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The Song of the Solitary Bass Fisher
by James BattyJames Batty seldom ventures further than 20 miles from his Cornish home. He fishes from the rocks and beaches in a handful of places and that is enough for him.Generous with his knowledge and full of fresh ideas, Batty catches bass with lures, flies and bait. It’s a myth, he says, that you need expensive gear – he beaches plenty of big bass yet is a tackle skinflint.He loves to fish in those pre-dawn hours beloved of insomniacs, when the tide brings the big feeding bass close in to the shore.The book’s real focus is on understanding bass behaviour, then using that understanding to work out the place, time and method.Some bass-fishers obsess over conditions – too flat, too rough, too something. James Batty offers ideas as to how to catch bass in any weather or sea-state.His book isn’t just about the hows-and-whys of bass fishing, it is a wry look at life and it will make the reader laugh – a lot.
The Songs
by Charles EltonFrom the bestselling author of Mr Toppit, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick, comes a riotous, darkly comic story of siblings searching for the truth about their musician father – for fans of The Rosie Project, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The HumansMy brother Huddie said that we must be in the very small percentile of people who had a mother who fell out of the same window twice. Even dogs don't do that: they learn from experience. Iz Herzl, renowned political activist and protest singer, has always said that you should concentrate on the future, not the past. Now aged eighty, a reclusive figure holed up in Muswell Hill, Iz's refusal to reflect on his life leaves his teenage children, maths wunderkind Rose and her dying brother Huddie, adrift in myth anduncertainty.Iz doesn't talk about his other child, Joseph, a West End songwriter whom Rose and Huddie have never met. Joseph's single, disastrous encounter with his father many years earlier set him on a violent path to self destruction. Now he tries to impose order on his chaotic world with rhyme, transforming traumatic events into song.As the scattered children of Iz Herzl begin to converge, the ambiguities at the heart of their father's life start to surface in a way that will change them all. The Songs is a bittersweet tale of family, fame and ambition that is both darkly comic and deeply affecting.
Songs and Verse
by Roald DahlThink of your favourite Roald Dahl moment and surely a song or verse cannot be far away...SONGS AND VERSE has seven sections bursting with rhymes about monsters, magical creatures, gruesome children, ghastly adults as well as a few unusual surprises. From the strange and scrumptious dishes enjoyed by James's Centipede to George and his marvellous medicine, and from greedy Augustus Gloop to the Giraffe and the Pelly and Me there are many classics here together with some previously unpublished treats. With a foreword and opening illustrations by Quentin Blake, and illustrations throughout from other award-winning artists such as Babette Cole, Lauren Child, Chris Riddell, Alel Scheffler and Tony Ross, you will find a touch of magic on every page.
The Songs of Us: the heartbreaking page-turner that will make you laugh out loud
by Emma Cooper'Best book I have read this year' Amazon Reviewer'Quirky, clever, and original, this will break your heart, but put it back together again' Katie Fforde'This is a very special book indeed: funny, powerful, heart-wrenching and so poignant' Jo ThomasFans of Jojo Moyes, Cecilia Ahern and Marian Keyes will love The Songs of Us by Emma Cooper, a laugh-out-loud, funny and heartbreaking novel of love, loss and what it means to be a family.If Melody hadn't run out of de-icer that day, she would never have slipped and banged her head. She wouldn't be left with a condition that makes her sing when she's nervous. And she definitely wouldn't have belted out the Arctic Monkeys' 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor' in assembly at her son's school.If Dev hadn't taken the kids to the zoo that day, then the accident wouldn't have happened. He wouldn't have left Flynn and Rose without a dad. Or shattered the love of his life's heart.But if they hadn't seen the missing person report that day, they might never have taken the trip to Cornwall. And, in the last place they expected, discovered what it really means to be 'Us'.Readers LOVE The Songs of Us:'One of my favourites of 2018' 'Reminiscent of (and in my humble opinion right up there with) Me Before You by Jojo Moyes and Cecilia Ahern's PS I Love You''Funny, heartbreaking and beautifully written...an absolute triumph!'This book is something really special, I might even venture to say, perfect''Absolutely wonderful, can't recommend it highly enough''This book really is something very special. And oh, the ending. Perfect, just perfect!''Wow, wow and wow, what a wonderful and unique storyline''A charming and captivating novel which will make you laugh, give you hope, break your heart and restore your faith in true love''I can't remember the last time I was so moved by a book''If you want a book that makes you giggle and ugly cry at the same time... this is a must read!''Wow....loved loved loved this book, I so did not want this to end''Rarely does a book come along that is as unique and mesmerising as The Songs Of Us' 'It had me laughing and crying in equal measures''The Songs of Us will soften your heart and make you smile''Get your hands on a copy now. TRUST ME.''I could not put it down ... I really do highly recommend this book'
The Sonnets
by Warwick CollinsShakespeare in Love for the sonnets: a fictional tale of how Shakespeare wrote his most famous poems.
Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That Will Improve and/or Ruin Everything
by Zach Weinersmith Dr Kelly WeinersmithFrom a top scientist and the creator of the hugely popular web comic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, an illustrated investigation into future technologiesWhat will the world of tomorrow be like? How does progress happen? And why don't we have a lunar colony yet?In this witty and entertaining book, Zach and Kelly Weinersmith give us a snapshot of the transformative technologies that are coming next - from robot swarms to nuclear fusion powered-toasters - and explain how they will change our world in astonishing ways. By weaving together their own research, interviews with pioneering scientists and Zach's trademark comics, the Weinersmiths investigate why these innovations are needed, how they would work, and what is standing in their way.
The Sorcerer's Appendix
by Andrew HarmanAll is not well in the kingdom of Rhyngill. Despite regular payment of tithes, including PAYE (Pay As You Eat), the citizens are all tired and underfed. Firkin, a lad who is definitely alpha plus in the get-up-and-go department, blames the king, and sets out to find an assassin who will rid the kingdom of its ruler. But little does he know that the real villain is someone else entirely - or that the origins of his friends' troubles involve lemmings, pigeons and heavy earth-moving equipment.It takes a pieman, a magician and a knight with a North Country accent to help Firkin see the error of his ways!
Sorrow and Bliss: The Instant Sunday Times Top Five Bestseller
by Meg Mason'A brilliantly faceted and extremely funny book that engulfed me in the way I am always hoping to be engulfed by novels. I was making a list of all the people I wanted to send it to, until I realised that I wanted to send it to everyone I know'Ann Patchett'A sharply observed, darkly hilarious and merciless portrait of a thoroughly messed-up family. Patrick Melrose meets Fleabag. Brilliant'Clare Chambers Martha Friel just turned forty. Once, she worked at Vogue and planned to write a novel. Now, she creates internet content. She used to live in a pied-à-terre in Paris. Now she lives in a gated community in Oxford, the only person she knows without a PhD, a baby or both, in a house she hates but cannot bear to leave. But she must leave, now that her husband Patrick - the kind who cooks, throws her birthday parties, who loves her and has only ever wanted her to be happy - has just moved out.Because there's something wrong with Martha, and has been for a long time. Countless doctors, endless therapy, every kind of drug later, she still doesn't know what's wrong, why she spends days unable to get out of bed or alienates both strangers and her loved ones with casually cruel remarks.And now she has nowhere to go except her childhood home - a bohemian (dilapidated) townhouse in a romantic (rundown) part of London - to live with her mother, a minorly important sculptor (and major drinker) and her father, a famous poet (though unpublished) and try to survive without the devoted, potty-mouthed sister who made all the chaos bearable back then, and is now too busy or too fed up to deal with her.But maybe, by starting over, Martha will get to write a better ending for herself-and she'll find out that she's not quite finished after all.
Sorry, Bro
by Taleen VoskuniAn #ownvoices debut rom com - a bisexual My Big Fat Greek WeddingFrom new best friend to girl of her dreams . . .When Nar’s boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her a San Francisco bar, she realises it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.Enter her mother who wants Nar to settle down with a nice Armenia boy. Armed with a spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked men, she convinces Nar to attend 'Explore Armenia', a month-long festival of events in the city. But it’s not the parentally-approved playboy doctor or wealthy engineer who catches her eye - it’s Erebuni, a cool and intriguing young woman fully intouch with her heritage. Suddenly, with Erebuni as her guide, the events feel like far less of a chore, and much more of an adventure.Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there’s one teeny problem: Nar’s not exactly out as bisexual.A funny, heartfelt and deeply relatable rom com about family, cultural identity, queer love, and the process of self-discovery that continues into adulthood as identities evolve, all in a fresh, humorous voice.
Sorry, But Has There Been a Coup: And Other Great Unanswered Questions Of The Cameron Era
by Alan McArthur Steve LoweTopical satire from the authors of Is it Just Me or is Everything Shit?
Sorry I Missed You: The utterly charming and uplifting romantic comedy you won't want to miss in 2022!
by Lorraine Brown'Fresh, modern, and totally charming, this is a romance-lover's dream!' LAURA JANE WILLIAMSRebecca isn't looking for love. She's perfectly happy with her high-flying city job, gorgeous flat overlooking Hampstead Heath and fortnightly fling with the hot CEO. She's certainly not interested in the hot actor neighbour who's just moved in opposite...Jack is still looking for his big break. It turns out being the star talent at drama school doesn't give you a golden ticket to Hollywood, after all. The last thing he needs is any distractions right now - especially not the uptight, power-suit wearing girl next door.They might live only a few metres away from each other but their worlds couldn't be further apart, plus opposites don't really attract... do they?Praise for Sorry I Missed You:'A gorgeous will-they won't-they love story, beautifully written and with characters so perfectly realised they feel like friends... it's the ultimate feel-good read' HOLLY MILLER'A perfect-for-these-times novel about friendship, connections and finding love where you least expect it' ZOE FOLBIGG 'A gorgeous, slow burning love story which had me tearing up at the end!' OLIVIA BEIRNE'A sweet, romantic story, full of heart' CAROLINE KHOURY
Sorry to Disrupt the Peace: A Novel
by Patty Yumi CottrellHelen’s adoptive brother has killed himself. Helen’s adoptive family is estranged. Helen has decided that she alone is qualified to launch a serious investigation into her brother’s suicide and to ‘be a supportive beam of light' for her adoptive parents. Compulsive, unstable, likeable, and high energy, Helen is hard work for the people in her life, and she may not be as useful at home as she expects. Sorry to Disrupt the Peace is a dark comedy about loss, grief, solitude, and ghosts.
Sorting Out Billy
by Jo BrandBilly is a lad. He's a laugh, he's loud, he behaves badly and Sarah is besotted with him. But after another 'accident' involving Billy's temper, Sarah's face and a night in the A&E, Sarah's friends Martha and Flower decide that it's time to take action. What should they do? Reason with him? Send him to anger management classes? Hire a hit man?Martha and Flower have problems of their own: Martha is seven months pregnant by one of three possible blokes (she did this mainly to wind up her sanctimonious vicar father); and hippie Flower's career as a stand-up comic is more sit-down after some nasty encounters with south London's finest hecklers. Will Martha survive single-motherhood on a council estate in need of a peace-keeping force? Will Flower find the perfect put-down? And will they sort out Billy before he gets to them first...? Jo Brand tells it like it is in her darkly comic and sharply observed debut novel.
Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution
by Rainn WilsonIn this New York Times bestseller, comedic actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson explores the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for an increasingly challenging world. The trauma that our struggling species has experienced in recent years—because of both the pandemic and societal tensions that threaten to overwhelm us—is not going away anytime soon. Existing political and economic systems are not enough to bring the change that the world needs. In this book, Rainn Wilson explores the possibility and hope for a spiritual revolution, a &“Soul Boom,&” to find a healing transformation on both a personal and global level For Wilson, this is a serious and essential pursuit, but he brings great humor and his own unique perspective to the conversation. He feels that, culturally, we&’ve discounted spirituality—faith and the sacred—and we need profound healing and a unifying understanding of the world that the great spiritual traditions provide. Wilson&’s approach to spirituality—the non-physical, eternal aspects of ourselves—is relatable and applies to people of all beliefs, even the skeptics. Filled with genuine insight—not to mention enlightening Kung Fu and Star Trek references—Soul Boom delves into ancient wisdom to seek out practical, transformative answers to life&’s biggest questions.
The Soulmate Equation: 'pure, irresistible magic from start to finish' Emily Henry
by Christina Lauren'You can never go wrong with Christina Lauren!' Paige Toon'Pure, irresistible magic from start to finish' Emily Henry ______________The New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners returns with a hilariously witty and feel-good novel which proves once and for all that while data may be easy to crack, dating isn't quite so simple . . . Jess Davis is a numbers genius, but when it comes to love she's had to accept there is no magic formula. Juggling a career with raising her daughter, it's not surprising that her love life is. . . non-existent. When yet another date ends in disaster, she's prepared to give up on love for good. But then she hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new matchmaking company that claims to find you the One using a DNA equation. Suddenly, love doesn't seem quite so far out of reach . . . Until her test shows an unheard-of 98% compatibility with GeneticAlly's founder, Dr River Pena. Jess already knows Dr Pena, and this man is 100% not her soulmate. Yet as the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the ultimate 'Diamond' pairing that could make GeneticAlly a fortune, Jess begins to realise that there might be more to the scientist - and to the science behind a soulmate - than she thought.________Find out why readers LOVE Christina Lauren: 'Pure joy' Sally Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game'Writing duo Christina Lauren are my go-to when I'm feeling sad. I read this one very recently, but it rose straight to the top of my list of favourite CLo novels ... Full of fierce arguments, sexual tension and slow-build romance, this rom com would be the perfect choice if you've had to cancel your summer holiday but still want to feel the sand between your toes' Beth O' Leary, author of The Flatshare'What a joyful, warm, touching book! This is the book to read if you want to smile so hard your face hurts' Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal'A sexy, hilarious rom-com . . . Perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Sally Thorne' Booklist'Will we ever stop falling in love with Christina Lauren's fictional men? The answer to this is HECK NO' Fangirlish'Christina Lauren hilariously depicts modern dating' Us Weekly'Heartfelt and funny, this enemies-to-lovers romance shows that the best things in life are all-inclusive and nontransferable as well as free' Kirkus Reviews'A perfect read for beach or poolside, this is one hot summer story not to miss!' Library Journal (starred review)'Lauren brilliantly wields familiar rom-com tropes - enemies to lovers, fake marriage, even height differences - to craft a delightful romance that will have readers hanging on every word' Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Sour Grapes
by Dan Rhodes‘Dan Rhodes is a true original’ – Hilary MantelWhen the sleepy English village of Green Bottom hosts its first literary festival, the good, the bad and the ugly of the book world descend upon its leafy lanesBut the villagers are not prepared for the peculiar habits, petty rivalries and unspeakable desires of the authors. And they are certainly not equipped to deal with Wilberforce Selfram, the ghoul-faced, ageing enfant terriblewho wreaks havoc wherever he goesSour Grapes is a hilarious satire on the literary world which takes no prisoners as it skewers authors, agents, publishers and reviewers alike
South Dublin - How to Get by on, Like, 10,000 Euro a Day: How To Get By On, Like, 10,000 Euro A Day
by Ross O'Carroll-KellyThe incomparable, irredeemable Ross O'Carroll-Kelly gives the ultimate low-down on the centre of the universe, South Dublin - a land of untold beauty and wealth, which boasts more yacht clubs per head of population than Monte Carlo, where girls talk like Californians, where rugby is the number one religion and where it's possible to buy a Cappuccino - at Champs Elysee's prices. The Ross Guide to South Dublin contains all you need to know about this extraordinary region, where it'll be soon be too expensive for anyone to live.
South Wind
by Norman DouglasIn this witty novel of ideas, an intellectual and sensual adventure of the rarest kind unfolds amid a picturesque Mediterranean island. Generations of readers have delighted in the tale of an English clergyman's visit to a "rambling and craggy sort of place," where whitewashed houses perch on sheer rock cliffs above a gleaming sea. But underneath its tranquil surface, the island seethes with volcanic activity. And behind the aristocratic discourse on life and love lies a tangle of nefarious activities, from art forgery to murder. A memorable cast of characters includes the genteel visiting bishop as well as an elderly diplomat, a devilish magistrate, a malevolent barkeeper, and a host of other expatriates, freethinkers, eccentrics, zealots, and ne'er-do-wells. Their interactions generate a volatile mixture of notions that prove as unsettling as the sirocco, the hot, damp wind from the south. Combining elegant prose with glittering epigrams, mordant satire, and memorable characterization, this story offers thought-provoking entertainment.
Soviet Visuals
by Varia BortsovaA funny, nostalgic and strange glimpse at life behind the Iron Curtain - from the hit social media account with over 1 million followersWELCOME TO THE USSR PARADE in the latest fashions!MARVEL at the wonders of the space race! DELIGHT in the many fine delicacies of food and drink! REVEL in the fine opportunities for work and play!
Sowing Secrets
by Trisha AshleyAnother glorious, escapist read from the No.1 bestselling author of The Christmas Invitation Watch out for temptation in the Garden of Eden…
The Spa Break
by Caroline JamesThe laugh-out-loud romantic comedy of the year for fans of The Book Club with Jane Fonda, Judy Leigh and Maddie Please!
SPACE BLASTERS: SUZIE AND THE MOON BUGS (Space Blasters #2)
by Katie Tsang Kevin TsangSave the universe in the awesome and hilarious space-themed adventure series from bestselling authors Katie and Kevin Tsang!
SPACE BLASTERS: SUZIE SAVES THE UNIVERSE (Space Blasters)
by Katie Tsang Kevin TsangSave the universe in the awesome and hilarious new space-themed adventure series from bestselling authors Katie and Kevin Tsang!
Space Detectives
by Mark PowersDog lost in space? Grown an extra head and don't know why? Pocket money stolen by a green blob? You need the Space Detectives!Connor and Ethan are spending their summer holidays aboard the world's first orbiting city, Starville (basically Beverley Hills in space!). The amazing space station is bursting with celebrities and the mega-rich. But Connor and Ethan are too busy selling ice cream to see the sights.However, neither of our heroes can resist a mystery and when they discover the space station is hurtling on a collision course with the moon (eep!) they know they need to step in. This is a case for the SPACE DETECTIVES!Can Connor and Ethan find the culprit and save Starville from its impending doom?
Space Detectives
by Mark PowersDog lost in space? Grown an extra head and don't know why? Pocket money stolen by a green blob? You need the Space Detectives!Connor and Ethan are spending their summer holidays aboard the world's first orbiting city, Starville (basically Beverley Hills in space!). The amazing space station is bursting with celebrities and the mega-rich. But Connor and Ethan are too busy selling ice cream to see the sights.However, neither of our heroes can resist a mystery and when they discover the space station is hurtling on a collision course with the moon (eep!) they know they need to step in. This is a case for the SPACE DETECTIVES!Can Connor and Ethan find the culprit and save Starville from its impending doom?