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Kommunalka Child
Nine months after she was conceived as a way to contribute to population growth, just like every other Soviet kid, Kommunalka Child was harvested from a cabbage patch. She was brought up in a bilingual family in a communal apartment in Riga. As she was searching for a place in the world, the Soviet way of life slowly collapsed in the face of Western luxuries.Kommunalka Child takes its time-travellers onboard and triggers the reader’s personal memories and senses of smell, taste and touch. The cinematic storytelling in these funny, touching, embarrassing and absurd illustrated micro-memoirs reveals what life was like in the last decade of the Soviet Union, all through the eyes of a Latvian child.
£9.99 -
Who Cares Who Wins
Adventures start at some point!The author was born just after the end of World War Two.He used to leave home at 4am at eight years of age on the horse and carts and in the evenings would go chimney sweeping.When he was older he spent a few years in the military. Multiple migrations, including the ‘Ten Pound Poms’ program then followed.After this came over 30 years of global ‘itchy foot syndrome’ full of exciting ever-changing lifestyles ranging from: rich, skint, happy, and sad.In the following 30 years, there came numerous diagnoses: anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s, mental health issues, strokes, various dementia and divorce.Then along came Mike’s saviours: grandchildren, hiding and losing his disabilities within their love and warm hugs.Every day’s an adventure.
£9.99 -
Many Rivers to Cross
This is the story of Sheku Gibril Kamara from his childhood days in Sierra Leone. It deals first with his parents in the capital, Freetown, and then with his aunt’s family in the rural countryside. Educated in Freetown, he gained employment as an accounting assistant in the colonial Daily Mail Newspaper in his home town and later at the iron ore mining company in nearby Lunsar, a job he relinquished to pursue his dreams of higher studies in Britain.
With great finesse, Sheku provides intimate details about life as a private student in London and the political wrangling among fellow Sierra Leonean students. This culminated in the temporary seizure of the country’s high commission at Portland Place in London in 1972 after a mass demonstration. Sheku and his colleagues were sent to the Old Bailey on a charge of treason but were instead found guilty of trespass. On appeal, the House of Lords reached the landmark judgment in British law: a case for trespass cannot hold where the national of a country occupies his country’s diplomatic mission since that territory is, after all, deemed to be his home ground. Defended by Sir Dinglefoot, the students were bound to peace for six months…
Upon the establishment of Sierra Leone’s state-owned insurance company, Sheku was encouraged to return home to help develop the nation’s market. When he became the Company’s first indigenous chief executive, Sheku was to traverse the gruelling events that accompanied his role in top management. In what follows, the reader will join him in enjoying the exciting experiences with his supervising authorities…
£8.99 -
Sweet Loretta Modern
After suffering a workplace injury, Loretta Jones faced the harsh realities of a workers’ compensation system that provided a mere £120 a week for her and her young son, a situation that led them into homelessness. But her hardships didn’t stop there. Loretta found herself ensnared in a web of surveillance abuse that landed her in the hospital multiple times, stripping away her freedom and peace of mind. Amidst the unseen torment inflicted by clandestine technologies and unwarranted animosity, it was her unyielding resolve that kept her afloat amidst the storm of adversity. Now, with the backing of various supportive agencies, Loretta has reclaimed her life, rising above the harassment that once threatened to engulf her. Through every challenge, her indomitable spirit shines as a beacon of resilience.
£12.99 -
Dad’s Book
If you want to know how to live beyond the age of 99 with joy in your heart, then read this book. Share in the wisdom, stories, and adventures of a man living through the 20th century, who fought the Nazis first in Africa and then in Europe, never being able to return home in three years.
Born shortly after the First World War when peace was thought to be guaranteed, his exploits throughout his life rival any of today’s adventurers. This is also a story of a romance told in letters, the trials of a working-class family, and how friendships support us through the ups and downs of life. It’s a story of a seemingly ordinary man, the writer’s father, who did amazing things throughout his life.
His history is all of our history. Why? Because the 20th Century with both its fantastic achievements and terrible destructive forces has shaped our today. How do we look back to the past to help us prepare for our unpredictable tomorrow? Answering that question is vital to us all. What can we learn from the past and his life to help our futures?
£11.99 -
I Can Fly in My Dreams: Conception to Manifestation
I have known this remarkable young man for several years, and it was evident from our first meeting that he was a devout man of God. This is reflected not just in his beliefs, but in the aura of confidence he exudes, stemming from his deep commitment and thorough study of God’s word.
In this autobiography, he narrates a significant chapter of his life, making it particularly resonant for those who have grown up or are currently growing up in the church. His narrative is open, transparent, authentic, and revealing. James shares pivotal moments from his life, offering insights into the experience of growing up in a Christian household.
For readers from non-Christian backgrounds, this book provides an enlightening glimpse into a path filled with strategies for success in various life aspects. James’ journey is a testament to the existence of a higher power, challenging conventional science and logic, and compelling the reader to reconsider their views on religion. The evidence he presents is thought-provoking and demands contemplation.
Throughout the book, James delves into various themes and life lessons that have shaped him into the man he is today. His story invites readers to ponder the future chapters of his life. This compelling narrative promises to be a source of inspiration and guidance for many, especially those grappling with their own Christian journey.
£9.99 -
Riding Through the Storm
During World War Two, a young girl was seen around the Stoke Bishop area of Bristol riding her bike or a pony; climbing trees; building dens, playing with the ‘gang’ in Blaise Castle Woods, and a lot more besides! This seemingly carefree life had its darker side as the storm clouds of war thickened and broke overhead.
Riding Through the Storm recalls the author’s life before, during and after the war. It is tinged with humour and remarkable occurrences and mirrors that time with insights into how people lived during those dark days. Nearly eighty years after the storm subsided, the full significance of what the author had lived alongside came to light and propelled this drama almost into the realms of make-believe!
£7.99 -
The House Is Burning
It’s the 1950s and mounting political unrest consumes Rwanda. With fading monarchy, intensifying colonial rule and whispers of rebellion, countless native families find age-old traditions under attack.
For Abel A. Nkunda’s family, the shifting climate grows increasingly hostile. As powers vie for control around them, they face a painful choice: take flight to save all they cherish or stay to watch it burn.
Venturing into remote wilds in search of refuge, grandparents lead young Abel towards an uncertain future. With each step into the unknown, doubts arise. Can a foreign haven truly preserve their sacred cattle herding heritage from extinction?
Follow the Nkundas’ quest across a changing landscape where long-held customs blink at the brink. Will new mountains shelter this household from escalating threats? Or will the life they knew go up in smoke? Immerse yourself in one family’s struggle to find safe harbour for endangered livelihoods and identity before the house left behind is reduced to ashes.
£8.99 -
Reality Sucks
Douglas, living a humdrum life in Spokane, Washington, yearning to escape working as an accountant, borderline suicidal, leaves his life behind to pursue his dream of working in entertainment. Hollywood, full of sin, seduces Douglas, distracting him in many ways. The men in the town are quite intoxicating and he exposes some pretty explicit parts of his life while making the transition to Hollywood. Douglas finds his way to cope living with the craziness of Hollywood, but finds himself overcorrecting his life as it was in Spokane.
£9.99 -
When Phoebe Dances
Judith, no stranger to the paranormal, never anticipated that her extraordinary experiences would unlock the door to a budding romance.
With an entrepreneurial spirit that cannot be tamed, she plunges into fresh ventures, embarking on a rollercoaster journey that tests her resilience to its limits.
As Judith navigates the challenges of her business endeavours, her life becomes increasingly intertwined with a series of paranormal events and a blossoming romantic relationship. This compelling combination makes When Phoebe Dances a truly captivating read.
£9.99 -
Childhood in the Liverpool Slums
The author was born just after the Second World War at the Mill Road Maternity Hospital Liverpool. His childhood years were spent in the slum housing of the Everton District of Liverpool where he attended Primary and then Secondary School until 1961. On leaving school he had a number of jobs before working for the City Council in their Children’s Homes, then running a residential unit at the Cotswold therapeutic Community in Wiltshire, before returning to Liverpool as a social work Staff Development and Training Officer. Before taking retirement Bob was a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood, Childhood and Youth Studies at Edge Hill University in Lancashire.
Bob and his partner have four sons and five grandchildren.
£9.99 -
Heavy Rainbows
An extraordinarily true-life account of a left-handed forklift truck driver who, after a catastrophic life changing accident, became a right-handed professional artist. Heavy Rainbows conveys an honest, no frills autobiographical account of how a single unforeseen event completely changed the direction of Mark’s entire life, and the subsequent adventures that followed involving devastating lows and euphoric highs that are unique, engaging, and inspirational.
Firsthand experiences and events that influenced Mark’s development as a person are told chronologically, culminating in a collection of artworks that convey powerful emotionally charged contemporary issues such as global warming, mental health, and animal welfare. Each chapter incorporates humour and satire, that contrast with episodes of dark, life changing experiences, offering the reader a thought-provoking unpretentious slice of reality, underpinned by art, to convey an in-depth personal story involving triumph over adversity.
£14.99