Recommended Reads
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Driven by Demons: Bipolar Olympian
This is the remarkable story of a young man battling intense mood swings, who turns to physical risk and his exceptional talent for rowing and sculling to keep depression at bay. For years, he struggles without understanding the true nature of his condition.
His journey is at times amusing, at times desperate, but always deeply human. As he carves out a name for himself in the world of amateur rowing, his unpredictable and often outrageous behavior unsettles his crewmates. Yet, despite the chaos, he achieves extraordinary triumphs – competing in five World Rowing Championships, two Olympic Games, and winning seven Henley Regatta titles, including the prestigious Diamond Sculls.
But the same challenges that once saved him eventually lead to his downfall. When he reaches his lowest point, feeling as though he has lost everything, his long search for stability truly begins.
“We thought he felt no pain.”
Hugh Matheson
Tim’s younger brother, on reading a draft:
“What is it, a confession or an excuse?”
£9.59 -
My Amazing Bedroom 2
Imagine if your sister had a secret that you knew,
And your bedroom, unknown to her, was quite amazing too!
Adventures and discoveries, each time you close your eyes,
A chance to dream and drift away, each night a new surprise.If your bedroom could take you anywhere while you slept, where would you like to go? You could travel into space, or under the ocean, or into the jungle, or even have your own haunted house!
Would you tell your parents?
Would you tell your sister?
Would you keep it as your own special secret?Read about the wonderful experiences of one little boy as he sleeps in his amazing bedroom.
£7.19 -
Reimagine Hong Kong
CO-CREATING HONG KONG In Reimagine Hong Kong, Jia Jia explores the cultural identity of China’s special administrative region, which began to emerge in the mid-twentieth century during its time as a British colony. His critique delves into the contradictions and dichotomies that have defined Hong Kong, weaving together history, philosophy, sociology, and economics. Jia Jia believes it is time to take a long, reflective look at his hometown, two and a half decades after its return to China. He started writing this memoir during the last wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. His analysis of real estate, urbanism, popular culture, linguistics, literature, and food culture offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on the global financial centre’s past, present, and future. Reimagine Hong Kong addresses three fundamental questions: Does Hong Kong have an “identity crisis”? Why has it been labelled a “cultural desert”? Has Hong Kong fostered its own “meaninglessness” and “tastelessness”? This compelling thesis reimagines the metropolis “from a distance” while addressing global universal issues through its local culture. The author takes readers on an unforgettable journey from London’s theatres to New York’s skyscrapers, Tokyo’s nano homes, and back to vernacular heritage architecture, neon signs, and tea restaurants, alongside various social phenomena. This anthology is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the unprecedented conflicts from the early twenty-first century, shaped by geopolitics and ideologies, including the “woke” movement.’ Accompanied by a captivating photograph by Wong Wei-him, each chapter serves as a study on the cross-cultural impacts of the digital revolution, postmodernity, postcolonialism, and late capitalism on social structure, human behaviour, aesthetics, and taste. Jia Jia concludes by reflecting on futurism and posthumanism.
£15.19 -
Frontier Demonology
William was only seven years old when his Nana told him about Table Hill’s dark tradition.
For the last ten years, his name has been on The List, a running record of every school-age boy and girl in the village. Each year, on the day of the Summer Solstice, the mayor of Table Hill selects two names – one boy and one girl. These two children must make the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the village.
Today is William’s last Solstice. If he survives selection again, he will finally be free. If he doesn’t, his life will be in the hands of Fate.
£8.79 -
The Chameleon of Choice
The Chameleon of Choice by Alison Huckvale is her second collection of verses and poetry, whereby venturing down a rabbit hole can still be achieved wearing purple Dr Marten boots. Alison detonates gender, race, and ethnicity and puts feeling into fandango as a substitute for distress. Making choices and colour changes, she likens herself to a chameleon, where fear is replaced by impatience and the concept of affection is shut down.
John Hegley: “I am gladdened by the colours in both the writing and the images of chameleons and the biscuit tin. It is most reassuring to hear of a vulnerable phoenix.”
Rob Gee: “A rewarding symbiosis of poetry and visual art... Amongst other things, this book shows us the wisdom of finding joy in simple pleasures. Some lovely illustrations too.”
Helen Mort: “Alison writes poems from the heart. The Chameleon of Choice is an enlightening, bold, engaging collection.”
£10.39 -
The Resilience Mindset
Resilience can help cope with a volatile and uncertain world. It is not designed to provide solutions to the causes of the shocks and stresses, but rather to establish a baseline from which we can operate, recover, and move forward. In simple terms, it is about surviving and thriving.
Yet, resilience, whether professional or personal, requires an appropriate mindset or set of beliefs if it is to be effective. That mindset is shaped by values, attitudes, culture, responsibilities, and experiences which, in turn, mould the way we incorporate new knowledge and how we make sense of the world and ourselves. It influences how we think, feel, and respond in any given situation.
This book looks at the resilience mindset by taking a philosophical journey. As we live in a world of constant change, both self-imposed and inflicted, philosophy can help us understand how to cope positively and rise to the inevitable challenges. It is why philosophy down the ages has attracted students who want a deeper appreciation of resilience. Ultimately, it is the resilience of the human spirit that gives hope to human endeavours.
Here is a deep dive into the human aspects that lie behind our resilience. It examines topics such as being stoical, facing our fears, realizing our virtues, finding our values, seeking truth and trust, and coping with change. A review of the significant contributions made by philosophers past and present gives insights into the thinking and mindsets of people who have delved into the subject of resilience over the centuries. It all provides valuable lessons for dealing with today’s crises and challenges.
£7.99 -
Raining Cats and Dogs
It started as a pleasant dog walk in familiar surroundings. The bond between man and dog had grown strong, and the well-worn paths, under calm and serene conditions, felt as welcoming as ever. What could possibly go wrong?
The forecast promised a fair, sunny day, with only the occasional isolated shower on the horizon. Surely, the relentless winter and early spring storms had finally blown themselves out. Surely, summer would at last show its face, offering a much-needed respite from what had felt like an endless season of harsh weather.
But just as our innocent dog walker, Alan, and his faithful pooch began to enjoy a day full of promise, things took a sudden and drastic turn.
What started as a few dark clouds quickly escalated into a violent storm, forcing them to rush home in search of safety and the warmth of their loving family. But luck was not on their side. Disaster struck, and for a single terrifying moment, all hope seemed lost – especially as every method of communication became completely impossible.
£5.59 -
Addiscombe Murderers 1749–2021
Addiscombe is a fairly quiet suburb of south London, although it has a history which is quite unique. Legend tells how Addiscombe was nothing more than a group of farms until 1808, when the East India Company bought the Addiscombe Estate from Henry Radcliffe for the princely sum of £15,500. “The Company”, once described as “the grandest society of merchants in the universe”, constructed a college on this land to train its officers before they were posted to all corners of the Orient. Although the college attempted to be self-sufficient, its presence did result in a minor influx of certain trades to service the cadets and their instructors. And so, the habitation of Addiscombe was born. However, it was not until the demise of “The Company” by its own hand and the subsequent closure of the college in 1861, plus the arrival of the railway in 1864, that Addiscombe began to bloom. The building of large “villas” on the site of the old college encouraged businessmen to move to what was then a rural environment and commute to the city of London. From that time onwards, Addiscombe has continued to fester into the urban sprawl that it is today.
These writings are an attempt to record the murders that have taken place within the area of Addiscombe and/or have been committed by residents of the same, between the middle of the eighteenth century and the end of the second decade of the current century. They have been gleaned mainly from newspaper articles and, in particular, from provincial organs which are more likely to be sympathetic to the local point of view rather than the often over-sensationalised reports found in columns of our national press. Wherever possible, the author has attempted to preserve the language, tone and grammar used by the original correspondents in a manner which reflects the attitudes and behaviour in use at the time the crime was committed.
After centuries of occupation by law-abiding citizens, today the streets of Addiscombe are home to the knife-wielding savages that typify the society to be found in twenty-first-century London suburbs.
£11.99 -
Charlie
You meet someone in your life, and then you feel as if your whole life turns upside down. And what are those elements which make you feel like you had a lightning going through your whole system. Sexual desire or something about their energy or the way they looked at you or just simply the look in their eyes? And then when is the time to stop before you are heading towards being burnt to ashes. Will this be revealed in this book?
£7.19 -
Pearced
Adultery, illegitimacy and loitering at stage doors, the Pearce men found time for more than just shipbuilding and politics. Meet seven women whose lives were changed by the Pearce men. Adelaide, a young woman who found herself in a relationship with an older, wealthier man and being whisked off from Glasgow to London to become his mistress. Elizabeth, a dancer from Austria who finds herself mother to two illegitimate children and whose life meets a tragic end. Gwendoline thinks she has control over the situation with her married lover but ends up with a lot less than she had bargained for.Maud was making a life for herself on the London stage before she fell in love with a young barrister, who was quick to turn his back on her when his fortune changed. Florrie was the illegitimate daughter of an actress and a violinist, who had little choice but to become an actress herself. Will her dashing, charming baronet give her the life that she desires? Carrie was on the stage by the age of five and, with siblings, became the darlings of Victorian London, but would life as an adult actor be as rewarding as that of a child one, or would Carrie find that a wealthy Baronet offered a better life?Finally, Lady Dinah Pearce, wife, and mother of two headstrong, flawed men. Could she rise above the failings of the men in her life, remain strong in her Christian beliefs, and have a fulfilling life? Discover not only the facts but also the fiction of these seven women as their lives are imagined by a twentieth century woman who wanted to give them a chance to tell their stories.
£7.99 -
Two Sides
There are two worlds, each filled with very different people and perspectives. Who is fortunate, and who is not? Is it Steve, who lives in a world where happiness is forbidden, or is it the rat, who comes from a place where only happiness exists?
It soon becomes clear that this apparent happiness isn’t genuine at all; it’s merely evil intentions in disguise. Yet, everyone is afraid to make a change or take the first step. The rat persuades Steve to join him in this seemingly ‘wonderful’ world. The boy agrees, hopeful that all his dreams will finally come true, and he will live the life he’s always wanted.
However, the path to true happiness is not an easy one. Steve, the rat, and their friends must find the courage to become true heroes, uncover the truth, and save everyone. Meanwhile, the Queen of this ‘wonderful’ world is determined to stop them at all costs. It’s uncertain who will survive and who will fall along the way.
£7.99 -
Palmetto Cay
To escape a loveless marriage to a senior government official, Faith flies to a home she owns on a secluded private island in the Caribbean. Desperately seeking to be alone, she quickly learns ‘alone’ proves in short supply, as at her door unexpectedly arrive old friends and dangerous strangers staying just a mile away up the cay. Over the next week Faith discovers she is the pivotal player in a life-and-death struggle of historic proportion, one she had no part in creating, indeed knew nothing of. She must use her wits to play for time until help arrives on the charter plane returning in a few days. Just out of sight, powerful forces operate to guide events, yet in no regard is Faith a hapless stander-by. Palmetto Cay is the crucible of the grand intrigue, and she, its catalyst.
The story speaks to inestimable wealth and limitless power, to corruption and trust, love, morality, truth, betrayal, deception and mistake. And nothing is as it seems. Absolutely nothing
£25.59
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