occult lore and mythologies. If you thought Killmonger was right or loved American Gods and Akata Witch, this one is very much for you * Lauren Beukes *A high octane thriller that is simply unputdownable. Talabi deftly weaves different mythos spanning centuries across continents and borders to create a truly fantastical story. Gods, demons, magicians, giants, all jostling for power and prestige within an all too human story. This remarkable debut rocked my world * T.L. Huchu, author of The Library of the Dead *Shigidi is a richly written story of love between immortals, a high stakes supernatural heist, and a sweeping adventure across time, space, and perhaps realms of existence. This is godpunk, done with style. And I'm absolutely here for it! * P. Djeli Clark, Nebula Award-winning author of Master of Djinn *For those who feel as if they've been waiting years for a novel by Wole Talabi, Shigidi surpasses expectations. It's fast-paced and fun, clever and beautiful. Filled with characters you want to spend time with in a world that is fresh and exciting. * Temi Oh, author of Do You Dream of Terra-Two *Shigidi is a tale that will excite any lover of contemporary African fantasy. What better thrill than two globetrotting, timetrotting, worldtrotting beings caught between a love story, a heist and a ghastly contract with a spirit company? Talabi's imagination, already obvious in previous works, shines through, offering us a world of deities and monstrosities trading in belief and supplication. An innovative addition to the godpunk roster-if you loved David Mogo, you'll love this! * Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author of the Nameless Republic trilogy *A heist caper with sex, violence, and superpowers popping off every technicolor page . . . Readers are in for a rollicking thrill ride * Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) *A captivating and entertaining story of a nightmare god and his succubus lover, Nneoma, pulling a heist across two worlds * Lightspeed Magazine *Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon is an explosion made of other explosions. As soon as I read the opening-taut, rollicking, rooted in physicality and emotion-I was charmed. This book is incantation, a sorcerous working that bound me to its story and drew me along as it sped toward its destination. Wole Talabi is a brilliant short fiction writer, and now he is revealed as a brilliant novelist, as well * Alex Jennings, author of The Ballad of Perilous Graves *[A] delightfully entertaining novel . . . a defiantly ambitious work . . . [and] also an action-packed thrill ride . . . Talabi's snarky narration keeps the tone light, while leaving room for a sweet love story * The Washington Post *Talabi keeps in balance his kinetic mix of noir heist fiction, erotic romance, political intrigue, and supernatural fireworks without distracting too much from the genuinely affecting relationship between Nneoma and Shigidi, who are a pair we wouldn't mind seeing again, and won't forget anytime soon * Locus *Talabi weaves a high-stakes, fast-paced tale of corporate greed, an interdimensional heist, and warring deities entrenched in Yoruba culture. Perfect for fans of the Ocean's film franchise and Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), this book will have readers holding their breath as Shigidi and Nneoma try to accomplish the impossible * Booklist *A smart, sexy, postcolonial book about two freelance gods running from their past and stealing from the British Museum. I had so much fun with these characters and I can't wait for the next book in the series. Perfect for fans of American Gods * Thomas D. Lee, Sunday Times bestselling author of Perilous Times *[A] debut fantasy novel that's everything at once: love story, adventure story, spirit world story . . . Talabi excites the reader with the beauty of his language * Aurealis *Complex, entertaining, and absolutely *fun* - and beyond that, heartwarming in its characters and in its conclusions. A story which left me wanting to believe in it * Genevieve Cogman, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Invisible Library series *Pure post-colonial magic and huge, heisty fun * Daily Mail *The universe is anchored in African beliefs, but with a global perspective and modern twists * SFX, 5* *Exuberant writing and ebullient imagination made this a lot of fun * K.J. Charles *A thoroughly entertaining read which balances a confident sense of its Nigerian identity with an awareness of contemporary fantasy * ParSec Magazine *A vivid, entertaining tale of love, power and revenge * The Guardian *Wole Talabi treats his readers to a journey steeped in mysticism... The book draws on centuries of African history and legends, as well as Nigeria's modern colonial past * Geek Dad *
£19.80
Orion Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon
Book Synopsis The Nommo Award Winner.The Nebula Award Finalist.The World Fantasy Award Finalist.The British Science Fiction Award Nominee.A contemporary fantasy filled with the mythos of Nigeria, featuring Yoruba gods liberating an artefact from the depths of the British Museum. Shigidi is a disgruntled nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering the prayers of his few remaining believers to satisfy the demands of the company board. When he meets Nneoma, a sort-of succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes.Together, they attempt to break free of their constraints and live on their owns terms. But the elder gods have other plans for Shigidi, and the Orisha Spirit Company is not so easy to leave. The chairman has a final job for Shigidi and Nneoma, one that will take them to the very heart of the British Museum.From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the rooftop bars Trade ReviewFast and sharp as talons, Shigidi is a high-stakes art heist love story with Nigerian gods and demons and some Succession-level corporate politics and Alan Moore-ish deep dives into occult lore and mythologies. If you thought Killmonger was right or loved American Gods and Akata Witch, this one is very much for you * Lauren Beukes *A high octane thriller that is simply unputdownable. Talabi deftly weaves different mythos spanning centuries across continents and borders to create a truly fantastical story. Gods, demons, magicians, giants, all jostling for power and prestige within an all too human story. This remarkable debut rocked my world * T.L. Huchu, author of The Library of the Dead *Shigidi is a richly written story of love between immortals, a high stakes supernatural heist, and a sweeping adventure across time, space, and perhaps realms of existence. This is godpunk, done with style. And I'm absolutely here for it! * P. Djeli Clark, Nebula Award-winning author of Master of Djinn *For those who feel as if they've been waiting years for a novel by Wole Talabi, Shigidi surpasses expectations. It's fast-paced and fun, clever and beautiful. Filled with characters you want to spend time with in a world that is fresh and exciting. * Temi Oh, author of Do You Dream of Terra-Two *Shigidi is a tale that will excite any lover of contemporary African fantasy. What better thrill than two globetrotting, timetrotting, worldtrotting beings caught between a love story, a heist and a ghastly contract with a spirit company? Talabi's imagination, already obvious in previous works, shines through, offering us a world of deities and monstrosities trading in belief and supplication. An innovative addition to the godpunk roster-if you loved David Mogo, you'll love this! * Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author of the Nameless Republic trilogy *A heist caper with sex, violence, and superpowers popping off every technicolor page . . . Readers are in for a rollicking thrill ride * Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) *A captivating and entertaining story of a nightmare god and his succubus lover, Nneoma, pulling a heist across two worlds * Lightspeed Magazine *Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon is an explosion made of other explosions. As soon as I read the opening-taut, rollicking, rooted in physicality and emotion-I was charmed. This book is incantation, a sorcerous working that bound me to its story and drew me along as it sped toward its destination. Wole Talabi is a brilliant short fiction writer, and now he is revealed as a brilliant novelist, as well * Alex Jennings, author of The Ballad of Perilous Graves *[A] delightfully entertaining novel . . . a defiantly ambitious work . . . [and] also an action-packed thrill ride . . . Talabi's snarky narration keeps the tone light, while leaving room for a sweet love story * The Washington Post *Talabi keeps in balance his kinetic mix of noir heist fiction, erotic romance, political intrigue, and supernatural fireworks without distracting too much from the genuinely affecting relationship between Nneoma and Shigidi, who are a pair we wouldn't mind seeing again, and won't forget anytime soon * Locus *Talabi weaves a high-stakes, fast-paced tale of corporate greed, an interdimensional heist, and warring deities entrenched in Yoruba culture. Perfect for fans of the Ocean's film franchise and Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), this book will have readers holding their breath as Shigidi and Nneoma try to accomplish the impossible * Booklist *A smart, sexy, postcolonial book about two freelance gods running from their past and stealing from the British Museum. I had so much fun with these characters and I can't wait for the next book in the series. Perfect for fans of American Gods * Thomas D. Lee, Sunday Times bestselling author of Perilous Times *[A] debut fantasy novel that's everything at once: love story, adventure story, spirit world story . . . Talabi excites the reader with the beauty of his language * Aurealis *Complex, entertaining, and absolutely *fun* - and beyond that, heartwarming in its characters and in its conclusions. A story which left me wanting to believe in it * Genevieve Cogman, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Invisible Library series *Pure post-colonial magic and huge, heisty fun * Daily Mail *The universe is anchored in African beliefs, but with a global perspective and modern twists * SFX, 5* *Exuberant writing and ebullient imagination made this a lot of fun * K.J. Charles *A thoroughly entertaining read which balances a confident sense of its Nigerian identity with an awareness of contemporary fantasy * ParSec Magazine *A vivid, entertaining tale of love, power and revenge * The Guardian *
£20.98
Hodder & Stoughton Ghost Girl Banana
Book Synopsis*** LONGLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS'' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD ***A GRAZIA BOOK CLUB PICK, Ghost Girl, Banana is a powerful debut novel about the family secrets unearthed by a surprise inheritance. Set between Hong Kong in the 1960s and London in the 1990s, and revealing the hidden life of a mother to her daughter, it asks questions of identity, race and belonging.''A real nail-biter ... so winningly chronicled by Wharton'' NEW YORK TIMES''Ambitious ... readers won''t be disappointed as Wharton ultimately resolves many mysteries in the book'' GUARDIAN''An astounding debut ... written with emotion and astuteness, this deserves to be on book prize lists'' PRIMA1966: Sook-Yin is exiled from Kowloon to London with orders to restore honour to her family. As she strives to fit into a world that does not understand her, she realizes that survival will mean carving out a destiny of herTrade ReviewGhost Girl, Banana is an epic yet deeply intimate novel. I was rapt throughout, propelled by Wiz Wharton's taut, immersive prose. She swept me up in Sook-Yin and Lily's mirrored journeys of discovery, spanning decades and continents, but always I could feel the vibration of these women existing in the wider world; their stories are so skilfully shot through with the hum of change -- Kate Sawyer, author of The StrandingA story of family, love, redemption and belonging, told with such heart and empathy. Wiz Wharton is a phenomenal talent, original, fresh, and with a pinpoint clarity to her prose that cuts right to the bone. She has created such a special book, with a story that needs to be told. Essential and utterly unforgettable -- Fíona Scarlett, author of Boys Don't CryAn intriguing, beautifully written study of the stories we inherit. I loved being in Lily and Sook-Yin's heads, my heart breaking for them . . . I loved it! -- Nikki May, author of WahalaSparkling prose and a page-turning plot combined with wonderful storytelling . . . An absolutely dazzling debut -- Julie Owen Moylan, author of That Green Eyed Girl
£13.49
Hodder & Stoughton Ghost Girl Banana
Book Synopsis*** SHORTLISTED FOR THE DIVERSE BOOK AWARDS 2024 ****** LONGLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD ***A GRAZIA BOOK CLUB PICK, Ghost Girl, Banana is a powerful debut novel about the family secrets unearthed by a surprise inheritance. Set between Hong Kong in the 1960s and London in the 1990s, and revealing the hidden life of a mother to her daughter, it asks questions of identity, race and belonging.'A real nail-biter ... so winningly chronicled by Wharton' NEW YORK TIMES'Ambitious ... readers won't be disappointed as Wharton ultimately resolves many mysteries in the book' GUARDIAN'An astounding debut ... written with emotion and astuteness, this deserves to be on book prize lists' PRIMA1966: Sook-Yin is exiled from Kowloon to London with orders to restore honour to her family. As she strives to fit into a world that does not understand her, she realizTrade ReviewGhost Girl, Banana is an epic yet deeply intimate novel. I was rapt throughout, propelled by Wiz Wharton's taut, immersive prose. She swept me up in Sook-Yin and Lily's mirrored journeys of discovery, spanning decades and continents, but always I could feel the vibration of these women existing in the wider world; their stories are so skilfully shot through with the hum of change -- Kate Sawyer, author of The StrandingA story of family, love, redemption and belonging, told with such heart and empathy. Wiz Wharton is a phenomenal talent, original, fresh, and with a pinpoint clarity to her prose that cuts right to the bone. She has created such a special book, with a story that needs to be told. Essential and utterly unforgettable -- Fíona Scarlett, author of Boys Don't CryAn intriguing, beautifully written study of the stories we inherit. I loved being in Lily and Sook-Yin's heads, my heart breaking for them . . . I loved it! -- Nikki May, author of WahalaSparkling prose and a page-turning plot combined with wonderful storytelling . . . An absolutely dazzling debut -- Julie Owen Moylan, author of That Green Eyed Girl
£13.49
Hodder & Stoughton A Scatter of Light
Book Synopsis''A book that feels like summer ... with moments of sharp clarity that puncture the constant sense of aching and longing that define the feel of much of the story.'' THE NATIONAL ''Beautifully rendered and instantly captivating. Malinda Lo writes queer desire like no other.'' DIVA MAGAZINE''Lo writes tenderly about the first buds of teenage desire amid a downtown hipster art scene.'' DAILY MAIL''Poignant, vivid and so beautifully written. I adored it.'' LAURA KAYA Scatter of Light is a companion novel to the National Book Awards winner and New York Times bestseller Last Night at the Telegraph Club, and is about how the threads of family, inspiration, art, and identity are woven across generations.Aria Tang West thought she''d be spending one last summer on Martha''s Vineyard with her friends before starting MIT in the fall, where she intends to study astronomy, like her late
£16.14
Hodder & Stoughton A Scatter of Light
Book Synopsis''Beautifully rendered and instantly captivating. Malinda Lo writes queer desire like no other.'' DIVA MAGAZINE''Lo writes tenderly about the first buds of teenage desire amid a downtown hipster at scene.'' DAILY MAIL''Poignant, vivid and so beautifully written. I adored it.'' LAURA KAYA Scatter of Light is a companion novel to the National Book Awards winner and New York Times bestseller Last Night at the Telegraph Club, and is about how the threads of family, inspiration, art, and identity are woven across generations.Aria Tang West thought she''d be spending one last summer on Martha''s Vineyard with her friends before starting MIT in the fall, where she intends to study astronomy, like her late grandfather. But after topless photos of her are posted online, she''s abruptly uninvited from her friends'' summer homes. Aria''s parents, a writer and opera singer with plans of their
£8.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Hollow Sea
Book SynopsisFOR FANS OF SARAH MOSS, EMMA STONEX AND MAGGIE O''FARRELL or fans of Sarah Moss, Emma Stonex and Maggie O''Farrell''A bold, magical story'' JO BROWNING WROE, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Terrible Kindness''A majestic work of the imagination . . . I woke up thinking about it'' ROSIE ANDREWS, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Leviathan''An atmospheric tale, shot through with folklore. The writing shimmers'' KATE SAWYER, Costa shortlisted author of The Stranding___THE ISLANDERS SAY IT''S CURSED. BUT THAT''S ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE STORY . . .They say the Hollow Sea is cursed. A wild expanse separating the remote islands of St Hía, not even the locals brave its treacherous waters.But new arrival Scottie feels a pull she can''t ignore. Because behind the curse is the legend of Thordis: a woman whose story feels eerily familiar. No one knows what became oTrade ReviewA bold, magical story about the letting go of long-held hope and building a different future -- Jo Browning Wroe, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Terrible KindnessDeftly structured and set against a wild, myth-inspired backdrop, the novel explores grief and violence, freedom and redemption. It's a majestic work of the imagination, with writing that shimmers before the reader, underpinned by a howling, fearless story. I loved it and woke up thinking about it -- Rosie Andrews, Sunday Times bestselling author of The LeviathanAn atmospheric tale shot through with folklore. Annie Kirby's writing shimmers as she weaves together the threads of Scottie's forgotten past and her journey to face a future where she won't be the mother she always hoped to be. Beautiful & hopeful -- Kate Sawyer, Costa-shortlised author of The StrandingA beautifully written, heart-rending atmospheric novel of finding what makes one whole -- Melissa Fu, author of Peach Blossom SpringThis mesmerising tale has just the right amount of folklore to be magical * Good Housekeeping *An incredibly beautiful story, shot through with shimmering myth, sorrow and hope -- Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated ChildOne of those rare novels that combines a page-turning story with language to savour. A beguiling and beautiful tale about motherhood, nature and art, The Hollow Sea celebrates the many different ways we might create and nurture. -- Emma Sweeney, author of Owl Song at DawnA thoughtful, beautiful gem of a story and I loved it -- Rebecca F. John, Costa-shortlisted author of The Haunting of Henry TwistA stunning debut, part myth and part touching story of infertility and motherhood. I was swept away on a stormy sea and didn't want it to end. Delicious storytelling -- Julie Owen Moylan, author of That Green Eyed GirlA poetic tale * Prima *In The Hollow Sea, Annie Kirby has taken the external societal shaming and internal lived reality of involuntarily childless women and transformed them into an extraordinarily lyrical story. This book insinuated itself into my soul like a poem; whilst taking my mind on a mythical, allegorical adventure that lingers in my subconscious like a painting. Whether you are a parent or non-parent, this extraordinary novel will drench you in beauty. I adored it. -- Jody Day, author of Living the Life Unexpected and founder of Gateway WomenA real beauty. A magical story of one woman's infertility combined with a mythical sea world. Beautiful -- Laura Price, author of Single Bald FemaleBeautifully written with a hint of mythology and well-drawn characters, this is a captivating story of love and loss that will stay with you * Candis *An absolutely beautiful story of love, loss, family and motherhood. Told in interweaving strands, it follows the story of Scottie whose mysterious past haunts her, and whose own struggles to become a mother is slowly destroying her . . . I read this book in just two sittings, the lyrical prose pulled me in and held me captivated, and my heart wept and sang in equal measure. Truly stunning -- Louise Morrish, author of Operation MoonlightAnnie Kirby writes so beautifully about place, I felt I was there with her on the islands, watching the waves. I love how she weaves together myth and reality, and found her portrayal of Scottie and Jasminder's thwarted attempts to have children very moving -- Sarah Butler, author of Before The FireThe Hollow Sea elegantly interweaves the stories of two women haunted by hope and loss. Eloquent and moving, with a touch of folklore, this is a beautiful, hopeful tale -- Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning WomenHeart-wrenching, haunting, and ultimately hopeful too. Extraordinary. Beautiful, thought-provoking and woven through with folklore and myth, an utterly absorbing read that will touch your heart. Magnificent. Unforgettable. -- Liz Hyder, author of The GiftsFiercely original . . . a really powerful, provocative and original debut -- Natasha Solomons, author of I, Mona LisaAn exquisitely-crafted novel about heritage, folklore and the persistent roar of unfulfilled dreams. When I finished it, I felt like I'd emerged from the sea, dripping with salt and tangled in kelp. Dizzyingly brilliant -- Lizzie Pook, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's DaughterA Coast 'Book of the Month' * - *Incredibly atmospheric and multifaceted * Culturefly *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Black Cake
Book Synopsis THE BRAND NEW DISNEY+ SERIES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Read the gripping word-of-mouth sensation that''s now a major new series by Oprah Winfrey on Disney+*** SERIES STARS MIA ISAAC, ADRIENNE WARREN, CHIPO CHUNG AND ASHLEY THOMAS ***Everyone wants to discover what they''re made of . . .**Featured on Barack Obama''s Summer Reading List****A Grazia Instagram ''IT'' book to watch out for**''A story as meaningful as it is delicious'' TAYLOR JENKINS REID''A roiling soup of family secrets, big lies [and] great loves'' NEW YORK TIMES''Special, beautifully written. Rich and intoxicating'' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING''Brilliant writing. A stunning book'' PRIMA''EPIC'' GUARDIAN________Eleanor Bennett won''t let her secrets die with her.When Eleanor''s estrangedTrade ReviewUnputdownable. Astonishing. Twists and turns so shocking they will leave your head spinning and your heart aching * Grazia *An extremely assured debut which pulls in threads and echoes from across the Caribbean diaspora to deliver a rich, complex and really satisfying novel -- Alison Finch, BBC Radio 4A delicious novel. The chapters come fast and furious . . . A satisfying literary meal, heralding the arrival of a new novelist to watch * Independent *Black Cake is a beautiful, deeply resonant story of children trying to understand the mother they have lost. Charmaine Wilkerson transports you across the decades and the globe accompanied by complex, wonderfully drawn characters. She has managed to tell a story that is as meaningful as it is delicious. At turns delightfully juicy and then stunningly wise, Black Cake is a winner -- Taylor Jenkins Reid, Sunday Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones and The SixBlack Cake explores the ways we use meals not just to nourish ourselves but to help tell unspeakable stories. Family, food, festering resentment - you'll find plenty to chew on . . . Wilkerson approaches her plot like a mad chef, grabbing ingredients from all over the world, slicing and dicing with abandon, tossing characters and palm fronds and a few drops of rum into a pot and letting it all come to a simmer . . . A roiling soup of family secrets, big lies, great loves, bright colours and strong smells * New York Times *I was instantly taken in by this multi-generational tale of identity, family, and the lifelong push and pull of home. This novel has a tremendous heart at its centre, and I felt its beat on every page. What an extraordinary debut -- Mary Beth Keane, bestselling author of Ask Again, YesA special, beautifully written novel that's as rich and intoxicating as the Jamaican rum cake of its title * Good Housekeeping *So beautifully written I'm struggling to believe it's a debut. The cake is the glue that holds all the layers together and the scenes are so well drawn I could almost taste the cake, feel the warm sea on my skin. My heart broke and was put back together. Bravo -- Nikki May, author of WahalaI [. . .] was immediately drawn in -- Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry * i *An intricately woven tale that deliciously captures the experience migration, family, love and loss with such empathy and pathos - a book that is both universal and unique. -- Afua HirschI loved the brilliant writing, the characters and the clever and beautiful way the story melded together. A stunning book * Prima, 'BOOK OF THE MONTH' *Wilkerson explores the nuances of racial identity and betrayal in a powerful novel * Vogue *BLACK CAKE has all the ingredients of the tastiest stories: secrets, romance, danger, and a cast of characters so real you want to scream at them one moment and hug them the next. I felt nearly breathless while reading Eleanor's truth - as if I were right there in the room with Byron and Benny, wholly immersed in their mother's tragedies and triumphs -- Dawnie Walton, author of The Final Revival of Opal and NevA stunning page-turner, with characters that felt real and relatable. I can't recommend this book highly enough. An incredible debut -- Louise Hare, author of This Lovely CityBlack Cake took a hold of me from the first page and didn't let go ... A gripping, poignant debut from an important new voice -- Naima Coster, New York Times bestselling author of What’s Mine and YoursA sparkling debut, which examines migration, estrangement and the stories we tell about ourselves * METRO *Included in 'The books we're looking forward to in 2022' * Good Housekeeping *This powerful debut about family and identity, set against a backdrop of Caribbean culture, history and traditions, already has the stamp of approval from Oprah * Heat *A powerful, beautiful debut * Woman's Own *A multi-generational debut generating hype * Grazia *You can't help but fall in love with this book * Stylist *Utterly engrossing and full of twists, Black Cake is absolutely worth the calories * Red *A testimony to how migration, memories and the life decisions of our elders can trickle down the generations and shape us. The careful cultural references to the Caribbean diaspora are deliciously nostalgic - I couldn't get enough! * Good Housekeeping, Books of the Year *A shining family saga . . . Readers will adore this highly accomplished effort from a talented new writer * Publishers Weekly, Starred Review *A heartfelt story of loss, lies and reconciliation * Daily Mail *Black Cake is such an engaging novel. The structure works brilliantly with its dual narrative and short, sharp chapters. As I read, I felt like I could taste the sweet and spice of the black cake that links generations of the same family. Wilkerson's Black Cake is filled with secrets, family ties and hidden desires. It is an extremely satisfying read that stays with you long after the final page. As moreish as its title. If you want to be transported, read this book -- Jodie Chapman, author of Another LifeA family drama meets murdery mystery * Sunday Times *The perfect recipe for an epic family drama . . . Feuds, grief, and a murder make Charmaine Wilkerson's Black Cake unputdownable * Grazia Book Club Online *One of the most feverishly anticipated debuts of the year * Daily Mail *A delicious and gripping tale that sweeps the reader across decades and continents * Guardian *I really savoured this rich, layered family saga ... Charmaine's writing is subtle and lyrical, pulling you into a powerful story of secrets, roots and identity. The flavour of it will linger long after you've finished -- Beth Morrey, bestselling author of Saving MissyAn extraordinary debut * Hello! *A sweeping story, with Wilkerson masterfully bringing together all the different threads, making social history the backbone of everything * Independent *Completely blew me away ... I loved the brilliant writing, the characters and the clever and beautiful way the story melded together ... this is a stunning book * Red, Book of the Month *Delving into ideas around identity, familial bonds and lifelong secrets, Black Cake looks to be a wildly moreish page-turner * Refinery29 *Touching on racism and acceptance, betrayal and loyalty, this emotional, heartfelt debut explores the meaning of home and the family that define it * Daily Express *A delight to read, each page of Black Cake is more interesting than the last. Wilkerson weaves social history into the backbone of the story, in a way that's nothing short of masterful * Courier *This emotional, heartfelt debut explores the meaning of home and the family that define it * Sunday Express *A skilful debut about family secrets - and food * i news *A wonderful immersive experience * Daily Mail *A beautiful read - a real pageturner * Women's Hour, BBC Radio 4 *A delight to read, each page of Black Cake is more interesting than the last. Wilkerson weaves social history into the backbone of the story, in a way that's nothing short of masterful. * Herald *A resonant story of identity, family and the meaning of home * Mail on Sunday *A delight to read, each page of Black Cake is more interesting than the last. Wilkerson masterfully weaves social history into the backbone of the story * Press Association *Prepare to be hooked * The Handbook *Impressive * Evening Standard *A rich story around immigration and identity ... the novel beautifully captures the struggles of family and identity and the liberation that comes from those struggles * Irish TImes *Engrossing . . . Wilkerson's brilliant descriptions are positively sumptuous for the mind's eye * Heromag *An incredible family saga spanning 60 years, jumping across continents and time, forming a multi-layered book about secrets and inheritance * Guardian.com *A delicious and gripping tale that sweeps the reader across decades and continents, turning everything the siblings think they know about themselves and their family on its head' -- Jyoti Patel, Guardian
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Four Treasures of the Sky
Book SynopsisA propulsive and dazzling debut novel set against the backdrop of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and one Chinese girl fighting to claim her place''An engulfing, bighearted and heartbreaking novel'' ANN PATCHETT, author of Women''s Prize longlisted The Dutch House''A sweeping adventure of identity, love and belonging'' C PAM ZHANG, Man Booker longlisted author of How Much of These Hills are Gold''An impressive and original debut'' THE SUNDAY TIMES__________Daiyu was named after a ghost . . .Little Daiyu is twelve when her parents disappear. So she runs, disguising herself as a boy, to sweep the steps of Master Wang''s calligraphy school in Zhifu.But this is just the beginning of a journey that sends her across an ocean to San Francisco and the lawless American west.Kidnapped. Trafficked. Betrayed.Prize virgin in a brothel.Passion. Revenge. FreedTrade ReviewAn engulfing, bighearted and heartbreaking novel. Illuminates shocking injustices, making us stop and consider how many survive to this day -- Ann Patchett, author of Women's Prize longlisted The Dutch HouseAn impressive and original debut * THE SUNDAY TIMES *A sweeping adventure of identity, love and belonging -- C Pam Zhang, Man Booker longlisted author of How Much of These Hills are GoldBrilliant and devastating. Four Treasures of the Sky tells the story of Daiyu, who is brought to America against her will and forced to hide who she is even as she grows into her true self. Weaving together myth and history, Zhang's work is both timeless and utterly necessary right now. -- Anna North, author of the New York Times bestseller OutlawedAn instant and necessary classic, easily among the best novels of this past decade. The story lingers long after its final pages -- T Kira Madden, author of Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless GirlsAn astonishing novel propelled by private and public histories, rich with reflections on self-making, moral calling, great love, and profound injustice -- Megha Majumdar, author of A BurningThis unforgettable novel dazzles. An exhilarating rush of character, history and storytelling -- Kali Fajardo-Anstine, US National Book Award finalist author of Sabrina & CorinaBrings alive a heroine for the ages, an indomitable teenage girl whose relentless spirit and self-reinvention carries this story. Daiyu is sure to take her place in the canon of great Western heroines next to True Grit's Mattie Ross -- Juliet Grames, author of The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella FortunaThis book is haunting, luscious and precise - it's historical fiction as we most want and need it to be. Four Treasures of the Sky paints a neglected chapter in history with sharp and devastating brushstrokes -- Julia Fine, author of The Upstairs HouseA lyrical and sweeping Bildungsroman, fierce and moving * Publishers Weekly, starred review *A book to sit alongside Yaa Gyasi's Homecoming and Anna North's Outlawed, this is a powerful tale of reclamation, spun with soul by a remarkable new talent * Lauren Puckett, Shelf Awareness *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Mika In Real Life
Book SynopsisA GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK AUGUST 2022''Definitely ''best books of 2022'' material!'' GLAMOUR''A funny, touching celebration of second chances'' MAIL ON SUNDAY''Warm, funny and a brilliant read'' SUN''By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, this is a total joy of a read'' HOLLY MILLER, author of The Sight of You________Penny Calvin has questions.Placed for adoption sixteen years ago, she''s desperate to get to know the mother she''s never met.Mika Suzuki just wants to hide.Jobless, single and living in a chaotic flat share, she can''t bear her daughter knowing her life is a mess. So, when Penny gets in touch, Mika tells a few white lies, pretending to have it all - a career, partner and money.Keeping up the pretence over the phone is one thing. But when Penny and her widowed adoptive father Thomas spring a visit on Mika, things get comTrade ReviewDefinitely 'best books of 2022' material * Glamour US *A funny, touching celebration of second chances * Mail on Sunday * Smart and offbeat funny: think Maria Semple * i *Warm, funny and a brilliant read * Sun *An endearing, joyful tale about finding (and accepting) yourself * Good Housekeeping *A poignant and compelling exploration of identity, love and what it means to be a mother. Mika and Penny swept me along on their emotional and unforgettable journey, leaving me uplifted yet bereft when I turned the final page. By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, this is a total joy of a read -- Holly Miller, author of The Sight of YouTouching and heartfelt ... captures the essence of mothers and daughters, the nuances that make a family, and where we've come from and where we're going. Sharp and brimming with heart, this tender read will have you alternating between laughter and tears (the very best kind) and missing the characters long after the last page. Mika In Real Life is a sheer delight to read -- Rochelle Weinstein author of This Is Not How It EndsWith the offbeat humour and poignancy of Maria Semple and Kirsty Capes, this has the potential to be a big hit * Bookseller, Editor's Choice *Entertaining, funny and uplifting. Exploring identity, motherhood and second chances, it's one of the most life-affirming books to come out of 2022 * Culturefly *I laughed, I cried and had the worst book hangover when I finished this gorgeous read * Red *Mika's story is a beautiful exploration of the bond between mother and child - what we pass along, what we long for, and what we withhold. As Mika rescues herself from a downward spiral of heartbreak and loss, she weaves for us a primer on healing our broken relationships. A must read for anyone who's ever had a mother or been one -- Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off ScriptTender and profound, Emiko Jean's writing had me laughing, crying, and cheering for Mika -- Lauren Kate, author of By Any Other NameBighearted, sometimes bawdy, and always brave, Mika in Real Life explores the inescapable bonds between mothers and daughters, the enduring families by friendship that we make, and the weight of secrets that keep us from creating ourselves. This hilarious, tender, and very real novel is for every human trying to figure it out-basically, all of us -- Nancy Jooyoun Kim, bestselling author of The Last Story of Mina LeeA wonderful, life-affirming story about second chances, parenthood and love. By turns tender, funny, and deeply romantic, I was rooting for Mika, Penny and Thomas -- Lauren Ho, author of Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic and Last Tang StandingBuckle up for an emotional rollercoaster ride . . . A genuinely moving read * Suitcase Magazine *A poignant coming-of-age story * Heromag *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group True Biz
Book Synopsis''Original, tender, thoughtful and true. Can''t wait for people to read!'' Reese Witherspoon ''Part tender coming of age story, part electrifying tale of political awakening, part heartfelt love letter to Deaf culture, True Biz is a wholly a wonder'' Celeste NgA transporting novel that follows a year of seismic romantic, political, and familial shifts for a teacher and her students at a boarding school for the deaf, from the acclaimed author of Girl at War.ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022 - Oprah Daily, The Millions, Lit Hub, BookPageTrue biz (adj./exclamation; American Sign Language): really, seriously, definitely, real-talkTrue biz? The students at the River Valley School for the Deaf just want to hook up, pass their history finals, and have politicians, doctors, and their parents stop telling them what to doTrade ReviewGoodness, I can't even begin to put into words all the feelings this book provoked!...An eye-opening and heartfelt story about human connection and the beauty and adversity woven into the deaf community and culture. It is both an educational and electrifying peek into a family's life as they fight to forge connections even as the outside world threatens to close the door on them. I loved this story so much, it is not one to miss * Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club April ’22 Pick) *Tender, beautiful and radiantly outraged...True Biz is moving, fast-paced and spirited... Novic, who is deaf and spent time at deaf schools researching the novel, makes an urgent and heartfelt case for the schools' importance in providing language access, and in nurturing community and a sense of self. Great stories create empathy and awareness more effectively than facts do, and this important novel should - true biz - change minds and transform the conversation. * Maile Meloy, New York Times Book Review *For those who loved the Oscar-winning film CODA, a boarding school for deaf students is the setting for a kaleidoscope of experience * Washington Post *Part tender coming of age story, part electrifying tale of political awakening, part heartfelt love letter to Deaf culture, True Biz is a wholly a wonder. Sara Novic examines the ways language can include, exclude, or help forge an identity - as well as what it means to carve out a place for yourself in a world that sees you as other * Celeste Ng *I fell in love with Sara Novic's True Biz from the first page: delicate, nuanced, playful, and at the same time sweeping in its ideas and reach, this book is a literary novel that is a page turner with a vision which will speak to many a reader in our times and beyond. Sara Novic is one of the best writers of my generation - not just *the* novelist of Deaf culture, but of human nature writ large. Do yourself a favor and get this book- it is inimitable * Ilya Kaminsky, author of Deaf Republic and Dancing in Odessa *I loved True Biz, it's warm, complex and compelling. Of course I love the way it provides a window into a culture that will be unfamiliar to many of us, but what really marks it out is its humanity and intelligence - the threads of coming-of-age, birth, death, and all the rites of passage are interwoven brilliantly, surrounding a core of passion for justice and equality.' * Bridget Collins *This is my favorite kind of novel, fascinating and smart and brimming with contrasts. It's a coming-of-age story but also one of anarchy and protest. It's about the ways communities are bound but also the ways they bind. It's about belonging versus conforming, individual strength alongside solidarity. I laughed. I learned. I entered a world I knew too little about, at once different from mine and of course the same. I will be recommending this book to absolutely everyone * Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is and One Two Three *Reading True Biz was a transformative experience - it's as important a book as I've read in years. I was in awe of the care and love and hard-won wisdom that went into the writing of it. Sara Novic is the real deal * Jami Attenberg, author of All This Could Be Yours *True Biz is exquisitely crafted and absolutely riveting * Vendela Vida, author of We Run the Tides *Sara Novic's gifts for character, story, and language are evident from the first page. True Biz feels like the discovery of a new written form, a love letter to language itself * Liz Moore, New York Times bestselling author of Long Bright River *Rollicking, immersive, and boldly, exquisitely felt, True Biz delves into the deepest questions about community, communication, and collective action, inviting the reader into a world of language made new * Alexandra Kleeman, author of Something New Under the Sun *An electrifying narrativeset at a present-day boarding school for Deaf high school students, where they find love and friendship and battle a series of injustices...With complex characters seething with rage against the injustices they face, and an immersive and novel treatment of Charlie's experience learning ASL, Novic offers an unforgettable homage to resilience. This is brilliant * Publishers Weekly starred review *Tender, beautiful and radiantly outraged...True Biz is moving, fast-paced and spirited - we have vivid access to all of the main characters' points of view - but also skillfully educational: The lessons Charlie learns about A.S.L. and deaf culture are interspersed in the text and illustrated by Brittany Castle. Novic, who is deaf and spent time at deaf schools researching the novel, makes an urgent and heartfelt case for the schools' importance in providing language access, and in nurturing community and a sense of self. Great stories create empathy and awareness more effectively than facts do, and this important novel should - true biz - change minds and transform the conversation. -- Maile Meloy * New York Times *
£17.09
Little, Brown Book Group Bride
Book SynopsisA dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis. Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast - again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold an historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange - again . . . Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It''s clear from the way he tracks Misery''s every movement that he doesn''t trust her. If only he knew how right he was . . . Because Misery has her o
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Last Gift
Book SynopsisBy the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in LiteratureAbbas has never told anyone about his past; about what happened before he was a sailor on the high seas, before he met his wife Maryam outside a Boots in Exeter, before they settled into a quiet life in Norwich with their children, Jamal and Hanna. Now, at the age of sixty-three, he suffers a collapse that renders him bedbound and unable to speak about things he thought he would one day have to.Jamal and Hanna have grown up and gone out into the world. They were both born in England but cannot shake a sense of apartness. Hanna calls herself Anna now, and has just moved to a new city to be near her boyfriend. She feels the relationship is headed somewhere serious, but the words have not yet been spoken out loud. Jamal, the listener of the family, moves into a student house and is captivated by a young woman with dark-blue eyes and her own, complex story to tell. Abbas''s illness forces both children home, to the dark silenTrade Review‘Gurnah is a master storyteller ... A subtle and moving tale of a family coming to terms with itself: one to read at leisure and absorb at length' * Aminatta Forna, Financial Times *‘Gurnah writes with wonderful insight about family relationships and he folds in the layers of history with elegance and warmth' * The Times *‘A well-made novel about identity and, at a time of forbidding public rhetoric about immigration, Gurnah's sensitive and sympathetic portrayal of his cast feels welcome.' * Sunday Times *'Stories and identities are rarely what they seem in The Last Gift, which is full of carefully guarded secrets. Beneath these multiple clandestine narratives, is a story replete with black humour and contemplative politics, told with great generosity' * Times Literary Supplement *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Doctors Wife
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE_______________________Near perfection... one of the outstanding works of fiction of the year.'' - The Times''A splendidly bracing experience.'' - New Statesman_______________________Sheila Redden, a quiet, 37-year-old doctor''s wife, has long been looking forward to returning with her husband to the town where they spent their honeymoon over twenty years ago. Little does she suspect that after a chance encounter in Paris she will end up spending her holiday with a man she has only just met, an American man ten years her junior. Four weeks later, Sheila is nowhere to be found. Owen Deane, her brother, follows her steps to Paris in the hopes of shedding some light on her disappearance, but soon begins to wonder if she will ever reappear. Interspersed with Sheila''s harrowing memories of her hometown of Ulster at the height of the troubles, this is a compelling and powerful tale of love, escape and abandon.Trade Review‘The subject - an ordinary woman seized by love for a younger man in the middle of her life - supplies just the right material for Mr Moore's tender, probing technique. It is uncanny: No other male writer, I swear (and precious few females), knows so much about women' * Sunday Telegraph *‘The novel is near perfection. The elegance and clarity of style rides in perfect harmony with the subtlety and depth of feeling. The dialogue is perfect- the author's ear sharp for the cadences of ecstasy, self-pity, love and anger. The feeling for mood and background is perfect... a novel of mature assurance and brilliant insight that must make it one of the outstanding works of fiction of the year.' * The Times *‘Nightmare images of tanks cruising down empty night streets, feverish erotic couplings with a stranger in foreign hotels; a married woman from a provincial backwater breaking out on a trip abroad; a concerned sibling observing a rebellious sister; the palpable absence of God in the central characters' lives and the notion that art and sex might replace Him... a splendidly bracing experience.' * New Statesman *
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Lost Language of Cranes
Book Synopsis''One of his generation''s most gifted writers.'' New York Times''An amazingly perceptive novel.'' San Francisco Chronicle''Fascinating... lingers in the mind'' New York Times Book ReviewOwen and Rose are facing serious challenges to their married life of routine and monotony as New York City grows and changes around them. They spend most Sundays apart; while Rose buries herself in crosswords and newspapers, Owen visits gay porn theaters.But when they discover they may lose their apartment and their son, prompted by his new relationship, reveals his homosexuality, their lives cannot continue as they were. Owen and Rose are forced to confront not only their son's revelation but also Owen's latent homosexuality. Poignant and lingering, this is a tale of love and relationships, secrets and unspoken desires.Trade ReviewAn amazingly perceptive novel. * San Francisco Chronicle *One of his generation's most gifted writers. * New York Times *Fascinating... lingers in the mind * New York Times Book Review *
£11.69
Hodder & Stoughton Maurice
Book SynopsisAs Maurice Hall makes his way through a traditional English education, he projects an outer confidence that masks troubling questions about his own identity. Frustrated and unfulfilled, a product of the bourgeoisie he will grow to despise, he has difficulty acknowledging his nascent attraction to men. At Cambridge he meets Clive, who opens his eyes to a less conventional view of the nature of love. Yet when Maurice is confronted by the societal pressures of life beyond university, self-doubt and heartbreak threaten his quest for happiness.
£16.14
Pan Macmillan Trumpet
Book SynopsisWinner of the Guardian Fiction Prize, Trumpet by Jackie Kay is a starkly beautiful modern classic about the lengths to which people will go for love. It is a moving story of a shared life founded on an intricate lie, of loving deception and lasting devotion, and of the intimate workings of the human heart.With an introduction by author Ali Smith.When the love of your life dies, the problem is not that some part of you dies too, which it does, but that some part of you is still alive.The death of legendary jazz trumpeter Joss Moody exposes an extraordinary secret. Unbeknown to all but his wife Millie, Joss was a woman living as a man. The discovery is most devastating for their adopted son, Colman, whose bewildered fury brings the press to the doorstep and sends his grieving mother to the sanctuary of a remote Scottish village.'Kay carefully registers the technical difficulties of transgendered life . . . She lTrade ReviewRecounted in clear, spare, utterly unsentimental prose . . . the voices in this tender, compassionate work were still singing in my head a couple of weeks after I'd finished it * Observer *The book's style works like a jazz riff, a literary improvisation of the central melody of Joss's death * Independent on Sunday *In an accomplished display of vocal versatility, Kay shifts effortlessly between the voices of Millie, Colman and Sophie Stones, an avaricious journalist who offers to help Colman avenge himself by ghostwriting a bare-all biography . . . the beauty of this book is the way its love, the character and story around which all the others orbit, is kept so intriguingly in the shadows, so fantastically out of view * Literary Review *Kay's powerful rendition of everyday speech combines perfectly with the themes and construction of her story * Independent on Sunday *From the angry and disbelieving voice of the son Colman, whose hurt and alienation can only find expression through the cliche´s of tabloid exposé, to Millie's personal elegy for her husband, Jackie Kay's ear for the poetry as well as for the rudeness of everyday speech is as powerful as ever * Times Literary Supplement *Kay carefully registers the technical difficulties of transgendered life (breast binding, marriage certificates, death certificates) without sensationalizing them, and beautifully evokes both Millie's and Colman's grief. She leaves us with a broad landscape of sweet tolerance and familial love, wondering how it felt to be Joss Moody * New York Times Book Review *Kay is a writer to respect . . . The qualities of sympathy and tenderness in this novel make it special * Guardian *A rich, taut and compelling novel by a fine writer. A Picador classic -- Melvyn Bragg * Guardian *A novel whose humanism, humour and vision demolish anyone's urge to think they've got the right to decide about, categorize or dismiss other human beings -- Ali Smith * New York Times *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Twelve Kings
Book SynopsisAn epic fantasy series where prophecy and mystery combine, with bloody results in the ancient walled city of the Twelve Kings . . .In the cramped west end of Sharakhai, the Amber Jewel of the Desert, Çeda fights in the pits to scrape a living. She, like so many in the city, pray for the downfall of the cruel, immortal Kings of Sharakhai, but she''s never been able to do anything about it. This all changes when she goes out on the night of Beht Zha''ir, the holy night when all are forbidden from walking the streets. It''s the night that the asirim, the powerful yet wretched creatures that protect the Kings from all who would stand against them, wander the city and take tribute. It is then that one of the asirim, a pitiful creature who wears a golden crown, stops Çeda and whispers long forgotten words into her ear. Çeda has heard those words before, in a book left to her by her mother, and it is through that one peculiar link that she begins to find hidden riddTrade ReviewTwelve Kings in Sharakhai is the gateway to what promises to be an intricate and exotic tale. The characters are well defined and have lives and histories that extend past the boundaries of the plot. The culture is well fleshed out and traditional gender roles are exploded. Çeda and Emre share a relationship seldom explored in fantasy, one that will be tried to the utmost as similar ideals provoke them to explore different paths. I expect that this universe will continue to expand in Beaulieu's skillful prose. Wise readers will hop on this train now, as the journey promises to be breathtaking -- Robin Hobb * author of Assassin's Apprentice *The protagonist, pit-fighter Çeda, is driven but not cold, and strong but not shallow. And the initial few scenes of violence and sex, while very engaging, soon give way to a much richer plot. Beaulieu is excellent at keeping a tight rein on the moment-to-moment action and building up the tension and layers of mysteries - (9/10 Rating) * SciFiNow *I am impressed... An exceedingly inventive story in a lushly realized dark setting that is not your uncle's Medieval Europe. I'll be looking forward to the next installment -- Glen Cook * author of The Black Company *Bradley P. Beaulieu's new fantasy epic is filled with memorable characters, enticing mysteries, and a world so rich in sensory detail that you can feel the desert breeze in your hair as you read. Çeda is hands-down one of the best heroines in the genre-strong, resourceful, and fiercely loyal to friends and family. Fantasy doesn't get better than this! -- C. S. Friedman * author of The Coldfire Trilogy *Exotic, sumptuous and incredibly entertaining, Beaulieu has created memorable characters in a richly imagined world -- Michael J. Sullivan, * author of The Riyria Chronicles *Beaulieu's fantasy worlds are well-imagined and richly drawn...the kind you want to keep visiting * Kirkus Speculative Reading List for September 2015 *Twelve Kings is the best new Epic Fantasy I've read in years -- Mark Yon * SFFWorld *A memorable heroine, a poetically told tale of revenge, and superb world-building make Twelve Kings in Sharakhai a splendid read -- John Marco * author of The Jackal of Nar and The Eyes of God *Bradley Beaulieu has crafted a rich, fascinating world, filled it with compelling characters, and blended them into an epic tale that grabbed my attention on the first page and refused to let go. I look forward to more stories of Sharakhai -- David B. Coe/D.B. Jackson * author of Rules of Ascension and Thieftaker *It's hard to take a desert novel and not draw comparisons to Dune, but Beaulieu manages to create a rich, totally individual world, teeming with wonders and wondrous characters. Çeda and Emre and their relationship rings true and draws the reader on through magic, vengeance, and above all, excitement. A hellacious start to what looks like the next towering epic fantasy -- John Hornor Jacobs * author of The Incorruptibles *Crammed with intrigue, suspense, and stunning action sequences. Engaging characters and masterful world-building -- Howard Andrew Jones * author of The Desert of Souls *Pit fighting smugglers high on steroid-like flower petals alongside immortal plutocrats, who will do anything to keep on living, make this blood and sand fueled epic fantasy something to behold. Trust me. It'll bowl-yer ass off -- Justin Landon * Staffer’s Book Review and Tor.com *Brad Beaulieu's Twelve Kings in Sharakai isn't the same as the last epic fantasy you read. Like the desert sands of Sharakhai, this first volume of Beaulieu's new series is a constantly shifting narrative of betrayal and friendship, loyalty and vengeance. Leave the farm boys to their chickens and the scullions to their pots, because Çeda's bringing a knife to this fight. It's vivid and diverse, full of complex relationships, eye-opening magic, and world building for this new age of fantasy that's broken out of its medieval shackles -- Aidan Moher * A Dribble of Ink *A lavish epic featuring gods, gangs, gladiators and everything in-between. With its deliciously original magic system, vast new world, reckless heroine and sinister array of ageless villains, this is a must for fans of Brandon Sanderson -- Jared Shurin * Pornokitsch *it all makes for what is probably going to be one of THE fantasy books of the year and a series that will surely be up there with the Big Boys * Terror Tree *Twelve Kings is a beautifully rich, absorbing novel, the beginning of a promising epic fantasy series. * SF Book *A beautiful richly imagined story that will end high in my top 2015 list for sure. * The Book Plank *A positively gripping opening, a wonderful story, vivid setting and an equally gripping finale. Bring on No.2 please....I have no hesitation in recommending this book to readers of epic fantasy - it's simply wonderful and compelling to read. * Lynns Books *Bradley Beaulieu builds a complex world around the city state - it's just as alive and characters, a fascinating fantasy realm that you'll wish you could visit. Ceda herself is much like the city: fiery and complicated * SFX *an incredibly well crafted traditional fantasy...Beauliey is excellent at keeping a tight rein on the moment-to-moment action and building up the tension and layers of mysteries. * Sci-Fi Now *I loved this book, want more of Çeda and I am fascinated by this world and its mythology (hint: I want to learn more about the Twelve Kings themselves). * SFF World *Beaulieu has created something altogether vivid and perfectly natural...Though Twelve Kings ends its narrative at a suitable point to stop and draw breath, I'm eager to read the next installment and disappointed that I will have to wait another year to do so. * Forbidden Planet International *Fantasy and horror, catacombs and sarcophagi, resurrections and revelations: The book has them all, and Beaulieu wraps it up in a package that's as graceful and contemplative as it is action-packed and pulse-pounding. * NPR.org *This is a series that will enthral me and many others for some time to come im sure.... another clear winner for Gollancz and a bright start for Beaulieu...bring on book 2 * Parmenion Books *Twelve Kings blends together action and adventure with political intrigue to create a wonderfully engrossing hybrid. Well rounded characterisation and an enthralling plot are elevated further by some truly effective world-building. Fans of epic fantasy are going to get a real kick out of this. * The Eloquent Page *This looks like the beginnings of a terrific new fantasy series, one that works largely within the accepted conventions, but finds a wealth of imaginative ways to build something new within it. * The Digital Fix *a breathtaking setting, a marvellously twisty plot, more intrigue than you can shake a stick at, and a cleverly drawn, strong protagonist to follow through it all. * Overtheeffingrainbow.co.uk *Overall this is a incredulously well thought out Fantasy Adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat, turning pages and keeping you up late into the night. It flows enticingly, with ease, for a story with so much detail and depth. Not at one point was I bored but allured as these pages are full of twists and unexpected turns, mini cliff hangers that keep you on the edge of your seat, mystery that keeps you intrigued and your mind ticking and failing that a good old scrap in the pits. * The Fantasy Book Collector *A grand tapestry of a fantasy * BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY *
£9.49
