Narrative theme: social issues / social problems

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Book SynopsisThe Spectacular Spider-Ham is back and just in TIME to save the past, present, and future in this original graphic novel for younger readers!It''s just a normal day in the life of Peter Porker, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Ham! Keeping New Yolk City safe from dastardly villains is no easy feat, especially when the Green Gobbler from the year 2099 travels back in time to team up with his present-day counterpart. Talk about a pair of rotten eggs! What''s worse, Spider-Ham gets flung into the future, making it impossible to stop the duo''s evil plot. He''ll have to team up with heroes from all across time if he wants to make it back and save the day.But what is New Yolk City to do without its greatest defender? Luckily for everyone, Mary Jane Waterbuffalo and Black Catfish are here to pick up the slack while Peter Porker is messing around in the time stream. Can the two hold out long enough for Spider-Ham to return, or will the Green Gobbler finally claim his

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Book SynopsisThe greatest criminal masterminds of our time appear to be acting in concert -- but with a surprising plan that seeks to achieve more good than the JLA ever could.They are the World''s Greatest Super-Heroes. But the members of the fabled Justice League of America are about to learn that they aren''t the only ones who can band together and work toward a common goal. The world''s deadliest criminal masterminds have learned some valuable lessons from their past defeats, and their latest plan finds them acting in concert to bring about total victory--for the forces of good!Behind its seemingly sincere façade, however, this campaign to save the world is actually a carefully honed scheme to enslave it--by systematically discrediting and neutralizing the members of the Justice League, one by one. As the villains begin to gain the world''s trust, our heroes must redouble their efforts to expose the truth--to fight...for JUSTICE! The DC Universe is stunning

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA superhero collection perfect for Marvel fans hoping to sample more than the usual fare. * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisEverybody's favorite suburban wife, mother, and covert assassin created by comics author extraordinaire GARTH ENNIS (The Boys, Battlefields, Preacher, The Punisher, Hitman) returns for an all-new tale of extralegal killing and ruthless vigilantism!Following the grisly events of Bloodlines, the woman formerly known as Jessica Blute a.k.a. Jen Fellows, a.k.a. Jennifer Blood finds herself involved with a new class of criminals. This one-woman bane of organized crime is supposedly dead and buried, and that's exactly what she wants the world to think. Now, however, a visit to her original penitentiary gravesite puts Blood in the crosshairs of a vicious prison gang one that has no idea of what's about to hit them!

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Book SynopsisThe Favour is a chilling domestic-suspense debut from Nora Murphy.‘Taut, compelling and deliciously dark’ – B. A. Paris bestselling author of Behind Closed DoorsLeah Dawson and McKenna Hawkins had a lot in common, but they had never met.They are smart, professional women living in the same sunny, prosperous neighbourhood in lovely houses with picket fences and beautiful gardens. And they were both married to successful, good-looking men who both seem bent on having ‘the perfect wife’.They don’t – ever – find themselves in the same train carriage or meet accidentally at the gym or in the coffee shop. And they don’t – ever – discuss their problems and find common ground.But they do cross paths. And they see something each recognizes in the other.That they are living in hell.Neither narrator is unreliable. They always tell us the truth. And their truth hurts. A lot. Because these two attractive, intelligent professional women are living in a hell of their husband’s making. And there is no way to get out of hell. Is there?'A thrilling debut – I couldn’t put it down!' – Shari Lapena, author of The Couple Next DoorTrade ReviewTaut, compelling and deliciously dark, I tore through The Favour -- B. A. Paris, Sunday Times bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors Dark, unsettling, brave and compassionate -- Victoria SelmanA beautifully written yet chilling glimpse behind the curtain of relationships gone badly wrong, and the terrifying consequences of what happens when wronged women fight back. Absolutely brilliant -- Fiona CumminsI loved following the parallel lives of Leah and McKenna, two strangers whose actions tie them together forever. The Favour is a page-turning debut that will have you questioning the lengths you’d go to save someone else, even though it’s you that needs saving. -- Sandie Jones, bestselling author of The Other WomanA thrilling debut – I couldn’t put it down! -- Shari Lapena, author of multi-million copy international bestseller The Couple Next DoorA brilliant, gripping, dark and superbly written debut. I was transfixed by Leah and McKenna and the deftly woven plot that connects them. Nora Murphy is one to watch -- Gilly MacmillanA beautifully written yet chilling glimpse behind the curtain of relationships gone badly wrong, and the terrifying consequences of what happens when wronged women fight back. Absolutely brilliant -- Fiona CumminsDark, unsettling, brave and compassionate -- Victoria SelmanA brilliantly tense tale – you will long for Leah and McKenna to find happiness * The Sun *

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Book Synopsis*As seen on The One Show**Dead Good 14 Best Thrillers of All Time 2023*'Thrilling . . . a terrific series' Sunday TimesSomeone has an appetite for murderKamil Rahman used to be a detective in Kolkata. Now he's a cook in London's East End.Yet trouble still knows where to find him...Kamil Rahman thought his crimefighting days were behind him. But when a woman he knows is murdered and the police arrest the most convenient suspect, he hangs up his apron and employs his detective skills once more to find the true killer.Meanwhile, restaurant manager Anjoli is volunteering with a homeless charity, where she notices a sudden troubling increase in unexplained deaths among people sleeping rough in and around Brick Lane. With the council and police uninterested, she starts an investigation of her own.Kamil and Anjoli's cases seem unrelated, but as the duo dig deeper, they discover connections that stretch from London to Lahore. Together they take on the indifference of the authorities.If the Met won't find the murderers, then they will.*A GUARDIAN BEST CRIME AND THRILLER BOOK OF 2022*Trade ReviewA real surprise... It is not just the descriptions of food that leave you hungry for more -- Mark Sanderson * The Times *Thrilling... This is a terrific series, a vivid portrait of the East End where a thriving economy is overshadowed by the effects of inequality -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times *Chowdhury's portrait of multicultural London is as effective as his portrayal of the mixed feelings of his characters, who may enjoy aspects of their lives but still long for the pleasures they have left behind -- Natasha Cooper * Literary Review *Kamil and Anjali are a terrific team. Chowdhury makes the murder mystery feel like a brand-new invention. His second thriller is chockfull of authentic flavours and tasty surprises that will leave readers wanting more. -- Christopher Fowler, author of the Bryant and May MysteriesMarvellous! A vivid romp through the Londoner's London, seen through the sharp eyes of a recent arrival. The only thing that induced me to put it down was the fact that it made me so hungry... * Alex Marwood *

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Book SynopsisFrom legendary comics writer Dan Jurgens and superstar Batman artist Mike Perkins comes a pulp-influenced noir take on the caped crusader set in his debut year, 1939.

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Book SynopsisSlaine, Ukko his faithful, evil-smelling dwarf and trainee priestess Nest visit the fortress of the Ever-Living Ones. These arch-druids may hold the key to the final defeat of the evil forces oppressing Slaine's people, but a chance encounter hurls Slaine and his allies through time to evergreater battles, threats and challenges! Written by Pat Mills (Charley's War) with art by Glenn Fabry (Preacher) and Massimo Belardinelli (Mean Team) amongst others, this is the latest edition of the second volume of the classic adventures of the Celtic warrior Slaine.

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Book SynopsisStep in the unknown… step into MegatropolisExperience the iconic city of Mega-City One as never before, in this visionary comic from Kenneth Niemand (Judge Dredd) and Dave Taylor (Judge Dredd, Batman). In this radical reimagining of the world of Judge Dredd, join disgraced Officer Amy Jarra and Detective Joe ‘choirboy’ Rico as they navigate the crime-ridden underbelly of the glamourous Metropolis, attempting to solve the murder of undercover Detective Fisher. Transforming Mega-City One into an art deco cityscape, Niemand and Taylor spin a tale of futuristic noir with luscious art and jaw-dropping set pieces. This over-sized hardcover collection includes a gallery of cover art and never seen before concept sketches.Trade Review"Fabulously enjoyable… what if MC-1 was more like James Elroy’s LA Confidential, just with more tech.” - Comicon"A beautiful piece of comics work." - Downthetubes.net'Writer Kenneth Niemand keeps the pace brisk, layering in enough recognisable characters for fans but making sure the story remains accessible on its own terms, while Dave Taylor does an incredible job with his textured, cinematic art, shifting this gloriously retro thriller from enjoyable to unmissable. 5 stars.' - SFX "Dave Taylor's art can only be described as sumptuous... the lights and colours really pop.... the characters and cityscape designs are excellent." - Grovel"Gorgeous art and clever storytelling." - Grovel "Dave Taylor’s art is a wonder to behold, beautiful line work, sumptuously and atmospherically coloured, with a wonderful and believable design sense." - Comicscene 'This book is gorgeous. [...] I highly recommend Megatropolis to fans of Dredd, Noir, and Art Deco design; and if, like me, you're a fan of all three, then it's an absolute triple lock.' - Fortean Times

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Book Synopsis'A writer with a profound comprehension of emotional destruction, loss and redemption' Sunday TimesA retired widow in rural Connecticut wakes to an unexpected visit from her childhood best friend whom she hasn't seen in forty-nine years. A man arrives at a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania hotel to introduce his estranged father to his newborn daughter and finds him collapsed on the floor of the lobby.A sixty-seven-year-old taxi driver in Kauai receives a phone call from the mainland that jars her back to a traumatic past. These seemingly disconnected lives come together as half-century-old secrets begin to surface over the course of one fateful day...Trade ReviewQuietly devastating... A finely-wrought masterpiece... -- Francesca Carington * Sunday Telegraph *Novel of the Week* *Reading The End of the Day is like studying a stained-glass window up close...a large, beautiful, mysterious work of art. -- David Ebershoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Danish Girl and The 19th WifeA writer with a profound comprehension of emotional destruction, loss and redemption... -- Francesca Angelini * Sunday Times *Fabulously rich and compelling. * Daily Mail *[A] glorious novel. -- Helen Macdonald * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian LiteratureWhat happens when we attempt to exchange the life we are given for something better? Five people, in very different circumstances, from a domestic cook in Mumbai, to a vagrant and his dancing bear, and a girl who escapes terror in her home village for a new life in the city, find out the meanings of dislocation, and the desire for more. Set in contemporary India and moving between the reality of this world and the shadow of another, this novel delivers a devastating and haunting exploration of the unquenchable human urge to strive for a different life.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary, compassionate, complex, hard-hitting wonder of a book. It is in a class of its own. -- Rose TremainNeel Mukherjee's breathtaking A State of Freedom is that rarest, most wonderful of things: a book both literarily dextrous, full of unforgettable scenes, images, language, and characters, as well as a furious, unsparing, clear-eyed study of how a society's gross inequities of money and power demean and deform the human condition. The most astonishing and brilliant novel I have read in a long, long time. -- Hanya YanagiharaFans of Neel Mukherjee expect that his books will be exceptional and once again he has produced just that. A State of Freedom is formally audacious, vividly observed, and deeply imagined. Unsentimental yet full of heart, grimly real yet mysteriously dreamlike, with characters who continue to live their complicated lives long after you've turned the last page. Just a beautiful, beautiful piece of work. -- Karen Joy FowlerA State of Freedom is an extraordinary achievement. Subtle and multi-layered, it's a study of the brutality of social divisions, written with tremendous tenderness; a work that insists on the dignity of figures obliged to lead undignified lives. A powerful, troubling novel. The moment I finished it, I began it again. -- Sarah WatersA State of Freedom is a novel like no other -- its prose is so rich, unequivocally precise and graceful that it allows Mukherjee to illustrate the most horrific of experiences with stunning compassion. A State of Freedom is more than a novel—it is an immersive experience. He writes like a painter, his language is his palette, one reminiscent of the late Howard Hodgkin's. Mukherjee brings to life the variation of India’s cities and towns in a dense multi-layered world where modern life, by accident or intention, tears at traditions that are centuries old. Throughout we are reminded of how little power many have over their lives and of emotional and financial economies so fragile that something as small as a single egg can carry great weight. -- A.M. HomesThis is a great hymn to poor, scabby humanity—a devastating portrait of poverty and the inhumanity of the rich to the poor. A masterpiece! -- Edmund Whitean extraordinary account of the tenacious will to survive… He seeds his tales with images of unexpected beauty… Freedom here is relative, complicated, fissured and often won at another’s expense -- Siobhain Murphy * The Times *Neel Mukherjee shows himself to be one of those contemporary authors who invites readers to make connections between seemingly disparate story strands… Combined with Mukherjee’s rich realisation of the novel’s individual elements, this indeterminacy makes A State of Freedom a powerful, memorable treatment of a theme too often reduced to uninvolving didacticism -- Adam Lively * Sunday Times *The beauty of Mukherjee’s prose sucks the reader into an alternative world, where misery, deprivation and the struggle to exist another day are normal -- John Harding * Daily Mail *Mukherjee… homes in on the restless, the disinherited, the socially trapped… Mercilessly observant, he does not spare the reader but leavens scenes of savagery, squalor and despair with moments of rainbow vividness, all the more striking for the muddy, cacophonous backdrop from which they are brought forth… In a significant and porous work, Mukherjee gives congruence and visibility to these fractured, hidden lives -- Catherine Taylor * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisJSA Compendium One contains the most iconic JSA tales collected in brilliant compendium format.

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Book SynopsisEisner-Award winning writer Greg Rucka ushers in a new age for Wonder Woman. This omnibus collects the beginning of his epic story!

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Book SynopsisAlternately haunting, bittersweet, erotic and nightmarish, the seven stories in this book--one for each of the Endless siblings, each illustrated by one of the best artists in comics--reveal strange secrets and surprising truths. Now collected as the eleventh volume in Neil Gaiman''s seminal, New York Times best-selling series, The Sandman Vol. 11: Endless Nights, celebrates its 30th anniversary with an all-new edition!One of the most popular and critically acclaimed graphic novels of all time, Neil Gaiman''s award-winning masterpiece The Sandman set the standard for mature, lyrical fantasy in the modern comics era. Illustrated by an exemplary selection of the medium''s most gifted artists, the series is a rich blend of modern and ancient mythology in which contemporary fiction, historical drama, and legend are seamlessly interwoven.Endless Nights returns to the realm of the Dreaming with seven remarkable stories--one for each member of the oTrade Review"What Gaiman has written is a comics masterpiece, a book that, in its seven tales, one devoted each of the Endless, each illustrated by a different artist, demonstrates the enormous range of the comics medium both in content and style." --Publishers Weekly"Everything his fans could have hoped for." --Booklist"Endless Nights both delivers on the high expectations of longtime readers and surprise with its millennium-spanning variety." --Village Voice

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Book SynopsisThe global best-selling graphic novel series - over half a million copies sold! Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files collects the adventures of the iconic British character, presented in chronological order, complete and uncut! He's judge, jury and executioner - the lawman delivering justice to the mean streets of far-future Mega-City One. This eighth blockbuster volume includes classic storylines `Dredd Angel' and 'City of the Damned'. Written by comic legends John Wagner (A History of Violence), and Alan Grant (Batman), with art by Steve Dillon (Preacher), Ian Gibson (The Ballad of Halo Jones), Ron Smith and many more!Trade Review"If you want to sink your teeth into classic Judge Dredd, the best place to start" - Mental Floss"Amazing and addictive" - io9"What a collection it will be when it's complete." - Den of Geek

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Book Synopsis Dive feet-first into the world of devil-fighting firefighters with this 3-in-1 omnibus edition of the hit manga from the creator of Soul Eater! Blaze past the anime, 600 large-sized pages at a time. Includes Vol. 25-27 of the Fire Force manga. In the year 198 of the Age of the Sun, Tokyo is a crowded cosmopolis. But the world''s most populous city is threatened by devils that cause people to burst into flame at random! The only ones who can stop it are the Pyrofighters, a team of specialized firefighters. The young Shinra, blessed with the ability to ignite his feet and travel at the speed of a rocket, wants nothing more than to be a hero, and knows that this is the place for him! But he''s not the best at following orders...

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Book SynopsisWhen a one-night stand leads to a long-desired pregnancy, Susan will do anything to ensure her husband won’t find out … including the unthinkable. But when something horrendous is unleashed around the globe, her secret isn’t the only thing that is no longer safe…‘The first half is a high-concept thriller; the second edges into science fiction as a generation of genetically optimised children respond to the social pressures they are under … an astute, well-researched and convincing novel of ideas’ The Times'If you could create a "perfect" baby through genetic engineering, would you? A disturbing and interesting thriller, perfect for book club discussions' Nina Pottell, Prima‘A fantastic exploration of the ethics and allure of genetic engineering woven into a captivating, thought-provoking thriller. Provocative, pacy and scarily all-too-possible’ Philippa East––––––––––––An unthinkable decisionA deadly mistakeIn an all-too-possible near future, when genetic engineering has become the norm for humans, not just crops, parents are prepared to take incalculable risks to ensure that their babies are perfect … altering genes that may cause illness, and more…Susan has been trying for a baby for years, and when an impulsive one-night stand makes her dream come true, she’ll do anything to keep her daughter and ensure her husband doesn’t find out … including the unthinkable. She believes her secret is safe. For now.But as governments embark on a perilous genetic arms race and children around the globe start experiencing a host of distressing symptoms – even taking their own lives – something truly horrendous is unleashed. Because those children have only one thing in common, and people are starting to ask questions…Bestselling author of The Waiting Rooms, Eve Smith returns with an authentic, startlingly thought-provoking, disturbing blockbuster of a thriller that provides a chilling glimpse of a future that’s just one modification away…_____________‘An effective thriller that will keep you hooked to the very end … more than that, it’s a nuanced, believable examination of how human genetic engineering might play out...’ SFX Magazine ‘A brilliantly chilling work of speculative fiction – a disturbing but all-too-possible vision of the near future, where each of us gets to play God. Superb!’ Guy Morpuss‘Sharp, intelligent, frightening and original’ NB Magazine‘An eerily prophetic near-future viewed through a compassionately anchoring lens ... As tempting and tantalising a read as the vision of the future it presents’ SciFi Now‘This is what speculative fiction should be – plausible, pacy, and with a story that packs real emotional punch’ Louise Mumford‘When a writer’s work is compared to Michael Crichton’s, there’s reason to sit up and pay attention … a cautionary tale that’s full of thrills’ LoveReading ‘With jaw-dropping twists, high stakes and so much heart, this is a book that everyone will be talking about’ Awais Khan‘Fast-paced, emotional, disturbing. Lovers of cleverly plotted speculative fiction should jump on this’ Catherine McCarthy‘Eve Smith has done it again! A brilliant read’ J.M. Hewitt‘One of the most exciting writers around … master of the high-concept thriller’ Chris McDonald‘Eve Smith has crafted a world that feels not only lived-in, but utterly plausible’ Russel McLean‘Captivating’ Professor Joanna Verran‘Eve Smith is becoming the Jodi Picoult of speculative medical thrillers’ The Reading ClosetPraise for The Waiting Rooms*****‘Combines the excitement of a medical thriller à la Michael Crichton with sensitive characterisation and social insight in a timely debut novel all the more remarkable for being conceived and written before the current pandemic’ Guardian‘STUNNING and terrifying … The Waiting Rooms wrenches your heart in every way possible’ Miranda Dickinson‘Chillingly close to reality, this gripping thriller brims with authenticity … a captivating, accomplished and timely debut from an author to watch’ Adam Hamdy‘Engrossing and eye-opening, with heart-stopping plot twists … a stunning medical thriller set in a terrifying possible future’ Foreword Reviews For fans of Emily St John Mandel, Robin Cook, Tess Gerritsen and Louise Dought

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Book SynopsisA first-person diary of a prisoner's final day before being executed for an unspecified crime, Victor Hugo's poignant tale vividly conveys the mental anguish of a man confronted with the intransigent mechanism of justice, as his mind seeks refuge in recollections from his past and philosophical musings on his inevitable fate. As relevant today as when it was first published in 1829, The Last Day of a Condemned Man is an eloquent plea for compassion and a masterpiece of realist fiction. This edition includes the Preface to the 1832 edition of the book, a manifest of Hugo's personal opinions, 'A Comedy about a Tragedy' and 'Claude Gueux', an early example of "true crime" fiction.

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Book SynopsisThe superstar creative team of Mark Waid and Bryan Hitch tell a DC Black Label story exploring a dying Lex Luthor, his relationship with Superman, and a quest to save the greatest criminal mastermind of our time.

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Book SynopsisConstance Chatterley feels trapped in her sexless marriage to the invalid Sir Clifford. Unable to fulfil his wife emotionally or physically, Clifford encourages her to have a liaison with a man of their own class. But Connie is attracted instead to her husband's gamekeeper.

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Book Synopsis''Irreverent, spirited ... a seriously funny novel'' New York Review of BooksSitting in his cramped basement room in Brixton, Battersby dreams of money, women, a T-bone steak - and a place to call his own. So he and a group of friends decide to save up and buy a house together. But amid grasping landlords, the temptations of spending money and the less-than-welcoming attitude of the Mother Country, can this motley group of hustlers and schemers, Trinidadians and Jamaicans, men and women make their dreams a reality? ''Selvon''s meticulously observed narratives of displaced Londoners'' lives created a template for how to write about migrant, and postmigrant, London for countless writers who have followed in his wake, including Hanif Kureishi and Zadie Smith'' Caryl PhillipsTrade ReviewA unique and wonderful novel, comic and serious, cynical and tender-hearted ... With its surprisingly happy ending and irreverent, spirited wit, The Housing Lark goes against the grain of much postcolonial literature ... Funny, serious, innovative, multilingual, musical, The Housing Lark shows how literary expression can create community across race, gender, place, and time -- Dohra AhmadSelvon's meticulously observed narratives of displaced Londoners' lives created a template for how to write about migrant, and postmigrant, London for countless writers who have followed in his wake, including Hanif Kureishi and Zadie Smith ... The Housing Lark is a a fine, and unfairly neglected, companion novel to The Lonely Londoners -- Caryl PhillipsA vibrant comic classic ... perfectly observed * Observer *The Housing Lark is both spry and strikingly resonant ... Ultimately, as much as its lovable characters and its caper-strewn quest, what makes The Housing Lark so special are the music and melodies of Selvon's prose. * Guardian *Sam Selvon is known for The Lonely Londoners. But it is The Housing Lark in which his brilliance truly shines.Funny, subversive and lyrical ... Selvon's garrulous comically-gifted narrator feels like a friend, spinning surreal yet familiar tales in a late-night drinking den. Yet his stories have a sharp edge. The dark side of the Windrush experience lurks between the laughs and this deeply enjoyable book hides serious literary intent.

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Book SynopsisLittle Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world''s greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-SmithThis candid portrayal of a woman who refuses to accept her allotted role as wife and mother caused an outcry when it was published in 1899.It is the story of Edna Pontellier, who spends the summer on the Gulf of Mexico with her businessman husband and her two sons. When an illicit romance awakens unfamiliar ideas and longings in Edna, she discovers a new identity for herself, but cannot hope for understanding in the stifling attitudes of Louisiana society.

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Book SynopsisNine-year-old Suleiman is just awakening to the wider world beyond the games on the hot pavement outside his home and beyond the loving embrace of his parents. He becomes the man of the house when his father goes away on business, but then he sees his father, standing in the market square in a pair of dark glasses. Suddenly the wider world becomes a frightening place where parents lie and questions go unanswered. Suleiman turns to his mother, who, under the cover of night, entrusts him with the secret story of her childhood.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Women''s Prize for Fiction and selected as one of the Best Young British Novelists of the Decade:An unsettling and addictive feminist fable for fans of I Who Have Never Known Men, Hot Milk, Unsettled Ground and Klara and the Sun Recommended by Stylist, Evening Standard, Esquire, Red, Daily Mail, Oprah Magazine, LitHub, and Belletrist Book Club''Be sure to read everything Sophie Mackintosh writes'' Deborah Levy''Definitely don''t miss the return of Sophie Mackintosh'' StylistCalla knows how the lottery works. Everyone does. On the day of your first bleed, you report to the lottery station to learn what kind of woman you will be. A white ticket grants you children. A blue ticket grants you freedom. You are relieved of the terrible burden of choice. Or, to put it another way, you have no choice. And once you''ve taken your ticket, there is no going back.But what if the life you''re given is the wrong one?Blue Ticket is a devastating enquiry into free will and the fraught space of motherhood. Bold and chilling, it pushes beneath the skin of female identity and patriarchal violence, to the point where human longing meets our animal bodies.''Dreamlike, tense, compelling, [with] a pitch-perfect ending'' The New York Times''Gripping, ethereal, atmospheric'' Sunday Times''Thoughtful and haunting'' Observer''Terrifying and enchanting in equal measure'' LitHub''Blue Ticket will worms its way under your skin and haunt your dreams'' RedTrade ReviewDefinitely don't miss the return of Sophie Mackintosh... Blue Ticket gets to the root of women's ambivalence and confusion around becoming mothers set against an unsettling dystopia; she's amazing * Stylist, Best Autumn Reads 2020 *Dreamlike, tense, compelling... Blue Ticket adds something new to the dystopian tradition set by Orwell's 1984 or Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale... Piercing moments of wisdom and insight drive toward a pitch-perfect ending * The New York Times *The cool intensity and strange beauty of Blue Ticket is a wonder - be sure to read everything Sophie Mackintosh writes -- Deborah Levy, author of 'Hot Milk'Even more hallucinatory and spiralled than her first [novel]... Terrifying and enchanting in equal measure * Lit Hub, Best New Books to Read This Summer *The Handmaid's Tale as told by David Lynch... A bona fide chase narrative as well as a polyvalent, dream-like allegory of pregnancy and bodily change - not to mention the vortex of judgement that surrounds womanhood... Mackintosh is part of an exciting generation of writers, including Daisy Johnson and Julia Armfield... Blue Ticket stands apart from the crowd -- Anthony Cummins * iNews *One of the most disquieting novels I've read in a long time, Blue Ticket will worms its way under your skin and haunt your dreams * Red, 'Best Books of August' *Gripping, ethereal, atmospheric... Mackintosh handles haziness deliberately and with poise, demonstrating the near impossibility of trying to articulate or rationalise maternal desire * Sunday Times *Mackintosh writes with a language drawn from the body.... Impressionistic and haunting in equal measure -- Annabel Nugent * Independent *Visceral, primal, striking... This is a potent exploration of biology and agency, motherhood and childlessness, which confirms [Mackintosh] as a writer of note * Daily Mail *Mackintosh is part of a new generation of female writers creating feminist fictions that relate uncannily to our dystopian times... [Her] fiction lives, to an unusual extent, in its musicality, in the rhythm and spareness of its sentences -- Claire Armitstead * Guardian Review *For anyone currently waiting with bated breath for the new season of 'The Handmaid's Tale', Booker-longlisted author Sophie Mackintosh's new novel is a feminist dystopia to quench your thirst * Evening Standard *A thoughtful and haunting exploration of freedom, fate and a woman's right to choose her destiny * Observer *Chilling, timely, thought-provoking * Esquire, Best Books of Summer 2020 *[Mackintosh] writes with an ethereal lyricism that is equally capable of fragility and violence * Spectator *Blue Ticket offers a completely different angle on a familiar subject... Like all good speculative fiction, [it] reminds us of a truth in the real world * New Humanist *A compelling, unsettling tale... Part-horror, part thriller, and part pregnant-lesbian love story * i *A dark fable... Mackintosh sensitively conveys resonant questions about motherhood, female solidarity, queer love, and bodily autonomy * New Yorker *Cool, disturbing, it deals with emotionally fraught material. Mackintosh traffics in ambivalence and ambiguity... What Calla really wants, the author shows us, isn't necessarily a baby; it's an answer * Washington Post *A spare, haunting tale of autonomy and free will -- Anthony Cummins * Daily Mail *Both claustrophobic and expansive, dream-like and heart-stoppingly tense. You will want to languish in its world for a very long time -- Lara Williams, author of 'Supper Club'This book left me breathless - it is gloriously subversive in its exploration of motherhood and desire. I'll be pressing it on everyone -- Angela Chadwick, author of 'XX'Strange and luminous, spare and precise... A thrilling exploration of what it means to follow one's own longing to the point of destruction and beyond -- Rosie Price, author of 'What Red Was'Utterly exquisite - clever and brilliant and heartbreaking. From the dusty road to the salving forest, I absolutely adored it -- Emma Jane Unsworth, author of 'Adults' and 'Animals'Chilling, haunting, heartbreaking... Mackintosh brings a new sense of pathos to the dystopian novel... A moving and original meditation on freedom, fate, and women's rage * Kirkus, Starred Review *A dreamlike exploration of free will and desire * Monocle *A must for Handmaid's Tale aficionados * Booklist *Powerful, Ishiguro-esque... Sophie Mackintosh lays bare many of the fears and realities that face any society's women as they contemplate when their choices begin, and where they might end * Boston Globe *Told with ragged prose that catches the breath, [Blue Ticket] articulates the irrepressible desires and wounds that can lie deep within, marked by a claustrophobia that never stops pressing in from the margins. This unsettling reimagining of the anxieties and pressures around motherhood lays bare the alienation that comes when your body is not truly yours * Irish News *A darkly brilliant allegory... Astute, revelatory and heartbreakingA rich, sharp, and daring book. To read Blue Ticket is to feel so vigorously alert you can feel the world turningMesmerising * Daily Nerd *Mackintosh poses urgent questions about social expectations and free will that are relevant to all realities * Poets and Writers *

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