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Ted Harrison's Rainbow Road
Jan Stirling and Ted Harrison, the celebrated Canadian painter, met in 2007 and felt an immediate connection. Jan spent more and more time with him, oblivious of their age difference, always feeling his acceptance of her quirky, candid nature. As a jazz musician, she appreciated his ability to improvise with words, without fear of making a mistake. She would suggest a subject and then write down in shorthand what he had to say. Although never edited, these improvs were called poems. They showed that even as his physical freedom diminished, he had a very rich mental life.
After Ted passed on, Jan revisited these poems, writing about her experiences with him up to her final visit in January 2015, the last day Ted was conscious. Each chapter is interspersed with Ted’s poems. The book shows an intimate side of Ted that deepens our appreciation for his life and work.
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The Cruise Vacation
The Cruise Vacation takes readers on a wild ride through the highs and lows of addiction, as told through the unfiltered lens of a former nurse turned drug addict. From the hectic pace of a UK hospital to the dizzying rush of snorting, injecting and smoking any narcotic he could get his hands on, the protagonist’s story is a cautionary tale of excess and adventure. As he spirals out of control, he exchanges his professional life for a world of self-anesthetisation, casual sex and multiple attempts to kick the habit. Through community rehabilitations, untold pain, regrets, and a horrific example of failure, the protagonist’s childhood sweetheart remains by his side, helping him cling to life and recognize his own mortality. This personal journal takes readers through the heart-wrenching journey of addiction, offering a stark reminder of the destructive power of drugs and the importance of love, family, and community in the face of overwhelming temptation.
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The Gift
This is a fascinating story full of hope and passion for a worthy cause. The author has managed to capture a sad story and give it hope, humor, and humility. It is an entertaining and interesting memoir which is strengthened by the author’s personable and engaging authorial voice. There is a striking honesty to the work that allows the reader to elate in the joys and challenges of the author. It is a true case of finding hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. It is written in an accessible and immersive manner with detailed context that transports the reader into the author’s personal journey as well as his career. The book evokes a sense of empathy in the reader. It is enjoyable, thought-provoking, educational and inspirational. This is a lesson for all of us that there is faith, hope and love in some of the darkest moments we go through in our lives.
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The Miseducation of Monique Ross
The Miseducation of Monique Ross, like Ms. Lauryn Hill’s debut album, is a love story: unapologetically in a league of its own with no other author ever utilizing its concept. Each chapter in the book is named after a track from the album. Monique likes to think if Lauryn Hill’s album were a book, it would be this one and vice versa.
It's a controversial feminist memoir that reads like fiction. It's unconventional, touching, strong, immersive, authentic, thought provoking, complex, emotional, powerful, intelligent, uncomfortably bold, direct, daring, unapologetic, inspiring, empowering, uplifting, raw, uncut, erotic and full of emotion and vulnerability. And its word play would leave the late great Maya Angelou proud to know she inspired it. If it could be summed up in one word, it would be self-liberating. There is something in this book for everyone, all told from Monique’s perspective.
To the author that's what sets it apart from anything else because like her, The Miseducation of Monique Ross says all the things that everyone else is afraid to say. It gives out those inner thoughts – the ones you think to yourself and maybe would share with only your closest friends or family members and sometimes simply keep to yourself because they’re that inappropriate. It touches on everything from women's issues, mental health issues, abortion, miscarriages, divorce, dating, parenting, marital issues, family, and most importantly love and other drugs.
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Thread of Fate
A friendship first made on a 1950s holiday, a document unsigned at the last moment, the suggestion made by a stranger, a photograph taken in Spain, all elements in a chain of events leading to a totally unexpected romantic encounter quite late in life.
This is the story of a childhood in the 1930s, taking us through carefree days at the seaside, when it is never too young to fall in love. An account of wartime on the east coast and day-to-day work behind a pharmacy counter in those long, dark years, is interlaced with notes on severe winters from a daily 80-year record kept by a dedicated amateur weatherman.
Along the way there are accounts of incidents of a supernatural nature, how a smoking habit may have saved a life which it took away in later years, encounters with fire, in one case a little too close for comfort.
Readers can form their own opinion as to whether the happenings set down in these pages are just a matter of random chance, or is there indeed a guiding thread of predestination leading to a totally unexpected change of lifestyle.
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Yvolved
Yvy spent her life discovering what it meant to live authentically, and realised that her truth lay in her identity as an Indian transgender woman. After discovering who she was, Yvy ensured that nothing would impede her from evolving into the woman she always knew she was, despite her upbringing in a Muslim community and the many obstacles she faced, as her journey took her to places she never thought she’d venture to.
As the continuing story from Tainted Beauty, Yvy takes you even deeper, reliving her experiences with relationships, culture, family and finding strength through adversity. Yvolved is a personal, intimate and unapologetic story of a woman who is not afraid to break the social construct of gender and affirm her queer identity.£21.99 -
Endeavour to Rise – Misdemeanours, Musings, Meditations, Mistakes and Mastery
Autobiography by way of a confessional, this book is a ramble through the author’s experiences, impressions, opinions and ideas formed over seven decades. This autobiography sees the author regret her failed relationships, financial mismanagement, folly and fecklessness. It also sees her celebrate success, achievements, courage and a lifetime of service as a nurse.This book is a call for you to recognize yourself as a unique miracle of creation. It offers some cautionary tales and urges you to rid yourself of guilt, blame and shame and to think for yourself.Exploring the eternal questions about the meaning of life e.g. ‘Why are we here?’, ‘Is there a God?’ and ‘Why is there so much suffering?’, this book invites you to reflect on your own life, your truth and your reality so you can shell your emotional baggage. It can also be seen as an exercise in vanity and self-indulgence.
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School Shit
Kevin candidly presents the highs and lows of a teaching career spanning four decades, and useful advice on how to motivate children to learn. The book is intended to appeal to practising professionals, anyone considering teaching as a career, and those with an interest in what goes on behind school doors. Kevin's style relies heavily on humour, particularly when recalling children's mischievous natures. The fun element is being systematically squeezed out of learning and teaching. Fear of failure underpins the ethos of many of our schools. Children and teachers too often find themselves operating in a stifling educational culture that prioritises performance data. Educational success is defined by the measurable.Child-centred education has become an anachronism. The case is argued that individual children and their unique talents and abilities matter. Radical changes to school practices are advocated if our institutions are to do justice to school populations of the future.
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We Were Tourists
Jim Toomey was already a successful drummer when he became a part of a new group, The Tourists, in the late seventies. He formed the group with Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Peet Coombes and Eddie Chin.From their early beginnings in London, finding their sound and their voice, through their success, their recordings, TV appearances, and their tours across the world, this is the story of The Tourists, told by the man sitting behind the drums.In a series of anecdotes and tales of the band's journey, we gain insight into the inner workings of a successful band; the fun and success, but also the work, the creativity, the pressures of seemingly endless tours, the good and the bad sides of the business, and the all too familiar trajectory of a band which sowed the seeds of music which endure 40 years later.
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Jane Austen in the Thames Valley
Discover a fresh perspective on Jane Austen in Jane Austen in Thames Valley. This book delves into Austen’s lesser-known association with the Thames Valley, a connection that has received minimal attention due to scant evidence.
A significant focus of this guide is on the often-underestimated influence of Austen’s mother, Cassandra Leigh. It compellingly illustrates how Mrs. Austen’s impact profoundly shaped Jane Austen’s outlook on life.
The Thames Valley, a region frequently overlooked in Austen studies, actually harbours numerous ties to the beloved author, more than initially apparent. This thoroughly researched and meticulously documented book unveils these connections. Accompanying the narrative are three detailed excursions designed to help readers explore and uncover the links between Jane Austen and the Thames Valley.
£7.99