Recommended Reads
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The Woman from the Other Side
This collection of short stories focuses on the lives of ordinary working-class people from Northern Ireland. It is set against the backdrop of the ‘Troubles’ and the province’s more recent history. Strong female characters often carry the narrative, and the story which gives its title to the collection is that of a Catholic woman from the South who marries a staunch Northern Protestant, and they settle in Belfast. The strife which ensues reflects the divided communities which the rest of the book can testify to.
In their depiction of everyday violence and intimidation, the stories bring to light more latent themes of homosexuality, sexism, and prejudice. A strong focus on family bonds means that the collection provokes a profound resonance with a large number of us who have grown up in tight family circles. In many ways, the ‘Troubles’ serve to underline the tensions inherent in these bonds.
£8.99 -
The Yellow Field
Love, lust, passion, and deceit culminate in the ultimate price being paid for revenge.
It is a hot, steamy summer and the Blonde is bored with her marriage to Phillip, a successful designer. When she meets the Hollywood actor, Black Lomax, they are instantly attracted to each other. In an old hotel at the edge of the yellow field, she embarks on an affair, unaware that Black’s past is lurking in the background, intent on exacting revenge. This leads to devastating consequences for everyone involved.
An unhinged heiress, a suicidal sister, and a relationship which has gone sour, all add to the havoc unleashed.
£9.99 -
The Yellow House, Susceptible to Broken Windows
Where to begin… Take a moment to breathe. The door isn’t yellow, I know. “It’s infuriating.” We know it’s infuriating, Paul, but we’ve only just arrived. “I haven’t even been given any directions. How am I going to find her office?” It’s unlikely that you will. He hasn’t even crossed the threshold and the complaining has begun. What will he say to her yellow stripe, to the cannon on the roof and the politics found in the halls? It’s hard to imagine but it won’t be hard for long. Open the door and you’ll feel the love. Paul might cringe time and time again, but we hope you’ll feel differently. The mind boggles, the stomach reels and the knees quake, come and feel for yourself. Madam President welcomes you with open arms.
£8.99 -
The Yoga School
Ellie is a quirky, successful girl enjoying life in Dublin with her boyfriend, Alex. Alex is a director in her office who is driven, good-looking and a real catch in her mother’s eyes. In her precious spare time, Ellie loves to do yoga and even teaches it in an old people’s home, where her nana was a resident before she passed away. The future seems rosy for Ellie until a series of events turns her life upside down. Grab a cuppa, pop your feet up and join Ellie on her journey to happiness.
£7.99 -
Theo’s Ocean Discovery
Theo, an explorer and treasure collector, discovers that his treasure is not quite what it seems. He learns a valuable lesson and understands how the disposal of plastic in the ocean can be devastating.
£8.99 -
There Are No Doors
There Are No Doors is about a family’s journey through life; the sacrifices, joys and dreams that carry them through several generations and four countries, and how they face each other and their challenges: with love, anger, humour, and empathy. There are no doors that are closed to the human spirit.
£8.99 -
There is a Light
Abandoned
Orphaned
Manipulated
Gay
It was no wonder that I became rebellious and resentful. Standing up to all these pressures in my life and faced with my grandmother’s mortality, I reverted to the frightened child I thought I had left behind. I was overcome with anxiety and panic attacks; that paralysed me to the point of contemplating suicide.
The years of abandonment and feelings of futility following my childhood institutionalisation and the early death of my mother from a lifelong illness, manifested themselves in highly emotional and physical ways that made it impossible for me to function in society – so I withdrew.
From within this debilitating experience, I had to find a way through by obtaining the professional help I needed. This is my story of tenacity to live my life with the freedom to make my own decisions.
£6.99 -
There was Once a Street in Bethnal Green
Derek Houghton was born and bred in London’s East End, Bethnal Green, when horses and carts were just as predominant on its streets as motorised vehicles. It was at a time when National Health was not even a dream, or any kind of benefit existed, the only benefit available was by taking the “Means Test” (Dole Money) that most East Enders were too proud to take. Poverty was never any stranger to their doors, unemployment was rife, and the pawnshops did a roaring trade. People then could walk the streets in safety, the streets were the children’s playgrounds, where they played unhindered. As hard as times were, neighbours showed great compassion in helping each other. Each street was like a village, where everybody knew everyone else. World War II was to bring about an even stronger bond with each other. Above all, it was the love of a street – “Our Street.”
£12.99 -
There’s a Monster in My Tent
Having been awoken early in the morning by some strange noises downstairs, the little girl goes down to investigate. She is alarmed to find a monster sleeping in her tent and flees to her mother to tell her what she had seen.From the fierce growls coming from inside to his wild, hairy arms and legs, she had never come across anything quite so fearsome; nor quite so startling. Although all is not as it first seems.There’s a Monster in My Tent demonstrates a father’s devotion to his little girl as it details the imagination present in the minds of children. It’s as thought-provoking as it is lively and is aimed at educating and delighting in equal measure.
£9.99 -
There’s a Monster in the Cupboard
Embark on a whimsical adventure and meet Buckeroo, the mischievous monster lurking in the cupboard, eagerly awaiting playtime! But beware when you swing open the door, for he might unleash a fearsome ‘boo-hoo!’ Yet, with a dash of caution and a peek through the crack, you’ll discover that this monster is far from frightful. In fact, he’s friendly and simply seeking amusement.
In this enchanting tale, children will learn a valuable lesson about appearances and fears. Buckeroo’s transformation from a perceived threat to a joyful playmate teaches young readers that things are not always as scary as they may seem. As they befriend the monster, children will understand that fear itself is the true adversary to conquer.
£8.99 -
There’s a Mouse in the House
Aaron the mouse enters the house and runs up the clock. When the clock strikes one, the mouse runs down and befriends Mike, the boy who lives there. They become the best of friends. But Tom, the cat, gets jealous and tries to scare Aaron the mouse away as he feels he was there first. Little does Tom know that Aaron is not scared at all and returns to the house with a big surprise! This is a humorous and entertaining little book with clever rhymes.
£7.99 -
They Call Me Jake
In this captivating memoir, Jakob, a Welsh-born Australian, takes readers on a remarkable journey that begins with a troubled youth and a life-changing decision. After running into legal trouble as a teenager, his family sends him off to sea on Scandinavian ships, where Jakob finds himself working out of Brooklyn, New York, joining ships engaged in global trade. It’s the era of rock and roll, with an atmosphere of freedom, free-spiritedness, and indulgence. However, tired of the endless partying and constant financial struggle, Jakob sets his sights on a new path.
He travels to England, enrolls in a navigational school, and earns his license as a ship’s deck officer. But his thirst for adventure and reinvention leads him to an unexpected destination - Israel. Jakob’s love for the kibbutz lifestyle and a young woman on the kibbutz captures his heart. However, as war disrupts the region, their relationship crumbles, and Jakob finds solace in a hippie commune on the sunny shores of Eilat. Through ups and downs, Jakob’s journey takes him across continents, from the Canadian Arctic to Thailand and beyond. His tale is one of resilience, self-discovery, and the pursuit of a meaningful life amidst the challenges and uncertainties of a rapidly changing world.
£10.99
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