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Every Day a Thread
At just 17, Bismillah made an audacious choice to marry a young Englishman, defying her traditional Muslim family and father’s guidance. Yearning to pursue studies, she embarked on an extraordinary journey spanning turbulent historic events. From surviving World War II Japanese occupation in Malaya to overcoming 1960’s British racial discrimination in Birmingham, Bismillah weathered profound challenges that shaped her unlikely destiny.
With poignant insight, she reveals the outsized influence families wield upon access to education and life chances. Through grit and grace, Bismillah surmounted societal barriers to become an education inspector in England, later hoping to contribute to Malaysia’s education initiatives, Bismillah returned to Malaysia to face unexpected challenges.
£11.99 -
Forty-Five
Once again, I find myself standing on a small piece of land, just big enough for my feet. It feels as if this land is teetering atop a tall, thin column of crumbling, rocky earth. I’m wobbling over a bottomless abyss while torrential rain pours from storm clouds that seem to hover directly above my head. Tears cascade from my eyes, and mascara runs in black rivers down my face. I can’t help but think, ‘What the hell has just happened?’
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had this moment in my life.
Join me on my journey from first love to last love, before becoming single again. Cry, laugh, and perhaps relate to some of the situations I found myself in as I take a stroll down memory lane, revisiting the relationships I’ve had in my life.
£8.99 -
The Pandemic and Me
Ever wondered what it was really like for a nurse on the frontline during the Covid pandemic? How did they juggle work and home life during this unprecedented time? This book shares one nurse’s experience of being redeployed to set up and manage a ward during the first wave of the pandemic, all while running a household and caring for her parents after her mother’s two recent brain haemorrhages. This day-by-day account offers you, the reader, a chance to truly understand and live through this unique experience, warts and all. It’s an honest depiction of the feelings, challenges, and triumphs of balancing all aspects of life, celebrating the successes, and finding joy in the role. Relive it all as if you are walking in her shoes.
£6.99 -
Fego Tales
Fego Tales is based on a true story that explores life in a West African boarding school in Nigeria. Fego Tales is narrated through short stories experienced by the author. This book navigates first love, bullying, the mysterious Iroko trees, culture, cruelty, romance, friendship, relationship, and the difficulties of navigating a back-to-basics existence.
£7.99 -
Mr Movie Man
Films. Cinemas. Movies.
They capture our imagination throughout our lives for whatever reason. Everyone has a different memory to associate with a film title or cinema name. Be it your very first experience at a young age, your first date and that kiss and cuddle in the back row or perhaps even a film that scared the life out of you!
This book brings back to life a distant memory to each and every one for their own reason. Be it your favourite movie star or that musical’s song that wouldn’t leave your head for weeks, that journey to a far distant galaxy or just being chased by a giant man-eating shark.
Cinema is the only place to capture all these adventures.
£7.99 -
My Sage
Clouds pass and so do our opportunities…
Have you ever met a sage?
Can you see the extraordinary in your daily life?
Did you observe the spark of clairvoyance in the modern days?
A sage can revolve you to experience the extraordinary and you will then see the daily miracle.
A sage can give you many tales to keep a secret with a miraculous edge.
In this book, you will find some of these extraordinary events from real-life experiences in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
£6.99 -
Sharki and the Naked Travellers
Travelling with one’s partner in a campervan for a year provides an excellent, if not gruelling, test for newly married couples; it amounts to “couples therapy” on wheels but without the therapist. Not only does one learn a tremendous amount about one’s partner but also about oneself. There are a few endeavours that couples should avoid; three that come to mind are wallpapering, navigating, and being in each other’s company 24/7. After travelling for a year with my partner, I can say with absolute authority that putting up wallpaper with one’s partner is nothing short of life-threatening. Navigating and constant companionship did put us to the test a few times but fortunately there were no casualties. None that I noticed.
Think “Fawlty Tourists on Wheels” and that would accurately sum up our year-long meanderings in Sharki, our trusty wannabe 4x4 campervan that took multiple terrains in her 2.8-litre stride.
If one has a year to spare, I highly recommend throwing caution to the wind and embarking on a zero-itinerary adventure with an open mind, a strong stomach and your very best friend at your side.
£9.99 -
State of Mind
We all have challenges to face in life, some greater than others. Most of us born in the developed world are extremely fortunate – something we need to remind ourselves of from time to time. It becomes apparent that it is more the state of mind than the actual circumstances which affect our ability to lead full and happy lives.
This is brought home to us when we meet those less fortunate than ourselves. I see this with friends who maybe seemed shy and insecure but when they suffer a serious illness like cancer or some other disaster that occurs in their life, they find a courage and strength that surprises and impresses us all.
Disabled people have much to teach us, can we even imagine life day after day in the circumstances in which some people live their entire lives, wheelchair-bound, unable to see or hear or communicate, control their actions or their lives? Yet many of these people show nothing but affection and gratitude, they remain cheerful, positive, and determined, to know such people is an honour and a truly humbling experience.
£6.99 -
Surviving a Psychopathic Mother
Behind closed doors, my mother’s emotional, psychological, and physical abuse created a living nightmare that remained hidden from the world. Yet, to outsiders, she exuded charm and charisma, casting doubt upon any potential complaints that might arise from her own flesh and blood. Her well-practiced deception isolated me, stripping away my support system and leaving me to grapple with an agonizing emotional dilemma.
This book unveils the chilling methods psychopaths employ to trap their victims. With calculated precision, my mother engaged in a program of emotional seduction, luring me into a web of false affection—an insidious practice commonly referred to as ‘love-bombing’ in non-academic literature. Once she deemed me securely ensnared, she manipulated my circumstances, whether through marriage or financial dependency, severing my ties with family and friends, and leaving me utterly alone.
The most glaring symptom of my mother’s psychopathy was her pathological lying, followed by a complete absence of compassion, empathy, and love. Conscience eluded her, as guilt and remorse were foreign emotions that she skilfully evaded. Her mistakes became my burden, as she shifted blame onto others, leaving me to question my own worth and desperate to regain the love I believed was once genuine.
As I recount my personal journey through the darkness of my mother’s psychopathy, I expose the intricate layers of her personality disorder. Rooted in paranoia, narcissism, and sadism, her cruelty knew no bounds. Surviving a Psychopathic Mother offers a beacon of hope to those who have endured similar torment. Through my raw and candid narrative, expert insights, and practical strategies, I guide fellow survivors on a path of healing and liberation. Discover how to reclaim your identity, rebuild your life, and break free from the suffocating grasp of a psychopathic mother.
£6.99 -
The 50-Year Secret
This is a true story of physical, mental and sexual abuse of a child by someone who you trust the most – a father. Taking place in the ’60s where this sort of crime was unheard of, let alone reported as nobody believed that it happened, this book is full of funny stories and anecdotes but also sadness as the story unfolds eventually ending up in Crown Court.
£8.99 -
The Boy Who Refused to Die
On 17 December 2007, 13-year-old Alby Dobinson left his home to make his daily journey to school. Later that day, during his return journey, something happened that would change his life forever.
This story charts the remarkable journey undertaken by Alby and those closest to him. Life is always a mixture of good times and bad, laughter and sadness, and Alby’s story reflects this rainbow of human emotion, from suffering to euphoria.
As a biography, written in the style of a novel, this book details years of rehabilitation as family members recount their own experiences with humour, regret and acceptance, plumbing the depths of despair and soaring to the heights of joy.
The Daily Mail headline “The boy who wouldn’t die” was detested by Alby’s family. However, a small change to it illustrated Alby’s determination. He did not travel his road alone but was accompanied by his mother and stepfather, Lisa and Mark; his younger brother, Jimmy; and his grandparents. What happened to Alby had a profound effect on them all and each has their own special story, including the amusing tale of how Lisa and Mark met and the response to Mark’s declaration that he would run the London Marathon: “You’ve never done more than run for a bus!”
This is a story that will amaze and inspire. It is tinged with sadness but the overwhelming message is one of courage and the triumph of one very determined young man and his family.
£8.99 -
The Gatehouse Boy
In The Gatehouse Boy, readers are transported to a distant, misty town on the river, where the sound of industry fills the air. This town is home to a shipyard, where a young boy grows up and shares his experiences of life in a bustling, prosperous place. Through the magic of words, he invites readers on a journey through his past, from his childhood in the shipyard to his adventures in other forgotten places of work. Along the way, he shares tales of happiness, sorrow, excitement, routine, humour, and horror, offering a glimpse into the life of a young man growing up in a time long gone. So, stick on your ovys (overalls), put on your takkities (boots), pull up a seat round the brazier and join the boys doon the yard for a few wee tales.
£9.99