Narrative theme: sense of place

Book Synopsis Compelling to the last page, The Chef, the Bird and the Blessing is a story about the power of suppressed memory, of friendship, and of our relationship with the natural world. Set within vivid images of a backwater in an unnamed African country, the novel is both poignant and funny. Mozzy is a cook in a struggling safari business and dreams of escaping the perilous wilderness and his despised employer to become head chef in an upmarket restaurant in London. Spurred on by his wife, a member of a visionary religious sect, his fantasy becomes reality. But will his sanity and marriage survive in this new world? Can a small bird help him find his way? Mozzy’s path takes him from Africa to London and back, but it is the painful journey of the heart that ultimately fulfils Mozzy’s destiny.

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Book Synopsis'An intricately plotted mystery that digs deep into a devastating crime...Loved it' Amanda Reynolds, bestselling author of Close to Me. Three women’s lives are about to change forever.The Daughter.My father is innocent. He’s spent almost four years behind bars, but now he’s getting out. I gave up everything to be there for him, just like he was always there for me. It’s all going to be worth it now.The Girlfriend.As soon as I opened the paper that day and saw that picture of Sandy, I didn’t care about the story surrounding it. There’s no way he hurt that girl. Now he’s out, we’ll get married and I’ll finally get to meet his daughter. There’ll be no more hiding our love.The Other Woman.No one knows what happened all those years ago, and the life I built depends on no one finding out. Now he’s getting out, my secrets may soon see the light. I can’t let that happen.One Loves Him.One Needs Him.One Wants Him DEAD.'A totally addictive psychological thriller set in the South of France. Perfect for fans of T. M. Logan’s The Curfew or Alex Stone’s The Other Girlfriend.'An intricately plotted mystery that digs deep into a devastating crime. The sparkling South of France is a stunning backdrop as retribution is unleashed. Loved it.' Amanda Reynolds, bestselling author of Close to Me.'Thrilling, atmospheric and brilliantly plotted – will keep you turning the pages until the early hours.' Susan Elliot Wright, bestselling author of All You Ever Wanted.'A teasingly tense psychological thriller. The heat, colour and glamour of the French Riviera is the gorgeously evoked backdrop to this dark and disturbing tale, which had me gripped from the first page to the last' Lesley Glaister, author of Blasted Things'Brilliant, compelling, addictive and important too. This thriller had me absolutely hooked.' Imogen Church, actress and author.What readers are saying about T. J. Emerson:‘Wow! Beautifully written with a great sense of place that contrasts so well with what is going on behind doors’ Valerie Keogh'The sunshine of the South of France is a compelling contrast to this cold, dark and beautifully written tale of manipulation, retribution and the blurred edges of justice.' Shari Low, author of The Catch.'Tense, daring and totally addictive' Emma Christie'An immersive, multi-layered story that provokes and excites' T.L. Huchu'An unputdownable journey into the human condition asking the reader at every turn - how good are we really? How good are you?' Louise Dean'The last time I had this sort of reaction to a character was when I read The Talented Mr Ripley' Mark Wightman'A gripping, atmospheric and addictive read' Lesley Glaister'Original, surprising and absolutely brimming with menace' Amanda Block

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Book SynopsisOne of the titles in an exciting series of beloved, charming and spooky ghost stories, brought to life by legendary illustrator Seth. When Lady Jane Lynke unexpectedly inherits Bells, a beautiful country estate, she declares she'll never leave the peaceful grounds and sets about making the house her home. But she hasn't reckoned on the obstinate Mr Jones, the caretaker she's told dislikes her changes, yet never seems able to be found.Trade Review[This] series of Christmas ghost stories, miniature books chosen and illustrated by the cartoonist Seth... [offers] chills-and charm. -- John Williams * New York Times *I just bought my set of these and they... are... PERFECT. I hope they do these every year. -- Patton OswaltEach of these tiny books-20 volumes now-is cleverly illustrated by the cartoonist known as Seth. Even smaller than a Christmas card, they make fun literary stocking stuffers. -- Ron Charles * Washington Post *Seth's evocative covers and black-and-white interior illustrations provide the perfect accompaniment to the stories ... Highly recommended for the horror lovers looking for something special in this post-Halloween season. -- Blu Gilliand * Cemetary Dance *The Seth editions are harbingers of a Christmas ghost story revival. -- Nathalie Akinson * Zoomer *

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Book SynopsisA moving and tragic cross-cultural love story for readers of Dilly Court and Kitty Neale. Oxfordshire, 1917Ellen is growing up in the Oxfordshire countryside. The granddaughter of a Methodist preacher and intending to marry Charlie, a boy from the local village, Ellen's life is mapped out for her. When Charlie is killed on the battlefields of the First World War, Ellen is left heart-broken and lost. But then she meets Sam Loveridge. Mysterious and unruly, Sam is from a local Gypsy community, and unlike anyone Ellen has ever met before. Before she knows what's hit her, Ellen is swept off her feet and shown a world of passion, excitement - and true love. But the conservative world that Ellen is from can't possibly understand or approve of their relationship, and Ellen and Sam are torn apart. Is their love strong enough overcome their cultural distances, or will the hostility and prejudice they face destroy their chance at happiness?The Gypsy Bride is a dramatic new saga for readers of The Country Bride. Don't miss Katie Hutton's brand-new book, The Gypsy's Daughter. Available to pre-order now. - - - - 'The history is meticulous and fascinating and the character of Sam Loveridge is absolutely captivating - I can still hear his voice perfectly, months after finishing.' Julie Cohen, bestselling author of The Two Lives of Louis and Louise'A family saga that had me hooked from the first page.' Lynn Johnson, author of The Girl from the Workhouse'A richly evoked, completely involving story of love, loss and redemption. So satisfying.' Elizabeth Woodcraft, author of The Saturday Girls and The Girls from Greenway 'Katie Hutton transports you to a forgotten England in this poignant story of star-crossed lovers. A triumph!' Catherine Kullman, author of The Gracechurch Trilogy'A moving love story, brilliantly depicting the dynamic between settled communities and gypsies.' Patricia O'Reilly, author of The First Rose of Tralee'[A] moving and well-wrought tale' Historical Novel Society'An enthralling and well-researched saga.' Lancashire Evening Post'The characters and storyline were fantastic.' Netgalley reviewer'A powerful saga full of tragedy and such sadness.' Netgalley reviewerTrade ReviewA richly evoked, completely involving story of love, loss and redemption. So satisfying. * Liz Woodcraft, author of The Girls from Greenway *Katie Hutton transports you to a forgotten England in this poignant story of star-crossed lovers. A triumph! * Catherine Kullman, author of The Gracechurch Trilogy *The history is meticulous and fascinating and the character of Sam Loveridge is absolutely captivating - I can still hear his voice perfectly, months after finishing. * Julie Cohen, bestselling author of The Two Lives of Louis and Louise *A moving love story, brilliantly depicting the dynamic between settled communities and gypsies. * Patricia O'Reilly, author of The First Rose of Tralee *A family saga that had me hooked from the first page. * Lynn Johnson, author of The Girl from the Workhouse *The Gypsy Bride is an enthralling and well-researched saga * Lancashire Evening Post *[A] moving and well-wrought tale * Historical Novel Society *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE BOOKER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE PROMISEWinner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and shortlisted for the Man Booker, The Good Doctor is a powerful tale of a friendship overshadowed by betrayal, set against the tawdry hopes and disappointments of a post-apartheid South Africa'The Good Doctor will be seen as one of the great literary triumphs of South Africa's transition... by a novelist of great and growing power.' -- Rian Malan, author of My Traitor's HeartLaurence Waters arrives at his rural hospital postingfull of optimism. Frank, the disgruntled deputy, is forced to share his room with the new arrival but is determined to stay out of Laurence's ambitious schemes. When the dilapidated hospital is looted, the two men find themselves uneasy allies in a world where the past is demanding restitution from the present.Trade Review'The bold, fresh voice of South African fiction' * Observer *'A latter day Heart of Darkness' -- Michael Arditti * Daily Mail *'His sentences have such hypnotic power that once started, this novel is very hard to put down' -- Russell Celyn Jones * The Times *'A lovely, lethal, disturbing novel' -- Christopher Hope * Guardian *'A gripping read, laced throughout with powerful emotional truth and Damon Galgut's extraordinary vision' -- Julie Wheelwright * Independent *'As good as Graham Greene' -- Joan Bakewell * Sunday Times *'Should have won the Booker.' -- Norman Lebrecht, Books of the Year * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisAfter an accident, Tess Durbeyfield, the daughter of impoverished peasants, decides to call on the aristocratic d'Urbervilles, as she believes that she is also descended from their ancient Norman lineage and that they can rescue her family from indigence. Unfortunately she is taken under the wing of the immoral libertine scion Alec d'Urberville, who seduces and scorns her. While she attempts to rebuild her life, she falls in love with the virtuous farmer Angel Clare and must find a way to defeat the demons of her past. Controversial when it was first published for challenging Victorian morals, Tess of the d'Urbervilles has become Thomas Hardy's most popular novel, catching the imaginations of generations of readers with its high drama, endearing heroine and powerful evocations of the southern English countryside.Trade ReviewThe greatest poet and novelist of our age. -- John Cowper Powys

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Book SynopsisZvi Luria has begun to lose his memory. At the beginning he only makes small mistakes, forgetting first names and taking home the wrong child from his grandson's kindergarten, but he knows that things will only get worse.He's 73 and a retired road engineer. His neurologist hints at the path his illness might take and suggests ways of comabtting it, with the help of his wife Dina.Dina, a respected paediatrician, is keen for him to return to meaningful activity, and suggests he volunteers to work with his old colleagues at the Israel Roads Authority. This is how Luria finds himself at the Ramon Crater in the Negev desert planning a secret road for the army with the son of his former colleague. But there's a mystery about a certain hill on the route of this road. Who are the people living there and why are they trapped? And should the hill be flattened and the family evicted, or should a tunnel beneath it be built?With humour and great tenderness, A.B. Yehoshua depicts the love between Luria and his wife as they confront the challenges of his illness. Just when Luria's sense of identity becomes more compromised, then does he find himself, enabling a rich meditation on the entwined identities of Israeli Jews and Palestinians and on the nature of memory itself.Yehoshua weaves a masterful story about a long and loving marriage, interlaced with biting social commentary and caustic humour.

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Book SynopsisFive hundred miles from mainland Colombia, grassroots resistance, sloppy vacationers, and a muddy history of conquest converge for Verónica, returning after living in Mexico City, ready to understand herself and the place she came from.San Andrés rises gently from the Caribbean, part of Colombia but closer to Nicaragua, the largest island in an archipelago claimed by the Spanish, colonized by the Puritans, worked by slaves, and home to Arab traders, migrants from the mainland, and the descendants of everyone who came before.For Victoria – whose origins on the island go back generations, but whose identity is contested by her accent, her skin colour, her years far away – the sunburnt tourists, sewage blooms, sudden storms, and ‘thinking rundowns’ where liberation is plotted and dinner served from a giant communal pot, bring her into vivid, intimate contact with the island she thought she knew, her own history, and the possibility for a real future for herself and San Andrés.Trade Review"Colombian writer Bendek’s clear-eyed debut….heralds an intriguing new voice." —Publishers Weekly"A brilliant and sensory overload of a novel." —The Crack Magazine

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Book SynopsisEl Caribe es un ombligo, profundo, infinito.... susurro. Me aprietan unos músculos firmes, me hace cosquillas la brisa de un aliento fresco. Tiembla San Andrés extasiada. Y tiemblo yo.A mil doscientas millas de tierra firme, resistencia raizal, turistas descuidados, y una historia embarrada sobre la conquista convergen para Victoria, quien vuelve a su hogar desde la Ciudad de México lista para descifrarse a sí misma y al lugar de donde viene.Regresar a san Andrés hace que Victoria Baruq cuestione su relación con la isla. Una foto inquietante de sus tatarabuelos y el raro encuentro con Maa Josephine, una anciana raizal a quien conoce frente a la First Baptiste Church, son algunos de los detonantes que empiezan a revelar detalles de sus orígenes. Su pasado no solo la pone en contacto con la desconocida historia de la isla, sino también con los movimientos sociales que, entre zouk y calipso, celebran la identidad raizal, hacen thinking rundowns, resisten.Esta obra fue ganadora del Premio de Novela Elisa Mújica 2018 (Colombia).Five hundred miles from mainland Colombia, grassroots resistance, sloppy vacationers, and a muddy history of conquest converge for Verónica, returning after living in Mexico City, ready to understand herself and the place she came from.San Andrés rises gently from the Caribbean, part of Colombia but closer to Nicaragua, the largest island in an archipelago claimed by the Spanish, colonized by the Puritans, worked by slaves, and home to Arab traders, migrants from the mainland, and the descendants of everyone who came before.For Victoria – whose origins on the island go back generations, but whose identity is contested by her accent, her skin colour, her years far away – the sunburnt tourists, sewage blooms, sudden storms, and ‘thinking rundowns’ where liberation is plotted and dinner served from a giant communal pot, bring her into vivid, intimate contact with the island she thought she knew, her own history, and the possibility for a real future for herself and San Andrés.Trade Review"Colombian writer Bendek’s clear-eyed debut….heralds an intriguing new voice." —Publishers Weekly"A brilliant and sensory overload of a novel." —The Crack Magazine

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICEAn incomparable storyteller serves up an enchanting concoction of art, love, and longingIn fifteen masterful stories, Frederic Tuten entertains questions of existential magnitude, pervasive yearning, and the creative impulse. A wealthy older woman reflects on her relationship with her drowned husband, a painter, as she awaits her own watery demise. An exhausted artist, feeling stuck, reads a book of criticism about allegory and symbolism before tossing her paintings out the window. Writing a book about the lives of artists he admires—Cezanne, Monet, Rousseau—a man imagines how each vignette could be a life lesson for his wife, the artist he perhaps admires the most. Whether set in Tuten’s beloved Lower East Side, Rome’s Borghese Gardens, or a French seaside resort, these stories shift seamlessly between the poignancy of memory into the logic of fairytales or dreams, demonstrating Tuten’s exceptional ability to transmute his passion for art and life to the page.Trade ReviewNew York Times “Editors’ Choice” selectionNew York Magazine “Approval Matrix” selectionBOMB Magazine “Gift Guide” selection“Intoxicating.” —New York Magazine“Engrossing. . . . Tuten’s prose is always vital, often dazzling. . . . The Bar at Twilight is neither normative nor predictable, and it bears the firm impress of the soul.” —New York Times Book Review“The Bar at Twilight is [Tuten’s] showcase, revisiting every strand of his bibliography with the benefit of hindsight and at the peak of his powers. . . . [It] is outgoing, lived-in, and gregarious. The word for this is generous.” —Bookforum“Tuten’s language is supple, elegant, and wonderfully descriptive. He is also very funny.” —Los Angeles Review of Books“Tuten has managed to reinvent himself in one stylistically daring work after another. . . . The Bar at Twilight is a sumptuous compendium of fables, pastiches, and stories in late style, all of them trussed up in a distinctively earthy, image-obsessed prose. At once riotous and soulful, saturated by a gentle, well-traveled tristesse, the stories feel both strikingly familiar and markedly fresh.” —Cleveland Review of Books“Subtly exultant. . . . The Bar at Twilight solidifies [Tuten’s] reputation as a distinctive, if overlooked, practitioner of literary art.” —East Hampton Star“Scintillating. . . . Tuten dazzles like the best of Jhumpa Lahiri, Alice Munro, and George Saunders. Here, with The Bar at Twilight, he is at the pinnacle of his craft.” —On the Seawall“The subtlety of [Tuten’s] storytelling is wonderful.” —North of Oxford“Heady and elegant. . . . The work of a gifted, resourceful writer: an old master.” —Kirkus Reviews“Heartfelt. . . . No matter whether Tuten is chronicling the creative or romantic lives of his characters, he renders their struggles with a sense of hope.” —Publishers Weekly“The music of Tuten’s prose speaks to my heart. His inimitable, imaginative, witty, romantic stories continue to haunt me.” —David Gilbert, author of The Normals and & Sons“Tuten’s stories are filled with art, dreams, yearning, and a past that he captures beautifully and deftly and then lets go. The Bar at Twilight is a wonderful, evocative collection.” —Meg Wolitzer, author of The Interestings and The Female Persuasion

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Book SynopsisNobel winning author, Naguib Mahfouz's late-translated novella, Heart of the Night is now available for the first time in paperbackJaafar Ibrahim Sayyed al-Rawi is guided by his motto, “let life be filled with holy madness to the last breath.” He narrates his life story to a friend during one long night in a café in old Cairo. Through a series of bad decisions, he has lost everything: his family, his position in society, and his fortune. A man driven by his passions, he married a beautiful Bedouin nomad for love, and as a consequence pays a punishingly high price. From a life of comfort with a promising future guaranteed by his wealthy grandfather, he descended to the spartan life of a pauper, after being disinherited. Jaafar faces his tribulations with surprising stoicism and hope, sustained by his strong convictions, his spirituality, his sense of mission, and his deep desire to bring social justice to his people. Heart of the Night is a classic Mahfouz gem exploring marriage across class lines, spirituality, and the harsh realities of a precarious, life written by one of Egypt's most celebrated literary masters.Trade Review“Heart of the Night is rich in thought and vision. . . . For anyone interested in Mahfouz’s work and views on philosophy and religion, the novel is well worth the read.”—Al-'ArabiyyaPRAISE FOR NAGUIB MAHFOUZ:"The Arab world's foremost novelist"—The New York Times"Mahfouz's work is freshly nuanced and hauntingly lyrical."—The Los Angeles Times"A towering literary figure"—The Economist"Egypt's greatest living writer and one of the world's most humane literary figures"—Laila Lalami, The Nation"Timeless."—New Statesman"A master of both detailed realism and fabulous storytelling"—The Guardian"Mahfouz is a storyteller of the first order in any idiom." —Vanity Fair"An elegant if perplexing tale by one of modern Arab literature's greatest voices."—Kirkus

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Book Synopsis*WATERSTONES WELSH BOOK OF THE MONTH* Paris, 1891 Laura is living on the streets, far from the American Prairies where she was born. When rescued by the entrancing aerialists, Ena and Auguste Gaudron, she soon finds herself ensconced in the family hot air balloon business, and offered the chance to learn how to fly.Trade Review‘A heady and stylish read that had me swept away from the first page. Munnik has captured a fascinating world of daring with both beauty and heart’ MAHSUDA SNAITH ‘Vivid and meticulous, Katie Munnik’s The Aerialists captures the tangled desires of people living on the thin air of their own daring – a glorious vision of a time, a place, a welter of human manipulations and hopes, and ultimately, their tragic effects. A really fine read’ JOAN BARFOOT ‘Based on a true story, this rich novel will capture your imagination’ BEST magazine ‘Munnik movingly conveys the fragility of the real Louisa’s life and afterlife’ Historical Novel Society ‘Exquisite’ Woman’s Own

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Book SynopsisFrom the internationally bestselling authorcomes a tale of long-buried secrets and a discovery that will change everything, perfect for fans of Dinah Jefferies and Lucinda Riley.An unforgettable discoveryIn 1922, Lady Evelyn Herbert's dreams are realised when she is the first to set foot inside the lost tomb of Tutankhamun for over 3,000 years.A cursed lifeBut the months after the discovery are marred by tragedy, when Eve's father dies suddenly and her family is torn in two. Desperate to put the past behind her, Eve retreats into a private life with her new husband.A deadly choiceBut she is harbouring a dark secret about what really happened in Egypt. And when a young woman comes asking questions years later, the happiness Eve has finally found is threatened once morePraise for The Collector's Daughter:Wonderfully compelling from beginning to end. An absolute delight!' Hazel Gaynor, author of The Bird in the Bamboo CageThis is a compelling story, impeccably researched, with a deliciousTrade Review Praise for Gill Paul’s books: ‘I can't rave highly enough about this book – it's my favourite Gill Paul novel to date. A dazzling yet moving portrait of two very different iconic women, it's brilliantly researched, compellingly told and completely fascinating. I just loved it.’ Tracy Rees ‘Addictive and so well-researched. I read it in a day.’ Kate Riordan ‘The novel brilliantly evokes the world of the jet-set, rich and famous of the sixties so well I felt I was living it all alongside them.’ Kathleen McGurl ‘A truly compelling story… This is the best of historical fiction – leaving you wanting to learn more.’ Liz Trenow ‘I was completely enthralled, wholly swept up in the characters, the glamour, and the fascinating story of these iconic women. An utter treat from beginning to end – readers far and wide will fall under its spell.’ Jenny Ashcroft ‘Glamorous and highly seductive, this compelling story explores the lives of two complex, powerful women complete with all their talents and flaws.’ Dinah Jefferies ‘Surprising and devastating… perfect historical fiction.’ Hazel Gaynor ‘Simply stunning. I really can’t stop thinking about these two women now. This will be HUGE!’ Louise Beech ‘An intriguing behind-the-scenes look at the rivalry between two of the world’s most glamorous women.’ Stephanie Thornton ‘Beautiful, tender, and humane storytelling.’ Kate Thompson ‘An intoxicating mix of glamour, scandal and fascinating insight into the lives of two of the twentieth century’s most iconic women – and the man they both loved.’ Tammy Cohen ‘A deep dive into glitz, glamour and heartbreak. Gill Paul’s emotionally turbulent, amazing novels never disappoint.’ Karen Harper ‘A delectable novel about the lives and romantic rivalry of two female icons—such a juicy page-turner!’ Kris Waldherr

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Book SynopsisV. S. Naipaul was born in Trinidad in 1932. He came to England on a scholarship in 1950. He spent four years at University College, Oxford, and began to write, in London, in 1954. He pursued no other profession.His novels include A House for Mr Biswas, The Mimic Men, Guerrillas, A Bend in the River, and The Enigma of Arrival. In 1971 he was awarded the Booker Prize for In a Free State. His works of nonfiction, equally acclaimed, include Among the Believers, Beyond Belief, The Masque of Africa, and a trio of books about India: An Area of Darkness, India: A Wounded Civilization and India: A Million Mutinies Now.In 1990, V. S. Naipaul received a knighthood for services to literature; in 1993, he was the first recipient of the David Cohen British Literature Prize. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001. He lived with his wife Nadira and cat Augustus in Wiltshire, and died in 20Trade ReviewA book of such lucid complexity and such genuine insight, so deft and deep, that it somehow manages to agitate, charm, amuse and excuse the reader all at the same pitch of experience -- Dennis Potter * The Times *Naipaul's travel writing is perhaps the most important body of work of its kind in the second half of the century -- Martin Amis

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Book Synopsis''The ultimate in immersive fiction . . . magnificent'' Sunday Times''Highly readable, entirely engaging and frequently funny'' Observer''Perfectly pitched . . . A deft and resonant alchemy of fact and fiction, of literary myth and imagination'' Guardian Book of the WeekAround the turn of the twentieth century young pianist Brodie Moncur quits Edinburgh''s slate skies for the lights of Paris, his preacher father''s words of denunciation ringing in his ears. There he joins forces with the fiery Irish virtuoso John Kilbarron and together the pair take Europe by storm.But when he falls for Kilbarron''s lover - the mesmerizing Russian soprano Lika Blum - Brodie quickly realizes that the tide has turned and he must flee across a continent, haunted by his love for Lika, and pursued by the vengeful wrath of his rival.''A giddying read . . . his most immersive historical novel to date'' Daily Telegraph''Elegant and affecting. A racing fin-de-siècle romance'' The Times''Boyd''s talents as a rollicking storytelling [are] full on display in this historical blockbuster'' Metro Trade ReviewBoyd on form is the ultimate in immersive fiction, and Love is Blind is Boyd at the top of his game . . . magnificent * Sunday Times *Boyd is back on a form few of his contemporaries can match. This fine, touching and clever book is the best thing he's written since [Any Human Heart] and deserves similar adulation * Observer *The book begins and continues at a cracking pace - or perhaps a cinematic stride - with scenes, scenarios, set-pieces and minor characters aplenty, all of which and all of whom might easily detain another writer for an entire book . . . He makes it look easy: he's a pro * New Statesman *Boyd's talents as a rollicking storytelling [are] full on display in this historical blockbuster * Metro *A deft and resonant alchemy of fact and fiction, of literary myth and imagination * Guardian *He has probably written more classic books than any of his contemporaries * Daily Telegraph *Boyd is a brilliant novelist * Observer *William Boyd is arguably one of Britain's finest living writers * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisFunny, warm, and poignant with her trademark wit and wisdom – The Greek Holiday is Maeve Haran at her very, very best.'Make sure of a happier holiday by packing a Maeve Haran novel in your suitcase' - Jilly CooperFour old university friends, Dora, Penny, Nell and Moira, reunite to relive that first hippy-dippy trip together to a beautiful, unspoilt, romantic Greek island looking for sun, sand and sea.But it’s not just about going back to when they were young. Maybe they do have dreams like Shirley Valentine, because, ultimately, they’re all looking for something to help them through some difficult times in their lives – whether it’s with their career, family or relationships.What they discover in Kyri is an opportunity to reinvent, be themselves, contribute to a community who wants their help, at the same time as having fun, being happy and even finding love. But, crucially, they discover the most valuable lesson of all – understanding the true importance of female friendship.'Hilarious and heartwarming' - Woman & Home'An engaging romance mixing heartwarming friendship with gentle humour in a gorgeous setting' - Daily MailTrade ReviewMake sure of a happier holiday by packing a Maeve Haran novel in your suitcase -- Jilly CooperAn engaging romance mixing heartwarming friendship with gentle humour in a gorgeous setting * Daily Mail *Warm, witty and wise, this is the perfect read for anyone missing their holiday this year. Wonderful. * Daily Express *Warm escapism * Sussex Life *Simultaneously hilarious and heartwarming * Woman & Home *Full of optimism and Italian sunshine this is a great summer read . . . Funny, wise, relaxing and full of lovely lifestyle detail * Daily Mail (An Italian Holiday) *As bubbly and enjoyable as a glass of Italian fizz. * Sunday Express (An Italian Holiday) *Wise, witty and spirited, this novel shows you’re never too old to follow your dreams * Sunday Express (In A Country Garden) *Comic, poignant and thought-provoking -- Marian Keyes

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Book SynopsisIt's possible to find home in the most unexpected placesSoon after upending her life to accompany her boyfriend Ryan to the Arctic, Maya realises it's not all Northern Lights and husky sleigh rides. Instead, she's facing sub-zero temperatures, 24-hour darkness, crippling anxiety and a distant boyfriend as a result.In her loneliest moment, Maya opens her late mother's recipe book and cooks Indian food for the first time. Through this, her confidence unexpectedly grows she makes friends, secures a job as a chef, and life in the Arctic no longer freezes her with fear.But there's a cost: the aromatic cuisine rekindles memories of her enigmatic mother and her childhood in Bangalore. Can Maya face the past and forge a future for herself in this new town? After all, there's now high demand for a Curry Club in the Arctic, and just one person with the know-how to run itA tender and uplifting story about family, community, and finding where you truly belong guaranteed to warm your heart despite the icy setting!Readers are loving The Arctic Curry Club:I absolutely loved this and read it in one sitting absolutely perfect cozy, escapist, and comforting kept me hooked a fabulous book club pick.' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Absolutely fabulous! Loved truly amazing.' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Yes, yes, yes, and more yes you never want to stop reading.' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Like the most delicious, intricate curry you've ever tasted. You can't help yourself for secondsthirdsor, in my case, staying up until the wee hours to finish. Highly, highly recommended.' Goodreads reviewer, ?????I ADORED this book! I hope there''s a sequel!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????I loved this warm and delicious will pick you up and take you away!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Trade Review‘This unusual book was a real highlight in my festive reading this year’ My Weekly ‘Perfect for cold winter nights’ Hello ‘A heartwarming read for those long winter nights’ OK! ‘A heartwarming read for those long winter nights’ S Mag ‘An uplifting story’ Bella ‘A heartwarming story’ Fabulous ‘The perfect winter read’ My London ‘Sit back and snuggle down for just over 10 hours of warm, feel-good audio all about belonging’ The Sunday Post ‘A really different Christmas read’ Bishops Stortford Independent

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Book SynopsisFrom USA Today bestselling author, Annette Dashofy, comes the start of a brand new crime series set on the shores of Lake Erie, Pennsylvania. For fans of Ann Cleeves, Louise Penny and Elly Griffiths. Fast paced and tension-filled Dashofy weaves the perfect mystery and has created an unforgettable cast you can't help rooting for' USA Today bestseller Carissa Ann LynchOn the shore of Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, a body lays half hidden, the waves slowly moving it with the rising tideIn the early morning mist, freelance photographer Emma Anderson takes pictures of the rocky coastline. She moved to Erie to escape a past that haunts her but the last thing she expects to capture is a dead body.Erie City Police Detective Matthias Honeywell has been investigating a spate of home invasions but when one of the robbery victims turns up dead, his case evolves into homicide. Emma's first encounter with Detective Honeywell leaves her shaken when he reminds her of her ex-fiancé-turned-stalker. Matthias m

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Book SynopsisSome men are destined for dangerTexas Ranger Tom Bell is simply tracking a fugitive killer in 1931 when he rides into Kilgore, a hastily erected shanty town crawling with rough and desperate menoil drillers who''ve come by the thousands in search of work. The sheriff of the boomtown is overwhelmed and offers no help, nor are any of the roughnecks inclined to assist the young Ranger in his search for the wanted man.In fact, it soon becomes apparent that the lawman''s presence has irritated the wrong people, and when two failed attempts are made on his life, Bell knows he''s getting closer to finding out who is responsible for cheating and murdering local landowners to access the rich oil fields flowing beneath their farms. When they ambush him for a third time, they make the fatal mistake of killing someone close to him and leaving the Ranger alive.Armed with his trademark 1911 Colt .45 and the Browning automatic he liberated from a gangster''s corpse, Tom Bell cuts a swa

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Book Synopsis‘This book's power lies in its depiction of civilians trying to lead ordinary lives during the horror of war . . . It is shattering stuff, but Rothmann is tender towards his characters and this book is as memorable as his last.’ The Times, ‘Historical Fiction Book of the Month’As the Second World War enters its final stages, millions in Germany are forced from their homes by bombing, compelled to seek shelter in the countryside where there are barely the resources to feed them.Twelve-year-old Luisa, her mother, and her older sister Billie have escaped the devastation of the city for the relative safety of a dairy farm. But even here the power struggles of the war play out: the family depend on the goodwill of Luisa’s brother-in-law, an SS officer, who in expectation of payment turns his attention away from his wife and towards Billie. Luisa immerses herself in books, but even she notices the Allied bombers flying east above them, the gauntness of the prisoners at the camp nearby, the disappearance of fresh-faced boys from the milk shed – hastily shipped off to a war that’s already lost.Living on the farm teaches Luisa about life and death, but it’s man’s capacity for violence that provides the ultimate lesson, that robs her of her innocent ignorance. When, at a birthday celebration, her worst fears are realized, Luisa collapses under the weight of the inexplicable.Ralf Rothmann’s previous novel, To Die in Spring, described the horror of war and the damage done on the battlefield. The God of that Summer tells the devastating story of civilians caught up in the chaos of defeat, of events that might lead a twelve-year-old child to justifiably say: ‘I have experienced everything.’Trade Review‘This book's power lies in its depiction of civilians trying to lead ordinary lives during the horror of war . . . It is shattering stuff, but Rothmann is tender towards his characters and this book is as memorable as his last.’ * The Times *

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Book SynopsisA powerful collection from the T. S. Eliot Prize-shortlisted Annie Freud. Hiddensee represents Annie Freud’s most ambitious work to date, not least because it is a book about ambition and its necessity, the need to go beyond oneself, and to do what one cannot: Freud dives into other ways of thinking, other art forms, the taboos of illness and desire, and – spectacularly – other languages. This ambition has also emboldened Freud to pursue and confront the complex truth of herself: her German Jewish inheritance, her teachers, the remarkable minds of the exiled individuals who raised her – and the exiles she herself then pursued. The book also celebrates the work of the French-language Swiss poet Jacques Tornay, whom Freud identifies as a spiritual brother – and a route back into her own French and symbolist influences. These astonishing and generous versions of Tornay remind us that our voices should not and cannot be uncomplicatedly our own. Hiddensee is named for the Baltic island where Annie Freud’s grandmother spent her summers before the war (and its famous artistic community, whose members included George Grosz and Käthe Kollwitz). In its unselfconscious internationalism and breathtaking cultural range, Hiddensee offers a radically European and multilingual perspective to counter the cultural narrowness and closing borders of the current age, and again confirms Freud as one of our most essential poets.Trade ReviewOften witty and light-hearted, sometimes worried and sad, Freud’s poems are highly evocative of the complicated life she has led. * Guardian *Modest, gentle and universal, these understated poems are a small masterclass in the art of synthesis * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisDiane Allen's The Yorkshire Farm Girl is a heartfelt novel of a family dreaming of a better life when war looms on the horizon. Life is hard for the Fothergill family as they try to make a living on their farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Bob Fothergill has set his sights on buying his own farm instead of renting the one they currently hold. Sally his teenage daughter, wishes her father would see that she could help more with the farm, but he believes that a girl's place is in the home. Ben, their youngest, has no interest in farming so is ignored. Sally's mother makes do knowing her husband wants what's best for them.But when Bob decides to take a well-paid part time job, collecting milk for the local dairy, it causes friction in the family, bringing tension to New Year’s Day, 1939. Ivy and Sally’s lives change. Sally gets her wish to be more hands on with the farm, coping with a bad winter and lambing sheep on her own. But then a stranger walks into Ivy’s life that shows her the affection that she craves and her heart is lost to him.With Germany is shaking its angry fist at other nations and the threat of another war undermines everything. Times are hard and the future is uncertain, but perhaps the coming years could bring better times. But will the Fothergills survive the oncoming storm?Trade ReviewAllen, an observant and insightful writer, fields a fascinating cast of authentic characters in an enthralling tale packed with emotion, drama and the harsh realities of a family’s struggles in the run-up to the Second World War. The Yorkshire Farm Girl is a warm-hearted and compassionate tale, evoking the long and tough working hours of farming life but Allen also brings us romance, the shining light of shared adversity, and proof of the enduring power of love and family to transform even the darkest days. * Lancashire Post *

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Book SynopsisDiane Allen's The Yorkshire Farm Girl is a heartfelt novel of a family dreaming of a better life when war looms on the horizon. Life is hard for the Fothergill family as they try to make a living on their farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Bob Fothergill has set his sights on buying his own farm instead of renting the one they currently hold. Sally his teenage daughter, wishes her father would see that she could help more with the farm, but he believes that a girl's place is in the home. Ben, their youngest, has no interest in farming so is ignored. Sally's mother makes do knowing her husband wants what's best for them.But when Bob decides to take a well-paid job collecting it causes friction in the family, bringing tension to everyone. With Germany is shaking its angry fist at other nations and the threat of another war undermines everything. Times are hard and the future is uncertain, but perhaps the coming years could bring better times. But will the Fothergills survive the oncoming storm?

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Book Synopsis'Stylish, deft...an absolutely fascinating novel' Guardian'Haunting, mesmerising, and so deeply intelligent' Kamila Shamsie, author of Women's Prize for Fiction winning Home Fire'Powerful...compelling and profoundly moving' Irish Times'Heartbreaking, sweetly logical and tentatively hopeful' SpectatorHeartbroken after a long, painful love affair, a man drives a haulage lorry from England to France. Travelling with him is a secret passenger - his daughter. Twenty-something, unkempt, off the rails.With a week on the road together, father and daughter must restore themselves and each other, and repair a relationship that is at once fiercely loving and deeply scarred.As they journey south, down the motorways, through the service stations, a devastating picture reveals itself: a story of grief, of shame, and of love in all its complex, dark and glorious manifestations.______________What readers are saying:***** 'The prose is sublime and deeply moving . . . a stunning novel'***** 'Beautifully written, lyrical and unsettling in its exploration of human frailties, family, love, and loss, grief'**** 'A haunting, tragic and highly original story of a father and daughter travelling across England and France in a haulage truck, and discovering more about their relationship and past in all its raw candour'MORE PRAISE FOR WE ARE NOT IN THE WORLD:'Unusual, utterly original and mysterious . . . a must read' Elaine Feeney'...the book stays with you, a haunting presence you cannot - and do not want to - escape...astounding.' Ruth Gilligan Extraordinary...achingly sad and tender and sexy, and the writing is very beautiful.' Louise Kennedy'Wonderful, wrenching . . . full of enormous feelings very precisely rendered' Sara Baume'Elusive, unsettling, beautiful, haunting. This is a complex, devastating study of human relations; a portrait of intense love and damage in equal measure.' Lisa Harding'A whirlpool of memories, regrets and hopes' Tim Pears'An uncanny ability to turn the seemingly insignificant into something monumental' Jan Carson

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Book SynopsisBen Shippers doesn’t have much use for school, friends, or pretty much anyone except his smartass siser, but he does harbor a secret passion: Trash Mountain, the central feature of the noxious landfill next to his house, the fumes from which have made his sister ill. After a botched attempt to destroy Trash Mountain with a homemade firebomb, Ben begins a years-long infiltration operation that leads him to drop out of school to work alongside homeless trash-pickers, and then, eventually, intern at the very place he meant to destroy. Ben’s boss there, a charismatic would-be titan of sanitation, shows Ben the intricate moralities of the trash industry, forcing him to choose between monetary stability and his environmental principles. With dark humor, Trash Mountain reflects on life in small southern cities in decline and an adolescent’s search for fundamental values without responsible adults to lead the way.Trade Review"The novel has an episodic feel, as Ben encounters an array of fellow students, potential employers, and local luminaries. Throughout, Bazzle chronicles the ways in which Ben’s early idealism erodes under more complex concerns. The novel’s tone is occasionally uneven: Bazzle’s observations on questions of race and class feel rooted in a social realism tradition, while other characters, like a long-winded local businessman and his father, a contentious figure nicknamed “Donkey Dan,” seem imported from a more broadly satirical work. Bazzle’s novel explores the compromises one makes in life even as it blends the gritty and the extravagant along the way."--Kirkus Reviews“From Mark Twain to George Saunders, Bradley Bazzle's Trash Mountain joins a long tradition of dark humor, wild inventiveness, and social satire in American letters. By turns hilarious, colorful, and strange, this affecting debut novel revels in the absurd but never strays far from the deeply felt humanity of its characters.”—Maceo Montoya, author of The Deportation of Wopper Barraza “In Trash Mountain, ​Bradley Bazzle has created a perfect protagonist in Ben Shippers: peculiar yet endearing, curiouser than a cat, and ready to take on the (trashy) challenges his young life throws at him. The novel is funny and engaging, and Bradley's concise and vivid prose guides us masterfully to its insightful conclusion. What a fine debut!”—Samrat Upadhyay, author of Arresting God in Kathmandu"Trash Mountain is gripping, with a finely drawn young protagonist, Ben, and a gigantic dump next door to his home. He and his friends call it Trash Mountain, and it is the central character in this book, a multifaceted character that encompasses and compresses all the strands of modern life . . . So, sure, the dump is a veritable mountain of a metaphor for modern life, and even though the whole proposition sounds distasteful, you’ll want to keep on reading and living along with Ben as he tries to figure things out and wreak revenge on the man who owns Bi-Cities and enriches himself by trashing the lives of all who are impacted by Trash Mountain." —Pete McCommons, Flagpole Magazine

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Book SynopsisWelcome to Magnolia Bay where:The animals interfere in their owners' love livesEveryone (humans and animals alike) has an opinion about everythingThe neighbor is as infuriating as he is gorgeousAnd a sprinkle of hope is just the right thing to have you believing in love againAbby Curtis lands on her Aunt Reva's doorstep at Bayside Barn with nowhere to go but up. Learning animal communication from her aunt while taking care of the motley assortment of rescue animals on the farm is an important part of Abby's healing process. She is eager to begin a new life on her own, but she isn't prepared for the magnetism between her and her handsome, stubborn and distracting new neighbor.Quinn Lockhart snapped up the foreclosed estate next door determined to renovate and flip the beautiful bayou property. It's all part of a plan to make a financial comeback and reconnect with his estranged son. Definitely not part of the plan is the noisy petting zoo next door dragging down his property value. But getting rid of it becomes more difficult when he falls for the lovely and passionate Abby and bonds with an abandoned wolf dog who's mournfully waiting for his family to return. For humans and animals alike, it will take all the courage they can muster to learn to love again. But that's a journey worth taking—with a little help from their furry friends.You'll fall in love right along with Abby as animals and humans alike find unexpected ways to connect, nurture each other, and thrive.Trade ReviewThere are currently no reviews for this title/product

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Book SynopsisA vexatious shapeshifter walks among humans. Shadowy beasts skulk at the edges of the woods. A ghostly apparition haunts a lonely stretch of highway. Spirits and legends rise and join together to protect the north.Land-Water-Sky/Ndè-Tı-Yat'a is the debut novel from Dene author Katłįà. Set in Canada's far north, this layered composite novel traverses space and time, from a community being stalked by a dark presence, a group of teenagers out for a dangerous joyride, to an archeological site on a mysterious island that holds a powerful secret.Riveting, subtle, and unforgettable, Katłįà gives us a unique perspective into what the world might look like today if Indigenous legends walked amongst us, disguised as humans, and ensures that the spiritual significance and teachings behind the stories of Indigenous legends are respected and honored.

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Book Synopsis**WINNER of the EU Prize for Literature**'One of the most exciting and original Northern Irish writers of her generation' SUNDAY TIMES'Gripping, affecting, surprising. I inhaled it' LISA MCINERNEY 'Captivating, intelligent and courageous' IRISH TIMES'Spectacular. At once grittily real, wildly magical and insanely alluring - a siren-song of a novel.' DONAL RYAN'Jan Carson seems to have invented a new Belfast in this gripping, surprising, exhilarating novel.' RODDY DOYLE'Blew me away with its power, anger and wit.' JOSEPH O'CONNOR Dr Jonathan Murray fears his new-born daughter is not as harmless as she seems. Sammy Agnew is wrestling with his dark past, and fears the violence in his blood lurks in his son, too.The city is in flames and the authorities are losing control. As matters fall into frenzy, and as the lines between fantasy and truth, right and wrong, begin to blur, who will these two fathers choose to protect?Dark, propulsive and thrillingly original, this tale of fierce familial love and sacrifice fizzes with magic and wonder.Trade ReviewGripping, affecting, surprising. I inhaled it. -- Lisa McInerneySpectacular . . . Dark, beautiful, at once grittily real and wildly magical. Insanely alluring. -- Donal RyanBlew me away with its power, anger and wit. * Joseph O'Connor, Books of the Year *A big and rambunctious novel that casts a cold satirical eye on themes such as language, culture, identity, sectarianism, and the terrifying proximity of the past * Sunday Times, 50 Greatest Irish Novels of the 21st Century *Shimmering with wit, simmering with an incandescent rage, shot through with a seam of wild magic, The Fire Starters is a powerful, disturbing portrait of East Belfast and its people and its hope for the future. I won’t be the only reader to proclaim that, in the best way possible, Jan Carson is on fire. * Lucy Caldwell *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2020 PEN/Faulkner Award'A mesmerizing, revelatory novel, smart and funny and laced with a strangeness... For my money, Chloe Aridjis is one of the most brilliant novelists working in English today' Garth GreenwellOne autumn afternoon in Mexico City, 17-year-old Luisa does not return home from school. Instead, she boards a bus to the Pacific coast with the reckless, impulsive Tomás, a boy she barely knows. Their quest: to track down a troupe of Ukrainian dwarfs who have recently escaped a touring circus.Together they head for Zipolite, the ‘Beach of the Dead’, a community peopled by hippies, nudists, beach combers and eccentric storytellers, and Luisa searches for someone, anyone, who will ‘promise, no matter what, to remain a mystery’. But as Luisa wanders the shoreline, she begins to discover that a quest is more easily envisioned than accomplished.'Destined to be a classic: a richly imaginative, reflective and entracing novel' Xiaolu GuoTrade ReviewThe novel's brilliance lies in capturing so convincingly that state of adolescent restlessness... Aridjis’s languid prose lets these images wash over the reader, unfurling in comma-rich sentences that beautifully render a state of inertia -- Francesca Carington * Daily Telegraph *Sea Monsters is a mesmerizing, revelatory novel, smart and funny and laced with a strangeness that is never facile but serves as a profound and poetic tool for navigating our shared world. Chloe Aridjis is the rare writer who reinvents herself in each book; she is, for my money, one of the most brilliant novelists working in English today -- Garth GreenwellA mesmerising novel… Aridjis beautifully renders the perspective of a bored, intelligent, privileged teenage girl — a decadent, solipsistic daydream -- Emily Rhodes * Financial Times *Self-contained, inscrutable, and weirdly captivating, like a salvaged object that wants to return to the sea -- Katy Waldman * New Yorker *Aridjis riffs like a poet, letting each image twist and grow into the next... The novel’s strength lies in its ability to turn to the next magic trick, the next detail, the next sight. Those sights are all the more impressive when conjured solely from language. By opting out of fiction’s conventional prioritization of plot or character development, Aridjis foregrounds her ability to develop images and metaphors. The result is seductive in its multiplicity. Mallarmé would be proud -- Lily Meyer * Atlantic *

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Book Synopsis'We are despised, yet we grow. We are tortured and crucified and yet we flourish. We are hated and still we multiply. Why is that? You must wonder, how is it we survive?' In a far corner of the Roman Empire, a radical sect is growing. Alone, unloved and battling his sexuality, Saul scrapes together a living exposing these nascent Christians, but on the road to Damascus, everything changes.Saul - now Paul - becomes drawn into this new religion and its mysterious leader, whose crucifixion leaves followers waiting in limbo for his promised return. As factions splinter and competition to create the definitive version of Christ's life grows violent, he begins to question his new faith and the man at its heart.Damascus is an unflinching dissection of doubt, faith, tyranny, revolution, cruelty and sacrifice. A vivid and visceral novel with perennial concerns, it is a masterpiece of imagination and transformation.Trade ReviewThe novel Tsiolkas was born to write * Financial Times *A visceral portrait of the life of St Paul -- Rob Doyle * Guardian *A powerful testament to spiritual yearning and the human desire to transcend the physical world. * Sunday Times *A narrative of shock and awe, fear and trembling, so large in ambition it will probably be the book for which he will be best remembered... Tsiolkas has made a career of taking sanctioned narratives and flipping them to reveal a dark human underbelly... At its best, which is miraculously often, the novel is conjugated not in the simple present but in what is knows as the "prophetic perfect". * The Weekend Australian *There are too many highlights to count in this daring, shocking, speculative work of biblical fiction by one of Australia's highest-profile authors. Captivating... * The Herald Sun *One of the most significant contemporary storytellers at work today * Colm Tóibín *A vivid novel... an insightful and sympathetic portrait of a man assailed by doubts, envy and pride, and tormented by his own homosexuality. Both insider and outsider, Tsiolkas writes with enormous respect and admiration for Christianity's message of love and equality, while recognizing all the flaws that Christianity, like any religion, is subject to - intolerance, populism and fundamentalism, and grubby worldliness. * Selina O'Grady *An enormously ambitious novel... Tsiolkas' message is ultimately one of hope and humanity... This is a brave, unflinching book. * The Listener *Hyper real. I could taste the salt of Saul's sweat as I gasped and cried my way through the book... This latest release confirms his ability to identify and describe both the best and the worst of us humans, whether we wear sandals or sneakers. * The Age *Startling... Moving and powerful... * ABC *There aren't any cinematic sandal-and-toga moments here; these people are hyper real. I could taste the salt of Saul's sweat as I gasped and cried my way through the book. * Sunday Star Time *A deeply researched, crafted fictional world created by one of Australia's greatest literary talents. * Sydney Morning Herald *Tsiolkas takes on nothing less than the birth of Christianity - and does so with rigour and grit. This is as-it-happens history, deeply immersive, yet alive to hindsight irony. It's a brave book, and sincerely spiritual. * Sydney Morning Herald *One of Australia's best writers... rough, gutsy and sometimes shocking book, but always a gripping read. * About Regional *

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Book Synopsis***A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK***Oli and Joe are identical twins. But they will never be the same.Lizzie Truman gives birth to her sons at thirty-one weeks. From the start, the differences between the twins are clear. Oli is bigger, stronger, healthier. Joe is small and much less robust, his future inexorably altered by the trauma of his premature delivery.As soon as the boys are well enough, Lizzie checks out of the maternity hospital and leaves her old life behind. By the time Oli and Joe are grown, Beth has a new name, a thriving business, and she has successfully raised her sons alone.But when the truth about their past emerges, the twins are forced to reassess everything they thought they knew about their mother, their upbringing and themselves. 'Wonderful ... such a great read ... made me emotional' Zoe Ball, BBC Radio 2 Book ClubTrade ReviewWonderful ... such a great read! You will fire through it. I couldn't put it down ... it made me emotional ... a delight -- Zoe Ball, BBC Radio 2 Book ClubIn The Day We Left, Caroline Bond uses a truly original storyline to explore universal themes of fierce familial bonds, motherhood and what shapes us into the people we become. Together with a cast of brave, bold and nuanced characters, this is a novel that satisfies and delights in equal measure. Brilliantly paced and beautifully told. -- Katy ReganSharply observed and empathetic, many women will see themselves in this excellent novel * Elizabeth Buchan on Thea and Denise *There is a raw realism to all of Caroline Bond's novels ... Redemptive and satisfying * Carol Mason on The Legacy *The characters jump off the page! * Sam Blake on Thea and Denise *Caroline Bond has a gift for weaving heart-rending tales of impossible decisions. * Amanda Brooke on The Forgotten Sister *

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from Arthur’s first novel, Far, Far the Mountain Peak, this next novel follows John Denby into adolescence. As he begins to explore his sexuality, he begins to realise that he is not attracted to females. As he struggles to come to terms with his homosexuality, John is faced with decisions that affect his relationships. As he tries desperately to be accepted in school and amongst his friends, he turns to the wider community and to his religion for help and guidance. But will those that he hopes can help him understand this development in his life have his best interests at heart?

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Book SynopsisThirty stories, collected in one volume for the very first time, from one of the South's best known and most acclaimed short story writers. With his signature darkly acerbic and sharp-witted humor, George Singleton has built a reputation as one of the most astute and wise observers of the South. Now Tom Franklin introduces this master of the form with a compilation of acclaimed and prize-winning short fiction spanning twenty years and eight collections, including stories originally published in outlets like the Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Playboy, the Georgia Review, the Southern Review, and many more. A lovelorn and chatty euthanasia vet arrives at a couples’ house to put down their dog, Probate; a father-to-be searches his workplace—a bar—for a replacement sonogram after recording an episode of Bonanza over the original; an unlikely romance sparks between a librarian and a professional bowler while they compete to win an RV; a father takes his son to visit the many ex-girlfriends that could have been his mother. These stories bear the influence of Flannery O’Connor and Raymond Carver, at other times Lewis Nordan and Donald Barthelme, and touch on the mysteries of childhood, the complexities of human relationships, and the absurdity of everyday life, its inexorable defeats and small triumphs. Assembled here for the very first time, You Want More showcases the body of work, hilarious and incisive, that has cemented George Singleton’s place among the South’s greatest living writers.Trade Review"Singleton brings together his best work along with one new story in this smashing collection that combines satire, tragicomic premises, and small-town South Carolina locales. Items as innocuous as caulk or a VHS tape become the focus of droll yet moving meditations on the foibles of modern life or the misery of a marriage’s disintegration...Fans and newcomers alike will rejoice in reading these highlights from a Southern literary master." ―Publishers Weekly, Starred "Singleton’s fellow writers regard his work with an affection bordering on awe, but both comic writing and short fiction are underrated forms, which is how Singleton has become something like the John Prine or Tom Waits of Southern scribes: revered, honored, and esteemed but almost criminally underappreciated. Indeed, Singleton’s work is too original, too wildly hilarious and inventive to be imitated." ―Chapter16 "Although not presented chronologically by original publication date, there is a thoughtful ordering to the stories nonetheless, or rather, a heartbeat that rises and falls only to rise again throughout the collection. The final piece, “What Could Have Been?” is a story written as driving instructions giving way to directions to access life-defining memories. In this treasure trove of a collection, readers are directed to revisit and celebrate all that has been in Singleton’s career-defining work as sage storyteller and as chronicler and inquisitor of southern bedlam." ―Southern Review of Books "These stories have absurdist energy, wit, and inventiveness to burn, but antic comedy is their mode and métier, not their sole aim or reason for being. Singleton's work doesn't wear literariness on its sleeve; even when he channels canonical writers, as in "John Cheever, Rest in Peace," he does so in a way that's literal and can seem almost anti-literary—making the grandly metaphorical, life-spanning "The Swimmer" into a story in which a man suffers a heart attack on his riding mower and then, dead, cuts a gently arcing swath across his town before crashing into a silo. But these stories are often sneakily ambitious, sneakily moving. Singleton has Charles Portis' gift for writing a satire both ruthless and lined always with affection, and like that Southern icon, he's a master of and evangelist for the joys and idiosyncrasies of speech, especially the loquacious talk of barrooms and Little League fields and scrapbooking shops. For the uninitiated, a wonderful introduction to a Southern original." ―Kirkus Reviews, Starred "A greatest-hits album from a writer whose stories are like epic spitballs from the back of the class: high-arcing and unbearably funny protests against the absurdities of everyday life." ―Jonathan Miles, Garden & Gun "In his brilliant mix of comedy and tragedy and deep tenderness for the most “minor” characters among us, George Singleton is nothing less than the Shakespeare of South Carolina." ―Margaret Renkl, author of Late Migrations "George Singleton is one of the funniest writers in America. He's also the writer most attuned to the American freakshow―its hilarity, its hopes, its heartbreak. His fiction has mattered, a lot, for as long as he's been writing it, but it's never mattered more than now. You Want More is a major book from a major writer."―Brock Clarke, author of Who Are You, Calvin Bledsoe? "People always ask what the one book you’d take to a deserted island. For me, it might be this one." ―David Joy, author of When These Mountains Burn "Over his career, George Singleton has written unruly characters living unruly lives. His depictions of the American South―in particular the everyday tumult of white blue-collar men and women struggling to come to terms with this strange and chaotic world― are both tragic and comic, heartbreaking, surreal, and―when least expected―weirdly ebullient. Singleton is a brilliant storyteller; his vision is crystal clear and wonderfully warped." ―Julianna Baggott, author of Burn "Singleton’s South doesn’t look like anybody else’s." —The Atlanta-Journal Constitution "A disturbingly askew vision of the South." ―Entertainment Weekly "George Singleton is a madman. He's also one of the most talented writers the South has turned out in decades." —The Charleston Post and Courier

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