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Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything
by Lydia Kang Nate PedersenWhat won&’t we try in our quest for perfect health, beauty, and the fountain of youth? Well, just imagine a time when doctors prescribed morphine for crying infants. When liquefied gold was touted as immortality in a glass. And when strychnine—yes, that strychnine, the one used in rat poison—was dosed like Viagra. Looking back with fascination, horror, and not a little dash of dark, knowing humor, Quackery recounts the lively, at times unbelievable, history of medical misfires and malpractices. Ranging from the merely weird to the outright dangerous, here are dozens of outlandish, morbidly hilarious &“treatments&”—conceived by doctors and scientists, by spiritualists and snake oil salesmen (yes, they literally tried to sell snake oil)—that were predicated on a range of cluelessness, trial and error, and straight-up scams. With vintage illustrations, photographs, and advertisements throughout, Quackery seamlessly combines macabre humor with science and storytelling to reveal an important and disturbing side of the ever-evolving field of medicine.
The Quanderhorn Xperimentations
by Rob Grant Andrew MarshallADAPTED BACKWARDS VIA THE FUTURE FROM THE RADIO 4 SERIES BEFORE IT WAS MADE A richer, deeper, more comprehensive exploration of the Quanderhorn phenomenon. With added secrets.England, 1952.A time of peace, regeneration and hope. A Golden Age.Unfortunately, it's been 1952 for the past 65 years.Meet Professor Quanderhorn: a brilliant, maverick scientific genius with absolutely no moral compass. Assisted by a rag-tag crew - his part-insect "son" (reputedly 'a major breakthrough in Artificial Stupidity'), a recovering amnesiac, a brilliant scientist with a half-clockwork brain, and a captured Martian hostage - he'll save the world.Even if he has to destroy it in the process.With his Dangerous Giant Space Laser, Utterly Untested Matter Transfuser Booth and Fleets of Monkey-driven Lorries, he's not afraid to push the boundaries of science to their very limit.And far, far beyond ...
Quantick's Quite Difficult Quiz Book
by David Quantick'Best quiz book ever'HARRY HILL'Quantick is the Captain Beefheart of quizzing'MARK BILLINGHAM'The antidote to every deathly dull pub quiz you've ever been to. This is how a quiz book should be written - where having fun is the most important outcome'GARY WIGGLESWORTH, author of The Book Lover's Quiz BookDistinctive, unusual, difficult, but spectacularly entertaining, this quiz book is to other pub quizzes what Trivial Pursuit was to Ludo, what The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy is like to the Rhyl phone directory, and what the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost is like compared to a kid's scooter. Loads better.David Quantick works regularly with Armando Iannucci, including on the new HBO series, Avenue 5. He won an Emmy as part of the writing team on Veep, a BAFTA for Harry Hill's TV Burp and a Writers' Guild Award for The Thick of It. For over fifteen years, David has also hosted his own very popular quizzes at festivals, events, pubs, clubs, cinemas and in tents: the quizzes range is broad and the questions are tricky. They're not about statistics, there's no sport, the picture rounds are conceptual, and there's sometimes a round called 'Martin Amis Character or Blur Song'. Each quiz is funny and entertaining even if you don't know the answers. The quizzes are informative and opinionated. In some ways, they're like stand-up with questions. This is a book based on David's excellent live quizzes, described by many people as 'quite difficult'.But they are quizzes. Quite difficult quizzes that tax the brain and make it go in directions it didn't know it could. That's not to say the questions are fiendishly scientific and packed with questions about dates and the periodic table. They're about books and music, movies and actors, strange events and interesting quotes. You don't leave a Quantick quiz knowing how many times Spurs have won the League, but you may know how many Shirleys have sung a Bond theme or how George V made the front page of The Times.The effectiveness of David's quizzes is down to their unusual variety and almost stream-of-consciousness leaps and bounds of factual imagination. There's not even much point in cheating, because the answers often require mental agility as well as just knowing where Calais is (it's in France, but it wasn't always, even when it was).David's quiz book includes twenty-five main quizzes, four Christmas quizzes and four specialist quizzes, so thirty-three quizzes in total. Entertaining in its own right, this is also a conceptual yet very practical guide to staging excellent quizzes of your own.
Quantum of Silliness: The Peculiar World of Bond, James Bond
by Robbie SimsWho gives the hammiest performance in a Bond film? What is the series’ most cringeworthy moment? What quips would Sir Roger Moore come out with if he starred in Licence to Kill? These are the sort of questions you never knew you needed answering. It’s Bond, James Bond – but as you’ve never seen him before.
Quantum of Tweed: The Man With The Nissan Micra
by Conn IgguldenAn exclusive short story for World Book Day from one of our bestselling authors. This brilliant comic thriller will have you on the edge of your seat.
Quarantine Comix: A Memoir of Life in Lockdown
by Rachael Smith‘Funny and sad and relatable and wise – Rachael Smith’s Quarantine Comix are like the hug from a friend you didn’t know you needed.' Chris Addison ‘In a period where every day seemed the same, Rachael found a way to make every day different. A tiny, comforting light of understanding, humour and hope in a dark time.’ Kieron Gillen, author and creator of The Wicked + The Divine An award-winning graphic memoir of lockdown life, Quarantine Comix is a funny, tender, heartfelt and insightful look at isolation. Written and drawn every day during the 2020 lockdown and shared online with #QuarantineComix, 2020 Comedy Women in Print-shortlisted Rachael Smith’s delightful comics helped people who were isolated all over the world to feel connected. At times laugh-out-loud funny, at others bitter-sweet, philosophical or downright silly, this collection of 200 drawings tells the story of one woman overcoming loneliness and self-doubt with exquisite, wry humour and raw honesty. During a time when many feel anxious and apart from loved ones, Quarantine Comix offers relief in shared experiences. Praise for Stand in Your Power, shortlisted for the 2020 Comedy Women in Print prize: ‘Funny, fierce, poignant and reaches the lonely inside us all’ Helen Lederer 'Rachael uses humour to address her mental health and she does that successfully.' Jen Brister, author of The Other Mother 'The tone is self-deprecating – she takes a sad situation and creates an invitation to laugh at it.' Hannah Berry, UK Comics Laureate 2019-21 'The execution is one to admire' Janet Ellis ‘An important subject turned into pages of visual pathos’ Nicola Streeton, LDComic
The Quarry
by Iain BanksKit doesn't know who his mother is. What he does know, however, is that his father, Guy, is dying of cancer. Feeling his death is imminent, Guy gathers around him his oldest friends - or at least the friends with the most to lose by his death. Paul - the rising star in the Labour party who dreads the day a tape they all made at university might come to light; Alison and Robbie, corporate bunnies whose relationship is daily more fractious; Pris and Haze, once an item, now estranged, and finally Hol - friend, mentor, former lover and the only one who seemed to care. But what will happen to Kit when Guy is gone? And why isn't Kit's mother in the picture? As the friends reunite for Guy's last days, old jealousies, affairs and lies come to light as Kit watches on.
Quarter Life Poetry: Poems For The Young, Broke And Hangry
by Samantha JayneSamantha Jayne knows that life post-college isn't as glamorous as all undergrads think it's going to be . . . because she's currently living it. At twenty-five, Samantha began creating doodles and funny poems about her #struggle to share with friends on Instagram. To her surprise, these poems were picked up by twenty-somethings all around the world who agreed, 'This is literally us.' At a time when it seems like everyone else is getting married, snagging a dream job and paying off their student loans, Samantha captures the voice of young people everywhere who know that your twenties can sometimes be the exact opposite of 'the best years of your life'.
The Queen: 101 Reasons to Celebrate Her Majesty
by H. Sutcliffe E. DunneUpdated to mark her Platinum Jubilee, The Queen: 101 Reasons to Celebrate Her Majesty is a collection of all the things that make Elizabeth II a national treasure, from the profound impact she has had on 21st-century politics, to her superhuman ability to keep on waving and her fabulous collection of headscarves.Did you know that she has established a whole new dog breed, the dorgi, a cross between a corgi and a dachshund? Or that in her lifetime she has given out more than 75,000 Christmas puddings?With beautiful illustrations and humorous observations, this book is a joyful celebration of a monarch who will go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.
The Queen and I
by Sue TownsendThe Royals, they're just like us...The Queen and I is a hilarious satire on modern Britain and an exploration of what it really means to be human, by the bestselling author of the Adrian Mole seriesTHE MONARCHY HAS BEEN DISMANTLEDWhen a Republican party wins the General Election, their first act in power is to strip the royal family of their assets and titles and send them to live on a housing estate in the Midlands. Exchanging Buckingham Palace for a two-bedroomed semi in Hell Close (as the locals dub it), caviar for boiled eggs, servants for a social worker named Trish, the Queen and her family learn what it means to be poor among the great unwashed. But is their breeding sufficient to allow them to rise above their changed circumstance or deep down are they really just like everyone else?Bestselling author Sue Townsend has been Britain's favourite comic writer for over three decades.'No other author could imagine this so graphically, demolish the institution so wittily and yet leave the family with its human dignity intact' The Times'Absorbing, entertaining ... the funniest thing in print since Adrian Mole' Ruth Rendell, Daily Telegraph'Kept me rolling about until the last page' Daily MailSue Townsend is Britain's favourite comic author. Her hugely successful novels include eight Adrian Mole books, The Public Confessions of a Middle-Aged Woman (Aged 55¾), Number Ten, Ghost Children, The Queen and I, Queen Camilla and The Woman Who Went to Bed For a Year, all of which are highly acclaimed bestsellers. She has also written numerous well-received plays. She lives in Leicester, where she was born and grew up.
Queen Bee: The hilarious novel from the author of FAKING FRIENDS
by Jane Fallon'Absolutely masterly. Bliss' Heat'Had me turning the pages into the small hours' Louise Candlish_________ Welcome to The Close - a beautiful street of mansions, where gorgeous Stella is the indisputable Queen Bee . . . Moving into The Close, all Laura wants is peace and privacy.But resident Queen Bee Stella is suspicious, fearing Laura has designs for her fiancé, Al.So when Laura stumbles on Al's big secret, Stella's perfectly controlled world falls apart. As the two women take a chance on beating Al at his own twisted game, these former strangers are fast becoming best friends. But has Laura forgotten that revenge always comes with a sting in the tail?_________'Perfectly crafted with razor sharp wit' Nicola Moriarty 'Sharp and hilarious. A perfect beach read' Irish NewsWhy people can't get enough of Jane Fallon's books:'Hugely compelling and unpredictable' Ruth Jones'She always delivers a fabaliss read' Marian Keyes'Brilliant, with completely unexpected twists' Gill Sims'She's the queen of the revenge novel' Heat
Queen Camilla (Adrian Mole Ser. #7)
by Sue TownsendWhat if being Royal was a crime?Queen Camilla is the brilliantly funny sequel to The Queen and I by bestselling author Sue TownsendThe UK has come over all republican. The Royal Family exiled to an Exclusion Zone with the other villains and spongers. And to cap it all, the Queen has threatened to abdicate.Yet Prince Charles is more interested in root vegetables than reigning ... unless his wife Camilla can be Queen in a newly restored monarchy. But when a scoundrel who claims to be the couple's secret lovechild offers to take the crown off their hands, the stage is set for a right Royal show down.And the question for Camilla (and rest of the country) will be:Queen of the vegetable patch or Queen of England?Bestselling author Sue Townsend has been Britain's favourite comic writer for over three decades.'Brilliantly satirical' Evening Standard'One of our finest living comic writers' The Times'Brilliantly funny' Closer'Another fantastic read from Townsend' OK!
Queen Meryl: The Iconic Roles, Heroic Deeds, and Legendary Life of Meryl Streep
by Erin CarlsonA captivating and inspiring portrait of legendary actress Meryl Streep and her work, Queen Meryl explores the fearless icon's trailblazing roles in film, her feminist activism, and the indelible mark she's left on pop culture.Meryl Streep is the most celebrated actress of our time. She's a chameleon who disappears fully into each character she plays. She never tackles the same role twice. Instead, she leverages her rarified platform to channel a range of dynamic, complicated women--Joanna Kramer, Karen Silkwood, Julia Child, Margaret Thatcher, Katharine Graham--rather than limit herself to marginal roles for which other actresses must settle: Supportive Wife. Supportive Mother. Supportive Yet Utterly Disposable Love Interest. Streep will have none of that.The once-awkward, frizzy-haired suburban teen blossomed into a rising ingénue on the stage at Vassar College and the Yale School of Drama. She came of age during the women's movement of the '60s and '70s, and has worn her activism on her sleeve even when it was unfashionable. When she reached 40, the age when many leading ladies fade away, Streep plunged forward, taking her pick of parts that interested her and winning a pile of awards along the way. Meanwhile, she remained an unlikely box-office draw, her clout even managing to grow with age: The Devil Wears Prada, starring Streep as the Anna Wintour avatar Miranda Priestly, scored $326 million worldwide.Journalist and author Erin Carlson documents all of Streep's Oscars, accents, causes, memes, friendships, and feuds; also exploring the "off-brand" forays into action-adventure (The River Wild) and musicals (Mamma Mia!), and how Streep managed to sneak her feminism into each character. In the spirit of nontraditional bestsellers like Notorious RBG and The Tao of Bill Murray, Queen Meryl is illustrated by artist Justin Teodoro and filled with fascinating lists and sidebars, delivering joy in homage to its unique and brilliant subject.
Queen Mum
by Kate LongAlly has everything she ever wanted: a husband, a child, a lovely house in a pretty neighbourhood. Her glamorous, dynamic next-door neighbour, Juno, is also her best friend. But Juno has made a surprising decision; she has signed up for Queen Mum, a reality-TV show. For two weeks, she will live with another family in another town, while her opposite number will be moving in next door to Ally. Juno is excited about the prospect of seeing life from a different perspective. Ally is nervous. She doesn't like change, and knows from bitter experience how something precious can be lost in a moment. Kate Long's novel, written with her customary wit, empathy and incisiveness, is about friendship and love, recklessness and caution and about how the camera, while it sometimes lies, can also reveal uncomfortable truths. 'Delicious' Red ‘This is the perfect summer novel – easy to read, but perceptive about the twists of fate that can change our lives’ Glamour 'Long is as compulsively readable as ever' Time Out
Queen of King Street
by Tom McLaughlinUnlucky Bertie has gambled away the family fortune! So it's goodbye to the palace, hello to a little house on King Street for these royals. Who knew living like commoners could be so hard? A hilarious new story from the bestselling author of The Accidental Prime Minister, particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
The Queen of Subtleties (Charnwood Large Print Ser.)
by Suzannah DunnA tremendously vivid, page-turning and plausible novel that depicts the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, the most spirited, independent and courageous of Henry’s queens, as viewed from both the bedrooms and the kitchens of the Tudor court.
Queen Victoria: She loved her country. She hated zombies.
by A E Moorat'There were many staff at Kensington, fulfilling many roles; a man who was employed to catch rats, another whose job it was to sweep the chimneys. That there was someone expected to hunt Demons did not shock the new Queen; that it was to be her was something of a surprise.'London, 1838. Queen Victoria is crowned; she receives the orb, the sceptre, and an arsenal of blood-stained weaponry. Because if Britain is about to become the greatest power of the age, there's the small matter of the demons to take care of first... But rather than dreaming of demon hunting, it is Prince Albert who occupies her thoughts. Can she dedicate her life to saving her country when her heart belongs elsewhere? With lashings of glistening entrails, decapitations, and foul demons, this masterly new portrait will give a fresh understanding of a remarkable woman, a legendary monarch, and quite possibly the best Demon Hunter the world has ever seen . . . A E Moorat weaves a seamlessly lurid tapestry of royal biography, gothic horror and fist-gnawing comedy as he lifts the veil on what really took place on the dark and cobbled streets of 19th-century England.
Queen Victoria and her Prime Ministers: A Personal History
by Anne SomersetIt is generally accepted that Queen Victoria reigned but did not rule. This couldn’t be more wrong.
Queenie: Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020
by Candice Carty-Williams'Hilarious, compelling, painful, enlightening, honest. I loved it' - Dolly Alderton'Brilliant, timely, funny, heartbreaking' - Jojo Moyes'Inspirational, funny and wise' - Kit de WaalQueenie Jenkins can't cut a break. Well, apart from one from her long term boyfriend, Tom. That's definitely just a break though. Definitely not a break up. Stuck between a boss who doesn't seem to see her, a family who don't seem to listen (if it's not Jesus or water rates, they're not interested), and trying to fit in two worlds that don't really understand her, it's no wonder she's struggling.She was named to be queen of everything. So why is she finding it so hard to rule her own life?Perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton, Sally Rooney and Diana Evans, and anyone who loved Fleabag and Dear White People.
The Queen's Knickers (Mini Treasures Ser.)
by Nicholas AllanIt's a busy year for the Queen - she has lots of important events to attend. Meanwhile, a little girl is wondering what knickers Her Majesty will choose to wear on a school visit! Will they be her 'at home' knickers - adorned with corgis - or her 'garden party' knickers, or perhaps her woolly Balmoral ones...?Both children and adults will love this very special and endearing insight into a child's imagination, from the best-selling author-illustrator of Father Christmas Needs A Wee and Jesus' Christmas Party.Recently, the Queen visited a nursery in Norfolk and enjoyed a display based on the book:"...just to make it special, there was one element that was not quite so traditional: pants. These were not just any pants, either. They were the Queen's Knickers, and at Dersingham Infant and Nursery School, in Norfolk, they were put on special display in honour of their royal visitor" ~ Valentine Low, The Times
Queer Cocktails: 50 Cocktail Recipes Celebrating Gay Icons And Queer Culture
by Dog 'n' BoneRaise a glass to the LGBTQ+ community.This collection of cocktail recipes celebrates queer culture and pays tribute to the great gay icons of our time. Try your hand at mixing a Bloody Mariah (Carey), Cider Minelli or (Stephen) Fry Martini and get your tastebuds tingling. With recipes inspired by Madonna (La Isla Bonita Iced Tea), Freddie Mercury (Tequila Queen), Harvey Milk (The Land of Milk and Honey) and more, there’s plenty to keep all cocktail movers and shakers busy and thirsts well and truly quenched – we'll drink to that!
Quest for the Golden Arrow (Time Stoppers)
by Carrie Jones"A wild and fresh take on fantasy . . . I freaking loved it!" --Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanted series, on Time StoppersReturn to the magical town of Aurora in this exhilarating second book in the Time Stoppers series--perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and The Five Kingdoms.Annie is no longer a Nobody--she's a Time Stopper, one of the last humans who can control time. Now, she's found a home in the enchanted town of Aurora alongside all sorts of mystical creatures alongside, and made three best friends in Eva the dwarf, Bloom the last elf, and Jamie, who might be a troll. Then Annie discovers that the wicked Raiff has kidnapped her beloved new guardian. To save her, Annie must win the trust of a riddle-loving dragon and search for a magical bow and arrow. But as Annie and her friends embark on this mission, she learns some shocking secrets about her past--and about Bloom's, too. Can they save the day before the Raiff destroys everything they hold dear?
Quest for the Golden Arrow (Time Stoppers)
by Carrie Jones"A wild and fresh take on fantasy . . . I freaking loved it!" --Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanted series, on Time StoppersReturn to the magical town of Aurora in this exhilarating second book in the Time Stoppers series--perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and The Five Kingdoms.Annie is no longer a Nobody--she's a Time Stopper, one of the last humans who can control time. Now, she's found a home in the enchanted town of Aurora alongside all sorts of mystical creatures alongside, and made three best friends in Eva the dwarf, Bloom the last elf, and Jamie, who might be a troll. Then Annie discovers that the wicked Raiff has kidnapped her beloved new guardian. To save her, Annie must win the trust of a riddle-loving dragon and search for a magical bow and arrow. But as Annie and her friends embark on this mission, she learns some shocking secrets about her past--and about Bloom's, too. Can they save the day before the Raiff destroys everything they hold dear?
A Question of Love
by Isabel WolffThe sparkling new romantic comedy from the bestselling author of Behaving Badly. Perfect for fans of Jane Green.