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Swinging: The Games Your Neighbours Play
Swinging: The Games Your Neighbours Play
Mark Brendon
¥95.75
The Games Your Neighbours Play Your neighbours are doing it. Your relatives are doing it. Even your colleagues are doing it. (Especially your colleagues.) But what is swinging? Despite being an activity enjoyed by millions worldwide (4 million in the US alone), little is known about the enormous subculture that exists. Turned on to swinging by a chance series of events in his life, author Mark Brendon found it to be stimulating, satisfying and emotionally rewarding, an experience totally at odds with the often cynical and always inaccurate picture presented by the media. Opening with an orgy scene where a tetchy husband is urging his otherwise-engaged wife to ‘hurry up, the babysitter’s waiting’ this revealing and edifying book is sure to shock some but aims to paint a realistic picture of the relative normality of this style of living. Filled with case studies, conversations and bon mots Brendon expertly crafts a fascinating book that manages to be an absorbing take on social history and a stimulating work of erotica all rolled into one. Honest, funny, thoughtful and erotic the author entertains and enlightens the reader as he describes attending parties held in clubs, on beaches and in private homes throughout Britain and beyond. He explores why, where and how your neighbours swing, outlines the subculture’s history, principles and rules and looks to a future in which swinging might just save some of our most cherished institutions – including marriage itself. Thoughtful, racy and funny, this fascinating book will appeal to experienced swingers and 'vanillas' alike. This is the only accurate guide available; a remarkable and fascinating insight into the world of swingers by a skilled and accomplished writer.
The Rise and Fall of a Domestic Diva
The Rise and Fall of a Domestic Diva
Sarah May
¥63.77
The queen of the black-hearted soap opera is back! Welcome to the upwardly mobile Prendergast Road… On Prendergast Road, deep in Nappy Valley, among olive trees in terracotta, lower fuel emissions, Lithuanian prostitutes, teenage drug dealers, stalkers and soaring house prices, five desperate women wait… The progeny of the IVF generation is ready to start school and only one of them is destined to get a place in Nappy Valley's most oversubscribed cradle of learning. How far will these women go to get that place? Follow Kate Hunter into the depths of her impeccably honed life, as she struggles to maintain the fa?ade of perfection. When exactly did life become a life class? Is happiness overrated? Is it just possible that beneath the flawless sheen of her friends' and neighbours' amazingly trouble-free lives, beneath the freshly-ironed shirts and home-grown veg, lie the same half-truths, the same uncertainties and the same desperation to keep up with the Joneses…?
Me and My Brothers
Me and My Brothers
Charlie Kray,Robin McGibbon
¥63.18
An updated edition of the bestselling autobiography of Charlie Kray, elder brother of the Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie, who are brought to the screen this autumn in a major motion picture. Charlie Kray was the only person who knew the truth behind the terrifying violence of his notorious twin brothers, Ronnie and Reggie. In his dying days, reflecting on how the Kray name destroyed his life, Charlie reveals what he really thought about the twins - and why they treated him so badly. Today, 40 years after the arrests that ended their so-called reign of terror, the power the Krays wielded is part of criminal folklore - and the fascination with them lives on. Charlie knew them better than anyone - from the extortion racket that provided riches beyond their dreams and the sexual liaison that took them into the corridors of power to the murderous mayhem the twins embarked on as they came to see themselves as beyond the law. In this fully updated edition of his best-selling autobiography, Charlie Kray reveals a side of Ronnie and Reggie that not even their closest henchmen ever saw.
Trixie Fights For Furry Rights
Trixie Fights For Furry Rights
Ros Asquith
¥45.42
Trixie is a feisty, funny ten-and-three quarters-year-old who knows exactly what she thinks and is always ready to share it! Irresistible illustrated stories from the creator of the highly successful Teenage Worrier series. Trixie's beloved doggy Harpo (yes, the infamous Doggy Yap Star) had puppies and the day has come to find them a new home, much to Trixie's despair. Nothing she says can convince her parents that they really DO need to keep all of the Very Extremely cuddly and talented furry friends. Nobody understands that Trixie is the only person who can bring up puppies, when everyone else keeps calling them "Dumb Animals" and outrageous things like that. Especially the local posh lady who wants to buy THE WHOLE LITTER, convincing Trixie that they have their very own Cruella de Ville situation on hand. Naturally, Trixie has a plan involving a school project, teaching the new dogs old tricks, and a Very Extremely Brilliant trap!!
Darkmans
Darkmans
Nicola Barker
¥68.67
Shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker Prize, an epic novel of startling originality which confirms Nicola Barker as one of Britain's most exciting literary talents. If history is a sick joke which keeps on repeating, then who keeps on telling it? Could it be John Scogin, Edward IV's jester, whose favourite skit was to burn people alive? Or could it be Andrew Boarde, physician to Henry VIII, who wrote John Scogin's biography? Or could it be a Kurd called Gaffar whose days are blighted by an unspeakable terror of salad? Or a beautiful bulimic with brittle bones? Or a man who guards Beckley Woods with a Samurai sword and a pregnant terrier? Darkmans is a very modern book, set in ridiculously modern Ashford, about two old-fashioned subjects: love and jealousy. And the main character? The past, creeping up on the present and whispering something quite dark into its ear. Darkmans is the third of Nicola Barker's visionary Thames Gateway novels. Following Wide Open (winner Dublin IMPAC award 2000) and Behindlings it confirms one of Britain's most original literary talents.
The Fields of Grief
The Fields of Grief
Giles Blunt
¥53.76
A terrifying psychological thriller in which a spate of suicides could just be the work of a serial killer; featuring homicide detectives Cardinal and Delorme from the award-winning ‘Forty Words for Sorrow’. Photographer Catherine Cardinal’s fatal fall from a high building one moonlit night is ruled an act of suicide. She has a history of depression, a note is found and her psychiatrist is not surprised. But her husband, John Cardinal, won’t accept this conclusion. Driven by grief and guilt, he launches his own investigation, helped by his reluctant colleagues. And when vicious notes appear, taunting him for his loss, his theory that she was murdered suddenly seems to be credible. Cardinal revisits his past, searching for a possible suspect among his previous arrests. Someone with a grudge, a person twisted enough to target his innocent wife in revenge. But could he be looking in the wrong place? The mystery deepens when he uncovers a spate of tragic suicides, leading him to investigate a startling new possibility – one so shocking, it has never been suspected…
Black Fly Season
Black Fly Season
Giles Blunt
¥65.53
The third atmospheric psychological thriller featuring detectives Cardinal and Delorme, from the award-winning author of FORTY WORDS FOR SORROW. Sacrifice for the spirits or brutal murder? Someone in Algonquin Bay is out for blood. A young woman has been shot in the head. She can't remember why anyone wants to hurt her, or even her own name. Then a body turns up – Wombat Guthrie, biker and drug dealer, has taken his last ride. It's unlikely that the two cases are linked, but detectives Cardinal and Delorme keep encountering a name – 'Red Bear'. A Chippewa shaman, Red Bear has recently moved into drugs and has enlisted the help of the spirit world. In return the 'spirits' demand sacrifice – human sacrifice. As the woman regains her memory, Cardinal suspects that she may not be as innocent as she appears. And what of Red Bear? Really a shaman? Or just another dealer with an appetite for murder? The truth must be found before the spirits claim another 'sacrifice'…
The Tyranny of Numbers: Why Counting Can’t Make Us Happy
The Tyranny of Numbers: Why Counting Can’t Make Us Happy
David Boyle
¥82.01
Never before have we attempted to measure as much as we do today. Why are we so obsessed with numbers? What can they really tell us? Too often we try to quantify what can’t actually be measured. We count people, but not individuals. We count exam results rather than intelligence, benefit claimants instead of poverty. The government has set itself 10,000 new targets. Politicians pack their speeches with skewed statistics: crime rates are either rising or falling depending on who is doing the counting. We are in a world in which everything designed only to be measured. If it can’t be measured it can be ignored. But the big problem is what numbers don’t tell you. They won’t interpret. They won’t inspire, and they won’t tell you precisely what causes what. In this passionately argued and thought-provoking book, David Boyle examines our obsession with numbers. He reminds us of the danger of taking numbers so seriously at the expense of what is non-measurable, non-calculable: intuition, creativity, imagination, happiness… Counting is a vital human skill. Yardsticks are a vital tool. As long as we remember how limiting they are if we cling to them too closely. Americans who claim to have been abducted by aliens = 3.7 million Average time spent by British people in traffic jams every year = 11 days Number of Americans shot by children under six between 1983 and 1993 = 138, 490
Rosa and the Special Prize (Magic Ballerina, Book 10)
Rosa and the Special Prize (Magic Ballerina, Book 10)
Darcey Bussell
¥16.87
Return to the magical world of Enchantia in the captivating second series of Magic Ballerina by Darcey Bussell! King Neptune, ruler of the underwater kingdom, has accused King Tristan of taking his special sceptre and as a punishment he's cast a storm spell over Enchantia! Can Rosa and Nutmeg find out who really has the sceptre or will Enchantia be gloomy forever?
Rosa and the Magic Moonstone (Magic Ballerina, Book 9)
Rosa and the Magic Moonstone (Magic Ballerina, Book 9)
Darcey Bussell
¥16.87
Return to the magical world of Enchantia in the captivating second series of Magic Ballerina by Darcey Bussell! Everyone in Madame Za-Za’s class is taking part in their first ballet exams and Rosa is feeling pretty confident about passing hers. But right in the middle of the exam she is whisked away to Enchantia. The magical moonstone has broken and all of the ballets have become muddled up! Can Rosa put things right?
13 Little Blue Envelopes
13 Little Blue Envelopes
Maureen Johnson
¥58.86
Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it’s all because of 13 little blue envelopes… Perfect summer read from Queen of Teen 2012 Ginny, aged 17, is left 13 little blue envelopes by her free-spirited young Aunt Peg. Little does she know just how much they will change her life… ? Inside envelope No 1 is money and instructions to buy a plane ticket. ? Inside envelope No 2 are directions to a specific London flat ? Inside envelope No 3 a note to Ginny says: Find a starving artist. ? And because of envelope No 4 Ginny and a man called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous – though utterly romantic – results.
What Women Want Men To Know
What Women Want Men To Know
Barbara De Angelis
¥72.40
What makes women tick? And how can women and men use this knowledge to make a great relationship? Top relationships expert tells you how ‘What Women Want Men To Know’ is a book for men and women alike. Barbara De Angelis reveals what makes women tick, just why it is they do what they do – in relationships, in bed, and in day to day communication. And what they want from their men. Essential reading for the man who wants to understand his partner better, it is also a must for the woman who wants to understand her own relationship and needs: “first and foremost this book is for you as a woman to read. It wasn’t written just to help men understand you – it is an invitation for you to know and understand yourself more than you ever have before… ” The book includes the top 10 turn offs for women in bed and the top 10 turn ons. At a time when our stressed-out lifestyles are making healthy, fulfilled relationships increasingly elusive, the foremost female writer in this genre has provided, yet again, a route to a greater understanding of the one you love. This is vintage De Angelis.
Delphie and the Magic Ballet Shoes (Magic Ballerina, Book 1)
Delphie and the Magic Ballet Shoes (Magic Ballerina, Book 1)
Darcey Bussell
¥11.09
Prima Ballerina Darcey Bussell takes you on a captivating journey to a faraway land of ballet and magic, the wonderful world of Enchantia! The first of a sparkly new series for all young girls who dream of being a ballerina, or simply love to dance… Delphie’s greatest dream is to become a ballerina, and she can't quite believe it when she is invited to join the new ballet school. But there's more to Madame Zarakova's than it at first seems and with the help of some very special ballet shoes, Delphie finds herself spinning into a whole new world…
Live the Dream
Live the Dream
Josephine Cox
¥57.09
When friendship becomes love, two people must face their greatest fear – being hurt again…The powerful bestseller from the country’s number one storyteller. Luke Hammond: handsome, rich, charismatic, cursed by private tragedy. Amy Atkinson: humble and kind with a good – but wounded – heart. When they meet by chance, a spark of love takes hold of their hearts. But neither are sure that they can dare to love again. And what of Luke's public life, hidden from Amy? The owner of a large factory, he is a pillar of the community, married – though in name only. Amy is torn between her head and her heart, but her sense of honour is paramount – and when she discovers his true identity, she is thrown into even greater turmoil. Then disaster strikes and the future looks troubled indeed ….
Lovers and Liars
Lovers and Liars
Josephine Cox
¥54.45
Another page-turning story of tragedy and triumph from the No.1 bestselling author of The Loner and The Journey. In the sleepy Lancashire village of Salmesbury, childhood sweethearts Emily and John are secretly planning a life together when they are cruelly forced apart. Already abandoned by her father, and unhappy at home, Emily is heartbroken when John leaves the village. Her life takes a devastating turn for the worse when she gives birth to a child. She dare not reveal the identity of the child's father or there will be a terrible price to pay. Many miles away, John is trying to forget Emily and forge a new life. Having carried her in his heart for years, a chance encounter leads him to believe she has forgotten him. Emily has never been able to banish thoughts of John. But when it looks as though history is about to repeat itself, Emily must put the past – and John – behind her and safeguard her daughter. But can she forget him?
The Journey
The Journey
Josephine Cox
¥45.62
This bestseller from the country’s number one storyteller is a deeply moving and powerful tale of love and courage and a sacrifice no man should be asked to make. Three strangers are thrown together by chance. It’s an encounter which is destined to change all of their lives for ever. When Ben Morris comes to the aid of Lucy Baker and her daughter Mary, he is intrigued by the story behind their frequent visits to the local graveyard. Later, invited into their home, an old Edwardian place suffused with secrets of the past, Ben hears Lucy’s remarkable tale – one she must tell before it’s too late. The story of Barney Davidson, his family and the part Lucy played in his extraordinary life, is one of a deep, abiding love and an incredible sacrifice.
Specimen Days
Specimen Days
Michael Cunningham
¥81.03
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of ‘The Hours’ and new novel ‘The Snow Queen’, time, technology and love are the central concerns of a provocative novel that calls to mind David Mitchell’s ‘Cloud Atlas’. Lucas, Catherine, Simon: three characters meet time and again in the three linked narratives that form ‘Specimen Days’. The first, a science fiction of the past, tells of a boy whose brother was ‘devoured’ by the machine he operated. The second is a noirish thriller set in our century, as a police psychologist attempts to track down a group of terrorists. And the third and final strand accompanies two strange beings into the future. A novel of connecting and reconnecting, inspired by the writings of the great visionary poet Walt Whitman, ‘Specimen Days’ is a genre-bending, haunting ode to life itself – a work of surpassing power and beauty by one of the most original and daring writers at work today.
A Weekend with Mr Darcy (Austen Addicts)
A Weekend with Mr Darcy (Austen Addicts)
Victoria Connelly
¥57.09
A romance-filled page-turner for any Austen fanatic who’s ever dreamt of spending a weekend with Mr Darcy… Katherine Roberts is fed up with men. As a lecturer specialising in the works of Jane Austen, she knows that the ideal man only exists within the pages of Pride & Prejudice and that in real life there is no such thing. Determined to go it alone, she finds all the comfort she needs reading her guilty pleasure – regency romances from the pen of Lorna Warwick – with whom she has now struck up an intimate correspondence. Austen fanatic, Robyn Love, is blessed with a name full of romance, but her love life is far from perfect. Stuck in a rut with a bonehead boyfriend, Jace, and a job she can do with her eyes shut – her life has hit a dead end. Robyn would love to escape from it all but wouldn't know where to start. They both decide to attend the annual Jane Austen Conference at sumptuous Purley Hall, overseen by the actress and national treasure, Dame Pamela Harcourt. Robyn is hoping to escape from Jace for the weekend and indulge in her passion for all things Austen. Katherine is hoping that Lorna Warwick will be in attendance and is desperate to meet her new best friend in the flesh. But nothing goes according to plan and Robyn is aghast when Jace insists on accompanying her, whilst Katherine is disappointed to learn that Lorna won't be coming. However, an Austen weekend wouldn't be the same without a little intrigue, and Robyn and Katherine are about to get much more than they bargained for. Because where Jane Austen is concerned, romance is never very far away…
Sir Alf
Sir Alf
Leo McKinstry
¥110.46
Since England's famous 1966 World Cup victory, Alf Ramsey has been regarded as the greatest of all British football managers. By placing Ramsey in an historical context, award-winning author Leo McKinstry provides a thought-provoking insight into the world of professional football and the fabric of British society over the span of his life. Ramsey's life is a romantic story of heroism. Often derided by lesser men, he overcame the prejudice against his social background to reach the summit of world football. The son of a council dustman from Essex, Ramsey had been through a tough upbringing. After army service during the war, he became a professional footballer, enjoying a successful career with Southampton and Tottenham and winning 32 England caps. But it was as manager of Ipswich Town, and then the architect for England's 1966 World Cup triumph, that Ramsey will be most remembered. The tragedy was that his battles with the FA would ultimately lead to his downfall. He was sacked after England failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup and was subsequently ostracised by the football establishment. He died a broken man in 1999 in the same modest Ipswich semi he'd lived in for most of his life. Drawing on extensive interviews with his closest friends and colleagues in the game, author Leo McKinstry will help unravel the true character of this fascinating and often complex football legend.
Where’s Your Caravan?: My Life on Football’s B-Roads
Where’s Your Caravan?: My Life on Football’s B-Roads
Chris Hargreaves
¥66.22
Forget Torres, Rooney, Beckham and the like. This is what football is really about. One man’s story of a career in the lower leagues. Chris Hargreaves has been a professional footballer for twenty years. Having started out as a youth team player at Everton he made his debut for Grimsby Town in 1989 and was earmarked as their first million pound sale. It never happened. Instead he went on to play for Scarborough, Hull City, West Brom, Hereford United, Plymouth Argyle, Northampton Town, Brentford, Oxford United and Torquay United. Where's Your Caravan? is the sort of football memoir we don't see enough of these days - an account of life in the lower leagues. It takes us from his wild youth - lots of sex and drugs and drink - through to domesticated family man - school runs and flatpack furniture with plenty of football in between.
The Bridesmaid Pact
The Bridesmaid Pact
Julia Williams
¥57.09
One for all and all for one… As children, Sarah, Dorrie, Beth and Caz were inseparable and vowed to one day be each others bridesmaids. But life got complicated. Now they have one last chance to fulfil their promise. Dorrie is planning her ultimate Disney wedding to the delicious Darren and is determined to have her friends back together for the Big Day. But Dorrie's fairytale is not all that it seems… Beth is desperate for a baby and is starting to resent her more fertile friends. Is a mistake from her past about to destroy her future? Caz's wild streak has tested her friendships over the years. One by one she has let her friends down, not least when she commits the ultimate betrayal to Susan. Can she change her ways and more to the point, does she really want to? Married to Steve, Sarah is plagued by doubts that she went down the wrong path. Does Sarah have the strength to make a change and will she ever be able to forgive Caz? As Dorrie's big day dawns, all eyes are on whether the ultimate act of friendship will be honoured and obeyed…