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Sylvia Plath Poems Chosen by Carol Ann Duffy
by Sylvia PlathSylvia Plath was, for both English and American poetry, one of the defining voices of twentieth-century, and one of the most appealing: few other poets have introduced as many new readers to poetry. Though she published just one collection in her lifetime, The Colossus, and a novel, The Bell Jar, it was following her death in 1963 that her work began to garner the wider audience that it deserved. The manuscript that she left behind, Ariel, was published in 1965 under the editorship of her former husband, Ted Hughes, as were two later volumes, Crossing the Water and Winter Trees in 1971, which helped to make Sylvia Plath a household name. Hughes's careful curation of Plath's work extended to a Collected Poems and a Selected Poems in the 1980s, which remain in print today and stand testimony to the 'profound respect' that Frieda Hughes said her father had for her mother's work. It was not until the publication of a 'restored' Ariel in 2004 that readers were able to appraise Plath's own selection and arrangement of her work.This edition of the poems, chosen by the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, offers a fresh selection of Sylvia Plath's poetry to stand in parallel to the existing editions. Introduced with an inviting preface, the book is essential reading for those new to and already familiar with the work of this most extraordinary poet.
The Curiosities
by Christopher ReidThe Curiosities is the eleventh book of poems from this most inventive and celebrated of British poets. Clustering around the letter 'C', the seventy-some poems that comprise this collection celebrate a lexicon of lived experience through a single letter of the alphabet. Here we find tales of cufflinks and costume, cougars and cochineal, catapults and cavalry, even canoodlings in canoes. With a characteristic sleight of hand, Christopher Reid shifts deftly between seriousness and play, elegy and anarchy in this sometimes-zany, sometimes-haunting compendium of bright-eyed verses. Here and there the story-telling roams and sweeps: here are tales 'for' friends and loved ones, there are tales 'after' the great poets of history. But whoever and whatever the mode of address, these poems are frequently underpinned by a unifying humanity. The Curiosities is a temptatious read, full of wisdom and surprise, humour and lament, and is a poignant and convincing reminder that in a world where 'nobody's allowed to live forever', life is for celebrating, and grasping by the collar.
Aftershocks
by A. N. Wilson"It's unlikely that a more intelligent, amusing and yet disturbing novel will appear this autumn." ScotsmanOn The Island, just as on many other islands, marriages are unhappy, people fall in love and the seasons pass. The town of Aberdeen is no different, until the earthquakes. These seismic ripples tear down houses, forge bonds, and shake the foundations of humanity and religion. And in the midst of it all, Nellie and Ingrid fall in love.In Aftershocks A. N. Wilson offers a portrait of nature, death and morality. Moved by the real losses of the Christchurch earthquake, this is an extraordinary novel about a community profoundly linked to the land it lives on."Witty, erudite and artful." SpectatorCountry & Townhouse's the best books for Christmas, 2018
Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way
by Fred RogersAn inspiring collection of thoughts to take with us on the paths we travel in life.For all the roads we choose to travel, and even those we don't, Fred Rogers has an observation, a story, some insights to share. Whether you're facing graduation, a new job, a new baby, marriage, any change in your life--expected or not--the wisdom that Mister Rogers offers can contribute mightily to the grace with which you handle the change.With sections titled Who You Are Right Now, Loving and Being Loved, and Guided Drift, Fred addresses the scope of human transitions. It all comes down to knowing we're valuable, and that we're worthy of that value. As Fred would say, "You don't have to be anything more than who you are right now."In her foreword, Joanne Rogers shares the Fred she knew. With stories from their life together, the joys as well as the struggles, Joanne shows how Fred looked at life as a journey--with the ups and downs and in-betweens.
Fray (The Unraveled Kingdom #2)
by Rowenna MillerIn this epic sequel to Torn, the magical seamstress Sophie Balstrade navigates a royal court and foreign alliances fraught with danger -- and may well have to risk everything for love and for country.Open revolt has been thwarted -- for now -- but unrest still simmers in the kingdom of Galitha. Sophie, despite having built a thriving business on her skill at both dressmaking and magic, has not escaped unscathed from her misadventures in the workers' rebellion. Her dangerous foray into curse casting has rendered her powers unpredictable, and her increasingly visible romantic entanglement with the Crown Prince makes her a convenient target for threatened nobles and malcontented commoners alike.With domestic political reform and international alliances -- and her own life -- at stake, Sophie must discern friend from foe... before her magic grows too dark for her to wield.Rowenna Miller's enchanting fantasy series, the Unraveled Kingdom, is perfect for fans of The Queen of the Tearling and Red Queen.The Unraveled KingdomTornFray
We Don't Know What We're Doing
by Thomas MorrisA young video shop assistant exchanges the home comforts of one mother-figure for a fleeting sexual encounter with another; a brother and sister find themselves at the bottom of a coal mine with a Japanese tourist; a Welsh stag on a debauched weekend in Dublin confesses an unimaginable truth; and a twice-widowed pensioner tries to persuade the lovely Mrs Morgan to be his date at the town's summer festival... Set in Caerphilly, a diminished castle town in South Wales, Thomas Morris' debut collection reveals its treasures in unexpected ways, offering vivid and moving glimpses of the lost, lonely and bemused. By turns poignant, witty, tender and bizarre - these entertaining stories detail the lives of people who know where they are, but don't know what they're doing. This is the work of a young writer with a startlingly fresh voice, an uncanny ear for dialogue and a broad emotional range. We Don't Know What We're Doing is a major launch for the Faber fiction list in 2015.
A Death on The Ocean Wave
by Tim HealdIn his third adventure, Doctor Tudor Cornwall, head of criminal affairs at the University of Wessex, finds himself literally all at sea. Accompanied by his precocious star pupil, Elizabeth Burney, Tudor boards the good ship Duchess as a guest speaker on a transatlantic crossing which goes spectacularly wrong. Are the Irish journalists actually terrorists in thin disguise? Does the captain really have laryngitis? How come Freddie Grim formerly of Scotland Yard is preaching at matins? Was the flambé at Doctor and Frau Umlaut's table meant to be quite so explosive? Is Prince Abdullah a real Royal?And, most importantly of all, can Tudor solve these and other mysteries before the ship docks?
Hazel (Animal Antics)
by A. N. WilsonBrought to life by celebrated author and animal lover A. N. Wilson, and charmingly illustrated, Hazel will capture the hearts of guinea-pig lovers everywhere.Creep under the kitchen table and join Hazel the greedy guinea pig as she gets into some sticky situations...Hazel the guinea pig just wants to explore. But she's also very fond of food... When her seven-year-old owner puts her down into the kitchen, she seizes her chance to escape - but her bulging tummy gets her stuck in a wellington boot!That's just the beginning of Hazel's adventures. She's about to meet Tobacco, a handsome boy guinea pig, and together they must fight off a hutch invasion from a curious furball called Fudge. Can Hazel and Tobacco warn the humans in time - using just the power of squealing?
The Ward (Downside Ser. #2)
by S.L. GreyLisa is a plastic surgery addict with severe self-esteem issues. The only hospital that will let her go under the knife is New Hope: a grimy, grey-walled facility dubbed 'No Hope' by its patients. Farrell is a celebrity photographer. His last memory is a fight with his fashion-model girlfriend and now he's woken up in No Hope, alone. Needle marks criss-cross his arms. A sinister nurse keeps tampering with his drip. And he's woken up blind... Panicked and disorientated, Farrell persuades Lisa to help him escape, but the hospital's dimly lit corridors only take them deeper underground - into a twisted mirror world staffed by dead-eyed nurses and doped-up orderlies. Down here, in the Modification Ward, Lisa can finally have the face she wants... but at a price that will haunt them both forever.
Getting The Picture
by Sarah Salway'Do you remember that first time we met? It was in the old studio in Brunson Road. How much did we miss, love, by not being together?'In the early 1960s, Maureen Griffiths, married with children, accompanies a friend to a modelling shoot, never intending to be in front of the camera herself. But after meeting photographer Martin Morris, Maureen is transformed - and Martin quickly falls for her. It is forty years later. Shortly after Maureen's death, Martin moves into Pilgrim House, a retirement home, in part because Maureen's husband, George, is also a resident there. Through the letters he continues to write to Maureen, Martin reveals a lifetime of tireless devotion to his one true love. He is also determined to figure out why she stayed with her difficult, demanding husband. So with the aid of some of the colourful residents of Pilgrim House, Martin delves into the secrets of Maureen's family and becomes increasingly entwined in the complicated life that Maureen built to shield herself.Told through letters, emails, and other missives, Getting The Picture is an irresistible, funny and deeply moving novel of family secrets, regrets, and abiding love, with all the author's sly wit and powers of observation on full displayThis novel is Dean Street Press's entry for the 2015 Man Booker Prize.Praise for Getting The Picture'Getting The Picture astutely probes the quotidian eeriness of that other planet that is old age and a life recollected. Marvelous.' William Gibson'The best novels seduce the reader, so allow the wonderful chorus of voices in Sarah Salway's Getting The Picture to do just that. Let them whisper secrets, plans and mysteries; of the past, of the present. Let their possible futures come into focus for a celebratory final picture. This novel is uplifting, sinister and beautiful.' Tiffany Murray'One of the smartest, wittiest writers of present times, and I recommend anything by her. Getting The Picture is just great. I couldn't get through a page without smiling or laughing aloud... there is one photography session where an old man and woman meet with a camera between them that is riveting; Salway adds layers to it in the retelling, so that the poignancy of the event overtakes the humor. I can't stop thinking about the state of mind of the 79 year old woman who lowers her shirt for the camera. All these old people still want to be seen, and to reveal themselves. Salway is a wonder at detail - small moments from all her books are permanently embedded in my mind. Don't know how she does it, but it's marvelous.' Alice Elliott Dark'Sarah Salway is an astonishingly smart writer. Her fiction is always beautifully structured, touching and clever. She manages the trick of creating characters you care about in stories you admire. I can't wait to see what she does next.' Neil Gaiman
Alice Again (Alice And Megan Ser. #2)
by Judi CurtinIt's spring mid-term, and Alice has invited Megan to visit her in Dublin. Megan is hoping for a nice trouble-free few days with her best friend. No such luck! She soon discovers that Alice is once again plotting and scheming. It seems that Alice's Mum Veronica has a new boyfriend. The plan is to discover who he is, and to get rid of him. Alice (with poor Megan in tow) becomes totally horrible in an effort to scare the poor man away. Can this possibly work? Just how horrible can she be? And how can Megan stand by and watch while her best friend turns into a total monster? 'A must-read for girls aged 10 and up, this has the Jacqueline Wilson touch' Evening Echo
Just Joshua
by Jan MichaelUntil the whispers began, Joshua was like all the other village boys, helping out at the market, making a little money from the tourists, getting up to mischief. So what if his father was the only butcher in a village of fishermen, a loner who preferred to spend his evenings carving wood? Is it true what everyone is saying -- that Joshua's father is a 'mountain man', one of the people feared and mistrusted by the villagers? When Joshua's life takes an surprising turn, he discovers that being different does matter. Maybe it's not enough to be just Joshua?
Furball and the Mokes (Animal Antics)
by A. N. WilsonSneak behind the skirting board with Furball the trusting hamster, and run riot with the Mokes - a gang of cockney mice...It's a scary world out there, especially if you're a pet hamster who likes nothing better than snuggling into a cashmere sock with a pouch full of honey seeds. So when Furball escapes her cozy cage and goes gallivanting with a gang of cockney mice who call themselves the Mokes, it can only end in trouble. Suddenly this brave little hamster is dodging fearsome winged Fevvas in the garden, and smelly long-tailed Narks in the cellar. And she'll have to be very careful not to be caught out by poisonous Floor Food, lethal Sticky Traps, or the dreaded Ole Snapper.Meanwhile the Humans, (or 'Ooms', if you're a Moke) are on the hunt for their beloved pet. And while they're searching high and low for their beloved pet, they're also dealing with a serious mouse problem...A.N. Wilson's children's books have been hugely well received: 'delightful' - Daily Mail'clever, moving, imaginative' - Daily Telegraph 'An excellent book... for the whole family' - Spectator
Love in a Life
by Sir Andrew MotionLove in a Life, Andrew Motion's sixth volume of poetry, marks a conspicuous development in the work of the founder of the modern Narrative School. Directness and a new colloquialism are wedded to Motion's distinctive obliquities in a volume where the idea of marriage governs the architecture of each poem and the book as a whole. The stories of two marriages gradually emerge, like chapters in a narrative, and are themselves bound to more public material, so that each lends profound resonances to the other.
A Gathering in Hope: A Novel (Hope Ser. #3)
by Philip GulleyBestselling author Philip Gulley offers humorous, small-town storytelling as he follows the foibles and follies of Pastor Sam Gardner. Thanks to an unexpected windfall, Sam Gardner's congregation (with the exception of a few malcontents) is eager to expand their meetinghouse. But before building can commence, the County Environmental Board and the Department of Natural Resources put the quietus on the plan. A colony of endangered Indiana bats have made the tree beside the meetinghouse, and the meetinghouse attic, their place of hanging, mating, and living, which poses a big problem for the congregation. Aside from the fact that their fanged visitors are engaging in sinful acts on church property, until these bats leave for hibernation, Hope Friends Meeting is left without a gathering place. And when an over-zealous Leonard Fink takes matters into his own hands, he may even land himself--and Sam--in jail.
Dizzy Worms: An African Tale (Last Orders at Harrods Trilogy #3)
by Michael HolmanThis wickedly satirical novel is also a serious critique of Africa's troubled state' - The Guardian 'Jolly good fun' - Daily Mail Charity Mupanga, the resilient and maternal proprietor of Harrods International Bar (and Nightspot) faces her toughest challenge in "Dizzy Worms", the final novel in Michael Holman's acclaimed trilogy set in the African slum of Kireba. Faced with a Health and Safety closure, Charity has a week to appeal and the chances of success seem negligible: elections are imminent, and Kireba is due to become a showcase of President Josiah Nduka's 'slum rehabilitation program', backed by gullible foreign donors. But before taking on Nduka and the council, she has a promise to keep - to provide a supply of her famous sweet doughballs to a small army of street children, as voracious as they are malodorous...Michael Holman uses his witty satirical pen to brilliant effect in this affectionate portrait of a troubled region, targeting local politicians, western diplomats, foreign donors and journalists, puncturing pretensions and questioning the philosophy of aid.
Straight Man (Vintage Contemporaries Ser.)
by Richard RussoHank Devereaux is the reluctant chairman of the English department of a badly underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt. Devereaux's reluctance is partly rooted in his character - he is a born anarchist - and partly in the fact that his department is savagely divided. In the course of a single week, Devereaux will have his nose mangled by an angry colleague, imagine his wife is having an affair with his dean, wonder if a curvaceous adjunct is trying to seduce him with peach pits and threaten to execute a goose on local television. All this while coming to terms with his philandering father, the dereliction of his youthful promise and the ominous failure of certain vital body functions. In short, Straight Man is classic Russo - side-splitting, poignant, compassionate and unforgettable.
The Clockwork Crow (The Clockwork Crow)
by Catherine FisherA magical story of snow and stars by Catherine Fisher. The Clockwork Crow is a mysterious gothic Christmas tale set in a frost-bound Victorian country mansion. When orphaned Seren Rees is given a mysterious package by a strange and frightened man on her way to her new home, she reluctantly takes it with her. But what is in the parcel? Who are the Family who must not be spoken of, and can the Crow help Seren find Tom, before the owner of the parcel finds her? The Clockwork Crow is a gripping Christmas tale of families and belonging set in snowy Wales from a master storyteller.
Squishy McFluff: Supermarket Sweep! (Squishy McFluff the Invisible Cat #2)
by Pip JonesFrom the funniest voice in young fiction today, the second in an irresistible series for young readers about imaginary friends in hilarious rhyming text and with adorable illustrations by Ella Okstad.Can you see him? My kitten? He has eyes big and roundHis miaow is so sweet (but it makes not a sound!)Imagine him quick! Have you imagined enough?Oh, good, you can see him! It's Squishy McFluff!When Mum drags Ava to the supermarket, her invisible cat Squishy McFluff can't resist coming along, with hilarious, chaotic and surprising results!Told in full colour throughout, this is the perfect stepping stone from picture books to older fiction.'A surefire hit.' Guardian'Charming.' The Times'Bound to ensure catisfaction.' Independent'Cleverly bridging the gap between picture books and longer fiction, the lovable Squishy is certain to be a success with under-sevens.' BookTrust'In delightful rhyme reminiscent of Dr Seuss, this charmingly illustrated book is bound to become a bedtime fave.'Gurgle
Fists
by Pietro GrossiTold in a spare and powerful voice reminiscent of Hemingway and Salinger, the three stories in Pietro Grossi's Fists explore the rite of passage each of us faces in our youth and what it means to be a man in our time. 'Fists', 'Horses' and 'The Monkey': three powerful coming-of-age stories about boys confronting reality, and fighting to stay alive in a man's world. In 'Fists', a teenage amateur boxer steps into the ring for the first time, and finds himself in a face-off with Life in all its muscular force; in 'Horses', two brothers embark on their first forays into adulthood, each learning to play a man's game in his own painful way; and in 'The Monkey', a young man realizes that in order to stay sane and survive in this world, we have to sacrifice our childhood dreams. Published by Pushkin Press, Howard Curtis's translation of Fists won the 2010 Premio Campiello Europa, and was shortlisted for the 2010 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. 'There is more power and pathos in this short piece of spare, timeless prose than in most densely-written novels ... All three tales are artful but seemingly effortless, a quality shared by Howard Curtis's translation, which feels elegantly natural' — Daniel Hahn, Independent The greatest addition to Italian literature for a very long time' — Il Dominicale 'His passion for Hemingway, Faulkner and Philip Roth can be seen in this simple, precise and intense writing' — Il Giornale 'An outstanding debut' — Giudizio Universale 'A perfect book' — Il Sole 24 Ore
The Sixth Soul: Brilliant page turner - a dark serial killer thriller with a twist (Dci Rosen Ser. #1)
by Mark RobertsSix women. Six abductions. Six souls in peril...London is in the grip of a barbaric serial killer, dubbed Herod by the tabloid press. Four pregnant women have been abducted in quick succession, their bodies mutilated and dumped. When a fifth pregnant woman, Julia Caton, is taken from her home in the dead of night, DCI David Rosen knows that time is running out to save her... Then Rosen gets a mysterious phone call from Father Sebastian Flint, an enigmatic priest who seems to know rather too much about the abductions. When it emerges that Father Flint was once the Vatican's leading expert on the occult, the investigation takes an increasingly disturbing turn. But it isn't until Rosen discovers the existence of an ancient text - said to be the devil's answer to the bible - that the true horror of Herod's plan begins to unfold. Rosen is drawn inexorably to the killer's lair, where he will discover a terrible truth - that Herod's retribution is absolute, and that there are far worse things than death...
Hidden Symptoms
by Deirdre MaddenFor Theresa and her student friends, Belfast can seem an urban nightmare - a city where violence can erupt at any moment, where secrecy and bitterness are nursed behind closed doors, and where Theresa's twin brother, Francis, has been murdered, Deirdre Madden carefully and movingly reveals the crisis of faith that confronts Theresa when her devout Catholicism provides no explanation for the tragedy. Hidden Symptoms was originally published in Faber's First Fictions anthology where it was highly praised and was awarded the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 1987.
The Silent Woman: An Elizabethan Mystery (Nicholas Bracewell #6)
by Edward MarstonWhen fire destroys their London theatre, Lord Westfield's players must seek out humbler venues in the countryside. But stage manager Nicholas Bracewell is distracted by a shocking tragedy – a mysterious messenger from his native Devon, murdered by poison. Though the messenger is silenced, Nicholas understands what he must do: return to his birthplace and conclude some unfinished business from his past.The rest of Westfield's Men, penniless and dejected, ride forth with him on a tour that will perhaps become their valedictory, dogged as they are by plague, poverty, rogues and thieves. And among the sinister shadows that glide silently with them towards Devon is one who means Nicholas never to arrive . . .
Love The Stationery In Your Classroom
by Rebecca PalliserThis delightful little book encourages children to learn about - and have fun with - the stationery they encounter in the classroom. Author Rebecca Palliser wants to help all children to find their feet in the primary school classroom.
Treasure Island: Prince Otto
by Robert Louis StevensonThis classic pirate adventure is full of swashbuckling pirates, buried loot and danger. Young Jim Hawkins sets out to discover the long-lost treasure of the evil, infamous and now-dead pirate, Captain Flint. But this will be no easy ride, as bloodthirsty plans are afoot. Can Jim find the treasure and get out alive?