From one of America's iconic writers, a portrait of a marriage and a life -- in good times and bad -- that will speak to anyone who has ever loved a husband or wife or child. A stunning book of electric honesty and passion.
A personal and powerful essay on loss from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the bestselling author of Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun .
''Grief is a cruel kind of education. You learn how ungentle mourning can be, how full of anger. You learn how glib condolences can feel. You learn how much grief is about language, the failure of language and the grasping for language'' On 10 June 2020, the scholar James Nwoye Adichie died suddenly in Nigeria.
In this tender and powerful essay, expanded from the original New Yorker text, his daughter, a self-confessed daddy''s girl, remembers her beloved father. Notes on Grief is at once a tribute to a long life of grace and wisdom, the story of a daughter''s fierce love for a parent, and a revealing examination of the layers of loss and the nature of grief.
THE POLITICAL BOOK OF THE YEAR SUNDAY TIMES YOU WILL NOT READ A MORE IMPORTANT BOOK ABOUT AMERICA THIS YEAR ECONOMIST THE BEST BOOK ABOUT THE ALIENATION WITHIN AMERICA EVENING STANDARD THE MEMOIR GRIPPING AMERICA VIVIDLY ARTICULATES THE DESPAIR AND DISILLUSIONMENT OF BLUE-COLLAR AMERICA SUNDAY TIMES HILLBILLY ELEGY IS A PASSIONATE AND PERSONAL ANALYSIS OF A CULTURE IN CRISIS?THAT OF WHITE WORKING-CLASS AMERICANS. THE DECLINE OF THIS GROUP, A DEMOGRAPHIC OF OUR COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN SLOWLY DISINTEGRATING OVER FORTY YEARS, HAS BEEN REPORTED ON WITH GROWING FREQUENCY AND ALARM, BUT HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT AS SEARINGLY FROM THE INSIDE. J. D. VANCE TELLS THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT A SOCIAL, REGIONAL, AND CLASS DECLINE FEELS LIKE WHEN YOU WERE BORN WITH IT HUNG AROUND YOUR NECK.
THE VANCE FAMILY STORY BEGINS HOPEFULLY IN POST-WAR AMERICA. J. D.S GRANDPARENTS WERE DIRT POOR AND IN LOVE, AND MOVED NORTH FROM KENTUCKYS APPALACHIA REGION TO OHIO IN THE HOPES OF ESCAPING THE DREADFUL POVERTY AROUND THEM. THEY RAISED A MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY, AND EVENTUALLY THEIR GRANDCHILD (THE AUTHOR) WOULD GRADUATE FROM YALE LAW SCHOOL, A CONVENTIONAL MARKER OF THEIR SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING GENERATIONAL UPWARD MOBILITY.
BUT AS THE FAMILY SAGA OF HILLBILLY ELEGY PLAYS OUT, WE LEARN THAT THIS IS ONLY THE SHORT, SUPERFICIAL VERSION. VANCES GRANDPARENTS, AUNT, UNCLE, SISTER, AND, MOST OF ALL, HIS MOTHER, STRUGGLED PROFOUNDLY WITH THE DEMANDS OF THEIR NEW MIDDLE-CLASS LIFE, AND WERE NEVER ABLE TO FULLY ESCAPE THE LEGACY OF ABUSE, ALCOHOLISM, POVERTY, AND TRAUMA SO CHARACTERISTIC OF THEIR PART OF AMERICA. VANCE PIERCINGLY SHOWS HOW HE HIMSELF STILL CARRIES AROUND THE DEMONS OF THEIR CHAOTIC FAMILY HISTORY.
The portrayal of Stephen Dedalus's Dublin childhood and youth, his quest of identity through art and his gradual emancipation from the claims of his family, religion and Ireland itself, is also an oblique self-portrait of the young James Joyce and a testament to the artist's "eternal imagination".
From one of our most powerful writers, a work of stunning frankness about losing a daughter. Richly textured with bits of her own childhood and married life with her husband, John Gregory Dunne, and daughter, Quintana Roo, this new book by Joan Didion examines her thoughts, fears, and doubts regarding having children, illness, and growing old. Blue Nights opens on July 26, 2010, as Didion thinks back to Quintana’s wedding in New York seven years before. Today would be her wedding anniversary. This fact triggers vivid snapshots of Quintana’s childhood--in Malibu, in Brentwood, at school in Holmby Hills. Reflecting on her daughter but also on her role as a parent, Didion asks the candid questions any parent might about how she feels she failed either because cues were not taken or perhaps displaced. “How could I have missed what was clearly there to be seen?” Finally, perhaps we all remain unknown to each other. Seamlessly woven in are incidents Didion sees as underscoring her own age, something she finds hard to acknowledge, much less accept. Blue Nights--the long, light evening hours that signal the summer solstice, “the opposite of the dying of the brightness, but also its warning”--like The Year of Magical Thinking before it, is an iconic book of incisive and electric honesty, haunting and profoundly moving.
Who was the real Jane Austen? Overturning the traditional portrait of the author as conventional and genteel, bestseller Paula Byrne's landmark biography reveals the real woman behind the books.
''Joyful, life-affirming, greedy. I loved it'' - DIANA HENRY ''Whether you are an avid cyclist, a Francophile, a greedy gut, or simply an appreciator of impeccable writing - this book will get you hooked'' - YOTAM OTTOLENGHI The nation''s ''taster in chief'' cycles 2,300 km across France in search of the definitive versions of classic French dishes. Agreen bike drunkenly weaves its way up a cratered hill inthe late-morning sun, the gears grinding painfully, like apepper mill running on empty. The rider crouched on top in arictus of pain has slowed to a gravity-defying crawl when, fromsomewhere nearby, the whine of a nasal engine breaks through her ragged breathing. A battered van appears behind her, the customary cigarettedangling from its driver''s-side window... as he passes, she casually reaches down for some water,smiling broadly in the manner of someone having almost toomuch fun. ''No sweat,'' she says jauntily to his retreating exhaustpipe. ''Pas de probleme, monsieur.'' A land of glorious landscapes, and even more glorious food, France is a place built for cycling and for eating, too - a country large enough to give any journey an epic quality, but with a bakery on every corner. Here, you can go from beach to mountain, Atlantic to Mediterranean, polder to Pyrenees, and taste the difference every time you stop for lunch. If you make it to lunch, that is... Part travelogue, part food memoir, all love letter to France, One More Croissant for the Road follows ''the nation''s taster in chief'' Felicity Cloake''s very own Tour de France, cycling 2,300km across France in search of culinary perfection; from Tarte Tatin to Cassoulet via Poule au Pot, and Tartiflette. Each of the 21 ''stages'' concludes with Felicity putting this new found knowledge to good use in a fresh and definitive recipe for each dish - the culmination of her rigorous and thorough investigative work on behalf of all of our taste buds.
There are many miles from the business school and basketball court at the University of Southern California to 50 million viewers for the final episode of a TV show called Magnum P.I. Tom Selleck has lived every one of those miles in his own iconoclastic and joyful way.
Frank, funny and open-hearted, You Never Know is an intimate memoir from one of the most beloved actors of our time, the highly personal story of a remarkable life and thoroughly accidental career. In his own voice and uniquely unpretentious style, the famed actor brings readers on his uncharted but serendipitous journey to the top in Hollywood, his temptations and distractions, his misfires and mistakes and, over time, his well-earned success. Along the way, he clears up an armload of misconceptions and shares dozens of never-told stories from all corners of his personal and professional life. His rambunctious California childhood. His clueless arrival as a good-looking college jock in Hollywood (from the Dating Game to the Fox New Talent Program to co-starring with Mae West and escorting her to black-tie social functions). What it was like to emerge as a mega-star in his mid-thirties and remain so for decades to come, an actor whose authenticity and ease in front of the camera connected with audiences worldwide while embodying and also redefining the clichés of onscreen manhood.
In You Never Know, Selleck recounts his personal friendships with a vivid army of A-listers, everyone from Frank Sinatra to Carol Burnett to Sam Elliott, paying special tribute to his mentor James Garner of The Rockford Files, who believed, like Selleck, that TV protagonists are far more interesting when they have rough edges. He also more than tips his hat to the American western and the scruffy band of actors, directors and other ruffians who helped define that classic genre, where Selleck has repeatedly found a happy home. Magnum fans will be fascinated to learn how Selleck put his career on the line to make Thomas Magnum a more imperfect hero and explains why he walked away from a show that could easily have gone on for years longer.
Hollywood is never easy, even for stars who make it look that way. In You Never Know, Selleck explains how he's struggled to balance his personal and professional lives, frequently adjusting his career to protect his family's privacy and normalcy. His journey offers a truly fresh perspective on a changing industry and a changing world. Beneath all the charm and talent and self-deprecating humor, Selleck's memoir reveals an American icon who has reached remarkable heights by always insisting on being himself.
Celebrated music critic Ann Powers explores the life and career of the legendary Joni Mitchell
One of the most celebrated artists of her generation, Joni Mitchell has inspired countless musicians and authors, while never stopping still herself.
In Traveling, Ann Powers seeks to understand the paradox of Mitchell - at once both elusive and inviting - through her myriad journeys. Drawing on extensive interviews with Mitchell''s peers and deep archival research, Powers takes readers to rural Canada, charts the course of Mitchell''s musical evolution, follows the winding road of Mitchell''s collaborations with other greats and explores her loves along the way. Kaleidoscopic in scope, and intimate in its detail, Travelling is a fresh and fascinating biography, and one that questions whether an artist can ever truly be known to a fan.
When William Kamkwamba was just 14 years old his parents told him that he must leave school and come and work on the family farm as they could no longer afford to $80 a year tuition fees. This is the story of his refusal to give up on learning and reading. A story of passion, determination and remarkable achievements.
A classic of mountaineering literature, "The White Spider" tells the story of the harrowing first ascent of the Eiger's North Wall, one of the most legendary and terrifying climbs in recorded history.
A language barrier is no match for love. New Yorker journalist Lauren Collins discovers this first-hand when, in her early thirties, she moves to London and falls for Olivier, a Frenchman. As their relationship begins to grow, Lauren senses that there are
The updated story of Taylor Swift''s stratospheric rise to fame; all any dedicated Swifty needs to know about the pop superstar who''s taking over the world with her Eras tour
A small-town girl with incredible talent - and the strength and determination to realise her dream - Taylor Swift has gone from America''s sweetheart to global megastar. But how did she get there? And how has she coped with the realities of fame?
Fully updated in fascinating detail, Taylor Swift: The Whole Story explores Taylor''s musical evolution and her status as a fearless businesswoman operating on her own terms. From her early beginnings in Pennsylvania to the challenges she faced on the road to success, and from her relationships with Harry Styles, Joe Alwyn and Travis Kelce to her record-breaking Eras tour, this is the unmissable account of Taylor''s journey to world domination.
From the scene-stealing star of Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids comes a refreshingly candid, hilarious and inspiring book about an unconventional journey to Hollywood success and self-celebration.
For decades, Rebel Wilson single-mindedly focused on her career, forgoing relationships in favour of making a name for herself. In her revealing and authentic memoir, Rebel chronicles the emotional and physical lessons she has learned, as well as her most embarrassing experiences. A malaria-induced Oscars hallucination? An all-style martial-arts fighting tournament? Junior handling at?dog shows? And this was all before she moved to Hollywood!
Rebel Rising follows Rebel from her Aussie upbringing as the daughter of parents who sold pet products at dog shows, to making millions as LA's favourite funny girl, always questioning "Am I good enough?», "Will I ever find love?" and "Will I ever change and become healthy?". Rebel writes for the first time about?the most personal and important moments in her life - from fertility issues, weight gain and loss to sexuality, overcoming shyness and dealing with rejection (and there's at least one story thrown in about Brad Pitt!).
This brave and honest memoir shows us how to love ourselves while always remembering the value of laughing.
Unpublished for 90 years, Agatha Christie's extensive and evocative letters and photographs from her year-long round-the-world trip to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and America as part of the British trade mission for the famous 1924 Empire Exhibition.
The highly anticipated first book from award-winning comedian, writer, producer and actress, Amy Schumer. In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy shares stories about her family, her relationships, her career, good - and bad - sex, recounting the experiences that have shaped who she is today: from the riches to rags story of her childhood to her teenage quest for popularity (and boys) to becoming one of the most sought-after comedians on the planet and an outspoken advocate for women''s rights. Whether she''s experiencing lust at first sight in the queue at the airport, discovering her boot camp instructor''s secret bad habit, or candidly discussing her father''s multiple sclerosis, Amy Schumer proves to be a fearless, original, and always entertaining storyteller. Her book will move you, make you laugh, catch you completely off guard, and answer this burning question: is it okay for a 35 year-old woman to still sleep with her childhood teddy bears?
Nujeen has cerebral palsy and cannot walk. This did not stop her braving inconceivable odds to travel in her wheelchair from Syria in search of a new life. Nujeen recounts the details of her childhood and disability, as well as the specifics of her harrowing journey across the Mediterranean to Greece and finally to Germany to seek an education and the medical treatment she needs.
Adele touches the hearts of millions of people who love her for her music and share the real and honest emotion she brings to each and every song. In a cynical age, she is a phenomenon. In Adele, bestselling biographer Sean Smith talks to those close to her as he follows her astonishing journey to fame that began on the gritty streets of Tottenham. Through compelling new research and interviews, he reveals that there is far more to Adele than the superstar we all think we know. He uncovers the story of her complex family relationships; the ill-starred love affair between her mother and father; her devastation at the untimely death of her grandfather; and her seemingly unpromising future in a gang-ravaged area of South London. She found salvation at the BRIT School before a series of unhappy love affairs provided the inspiration for her record-breaking albums. He describes how she conquered America and how it all could have been ended by a dramatic vocal injury. Instead, she has made an amazing comeback and found personal happiness in a new relationship and becoming a mum. Intimate and revealing, Adele is the uplifting story of the woman with the most glorious voice in the world.
An inspirational true story of a four-year-old girl who fell into the power of a man whose evil knew no bounds. She encountered terrifying mental and physical torture from her psychopathic stepfather for a period of 17 years until she managed to break free, her spirit still unbroken.
This book is a more personal history than has ever before been written by or about Marianne Faithfull. Anecdotal, conversational, intimate and revealing, this is her no-holds-barred account of her life, her friends, her triumphs and mistakes.
