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Back from the Brink: The Inside Story of the Tory Resurrection
Back from the Brink: The Inside Story of the Tory Resurrection
Peter Snowdon
¥109.48
Lifting the lid on the most captivating story in British politics today, ‘Back from the Brink’ charts the Conservative Party's remarkable journey from the political wilderness to the threshold of power. Based on unprecedented access to key figures in the Conservative party, including every leader from John Major to David Cameron, political journalist Peter Snowdon sheds new light on the dramatic decline and renaissance of the party that dominated 20th century British politics. He reveals how the Conservatives were torn apart by in-fighting as they struggled to come to terms with their catastrophic electoral defeat in 1997 and the continuing trauma of Margaret Thatcher's sudden removal from office several years earlier. Under a succession of hapless leaders - William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard - the party lost two further elections and at times effectively ceased to function as a political force across whole swathes of Britain. It took the emergence of a new generation of Conservatives, and David Cameron's election as leader in 2005, to set the party on the uneven road to electoral recovery. Packed full of fresh insights into what really goes on behind closed doors at Westminster, Back from the Brink exposes the bitter rivalries and recriminations that have blighted the Conservatives in Opposition, and gets to the heart of Cameron's quest for power and ambitions for office.
The Pale Abyssinian: The Life of James Bruce, African Explorer and Adventurer (T
The Pale Abyssinian: The Life of James Bruce, African Explorer and Adventurer (T
Miles Bredin
¥61.51
The biography of one of Britain’s greatest explorers by a brilliant young writer. The achievements of James Bruce are the stuff of legends. In a time when Africa was an unexplored blank on the map, he discovered the source of the Blue Nile, lived with the Emperor of Abyssinia at court in Gondar, commanded the Emperor’s horse guard in battle and fell in love with a princess. After twelve years of travels, and having cheated death on countless occasions, Bruce returned to England from his Herculean adventures only to be ridiculed and despised as a fake by Samuel Johnson and the rest of literary London. It was only when explorers penetrated the African Interior one hundred years later and were asked if they were friends with a man called Bruce, that it was finally confirmed that Bruce really had achieved what he had claimed. The Pale Abyssinian is the brilliantly told story of a man’s battle against almost insurmountable odds in a world nobody in Europe knew existed. Born in 1730, the son of a Scottish laird, James Bruce was an enormous man of six foot four with dark red hair, and he had to use all of his bearing and his wits to survive the ferocious physical battles and vicious intrigues at court in Abyssinia (Ethiopia today). His biographer, Miles Bredin, through ingenious detective work both in Bruce’s journals and in Ethiopia itself, has also unearthed a darker mission behind his travels: a secret quest to find the lost Ark of the Covenant. A highly talented and daring young writer, Miles Bredin has created a stunning account of the life and adventures of an extraordinary man. The Pale Abyssinian will re-establish once and for all the name of one of Britain’s greatest explorers who penetrated the African Interior over a century before the likes of Stanley, Livingstone and Burton set foot on the continent. Note that it has not been possible to include the same picture content that appeared in the original print version.
Meerkat Madness Flying High (Awesome Animals)
Meerkat Madness Flying High (Awesome Animals)
Ian Whybrow
¥38.36
The first animal in the hilarious Awesome Animals series – awesome adventures with the wildest wildlife. The third Meerkat Madness book in the hilarious Awesome Animals series – awesome adventures with the wildest wildlife. The Really Mad Mob is expanding! With new faces joining familiar ones in Far Burrow, the thrill-seeking meerkat pups have more exciting adventures ahead of them. Join Uncle Fearless and the intrepid pups in a brand new, sky-high Kalahari escapade! More hilarious adventures from the creator of Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs.
Revelry
Revelry
Lucy Lord
¥34.14
One summer can change everything… What happens when a friend breaks the one rule that should never be broken? Best friends Bella and Poppy are living the dream – Notting Hill glamour, Shoreditch lofts, exclusive parties and drop-dead gorgeous men. But sometimes living life to the max catches up with you, and even the strongest friendships can be pushed to the limit. Poppy, Bella and their friends spend the summer having as much fun as they possibly can – from the hedonistic escapades of Ibiza to doing Glastonbury in style. But amongst the laughter come tears, betrayal and backstabbing and one devastating decision threatens to bring it all crashing down. And, once the sunglasses have come off, Bella is forced to question if her lifelong friendship has been broken beyond repair. The perfect escapist read, Revelry will have you laughing, crying and gasping with shock.
Vanity
Vanity
Lucy Lord
¥45.62
Following on from Lucy Lord’s brilliant debut novel, Revelry, comes Vanity. Oozing with sex, wild partying and scandal join Bella and best friend Poppy as they continue to navigate the world of being young, fun and (almost) carefree. Glamorous Poppy seems to have it all, and after a long tough year she is damn well going to enjoy it. But as Poppy’s career in New York goes from strength to strength, her husband, Damian’s takes a nosedive and she begins to wonder if love really can survive anything. In London, Poppy’s best friend Bella is basking in that new-couple glow with her boyfriend Andy. But, not everything is as perfect as it seems, and Bella can’t help but be a little jealous of her best friend’s Big Apple adventures. Meanwhile, their arch-nemesis, shallow but beautiful Ben, is in Hollywood to make his name on the silver screen, and annoyingly, is doing rather well at it! From St Tropez to New York, LA to the impossibly chic Paris; join Bella, Poppy and their friends as they face the reality of friendships pushed to the limits, and embark on a road trip that they’ll never forget…
Eating Mammals
Eating Mammals
John Barlow
¥72.99
Three wonderfully original, linked novellas based on true stories from the winner of the Paris Review's Discovery Award. A new voice from Yorkshire, John Barlow has been compared to Michel Faber and T.C. Boyle. This is his first book. A winged cat wreaks havoc in a Yorkshire workhouse. An autumnal romance between two pork pie makers is celebrated with a donkey wedding. The strange career of Michael 'Cast Iron' Mulligan is revealed by his unlucky apprentice Captain Gusto, both men who eat – and eat anything – for a living. These are the stories that mark the debut of one of fiction's most original and assured new voices. And, remarkably, they all are based on fact. Gypsies, Victorian businessmen, servants, masters and unwise children come together in three gothic and moving novellas of magic and deception. Largely set in the nineteenth century, they combine the satisfactions of the finest novels with a playfulness that does not forfeit humanity. With the comic sensibility of Dickens and a taste for the macabre worthy of Irvine Welsh, John Barlow is a storyteller with a unique imagination who will continue to amaze and entertain us for many years to come.
Darkest Mercy
Darkest Mercy
Melissa Marr
¥54.84
The fifth and final breathtaking instalment in the darkly seductive and best-selling WICKED LOVELY series, about the collision of mortal and faery worlds… The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan left Huntsdale to wander aimlessly but after centuries of leading his court it was not long before the reality of being Summer King became too pressing. Violence seemed more inevitable by the day and the Summer Court was not yet strong enough to face conflict, so Keenan made a dangerous deal with the water fey. It is a desperate bargain he makes to strengthen his court against the coming war. Aislinn tends the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. She knows she must be a powerful queen to hold her court together, while Bananach becomes more and more dangerous, and she is losing faeries to her. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. Her court is still powerful, but she must remain focused on keeping them that way and not get distracted by Keenan when he shows up at her door again. The Dark Court is thrown into chaos when they are rocked by tragedy. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life. They all know what Bananach seeks – the raven-faery is the embodiment of war and discord. She and her growing number of allies want mutiny and murder. Love, despair and betrayal ignite the Faeries Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win… and some will lose everything. The thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr’s bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.
The Commodore: Aubrey/Maturin series, book 17
The Commodore: Aubrey/Maturin series, book 17
Patrick O’Brian
¥70.44
Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. Now, for the first time, they are available in electronic book format, so a whole new generation of readers can be swept away on the adventure of a lifetime. This is the seventeenth book in the series. Jack Aubrey’s long service is at last rewarded: he is promoted to the rank of Commodore and given a squadron of ships to command. His mission is twofold – to make a large dent in the slave trade off the coast of Africa and, on his return, to intercept a French fleet set for Bantry Bay with a cargo of weapons for the disaffected among the Irish. Invention and surprise follow at every turn in this tale of nineteenth-century seamanship, as rich, as compelling, as masterly as any of its predecessors.
The Hundred Days: Aubrey/Maturin series, book 19
The Hundred Days: Aubrey/Maturin series, book 19
Patrick O’Brian
¥66.22
Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. Now, for the first time, they are available in electronic book format, so a whole new generation of readers can be swept away on the adventure of a lifetime. This is the nineteenth book in the series. Following the extraordinary success of The Yellow Admiral, this latest Aubrey-Maturin novel brings alive the sights and sounds of North Africa as well as the great naval battles in the days immediately following Napoleon’s escape from Elba. Aubrey and Maturin are in the thick of the plots and counterplots to prevent his regaining power. Coloured by conspiracies in the Adriatic, in the Berber and Arab lands of the southern shores of the Mediterranean, by night actions, fierce pursuits, slave-trading and lion hunts, The Hundred Days is a masterpiece. ’O’Brian is far and away the best of the Napoleonic storytellers and The Hundred Days is one of the best of the series: a classic naval adventure, crammed with incident, superbly plotted and utterly gripping…This is O’Brian at his brilliant, entertaining best and when he is on this form the rest of us who write of the Napoleonic conflict might as well give up and try a new career. Fans of the series will need no encouragement to buy this book, but if you are new to Aubrey and Maturin then this is as splendid an introduction as you could wish for.’ Bernard Cornwell
The Final, Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey: Aubrey/Maturin series, book 21
The Final, Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey: Aubrey/Maturin series, book 21
Patrick O’Brian,William Waldegrave
¥66.22
At the time of his death, Patrick O'Brian had begun to write a novel to follow on from Blue at the Mizzen, the twentieth book in the classic series. These are the chapters he had completed of the final voyage of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. Now they are available for the first time in electronic book format. The story picks up from the end of ‘Blue at the Mizzen’ when Jack Aubrey receives the news, in Chile, of his elevation to flag rank: Rear Admiral of the Blue Squadron, with orders to sail to the South Africa station. This novel, unfinished and untitled at the time of O’Brian’s death, would have been a chronicle of that mission, and much else besides. The chapters left on O’Brian’s death are presented here both in printed version – including his corrections to the type* – and a facsimilie of his manu*, which goes several pages beyond the end of the type* and includes marginal notes by O’Brian. And so this great ‘roman fleuve’ comes to an end with Jack, with his ‘sacred blue flag’, sailing through fair, sweet days – Stephen with his dissections and new love, Killick muttering darkly over the toasted cheese… Of course, we would rather have had the whole story; instead we have this proof that O’Brian’s powers of observation, his humour and his understanding of his characters were undiminished to the end.
The Magical Peppers and the Island of Invention
The Magical Peppers and the Island of Invention
Sian Pattenden
¥46.11
A strange old theatre at the end of the pier is the setting for the next fantastic adventure full of magic and mayhem with unbeatable double act, Esme & Monty Pepper, and their madcap Uncle Potty… The Pepper twins, Esmé and Monty and their uncle Potty have been summoned to the Sea Spray Theatre on the end of Crab Pie Pier. They’re on a mission to keep the old theatre from closing and must perform the show of a lifetime to reel in the crowds. But not everyone wants the theatre to survive and a certain someone is determined to sabotage the show, whatever the cost… Add a strange island hideaway full of zany inventions (including the Great Crab Pie flytrap and the Banana-Powered Test Your Strength machine), a hair-raising helicopter rescue-mission, some dodgy fortune-telling and the world’s biggest goldfish bowl and the Peppers are in for an unforgettable summer.
Wedding Fever
Wedding Fever
Kim Gruenenfelder
¥51.50
Finding Mr Right and saying ‘yes’ was just the beginning. A delightfully romantic read for fans of Trisha Ashley and Chris Manby. After listening to her friends’ latest travails in love, parenting, and careers, superstitious bride-to-be Nicole sets to work planting silver charms into her wedding cake, each of which will bring its recipient the magical assistance needed to change her destiny. There is one for Melissa, still ringless after dating the same man for six years. Another for Seema, who is in love with her best male friend Scott. And recently laid off journalist Nic should get one too, to help her get her career back on track. Nicole does everything she can to control who gets which silver keepsake, but when the place settings are mysteriously shifted around, mayhem ensues! *Please note that this is the UK edition - in the US, the title of this book is ‘There’s Cake in My Future’*
Mother’s Ruin
Mother’s Ruin
Kitty Neale
¥34.14
You can’t choose your family… When Sally and her family have to move back to Candle Lane to look after her grandmother, the cracks in their family soon begin to show. Another compelling family drama from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lost Angel and Nobody's Girl. CRUEL When her beloved Gran has a stroke, Sally and her family move back home in order to look after her. But Sadie's illness has made the wise woman they once knew bigoted and bad-tempered. Sadie is testing everyone's patience, including Sally's mum Ruth, and her husband Arthur. CALLOUS Their problems are nothing compared with Tommy, the little ruffian next door. With an absentee father and an alcoholic mother, Tommy has a hard life. However, Ruth sees the good in him and takes him under her wing, but his unpredictable and violent mother has other ideas. CRISIS Meanwhile, the stress of living cheek-by-jowl with Sally's family is starting to push Arthur away. As cracks in their marriage begin to appear, both Sally and Arthur must work out where their priorities lie before it's too late… Another compelling family drama from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lost Angel and Nobody's Girl.
Riding Star (Pony Club Rivals, Book 3)
Riding Star (Pony Club Rivals, Book 3)
Stacy Gregg
¥51.50
There’s more backstabbing and drama as loyalties are tested to the limit in the third episode of the high life at elite riding school, Blainford Academy. Georgie tests her skills on the polo field in the latest from the author of the Uk’s bestselling pony series ‘Pony Club Secrets’. Georgie Parker has come out on top after her first term at Blainford ‘All-Stars’ Academy. But after excelling in the showjumping ring can Georgie outclass her rivals on the polo pitch too? And is Kennedy Kirkwood out to cause trouble again? Find out in the latest instalment of Blainford gossip, drama and horse-riding hijinks!
Wild
Wild
Aprilynne Pike
¥58.86
The third part of Aprilynne Pike’s extraordinary faerie tale of magic and mystery, romance and danger, described by Stephenie Meyer as ‘a remarkable debut’. On the first day of Laurel’s senior year there are two new arrivals. Tamani — the electrifying faerie with whom she shares an undeniable connection — appears, posing as a foreign exchange student. And even more disturbing is another foreign exchange student named Yuki whom Laurel quickly realises is a faerie, though the new girl doesn’t seem to have any idea who or what she really is. Laurel is determined to figure out how Yuki fits into the picture, and what connection she may have to the ever-increasing threats to her family and Avalon. Meanwhile, Laurel struggles to maintain a balance between her human boyfriend David and Tamani, with whom she shares a passionate past. But balancing two worlds is becoming more and more complicated. When the threat to Avalon grows ever stronger, Laurel’s illusion of control of the situation shatters and she must confront a danger even greater than the trolls.
Don’t Look Back
Don’t Look Back
Laura Lippman
¥51.50
Eliza Benedict’s past returns to haunt her when the serial killer she escaped from as a young girl walks back into her life. The nail-shredding novel from New York Times bestseller, Laura Lippman. 25 years ago, he stole her innocence. Now he wants to get in touch. Eliza Benedict cherishes her quiet existence with her successful husband and children in the leafy suburbs of suburban Washington. But her tranquillity is shattered when she receives a letter from the last person she ever expects – or wants – to hear from: Walter Bowman. In the summer of 1985 when she was fifteen-years-old, Eliza was kidnapped by serial killer Walter Bowman, who targeted young girls like Eliza in a sexually motivated killing spree. Now facing lethal injection on death row, Walter is keen to make contact with Eliza, seemingly motivated by a desire to atone for his sins before he finally meets his maker. Carefully, with some reluctance, she lets Walter enter her life, first by letter, then in person. Walter is keen to convince Eliza that he has changed but it becomes clear that Walter has more of an agenda than he first revealed. Cunning and manipulative, Walter is never more dangerous than when he can't get what he wants, and he wants something very badly. Disturbingly, he seems to have an ally working in the outside, one who seems to know everything about Eliza's life – including where she lives. As Walter once again manages to exert his malign influence, Eliza must draw on all of her reserves of wisdom and strength as the battle of predator and prey once more plays out and she must face the past head on if she is to survive. A taut and mesmerizing novel by the highly-acclaimed author of Life Sentences and Every Secret Thing.
Baking Made Easy
Baking Made Easy
Lorraine Pascale
¥147.35
A tv tie-in with Lorraine Pascale, the model baker. Supermodel turned patisserie chef Lorraine Pascale is the BBC's new home baking heroine. In this gorgeous new cookbook to accompany the series, Lorraine shares her expertise, passion and her all time favourite sweet and savoury recipes. Baking is back and as a qualified baker with years of experience in some of the country's hottest restaurants, Lorraine knows just how to create modern, delicious and inspiring recipes. Here you'll find 100 mouth watering recipes for every kind of baked goody – including breads, cakes, tarts, pies and much much more. Lorraine draws on her training to reveal all her top baking shortcuts, cheats, confessions and tips on how to create wonderful tasting food that will inspire both seasoned cooks and novices. Whether for time crunch suppers, dinner parties for your closest friends, laid back tea parties or lazy breakfasts for your loved one, there are recipes for every occasion. You'll find new twists on old favourites – like Lorraine 's Incredibly Naughty Mini Toad-in-the-Hole or her Baked Alaska with Champagne Strawberries, along with modern classics like Parmesan Lollipops and Pumpkin and Chestnut Empanadas. So, whether you're a kitchen adventurer or cautious cook, get the oven on, it's time to discover the modern delights of baking. Urban, sexy, independent and effortlessly stylish Lorraine will be a breath of fresh air to the world of cookery.
The Fix
The Fix
Damian Thompson
¥68.67
Addictions to iphones, painkillers, cupcakes, alcohol and sex are taking over our lives. Our most casual daily habits can quickly become obsessions that move beyond our control. Damian Thompson, who has himself struggled with a range of addictions, argues that human desire is in the process of being reshaped. Shunning the concept of addiction as disease, he shows how manufacturers are producing substances like ipads, muffins and computer games that we learn to like too much and supplement tradition addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling. He argues that addictive behaviour is becoming a substitute for family and work bonds that are being swept away by globalisation and urbanisation. This battle to control addiction will soon overshadow familiar ideological debates about how to run the economy, and as whole societies set about “fixing” themselves, the architecture of human relations will come under strain as never before. The Fix offers a truly frightening glimpse of the future and is essential reading for fans of Naomi Klein’s ‘No Logo’, Oliver James’s ‘Affluenza’ and Francis Wheen’s ‘How Mumbo-jumbo Conquered the World’.
How Did All This Happen?
How Did All This Happen?
John Bishop
¥69.26
If you’re a man of a certain age you’ll know there comes a point in life when getting a sports car and over-analysing your contribution to society sounds like a really good idea. With a good job in sales and marketing and a nice house in Manchester that he shared with his wife and kids, John Bishop was no different when he turned the dreaded 4-0. But instead of spanking a load of cash on a car that would have made him look like a senior stylist at Vidal Sassoon, he stumbled onto a pathway that ultimately lead him to become one of the nation’s best loved comedians. It was a gamble, but boy, did it pay off. How Did All This Happen? is the story of how a boy who, growing up on a council estate dreaming of ousting Kenny Dalglish from Liverpool FC’s starting line-up, suddenly found himself on stage in front of thousands of people nationwide, at an age when he should have known better. In his own inimitable style, John guides us through his life from leaving the estate and travelling the globe on a shoe string, to marriage, kids and the split that led him to being on a stage complaining to strangers one night – the night that changed his life and started his journey to stardom. Wonderfully entertaining and packed with colourful reminiscences and comical anecdotes, this is a heart-warming, life-affirming and ultimately very, very funny memoir from one of the nation’s greatest comedians.
Digital SLR Handbook
Digital SLR Handbook
John Freeman
¥125.18
This is the definitive practical guide to getting the most out of your digital SLR camera, written by top working photographer, John Freeman. Full of inspiring photography and professional tips, it is ideal for all keen amateur photographers and those aspiring to move over from using a traditional film SLR camera. The digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera is now the must-have camera for all serious amateur photographers. Whether you already own one or are thinking of making the move from a point-and-shoot digital camera or a film SLR, this practical guide will provide all the help, advice and inspiration you need. Chapters include: understanding the DSLR system, seeing the picture, photographing landscapes, nature, people, architecture, still life, action, getting more from your DSLR and post-production techniques.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Katie Bishop
¥76.91
Over 100 delicious, each-to-achieve recipes for your slow cooker. Tired of the same slow-cooked meals? Best-selling cookery writer Katie Bishop's latest collection of mouth-watering dishes will motivate you to dust off your slow cooker and enjoy tasty, satisfying food. From flavour-packed main meals such as Beef Curry with Whole Spices, Aromatic Chicken with lemon and Creamy Roasted Garlic and Rocket Pasta Sauce, to yummy desserts like Moist Orange and Almond Cake and Double Chocolate and Pear Pudding, Katie offers straightforward dishes that can be prepared in advance and eaten when you're ready. Katie’s fresh ideas, helpful advice on making the most of your cooker and easy-to-follow recipes provide new inspiration for anyone who wants to produce perfect meals every time. Enjoy: ? Soups and light meals ? Chillis and pasta sauces ? Curries and spicy dishes ? Braises and stews ? ‘Roasts’ ? Super-slow food ? Feasts and celebrations ? Puddings, cakes and sweet sauces