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‘Clean Sweep: A Novel’ by E. B. Lee is a modern fiction story focused on family and community set amongst the homeless in New York. The story develops gradually, we learn more about Carli Morris, her desire to give back now she's retired and her loss-filled past. The plotline develops gradually, as Carli’s time helping those on the streets leads to her own gut-wrenching revelations. As you read, you get to know and learn to love each of the characters in ‘Clean Sweep’. We’re walking side by side with Carli as she works to make a connection with each person in order to try and get them inside and any support they need. I enjoyed the pace of the plot as it gives you time with a fully formed cast of characters. There are questions that need to be answered in this book, but it does so at it’s own pace as opposed to being a frantic mystery to be solved. As with the outreach work in the book, things take time. A serious book that focuses on the very important topic of homelessness in a way that is engaging and compassionate. This is a very worthwhile read and I would recommend it. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
Natalia Gomes’s dual-narrative story of survival, survivor’s guilt, friendship and rebuilding one’s life and identity is a potent, authentic feat of YA fiction. US-born Alice is a dedicated bookworm who believes “there’s nothing like the smell of a library”, and considers running to be a form of “voluntary torture.” In contrast, Jack lives to run - it’s freeing, exhilarating, a means of “creating your own music.” Unsurprisingly then, despite attending the same school, Alice and Jack’s paths have barely crossed, until their chance encounter on Leicester Square at the precise moment a bomb explodes. A bomb that kills 22 people, and leaves them forever changed. Their initial floods of thought and feelings are powerfully evoked in all their heart-stopping intensity, especially as Jack runs through all the imminent athletic adventures he had planned and realises, “My legs are gone. There’s nothing from my thighs. It’s all gone.” As his “thoughts are heavy and they hurt. My memories hurt. My past hurts”, Alice is gripped by anger and also feels driven to find Jack, while he dreams of her, “the girl with the yellow polka dot umbrella.” The ebbs and flows of their struggles and friendship are stirringly evoked. As Jack begins to feel hope when he’s fitted with prostheses (“I’m finally starting to feel like the old Jack. Maybe it’s time to start putting my old life back together again”), Alice struggles with PTSD, with survivor’s guilt, and with debilitating panic attacks. Then they switch roles again, with Jack slipping into depression as Alice finds solace in a therapy group. He realises he was being overly optimistic about his road to recovery - it’s a marathon, not a sprint, which hits him hard given that’s he’s already set himself on taking up his London marathon place. But Alice is there for Jack, every step of the way, and he for her, and therein lies the heart of this novel - the power of friendship to heal and keep a person going when all feels lost.
‘The Mezzotint Man’ by Michael Brewer uses an accessible and informative writing style that shines a light on the history of art and the art world that, for those like myself who don’t have an Art History background, may not have really given much thought about. We live in a world today where reproductions of great artworks are easily accessible and readily available for most budgets. Brewer uses ‘The Mezzotint Man’ to take us back to Victorian London, where the lines between art, culture and commerce were only just starting to blur; where a demand started for reproductions of popular paintings to be displayed in homes throughout the country. The thing that struck me initially, and something that I am assuming differs from today’s reprint market is the implication of collaboration between painter and engraver. It is stated early on that John Constable would only accept the purest form of mezzotint, which allowed for the most rich and detailed reproductions. This dictation of quality by the painter implies to me the teamwork between the craft of the artist in delivering the initial painting and the skill of the artist to create the mezzotint. Despite this teamwork, the mezzotint engravers feel to me to be hidden figures of the art world that Michel Brewer is helping to shine a light on. The focus of this biography, David Lucas, is a 19th century mezzotint engraver, described as ‘a quiet man’ by John Constable and, mostly known today for his engravings of Constable’s English Landscapes series. In a very readable style, with a timeline, index and details for further reading, ‘The Mezzotint Man’ follows the life of this artist, who lived in relative obscurity within Victorian London, creating art in order to earn a living and support his family. I found this book to be an enjoyable and educational look at how Victorian mass production impacted the world of Art, and the life of those working in this new industry. I feel this book is a valuable and intriguing read for those interested in Art History or the Victorian era more widely. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
When I first heard of ‘I Escape Through You’ by Mike Arnold it sounded like a story of the right person at the wrong time. However this book is more than that. Taking a more intimate look at mental health, and how people leap into relationships in order to try to fix themselves as opposed to working to fix themselves before entering a happy and healthy relationship. Told in just over 100 pages, the author manages to draw us into the intimate lives of Megan and Lucas in relatively few words. This a very well-written book, with an eloquent and fluid writing style that flows from reflections to setting the scene to Lucas’ inner thoughts. It’s interesting to hear this style of story from a male perspective, and I was interested in what he had to say from the very first page. Looking at modern challenges for relationships, from meeting online to long-distance and family pressures to more challenging issues of mental health breakdowns and self harm. This book is a brilliant story about people, how they connect, how they love and how that love and connection changes over time. I wanted to read this in one sitting and I would highly recommend this title. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
‘The Road To My Horizon’ by Timothy Parker is a detailed account of one man’s life. An autobiography initially created for his family and friends, anecdotal in nature as opposed to an in depth account of every stage in Tim’s life. The result is a vibrant story of a family and a man with a great deal of life experience and advice to offer based on those experiences. Dating from WWII to present day, this book is also a personal look through modern history and would be great for those with an interest in history. With appendices with additional detail pertaining to the events in the book, I can see this book having a wide appeal. ‘The Road To My Horizon’ is well-written, providing detail and in depth description in a conversational and engaging tone. I read this book with great interest, although not an upbringing I can relate to as such, I found this an entertaining story. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in people’s stories, as well as those wanting to read a personal recollection of modern history. I’m sure the anecdotes in this book will spark memories for many readers about their own childhoods and I think that this is a great way to catalogue your personal history for future generations to treasure. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
I came across ‘Rewriting Our Stories’ by Dr Derek Gladwin at the perfect time. This is a well-written and clearly structured book that forms a part of the MindYourSelf book series - a series created with the intention of providing clear, peer reviewed information from frontline professionals that, although not a replacement for personalised medical advice from your doctors, can help us to take better care of ourselves. Very clear and broken up into easy to follow chapters, ‘Rewriting Our Stories’ focuses on how we use storytelling in our everyday lives to form narratives about ourselves and the world around us. These narratives are formed by our experiences and shape the way we feel and think. Taking us gradually through why we tell stories to how to change the negative things we say and think about ourselves, Dr Derek Gladwin provides information and practical advice on how to reframe these negative narratives into positive affirmations as well as changing our perceptions of the world around us. I personally found the ‘Thinking Too Much’, ‘Living Moment by Moment’ sections to be most helpful. I really enjoyed the layout of this book, the summarising bullet points and the reflection questions throughout let you ponder over recent topics, allowing you the time for greater insight of how internalised narratives affect your thinking before moving through the chapters to more practical tips on how to change the stories we tell ourselves. I also liked the concept, as a bookworm I felt at home with the analogy of internalised beliefs are stories we tell ourselves, and how to practice editing and rewriting these narratives. I personally struggle to remember to implement the advice in self help books but I feel that the author has hit on a really clear to understand perspective with ‘Rewriting Our Stories’, and one that I know I will remember and be able to reflect on and utilise in the future. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
The Extraordinary Happenings of Peter Oddfellow: The Old Umbrella by Mark Dorey is part of the wider Extraordinary Happening of Peter Oddfellow series. In this first book, ‘The Old Umbrella’ we are introduced to Peter Oddfellow and join him on his adventure into a strange new world with the help of a rather useless looking umbrella. This is a very imaginative fantasy novel that I think will be a great read for teens and adults alike. 14-year old Peter doesn’t feel like he fits in, and after waking up in hospital with two broken legs and amnesia he doesn’t expect to be transported on an adventure with a motley crew of friends. I really enjoyed this book. I found all of the characters, their clashing personalities that still managed to come together when needed, entertaining and funny. I particularly liked Mulg and found his disgust at his feline form quite funny. The events of the novel, while Peter is in a world we would all find familiar, is set in the 1980s, which I found to be an interesting element and made the story feel more traditional to me. A little bit Narnia-esque, ‘The Old Umbrella’ leaves everything perfectly ready for the next book in the series ‘The Red Leaf’, and I think that readers enchanted by this book will have found a great new series to follow. I would recommend this book to fans of teen and YA fantasy adventures. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
Enjoy the 20th century's greatest cartoonist's work once more with this superb collection of some of Giles' wittiest cartoons. From politics to the family, his drawings parodied every aspect of British life and delighted Daily Express readers for over four decades. This brand new compilation includes 150 cartoons packed with the fun details and the clever characterizations that made Giles a household name.
The 2013 edition includes new articles on, amongst other topics, memoir writing, apps, libraries and contains a wealth of practical information on a huge range of topics including copyright, finance, submitting a manuscript and marketing yourself and your writing. With nearly 4,500 entries in its up-to-date directory of media contacts, the Yearbook is an in invaluable companion New articles for 2013 include: Electronic publishing by Philip Jones Notes from a successul romantic novelist by Katie Fforde Writing for the theatre by David Eldridge Why libraries matter by Maggie Gee Writing for magazines by Hero Brown Writing memoir by Irene Graham The laws of privacy and confidentiality by Keith Schilling
Whether you're a first-time visitor or an experienced Prommer, plan your summer through the 2013 BBC Proms season with the official Proms Guide. It contains: brand-new articles on featured composers, insights on performers, new music and Proms Plus events; introduction to the season from Roger Wright, Director of the BBC Proms and Controller of BBC Radio 3; full listings for every concert and event; repertoire, performers, time, location, ticket and broadcast information; and, details on how to book tickets. With beautiful photographs and images throughout, this official Proms Guide is the most comprehensive way to plan your summer's Proms visiting, watching and listening. The BBC Proms is the world's biggest and longest-running classical music festival and features many of the greatest artists and orchestras from the UK and around the world in over 80 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall. There are also daily free Proms Plus talks, workshops, performances and family events.
Steve Berry decided to do something a little bit different to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research UK. A life-long DOCTOR WHO fan, he began to interview celebrities, writers, actors and people who had worked on DOCTOR WHO, asking for their earliest memories of the show that sent us cowering behind the sofa. Now he presents the fruits of his four years of labour - a beautiful, touching book containing short articles and touching memories of one of the most successful TV shows ever. 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of DOCTOR WHO - this is the perfect way to enjoy those 50 years! This revised and expanded edition includes over 30 new entries from people such as Sophia Myles, Ben Aaronovitch, John Leeson and many more Contributors include comedians Al Murray, Stephen Merchant, and Bill Oddie; actors Lynda Bellingham, Nicholas Parsons, and Rhys Thomas; writers Neil Gaiman, Jenny Colgan, Jonathan Ross and Charlie Brooker and politicians Louise Mensch and Tom Harris. In addition, there is input from a number of the writers, actors and production staff who were involved in creating DOCTOR WHO stories new and old.
Celebrating 10 years of one of the most successful quiz shows on television and the most formidable quiz team in Britain: Can you beat the Eggheads? Day after day, courageous teams from across the country pit their wits against the seemingly unbeatable Eggheads. Now, in the all new Ultimate Eggheads Quiz Book, you and your family and friends can join in with one of the toughest quiz shows on TV and find out just how knowledgeable you are. Whether you're a history buff or music mad, test your trivia know-how and try your luck against the most accomplished quiz team in the country and find out whether you're a worthy opponent. Packed with over 1,000 questions designed to test you on a variety of specialist subjects as well as your general knowledge, The Ultimate Eggheads Quiz Book is the ultimate companion to the country's favourite quiz show.
Drawing on a wide spectrum of topics-including politics, cosmology, the arts, philosophy and religious beliefs, 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think traces the exponential growth of human knowledge across the centuries. Ranging from the ancient wisdom of Confucius and Plato to the cutting-edge theories taking shape in the twenty-first century, this book offers a wealth of stimulation and amusement for any reader with a lively and curious mind. This richly informative and entertaining book provides a wide variety of answers to those eternal questions: How was the universe created and what is the place of humans within it? How should a person live? And how can we build a just society? But 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think also includes a host of speculations that are remarkable for their sheer weirdness-from the concept of the transmigration of souls to parallel universes and the paradoxes of time travel (what happens if you travel back in time and kill your own grandfather?). Readers will discover how the Greek philosopher Zeno 'proved' a flying arrow never moves and the mathematical proof of the existence of life in other galaxies. The inspiring ideas explored range from Gandhi's theory of civil disobedience to Mary Wollstonecraft's groundbreaking advocacy of women's rights. A wide variety of cultural movements are also covered, including Neoclassicism, Surrealism and Postmodernism.
Each weekend, BBC's SATURDAY KITCHEN brings us the world's greatest culinary talents and shows us how to cook delicious food right in our own kitchen. THE SATURDAY KITCHEN COOKING BIBLE is a stunning new collection of recipes, with an introduction from James Martin, that will inspire and delight. All of the recipes have been cooked on the show and now you can make them at home. There are stress-free 30-minute meals such as Bill Granger's stir-fried chilli pork, ideas for satisfying weekend lunches, such as Angela Hartnett's chicken with chorizo, peppers and sage, James Martin's hearty beef and ale pie, and sensational dishes from Michelin-star greats like Jason Atherton and Michel Roux for when you really want to impress. Be inspired to create some wonderful dishes of your own. Now you can with THE SATURDAY KITCHEN COOKING BIBLE.
Fronted by the irrepressible Keith Lemon, ITV2's CELEBRITY JUICE is undoubtedly one of the funniest shows on television and now with Celebrity Juice: The Book you can recreate and relive all its irreverent, hilarious, and downright cheeky humour in the comfort of your own front room. Keith, Holly and Fearne will guide you through three rounds of Celebrity Juice from Keith's Scotch Egg Club and The Moob to Be A Dingbat and the Shouting One Out. In between the rounds, find out what kind of fan you are with the Celebrity Juice quiz, cringe as you go through the Top 10 Most Embarrassing Moments and puzzle over the Britain's Got Talent Suboku. Packed full of games, photos and everything you ever wanted to know (and definitely didn't want to know) about your favourite show, so pour yourself a pint of Celebrity Juice and enjoy! WARNING: Unlike most books, this one will not make you more intelligent. In fact, if you read it from start to finish, you will certainly become less intelligent but you will have more fun than you shake a stick at.
As long as there has been crime there has been crap crime. From the Garden of Eden onwards, most criminals must have been at least a bit crap - or else they wouldn't have been caught, right? Ok, some real-life rogues like Bonnie and Clyde, or fictional villains like Moriarty, make breaking the law seem pretty glamorous. But not the failed felons banged up inside this book. Crap Crimes is a hilarious compendium of criminal stupidity - from the woman who went to the police to complain that she had been sold poor-quality cocaine, to the burglar who left his phone charging in his victim's house. If you need proof that crime does not pay - or you just want a good laugh - then this is the book for you.
Get five times the action with the only official guide to the biggest Grand Theft Auto game ever! BradyGames has teamed up with Rockstar Games to bring you Grand Theft Auto V Signature Series Guide, a comprehensive guide to the biggest and most anticipated game of the year. Provides a step-by-step walkthrough of the entire single-player story and strategy for every action-packed mission, enabling you to get the most out of GTA and complete the game faster than your friends! Get complete coverage of all off-mission activities and sophisticated mini-games. Maps identify key objectives, specify targets, and chart the fastest path to success in this enormous world that's bigger than Red Dead Redemption, GTA IV, and GTA: San Andreas combined. Plus, get the inside story on the three playable characters and learn about their personalities, motivations, and skill-sets. Set in the sprawling, sun-soaked metropolis of Los Santos, Grand Theft Auto V centres around three very different criminals all plotting and scheming for their own chance of survival and success. Running out of options, Franklin, Michael, and Trevor risk everything in a series of daring and dangerous heists that could set them up for life or send them straight to the slammer. GTA V is available for XBox360 and PS3 and perfect for fans of this record-breaking game series. Take your game further with Grand Theft Auto Signature Series Guide and BradyGames.
Bad Education, written by and starring Jack Whitehall, follows Alfie Wickers the worst teacher to ever (dis)grace the British Education System, and a bigger kid than the pupils he teaches. Abbey Grove school is populated by some of the weirdest teachers you could ever meet: Fraser the hair-brained Headmaster who longs to be down with the kids, Miss Gulliver the biology teacher with a heart of gold but perhaps a dash too much openness and honesty, Miss Mollinson the happily swinging Head of Maths who won't let her hip replacement get in the way and Deputy Headmistress Miss Pickwell who displays all the charm and sensitivity of a Third Reich Dominatrix. Alfie's class is Form K, a bunch of misfits that have been written off by the rest of the school, but Alfie can't help but see a bit of himself in them. This is about a class of kids and their teacher's quest to get through life and get the best results with the minimum amount of effort possible. Sadly it's not an equation that always adds up. From a disastrous parents' evening to cringe-worthy sex-education lessons to life threatening self-defence classes to school elections full of dirty tricks and a school trip to see a rhino pig; Bad Education is school life as you've never seen it before. Bad Education: The Teachers' Handbook is filled with hilarious content from both the first and upcoming second series from pupils' report cards and the graffiti found in the staff toilets, to Alfie's teaching methods and the best ways to scam a free laptop from the government.
How well do you know your football? You follow your team week in, week out, share in the agony of defeat, the pure joy of a solid win, but do you really know what's going on on the pitch? Match of the Day Quiz Book will settle thousands of arguments up and down the country - and challenge football know-it-alls to finally put their money where their mouth is. Quizzes range from the classic era right up to the modern game, taking in the best players, most successful teams, highest-scoring matches, most brutal derbies and many more besides. With 3,000 brand-new questions from the MOTD team, this is the ultimate test for any football fan.
Say goodbye to fussy food with this collection of simple, tasty and hearty dishes, bound to boost your repertoire. Simply prepare your ingredients, put them in a dish and relax while the meal cooks itself. The variety of tempting dishes in this book prooves that simple food doesn't need to be bland: choose from Chesnut, rice and pancetta soup, Lemon chilli chicken, Rabbit in white wine and rosemary, Sri Lankan style lamb curry and Fig, goat's cheese and tapanade tart. Feeding family and friends has never been so easy!
From humble beginnings 125 years ago, the Coca-Cola company has evolved from one product to more than 500 brands available in 200 countries around the world and more than 1.7 billion drinks sold a day. This book celebrates the story of one of the world's most iconic brands and features more than 30 delicious Coca-Cola inspired recipes, both classic and contemporary, that make the most of the taste of one of the world's best loved beverages. Recipes include Coca-Cola Ham, Glory Muffins and Alcohol-Free Eggnog. It also reveals the compelling history of the drink, with evocative photographs of the people and places that are such a rich part of the heritage of Coca-Cola, the brand. Remembered too are some classic advertisements, with some special moments from early advertising work beautifully relived.
Romance with all its advantages – and all its difficulties - is in the air in this anthology of stories about falling in and out of love. Hearts flip-flopping, getting noticed – in the right way, surviving school, being in cool and non-cool crowds – each of these stories by best-selling teen authors including Dyan Sheldon, Sarah Webb and Joanna Nadin will set the heart fluttering.
From plot summaries of shakespeare’s plays through countless top ten lists and potted biographies of the world’s most influential people to a whole section full of stuff you can say to sound clever, this handy-sized book is beyond invaluable. Quirky, unique, perfect to dip into or just have on hand to solve countless family disputes - a must have.
Inspirational advice is given by best-selling authors across a large range of genres: humour, historical fiction, horror, fantasy, crime and ages (pre-school, young adults and all ages in between). The extensive listings of key contacts are thoroughly updated every year to provide comprehensive guidance to all the media in this competitive area of publishing. New articles for 2013 include: Writing non-fiction for children; Marketing, publicising and selling children's books by World Book Day Director Kirsten Grant; Building a successful children's publishing list; A year in view of children's publishing by Caroline Horn; Overnight success by award-winning author Lauren St John
Maintaining a healthy diet is a desirable and achievable aim. Yet, many people with dietary issues or chronic conditions often are confused by the plethora of advice available and unsure of what path to take to help improve their health. This title includes comprehensive nutritional guidelines from experts in the field. This series aims to motivate and inform, through sound, up-to-date nutritional advice presented in a clear, accessible way. In addition, each book features more than 100 appealing, easy recipes which demonstrate that a health condition need not condemn the sufferer to a dull and limited menu. And, they show that their dietary needs can easily be accommodated when cooking for the family. Key points: each title includes comprehensive nutritional guidelines from experts in the field; more than 100 recipes bring variety and healthful options within easy reach; and checklists and tables provide at-a-glance information.
The story of 60 paintings is told, unlocking hidden meanings and symbols and over 700 photographs bring the pictures to life helping you understand the key features, composition and techniques that have made these paintings stand out. Plus, biographies of the artists provide the background to each art work helping you paint your own picture of the historical and social context behind each masterpiece. Great Paintings is a beautiful guide to the paintings that have changed the world, both familiar and new. It really is like having a gallery of all the great paintings at your fingertips.
A terrific collection of short stories from bestselling authors including Kate Mosse, Katie Fforde, Lee Child, Sophie Kinsella and Jodi Picoult. Here are stories of love, passion, mystery and hope - and the discovery that some of the more surprising things in life are often the most important...This is the must-have collection of the year.
Make sure your baking rises to every occasion. Whether you want to produce the perfect tart, bake a cake fit for a king or serve up a souffle that won't sink, "Step-by-Step Baking" guides you through 350 baking recipes for every occasion. 80 classic recipes are fully illustrated with step-by-step instructions to ensure you're always on the right track and variations help you add a modern twist.Clear instructions, essential information on ingredients and advice on equipment and storage will help you bake with confidence and have your friends and family begging for more. From sweet to savoury, "Step-by-Step Baking" is the one baking bible that you shouldn't be without.
This is a book for parents to share with their children and indeed for parents to indulge in themselves as they bring back memories of their childhood adventures with the irrepressable Rupert Bear. This is a complete history of Rupert, beautifully presented that provides a fascinating story of how one little bear became a national treasure. It begins with Rupert's first appearance in The Express newspaper and charts his journey to the present day, paying particular attention to the writers and artists who have brought him to life over the years. In his ninetieth year, Rupert Bear is still one of the most popular characters in literature, beloved by generations of children. This book gives a unique insight into the secrets of his success.
Inspirational and entertaining stories by top teen authors in aid of Kids Company that have been selected to be in the final shortlist of the Queen of Teen Award. This story collection provides a perfect opportunity to discover a new author’s writing. Featuring stories by Meg Cabot, Cathy Cassidy, Lisa Clark, Cathy Hopkins, Sarra Manning, Karen McCombie, Joanna Nadin, Louise Rennison and Jacqueline Wilson, each one focuses on the realities of being a teenager and aining independence.
April 2009 Book of the Month. The perfect book for the armchair traveller as well as those of you visiting cities around the globe. With extracts from over 60 authors such as Joanne Harris talking about chocolate in Montmartre or Victor Hugo describing the view from the top of Notre Dame. Whether it be fiction, non-fiction, blogs or journalism, lose yourself in the Paris discovered by others and be inspired to visit and indulge in the city as never before. These guides are perfect for dipping in to and will transport you to the city of your choice through the wonderful writings of those who have been before. A few words about Paris from Stephen Clarke... 'Paris is not entirely unique. You can sit in cafés, wear designer clothes and even have sex in lots of other towns. It just feels unique, as if everything you do, from buying underwear to chewing a hunk of baguette, is somehow more stylish because you’re doing it in Paris. Certainly Parisians act as if they’re unique – not as a community but each individual one of them. It is the city of moi. As they walk down the street they’re thinking, look at moi. Even when they’re kissing a friend on the cheeks, they’re saying it – moi, moi. And the obsession driving each moi is its lifestyle. Parisians have elevated lifestyle to an art – no, more than an art, it is (as only the French can say properly) a raison d’être.' City-Lit Paris is Introduced by Stephen Clarke, bestselling author of A Year in the Merde. To read more of Stephen Clarke's introduction download the extract. A 'piece of passion' from Heather Reyes, series editor of the Cit-Lit series: 'I’ve been in love with Paris since my very first visit as a teenager. In those pre-Eurostar days, it seemed an adventure just getting there — the slow, musty train down through Kent, struggling your luggage onto the ferry at Dover, the worry about the weather for ‘the crossing’ (would I need the Kwells?), watching the white cliffs recede and searching the horizon for the first glimpse of the French coast, the wind pulling your hair and putting salt on your lips. Then those magical letters, SNCF, on the side of the oddly high-up train from Calais, the long stop at Amiens and finally … finally …(the excitement overcoming the fatigue of the journey)…PARIS. But, oh the relief of that first, fast, simple Eurostar journey! The exhilaration of knowing you could get THERE so quickly and easily. But still the same feeling, stepping onto the platform at Gare du Nord, of life moving into higher gear. That’s what Paris is to me — life lived more intensely, more vividly, both in the senses (that smell of strawberries from the stall at the foot of rue Moufftard) and in the mind (favourite bookshops … La Hune, Gibert Jeune, Shakespeare and Company, … the streets haunted by the ghosts of writers and philosophers past … Abelard, Montaigne, Diderot, Voltaire, Hugo, Balzac, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus …)So, to have the opportunity of choosing and editing material for a collection of writing about the city was a dream come true, and I had the time of my life.' To read more of Heather Reyes' 'piece of passion' download the extract. You can also visit the Twitter page for this title by clicking here.
Two stories from this collection (Served Cold by Zoë Sharp and Mother's Milk by Chris Simms) are shortlisted for the CWA Short Story Dagger 2009. You may read both of them by downloading the extract. A collection of 35 short stories brought together by an expert in the field, and also one of Lovereading’s ‘Expert Voices’, Maxim Jakubowski. Plenty for the crime buff to get their teeth in to and perfect for trying out that new crime author you haven’t tried yet!
MAXIM JAKUBOWSKI - My MAMMOTH BOOK OF EROTICA collection has now been going for 15 years. The initial best-selling volume was an attempt to demonstrate the breadth and sheer quality of the genre and initiated a whole new wave of collections and also includes first rate stories by many names you would not usually associate with erotica (Amis, Self, Clive Barker, Anne Rice, Leonard Cohen, etc...)
The second crime/thriller anthology from Mira. This time edited by Lee Child and the stories all come from new upcoming writers, with an introduction to each from established writers. The perfect book for dipping in to for a short, sharp dose of crime.
EMILY DUBBERLEY & ALY FIXTER - Another outstanding collection of red hot stories, with proceeds going to breast cancer charity, ULTIMATE BURLESQUE celebrates the art of strip tease with new tales from the creme de la creme of Britain’s new generation of erotic writers. As surprising as it is varied. Lovereading view... October is Cancer Awareness Month and Accent Press have produced a collection of erotic short stories, revolving around the world of burlesque, with money from the sales of the books going to Cancer Awareness Charities. So maybe indulge your naughty side knowing that it is all for a very worthy cause.
Imperial War Museum London Guide. Fully illustrated with objects from the museum collection.
Prepare to be mesmerised by this spellbinding collection of brand new stories by some of the masters of modern fantasy. It will be enjoyed by readers of all ages and is guaranteed to raise the pulse and quicken the heartbeat. You don’t have to be a fantasy buff to enjoy this selection. In fact, if you’ve never read fantasy before then there’s no better way to start than to sample a range of the top writers writing today. From dark graveyards to great halls, with witches and wizards and lonely souls, these startling and original stories weave a magic all of their own.
One of Jeanette Winterson's favourite books. Chosen by the public through a survey to coincide with the 10th birthday celebrations of World Book Day 2007, this title is one of ‘the ten books the nation can’t live without’. Have you read them all? Below are links to each title and position on the list. 1. Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen 2. The Lord of the Rings JRR Tolkien 3. Jane Eyre Charlotte Brontë 4. Harry Potter JK Rowling 5. To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee 6. The Bible 7. Wuthering Heights Emily Brontë 8. Nineteen Eighty-Four George Orwell 9. His Dark Materials Philip Pullman10. Great Expectations Charles Dickens
No holds are barred in this touching, funny and alarmingly insightful ‘family’ story about the downs and sometimes! ups of living with 3 teenagers. These three are no saints but, as their mother fondly remembers sometimes, they were once sweet little babies and toddlers. Ever optimistic that they will revert to some of those more pleasing ways but also realistic about the genuine complexities of growing up, each of these episodes will get to the heart of all parents – although they may be shocked at how these parents allow themselves to be addressed!
This is a fascinating collection of inspiring stories and ideas from a varied selection of individuals. Entrepreneurs to peace campaigners, environmentalist to civil rights lawyer, these stories are encouraging and motivating. The title of the book is from a quote by Gandhi “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” and hopefully these accounts will inspire and challenge you.
This book was to inform and entertain girls at the turn of the twentieth century and makes for a fascinating and highly amusing (in some places) read. Subjects reach from advice on the excesses of tea drinking to pigeon keeping and making a home. Although some of these things we might consider incredibly sexist now it a lovely snapshot of a by-gone era and there are still some handy tips for the modern girl, surely everyone wants to know how to make home-made sweets!
A comprehensive reading guide packed with 100 recommended titles from classics to current bestsellers … in fact a rival to me! But joking apart, it’s an excellent little book giving you a synopsis, background information, discussion points and reviews to a diverse selection of titles. Something for everyone.
This all-new step-by-step cookbook from the Good Housekeeping Institute is the only guide to cooking that you will ever need. With tips, tricks and trouble-shooting advice on all the essential cooking techniques - from making perfect stocks and sauces to baking never-fail cakes - this is a one-stop reference guide for both new and experienced cooks. It is divided into twenty easy-to-use chapters - from the basics such as Eggs, Fish and Poultry and game birds to Pasta and noodles, Breads, Chocolate, and Ice creams. Each section opens with clearly photographed step-by-step techniques demonstrating all the essential skills, followed by a fabulous collection of beautifully photographed recipes that put these skills into practice. This book is also an invaluable source of basic information, including cooking time charts, conversion tables, nutritional advice, tips on health and safety and a glossary of cooking terms. With over 450 techniques and 300 delicious, triple-tested recipes, this invaluable kitchen reference guide and inspirational cookbook is a must-have for every cook.
This is the first anthology of thriller short-stories ever written. Highly readable, if not down right spine chilling, this is the ideal book for dipping in and out of. Edited by James Patterson who is one of the biggest selling novelists in the world, it includes contributions from some very well know writers including Lee Child, MJ Rose, Denise Hamilton, James Siegel and Gayle Lynds and some lesser known who are well worth discovering. It's fantastic if you like to read a complete story before bedding down for the night and we can't wait for the second anthology to appear.
This companion to the work of one of Britain's best-loved novelists celebrates the centenary of her birth.
The best entries from the short-story competition run by the Sun to coincide with the launch of Quick Reads 2006. A surprising, funny and refreshing read.
This is a celebration of mothers told through short stories and recollections from various well known authors and commentators such as Kate Atkinson, Meera Syal, Gervase Phinn, Alexander McCall Smith, Jilly Cooper, Jenny Murray and many more. The book has illustrations from Quentin Blake and Shirley Hughes and is a marvellous and delightful tribute to mothers everywhere. Guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye and warm the heart of any mother this Mothering Sunday.
The latest collection from the New Scientist’s ‘Last Word’ column that gave us Does Anything Eat Wasps? last Christmas. To wit, another entertaining and fascinating compilation for dipping into and sharing this Christmas. It is such an easy present to give to anyone with an enquiring mind, whatever their age or gender.
What do young girls do these days without their weekly ‘Jackie’? In the 70’s it was a sensation, now be transported back to the days before Vicky Pollard when young girls idolised David Cassidy, loved their platform shoes and would avidly read Jackie’s agony aunt column. The Best of Jackie Annual is packed full of the features the readers loved including some 70’s fashion tips, choice ‘real life’ stories and the very insightful ‘Jackie guide to reading your man’s thoughts by the way he sits down.
Politicians and sex scandals have been the subject of many a fiction (and fact but, I still can’t picture Edwina and John having sex). However, this book is (we are lead to believe) a true account (names withheld) and it makes for pretty lurid reading (you have been warned!). We follow our anonymous politician through increasingly exotic encounters involving a fair number of other politicians. Unsurprisingly the identity of the author is much sought after as it would make pages of tabloid coverage. However, you have to ask, why write the book if you want to stay anonymous? And if you do know who the author is just drop us a quick email!
Perfect beach reading - involving, emotional, poignant, sexy short stories from top women fiction writers. Better still, the short stories mean you don't lose track of time and end up with a lop sided tan!
Stuck for something to read? Whether you’re searching for a book to blow your mind and change your life, or a light read for the beach, particularly at a time when you can’t lay your hands on a computer that’s online in order to refer to www.lovereading.co.uk The Ultimate Teen Book Guide provides the perfect place to start. Here at Lovereading we feel this guide alongside its sister guides The Ultimate Book Guide and The Ultimate First Book Guide complement what we are doing both on Lovereading and Lovereading4kids – that of instilling a love of books from an early age. Of course, in addition Lovereading and Lovereading4kids are also able to whet your appetite via extracts of our ‘featured’ titles as a consequence of being on the web. So, you can always go online and see if we at Lovereading have featured the title you are interested in and read the extract. It’s likely that many of your favourite authors (see a selection of the contributors below) have recommended over 700 books, so prepare to be inspired. Whether you like fantasy, horror, chick lit, graphic novels, sci-fi, crime...From classics to must-read cult fiction as well as the more obvious bestsellers, there’s something for everyone. You’ll also find special features, teen reviews and suggestions for what to read next.
To hear a sample from this audiobook click here. The 40 Best Audio books comment: A celebration of thirty years of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, including an Anniversary Special, with an introduction by original producer David Hatch, the remastered pilot edition and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Desert Island, which features celebrities' selections from the archives. Read by: Tim Brooke-Taylor, Willie Rushton, Graeme Garden, and Barry Cryer Audio Length: 1 hour and 53 min.
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