Narrative theme: social issues / social problems
Marvel Comics Avengers by Jonathan Hickman The Complete
Book Synopsis
£32.24
Marvel Comics Eternals by Neil Gaiman New Printing
Book Synopsis
£20.39
Marvel Comics X23 Deadly Regenesis
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Marvel Comics ShangChi And The Ten Rings
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Marvel Comics Marvel Knights Make the World Go Away
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Marvel Comics Doctor Strange Fall Sunrise Treasury Edition
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Marvel Comics Miles Morales SpiderMan By Saladin Ahmed Omnibus
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Marvel Comics Sgt. Fury Epic Collection Berlin Breakout
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Penguin Random House Group SpiderMan Reign New Printing
Book Synopsis
£16.19
Penguin Random House Group Young Avengers Modern Era Epic Collection Dark
Book Synopsis
£35.99
Marvel JEPH LOEB TIM SALE SPIDERMAN
Book Synopsis
£16.19
Penguin Random House Group Ultimate SpiderMan Epic Collection Learning Curve
Book Synopsis
£29.99
Penguin Random House Group Black Panther A Nation Under Our Feet Marvel
Book Synopsis
£13.49
Penguin Random House Group Civil War Marvel Premier Collection
Book Synopsis
£12.59
DC Comics The Flash By Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Book SynopsisTHE FASTEST MAN ALIVE! Struck by a bolt of lightning and doused in chemicals, police scientist Barry Allen was transformed into the Fastest Man Alive. Now, he’s Central City’s favorite superhero, using his incredible abilities to fight crime and protect his city’s citizens as the Flash! But saving the world has earned the Flash some powerful enemies: Gorilla Grodd, the impossibly strong and intelligent King of Gorilla City, Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, Glider—along with the rest of the super-villains that make up the Rogues. And then there’s his most dangerous enemy of all…someone whose abilities are equal to the Flash’s, who draws his power from the same source: the mysterious energy field known as the Speed Force. The Scarlet Speedster is in for the race of his life to defeat a nemesis who represents the opposite of everything he holds dear! The acclaimed creative team of Francis Manapul and Brian Trade Review"Showcases the Flash's likability and almost a hint of goofiness ... a lot of potential for greatness."--USA Today"A visual treat.... Any reader can easily jump on board."--The New York Times"Executed with a level of sophistication that few superhero comics could hope to rival."--IGN"Flash fans should breathe a sigh of relief that the character is 100% definitely in the right hands."--MTV Geek
£999.99
Image Comics Spawn Manga
Book SynopsisExperience SPAWN like never before in 600 pages of stunning manga by Juzo Tokoro!Encounter new Spawns and iconic villains as a vengeful Spawn battles gangsters while trying to protect his loved ones. Meet Ken Kurosawa, a former bodyguard whose life ends in a car bomb during a gang war, leading him to a fateful deal with MALEBOGIA. Now, he must confront his past in a gripping tale of manipulation and destiny. This Is Pure Manga Magic!Collects Manga's SHADOWS OF SPAWN #1 3.
£999.99
Image Comics The Art of Invincible Season 1
Book Synopsis This official behind-the-scenes companion to Prime Video's hit animated series, INVINCIBLE! The Art of Invincible Season 1 features exclusive character, background, and vehicle designs, key art, and more! This volume takes fans behind the scenes and includes interviews with key creatives, including INVINCIBLE comic creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker.
£32.39
Deep Vellum Publishing A Strange Woman
Book SynopsisThe pioneering debut novel by one of Turkey’s most radical authors, originally published in the 1970s, tells the story of an aspiring intellectual in a complex, modernizing country.Erbil’s groundbreaking coming-of-age novel, nominated for the Nobel upon original release, follows a young woman and aspiring poet in Turkey. Nermin frequents Istanbul’s coffeehouses and underground readings, but is torn between the creative, anarchist youth culture of Turkey’s capital and her parents, members of the old cultural guard who are wary of Nermin’s turn toward secularism. In four parts, A Strange Woman narrates the past and present of a complicated Turkish family through the eyes of each of its members. This rebellious, avant-garde novel tackles sexuality, psychology, and history through the lens of a modernizing 20th-century Turkey. Deep Vellum brings this long-awaited translation of the debut novel by a trailblazing feminist voice to US readers.Trade Review“How odd that a writer who first started making her mark in 1956 should remain a pioneer still today… How odd that, even after half a century, no writer capable of surpassing her has yet appeared." ––Mahmut Temisyurek, award-winning poet “ Leylâ Erbil is a consummate literary artist.” ––Turkish National Committee for UNESCO "Complex but fascinating." ––The Modern Novel
£999.99
DC Comics Superboy The Man Of Tomorrow
Book SynopsisConner Kent is back in the DC Universe! But after the events of Dark Crisis, he not only feels like he doesn t fit in with the rest of the Superman family, he doesn t fit in with the hero community at all. Conner takes his fight for truth and justice to the stars and sets out on a mission to carve his own path. Space is a big place though and what unknowns lurk for him in the great unknown?
£999.99
DC Comics Red Hood Outlaws Volume Two
Book SynopsisThe hit Webtoons series Red Hood: Outlaws, starring fan-favorite Jason Todd on an ill-fated road to redemption, is in print for this second can't-miss collection!
£12.59
Canongate Books Hold Your Breath, China
Book SynopsisInspector Chen is on the case of a serial murderer when he is called away to report on environmentalists trying to tackle the pollution issues in China.Chief Inspector Chen and Detective Yu Guangming are brought into a serial murder case when the Homicide squad proves incapable of solving it. But before Chen can make a start, he is called away by a high-ranking Party member for a special assignment: to infiltrate a group of environmental activists meeting to discuss the pollution levels in the country and how to prompt the government into action.Chen knows it will be a far from simple task, especially when he discovers the leader of the group is a woman from his past. Meanwhile, Yu is left to investigate a serial murder case on his own.Both Chen and Yu face pressure from those above to resolve the cases in a satisfactory way . . . even if that means innocents face the punishment.
£999.99
Vintage Publishing Death in the East: ‘The perfect combination of
Book Synopsis**WINNER OF THE CWA SAPERE BOOKS HISTORICAL DAGGER 2020**'Death in the East is the best so far of an unmissable series' The Times Calcutta police detective Captain Sam Wyndham and his quick-witted Indian Sergeant, Surrender-not Banerjee, are back for another rip-roaring adventure set in 1920s India. 1905, London. When Bessie Drummond, an old flame of Sam Wyndham's, is attacked in the street, he is determined to get to the bottom of it. But the next day, Bessie is found dead in her room and Wyndham soon finds himself caught up in her murder investigation. The case will cost the young constable more than he ever imagined. 1922, India. Leaving Calcutta, Wyndham heads for the hills of Assam, ready to put his opium addiction behind him. But when he arrives, he sees a ghost from his life in London - a man thought to be long dead, a man Wyndham hoped he would never see again. Wyndham knows he must call his friend and colleague Sergeant Banerjee for help. He is certain that this figure from can only be after one thing: revenge...*A SUNDAY TIMES BOOKS OF 2021 PICK*Praise for the Wyndham and Banerjee series : 'A thought-provoking rollercoaster' Ian Rankin 'Cracking... A journey into the dark underbelly of the British Raj' Daily Express 'A brilliantly conceived murder mystery set amidst political and social turmoil - beautifully crafted' C. J. Sansom 'Mukherjee brings sardonic wit to his portrayal of British rule in India, and the action is perfectly paced.' Daily MirrorIf you enjoyed Death in the East further books in the Wyndham and Banerjee series are available now: A Rising Man A Necessary Evil Smoke and Ashes The Shadows of MenTrade ReviewAs ever, Abir Mukherjee brings sardonic wit to his portrayal of British rule in India and the action is perfectly paced, but this volume has a depth that makes it stand out. His best yet -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *In his most accomplished and complex novel yet, Mukherjee keeps the reader enthralled as the duo race towards a brilliant conclusion. Death in the East is a contender for the best thriller of the year. -- Jon Coates * Daily Express *Death in the East is the best so far of an unmissable series -- Antonia Senior * The Times, *Book of the month* *The perfect combination of mystery and history -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express, *Books of the Year* *A skilfully blended dual narrative: twice the intrigue, twice the fun. Mukherjee is at the top of his game -- Mick Herron, award-winning author of London Blues
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Cherry: Now a Major Film Starring Tom Holland
Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM APPLE TV+ STARRING TOM HOLLAND Cleveland, Ohio, 2003. A young man is just a college freshman when he meets Emily. They share a passion for Edward Albee and ecstasy and fall hard and fast in love. But soon Emily has to move home to Elba, New York, and he flunks out of school and joins the army. Desperate to keep their relationship alive, they marry before he ships out to Iraq. But as an army medic, he is unprepared for the grisly reality that awaits him. His fellow soldiers smoke; they huff computer duster; they take painkillers; they watch porn. And many of them die. He and Emily try to make their long-distance marriage work, but when he returns from Iraq, his PTSD is profound, and the drugs on the street have changed. The opioid crisis is beginning to swallow up the Midwest. Soon he is hooked on heroin, and so is Emily. They attempt a normal life, but with their money drying up, he turns to the one thing he thinks he could be really good at - robbing banks.Hammered out on a prison typewriter, Cherry marks the arrival of a raw, bleakly hilarious, and surprisingly poignant voice straight from the dark heart of America.Trade ReviewA remarkable accomplishment… [Cherry] will shake your soul. -- Atticus Lish * Harper's Magazine *[An] unforgettable mix of doomed and dazzling... There’s a vivid, repulsive truth in the way Walker renders his subjects—a sort of social truth, stripped of morality, which is rare and riveting. * New Yorker *Cherry is a miracle of literary serendipity, a triumph... In these propulsive pages, Walker draws us right into the mind of an ordinary young man beset by his own and his country’s demons. In the end, his only weapon against disintegration is his own devastating candor. * Washington Post *The first great novel of the opioid epidemic. * New York Magazine *It is full of slapstick comedy, despite gut-wrenching depictions of dope sickness, the futility of war and PTSD... [Walker] writes dialogue so musical and realistic you’ll hear it in the air around you. * New York Times Book Review *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Easy Reading: The new novel from the Spanish
Book SynopsisAn explosive and daring novel about bodies, sex, politics and disability by the prize-winning Spanish writer Cristina MoralesÁngela, Patricia, Marga and Nati are cousins living together in Barcelona. As women branded as disabled who share a state-subsidised flat, they must fight every day to retain their independence and find new and inventive ways - from dance to underground zines - to stop the state from managing every aspect of their lives.Funny and furious, Easy Reading is an indictment of the institutions that stigmatise individuals as disabled and of the language that marginalises them. It is also a portrait - visceral, vibrant, combative - of contemporary Barcelona. But, above all, Easy Reading is a feminist celebration of the body in all its forms, of female desire and queer sexuality, and of the transgressive and revolutionary power of language.Translated from the Spanish by Kevin Gerry DunnTrade ReviewA force of nature. * ABC *Punk rock has arrived in Spanish literature. * El Pais *Offensive, playful, transgressive, hilarious, visceral, combative, brutal, and yet somehow tender... A book that shook me to my core. * Esquire *The most brutal, provocative and hilarious voice in contemporary Spanish literature. Like an unexpected meeting between Kathy Acker and Camilo José Cela in a gynaecologist's waiting room. Extraordinary. -- Paul B. PreciadoA radical, radically original novel with no precedent in Spanish literature. Remarkable for its recreation of orality, its extraordinary characters and its reading of the current political climate. -- Jury for the Herralde Prize
£15.29
Insight Editions Batmobile The Complete History Revised and Expanded
£47.85
DC Comics MultiVersus Collision Detection
Book SynopsisThe hit video game has jumped from your screen into the DC Universe!
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers Now You See Us A fierce and funny new novel from
Book Synopsis We are invisible: we clean your houses, we look after your children, we know your secrets… Trade Review‘Intricately plotted, propulsive, and provocative … an author at the peak of her talents. Truly irresistible’ Kirstin Chen, NYT bestselling author of Counterfeit ‘Laugh-out-loud funny [and] a searing commentary on misogyny, race and class. An uplifting story of courage and hope that will keep you enthralled until the very last page’ Jean Kwok, Girl in Translation ‘One of my best books [of the year] … gulpable writing, stylish, warm and delightful. Big Little Lies meets The Help’ Daisy Buchanan ‘An absorbing mystery’ i paper 'Funny with a searing social message’ Red ‘A satisfying character-led mystery … A sympathetic and sobering examination of the hidden lives of an exploited and vulnerable group of people' Guardian Praise for Balli Kaur Jaswal: ‘Big-hearted, earthy and funny: turns so many preconceptions upside down. A rattlingly good story’ Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ‘Warm and hilariously funny’ Good Housekeeping ‘Charming, hilarious and thoughtful’ The Pool ‘Balances darkness and light, social commentary and ecstatic escapism… funny and moving tale of desire and its discontents’ The Economist ‘Sensual, authentic and hilarious, I will never look at an aubergine in the same way again – 5 stars’ The Sun ‘Enlightening and entertaining’ Woman & Home ‘A dark comedy… about empowerment and friendship’ Tatler ‘A page turner… Tackles serious themes with a light and funny touch’ Glamour
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers The Girl on the Platform
Book SynopsisA missing child. A single witness.I am the girl on the platform.When new mother Bridget catches her train home from London, she witnesses something terrible: a young girl is taken from the platform, right before her eyes.No one knows where I am.But no one is reported missing and with Bridget the only witness, she is written off as an attention seeker. Nobody believes her not even her own husband.Can you find me?But Bridget knows what she saw, and becomes consumed with finding the little girl. Only she can save the child's life but could delving into the mystery cost Bridget her own?A dark and absorbing thriller with the impact of memorable series like Broadchurch or The Missing, perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train and Erin Kinsley's Found.Readers love The Girl on the Platform:Such an accomplished thriller debut; I felt I was living Bridget's nightmare alongside her. Twisty, emotionally charged and with an ending I didn't see coming!' Jackie Kabler, bestselling author of The PerfTrade Review‘Such an accomplished thriller debut; I felt I was living Bridget’s nightmare alongside her. Twisty, emotionally charged and with an ending I didn’t see coming!’ Jackie Kabler, bestselling author of The Perfect Couple 'Bryony Pearce's compelling narrative pulls the reader through to the final heart pounding and haunting conclusion. A magnificent debut! ' Samantha Lee Howe, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Stranger in Our Bed ‘Dark, twisty and highly entertaining’ Cass Green, bestselling author of In a Cottage in a Wood ‘An addictive heart-pounding read’ Reviewer ‘WOW! WOW! WOW! This is the fastest book I have ever read in my life – in parts, my mouth went dry, my heart was hammering out of my chest, and I was rooted to the spot!’ Reviewer ‘This book doesn’t let you go. It stays with you for a long time.’Reviewer ‘Serious The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl vibes, but still uniquely captivating.’ Reviewer ‘This was a heartbreaking, chilling psychological thriller that I found difficult to put down.’ Reviewer ‘This is going to be this years hard to top thriller.’ Reviewer ‘Time to get your heart pumping! This is the thriller that will make your pulse race.’ Reviewer ‘Now this was a thriller! From start to finish I was hooked.’ Reviewer ‘I would give this more than 5 stars if I could!’ Reviewer ‘This book has everything needed for a perfect psychological thriller. The ending blew me away and brought the whole plot together. Definitely a 5+++ star novel.’ Reviewer ‘An extremely unsettling and chilling novel that fans of crime and psychological thrillers will not want to miss. It won't be a surprise if this one day gets turned into a film!’ Reviewer ‘If you are drawn to a thrilling premise, a masterfully executed plot that does not let up, and a narrator whose reliability remains in a constant state of flux, bump this one to the very top of your list.’ Reviewer
£9.74
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Marvel Encyclopedia New Edition
Book Synopsis
£34.00
Pan Macmillan Miguel Street
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 ReviewNaipaul's travel writing is perhaps the most important body of work of its kind in the second half of the century. -- Martin Amis
£999.99
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc Hammer Volume 1
Book SynopsisIn Hammer, Volume 1, Stud's father has gone on another expedition, leaving him alone to fend for himself. Luckily, he can turn his bare hands into hammers.Trade Review“Younger fans of action manga may be entertained.” * Kirkus Reviews *“The easy-to-follow story and action-packed art will have young fantasy-adventure fans eager for the next installment.” -- Jonathan Khan * Booklist *
£9.49
Marvel Comics Black Panther Who is the Black Panther
Book Synopsis
£17.99
Oneworld Publications Nightbloom
Book SynopsisThe stunning second novel from the author of Reese's Book Club pick His Only WifeTrade Review'Peace Adzo Medie is the doyenne of the emotional plot twist.' Chibundu Onuzo, author of Sankofa'Medie's remarkable skills are on display here. She explores weighty themes with a deftness of touch.' Chika Unigwe, author of On Black Sisters' Street'Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie...tells the story of Ghanaian cousins, Selasi and Akorfa, bosom childhood companions in Africa but bitterly estranged by adulthood... Medie offers an unflinching indictment of patriarchal power structures and corrupting complacency.' The Sunday Times, 'The summer's best popular fiction books''Nightbloom, Peace Adzo Medie’s sophomore novel, masterfully explores the complicated relationship between two childhood friends. I love the way it combines geographic range with deep intimacy. I highly recommend it.' Ayesha Harruna Attah, author of Zainab Takes New York'A riveting story of friendship and belonging, from a remarkable Ghanaian talent, Nightbloom is a must-read book of the summer.' Bristol Magazine'Nightbloom is a thought-provoking and illuminating read, masterfully intertwining personal struggles with a powerful reflection on societal dynamics and the impact of patriarchal systems.' Voice Magazine'A formidable exploration of friendship and the intricacies of the relationships that shape us... Touching, bold and thought-provoking, this story is one everyone should read.' Onyi Nwabineli, author of Someday, Maybe'[Medie] has produced a fine piece of fiction that utilises two strong female voices to great effect, telling a captivating story that resonates with the reader beyond the final page.' New Internationalist'I was hooked on Peace's writing! A blistering story, written with razor sharp precision and characters who feel so real, it's like they're watching you all the while you're reading.' Huma Qureshi, author of Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC This Earth My Brother
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWonderfully musical prose. * Guardian *A great and powerful literary personality. -- Auma ObamaAn amalgam of prose and poetry. * Independent *
£14.99
Penguin Random House Group Marvel Comics The World Outside Your Window
Book Synopsis
£45.59
Marvel Comics Black Panther Visions of Wakanda
Book Synopsis
£21.74
Marvel Comics Iron Man 2020 Robot Revolution.EXE iWOLVERINE
Book Synopsis
£16.99
Penguin Random House Group Captain America The Saga of Sam Wilson
Book Synopsis
£19.54
Orion Publishing Co Complicit
Book Synopsis''Powerful'' Harriet Tyce''Brave'' Liz Nugent''Compulsive'' John Marrs''Dazzling'' Chris Whitaker''Fearless'' Anna Mazzola''Masterful'' Araminta Hall''Timely'' TM LoganYou know what it''s like. A comment here, a closed door there, turning a blind eye to get ahead.My name is Sarah Lai. You won''t have heard of me. A decade ago I was on the cusp of being a big deal. But that was a long time ago.Now, instead of working in Hollywood, I teach students about it.And these are the two most important lessons you need to know about the film industry:1) Those with the money have all the power.2) Those with the power get whatever they want.Ignore these rules and the whole system will crumble. Stick to the rules and you''ll succeed. But at what cost?Ask yourself, what would you have done?Trade ReviewComplicit is immensely powerful, compelling and enraging. A feminist thriller set in the workplace, which feels all too real * Harriet Tyce *A skilful, engrossing and timely thriller - as well as a deeply unsettling glimpse into the dark heart of Hollywood. * TM Logan *A compulsive read - Winnie M Li's powerful and beautiful writing immediately immersed me in the murky world of the film industry and kept me furiously turning the pages. Through her assured storytelling Winnie draws you into the protagonist's world on every level - from the superficial to the emotional - to paint a devastating and timely portrait of the abuse of power within a highly charged and often frightening workplace. I loved it. * Sarah Pearse *Bold, brilliant, dazzling and devastating. Winnie M Li writes with pure heart and effortless style, and in Complicit handles the sharpest of stories with such compassion and skill. * Chris Whitaker *Like the best filmmakers, Li draws you to the edge of your seat and keeps you there.... I found painful reminders that it takes a village to prop up a person who abuses power. Fair warning: Li doesn't sugarcoat her subject, nor should she. * The New York Times *A fearless and brilliant novel about power, ambition and abuse in the film industry and what it means to be a survivor. * Anna Mazzola *A spellbinding novel that transcends the immediacy of its #MeToo backdrop to deliver a broadside against the movie industry and the patriarchal system it embodies, in which sexism, racism and predatory behaviour are not only called out, but celebrated and rewarded... A quietly blistering J'accuse. * The Irish Times *Powerful and compulsive, an era defining novel that's impossible to put down. * John Marrs *Totally compulsive. Truly gripping and unexpected ... an incredible and timely story. * Kirsty Capes *This book. Wow. Straight into my books of the year. It made me angry. It made me cry. The prose is razor sharp, the story timely and powerful, and the end ... packed an emotional punch. * Louise Beech *A masterful example of the slow burn thriller, highlighting the still all too true fact that often the real terror for women is simply existing in a man's world. Also an ode to the power and beauty of story-telling. I loved it. * Araminta Hall *A deep dive into the sleazy underbelly of the film industry prior to #MeToo, Complicit is a brave look at the innocents, the predators, their enablers and those who turned a blind eye to sexual harassment, abuse and rape. Winnie M Li weaves a story that is compelling, courageous and brutal in the best possible way. * Liz Nugent *Winnie's skill as a writer is to forge out of a familiar film story one that is beautifully unique. It haunted me when I was away from it. An emotionally complex story, it ripples with foreboding and tension. Utterly compulsive reading. * Sarah Winman *A nuanced and very insightful look at the power dynamics within the film industry that lead to sexual assault, racial inequality, and the ruin of women's careers. I could not put it down. * Julie Cohen *COMPLICIT gives an insider's perspective on the murky, hidden world of the film industry, a bang-up-to-date me-too story that is as poignant as it is shocking. I was completely gripped by it. Winnie M. Li is a unique voice in crime fiction. * Jane Casey *Winnie M. Li's new novel focuses on one of the leading questions of our times: how complicit are we all in cultures of sexual harms and abuse? Never one to shirk difficult topics, Li takes readers on a roller-coster ride through our ethical obligations to other people, and ourselves. A beautifully written and riveting novel. * Professor Joanna Bourke *Complicit is a powerful but cleverly nuanced indictment of abuse of power which should set alarm bells ringing throughout the film industry. It shows how easily people's ambition can blind them to what's happening around them and sends them a clear a message: 'you could be next.' Timely, entirely believable and feverishly readable, Complicit will be huge. * Trevor Wood *Totally intoxicating, COMPLICIT is a heady mix of soul-crushingly devastating but also thrillingly glamorous. If you're into the real behind-the-scenes of Hollywood, I can't recommend this enough. It's the vacation read you NEED to pack. * Laura Jane Williams *Harrowing, powerful, and impossible to forget, COMPLICIT is a novel very much immersed in today's issues and complexities, while also managing to be strikingly intimate and charged with emotion. Winnie M Li explores the dark corners of entrenched power dynamics to shed a light on society as a whole, and she does it masterfully and with precision. A magnificent book. * Alex Segura *Some stories are so important, they can only be told by the right person. Winnie M Li is one such master storyteller, and COMPLICIT is the masterpiece. What a book. * Leye Adenle *A real page turner and definitely a book that made me both squirm and reflect on what it means to be a woman in the film industry. Winnie writes with such detail and authority. I loved Sarah Lai's complex history and seeing the choices she made as a Asian American woman - not only was she a woman in the film business, she was a Chinese diaspora woman and the complexities that come with that. I loved it. * Maisie Chan *So powerful. Will stay with me for a long time. * Charlotte Jacklin *A compulsively readable meditation on power: who wields it, who wants it, and who suffers at the hands of it. The talent, work ethic, and ambitions of an immigrant daughter are no match for an amoral, billionaire film mogul. Or are they? Timely and intelligent, Complicit exposes Tinseltown's dark side and will resonate with any woman who has ever tried to make it to the top. * Jini Reddy *Literally couldn't put this one down ... a really gripping page turner. * Jan Carson *Winnie M Li writes with a precise, skilful hand. In Complicit, she crafts a masterful portrait of unfettered power: the excesses of men who have it and the exploitation of women who do not. Unsettling, intelligent and wholly compulsive, Complicit is a novel for our times but also for the ages. * Kia Abdullah *Complicit is a must read for anyone who's sat in a movie theater, watched an entertainment show, or followed their favorite celebrity on social media. It's a harrowing explanation of how powerful men are able to get away with so much for so long - as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine whose dreams to make movies becomes a nightmare. You'll never look at the film industry the same again. * Kellye Garrett *An excellent, well-crafted book that exposes the depravity that lies beneath the glitz and glamour of the film industry - although its message is equally appropriate to any world in which a blind eye is turned to the abuse of power over the vulnerable. * Rachel Abbott *In this page turning story of one woman's struggle, Li thrusts the reader into the film industry's dark and deep-seated culture of rampant sexism and unbridled male ego...and the terrible cost of staying silent. An utterly compelling read. * Liv Constantine *A sharply written and absorbing dive into a dark and glamorous world. As timely as it is entertaining, this spectacular novel hooked me from the first page. Winnie M Li is a remarkable talent. * Cristina Alger *You know that bit where you finish a novel but you still feel 'in' it? That's where I am right now with Complicit. A really absorbing, insightful dive into the film industry's MeToo movement, publishing this June. * Niamh Hargan *The metoo novel that's going to take the world by storm. * Paul McVeigh *A gripping, nuanced and believable novel about some of the stories behind the MeToo movement. * Libby Page *With slick, addictive writing and highly relatable characters, Complicit is both engrossing and enraging! A thought-provoking blockbuster about the dark side of the Hollywood movie industry. * Allie Reynolds *In Complicit, author Winnie M Li paints a claustrophobic picture of the entangling deceit, wilful blindness, and outright harassment that has gone unchallenged in the film industry for so long. A thought-provoking and heartfelt exposé of the sleazy underbelly of the Hollywood dream. * Vaseem Khan *Beguiling and terrifying, Complicit is an illuminating novel about the struggle to survive as a woman in modern Hollywood and at what cost. A thought-provoking, addictive read - I couldn't put it down. * Stephanie Scott *Winnie M Li gives us an insider view of the intoxicating and corrupt world of the movie industry that often places women in a no-win situation. Her lead character, Sarah Lai, faces both sexism and racism in following her ambition to become a producer. How much of her integrity is she willing to sacrifice? Moving through New York City, the Cannes Film Festival and Hollywood, Complicit is a page turner for our times. * Naomi Hirahara *COMPLICIT is simply brilliant. Beautiful writing, a compelling story, an intriguing structure-I was captivated from the first paragraph to the last. Li pulls back the veil on the glamorous film industry to show its less-than-savory side, yes, but it's the empathetic lead Sarah Lei who makes the novel truly special. Her journey from eager film student to capable producer to wise and remorseful screenwriting teacher blowing the whistle on a former colleague will touch the hearts of anyone who's made choices that they later regret. Like the fallout from the #MeToo movement, this story will resonate for years to come. * JT Ellison *Like John Grisham did with the legal profession in The Firm, Winnie Li's Complicit provides an insider's look at the film industry that is full of suspense. * Peter Swanson *Ingeniously constructed, traversing searing aspects of race, class, gender, Complicit gallops to a surprise finish, toggling back and forth from present to past and back again without losing any of its propulsive momentum. A page-turning read that also makes you think. * Marie Myung-Ok Lee *COMPLICIT by Winnie M Li is one of the best novels about the dark side of Hollywood that I have read. Winnie understands the inner workings of the movie business, but more importantly, she understands the moral complexity and emotional tolls of working in a business that doesn't just tolerate, but actively rewards bad behavior. It's about how your dreams are used against you, and how power seduces, and how quickly moral grayness fades to black. * Jordan Harper *A propulsive page-turner, Winnie M. Li's Complicit is a glittering story of ambition, regret, corruption and ultimately hope. Sarah Lai is an unforgettable protagonist. * Vanessa Hua *A compelling, thought-provoking read about responsibility and guilt. Unsettling but addictive. Brilliant. * Caroline Hulse *This astonishing novel draws on the author's film industry expertise and painful experience to explore questions posed by the ongoing wave of #MeToo revelations. How do such things continue to happen in plain sight? Who are the enablers? And what is the cost of complicity? * Catherine Mayer *Winnie M Li's new novel gives us an insider's view of the film industry's notorious dark side, asking important questions about power and complicity. Complicit is a fiction that is all too real. * Una, Award-winning author of BECOMING UNBECOMING and EVE *Fearless, fascinating, a gripping story of harassment, power and money. Winnie M Li draws in powerful strokes a world of creativity and beauty, the glamour of the silver screen, but also a world of exploitation and cruelty, where women are fodder and men just laugh. A searing dissection of power. * Kate Williams *Complicit is an amazing examination of the film industry-one that could only be written by someone deeply familiar with that world and its players. But the novel is so much more than an exposé. I was captivated by the main character, Sarah Lai, and her struggle to come to terms with her role in a troubled film production. This timely and thrilling book raises tough questions about justice and revenge. Don't miss it. * David Heska Wanbli Weiden, author of Winter Counts *A visceral and timely novel... There is no doubt that Li knows the world she writes about intimately... Li's novel is a way of acknowledging the women whose stories have been heard, and those who haven't. * The Observer *Complicit by Winnie M Li is the first book to explore the #MeToo movement in Hollywood from someone behind the camera... It's a striking look at power dynamics within the film industry from the perspective of producers. It asks the important question of what would you ignore to get ahead? Would you stay silent to protect your career and your dreams? Author Winnie M Li is herself a former film producer and the survivor of a sexual assault. She's an empowering example, really, of a woman who refused to stay silent and wants to encourage other women to do the same, to destabilise the power structures in place that fail to protect women. -- Mariella Frostrup * Times Radio *An excellent thriller... grippingly readable and fired by righteous anger. * The Daily Mirror *The all-consuming movie-making world and a powerful, predatory boss are described with such convincing, compelling clarity. * The Times *Sarah's harrowing story reveals how easy it is for someone to compromise their principles in the pursuit of success... A timely & important read. * The Daily Mail *A must-read for anyone who's ever wondered what really goes on behind Hollywood's PR-approved glamour... A timely reminder that we should never lose sight of the #MeToo movement. * Stylist *This left an impact long after reading... You'll have definite feelings about it when you finish it. I inhaled it. * The Belfast Telegraph *A sharp and timely look into the dark heart of Hollywood... [A] rollercoaster read. * Elle *Both a #MeToo thriller and a complex literary achievement that sheds an important light on Hollywood's darkest secrets and brings an essential and underrepresented perspective - that of an Asian-American film producer - to the fore. * CrimeReads *Li skillfully depicts the ways in which powerful people exploit and abuse those trying to get a foothold in the film industry... Intriguing. * Publishers Weekly *Li draws on her experience in the film industry to bring authenticity and raw honesty to her second novel, a timely page-turner that explores the emotional impact of sexual assault. * BookList *Complicit functions as both warning and gossipy good read. * LitReactor *A deliciously dark novel. * Woman and Home *A timely #MeToo thriller. * Bella *Delves into the underbelly of Hollywood, exposing the injustices of the film industry. * Woman's Weekly *Winnie M Li takes tricky subject matter and mines it for potent, transfixing drama. * The A.V. Club *A tense, slow-burn thriller about Hollywood, ambition, and power * Grazia Daily *
£11.24
DC Comics Swamp Thing Darker Genesis TP
Book SynopsisSwamp Thing meets the spirit of a dead writer who is trapped in her own unpublished short story collection. Believing Swamp Thing to be the missing element that would have tied her stories together, the writer implores him to work his way through the reality of each story to free her.
£13.49
DC Comics Flash
Book SynopsisThe Fastest Man Alive is now supercharged with new abilities after being exposed to the Negative Speed Force, and until he can get his powers under control, he''s a danger to Central City and himself. But before he can begin repairing the damage, he has to stop Shrapnel as well as a gruesome new villain, Bloodwork. And it''s all Barry''s fault!In the fallout, Barry is reassigned to work at Iron Heights prison, where he arrives just in time to find a Rogue dead. As Barry investigates the crime, Godspeed joins the Flash''s cadre of enemies and leads the Fastest Man Alive and Captain Cold into a deadly rematch. But when the clues begin to reveal an even greater conspiracy at work, the Flash soon discovers Iron Heights'' deadliest secret...Writer Joshua Williamson (Justice League vs. Suicide Squad) continues his smash-hit run on the Fastest Man Alive, joined by artists Carmine Di Giandomenico, Neil Googe, Christian Duce, Gus Vazquez, Pop Mhan, Howard Porter anTrade Review"Joshua Williamson's writing is on-point."--Nerdist"Writer Joshua Williamson makes [THE FLASH] as accessible as possible to new readers."--Comic Book Resources"... a promising start for the new series."--IGN"Plenty of action, emotion, and twists"--Newsarama
£30.40
DC Comics Batman Vs. Ras Al Ghul
Book SynopsisFrom comics industry titan and Ra''s al Ghul''s original artist, Neal Adams, comes an all-new story featuring one of the Dark Knight''s greatest enemies!Gotham City is under seige by terrorists, and Batman is determined to find the source. But when Boston Brand tries to intervene, he discovers an even more disturbing and deadly truth: the terrorists are led by an inhuman monster. Ra''s al Ghul has volunteered his own private security force to aid the GCPD, and now they are the only thing standing between nuclear terror and the townspeople. But al Ghul''s true goal is hidden from everyone''s eyes. He will destroy the city and kill Batman -- this time for good. Watching in horror is...Bruce Wayne?Collects Batman vs. Ra''s Al Ghul issues #1-6.
£20.90
Abrams Shazam The Golden Age of the Worlds Mightiest
Book SynopsisTrade Review“This volume features a cornucopia of collectibles, from decoder to toys to games, all lovingly curated by writer/designer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spear.” -- Yahoo! Entertainment"With high-quality repro and photography that handsomely captures every nick and scuff of rare wooden figures, this is a treat for anyone who's ever loved (and lost) pop-culture tat, even if you don't know the character from (Black) Adam." -- Total Film
£999.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Hungry Ghosts: A BBC 2 Between the Covers Book
Book Synopsis_____________________________ * A BBC TWO BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK FOR 2023 * ‘A shimmering slice of Trinidadian gothic . . . Sumptuous, brilliantly written’ THE TIMES ‘An astonishing novel – linguistically gorgeous, narratively propulsive and psychologically profound’ BERNARDINE EVARISTO ‘Deeply impressive . . . Energy and inventiveness distinguish every page’ HILARY MANTEL ‘The biggest, most frightening, beautiful and alive novel I’ve read in as long as I can remember’ EVIE WYLD _____________________________ A 2023 highlight for: Financial Times * Guardian * Evening Standard * Daily Mail * BBC News The music was still playing when Dalton Changoor vanished into thin air... On a hill overlooking Bell Village sits the Changoor farm, where Dalton and Marlee Changoor live in luxury unrecognisable to those who reside in the farm’s shadow. Down below is the barrack, a ramshackle building of wood and tin, divided into rooms occupied by whole families. Among these families are the Saroops – Hans, Shweta, and their son, Krishna, who live hard lives of backbreaking work, grinding poverty and devotion to faith. When Dalton Changoor goes missing and Marlee’s safety is compromised, farmhand Hans is lured by the promise of a handsome stipend to move to the farm as watchman. But as the mystery of Dalton’s disappearance unfolds their lives become hellishly entwined, and the small community altered forever. Hungry Ghosts is a mesmerising novel about violence, religion, family and class, rooted in the wild and pastoral landscape of 1940s colonial central Trinidad. _____________________________Trade ReviewImmersive and beautifully written, it was impossible to put down * Independent *Magnificent . . . A tale in the Gothic tradition: think Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea or Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy . . . A superlative book that deserves to win prizes * i *Lush, lyrical . . . If you read it now, you’ll be able to brag about it when it’s on all the literary prize shortlists * Independent *The language is as lush, moody and thrilling as the landscape . . . Electrifying * New York Times Book Review *A barnstorming fable about the perils of upward mobility, set in the dog days of colonial rule in the author’s native Trinidad . . . Told with riveting verve, this is a terrific novel, pegged to national as well as domestic strife, peopled by flesh-and blood characters and plotted to keep us on tenterhooks about the story’s pole-axing finale * Daily Mail *Hungry Ghosts reads like a Greek tragedy relocated to a gothic Caribbean setting worthy of Jean Rhys — a story of cursed families and inherited vengeance, inexplicable horrors and impossible dreams and a country haunted, as Hosein reminds us, by the ghosts of the indentured . . . [A] sumptuous, brilliantly written novel * The Times *A tale that throbs with the threat of danger, both emotional and physical … Hungry Ghosts is a dazzling debut * Independent *Rich in vocabulary and description, the novel situates characters in a meticulously detailed setting that evokes Middlemarch, with a similar empathy for human struggle . . . In scope and style it’s not far off a masterpiece * Financial Times, Highlights for 2023 *A striking debut of violence, religion and family struggles set in 1940s colonial Trinidad * Guardian, Highlights for 2022 *[Hosein's] story, often brutal, ultimately tragic, is nevertheless lit by a wide embrace reaching beyond place and people to the bedrock . . . Immersive, persuasive: an elemental ‘portal to the Caribbean’ delivered in a distinctive voice * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *Both a family drama and an acute study of social structure . . . A highly recommended story of family and class divides that will break readers’ hearts * Library Journal *The biggest, most frightening, beautiful and alive novel I’ve read in as long as I can remember -- Evie WyldA vibrant portrait of Trinidad in the 1940s . . . [Hosein's] story, often brutal, ultimately tragic, is nevertheless lit by a wide embrace reaching beyond place and people to the bedrock. Immersive, persuasive: an elemental “portal to the Caribbean” delivered in a distinctive voice * Kirkus (starred review) *In Hungry Ghosts, Kevin Jared Hosein takes a small place, a particular slice of Trinidad and writes it with the depth and scope that it deserves. And he does it because he knows it – truly, deeply. The result is a story that is harrowing, fiercely beautiful and deeply human. I won’t soon forget these characters or this story. I think we are going to be talking about this book for a long time to come -- Ayanna Lloyd BanwoHungry Ghosts is an astonishing novel – linguistically gorgeous, narratively propulsive and psychologically profound -- Bernardine EvaristoThis is a deeply impressive book, and I think an important one. Its intensity, its narrative attack, the fascinations of its era and setting, make it impossible to tear the attention away. Energy and inventiveness distinguish every page -- Hilary Mantel[Hungry Ghosts] is beautiful, biblical, vast in scope and power, ringing with an energy that blasts from the intricate language. Hosein is a new enormous giant of fiction -- Daisy Johnson
£16.99
Pan Macmillan We Had To Remove This Post
Book Synopsis'The dank underside of social media, its cruelty and delusions . . . superbly poised, psychologically astute and subtle' - Ian McEwan, author of Atonement'A glimpse of the foetid underbelly of the internet' - The TimesWe Had To Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets is a chilling, powerful and gripping story about who or what determines our world view. To be a content moderator is to see humanity at its worst — but Kayleigh needs money. That’s why she takes a job working for a social media platform whose name she isn’t allowed to mention. Her job: reviewing offensive videos and pictures, rants and conspiracy theories, and deciding which need to be removed.Kayleigh and her colleagues spend all day watching horrors and hate on their screens. Yet Kayleigh is good at her job, and in her colleagues she finds a group of friends, even a new girlfriend — and for the first time in her life, Kayleigh’s future seems bright.But soon the job seems to change them all, shifting their worlds in alarming ways. How long before the moderators own morals bend and flex under the weight of what they see?Examining the toxic world of content moderation, the novel forces us to ask: what is right? What is normal? And who gets to decide?Translated from the original Dutch by Emma Rault.'Taut as a thriller, sharp as a slug of ice-cold vodka' - Irish Times'Fast paced and thrilling, violent and nightmarish' - Kristen Arnett, author of Mostly Dead Things'An acid glimpse into a new form of labor existing today' - Ling Ma, author of SeveranceTrade ReviewAcid-dipped novella . . . a glimpse of the foetid underbelly of the internet and a sobering consideration of who is deciding what we see, and at what cost. -- Siobhan Murphy * The Times *A chilling page-turner . . . the unreliable narrator gives it a strong literary heartbeat — and it’s richly suspenseful too. With a few deft strokes [Bervoets] manages to incorporate all of the ills of social media into one concise story . . . utterly haunting. -- Johanna Thomas-Corr * The Sunday Times *The setting alone is compelling and has always been in need of an accomplished novelist’s attention . . . The dreamlike climax of the final pages is beautifully wrought. Men might usefully confront in Bervoets a writerly intelligence at once so tender and so willing to look into the abyss. -- Ian McEwan * The Guardian *Bervoets' neat dissection of morality is as taut as a thriller, sharp as a slug of ice-cold vodka. -- Catherine Taylor * Irish Times *Surprising and enigmatic . . . intriguing and frustrating . . . As we spend more and more time in the trickmirror of the internet, how can we know what or whom to believe? -- Laura van den Berg * The New York Times *A very modern tale about the dark side of the internet. * The Times 'Best Books of Summer' *Hanna Bervoet's slim, compelling novel We Had to Remove This Post addresses the foetid morass of social media . . . Bevoets is often acidly funny, especially when demonstraring the workers' mordant, jockish humour. * TLS *The dank underside of social media, its cruelty and delusions . . . Hanna Bervoets has richly obliged in this superbly poised, psychologically astute and subtle novel of mental unravelling. -- Ian McEwan, author of AtonementExtremely gripping and intense edgy queer novel -- Andrea Lawlor, author of Paul Takes The Form Of A Mortal GirlThis novel gives us an acid glimpse into a new form of labor existing today, a job that extracts an immeasurable psychic toll. Fascinating and disturbing. -- Ling Ma, author of SeveranceAn astonishing and compelling cast of characters, drawn together through circumstance, separated by the same. The novel is fast paced and thrilling, violent and nightmarish and grief-stricken, but also tender and wildly moving. -- Kristen Arnett, author of Mostly Dead Things and With TeethI thought it was incredible and has real cult potential. -- Alice Slater * Tik Tok *Powerful, discussable, and a harbinger of a voice-in-translation to watch. * Booklist Starred Review *Scathing, darkly humorous exploration of the impact of VR, IR . . . Bervoets just gets it. This is, unironically, a novel for our time. * Kirkus Starred Review *Magnetic . . . Bervoets frames the story like a mystery, slowly revealing the fractured relationships and circumstances that drove Kayleigh away from her job. * Publishers Weekly *
£12.99
Hodder & Stoughton She Came to Stay: The debut novel from the author
Book Synopsis'Secrets and lies, poverty and elegance, old loyalties and new friendships all combine to make Eleni Kyriacou's debut novel a compelling page-turner' - Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Dressmaker's GiftOne of Woman & Home's Best Historical Fiction Reads of 2020In a city of strangers, who can you trust?London, 1952. Dina Demetriou has travelled from Cyprus for a better life. She's certain that excitement, adventure and opportunity are out there, waiting - if only she knew where to look.Her passion for clothes and flair for sewing land her a job repairing the glittering costumes at the notorious Pelican Revue. It's here that she befriends the mysterious and beautiful Bebba.With her bleached-blonde hair and an appetite for mischief, Bebba is like no Greek Dina has ever met before. She guides Dina around the fashionable shops, bars and clubs of Soho, and Dina finally feels life has begun.But Bebba has a secret. And as thick smog brings the city to a standstill, the truth emerges with devastating results. Dina's new life now hangs by a thread. What will be left when the fog finally clears? And will Dina be willing to risk everything to protect her future?A story of friendship, family, love and loss set against the grimy and glittering streets of fifties Soho. For fans of Kate Furnivall and Rachel Rhys.Further praise for SHE CAME TO STAY:'An atmospheric page-turner perfectly set in the smoke and glitter of a vanished world . . . gripping' - Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said/She Said'Compelling and beautifully observed. Kyriacou brilliantly evokes the violence and the grime beneath the sequins and surface glamour of 1950s Soho' - Rachel Rhys, bestselling author of Dangerous Crossing 'I absolutely loved it. A gripping, enthralling story . . . I was completely engrossed' - Laura Marshall, bestselling author of Friend Request 'An absorbing story of friendship, betrayal and resilience' - Sarah Maine, bestselling author of Beyond the Wild River 'A gripping, evocative story . . . well researched and utterly convincing. A real gem of a book' - Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Lost Daughter'An evocative page-turner full of memorable characters. A wonderful debut' - Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlReaders are loving SHE CAME TO STAY, too!'I can highly recommend this book. You will be hooked from start to finish.' 5 STARS'A cracking storyline packed with secrets, as well as unexpected twists and turns make this, cliche or no, a proper page-turner.' 5 STARS'A brilliant read.' 5 STARS'The plot moves quickly and is gripping. I didn't want to put the book down but then was sorry to leave the characters and their London haunts behind when I got to the end.' 5 STARS'A really enjoyable read.' 5 STARSTrade ReviewShe Came To Stay is a gripping story about friendship, family and the meaning of home. An atmospheric page-turner perfectly set in the smoke and glitter of a vanished world. -- Erin KellySet in the dazzling world of 1950s Soho, She Came to Stay is an evocative page-turner full of memorable characters who stayed inside my head long after I had finished reading. Eleni Kyriacou has written a wonderful debut -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlSecrets and lies, poverty and elegance, old loyalties and new friendships all combine to make Eleni Kyriacou's debut novel a compelling page-turner, following Dina as she struggles to escape her past in rural Cyprus and make a better life for herself in 1950s Soho. * Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Dressmaker's Gift *Compelling and beautifully observed. Kyriacou brilliantly evokes the violence and the grime beneath the sequins and surface glamour of 1950s Soho * Rachel Rhys, bestselling author of Dangerous Crossing *An absorbing story of friendship, betrayal and resilience amongst the immigrant community where the struggle for survival brings out the best - and the worst - in characters who choose conflicting, often dangerous, ways to get ahead in a post war London. * Sarah Maine, bestselling author of Beyond the Wild River *I absolutely loved it - a gripping, enthralling story with characters I loved (and hated!), and so atmospheric, I was completely engrossed in the world of 1950s SohoA gripping, evocative story of the dangers facing a young Cypriot girl in 1950s Soho. Even breathing the air is a risk as the great smog descends. The descriptions of the louche world of cafés and strip clubs are well researched and utterly convincing. It's a real gem of a book. * Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Lost Daughter *An intriguing tale that is supported by wonderful characterisation * Woman's Own *
£16.14
Quercus Publishing The Smash-Up: a delicious satire from a breakout
Book SynopsisAN OF-THE-MOMENT NOVEL FOR READERS OF FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE'Timely, risky and dazzling' Polly Clark, author of Tiger'Sharply funny, perceptive, and surprising at every turn, The Smash-Up is a story that's acid-etched and full of heart, intimate, and relevant' Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of White Houses and Away'Every woman should read this book. Every woman, every feminist, every activist' Jane Harris, author of Orange Prize shortlisted The ObservationsAfter years spent in the city, working with his business partner Randy on Bränd media, Ethan finds himself in the quiet, closed-off town of Starkfield. His wife Zenobia is perpetually distracted by the swirling #MeToo politics, the Kavanaugh hearings, and her duties to the feminist activism group she formed: All Them Witches. Ethan finds himself caught between their regular meetings at his home and the battle to get his livewire daughter Alex to sleep.But the new, stilted rhythm of his life is interrupted when he receives a panicked message. Accusations. Against Randy. A slew of them. And Ethan is abruptly forced to question everything: his past, his future, his marriage, and what he values most.Unrelenting in its satire, The Smash-up jolts you into the twisted psyche of successful brand advertising, where historic exploitation is only ever a panicked phone-call away. With magnetic energy and doses of comic wit, Benjamin creates a world of social media algorithms, extreme polarization, the collapsing of identity into tweet-sized spaces, and the spectre of violence that can be found even in the quietest places.Trade ReviewThe Smash-Up is an incandescent meteor of a novel, blazing through the preoccupations of our time with wit, originality and compassion. Timely, risky and dazzling. -- Polly Clark, author of TIGERSharply funny, perceptive, and surprising at every turn, The Smash-Up is a story that's acid-etched and full of heart, intimate, and relevant as it explores the impact on a family of the collapse of everything in this unsettled, unsettling world. Ali Benjamin is Edith Wharton with fresh eyes. -- Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of White Houses and AwayA great page-turner, this book could only have been written now. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me think. Every woman should read this book. Every woman, every feminist, every activist. And then, together we should all go and Burn It All Down. -- Jane Harris, author of Orange Prize shortlisted THE OBSERVATIONSBenjamin's immediately engaging writing captures the complicated emotions and biting humour of these bruising times and their impact on relationships. * Booklist *Funny, compelling and utterly relatable, this is the novel for you. * Stylist *Benjamin is an absolutely brilliant satirist and deftly juxtaposes the battlegrounds of marriage, parenthood and middle-class aspiration with the fight for truth and justice in the bigger political picture. * Daily Mail *A fun, timely novel that's unexpectedly full of hope. * People's Pick *An exhilarating ride .... hilarious .... there are no heroes here; I got whiplash trying to figure out who I trusted and what I was rooting for, and the sensation was mesmerizing.... Benjamin is like an overly chatty but skilled magician .... a modern and energetic story about a marriage on the skids. * The New York Times *Smart, funny and topical, this is an astute story of a once-happy couple dealing with temptation, familiarity, fury and the very real chance that their relationship will be smashed to smithereens under the pressure. * Daily Mirror *Ambitious, startling, funny, furious, and wise, Ali Benjamin's debut novel offers the shock of recognition as it deftly tackles some of the biggest issues of our time. Taking inspiration from Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton's classic tale about a small-town love triangle, The Smash-Up explores a world Wharton couldn't have imagined in 1911. . . but it's ultimately a story that explores the same themes as her original: duty vs. passion; confinement vs. escape; the staggering tragedy of lost potential. * Grazia (Best Books of 2021) *Smart, funny and topical, this is an astute story of a once-happy couple dealing with temptation, familiarity and fury. * S Mag *
£14.24
Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press The Immortal King Rao
Book Synopsis'A brilliant and beautifully written book about capitalism and the patriarchy, about Dalit India and digital America, about power and family and love' Alex Preston, Observer, 'Fiction to look out for in 2022'Vauhini Vara's lyrical and thought-provoking debut novel begins in India in the 1950s, following a young man born into a Dalit family of coconut farmers in a remote village in Andhra Pradesh. King Rao, as he comes to be known, later moves to the US, where he studies in Seattle, meeting the love of his life and his business partner, the smart and self-assured Margie. King Rao ultimately rises up through Silicon Valley to become the most famous tech CEO in the world and the leader of a powerful, corporate-owned global government. Yet he ultimately ends up living on a remote island off the coast of Washington state, an exile from the world which he has helped build.There, in a beautiful home on an otherwise deserted island, he brings up his brilliant daughter, Athena. Shielded from the world's glances, in many ways she has an idyllic childhood, but she will be forced to reexamine her father's past and take steps to try to decide her own future. She is unlike other girls, and she will find the outside world much more hostile than her father did when he left the coconut grove he called home.A profound and moving novel about technology, consciousness and revolution, The Immortal King Rao asks how we build the worlds in which we live, and whether we ever have the power to leave them?Trade ReviewA monumental achievement: beautiful and brilliant, heartbreaking and wise, but also pitiless, which may be controversial to list among its virtues but is in fact essential to its success. Vara respects her reader and herself too much to yield to the temptation to console us. How rare these days as a reader - and how bracing, in the finest way - to encounter a novel that refuses to treat you like a child or a studio audience. If that were the only thing to love about Rao, it would probably be enough. But as I've said, there's also everything else. * New York Times Book Review *A brilliant and beautifully written book about capitalism and the patriarchy, about Dalit India and digital America, about power and family and love. -- Alex Preston * Observer, 'Fiction to look out for in 2022' *In this richly imagined saga spanning past, present, and future, Vara brings us a visionary who makes the world in his image, and the strong-willed daughter whose life could be his final legacy. Vara's brilliance is matched only by her heart, and this unforgettable debut will challenge what you think you know about genius, capitalism, consciousness, and what it means to be human. -- Anna North, New York Times bestselling author of OUTLAWEDA fully imagined world: propulsive, prophetic, dizzying. -- Jeet Thayil, author of NARCOPOLISUtterly, thrillingly brilliant. From the first unforgettable page to the last, The Immortal King Rao is a form-inventing, genre-exploding triumph. Vauhini Vara's bravura debut has reshaped my brain and expanded my heart. -- R.O. Kwon, author of THE INCENDIARIESVauhini Vara comes out the gate with a masterwork: a book that is three great novels in one: the tale of a thriving and chaotic Dalit clan in the first decades of independent India; an immigrant success story in '80s America; and a dystopian nightmare of the post-Trump future. -- Karan Mahajan, author of THE ASSOCIATION OF SMALL BOMBSAn astonishing debut. An amazing imagination. Vara's voice is thrilling, original, dynamic and ever-surprising as her characters move from world to world, from the real to the fantastic, examining the myriad contradictory shapes in which love can appear. -- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, author of THE LAST QUEENThe Immortal King Rao is an odyssey of the grandest scale, spanning over half a century and charting a Dalit immigrant's rise to world power. Vauhini Vara fuses intricate family lore with the history of tech solutionism and capitalist demagoguery, pointing forward to a dangerously likely future of corporate dominion; she writes with the meticulous clarity of a longform journalist, the explosive force of a Trident missile, and the ambition of her own brilliant protagonists. -- Tony Tulathimutte, author of PRIVATE CITIZENSVara's potent debut revolves around a global society run by a corporate board...This is not to be missed. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *
£16.99
