Jim Wyllie's 'Flashing Lights'

From a Lake District farm to the pulsating heart of London’s nightlife, Jim Wyllie’s ‘Flashing Lights’ charts an extraordinary path through UK clubland in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Wyllie’s ascent is nothing short of remarkable: from entertaining holidaymakers at 16 to becoming the youngest Nightclub Manager in the Star Circuit’s history at 18, before becoming the owner of groundbreaking bars, restaurants and nightclubs in London’s West End.

This memoir offers a kaleidoscopic view of an era, blending hilarious anecdotes with personal reflections and cultural insights. Wyllie’s narrative defies simple categorization, presenting an easy read that invites deeper contemplation. It’s an intoxicating mix of showmanship and psychology, combining the spectacle of Barnum and Bailey with the wit of Del Boy, the insight of Freud, and the candor of Bridget Jones.

Jim Wyllie’s ‘Flashing Lights’ captures the highs, lows, and everything in between of a life lived in the spotlight. Whether you’re nostalgic for the golden age of clubbing or curious about the machinations of nightlife, Wyllie’s story promises to enthrall and enlighten, offering a vibrant glimpse into the era that shaped modern club culture.

The Reluctant Outsider

This is the story of a life that took an unexpected turn, leading to priceless treasures and profound awakenings. George Dexton’s journey begins with the decision to emigrate to a distant land, followed by the commitments of marriage, raising a family, and starting a new business. As he battles for success and recognition, George’s marriage collapses, plunging him into a period of overindulgence and recklessness that eventually leads to the downfall of his business.

In the aftermath, an unexpected mystical experience brings confusion, spiraling George into depression and a deep philosophical quest. He explores the unknown depths of his mind, searching for meaning and freedom from what feels like a futile existence. Reluctantly pushing forward, he reaches a point of no return, still seeking a sense of purpose in a world that seems blind to his struggles.

Jalal Al-Ahmad

Jalal Al-Ahmad was a well-known writer in Persian literature and a man about whom a lot of criticism was directed. Because he was a favourite supporter of Mr. Khomeini, the streets and schools in Iran were named after him. This book attempts to examine his works, what he said and his life using existing documents.

Jalal Al-Ahmad was also a part of our contradictory society, and he was raised in it. He reflected his thoughts in his books, because he could as well have been tired of this contradictory life and looked for a better uniformity. He was against monotony and loved to create changes by moving in different directions to entertain himself. He was indifferent to the results, thus his contradictory works and writings shouldn’t be taken at face value. One must try to draw the truth out of contradictions.

Finding Michael: A Journey in Search of My Soul

During his teenage summers, Michael Barnett discovered his passion lay far from the monotonous environment of a UK shipping company office where he observed the disheartened older employees.

Choosing to pursue a love for the outdoors and a talent in mathematics and sciences, he embarked on a civil engineering career that took him around the globe. This first instalment of a two-part memoir spans his life and career from 1943 to 1984, detailing his adventures and professional growth from advanced studies in Chicago to diverse construction sites worldwide, including Samoa, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and more.

Through journal entries and letters, Barnett shares the rich tapestry of emotions and experiences that shaped his journey.

Across the Atlantic and Nearly Back

There are many aspects to sailing a small yacht in a big ocean from unfathomable joy to abject fear; from a sense of freedom to frustration and from a deep sense of peace to foreboding terror. You are masters of your own destiny but there are skills needed. Gone are the solid floorboards, exchanged for an ever-moving deck. Simple things become a challenge. Joy can be the simple pleasure of a night watch, with the rhythmical sound of the moving yacht, the phosphorescence of the wake and the myriad of stars or it can be the fear of what can happen in a storm. Cruising is a different way of life. Most of the time it is rewarding but things can go wrong. Piracy is real. Getting to know the ways of new countries and people is a rewarding experience.

Why?

Nina Koman’s poignant memoir, Why?, is a heartfelt exploration of a life marked by love, loss, and resilience. Through a series of vivid vignettes, Koman takes readers on a journey from her childhood in Romania to her later years in Denmark, painting a vivid picture of the joys and sorrows that shaped her along the way.

At the heart of Koman’s story is her complex relationships with family – from her distant adoptive parents to her own children, whose lives become increasingly entwined with her own as they navigate the challenges of adulthood. With unflinching honesty, she reflects on the sacrifices and struggles that defined her role as a mother, and the pain of watching her children drift away.

Crown of Crowns

Incepted into his Neo-Trinity at birth, Andy showed strong divergent capabilities as a small child. Belonging to a respected family, he is raised to be loyal, patriotic, and resilient. After the wool industry collapsed in Australia and farmers were stripped of their water rights, things looked scarily grim for Andy.

As a result, Andy wound up in a strict Christian brothers’ college in Adelaide, which has a reputation. Caught in a pre-existing football rivalry, he is stubborn and infuriates some, as they can’t seem to compete on a level playing field. This causes diabolical incidents of skulduggery from some of his peers to come into play.

Startling many, Andy revolts against society and runs with the devil, who has seduced him. Aware of his mischief, his parents do whatever it takes to secure their son’s safety. While enduring decades of suppression from every direction, the belief and love for Andy is far too great for his foes to befall. Thus, through the power of his Neo-Trinity, Andy finds his deliverance.

Shadows – Another Life

A lifetime of strange occurrences has led the author on a journey of discovery. Only by looking back into the past can he make sense of a lifelong interaction with the phenomenon, a journey where he recounts the dreams, visions, and experiences of high strangeness that have tormented him for much of his life. He describes a pattern of encounters with the phenomenon that from childhood to more recent times has changed everything.

Through it all, a journey to reconcile science, organised religion and spirituality is recounted. A journey as a career scientist, being the eldest son of a Priest and Master Mason and incorporating an extended period studying and training in the martial arts. Here is a true story that has never been told until now.

Beyond the Sea

An extraordinary tale of a merchant mariner, Born in British India unfolds during the final dark days of World War II. This gripping narrative includes high seas murders, showcasing courage and seamanship in stormy weather, and harrowing experiences like being stuck in ice in the North Atlantic.

The story takes readers through visits to Chinese ports during Mao’s China in the 1960s and recounts the sinking of the S.S. Pegasus in the Arabian Gulf. It details the perilous task of loading crude oil amid the Iran-Iraq tanker war and the misfortunes of the MV Marienfels, which caught fire, lost its rudder, and drifted aimlessly in the Atlantic.

The mariner’s adventures include spending seven days adrift on a dinghy in the Indian Ocean, witnessing Captain Gregg violating the U.N. oil embargo on Apartheid South Africa, and thwarting armed piracy on an oil tanker voyage from Nigeria to Uruguay. He also survived encounters with urban guerrillas in South America.

Born in British India is a testament to resilience and adventure on the high seas, capturing the indomitable spirit and relentless determination of a life spent navigating the world’s most treacherous waters.