- Table View
- List View
The Embroidered Sunset
by Joan Aiken'Miss Aiken’s book is immensely enjoyable – her gift for gothic romantic charm is as effectively deployed as ever' TLSLucy Culpepper doesn’t take no for an answer. An aspiring pianist she dreams of being taught by the renowned Max Benovek and will defy all odds – life threatening illness, a missing great aunt, and a disgruntled uncle – to achieve it.After finding out her Uncle Wilbie has used up her college fund, Lucy discovers a selection of enchantingly beautiful paintings in the attic. Being the miserly man he is, Wilbie wants to keep any possible profits for these paintings and bargains on sending Lucy to England to find the artist – Great-aunt Fennel. Knowing Benovek lives in London she snaps up the opportunity and undertakes the adventure of a lifetime. But though Benovek proves easy to find and immediately takes Lucy to heart, she sets off to Yorkshire only to find that her old aunt Fennel has vanished. Lucy’s search entangles her in a mystery of murder and deceit . . . can they discover who is the real aunt Fennel?Awardwinning author Joan Aiken brings a shocking finale to a witty and entertaining plot full of unexpected twists and turns in modern suspense novel, The Embroidered Sunset.
Emma Watson: Jane Austen's Unfinished Novel Completed by Joan Aiken
by Joan AikenJane Austen gave life to the fictional Watson family in 1803, but sadly abandoned them five chapters in – now Joan Aiken completes their story in her ingenious novel, Emma Watson.Emma Watson has been brought up by her aunt in a wealthy and refined household, an educated lifestyle far removed from her widowed father and five siblings. So when her aunt enters into an imprudent second marriage, nineteen-year-old Emma is sent back home and must join her sisters in their pursuit of a husband . . .Aiken takes on the fate of Austen’s characters with confidence and skill, flawlessly entwining themes of loss and love together in this stunning regency pastiche.
The Five-Minute Marriage
by Joan AikenDelphie Carteret is forced into a dangerous marriage of convenience in Joan Aiken’s stunning regency drama, The Five Minute Marriage. Delphie has been disinherited from her family’s life of luxury and wealth, and as her mother's health and wits deteriorate she has no choice but to seek help from distant relatives. However when she arrives at the family’s grand house she discovers part of their fortune is rightfully hers, and the only way to obtain her inheritance is through a sham marriage to her cousin.Unknowingly Delphie has tangled herself in a web of family rivalry and deceit which goes back for generations. Other members of the family are not just in debt but in the Marshalsea - the debtors' prison described by Dickens. Forced to maintain the charade of her marriage, Delphie is finally drawn into a dramatic fight for her life, and a surprisingly romantic finale on the roof of the family mansion . . .Joan Aiken has woven together an enchanting plot of romance and rivalry that will grip readers till the very end. Fans of Georgette Heyer should definitely make this novel their next read.
The Five-Minute Marriage
by Joan Aiken'Joan Aiken's invention seemed inexhaustible, her high spirits a blessing, her sheer storytelling zest a phenomenon. She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for many years to come.' - Philip PullmanDelphie Carteret is forced into a dangerous marriage of convenience in Joan Aiken’s stunning regency romance, The Five Minute Marriage. Perfect for fans of Bridgerton, the major romantic drama series from Netlix.Delphie has been disinherited from her family’s life of luxury and wealth, but, as her mother’s health and wits deteriorate, she has no choice but to seek help from distant relatives. However, when she arrives at the family’s grand house, she discovers part of their fortune is rightfully hers, and the only way to obtain her inheritance is through a sham marriage to her cousin.Unknowingly, Delphie has tangled herself in a web of family rivalry and deceit that goes back generations. Other members of the family are not just in debt but in the Marshalsea – the debtors’ prison described by Dickens. Forced to maintain the charade of her marriage, Delphie is finally drawn into a dramatic fight for her life, and a surprisingly romantic finale on the roof of the family mansion.Joan Aiken has woven together an enchanting plot of romance and rivalry that will grip readers until the very end. Fans of Georgette Heyer should definitely make this novel their next read.
Foul Matter
by Joan AikenI have been on nodding terms with death since age nineteen. Death holds precious little mystery for me. During the last sixteen years I have eaten death for breakfast . . .For accomplished writer and chef Clytie Churchill suffering and love come hand in hand. The life of each person she loves seems to come to a desperate end – sickness, suicide, death by drowning, orphan and widower Clytie has grieved through it all. During a long night reminiscing in a remote French Chateau she resolves to throw out all this Foul Matter – like the old proofs of a finished book.But there is still one mystery to solve – when she learns there is a chance that little Finn, her dead husband’s son, could have survived the sinking of his father’s boat Clytie seeks out lawyer and ex-lover Anthony to help her track him down.Awardwinning author Joan Aiken touches upon love and death with a thoughtfulness and courage that makes Foul Matter a romantic suspense novel like no other.
In Thunder's Pocket
by Joan AikenWhen Ned is sent to stay with his aunt and uncle in Thunder's Pocket, he's not very pleased. But from the moment a bird flies into the train carriage on his journey there, Ned realises this isn't going to be an ordinary seaside holiday. Has the eccentric sculptor, Marlot Corby, really put a curse on Ned's aunt? What secrets will he find in Marlot's house and gardens? Life in Thunder's Pocket is going to be anything but dull.
Midnight is a Place
by Joan AikenLucas is lonely. Orphaned and sent to live with his formidable guardian in a vast mansion, he longs for a friend. Then Anna-Marie arrives. She's spoilt and wilful - and practically half his age. Lucas feels more alone than ever. But one night something terrible happens. Lucas and Anna-Marie face a terrifying and treacherous ordeal, alone in the hostile city streets. Together, they must fight to survive ...The 40th anniversary edition of a compelling tale of villainy and suspense - from the best-selling author of THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE.
Morningquest
by Joan Aiken'Eccentric and poignant with inevitable echoes of Austen as she goes for heightened emotion and rarefied beauty . . . suspend disbelief and you’ll fly through this world of sense and sensibility' Time OutAspiring young artist sixteen-year-old Pandora Crumbe, lonely and bored in her rural village, has been unwillingly taken for lunch with her eccentric neighbours The Morningquest family . . . when her mother dies suddenly at the table. The Morninquests take Pandora under their wing – Sir Gilbert is a world famous conductor with an elegant wife and seven eccentric children, all highly talented in their own way. Pandora flourishes in their rambling country home and relishes the cultured and bohemian company. As her life moves with theirs to 60’s London, a Northern University, and finally to communist Prague, she uncovers scandals, tragedy, her own mother’s secrets, and finally the way to realise her own dreams.From award winning author Joan Aiken, romantic suspense novel Morningquest is an intense and kaleidoscopic read, an epic rite of passage with a vast cast of exuberant characters who sweep you into their world.
The Youngest Miss Ward: A Jane Austen Sequel (A\jane Austen Entertainment Ser.)
by Joan AikenJane Austen’s Mansfield Park famously narrates the story of poor little Fanny Price sent to live with her mother's grander sisters - the Ward family. Written almost two centuries later, Joan Aiken’s powerful sequel reverses the story and introduces us to The Youngest Miss Ward, Hatty, sent to fend for herself with the poor relations.Although creative, charismatic and witty, Hatty Ward lacks the beauty that her older sisters inherited and is left without a dowry to care for their ill mother once her sisters are married off. Sent to Portsmouth to live with her rumbustious uncle and cousins, Hatty turns her creative flair to poetry and believes she must become a governess, that is until handsome Lord Camber passes through town . . .With imagination and authenticity Joan Aiken captures the customs and language of Austen’s England in this one of a kind sequel, revealing a subversive and unique heroine.
The Youngest Miss Ward: A Jane Austen Sequel
by Joan AikenWith imagination and authenticity Joan Aiken captures the customs and language of Austen’s England in this one of a kind sequel to Jane Austen's classic novel, Mansfield Park, revealing a subversive and unique heroine.Harriet Ward, know as Hatty to her sisters, is treated with utter contempt by most of her family. Lacking the beauty that her older sisters inherited she is left without a dowry to care for their ill mother once her sisters are married off. Sent to Portsmouth to live with her rumbustious uncle and cousins, Hatty turns her creative flair to poetry and believes she must become a governess. That is until handsome Lord Camber passes through town . . . Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park famously narrates the story of poor little Fanny Price sent to live with her mother's grander sisters - the Ward family. Written almost two centuries later, Joan Aiken’s powerful sequel reverses the story and introduces us to The Youngest Miss Ward, Hatty, sent to fend for herself with the poor relations.'Joan Aiken's invention seemed inexhaustible, her high spirits a blessing, her sheer storytelling zest a phenomenon. She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for many years to come.' Philip Pullman
All to Play For
by Eve AinsworthLewis loves football more than anything else in the world but his mum doesn't want him to play. They don't have enough money for the kit and she can't forget what happened to Lewis's dad on the pitch. A touching story of loss, family and following your dreams from bestselling author Eve Ainsworth.
Because of You
by Eve AinsworthPoppy feels like her life is falling to pieces in this coming-of-age novella of blended families and online bullying from best-selling author Eve Ainsworth.
Just Another Little Lie
by Eve AinsworthToo much wine. Hiding bottles. Violet's worried and she can tell Mum's not OK … A deeply moving novella exploring the difficult subject of alcohol addiction from bestseller Eve Ainsworth. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 13+
Know My Place
by Eve AinsworthAfter leaving her long-term foster family, Amy feels hopeless and alone. But a new placement brings unexpected hope. Eve Ainsworth sheds a gentle and optimistic light on life in care.
An A-Z of Genetic Factors in Autism: A Handbook for Parents and Carers
by Kenneth AitkenThe concept of a single condition known as 'autism' is quickly becoming outdated, and is now understood to be an umbrella term for a variety of predominantly genetic conditions. This can be confusing for parents of children who have been diagnosed as having an 'autism spectrum disorder'. An A-Z of Genetic Factors in Autism provides parents with a complete overview of the main genetic disorders associated with autism, including those linked to growth differences, cardiovascular issues, neurodevelopmental problems, immune dysfunction, gastrointestinal disturbances and epilepsy. Kenneth Aitken demystifies the umbrella term 'autism' by alphabetically listing these conditions along with information about how common they are, their causes, signs, and symptoms, and for many, appropriate methods of treatment and management. Information on support groups and sources of further information are also included to help parents obtain any additional support they need, and keep up to date with new developments in research and practice. This is a must-have book for any parent or carer who feels confused by their child's diagnosis, or who seeks a better understanding of the many genetic conditions linked to autism.
An A-Z of Genetic Factors in Autism: A Handbook for Parents and Carers (PDF)
by Kenneth AitkenThe concept of a single condition known as 'autism' is quickly becoming outdated, and is now understood to be an umbrella term for a variety of predominantly genetic conditions. This can be confusing for parents of children who have been diagnosed as having an 'autism spectrum disorder'. An A-Z of Genetic Factors in Autism provides parents with a complete overview of the main genetic disorders associated with autism, including those linked to growth differences, cardiovascular issues, neurodevelopmental problems, immune dysfunction, gastrointestinal disturbances and epilepsy. Kenneth Aitken demystifies the umbrella term 'autism' by alphabetically listing these conditions along with information about how common they are, their causes, signs, and symptoms, and for many, appropriate methods of treatment and management. Information on support groups and sources of further information are also included to help parents obtain any additional support they need, and keep up to date with new developments in research and practice. This is a must-have book for any parent or carer who feels confused by their child's diagnosis, or who seeks a better understanding of the many genetic conditions linked to autism.
Sleep Well on the Autism Spectrum: How to recognise common sleep difficulties, choose the right treatment, and get you or your child sleeping soundly
by Kenneth AitkenWhy are sleep disorders more common in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and how can parents recognise the signs and symptoms? Which treatments are most effective, how easy are they to implement and how successful can they be? Full of helpful information and practical advice, this comprehensive guide introduces the most common sleep issues in children with ASDs, describing both mainstream and complementary options for treatment, what is involved and the outcomes that can be expected. The author describes common underlying conditions that might lead to sleep difficulties, including genetic conditions, diet and physical factors, explaining how parents can identify these. Various issues that can affect sleep are explored, including night terrors, teeth grinding, bedwetting and sleepwalking, and practical solutions are given. This is essential reading for parents of children and teenagers on the autism spectrum who have difficulties associated with sleeping, and will also be of great help to all individuals with ASDs who experience sleep problems.
Sleep Well on the Autism Spectrum: How to recognise common sleep difficulties, choose the right treatment, and get you or your child sleeping soundly (PDF)
by Kenneth AitkenWhy are sleep disorders more common in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and how can parents recognise the signs and symptoms? Which treatments are most effective, how easy are they to implement and how successful can they be? Full of helpful information and practical advice, this comprehensive guide introduces the most common sleep issues in children with ASDs, describing both mainstream and complementary options for treatment, what is involved and the outcomes that can be expected. The author describes common underlying conditions that might lead to sleep difficulties, including genetic conditions, diet and physical factors, explaining how parents can identify these. Various issues that can affect sleep are explored, including night terrors, teeth grinding, bedwetting and sleepwalking, and practical solutions are given. This is essential reading for parents of children and teenagers on the autism spectrum who have difficulties associated with sleeping, and will also be of great help to all individuals with ASDs who experience sleep problems.
The End: My Struggle Book 6 (Knausgaard #6)
by Martin Aitken Don Bartlett Karl Ove KnausgaardThe extraordinary final volume of Karl Ove Knausgaard’s monumental My Struggle series, ‘perhaps the most significant literary enterprise of our times’ (Guardian)The End is the sixth and final book in the monumental My Struggle cycle. Here, Karl Ove Knausgaard examines life, death, love and literature with unsparing rigour and begins to count the cost of his project.This last volume reflects on the fallout from the earlier books, with Knausgaard facing the pressures of literary acclaim and its often shattering repercussions. The End is at once a meditation on writing and its relationship with reality, and an account of a writer’s relationship with himself – his ambitions, his doubts and frailties.My Struggle depicts life in all its shades, from moments of great drama to seemingly trivial everyday details. It is a project freighted with risk, where the bounds between private and public worlds are tested, not without penalty for the author himself and those around him. The End is the capstone on an unparalleled achievement.
The Island Child: A Novel
by Molly AitkenTwenty years ago, Oona left the island of Inis for the very first time. A wind-blasted rock of fishing boats and turf fires, where girls stayed in their homes until they became mothers themselves, the island was a gift for some, a prison for others. Oona was barely more than a girl, but promised herself she would leave the tall tales behind and never return. The Island Child tells two stories: of the girl who grew up watching births and betrayals, storms and secrets, and of the adult Oona, desperate to find a second chance, only to discover she can never completely escape. As the strands of Oona’s life come together, in blood and marriage and motherhood, she must accept the price we pay when we love what is never truly ours . . . Rich, haunting and rooted in Irish folklore, The Island Child is a spellbinding debut novel about identity and motherhood, freedom and fate, and the healing power of stories.
The Strong Like Mum Method: Awaken the power of your pre and postnatal body through instinct, knowledge and exercise
by Shakira AkabusiDiscover the natural strength of the female body, awaken your inner power and enjoy a happy, healthy, confident pre and postnatal experience with this inspiring, stereotype-shattering book.In The StrongLikeMum Method, pre and postnatal fitness expert and mum of four Shakira Akabusi accompanies you on your pregnancy journey and throughout the first year of motherhood to help you tap into the full power of your body and mind with accessible exercise and wellness advice.The benefits of leading an active lifestyle are so much greater than the aesthetic goals we're bombarded with almost everywhere we turn. This book will unlock secrets that have been hidden in history and show how the female body has adapted and changed to become the powerful force it is today. As well as easy-to-follow exercises, Shakira's empowering StrongLikeMum Method provides advice on nutrition, the power of sleep, language and ways to adopt a positive mindset.Whether you are a first-time mum or a mother to two or more and whether you are hoping to enjoy an active pregnancy or wish to recover effectively postpartum, this book has been written to give you a full understanding of what your body and mind are capable of during and after pregnancy. It will give you the tools to understand your own body and instill the confidence to sustain a fit, healthy and happy lifestyle inside and out.
The Dark Lady
by AkalaA natural storyteller with a vision of his own, THE DARK LADY, Akala's debut novel for teens will enthuse and entertain teenagers and young adults, showing that reading is a true super-power. A PICKPOCKET WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL GIFTA PRISONER OF EXTRAORDINARY VALUE AN ORPHAN HAUNTED BY DREAMS OF THE MYSTERIOUS DARK LADYHenry is an orphan, an outsider, a thief. He is also a fifteen-year-old invested with magical powers ...This brilliant, at times brutal, first novel from the amazing imagination that is Akala, will glue you to your seat as you are hurled into a time when London stank and boys like Henry were forced to find their own route through the tangled streets and out the other side.
Help! Why Am I Changing?: The growing-up guide for pre-teen boys and girls
by Susan AkassA no-nonsense guide that equips children for the many challenging and confusing physical, emotional, and social issues they will face in adolescence.Children are reaching puberty at a much earlier age and therefore face many "teen" issues long before their actual teenage years. Aimed at 9–12-year-olds, Help! Why Am I Changing? helps children prepare for puberty and adolescence by informing them about a wide range of issues and addressing common concerns. It covers physical changes such as starting periods and growing body hair, emotional changes such as mood swings and feelings for the opposite sex, and social issues such as cyber-bullying. With an accessible Q&A approach, it focuses directly on the concern at hand, providing practical factual information and advice and reassurance. Examples of some of the questions tackled are: "Why am I starting to get spots?" / "Why am I putting on weight?" / "Why do I feel like an outsider at school?" / "How can I deal with textual harassment?" / "Why are my parents so strict?" / "Why do I get angry all the time?"
Martyr!: A TIME Most Anticipated Book of 2024
by Kaveh AkbarA MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2024 FOR TIME, NYLON , OPRAH, AND CNNONE OF SARAH JESSICA PARKER’S BOOKS OF THE YEAR‘I will carry this story, and the people in it, with me for the rest of my life’ John Green, author of The Fault in Our StarsCyrus Shams is lost.Ever since his mother’s plane was senselessly shot down over the Persian Gulf when he was just a baby, Cyrus has been grappling with her death. Now, newly sober, he is set to learn the truth of her life.When an encounter with a dying artist leads Cyrus towards the mysteries of his past - an uncle who rode through Iranian battlefields dressed as an Angel of Death, a haunting work of art by an exiled painter – he finds himself once again caught up in the story of his mother, who may not have been who or what she seemed. As Cyrus searches for meaning in the scattered clues of his life, a final revelation transforms everything he thought he knew.Electrifying, funny, wholly original, and profound, Martyr! heralds the arrival of a blazing and essential new voice in contemporary fiction.'It's so, so incredible' - Kaia Gerber'An absolute jewel of a novel. I haven’t loved a book this much in years’ Tommy Orange, author of There, There
Pilgrim Bell: Poems
by Kaveh Akbar*AN OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021***Selected as one of TIME's 100 Must-Read Books of 2021**'Profound and singular, smart and sad and funny. . . We need Pilgrim Bell.' TOMMY ORANGEWith formal virtuosity and ruthless precision, Kaveh Akbar's second collection takes its readers on a spiritual journey of disavowal, fiercely attendant to the presence of divinity where artifacts of self and belonging have been shed. How does one recover from addiction without destroying the self-as-addict? And if living justly in a nation that would see them erased is, too, a kind of self-destruction, what does one do with the body's question, "what now shall I repair?" Here, Akbar responds with prayer as an act of devotion to dissonance - the infinite void of a loved one's absence, the indulgence of austerity, making a life as a Muslim in an Islamophobic nation - teasing the sacred out of silence and stillness.Richly crafted and generous, Pilgrim Bell's linguistic rigour is tuned to the register of this moment and any moment. As the swinging soul crashes into its limits, against the atrocities of the American empire, and through a profoundly human capacity for cruelty and grace, these brilliant poems dare to exist in the empty space where song lives - resonant, revelatory, and holy.America, I warn you, if you invite me into your homeI will linger,kissing my beloveds frankly,pulling up radishesand capping all your pens.There are no good kings,only burning palaces.-from 'The Palace''Very few living writers write so achingly toward God as Kaveh Akbar . . . each of the poems in this collection finds its target' LAUREN GROFF