Search results for ""author weird"

'There is a theory that humans made lists before we invented writing. Adam Sharp's exquisitely arranged, addictively witty book of lists is the reasons why. He is the poet laureate of lists' John Mitchinson, Senior QI Elf'So much to disagree with in this book. And I mean that as a huge recommendation' Richard Osman'Very funny and highly addictive. Adam Sharp, you weird genius' Russell KaneA list of ways to start a conversation with a cat in different countries5. Pss-pss-pss (England)4. Kac-kac-kac (Lithuania)3. Pish-pish-pish (Iran)2. Ming-ming-ming (Philippines)1. Bellowing "What's new pussycat, whoa, oh whoa" (Wales)Are you feeling down in the dumps? Is the chaotic, disordered nature of modern existence freaking you out? Are you feeling...listless? Then this collection of fascinating, hilarious and brilliantly odd lists is the remedy you need. Packed full of incredible facts, from what people say instead of cheese when they're taking a photo in Bulgaria, to what a platypus is called in Mandarin, everything under the sun is here. In order.

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On Friday, Gabriel Reece gets struck by lightning while riding his motorcycle.It’s not the worst thing that happens to him that week.Gabe walks away from a smoldering pile of metal without a scratch–or any clothes, which seem to have been vaporized. And that’s weird, but he’s more worried about the sudden disappearance of his brother, Colin, who ditched town the second Gabe accidentally outed himself as gay.Gabe tries to sift through fragmented memories of his crummy childhood for clues to his sudden invincibility, but he barely has time to think before people around town start turning up dead, and Colin is the cops’ number-one suspect. Gabe is sure Colin is innocent, but even he has to admit the evidence is compelling. Especially once the home he shares with Gabe burns to the ground. When Eli Samm, a mysterious and attractive stranger, shows up looking for Colin too, Gabe thinks he might finally have an ally. Except it turns out Eli thinks Colin is a supervillain, and his mission is to put him down….

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Explore the darker side of house plants with this accessible guide to choosing, growing, and caring for carnivorous and predatory plants like Venus flytraps, pitcher plants (in all of their wild and wacky varieties), sundews, and other spooky guys.Carnivorous plants are among the most fascinating botanical specimens in this world. They're weird, they're gorgeous, and they're the perfect addition to your urban jungle of pothos, snake plants, and succulents. However, they can also be intimidating to grow and care for. Let Killer Plants -- with its light approach and adorable two-color illustrations -- be your guide as it walks you through the different types of carnivorous plants and how to keep each variety alive and well.The book answers the many questions you may have surrounding these freaks of nature, such as:* Where the heck do I buy a pitcher plant? Can I grow it from a seed?* Do I need to feed my carnivorous plant flies, or can it survive on water and light alone?* Will a Venus flytrap eat my gerbil?* I have a gnat problem -- what predatory plant can help?

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"Nochita shimmers with humor and delight, she burns with stark raving intelligence."--Mary Gaitskill "In Nochita, Dia Felix builds an extraordinarily rich and inventive language to carry the kaleidoscopic point of view of her young protagonist. What a pleasure to open a book and find such exuberant and committed artistry. A stunning debut."--Janet Fitch "There is a way some writers say hello on the first page that gets me excited to be in their conversation. Nochita has it with teeth!! I love this book and the weird strong eye it has on the world, melting clothes off bodies with a creme brulee torch. Nochita is quite the dance to read through, kind of like shaking a bad morning off and realizing you really love this world. Makes me smile, like Dia Felix writes, 'I think I can latch on to this machine now."' BUY THIS BOOK, don't just stand there reading my fucking blurb!!"--CAConrad, author of The Book Of Frank Daughter to a divorced new age guru, Nochita wanders through the cracks of California's counter-culture, half feral child, half absurdist prophet. When tragedy strikes she is sent to live with her father, a working-class cowboy with a fragile grasp on sobriety and a dangerously mean fiancee. Stuck with adults chillingly unable to care for her, Nochita takes to the streets, a runaway with nothing to run from, driven forward by desperation, hope, and an irrepressible wonder. Nochita is a poetic novel dazzling in its detail, stylistically daring, by turns hallucinatory, darkly funny, and brutally real. At its heart is the singular voice of Nochita, tender and fierce, alone and alive and utterly unforgettable. Dia Felix is a writer and filmmakerand an award-winning digital media producer for museums (SF Exploratorium, Museum of Arts and Design). She currently teaches and mentors teens in experimental documentary filmmaking. She is the founder and editor of Personality Press. Born and raised in California, she currently lives in New York. Nochita is her first book.

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What's up with Cali? Why does she keep changing her gamer tag?It's summertime, and even though his good friend Cali moved to another city, Jaden can connect with her online almost every day to play their favorite game, Cross Ups. His mom has loosened her rules on how often he can play, and he has an amazing new controller that will make him even better at tournaments. But then he gets roped into a dorky summer camp with his buddy Hugh, and Cali starts acting really weird . . . So when a last-minute tournament spot opens up in Cali's city, Jaden jumps at the chance to go.But things go badly from the start. Jaden loses his controller on the train, and his reunion with Cali is awkward. She's unhappy, and Jaden can't figure out why, especially when she's getting better and better at Cross Upsand may even win the tournament. With its sharp dialogue and relatable characters, Anyone's Game, the second book in the Cross Ups series, chronicles the ups and downs of middle

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Smiling has been shown to relieve stress, boost the immune system, release endorphins, and even make us more attractive. It's the natural drug. Whether it's the sight of baby animals wrestling each other or watching pigeons fight over a Cheeto, there are more than enough funny, silly, and downright weird reasons to put a smile on your face inside this little book of joy, including: When the person in the next lane lets you ahead of them in heavy traffic When you finally get back into your own bed after being away from home You check the calendar on a Friday and realize that Monday is a holidayIn our overworked, overstressed day to day life, it’s difficult to find time to relax and enjoy the simple, little things in life. These simple little things that make us smile keep us going throughout the day and motivate us to carry on when things may seem difficult. With this book, you won’t have to look far to find these simple pleasures. So put down the Xanx and grab yourself a copy of 1,047 Reasons to Smile.

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In the citation accompanying Kay's recent award of the prestigious Ruth Lilly Prize, Christine Wiman wrote: "Kay Ryan can take any subject and make it her own. Her poems-which combine extreme concision and formal expertise with broad subjects and deep feeling-could never be mistaken for anyone else's. Her work has the kind of singularity and sustained integrity that are very, very rare…. It's always a dicey business predicting the literary future…[but] for this reader, these poems feel as if there were built to last, and…they have the passion, precision and sheer weirdness to do so."Salon compared the poems in Ryan's last collection to "Fabergé eggs, tiny, ingenious devices that inevitably conceal some hidden wonder." The exquisite poems in The Niagara River provide similarly hidden gems. Bafflingly effective, they seem too brief and blithe to pack so much wallop. Intense and relaxed at once, both buoyant and rueful, their singular music appeals to many people. Her poems, products of an immaculately off-kilter mind, have been featured everywhere from the Sunday funnies to New York subways to plaques at the zoo to the pages of The New Yorker.

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Winner of the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction from the Academy of Arts and Letters and the Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Award. In each of these "weird and wonderful stories" (Boston Globe), Brad Watson writes about people and dogs: dogs as companions, as accomplices, and as unwitting victims of human passions; and people responding to dogs as missing parts of themselves. "Elegant and elegiac, beautifully pitched to the human ear, yet resoundingly felt in our animal hearts" (New York Newsday), Watson's vibrant prose captures the animal crannies of the human personality—yearning for freedom, mourning the loss of something wild, drawn to human connection but also to thoughtless abandon and savagery without judgment. Pinckney Benedict praises Watson's writing as "crisp as a morning in deer season, rife with spirited good humor and high intelligence," and Fred Chappell calls his stories "strong and true to the place they come from." This powerful debut collection marks Brad Watson's introduction into "a distinguished [Southern] literary heritage, from Faulkner to Larry Brown to Barry Hannah to Richard Ford" (The State, Columbia, South Carolina).

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'Wild and wonderful ... I doubt anyone will ever match Strandings for its sheer bravura, its wry insight, and its absolute, engulfing, and brilliantly enlivening whaleheadedness' PHILIP HOARE, ALBERT AND THE WHALE 'Addictive and scandalously fascinating' Caught by the River When Peter Riley was thirteen, a woman with blue hair and a comet tattoo asked him to help load the jaw of a sperm whale into the back of a Volvo 245. The encounter set Riley on a decades-long quest to make sense of what had happened. Enter the secretive world of whale scavengers. When a whale washes up on one of Britain's coasts, a fugitive community descends to claim trophies from the carcass. Some are driven by magical beliefs. Some are motivated by profit: there is a black market for everything from ambergris to whaletooth sex toys. But for others, the need goes much deeper. Join Riley on a tour of a stranded kingdom's weird outer reaches, where nothing is as it seems. Meet witches, pedlars, fetishists, conspiracy theorists and fallen aristocrats. And prepare for a final revelation, as the mystery of the comet woman tangles with the enigmatic symbol of Leviathan itself, beached on Britain's fatal shore.

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This is an exciting investigation into the most powerful predator in the ocean, shown in more than 200 images. It offers an in-depth coverage of every aspect of these creatures' natural history. It provides dramatic images from renowned wildlife photographers show sharks in action, while detailed illustrations reveal the complex inner workings of a shark's body. It includes exciting features throughout the book focus on particular topics - see the blue shark hunting its prey and the lemon shark giving birth to live young. It is perfect for 8- to 12-year-olds, for home or school use. Sharks are some of the most intriguing creatures in the sea, and here you will find out all about their infinite variety, basic instincts and survival skills. It helps you to compare the awesome jaws of the great white shark with the filter-feeding habits of the whale shark, the largest fish in the world. It shows you to discover how hammerheads detect and track their prey and how the weird-looking wobbegong becomes invisible. This book makes learning about natural history exciting and accessible, bringing the subject to life with action-packed photography and informative text.

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Tenth-grader Yugi always had his head in some game - until he solved the Millennium Puzzle, an Egyptian artifact containing the spirit of a master gambler from the age of the pharoahs! Possessed by the puzzle, Yugi becomes Yu-Gi-Oh, the King of Games, and challenges evildoers to the Shadow Games...weird games with high stakes and high risks! Game master Ryo Bakura wants to use the power of his Millennium Ring to put the souls of Yugi, Jonouchi, Anzu and Honda inside his Monster World miniatures forever. Now, with 10-sided dice in hand, Yugi and Dark Yugi must hack and slash their way their Bakura's adventure and defeat the Dark Master Zorc…or die trying! Then, on the island called Duelist Kingdom, a Battle Royale is taking place to determine the greatest Duel Monsters player in the world! A fight with fisherman Ryota Kajiki is just a warmup for Yugi, the only person who's beaten Kaiba, the former world champion. But although Kaiba may be in a coma, his deck still lives…in the hands of an evil ventriloquist, who has stolen not only Kaiba's deck but his very soul!

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And you thought your adolescence was scary. Suburban Seattle, the mid-1970s. We learn from the outset that a strange plague has descended upon the area's teenagers, transmitted by sexual contact. The disease is manifested any number of ways - from the hideously grotesque to the subtle (and concealable) - but once you've got it, that's it. There's no turning back. As we inhabit the heads of several key characters - some kids who have it, some who don't, some who are about to get it - what unfolds isn't the expected battle to fight the plague, or bring heightened awareness of it, or even to treat it. What we become witness to instead is a fascinating and eerie portrait of the nature of high-school alienation itself - the savagery, the cruelty, the relentless anxiety and ennui, the longing for escape. And then the murders start. As hypnotically beautiful as it is horrifying (and, believe it or not, autobiographical), Black Hole transcends its genre by deftly exploring a specific American cultural moment in flux and the kids who are caught in it - back when it wasn't exactly cool to be a hippie any more, but Bowie was still just a little too weird. To say nothing of sprouting horns and moulting your skin . . .

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The Waltharius, a medieval Latin epic poem of over 1400 lines, richly retells the story of a vigorous Germanic saga in the language and style of classical and Christian Latin poetry. Walter, its hero, is a pagan warrior ready to mock his enemies and mercilessly decapitate them, but also a pious Christian who refrains from premarital sex and stops to pray and ask for God's mercy in the middle of a battle. The poem varies remarkably in tone, providing both fervent moral commentary and bitter black comedy. The growing scholarship on the poem outside of Germany, where it has always been popular, no doubt results from its weird allure and eclectic nature. It has something for everyone. This new edition uses a fresh review of manuscripts - especially the recently discovered fragments at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - in order to provide a text and apparatus that will aid the reader in understanding the poem's tangled manuscript history. The notes are rather fuller than those of previous English-language editions, providing useful context to understand the complicated relationships among the Germanic, classical Latin, and Christian Latin traditions as well as tracking various themes and stylistic features that the poet employs.

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Home brewing and wine-making is fun, easy and hugely satisfying. If you garden or forage,can follow a recipe or make jam, and you enjoy a drink, this is the book for you. Andy's no-nonsense, easy-to-follow guide will enable the beginner and inspire the expertwith over 100 recipes including beer made from hops and but also yarrow, mugwort, elderand other foraged plants, great tasting wines from fruit, vegetables and the hedgerows,cider and perry from apples and pears, cordials from the leaves of a range of trees, and teas and fizzy drinks from herbs and wayside flowers.- Discover the secret language of home brewing and drinks making.- Make cheap, wholesome drinks, to your preferred taste and strengthin little time, with minimum fuss and no need for expensive equipment.- Turn your garden into a drinkers' paradise.- Find where and how to forage for success.- Impress your friends with the weird, wonderful and just plain tasty.Try Carrot Whisky, Sloe and Damson Rum, Parsnip Sherry, Elderberry and Blackberry Wine,Pumpkin Beer, Broom Tonic, Meadowsweet tea as well as classics such as Elderflowerchampagne, sloe gin, prison brew... Cheers!

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Expand your mind with this amazing book of incredible information about our weird and wonderful world.Dive into a world of fascinating facts and cool comparisons about our world, from the very bottom of the ocean - which is as deep as 29 Empire State buildings - to the planets of the solar system, and everything in between!Do you know which flower is taller than a human? Or how many Earths could fit inside Jupiter? Or if it is true that we only use 10% of our brains? Whatever the topic, this fact-tastic compendium will uncover the story behind the weirdest wonders of our world - from intriguing animals and astounding nature, to the mysteries of science, history, geography, the human body, and more!I Can't Believe It! is stuffed full of fantastic facts, cool visual comparison, and myth-busting true-or-false questions. You truly won't believe what you're reading!A compilation of favourite stories from the four best-selling DK titles It Can't be True!, True or False?, Strange but True, and It Can't Be True! 2, this is the ultimate companion for any fact-hungry child.

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A Sunday Times Best Book for Children 2023 From million-copy bestselling author David Baddiel comes a laugh-out-loud collection of three short stories for readers of 8 and up, brilliantly illustrated by Jim Field and Steven Lenton. MEET ALFIE… THE BOY WHO COULD DO WHAT HE LIKED!Previously published for World Book Day 2016Alfie has a routine. To be honest he has a lot of routines.But then one day Alfie’s babysitter is unavailable, and Alfie’s parents get Mrs Stokes instead. Mrs Stokes doesn’t do routines. Instead, she just tells Alfie to do what he likes. And that’s when things start to go weird.Does everything get hilariously out of control? Yes.Does Alfie learn a valuable lesson? Nah. This isn’t that kind of story… DISCOVER CHRISSIE… THE GIRL WHO HAD NEVER BEEN ON A TRAIN!Chrissie loves trains. She has train books, train pictures – and, of course, model trains. But Chrissie has never been on an actual train. In part, because Chrissie doesn't find getting around as easy as other people. Then, Chrissie finally gets on a train, with her Grandpa Henry, to go down to London for an important operation. Her parents and Henry hope the journey will take Chrissie's mind off things. And they're right: but in a way they couldn't possibly imagine. Because Chrissie's trip from Scotland to London turns out to be quite literally magical – and changes her life forever. MARVEL AT ARIEL… THE CHILD WHO HAD NEVER BEEN ON HOLIDAY!Every year, Max, Lily and Jack are taken to Snoring-On-Sea for their holiday – quite possibly the most boring town in the world. There’s nothing to do and nothing to see – even the beach at Snoring-on-Sea is dull and grey. But this year, something DOES happen. The children meet someone on a tiny island out at sea – a mysterious child called Ariel. Ariel claims to have never left their tiny island, and to Ariel, everything about Max, Lily and Jack’s lives is amazing – fish and chips, fizzy drinks… even the view of the brick wall out of their bedroom window. And their new friend forces Max, Lily and Jack to see Snoring-On-Sea in a whole new light… Three hilarious, heart-warming and adventure-filled stories that will have you laughing out loud!

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*Little Badman and friends return in a second hilarious and action-packed adventure, for fans of David Baddiel and David Walliams*Praise for Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties:'Wildly over the top and satisfying' The Observer New Review Children's Book of the Month'This book is bonkers but proper funny- it's Drake meets James Bond' Match of the Day Magazine________ 'You've probably heard of me, right? Little Badman. No? Oh. Well . . . doesn't Matter. You will do one day. I'm gonna be big.'I'm Humza Khan, the greatest eleven-year-old rapper Eggington ever had. I've also faced deadly alien slugs, killer aunties and double maths. But now, I (and my best friend Umer I guess) face something even scarier - my dad! He's pretty fed up with us being naughty, so he's sending us away . . . to school. But this is not ordinary school. This is a special summer school in Pakistan, and man something weird is going on - someone has been messing with time!I may have to save the world again . . .

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"Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet." - Ralph Waldo EmersonWe have all come across a sentence in a book or a line of poetry that seems to jump off the page as if it has been patiently waiting for you to discover it in this precise instant. At times, the lyrics of a song or words spoken in a play can feel as if God is speaking directly to you, guiding you on your quest for truth and authenticity in this weird and wonderful life.From the words of great thinkers and quiet moments with God, to snippets of conversation with patients, and moments shared with his late-wife, Bobbie, Dr. Bernie Siegel has curated his most meaningful stories, lessons, and quotes from a lifetime of journals in No Endings, Only Beginnings. With this book, he encourages you not just to learn from his advice and experience, but to create your own book of collected wisdom - your life manual for growing, loving, and healing - as you continue to shape your personal understanding of the answers to life's big questions.

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For anyone who has ever wondered why English is so weird, an entertaining and expert tour of the most puzzling parts of our language.Maybe you''ve been speaking English all your life, or maybe you learned it later on. But whether you use it just well enough to get your daily business done, or you''re an expert with a red pen who never omits a comma or misplaces a modifier, you must have noticed that there are some things about this language that are just weird.Perhaps you''re reading a book and stop to puzzle over absurd spelling rules (Why are there so many ways to say ''-gh''?), or you hear someone talking and get stuck on an expression (Why do we say How dare you but not How try you?), or your kid quizzes you on homework (Why is it eleven and twelve instead of oneteen and twoteen?). Suddenly you ask yourself, Wait, why do we do it this way? You think about it, try to explain it, and keep running into walls. It doesn''t conform to logic. It doesn''t work the way you''d expect it to.

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THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR. THE MOST ORIGINAL BOOK OF 2021'Sheer inventiveness, wit, complexity, erudition, unexpectedness and originality' The Times***The village of Much Hemlock has always been a right-wing stronghold. British. Solid. Traditional. Then they move in. They're different from everyone else: they have a weird religion, an aggressive vegan agenda, and too many children. They may seem quiet and peace-loving, but who knows where it could lead?They are a family of human-sized rabbits, the result of an inexplicable anthropomorphising event half a century before. With a mass rehoming to Wales for 1.2 million rabbits looming, long-term resident Peter Knox is drawn from his customary spot on the fence and must choose his corner: a cosy job-for-life at the Rabbit Compliant Taskforce, or stand with the rabbits - and weather the full brunt of human savagery.It'll take a rabbit to teach a human humanity . . .PRAISE FOR JASPER FFORDE'The Constant Rabbit is Jasper Fforde's most chilling and realistic book yet' Guardian 'You won't read anything quite like this in 2020 - or beyond that too' CultureFly 'Is there anyone who can write satire quite like Fforde?. . . An astonishingly well-crafted work of social and political satire.' Kirkus 'Fforde presents a milquetoast cog in an absurdly bureaucratic wheel, this time cleverly skewering Brexit, conservative politics, and white supremacy in this surprisingly uplifting tale of one man doing his best, even if it is the bare minimum.' Booklist 'The Constant Rabbit is designed to shake readers out of that complacency: to recognise that merely holding liberal values is not enough to prevent the quickening advance of racism and xenophobia in this country. One must act.' Financial Times 'A serious minded comedy' Mail on Sunday READERS LOVE THE CONSTANT RABBIT'This is Jasper Fforde at his absolute best. Clever, thought-provoking and relevant, whilst maintaining the absurdity that we have come to love Fforde for' 5*'A real classic - the sort of book that will be read in fifty or a hundred years' time' 5*'[Jasper Fforde's] ability to take something relatively normal and turn it on it's head is sublime, ridiculous and so enjoyable! Quirky, funny, satirical tale with pertinent reflections on current times.' 5*'This book couldn't have come at a better time. Frighteningly poignant given the state of world. It's a truly wonderful piece of work

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Perfect for animal lovers of all ages, this entertaining and wacky book is jam-packed with hundreds of mind-blowing visual comparisons and astonishing facts. Every page reveals incredible information about the weird and wonderful world of animals. Can you believe an ant recently discovered in the treetops of Borneo explodes when under attack, covering enemy ants in a toxic goo? Did you know that the ocean-dwelling bootlace worm is longer than an Olympic-sized swimming pool?"But it can't be true," you say. Yes, it really is!It Can't Be True! Animals bring you record-breaking facts and amazing stories that you can see for yourself. Eye-popping photos and stunning illustrations show you what the numbers mean, comparing the extraordinary with the familiar. From the coconut crab that grows bigger than a basketball to the Ruppell's vulture that soars higher than an airplane, this unique book for kids shows you what other books only tell you.Featuring astounding animals from all the main groups - invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals - this is the perfect gift for children who are curious about the animal kingdom.

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'There aren't enough words for how much I love it' MARIAN KEYESTHE SMASH-HIT ROMANTIC COMEDY THAT WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH AND CRY - IF YOU'RE A FAN OF DERRY GIRLS YOU'LL LOVE THIS___________Meet Aisling. She's a small-town girl with a big heart.She has a steady job and a loyal boyfriend (though he hasn't put a ring on it even after seven years).Then one disastrous romantic getaway convinces Aisling to leave him behind and head for the bright lights.But with glamorous new flatmates, a scandal at work and a weird love square, Aisling has no idea what's about to hit her . . .Fans of Marian Keyes, Bridget Jones and Sophie Kinsella will LOVE this.__________'Comparisons with Bridget Jones are spot on' Independent'Will have you laughing your socks off' Fabulous'Sweet, funny, moving, perfect' The Pool'You'll laugh, you'll cry . . . an utter ray of sunshine' Red Can't get enough of Aisling? Then why not read the hilarious follow-up The Importance of Being Aisling - OUT NOW!

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What strange secrets lie in the mysterious town of Buckhead, USA?An astonishing Afrofuturist series from Shobo Coker (Outcasts of Jupiter) and George Kambadais (The Black Ghost) that blends the immigrant experience, African myth, and weird science in Small Town USA. Toba and his mother, a renowned scientist, have just immigrated to the US from Nigeria. But instead of living in the Big City like Toba always dreamed, they've moved to a sleepy little town in the Pacific Northwest called Buckhead. Hidden away in the basement of the school, Toba and his newfound friends discover a strange video game--a perfect replica of Ancient Benin and its people. Soon, Toba is on the run from men in black after witnessing strange experiments, disappearances, and a mind-controlling tattoo that everyone in town seems to have. As Toba and his friends chase down a vast conspiracy with connections to another world in the fight to save their parents, they soon uncover the ancient terror that’s behind it all. Will they be able to work together and save their parents (and Buckhead) before it’s too late? Collects Buckhead #1-5.

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Say hello to sensational science with this fast-fact-packed tour of all things energy-related. It's the perfect way for children aged 9 plus to brush up on their S.T.E.M. stats and cement what they have learned in class with this fun book.Energy explores the most incredible, weird and most awe-inspiring facts about different types of energy in bite-sized chunks of text, so readers won't be overwhelmed with information. Funny illustrations and photos are designed to hold their interest, and help them engage with S.T.E.M. topics.Energy takes a look at electricity, sound and light, as well as nuclear, chemical and renewable energy. There is also a fun activity to race tin cans using static electricity for budding STEMsters to try out, too.The Stupendous and Tremendous Science series is ideal for all children aged 9+ who are studying S.T.E.M. topics at school or who simply have a fascination with science. It covers all the core topics in a fun and accessible way.Title in the series:Ecstatic and Excellent EnergyHappy and Healthy Human BodyPowerful and Pongy PlantsSoaring and Spectacular Space

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The brand new novella in the Sunday Times #1 bestselling Rivers of London series.THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY ACROSS THE POND...When ex-FBI Agent Patrick Henderson calls in an 'X-Ray Sierra India' incident, the operator doesn't understand. He tells them to pass it up the chain till someone does.That person is Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Arriving in snowbound Northern Wisconsin, she finds that a tornado has flattened half the town - and there's no sign of Henderson.Things soon go from weird to worse, as neighbours report unsettling sightings, key evidence goes missing, and the snow keeps rising - cutting off the town, with no way in or out...As the clues lead to the coldest of cold cases - a cursed expedition into the frozen wilderness - Reynolds follows a trail from the start of the American nightmare, to the horror that still lives on today...PRAISE FOR BEN AARONOVITCH & THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING RIVERS OF LONDON SERIES:'Highly entertaining' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Charming, witty, exciting' THE INDEPENDENT'Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters' NICK FROST'Funny and wildly inventive' MAIL ON SUNDAY

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE T.S. ELIOT PRIZE 2021POETRY BOOK SOCIETY RECOMMENDATION'Jack Underwood has developed an utterly clear lyric that rebukes moral obviousness, drives against false certainty. It's as refreshing as it is instructive . . . Underwood has become one of my favorite poets.' Kaveh AkbarJack Underwood's poetry debut, Happiness (2015), was celebrated for its unconventional and daring tone: 'conversational, arresting . . . weird, singular' (Guardian). Such qualities are on accomplished display in this anticipated new collection, as the poems mature and move on to a wide range of preoccupations, including imminent societal collapse and public unrest; the limits, myths and complexities of masculinity and fatherhood; and uncanny, often amusing scenarios, such as serving drinks to a gathering of fifteen babies or group kissing in Empathy Class. Throughout, incongruous and domestic subjects realign in skewed lyrics and thought experiments, intimately expressed in 'a new language / of the familiar' ('The Landing'). All is presented with a generosity and tenderness that makes the poet so unmistakable - and indispensable for the strange times in which we live.'I was done in by these poems, but I really lived as I read them; each one holding life and time in a balletics of stress and flow.' Holly Pester

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‘Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars’ Norman Vincent Peale Tim Walker’s monograph Story Teller, published by Thames & Hudson, introduced audiences to this unique photographer’s fantastical, magical worlds, conjured anew with each shoot. But every point must have its counterpoint, day its night, light its dark; creativity is no different. Shoot for the Moon, Walker’s much anticipated followup, draws audiences close to reveal fantasy’s other, darker side. Delving deep into the art and mind of one of the most exciting and original fashion photographers working today, Shoot for the Moon showcases the gamut of Walker’s weird, wild Wonderlands. In images that demand to be read as art as much as fashion, his signature opulence and decadent eccentricity encroach ever further beyond the ‘real’, exploring the mysteries of imagination and inspiration, and where it is they come from. Dazzlingly designed to a lavish spec, with images featuring some of the biggest names in fashion and contemporary culture, and texts and commentary by a collection of noteworthy contributors as well as Walker himself, Shoot for the Moon is set to be an unmissable addition to the lexicon of fashion photography.

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Ever been tempted by the thought of trying juicy deep fried mealworms, proteinrich cricket flower, or swapping your Walkers for salt and vinegar flavoured grasshoppers? If so then you are not alone! Over 2 billion people regularly eat insects as part of their diet, and the world is home to around 1,900 edible insect species.For adventurous foodies and daring dieters comes the newest way to save the planet, eat more protein, and tickle taste buds. But this isn’t an insect cookbook. Instead it’s an informative field guide: exploring the origins of insect eating, offering tips on finding edible bugs and serving up a few delicious ideas of how to eat them once you’ve tracked them down! It includes a comprehensive list on edible insects and where to find them, how to prepare them, their versatile usage and nutritional value as well as a few recipes. A bug-eating checklist covering all known edible bugs so readers can mark off the ones they’ve eaten and seek out new delicacies concludes the book.This is a perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful, and adventurous side of entomophagy.

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Perfect for animal-lovers everywhere! A beautiful crossover book for all ages, this is the book natural-history illustrator Ben has wanted to read since he was a child.Facts and descriptions provide insight into a curated collection of birds and animals - some endangered and some less so - told from the perspective of a detail-obsessed illustrator.Fun to read together or independently, let the secrets of the animals on our planet come to life in vibrant detail.'This is my love letter to Planet Earth; a celebration of her hidden species, from the bold and the beautiful to the interesting but ugly. And while not a complete list, I hope that these few give a glimpse of the outstanding diversity of nature' - Ben Rothery'For wildlife aficionados . . . [Hidden Planet] is filled with stunning illustrations . . . The engaging text is full of intriguing details' - Guardian Children's Books of the Year'Ben Rothery is an extraordinary illustrator of the natural world, and an inspiration to children and grown-ups to write their own love letter to Planet Earth' - Angels and UrchinsAlso available: Sensational Butterflies, Ben Rothery's Weird and Wonderful Animals, Ben Rothery's Deadly and Dangerous Animals and Water World.

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Discover (or rediscover!) history’s greatest myths and legends From Grendel and Beowulf to Poseidon, Medusa, and Hercules, the gods, monsters, and heroes of mythology are endlessly weird and fascinating. And if you’re looking for a helpful companion to this wild collection of creatures, humans, and deities, you’ve found it! Mythology For Dummies delivers the straight goods on history’s most popular myths, helping you make sense of even the most complicated ancient stories. You’ll learn about the origins of your favorite myths, their cultural impact, and more. Discover: The coolest mythological characters, including intrepid Odysseus, the volatile gods of Mount Olympus, and Thor and Loki How ancient mythology intersects with our daily lives in pop culture, high culture, and everything in between Mythological destinations, like Atlantis, and famous sites from Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology An engrossing guide to some of the most enduring and interesting tales from throughout history, Mythology For Dummies serves up the inside scoop on almost every myth or legend you’d care to learn more about.

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Twenty collectors open their homes to reveal the weird and wonderful world of natural objects. From the cabinets of curiosity of the 19th century to today’s interest in foraged decorations, obsessive and eclectic collectors of natural objects have long filled their homes with their finds - everything from fossils and feathers to seeds and dried flowers. This book offers a glimpse inside twenty homes of the most interesting and creative collectors, revealing the stories behind their collections and how they celebrate their love of nature in their everyday spaces. This new generation of naturalists are using their collections to craft creative careers and decorate their homes with their finds. From a German manor filled with antique taxidermy to the Paris apartment of a sculptor working with feathers and an Italian beachside retreat that showcases foraged shells and pebbles, this book provides a wealth of inspiration for celebrating the beauty of the world around us more sustainably. Practical tips on everything from curating a shelf of objects or using them to decorate walls and surfaces offer plenty of ideas the reader can apply in their own homes. With our ever-increasing interest in finding new ways to reconnect with nature, this will be inspirational reading for all those who want to bring the outdoors in.

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Have you ever wondered why God made things the way they are? Touch and feel His weird and wonderful creations in this thought-provoking book, perfect to share together! Content Benefits: Children will enjoy reading the funny rhymes and looking at the bright and amusing illustrations that introduce each creature that God has made. This is a tactile touch and feel book about funny animals that young children will love! This hilarious touch-and-feel book is a light-hearted introduction to some of God's more unusual creations Innovative and fun silicone touch and feel sections in different colours and textures feature throughout the book, making this exciting for little hands to explore The amusing and enchanting rhyming text will engage both young readers and adults Each spread features a bright and amusing illustration that will entertain young children A Bible verse is included on each double page spread An innovative way to introduce children to God as the creator of the world A great and unusual gift idea for young children Perfect present for a Christening, Dedication or Baptism Suitable for 0 year plus Binding - Board Book Pages - 12 Publisher - Authentic Media

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When Osuke loses his home, a convenient opportunity presents itself--too convenient, because his new roommate is a hot blond guy with some weird ideas about the supernatural... If you thought Ghostbusters would''ve been way better as a BL, this is the manga for you! Osuke''s excited about finally getting to live on his own, but on his first day in his new apartment, he finds himself kicked out onto the street! So, when a real estate agent appears out of nowhere offering him a beautiful, new place (with just a couple conditions), he jumps at the chance. But when he opens the door, a drop-dead gorgeous blond guy pops out! It turns out living with him is one of the conditions! His name is Nijio, and he tells Osuke that, not only are ghosts real, but Osuke himself is a magnet for all things supernatural... Fans of FANGS, The Dragon''s Betrothed, and other tantalizing supernatural yaoi/BL couples--the door''s open, come on in!

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A cross between ADVENTURES ON TRAINS and MY BROTHER IS A SUPERHERO, this first book in a brilliant new series takes you on a non-stop adventure in Antarctica. Filled with humour, heart and a touch of the supernatural, these books are perfect for the most intrepid of readers!Maisie thinks her dad is the most boring person in the world. For fun he likes to do origami (but only basic triangles) or jigsaw puzzles of a cloudless sky (yep, every piece is blue). He writes cool-sounding books like How To Wrestle A Crocodile and How To Defuse A Bomb, but he's never actually done any of the awesome things he writes about. But Maisie has to admit weird things happen around Dad. Unexplainable things... When childcare falls through and Dad has to take Maisie to Antarctica to research his next book, How To Survive In Antarctica, Maisie realises there is definitely something unusual about Dad - not only can he speak languages she never knew he could, he manages to crash-land a plane and somehow sa

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She's come to steal my thunder again, hasn't she? Dying, my foot. She's probably just being dramatic. Dying for dramatic effect. She would.' Cathy Wren, aged 37, lives alone in a small northern town, surviving on waitressing and piano teaching. She nurses her quiet drab life, keeping memories of a tumultuous earlier time at bay, until one stray remnant of that old life knocks on her front door. There, standing on her doorstep, in the rain, is Stephen, ex-boyfriend of her younger sister, Veronica Karen. He's come with bad news about her sister and a dogged determination to find her, and he wants Cathy's help. Cathy, who hasn't spoken to Veronica Karen - that thorn in her side - for ten years, is about to find herself on a weird and haphazard journey that turns into much more than a search for her little sister.'It is in its delicate exploration of the murky ground between objective assessment for life and irrational affection for a person that the novel compels' - TLS

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THE WAGERLose a bet, lose your heart...What is it about a junior-high crush that can send an otherwise intelligent woman into a tailspin? TV reporter Char Lynn wishes she knew. Jake Titus is too rich, too handsome, too arrogant: a trifecta that once lured Char into the best night-and worst morning-after-of her life. Now they've been thrown together in a wedding party. It's awkward, but survivable . . . until Jake stops acting like a jerk, and starts acting like the man she'd always hoped he could be.If watching your brother marry your best friend is weird, being attracted to your best friend's other best friend is downright bizarre. Unfortunately for Jake, Char hasn't forgotten how he once tossed her aside. Worse still, Jake's already-nutty grandma is even crazier about Char. Cue meet-cute shenanigans and all manner of meddling, and somehow, Jake's falling. For Char. Now all he has to do is make her believe it . . .

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Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Cornwall, or as it is sometimes obscurely referred to, Merry Jack. Though this isn’t the usual side of the county the tourists, travellers and residents see. This is the real Cornwall, the strange and twisted nooks and crannies of the county’s bizarre history – past, present and future. Following on from the bestselling Portico Strangest titles now comes a book devoted to England’s gloriously coastal, yet most haunted, region. Located in the toes of the outstretched legs of Britain’s old man, Cornwall is a county with more strangeness than you can shake a Cornish pasty at. Cornwall is an area of outstanding natural beauty, as well as outstanding strangness – from ye olde tales of plundering pirates to foulish ghosts drinking in local pubs right through to the most famous of all myths – the bizarre beast that forever stalks Bodmin Moor. Spooky. Cornwall’s Strangest Tales is a treasure trove of the hilarious, the odd and the baffling – an alternative travel guide to some of the county’s best-kept secrets. Read on, if you dare! You have been warned.

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Dundee United On This Day brings to life the most glorious, weird and wonderful moments from the club's history in one irresistible page-turning diary. Formerly Dundee Hibs, very nearly called Dundee City and twice known (when playing in the US) as Dallas Tornado, Dundee United is a club with a colourful past. Within these pages are big derby wins, relegation battles, victories over Barcelona and other top European clubs, a dramatic league title win, cup heartache and eventual cup glory, canine pitch invaders, infamous disallowed goals and much more. Revisit the exploits of club greats like Finn Dossing, Hamish McAlpine, Paul Sturrock, Dave Narey, Mixu Paatelainen and Andy Robertson, and celebrate the successes of legendary managers Jerry Kerr and Jim McLean. You'll enjoy a wealth of evocative and sometimes bizarre anecdotes, enthralling match reports and tales of well-known and less-known figures from 1909 to the present day. With a treasure trove of club history, trivia and facts, this book is a 'must' for Dundee United fans.

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Over ten rainy nights, Thomas, an ex-bargeman who used to be skipper of his own boat, walks the muddy fields of the landlocked German interior and remembers the events that lost him his home, his boat, and his livelihood: his apprenticeship in the cold halls of the Royal Naval College in London; the dangers of the mean streets and waterfront of New York in the 1970s, and Poland under martial law; Germany after the reunification, when for a year or so it seemed that the whole country drifted rudderless, drawn by the current of history to who knows where. Thomas remembers childhood, his first love, and the warnings of his grandfather: Beware the dark company! This mysterious band of men and women dressed in black cast a shadow over his story, as he wrestles with the secrets, the unplumbed depths of his soul, the hazards lurking below a seemingly placid surface, and throughout it all, the rain, falling night after night. Dark Company is a superb example of a distinctly German tradition in weird fiction which claims its roots in Kafka and Herbert Rosendorfer.

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Of all the weird characters Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond has met in Bath, this one is the most extreme: a twenty-first-century private eye called Johnny Getz, whose office is over Shear Amazing, a hairdressing salon. Johnny has been hired by Ruby Hubbard, whose father, an antiques shop owner, has gone missing, and Johnny insists on involving 'Pete' in his investigation.When Diamond, Johnny and Ruby enter the shop, they find a body and a murder investigation is launched. Diamond is forced to house his team in the dilapidated Corn Market building across the street. His problems grow when his boss appoints Lady Bede, from the Police Ethics Committee, as an observer. Worse still, Johnny conducts his own inquiry by latching onto Ruby's stylish friend, a journalist called Olympia.Shootings from a drive-by gunman at key players create mayhem and the pressure is really on. Can the team stop more killings in this normally peaceful city? What happened to Ruby's father? And will Johnny crack the case before Diamond does?

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'People are emotionally drawn to the supernatural. They actively want weird, spooky things to be true . . . Wiseman shows us a higher joy as he deftly skewers the paranormal charlatans, blows away the psychic fog and lets in the clear light of reason.' Richard DawkinsProfessor Richard Wiseman is clear about one thing: paranormal phenomena don't exist. But in the same way that the science of space travel transforms our everyday lives, so research into telepathy, fortune-telling and out-of-body experiences produces remarkable insights into our brains, behaviour and beliefs. Paranormality embarks on a wild ghost chase into this new science of the supernatural and is packed with activities that allow you to experience the impossible. So throw away your crystals, ditch your lucky charms and cancel your subscription to Reincarnation Weekly. It is time to discover the real secrets of the paranormal.Learn how to control your dreams -- and leave your body behindConvince complete strangers that you know all about themUnleash the power of your unconscious mind

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Welcome to Rockhead Primary, a school so ordinary even the teachers think it's boring. But things start to change when a builder knocks down an internal wall and reveals something totally weird... It seems the school - and the world - is safe once more...or is it? Verna Lee and Jamie Ballard face their greatest challenge. How can they save their school from total destruction? Will they win an epic battle in the stars and save the Earth from an evil alien overlord? The answers to all these questions are inside this book. Open it...if you dare! Forbidden Classroom: Battle in the Stars is part of the Astro range from Rising Stars Reading Planet. Astro books are ideal for struggling and reluctant readers aged 7-11. Each book is dual-banded so that children can improve their fluency whilst enjoying exciting fiction and non-fiction relevant to their age. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and questions to support reading at home and develop comprehension skills. Interest age: 10-11 Reading age: 8 -9 years

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Welcome to Rockhead Primary, a school so ordinary even the teachers think it's boring. But things start to change when a builder knocks down an internal wall and reveals something totally weird... Powerful forces are now gathering inside the school, and Verna Lee and Jamie Ballard find themselves pushed aside. They soon realise things are not what they seem, and they take on the dark forces that threaten the human race. But who is a friend, and who is an enemy? The answers to all these questions are inside this book. Open it... if you dare! Forbidden Classroom: Friends and Enemies is part of the Astro range from Rising Stars Reading Planet. Astro books are ideal for struggling and reluctant readers aged 7-11. Each book is dual-banded so that children can improve their fluency whilst enjoying exciting fiction and non-fiction relevant to their age. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and questions to support reading at home and develop comprehension skills. Interest age: 10-11 Reading age: 7-8 years

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*A hilarious, dark adventure for kids and adults!*'A book aimed at kids that captures youthful humour perfectly. By which we mean it's energetic, weird, and delightfully disgusting - 10/10' Starbust Magazine'The bloodthirsty, heartfelt romp your brutal inner child craves' BlizzardComedyIn a town surrounded by deadly mist, and filled with oddities, two young siblings become orphans.And that's the best thing that's happened to them all day.Howard Howard was a Wrecker (a brute and bully by profession) who was brutal and bullish to his children - Aubrey and Aubrey's Sister. Howard Howard deserved to be turned into mince, and thanks to a mysterious duo called The Grinders, that's exactly what happened to Howard Howard. Hunted by the police and their father's gang of Wreckers, the siblings find some new friends to help keep them safe: a talented burglar named Charlie (who has no bones, but a great moustache) and a sword-wielding assassin named Calo (who has a sword, duh.) In a town already revelling in its own chaos and with new dangers around every corner, Aubrey's Sister and Aubrey stumble into a world of secrets, myths and monsters.

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Sara Begner’s requirements are simple: free your mind in the kitchen and bring your appetite. This family cookbook requires no new cooking skills, no magic conjuring tricks, and no weird ingredients. Whether you’re watching ingredients melt together with Begner’s mouthwatering pizza, taking in the aroma of chocolate muffins, or sitting back to watch chicken roast in the oven, these recipes are sure to inspire everyday dinners and generous feasts.With more than seventy easily cooked recipes, you and your family will have a ball in the kitchen. With fruit slices transformed into artful displays, chocolaty confections sprinkled with love, and meats tenderized to perfection, you will be able to bond over a fun-to-make, easy-to-enjoy, home-cooked meal. Helpful hands are sure to enjoy tossing spaghetti, rolling chocolate balls, and cracking eggs for marvelous creations.With the addition of colorful photos and handy tips, these chef-inspired recipes will tempt your taste buds and inspire you to grab the spatula. So head into your kitchen, bring the whole family, and enjoy Cooking Together with those you love.

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Step into Pearl’s world and take a tour around her faded seaside town, past the graffiti walls, bus stops and the old mattress factory. Except – with Pearl as our guide – the colours suddenly pop and every tiny detail becomes rich with interest. From the lido to the hair salon, to the Christmas shop in June, the ordinary becomes magical and every bit of wildness, weirdness and tattiness is whisked into the foreground. "Pearl" is an alter ego of the poet: she's a character who observes the minutiae around her and whose thoughts are a pleasure to follow. This pamphlet follows Pearl as she rollicks around, making her way through a townscape similar but not identical to the too-small-to-be-cities of poet Julia Bird's 70s & 80s childhood. from 'Clementine Pearl'The first time was a fluke. Subsequently, Pearl made plans to visit the Christmas shop at the edge of town every twenty-fifth of June; a day when even if it isn’t hot, it’s light, the day most likely the shop’s most empty of people wanting winter or its antimatter to take into their homes.

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A paperback reissue of Londonopolis (9781849941655) This curious history of London whisks you down the rabbit hole and into the warren of backstreets, landmarks, cemeteries, palaces, markets, museums and secret gardens of the great metropolis. Meet the cockneys, politicians, fairies, philosophers, gangsters and royalty that populate the city, their stories becoming curiouser and curiouser as layers of time and history are peeled back. Find out which tube station once housed the Elgin Marbles and what lies behind a Piccadilly doorway that helped Darwin launch his theory of evolution and caused the Swedes to wage war against Britain. Do you believe in fairies? Do you know which Leadenhall site became a Nag's Head tavern, morphing into the mighty East India Company, before taking flight as the futuristic Lloyds Building? Who named the Natural History Museum's long-tailed dinosaur Mr Whippy? Spanning above and below ground, from the outer suburbs to the inner city, and from the medieval period to the modern day, Londonopolis is a celebration of the weird and the wonderful that makes the mysterious city of London so magical.

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When was the last time you won a perfect game? A game that was not tainted by inferior moves? Every chess player knows that smooth wins are the exception, that play is often chaotic and positions are frequently irrational. The road to victory is generally full of bumps and misadventures. Welcome to the world of imperfection! Chess books usually feature superbly played games. In this book you will see games where weird moves are rewarded. Cyrus Lakdawala knows that playing good chess is all very well, but that beating your opponent is better. He demonstrates the fine art of winning undeserved victories by: miraculously surviving chaos; throwing vile cheapos; refusing to resign in lost positions; getting lucky breaks; provoking unforced errors, and other ways to land on your feet after a roller-coaster ride. Lakdawala shows how you can make sure that it is your opponent, not you, who makes the last blunder. If youd rather win a bad game than lose a good one, then this your ideal guide. The next time the wrong player wins, you will be that player!

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