Recommended Reads
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Prevention Is Better than Cure
When the Band of Hope was established in Leeds in 1847, its aim was to convince children that alcohol consumption would damage their health and life chances. Membership was confirmed through the signing of a teetotal pledge that required parental consent. The movement’s founders could not possibly have envisaged the extent of its impressive growth throughout the United Kingdom, with particular strengths in northern England counties. Immediately before the start of the First World War in 1914, membership reached 3.7 million spread among over 33,000 societies.
Being closely linked to church Sunday Schools, when numbers of scholars declined, Band of Hope membership also fell. The huge numbers of wartime deaths and serious injuries, and the consequent loss of many former volunteers, exacerbated the membership decline. That decrease accelerated through the latter decades of the 20th century, despite strenuous efforts by countless dedicated people.
A reconstituted organisation named Hope UK was established in 1995, which continues to work tirelessly with young people on alcohol and drug prevention.
£8.79 -
Mr In-Between
They say things get easier in your second year.
Peter Corby, Director of the International School of Ndwalowe in the beautiful African country of Awanza, may beg to differ.
Parents are still demanding, teachers are sometimes more problem than solution, students never cease to surprise, and now the PTA has gone rogue.
The Board remains a critical friend, sometimes very critical.
And who is stalking Anna Street?
At least Peter can escape from it all by marvelling at the fabulous wildlife of Africa from a bloody-minded elephant to a pugnacious caterpillar.
Praise for The Needful:
“This book is a ‘must read’ for staff and Board members in international schools; for aspirant Heads – to see what they are letting themselves in for, and for experienced Heads – who will take comfort from the resonance of past and future battles with Board members, staff, parents and local bureaucracy. Peter MacKenzie, I salute you. I wish I had written this book.”
– Wilf Stout, International School Magazine.
“The Needful is both a highly entertaining read and a serious consideration of the aims and realities of international education. It should appeal not just to the international education community but also to a more general audience.”
– David Wilkinson, International Schools Journal.
£11.19 -
Necronomicon Ex-Mortis
This is a book of the Dead. Prepare yourself to be immersed in, or more bluntly, banished to an endless and surreal journey through the deepest, darkest, fiery pits of Hell itself, where Satan resides.
As you wander across the cold and barren landscape, you will encounter the masters and mistresses of the underworld. From A to Z, these demons take on countless forms and perform a variety of duties in service of Beelzebub.
Along the way, you may find yourself asking: ‘Am I dead?’ ‘Is this why I am here?’ or ‘What did I do to deserve this?’
In Hell, you are cold, exposed, and vulnerable. As you push forward, desperate to escape and clinging to your sanity, you will soon realise the truth. This is your fate. You are here to meet and be judged by Beelzebub, lord of the flies, better known as Satan.
You have been warned. Think carefully before you open the first page.
£7.19 -
Skimp and Skarpa
Skimp & Skarpa Construction, a mid-sized Manchester building company, is run by the Managing Director, Arthur Skarpa and a small management team.
Geoffrey Palmer, a contracts manager, seems to be, in his eyes, the only competent person in charge of building projects. Palmer, therefore, is constantly running around putting out the mistakes Arthur and his nephew, Walter, have created. Chaos, incompetence and very poor organisation are the daily challenges for ‘Super Geoff’ to overcome, as one farce after another has to be met and overcome. Every evening after work, ‘Super Geoff’s’ long-suffering wife, Jill, has to listen to Geoff’s ranting and raving about the day’s events and how he heroically, single-handedly, once again saved Skimp & Skarpa’s skin.
A laughable, disastrous comedy of errors awaits the reader.
£5.59 -
The Salve of Love
The Salve of Love offers a transformative perspective on true spiritual love, narrated through Haridas, a seeker on a quest to uncover life’s meaning. During his journey, he meets a monk skilled in revealing profound philosophical and spiritual truths through ancient and contemporary stories.
Weaving a fabric of enlightenment, the monk equips Haridas with the knowledge and tools that intensify his desire to journey within through a timeless practice of consciousness transformation that is both fulfilling and empowering.
Presented as a series of semi-standalone short stories, the book illustrates how daily challenges can be understood, navigated, and transcended. Drawing from Vedic theology, these anecdotes illuminate Haridas’s struggles and triumphs.
With eyes initially anointed with the salve of knowledge, it evolves into eyes anointed with the salve of love, wherein he sees the godliness in every sentient being and respects and deals with people from a place of love, compassion, and kindness.
The narrative’s depth fosters emotional and mental connection, awakening parts of the self numb to regressive identitarian evolution. Blending ancient tales, theology, fiction, and autobiographical insights, the writing paints vivid imagery and strikes a resonant chord within, creating a harmonious pedagogical masterpiece.
£7.19 -
Poems in a Bottle
Calling this new poetry may seem unusual, given that this self-curated collection spans five decades of writing. Covering a wide range of subjects, from timeless emotions to political and social issues, these poems are presented with a distinctive voice that reflects years of poetic exploration.
This marks the poet’s first standalone collection, bringing together works that, until now, have only appeared in small selections. Between 2010 and 2012, no more than three of these poems were published in poetry anthologies and on the Poetry Library website.
Now, for the first time, these poems are gathered in a single volume, offering readers a journey through a lifetime of verse.
£4.79 -
Children's Stories
Peppermint Candy is searching for love. She looks under rocks, climbs trees and looks amongst the branches and wades amongst the bullrushes down by the river but cannot find love. Where will she find it? Bartholomew Bear goes to town and is mistaken for a toy teddy. What will he do? Badger and Bear wonder about the universe and whether there is a God and Cherubim and Seraphim are twin angels who seem to control love and jealousy. This book is a festivity of thought-provoking moral lessons for young children. Rachel the Ragdoll teaches sharing, Mrs Hope’s House teaches not to steal and Stranger Danger teaches us to watch out and be careful. Totally original stories, this charming book of children’s tales will entertain and educate young readers.
£9.59 -
The Hummingbirds
When Jack, the has-been Hollywood actor, surfaced from the murky waters of Amsterdam's dirty black canal, he knew little about his next encounter with a mysterious woman with great skills and a dark profession.
Could he understand the danger of their adventure? How far could he go to save the life of a trafficked girl? Can he redeem and save his own child?
When the accomplished Amsterdam female detective visits a missing girl’s family, her encounter with a neighbour starts a cooperation that is interrupted by a brutal attack.
Will Cynthia's special ability help her find the attacker? Will the investigation progress further to find a dangerous killer? Will someone from Chicago help her?
How much does the past determine the actions of the present? Can pain and suffering provide relief, and how many times can one start a life over? Although Maya's life is defined by the past, in the present, she tries to give the fallen a chance. Will she be able to escape from her own scars and the brutal violence?
£8.79 -
Dragon Bones
In the freezing snows of Siberia, a heavily pregnant tiger is hunted for her pelt. Veterinarian Doctor Blaze Marshall FRCVS is part of T.I.G.R.E.S. – an international conservation organisation that is desperately trying to rescue her and others like her. In doing so he crosses an enigmatic global crime lord, Lee Chin, who has a penchant for endangered species.
Now brought to Chin’s attention, Marshall becomes highly endangered himself. Soon they engage in a battle of wits and brawn across the continents. Tigers, coelacanths and the bullring are their battlegrounds, whilst the dramatic finale is deep in the very heart of Africa. Here they fight over the greatest prize of all…Dragon Bones.
£8.79 -
It's OK to Be... Sweet Pea
Sweet Pea felt invisible, being a tiny green pea.
He worried all the time, struggling with the thoughts, feeling that he wasn’t good enough for anyone.
Have you ever felt you weren’t good enough? Have you ever felt not seen and unimportant? Sweet Pea felt that way every day.
Then, one day, everything changed when he saw a tall man.
He never thought he would be in the spotlight…
£7.19 -
In Spirits Shadow
At the moment of their deaths, famous people from history are snatched by a watchful and benevolent species. They are given the responsibility to covertly protect Earth, throughout time, from any peril.
Eventually, they find themselves involved in an intergalactic war threatening Earth from a ruthless invader. These historical figures must enlist the help and trust of current-day political leaders and modern militaries to face this evil conqueror, without panicking the planet’s population. They must overcome obstacles of confusion, fear, mistrust, and personal power struggles. All of this is continually complicated with underlying layers of espionage, murder, romance, and threats of global terror.
£8.79 -
The Sky Kicker
I dare you to dream, I dare you to spread your wings, and see if you don’t reach farther than the sky. The world changers are those whose dreams shape the lives of sleepers. They fly above others on the wings of hope and the magic of faith by bringing the ideas only seen in dreams to the reality of the worlds we live in. They tread on self-belief that no doubter can disrupt or alter. They thrive when failures visit. They are the dreamers who turn battlefields into playgrounds, where dreams come alive for all to see.
The Sky Kicker is a story of Bloss, a girl in a faraway kingdom who has failed to have her name written on the Tree of Dance. She chose a life where only the best gets rewarded. Will she be able to achieve this dream with the help of her friends? I invite you into the Sky Kickers series. I am sure you will enjoy and learn from it.
£7.19
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