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Polite Society
by Mahesh Rao'Is it possible to marry a book? Because Polite Society is so funny, smart, sophisticated, and captivating, you just want to spend your whole life with it. It was love at first sight from the very first page' Kevin Kwan, author of CRAZY RICH ASIANSAnia is the beautiful, clever and very slightly bored scion of a rich Indian family whose machinations soon lead her down the primrose path of match-making - first for her aunt ('There was one in most of the grand houses in Delhi, usually beached somewhere on the upper floors.') and then for her friend Dimple. Set against the background of 'polite' Delhi society, it is rich with stiletto-sharp observation, is a delightful social comedy, and yet is poignant, too.'Witty, smart, compelling' Kamila Shamsie, author of Home Fire
Political Wit: Quips and Quotes from the Back Benches and Beyond (Wit Ser.)
by Steven GaugeOrder, order! After a long day at the dispatch box, when your honourable friend’s white paper has made you feel green and your poll ratings have slumped to a new low, hunker down in Speakers’ Corner with this grand coalition of political quips and quotes – you’ll be ready to take on the opposition at any time!
Political Wit: Quips and Quotes from the Back Benches and Beyond (Wit Ser.)
by Steven GaugeOrder, order! After a long day at the dispatch box, when your honourable friend’s white paper has made you feel green and your poll ratings have slumped to a new low, hunker down in Speakers’ Corner with this grand coalition of political quips and quotes – you’ll be ready to take on Jeremy Paxman again in no time!
Politically Homeless
by Matt Forde'Rarely is such an important book this funny. And rarely is such a funny book this important' - RICHARD OSMAN'Funny, fierce and genuinely moving' - J. K. ROWLING'It would be impressive for anyone to bring such surgical precision to either comedy or political analysis. Forde's ability to bring it to both - in spades - is truly remarkable. A sparkling jewel of a book' - JAMES O'BRIEN'The second funniest book I have read about being a Labour supporter from Blair to Brexit' - JOHN O'FARRELL'Matt Forde is brilliant at finding the comedy which often accompanies political life. This book made me laugh out loud - and wince in recognition' - TONY BLAIR'This book is smarter and funnier than Donald Trump. Matt Forde was so bad at politics that I'd have considered working for him' - ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI'That Matt Forde is able to make the current political shit-show funny shows his genius. You'll be laughing too hard to notice, but this is a very clever book' - RUTH DAVIDSON'Definitely one of the books I will claim to have read this year' - JACK DEE'Absolutely brilliant. I didn't want the book to end but I'm glad Fordy's political career did. And I mean that as both a compliment and not a compliment' - RUSSELL HOWARD-----------Part memoir, part behind-the-scenes insider view, Politically Homeless is both a fascinating and funny book for anyone who feels annoyed by the current state of politics. Which should be around 65 million people in the UK alone.Matt Forde has been obsessed with politics ever since he was 9 years old. Raised by a single mum on benefits in inner city Nottingham, he joined the Socialist Workers Party as soon as he could, foisted issues of Marxism Today on innocent bystanders and attended his first political party conference. From then on, despite some career suicide moments such as chatting to the Prime Minister at Number 10 while badly drunk, Matt's whole future looked wedded to the Labour Party as he started working for MPs in dingy back rooms in Nottinghamshire.But then Labour started to fall apart, and so did Matt's sense of purpose. With the rise of Corbyn, Brexit and Trump, his love for politics that had been so profound began to quickly crumble.Exploring themes such as tribalism, the curse of complacency and why some politicians refuse to speak normally, Politically Homeless is a hugely entertaining book of (often hilarious) personal stories and thought-provoking insights into this complicated world. And despite everything, Matt's passion is still there. Through hosting his award-winning weekly podcast, 'The Political Party' (over 5 million downloads) involving interviews with some of politics' most powerful and notorious figures including Tony Blair, Nicola Sturgeon, Sadiq Khan, Michael Heseltine, Nigel Farage and Jacob Rees-Mogg and performing critically acclaimed stand-up comedy shows, Matt has been able to keep enough faith that politics will get better. Maybe.
The Politician: The unmissable new thriller with an unforgettable detective – a must-read series this Christmas 2022 (A DS Cross Thriller)
by Tim Sullivan'I am insanely in love with George Cross, a perfect detective for our time and for all time' Stephen Fry A ransacked room. A dead politician. A burglary gone wrong – or a staged murder?THE DETECTIVEDS George Cross loves puzzles – he's good at them – and he immediately spots one when he begins investigating the death of former mayor Peggy Frampton. It looks like a burglary that went horribly wrong to most but George can see what others can't – that this was murder.THE PUZZLEAfter her political career ended, Peggy became a controversial blogger whose forthright opinions attracted a battalion of online trolls. And then there's her family: an unfaithful husband and a gambling-addicted son. With yet more enemies in her past, the potential suspects are unending.THE SUSPECTSCross must unpick the never-ending list of seedy connections to find her killer – but the sheer number of suspects is clouding his usually impeccable logic. He's a relentlessly methodical detective, but no case can last forever. And politics can be a dangerous game – especially for people who don't know the rules . . .Perfect for fans of M.W. Craven, Peter James and Joy Ellis, The Politician is part of the DS George Cross thriller series, which can be read in any order.'True characters, a fresh setting, and a good mystery – this one's got the lot.' The Morning StarWhy readers love George Cross . . . 'The fact that Cross has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder makes him just as intriguing as the murder mystery' The Times 'A British detective for the 21st century who will be hard to forget' Daily Mail 'A compelling, suspenseful police procedural with an intimate, positive insight into living on the autistic spectrum' Woman 'The enigmatic DS Cross is a joy to get to know' Reader Review 'One hell of a detective' Reader review
Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News
by Tucker CarlsonFrom the host of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News comes a wild and informative ride behind the scenes of a news correspondent. "A must read for Americans of any party." - Rev. Al SharptonPolitical pundit Tucker Carlson cracks commentary on all things Washington with the acerbic wit and razor-sharp insight that have made him a beloved conservative commentator. An unabashed insider whose profile is unmatched, Carlson stands ready to pounce on anyone and everyone who dares enter the political fray. Whether it's the towel-snapping prowess of former presidents or the dumbfounding exploits of his predecessors, there is no sacred ground. Carlson's debut covers his beat with equal parts hilarity and insight in a jocular review that both exposes and defends the absurdity that underlies the world of politics.
The Politics of British Stand-up Comedy: The New Alternative (Palgrave Studies in Comedy)
by Sophie QuirkThis Palgrave Pivot questions how a new generation of alternative stand-up comedians and the political world continue to shape and influence each other. The Alternative Comedy Movement of the late 1970s and 1980s can be described as a time of unruly experimentation and left-wing radicalism. This book examines how alternative comedians continue to celebrate these characteristics in the twenty-first century, while also moving into a distinct phase of artistic development as the political context of the 1970s and 1980s loses its immediacy. Sophie Quirk draws on original interviews with comedians including Tom Allen, Josie Long, John-Luke Roberts and Tony Law to chart how alternative comedians are shaped by, and in turn respond to, contemporary political challenges from neoliberalism to Brexit, class controversy to commercialism. She argues that many of our assumptions about comedy’s politics must be challenged and updated. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the working methods and values of today’s alternative comedians.
The Polyglot Lovers
by Lina Wolff‘Do you have to stare like that?’ I asked.‘Think about the actors in porn. They’ve got no problem showing themselves off.’‘Think about when I broke your nose,’ I replied.Ellinor is thirty-six. She wears soft black sweatpants and a Michelin Man jacket. She fights. Smart and unsentimental, she tries her hand at online dating, only to be stranded by a snowstorm with a literary critic. Cut to Max Lamas, an author who dreams of a polyglot lover, a woman who will understand him—in every tongue. His search takes him to Italy, where he befriends a marchesa whose old Roman family is on the brink of ruin. At the heart of this literary intrigue is a handwritten manuscript that leaves no one unaffected.The Polyglot Lovers is a fiercely witty and nuanced contribution to feminism in the #metoo era. Pleasure is an elusive thing, love even more so.
Pondweed
by Lisa BlowerA love story in the slow lane about loss and getting lost—two childhood sweethearts take a trip via pints, ponds and pitstops to find their future on a road less travelled from Stoke-on-Trent to WalesApparently, we spend almost two weeks of our life completely lost. If you add up all the times you take a wrong turn or find yourself somewhere you don’t want to be, it equates to fourteen days of essentially being missing.One Monday afternoon, around three o’clock, pond supplies salesman Selwyn Robby arrives home towing the Toogood Aquatics exhibition caravan and orders his like-wife, Imogen ‘Ginny’ Dare, to get into the car. He’s taking her on a little holiday, he says. To Wales. So begins their road trip west, via blasts from Selwyn’s past, and a fortnight’s journey of self-discovery for them both. But it’s a fishy business towing this caravan, with its saucy mermaid curtains and fully stocked bar, and Ginny must untangle the pondweed to get to the bottom of it, even it does mean unearthing her own murky past to find out.
Pontoon: A Lake Wobegon Novel
by Garrison KeillorIn Lake Wobegon lives a good Lutheran lady who wishes for her ashes placed inside a bowling ball and dropped into the lake. Meanwhile, a wedding between a veterinary aromatherapist and her boyfriend Brent is set to take place aboard a pontoon boat. A delegation of renegade Lutheran pastors from Denmark has come to town, and there's Raoul of the cigars and tinted shades, come to visit his elderly lover. All is in readiness for the wedding - the French champagne, the flying Elvis, the giant duck decoys - and then something quite unexpected happens . . .
Pony Lover's Joke Book: Hundreds of laughs for everyone who loves ponies and everything to do with them
by Suzan St MaurHundreds of laughs for everyone who loves ponies and everything to do with them
Poo! Is That You? (Lenny Learns About . . . #4)
by Clare Helen WelshLenny the Lemur is on holiday in the Amazon rainforest. He's just settling down for a nice snooze, when a very yucky smell wafts past . . .Poo-ie! What or who could it be?Lenny sets off to track down the source of the nasty niff . . . Along the way, he meets lots of stinky creatures, finding out about the different smells they make and why.Learn about sloths, skunks, stinkbugs and more in the whiff-tastic Poo! Is That You? written by Clare Helen Welsh and illustrated by Nicola O'Byrne. Cleverly interweaving facts throughout, it also contains an information page at the back of the book, with a photo of each animal.
Pooping Pets: Hilarious Snaps of Doggos Taking a Dump
by Charlie EllisFeaturing comedic captions revealing what dogs are really thinking while they do their number twos, this eye-watering collection of photos is guaranteed to gross you out while cracking you upDogs gotta defecate, just like people. But unlike us, they do it out in public. And we watch them in the act like the absolute weirdos we are. Sometimes we even take pictures.What must our canine companions think of all this? Well, Pooping Pets: The Dog Edition is here to capture and share these priceless moments in all their disgusting glory. Within its pages, you’ll find the private thoughts of dogs as they empty their bow-wow-wow-els, including:Hehehe, you’ll be picking this up in a minute!Err, could you not watch me while I birth this butt-log?Bears aren’t the only creatures that lay one out in the woods!Not for the faint-hearted, but the perfect gift for lovers of toilet humour, this poo-blication is a steaming tribute to the bodily functions of our four-legged friends.
Pooping Pets: Hilarious Snaps of Kitties Taking a Dump
by Charlie EllisFeaturing comedic captions revealing what cats are really thinking while they do their number twos, this eye-watering collection of photos is guaranteed to gross you out while cracking you upCats gotta crap, just like people. But unlike us, they do it where we can see it. And we watch them in the act like the absolute weirdos we are. Sometimes we even take pictures.What must our feline companions think of all this? Well, Pooping Pets: The Cat Edition is here to capture and share these priceless moments in all their disgusting glory. Within its pages, you’ll find the private thoughts of cats as they do their business, including:Did you say your lovely lawn needs some fresh fertilizer?If you rush me, I’ll save a few nuggets for your slippers!Can you make yourself useful and come wipe up?Not for the faint-hearted, but the perfect gift for lovers of toilet humour, this poo-blication is a steaming tribute to the bodily functions of our four-legged friends.
Poor Souls
by Joseph ConnollyOn their way to a tedious dinner party with a couple they loathe, Barry and Susan find themselves in a stranglehold amidst a smashed bottle of whisky. As Barry's gambling debts propel him to desperate measures and Susan's boredom finds relief in Barry's best friend, the poor souls tumble from miserable mundanity into social apocalypse. In an acid portrayal of boozing, fornicating, money-grubbing and extreme marital angst, Connolly shows himself to be a master of the genre with wickedly comic panache.
Pop!: Fizzy drinks. A trillion dollars. The adventure that ends with a bang.
by Mitch JohnsonAn outrageous theft. A huge reward. Two friends on the run. An uproariously funny, action-packed new adventure about the power of courage, standing up for what's right, and fizzy drinks, from the award-winning author of Kick.Queenie de la Cruz stares out at the ocean and dreams of a world beyond her small-town. She's about to get her wish... When the priceless recipe to the world's most popular drink - thought to be lost forever - washes up at her feet, Queenie's life instantly changes. Everyone wants it, and with a $10 million bounty on her head, Queenie's soon on the run. Pursued by bounty hunters, black-ops helicopters and angry mobs, Queenie's journey involves a mad scientist, a tin foil hat-wearing conspiracy theorist, a crocodile and an unlikely new friend, Todd. But being on the run also makes Queenie begin to see the world around her more clearly - a world in which a big corporation's excess has left the planet covered in its plastic bottles and waste. Suddenly, the home she always dreamed of escaping, and the ocean she grew up with and took for granted, don't seem so bad.If Queenie and Todd can bring down the bad guys, maybe she can go back home and make a difference...
Pop Goes the Weasel: The Secret Meanings of Nursery Rhymes
by Albert JackMr Jack has been nimble and he’s been quick, searching through the history of nursery rhymes and he’s found out all kind of plum tales, just like little Jack Horner. He's unearthed the answers to some very curious questions...Who were Mary Quite Contrary and Georgie Porgie? How could Hey Diddle Diddle offer an essential astronomy lesson? And if Ring a Ring a Roses isn’t about catching the plague, then, what is it really about? The ingenious book delves into the hidden meanings of the nursery rhymes and songs we all know so well and discovers all kinds of strange tales ranging from Viking raids to firewalking and from political rebellion to slaves being smuggled to freedom. Children have always played at being grown up and all kinds of episodes in our history are still being re-enacted today in a series of dark games (Oranges and Lemons traces a condemned man’s journey across London to his execution, Goosie Gander is about dragging a hidden Catholic priest to prison) And there are many many more… Full of vivid illustrations and with each verse reproduced, here are a multitude of surprising stories you won’t be able to resist passing on to everyone you know. Your childhood songs and rhymes will never sound the same again.
Pop Sonnets: Shakespearean Spins On Your Favorite Songs
by Erik Didriksen‘One of the very best collections of pop songs written in the style of William Shakespeare that I’ve read so far this year!’ ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic ‘Ever wonder what Taylor Swift and Beyoncé would sound like in iambic pentameter? We hadn’t either, but now we can’t get enough’ TIME ‘Amazing’ Buzzfeed
Popcorn: A Novel (Contemporary Dramatists Ser.)
by Ben EltonBruce shoots movies. Wayne and Scout shoot to kill. In a single night they find out the hard way what's real and what's not, who's the hero and who's the villain. The USA watches slack-jawed as Bruce and Wayne together resolve some serious questions. Does Bruce use erection cream? Does art imitate life or does life simply imitate bad art? And most of all, does sugar-pie really love his honeybun?
The Popper Penguin Rescue
by Eliot SchreferFrom two-time National Book Award finalist Eliot Schrefer comes an original penguin-tastic adventure inspired by the beloved classic Mr. Popper's Penguins.It's been years and years since the Popper family lived in Stillwater, but the town is still riding high on its former penguin residents. Across the river, in Hillport, residents try to re-create the magic with penguin carnival rides and penguin petting zoos, pretending they're the Popper originals. As the years have gone by, fewer and fewer people have come, and the small attractions shuttered.Nina and Joe Popper have just moved to Hillport with their mother. There's a lot to do: unpacking, scrubbing the floors, investigating the basement -- wait, what's this? Two penguin eggs are tucked snugly near the furnace! It's up to Nina and Joe to find their newly hatched penguin chicks a home. Setting off on the adventure of a lifetime, they endure perilous storms, a long journey to the Arctic, and of course, penguins. Lots and lots of Popper penguins!
Poppy Shakespeare: A Novel
by Clare AllanHighly original and darkly funny, Clare Allan's debut novel explores the relationship between N., a patient in a mental institution, and Poppy Shakespeare, a new and disturbingly 'sane' arrival who finds herself having to feign mental illness in order to be released. There are 25 residents at the Dorothy Fish, one for each letter of the alphabet - the 'X' chair is vacant. The day hospital sits on the bottom floor of an impossibly tall tower, stretching so high into the sky that its uppermost residents can see right round the world and back in through the window behind them. The system is simple: the crazier you are, the higher up the tower they put you. When Poppy Shakespeare arrives, N. has already been at Dorothy Fish for thirteen years, and spends her days quietly, smoking in the common room and swapping medication with her fellow patients. But what happens in the next six months will change both of their lives forever. In this inventive and brutally comic novel, Clare Allan captures the familiar and sometimes terrifying idiosyncrasies of a modern institution, asking the question: who is mad and who is sane? And who gets to decide? By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Poppy Shakespeare is a significant achievement of voice and insight.
Poppy the Police Horse: Fables From The Stables Book 4 (Fables from the Stables)
by Gavin PuckettPoppy was fit, strong and healthy - her parent's delight.But for reasons unknown she was born without sight.But lucky for you lot, she had an amazing sense of smell. So she's recruited by the police force to solve the toughest crimes by nose . . .
Poppy’s Place in the Sun (A French Escape #1)
by Lorraine Wilson‘She had me at Bonjour! Warm, funny, deliciously French…this lovely story filled my heart with sunshine’ Jane Linfoot Sometimes you need to lose yourself to find your way home…
Popstrology: The Art and Science of Popstars
by Ian Van TuylWhich force was more likely to have penetrated your essence and shaped your destiny if you were born in February of 1964: the orbital shufflings of Mars and Jupiter, or the explosive rise of the stars called the Beatles? By linking your personality and potential to the star who ruled the pop universe at the moment of your birth, Popstrology offers an entirely new approach to illuminating your spirit and your soul. Could the roots of your chronic restlessness lie in the fact that you are a Commodore born in the Year of Debby Boone? Could your crippling sexual inhibition result from being a Pat Boone born in the Year of Elvis Presley? Yes, they could. Could Britney Spears have been born under the influence of anything other than Olivia Newton-John's "Physical"? No, she couldn't. Fresh, funny and remarkably persuasive, this groundbreaking book reveals the powers hidden in a galaxy of stars we all can name, and in so doing gives us the right sign for modern times. Ian Van Tuyl is a Double Monkee and the author of the original Princeton Review Guide to the Best U.S. Law Schools.