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Tears of No One
This is the true story of an elite Navy medical team in a secret mission to save an isolated tribe from extinction. During the year of 2008, the Brazilian Government sent the Navy hospital ship Oswaldo Cruz to the heart of the Amazonian forest, the intent was to locate and make contact with the female leader of the Korubo tribe, and discover the reason for the massive numbers of deaths of those individuals, who were possibly infected by an unknown disease.
This book will take you into a real heart of darkness adventure, through this history, which is narrated from the standpoint of Chief Medical Officer Lieutenant Callia. You will travel aboard a Brazilian warship into uncharted rivers, will make the first contact with unknown tribes, fight river pirates and tropical diseases, survive the sinking of your boat and finally meet the mythic Korubo tribe, led by the fearless female warrior Maya, and her three husbands.
In a world deeply shaken by Covid and at the edge of a global war, this narrative takes us to a situation which proves that centenary conflicts may be solved through humanity, that science can defeat diseases, and that the love for the next one may change the world. And perhaps, at the end of this book, you may find yourself repeating the endless mantra of the Oswaldo Cruz crew members: Health wherever there is life!
£8.99 -
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.
£8.99 -
Teeth In Sink, Knickers on Landing
I hope you laugh a lot and maybe cry a little and even try to understand the workings of my bipolar mind in this, my one and only book. The pages of which I recall with love, laughter and tears, the wondrous people who have helped weave the tapestry of my strange, troubled life.
If you are perplexed by the wacky title, you will find the answer with Ebony, a majestic black lady of the night, who was the dearest of friends. Turn the pages and there you will find a butt-naked butcher manacled to the grooming table in a poodle parlour! Turn yet again to meet Suki AKA Gladys, an old-time (much used) working girl screaming as she climbs off a corpse who was doing his thing just moments ago.
And just why did Jean Jeanie have a frothy bottom? Intrigued? Well, just turn my pages and all will be revealed.£13.99 -
That’s Alright Mamma
Being a survivor of institutionalized abuse from the late 1950s in Ireland, author Josie Dias Wallace describes her journey after leaving a convent and embarking on a new adventure in England, UK, where she settled permanently alongside her sister Mels, RIP.
£13.99 -
The Battered Generation
Physical punishment at schools in Iran continued until being banned by the Ministry of Education in September 1960.
The author spent four years at “Safa” school in the north area of Tehran, in Iran from 1953 to 1957. In this book he recalls the social and educational conditions of those years, the morale and status of students and the teachers’ way of thinking. He also discusses the prevailing culture of physical punishments and the hardships the students endured along with their entertainments, recreations and access to academic facilities. He wants to show what devastating effects beatings and physical punishments have on children and what irreparable and lasting impacts they leave on the soul of children in the form of anxiety, panic and permanent fear.
The pain of being beaten and punished was not just for the students, but the ones who did it also suffered from the memory of their actions in the course of time. Some regretted their mistakes and oppressions. There were some teachers among them who were sensitive by nature and were aware that physical punishment was not right. However, the social structure of that time required the beatings.
£11.99 -
The Bitterest PLC To Swallow
If you’ve ever worked in a pub, currently work in one, or simply have an interest in the history and evolution of pubs, Neil’s book is a must-read. In this insightful and entertaining memoir, Neil shares his experiences and observations about working in local estate pubs during a time when they were the heart and soul of their respective communities.
Through humorous anecdotes and blunt opinions, Neil highlights the many challenges faced by pub owners and workers in the modern era. From policies that leave him screaming to people who make him swear, Neil pulls no punches in his assessment of the pub industry.
The book also explores the transformation of local estate pubs into modern-day branded establishments, such as curry houses and convenience stores. Neil’s revelations are sure to surprise and shock readers, and may even cause them to question the value and quality of the food and drink they pay for in these establishments.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Neil takes readers on a trip down memory lane, revisiting the fun pubs of the 80s before they became bitter PLCs. Through Neil’s vivid storytelling, readers will laugh, cringe, and even taste the history of these once-beloved establishments.
In the end, Neil offers his take on what happened to pubs and what they have become. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and evolution of pubs, and may just make you think twice about where you choose to spend your hard-earned wages.
£12.99 -
The Colours of Love
The Colours of Love is a real-life testimony on how a life should be lived and how it should not. It recounts my love for my parents, love for a woman that I loved more than my life, love for my daughter, friends, love for the countries where I lived. Love, crime and science-fiction-like experience, triggered by delusions and hallucinations, are interwoven in this narrative of life.
I wrote this book when I was 55 years old, as a culmination of my life. It recounts my utmost remorse for the things that I did, but I should not have done, and for things that I did not do, but I should have done. The consequences of my decisions resulted in extraordinary loss of property, physical and intellectual. I lost my share in five houses and one apartment; I lost my profession, my wife, my daughter, my social status and freedom. None of this was my desire. Why did this happen to me? I had all prerequisites to live a successful and wealthy life. My father was a medical doctor, my mother was a piano teacher; I was a medical doctor; my wife was a medical doctor. I had permanent residency permits in two countries, Sweden and Australia. However, I ended up in prison with almost nothing.
The book is written for adolescents who are just about to face challenges of their lives. It is also aimed at adults, as a mirror of how good or bad their lives are compared to a non-standard life.
£13.99 -
The Complete Response
Stanley lives life to the full--working hard, playing hard. In 2016, his life was turned upside down with a serious medical diagnosis; he had a stage 4 bowel cancer which had spread extensively to his liver and was inoperable. Many people might have given up but Stanley looked at the challenge of beating cancer with positivity. Stanley carried on working throughout the medical process ahead of him and developed his own strategy with the help of others around him and his life experiences. The plan of attack worked, which ultimately led to his survival and a complete response to treatment. No viable trace of the disease remained, a very rare 100% response. Stanley carried on living as before and is still free from cancer. The Complete Response will inspire anyone looking to overcome the unthinkable!
£9.99 -
The Corridors of Hope
Author Eric Buhle Gumbi has penned a captivating memoir that delves into his personal encounters, both challenging and interesting, as he navigates various socio-political landscapes. The Corridors of Hope takes readers on a journey through the author’s youthful experiences, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Through his narrative, Gumbi explores the people who have supported him along the way and how they have helped to redirect him towards success. Looking back on his childhood, the author identifies moments of both rise and fall, paying particular attention to his high school and socioeconomic endeavours that have kept the ball of life rolling.
With a keen eye for detail, Gumbi brings his personal history to life, weaving a compelling story that captures the complexities of growing up in a rapidly changing world. The Corridors of Hope is a powerful memoir that offers readers an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs that have shaped the author’s life.
£8.99 -
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.
£6.99 -
The Deeper Water is Ashore
Although the author’s graduation from his pre-sea nautical HMS Conway was both expected and anticipated, to be honoured at the same time with the Queen’s Gold Medal was certainly not, coming as it did as a deeply humbling surprise. Acceptance into the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company as a Cadet was far less of a given, as a pre-requisite was to successfully conclude a month at the Outward Bound Mountaineering School at Ullswater. There, one would be taken into the ‘tender care’ of three Marine Commandos, charged with ensuring that character building would indeed follow from adventures in mountaineering, canoeing and fell walking, not to mention the Commando assault course, athletics, and copious amounts of Kendal Mint Cakes!
His career path appeared to become even more defined as he gained Commission with the Royal Naval Reserve, his Master Mariner’s Certificate of Competence, and rose through the Officer ranks of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company. However, the Seamans Strike in 1966 brought about a startling, but enervating, state of swiftly changing issues that demanded a fresh approach to, well, everything!
The Deeper Water is Ashore focuses on, and develops with, both fact and humour, the substantial changes which followed from significant strike action, and the eventual personal outcomes. If one can but briefly plagiarise and use the words of the poet and cleric John Donne (1572-1631), it was a case of “Seek not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” (But never in the subjunctive tense!)
£10.99 -
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.
£6.99