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London Born: A Memoir of a Forgotten City
London Born: A Memoir of a Forgotten City
Sidney Day
¥81.03
An extraordinary memoir from a man in his nineties who remembers everyday life in a North London now long gone: the hardships and deprivations of a life of poverty but also the resourcefulness and fortitude of a community determined to survive between the wars. 'When I look back, I can picture the old gels chinwagging on their steps in the Bay like it was yesterday. Little did they think that young Sid, passing by with his arse out of his trousers, would one way publish his memoirs!' 'Ordinary' people do not write their stories, believing their lives to be unremarkable. Some, like Sid, cannot write at all. But, with the aid of his granddaughter Helen Day, Sid has produced an extraordinary memoir of a city and a way of life now lost forever. 'London Born' is a book that has appeared against all the odds - as Sid says, 'When me granddaughter Helen Day said she wanted to record the story of the first half of me life and turn it into a book I was astonished. I thought to meself, Well, I've done a lot of things, but I never dreamt I'd get into the book game. You see, I can't write more than me own name.' In 'London Born', Sid remembers the city that emerged from the First World War and recreates the daily life of the people living in the notorious street known as 'Tiger Bay'. He describes the drinking and merrymaking, the poverty and unemployment - and the 'villainry'. With relish he relates how youthful high spirits and a refusal to accept the hardship of the times sometimes put him and his friends on the wrong side of the law. He goes on to tell of the wartime mayhem endured by Londoners and his determination to survive. His story closes with demobilisation when he returns to his wife and young family - 'the only thing that ever counted'. This is a memoir from a warm and cheeky voice; from someone who remembers, as if it were yesterday, parading down Archway in his fifty-bob suit, or running rings around Ernie Costen, the local policeman.
The Geneva Deception
The Geneva Deception
James Twining
¥34.14
Mafia, a secret society and the world’s greatest treasures all converge in James Twining’s all new jaw–dropping thriller featuring reformed art thief Tom Kirk It begins with a young man hanging from the Ponte Sant' Angelo Rome, his pockets weighed down with lead whilst the current of the river below slowly tightens the noose around his neck. Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, retired art thief Tom Kirk is asked by an old friend to investigate a case involving the theft of a long lost Caravaggio painting. When tragedy strikes Tom is left holding a blood-soaked body. Back in Rome Art Protection Squad officer Allegra Damico has been called to the Parthenon where a second body has been found, It begins with a young man hanging from the Ponte Sant' Angelo Rome, his pockets weighed down with lead whilst the current of the river below slowly tightens the noose around his neck. Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, retired art thief Tom Kirk is asked by an old friend to investigate a case involving the theft of a long lost Caravaggio painting. When tragedy strikes Tom is left holding a blood-soaked body. Back in Rome police Lieutenant Allegra Damico has been called to the Parthenon where a second body has been found, but this time the body is surrounded by mannequins. When a third body is found crucified upside down in the middle of the ancient forum Allegra realises there is a sinister link between the murders. Someone is staging famous Caravaggio paintings. Suspecting the detective leading the case is corrupt Allegra begins her own investigation. Spurred on by grief and the desire to avenge the murder of his friend, Tom follows a trail to Rome where he finds Allegra piecing together a similar mystery. Before long they both find themselves submerged in a vast criminal conspiracy involving the police, politicians, the church and a secret society born of a pact between two Mafia families decades before.
The Good Divorce Guide
The Good Divorce Guide
Cristina Odone
¥58.86
‘I believe we can separate in a really civilised, non-traumatic way’ I say. ‘And I bet’ Jill says ‘ that you believe in Father Christmas too.’ When Rosie Martin discovers that Jonathan, her husband of 15 years, is having an affair, she feels that her world is falling apart. That is, until she realises that she's actually fallen out of love with him, too. So Rosie and Jonathan decide to go their separate ways, determined to be civilised about their divorce, for the sake of the children – in short, to have a 'good divorce'… But even the best of intentions and the most mature of objectives can be no match for external forces. Cue the rest of the world, where divorce is always a dirty word. Everyone and everything seems determined to conspire to make this divorce bitter – the lawyer, the estate agent, the botox man, the friends, not least their respective families… ‘The Good Divorce Guide’ is a touching, witty, funny story about starting afresh and learning to find your own way in life, no matter what anyone says.
Last Christmas
Last Christmas
Julia Williams
¥51.50
It’s the most wonderful time of year. Isn’t it? Discover the true spirit of Christmas with this seasonal treat for fans of Love, Actually and The Holiday. Discover the true spirit of Christmas… Catherine Tinsall is dreading Christmas. As the 'Happy Homemaker' she is an online sensation, but the reality couldn't be more different. With Catherine's marriage in tatters, her children running wild and her mother increasingly forgetful, seasonal cheer is running low. Husband Noel also hides a secret: he's facing the axe at work. Until he chances upon the village of Hope Christmas, deep in the Shropshire countryside, which could be the second chance he's searching for. If he can save it from the developers… In Hope Christmas itself, schoolteacher Marianne Moore is trying to heal her battered heart. But Christmas is a time for families, and memories of what she's lost haunt her at every turn. Meanwhile, Gabriel North faces a lonely Christmas but hides his sadness for the sake of his son. Will his wife ever come home? Or does love lie elsewhere? All four need a Christmas miracle. And it might just happen - courtesy of a mysterious guardian angel … Forced to reassess their lives, will Catherine, Noel, Marianne and Gabriel discover what the meaning of Christmas really is? An irresistible gift of a tale that will warm the hearts of Christmas-lovers and Scrooges alike…
The Lost Labyrinth
The Lost Labyrinth
Will Adams
¥59.15
Fact collides with fiction in Will Adams third pulse-pounding adventure featuring the enigmatic Daniel Knox. Twenty years after vanishing without a trace, French archaeologist Roland Petitier makes a dramatic reappearance at a major Athens conference, promising an astonishing find - the legendary Golden Fleece. But before he can give his talk, he’s found dead in a hotel room; and an out-of-control policeman puts Petitier’s onetime protégé Augustin Pascal into intensive care, then later accuses him of Petitier’s murder. Only Augustin’s two closest friends, Daniel Knox and Gaille Bonnard can prove his innocence. However, rumours of the fleece’s rediscovery have spread, and. ambitious Georgian oligarch Nergadze is determined to get it first. He sends his psychopathic grandson Mikhail to Athens with orders to bring it back. Mikhail quickly becomes convinced that Dan Knox has it, and slowly moves in for the kill…
Twelve Rooms with a View
Twelve Rooms with a View
Theresa Rebeck
¥110.46
When a rich man you never knew dies and his opulent apartment is left to you, you’d think it was the answer to your dreams. But perhaps it is the start of a living nightmare…a sharp, intelligent and dark tale from the creator of hit series SMASH. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Or is it? Tina Finn was standing at the edge of her mother's newly-dug grave when she first heard about her inheritance. Until this moment she'd been scraping by, living from one pay cheque to the next. But all that was about to change… Now she's the proud owner of a huge luxury apartment overlooking Central Park. Things couldn't get much better, right? Wrong. Her half brothers, left out of the inheritance, think that she has no right to the apartment and they want her out - by any means necessary. So that's how Tina went from standing on the edge of her mother's grave to squatting in a twelve room apartment in the centre of New York. Now she has it all, is she prepared to fight to the end to keep it?
The Moral State We’re In
The Moral State We’re In
Julia Neuberger
¥72.30
A study of the moral state of the nation – the acid test of this being how we treat the weakest among us. Rabbi Julia Neuberger assesses the situation in the UK from her own unique viewpoint and draws some challenging and thought-provoking conclusions. Just as Will Hutton looked at the political landscape at a turning point in Britain, Rabbi Julia will take the moral temperature of the nation by looking at the ways in which we treat the weakest amongst us. The National Health Service, government pensions and asylum seekers all make daily headlines, and here is a writer with the moral authority and mastery of the necessary information to undertake this timely project. The way we treat the weak and vulnerable members of society has long been an established way to judge how civilised a society is. In this book, Julia looks at the extent to which the elderly are thought a burden, the way we care for the mentally ill, attitudes to asylum seekers and support for ex-offenders, as well as the care of children and the future of society in the UK. Her straight-forward approach to what has elsewhere proven highly esoteric, is here written with ease and fluidity and with a style that is highly approachable for those interested in the state of their nation with purely social, rather than academic, motivations. With her uncomplicated but extremely intelligent and candid take on the issues that make daily headlines, and with Julia’s high media profile, this book is guaranteed to tap into the state of our nation. Includes exciting new sections, reviewing the past year’s events, reception to her book and what – if anything – has changed in the way she sees our nation’s moral predicament.
Dark Angels
Dark Angels
Grace Monroe
¥51.50
How far would you go to protect your past? How much further to protect someone else's? The start of a thrilling Edinburgh-based series starring rebellious young lawyer Brodie McLennan. A celebrated Edinburgh lawyer is found murdered outside an infamous gay haunt and notorious dominatrix Kailash Coutts stands accused. Against her wishes, headstrong, unorthodox Brodie McClennan is appointed to defend Kailash under the watchful gaze of the 'Dark Angels', a violent street-gang led by the enigmatic Moses Tierney. As the case becomes ever more complex, Brodie receives a chilling photograph, establishing a link to a number of brutal murders and a suspected paedophile ring. It becomes apparent that a serial killer is haunting the city - and that powerful people are involved, intent on covering up past crimes. Brodie herself becomes a target - both for a depraved killer and for deadly forces in the highest of circles… A shocking, atmospheric thriller that combines a centuries-old conspiracy with heart-stopping terror for fans of Ian Rankin and Mo Hayder…
Desperate Measures
Desperate Measures
Kitty Neale
¥45.22
Four women seek the ultimate revenge against the men who betrayed them. The gritty drama from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Nobody’s Girl. SWINDLED… Val Thorn, Paula Richardson, Cheryl Cutter and Betty Grayson have one thing in common - they have all been betrayed by men. SHAMED… Rape victim Paula has been terrified ever since her brutal attack. High-flyer Val's life has fallen to pieces since she was forced out of her job. Grief-stricken by her grandmother's death, nurse Cheryl was tricked out of her inheritance. Timid housewife Betty sacrificed all for her husband. Now, 20 years later, he's left her and she's destitute. SACRIFICED… Now these four women want revenge. Masterminded by Val, the four women set out to right past wrongs. But will their role of avenging angels take them down a terrible road?
Dead Spy Running
Dead Spy Running
Jon Stock
¥54.25
Re-inventing the spy story for the 21st century. John Le Carre meets Jason Bourne! Suspended MI6 agent Daniel Marchant is running out of time. He’s alongside a man strapped with explosives at the London Marathon. If they drop their speed the belt will detonate, killing all around them. But is Marchant secretly working for the terrorists? Marchant’s father, ex-chief of MI6, was accused by the CIA of treachery. To prove his innocence, Marchant must take a perilous journey via Poland and India to unearth his father’s dark past, test his relationship with fellow spy Leila and challenge the heavy hand of America’s war on terror. Most of all, he has to learn to trust no one.
Black Widow
Black Widow
Jessie Keane
¥61.51
In Dirty Game, Annie Bailey was an East End Madam. In Black Widow she’s queen of the gangs and trying to save her daughter’s life… Annie Bailey had done it all; Madam, mistress and Gangster's moll. Now she's Annie Carter, and she taking over the East End. Annie knew that it wouldn't last. Everything was going so well; she was living in Majorca, had Max Carter - the head of the Carter firm by her side, and had given him a beautiful daughter, Layla. But if there was one thing life had taught her, it was that everything could change in the blink of an eye. One minute she's lying by the pool, the next she's out cold. When she comes round Max and Layla are gone. It's not long before she gets the demands. They want money or she'll be getting her little girl back in pieces… There's only one thing Annie can do, she heads back to the East End of London and gathers the Carter firm together. Someone has snatched her husband and child. Now there's a score to settle, and it's being settled Annie Carter style…
While You Were Dreaming
While You Were Dreaming
Lola Jaye
¥63.77
A warm and uplifting tale, perfect for fans of Dorothy Koomson. Lena has always kept her two sisters Millie and Cara in check. Beautiful but lazy Millie relies on her sister for everything. She needs to pull herself together and get a job but is constantly distracted by the string of men in her life… Cara runs a successful bar with her adoring boyfriend Ade.He can’t wait to start a family but Cara isn't ready. Will she ever be? But when Lena is involved in an accident her sisters forget their own issues and rush to her side.As they desperately try to wake Lena from her deep sleep, they begin to learn things they never knew about themselves and discover their much-loved sister had a few secrets in her closet… A funny and heartwarming tale about family, love and living for the moment.
The Book of Fires
The Book of Fires
Jane Borodale
¥63.18
A stunning historical novel, 'The Book of Fires' is the unforgettable story of Agnes Trussel – and love, fireworks and redemption. Brought up in rural Sussex, seventeen-year-old Agnes Trussel is carrying an unwanted child. Taking advantage of the death of her elderly neighbour, Agnes steals her savings and runs away to London. On her way she encounters the intriguing Lettice Talbot who promises that she will help Agnes upon their arrival. But Agnes soon becomes lost in the dark, labyrinthine city. She ends up at the household of John Blacklock, laconic firework-maker, becoming his first female assistant. The months pass and it becomes increasingly difficult for Agnes to conceal her secret. Soon she meets Cornelius Soul, seller of gunpowder, and hatches a plan which could save her from ruin. Yet why does John Blacklock so vehemently disapprove of Mr Soul? And what exactly is he keeping from her? Could the housekeeper, Mrs Blight, with her thirst for accounts of hangings, suspect her crime or condition? Historical fiction at its very best, ‘The Book of Fires’ is utterly intriguing, completely compelling and impossible to put down.
Hoggy: Welcome to My World
Hoggy: Welcome to My World
Matthew Hoggard
¥66.22
The quintessential barking-mad Yorkshire cricketer, 'Hoggy's' record-breaking bowling exploits for England allied to his humorous, uniquely oddball yet hugely endearing attitude to sport and life makes this essential reading for all lovers of the game. More than just a line-and-length cricketer's biography, Hoggy offers an entertaining insight into the weird and wonderful world of one of cricket's true characters. From the pub to the wicket and everywhere in-between, the dogged nightwatchman and wicket-taker looks beyond the runs and wickets to reveal what cricketers really get up to on tour and in the dressing room …
Smile Though Your Heart Is Breaking
Smile Though Your Heart Is Breaking
Pauline Prescott
¥58.86
A tale of Catherine Cookson-esque tragedy and Northern grit, Pauline Prescott's life story will shock and amaze. A mother and a faithful friend, Pauline is not your typical politician's wife. She is immensely proud of her role as a housewife and over the near-forty years she has been in the public eye she has remained discreet, dignified and deeply loyal. The daughter of a bricklayer, who died when she was young, Pauline came from humble backgrounds. At 15 she found herself pregnant by a married US serviceman. Resisting all attempts to give her son up for adoption, she struggled on for three years, until she was finally persuaded it was for his own good. She never expected to see him again. She trained as a hairdresser and got a good job at a salon in Chester. Soon afterwards she met John, a dashing waiter who whisked her off her feet and married her. John's dreams of becoming a union activist meant that he spent the next eight years in university. It was Pauline's wages that paid for everything. She never complained. John quickly rose through the ranks and suddenly, it seemed, he was the Deputy Prime Minister. Pauline went almost overnight from a Hull hairdresser to a key participant at political events. Always immaculate, she quickly became known for her fashion, style and stunning hats. But Pauline's world was turned upside down when, more than forty years after she put her son up for adoption, John received a call to say the press had tracked him down. The decision to give up her son had been heart-rending. All these years later, Pauline was overjoyed to be reunited with the child she had pined for for so long, finally getting the happy ending she had dreamed of for years. Throughout John's career, Pauline has had to cope with the lack of privacy his position has afforded their family. Through it all she has emerged a figure of admiration. Loyal, sharp, good humoured and articulate, Pauline has entranced the nation. Now tells us her story in her own words. Warm, moving and at times painfully sad, Pauline's autobiography is an honest account of a fascinating life.
‘… then he ate my boy entrancers.’
‘… then he ate my boy entrancers.’
Louise Rennison
¥51.50
Hilariously funny Louise Rennison’s fabby sixth book of the confessions of crazy but lovable teenager Georgia Nicolson. Guaranteed to have the nation laughing their knickers off! “Come on, Jas, you do really want to know my plan, especially as it concerns you, my little hairy pally.” “I’m not hairy.” “Have it your own way, just don’t go near any circuses.” “Shut up. Go on then, tell me your plan.” “OK, this is it: when I go to Hamburger-a-gogo land… you come with me! Do you see? We will be like Thelma and Louise!” “We’re not called Thelma and Louise.” “I know that, I’m just saying we will be LIKE THEM!” “And we’re not American. And neither of us can drive.” “Oh dear God. Jas, your spaceship has arrived. Please get in.” Laugh your knickers off at Georgia’s tales from her trip to Hamburger-a-gogo land (the US) and her attempts to entice Masimo, the Italian stallion. Can Georgia become the composed sex-kitten she aspires to be…?
Sharpe’s Revenge: The Peace of 1814 (The Sharpe Series, Book 19)
Sharpe’s Revenge: The Peace of 1814 (The Sharpe Series, Book 19)
Bernard Cornwell
¥56.11
Richard Sharpe triumphs in the last battle of the war, only to find himself in worse peril when charged to recover Napoleon’s treasure. It is 1814. There are rumours that Napoleon is dead, or has run away, but Sharpe has one last battle to fight before he can lay down his sword. It is the battle for Toulouse. Little does he know it will be one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war. But Sharpe’s war is not only the battle. Accused of stealing Napoleon’s treasure, Sharpe must discover the unknown enemy who has tried to frame him – and his revenge is ingenious and devastating. Soldier, hero, rogue – Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles whose green jacket he proudly wears.
Livin’ la Vida Lola (Lola Love)
Livin’ la Vida Lola (Lola Love)
Lisa Clark
¥38.36
Ever wondered how Lola Love, star of top go-for-it-girl guides Think Pink and Beauty*Licious became the hipster heroine she is today? Follow her from drab to fab in Livin’ la Vida Lola, the first book in the Lola Love fiction series from author Lisa Clark. Lola Love is stuck. Stuck in Dullsville-by-Sea all summer long, all by herself. Her best friend, Angel, is on holiday with her parents, her beloved Aunt Lullah has moved to New York, her parents can’t decide if they’re together or not AND the school queen bee, Eva Satine has decided that making Lola’s life a misery is the perfect summer project. There’s nothing for Lola to do other than watch old movies, avoid her mum and dream big dreams. Boring. But all that is about to change… Just like Aunt Lullah told her before she left - nothing will happen unless you make it happen - and it’s all about to happen to Lola Love! Follow Lola as she learns how to make friends, how to deal with her parents and most importantly - how to think pink! From the author of top life guides for today’s pink ladies, Think Pink, Beauty*Licious, It’s a Girl Thing and Viva la Diva, Lisa Clark, this funny, fearless and fabulous story is the perfect pick me up for anyone a little bit confused about that pesky thing called life.
Sharpe’s Battle
Sharpe’s Battle
Bernard Cornwell
¥53.76
Richard Sharpe is fighting for his Irish battalion and his own honour through the blood-stained streets of the town. Quartered in a crumbling Portuguese fort, Richard Sharpe and his men are attacked by an elite French unit, led by an old enemy of Sharpe’s, and suffer heavy losses. The army’s high command blame Sharpe for the disaster and his military career seems to be ruined. His only hope is to redeem himself on the battlefield. So with his honour at stake, against an overwhelming number of French troops, Sharpe leads his men to battle in the narrow streets of Fuentes de O?oro. Soldier, hero, rogue – Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles whose green jacket he proudly wears.
The ZimZum of Love: A New Way of Understanding Marriage
The ZimZum of Love: A New Way of Understanding Marriage
Rob Bell,Kristen Bell
¥66.22
Sunday Times bestselling author Rob Bell is joined in this book by his wife of twenty years, Kristen, to present a new way to make marriage work. Marriage is complex because people are complicated. You think you’re one. But then there are moments when it’s shockingly obvious that you’re two, with two opinions – whether over politics, childrearing or what you’re going to watch on TV. So how do you stop yourself flaring up when you hit one of these relationship flashpoints and start seeing marriage as a chance for you to learn more about the person you want to know best of all? Early on in their marriage Rob and Kristen experienced the struggles and fights that come to all couples. They still do. But they quickly learned that a great marriage needs to be focused and nurtured – and that fights should be as productive as possible! In this inspiring and humorous insight into marriage, the popular husband and wife team explore communication, dealing with relatives, money, sex, petty fights, work and boundaries, as well as love, forgiveness, fidelity, faith and hope – because something special can happen when two people give themselves fully to each other. With extensive discussion points in the endnotes, this easy-to-read book is invaluable for anyone searching for a happy, fulfilling relationship.
The Dog
The Dog
Joseph O’Neill
¥66.22
LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2014 SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR COMIC FICTION The first novel from Joseph O’Neill since NETHERLAND. ‘O’Neill, in this book, has come of age as a novelist … a comic masterpiece … as mordantly funny as the best of stand-up comedy … Superb’ John Banville, New York Review of Books In 2007, a New York attorney bumps into an old college buddy – and accepts his friend’s offer of a job in Dubai, as the overseer of an enormous family fortune. Haunted by the collapse of his relationship and hoping for a fresh start, our strange hero begins to suspect that he has exchanged one inferno for another. A funny and wholly original work of international literature, ‘The Dog’ is led by a brilliantly entertaining anti-hero. Imprisoned by his endless powers of reasoning, hemmed in by the ethical demands of globalized life, he is fatefully drawn towards the only logical response to our confounding epoch.