Recommended Reads
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Art, Design, Craft, Beauty and All Those Things…
Responding to many recent calls for redress and restitution, Richardson summarises the historical and current situation and attributes its problematics to the fact that theorists and historians have taken the concept art as a generic that includes both design and craft – which are actually and validly distinguishable from art by application of the concept function/al – or else ignored the two entirely. Considering the concept function/al, he maintains, calls into question the view that the three may be sub-classes of the one class: whereas in a work of art, typically there is a resolution of the tension between form and content, in works of design and craft the resolution is between form and function. How this recognition can clarify the issue informs the entire book.
The book’s other major thesis is the realisation that aesthetic values are inherently human and that, therefore, they apply not only to art but to life in general. Far from being frivolous or a mere ‘emotion’, the aesthetic is a sense of equivalent psychic status to sight and hearing and, like them, is employed at almost every moment of our daily lives – which fact grounds art, design and craft deeply in human life. This is reflected in the universal use of the human form (including the exhibition of sexual characteristics) in art.
The eternal conflict between making art and making a living from making art is examined and contrasted to the rarely-recognised, but positive, role of design in planning and industry.
Richardson also critiques common theories of representation and composition, including ‘creativity’, Albertian perspective and scientific and geometric theories of beauty and composition; also the relevance of the camera and the computer in the field.
£13.99 -
Astounding Agnes, The First Girl Guide
Meet Agnes Baden-Powell, the clever girl who grew up to be the talented and energetic first president of the Girl Guides! Learn about her family, early life, skills and talents in this book, for children aged six and up.
Agnes was an unconventional Victorian woman who loved sports and nature. She promoted outdoor education and activities for girls and young women long before it was fashionable. Agnes worked tirelessly to establish Girl Guiding and grow the organisation. She penned numerous articles and traveled extensively to convince people about the benefits of joining.
Sadly, Agnes did not receive much recognition during her lifetime. She was later sidelined and excluded from leadership positions. A campaign to see her receive more recognition for her achievements and to celebrate her legacy is gaining support. Hopefully this book will create more awareness of this astounding woman’s contributions to the Girl Guiding movement, which continues to inspire and empower girls and young women today.
“I think it’s great! It will be a delightful, inspirational children’s book! Agnes was the most remarkable woman and it’s so good that her talents and achievements are being given due recognition. I wish Catherine Gritz every success with it.” From Gill Clay, Agnes’s great-niece.
£7.99 -
Astrid Book II: Good people do bad things
Astrid has been through ten years of fighting, ten years of killing, and is exhausted. She doubts whether she now even has the strength to fight any more but is desperate to find a way to bring the conflict to an end.Her country is sophisticated and technologically advanced but is bordered to the north by a belligerent dictatorship that has made threats of war. She was an actress and had been filming on the day an unprovoked attack took place; she witnessed friends being killed, and on that day, she gave up her dreams and became a nurse. However, another incident a couple of years later changed her, and she joined the military and became an assassin. She now uses her acting skills to move through enemy territory becoming different characters to avoid detection, blending in and hiding in plain sight.Then an enemy general becomes aware of her and pursues her as she makes her way out. Will she survive?
£10.99 -
Astrid Book III: The Early Missions
Astrid Peterman is fighting with regular forces and has already shown herself to be a skilled fighter, driven in her desire to push back the invaders and seek revenge. She proves herself and is taken on by Captain DeSalva to become an assassin. She must further prove herself as a young woman in a male-dominated world. She decides that she will have no red lines, and nothing will be off limits when she is on a mission.
Riedel enters the enemy country as a deep cover spy, easily able to pass himself off as a native, and whose sole mission is to find out what the wonder weapon is.
Brigit Malaya, the enemy officer also has to prove herself, not only by fighting against her enemies, but in fighting against the deep-rooted misogyny in her country that devalues women. She works her way up through the ranks by virtue of brutal combat and is hardened by it; her ambition overriding her humanity, and all the while she is unaware that she is being watched and admired by the country’s dictator.
£11.99 -
Astrid Book I: War Changes People
In her youth, Astrid had dreamt of becoming an actress. But once war breaks out, she gives up her dreams to fight for her country. She retains her acting skills and uses them to her advantage, and she will do absolutely anything to ensure the success of her missions.The war has degenerated into regular small skirmishes, but her commanders know that there will inevitably be a major assault that will overwhelm them. The only thing that is keeping the onslaught at bay is a policy of assassinating those enemy officers who show talent.But an enemy general has become aware of Astrid and is determined to stop her.
£11.99 -
At Night, the Lanterns Cry
As the relentless war draws to a close, Oulyia’s fate hangs in the balance. With one final chance to repel the Covenant and save their land from the invading hordes, Oulyia rallies its last remaining army. But what if they fail? The weight of uncertainty looms heavy as their ultimate destiny teeters on the brink.
Pesan understands the slim odds and the painful reality that he was denied the chance to join the fight, unlike his brother. Yet, regardless of the war’s outcome, he knows he cannot remain with a family that neglects him and life itself. As the war for Oulyia nears its conclusion, Pesan’s own journey is about to unfold, with its own trials and tribulations.
In the gripping narrative of At Night, the Lanterns Cry, the ceaseless escalation of conflict unveils the profound impact of rulers’ pursuits on nations and their people. Allegiances are tested, friendships strained, and ideologies challenged as the characters navigate a world pushed to its limits. Prepare for an enthralling tale where the stakes are high, and the consequences of personal ambitions reverberate through the lives of nations.
£12.99 -
Atticus, Fighter of Rome Series: A Hero is Born
Rome had a new Emperor, Augustus. He began his rule with an iron fist. Many client kings and rulers throughout the Roman Empire were plotting to retake their lands from Roman rule. And looked for any sign of weakness. The legions of Rome fought to quell several uprisings on the outer edges of the Roman Empire. Rome needed a warrior, a true leader of men, and the Roman Gods answered. In the death of night, a thunderstorm raged. The screams of a woman giving birth rang out, followed by the cry of a new born child entering the world. Atticus was born. Destined to walk in the shadows of the Gods, Mars and Jupiter. They gave him the heart of a Lion and the will to succeed against all adversaries. The Gods would not make Atticus’ path in life easy, born to the lowest of the low, hardship would befall him from a very young age. But one day he would be strong enough to defend the weak and fight with honour.... but make no mistake, Atticus would kill the enemies of Rome without mercy. One day he would become Rome’s greatest ever warrior. His name would be known in all four corners of the Roman Empire and beyond.
£9.99 -
Au Revoir, Mate!
My name is Dougay Roberre. My passport reads: Douglas Roberts. I don’t think either is real. At age three, my parents fled France to go into witness protection. I grew up in Sydney, Australia, among the sun, the sand, and the surf. As I neared forty, I had a yearning to discover my French roots, selling my Bondi Beach apartment and buying an attic apartment in Nice on the Cote d’Azur. I can speak French, though not read nor write it. I can use my fists – as a teenager I was taught to box. Without academic qualifications, I take whatever employment comes my way. I am a man for hire. I looked to where the car had stopped. On the footpath was a dark form – a non geometric shape. Curiosity aroused, I crossed to it. It was a person. I turned the body over and she moaned, “Don’t phone the police. Don’t phone the police.”
£8.99 -
Auston the Sidecar Dog Saves Christmas
Follow the adventures of Auston the Sidecar Dog in his travels around the globe. Children will enjoy his first book presenting the story of Auston and Santa Claus on their Christmas Eve travels in the magical scooter and will also learn about geography at the same time. This is a fun and delightfully illustrated book to be enjoyed by children and parents alike.
£7.99 -
Autism... A Mother's Story
Autism is a life-long condition that affects how the brain works. It is not an illness and therefore cannot be ‘cured.’ Some may show traits but never be diagnosed as being autistic.
Autism… A Mother’s Story is a heartfelt account of a mother’s journey with her autistic son which spans almost 28 years and covers the huge ups and downs of this complex condition.
This is a memoir that gives hope to those caring for anyone with autism or for anyone wanting to know more about the challenges that face carers and the assistance that is available.
£7.99 -
Backchannel: rabt
Imagine a world where not just teenagers, but governments use secret social media channels to communicate – and to target. Meet Doug McKenzie, a charismatic Black Irish investigative reporter for the New York Daily, a man whose fearless journalism has attracted international enemies with the resources to neutralize him. In response to his incendiary reports, a clandestine ‘Backchannel’ is activated, manipulating the U.S. government itself to take him down.
But Doug isn’t alone. His fiery daughter Rachel, an emerging journalist in her own right, stands by his side, as do allies from the global stage. Journey with Doug from the power corridors of Washington, DC to the bustling streets of Osaka, Japan; from the political heart of Ankara, Turkey to the fraught border crossing of Bazargan, Iran.
Caught in a web of international intrigue is Doug’s tumultuous personal life – his marriage to Turkish-born Nukhet hangs by a thread, complicated by their one-year-old daughter Sirin, and the reemergence of his enigmatic lover, Dr. Laurie Reynolds.
Get ready to dive into a world of political suspense, international espionage, and intricate relationships. Welcome to Backchannel. Trust us, you won’t want to put it down.
£9.99 -
Bagpipe, The Farting Cat
Embark on a hilarious and heartwarming adventure with Bagpipe the cat, the infamous feline with an uncontrollable flatulence problem! In this charming children’s tale, Bagpipe’s odorous predicament leads him on a quest to find a place where his farts will be accepted. From the farmhouse to the cow shed, pigpen, stables, and chicken coop, Bagpipe’s stenchy emissions drive away all the farmyard animals.
Determined to find his rightful home, Bagpipe’s journey takes him far and wide, venturing through the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert and even venturing into the depths of outer space. Along the way, young readers will be captivated by the beautifully illustrated pages and fall in love with the endearing characters.
As Bagpipe’s misadventures unfold, children’s imaginations will soar, their laughter bubbling over as they follow the cat’s action-packed escapades. Will Bagpipe ever find a place where he belongs, despite his pungent predicament? Discover the hilarious and heartwarming conclusion that will leave readers of all ages giggling with delight.
£7.99
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