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Shortlisted for Best Novel in the Irish Book Awards Longlisted for the 2020 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction From the acclaimed author of Man Booker-longlisted History of the Rain 'Lyrical, tender and sumptuously perceptive' Sunday Times 'A love letter to the sleepy, unhurried and delightfully odd Ireland that is all but gone' Irish Independent After dropping out of the seminary, seventeen-year-old Noel Crowe finds himself back in Faha, a small Irish parish where nothing ever changes, including the ever-falling rain. But one morning the rain stops and news reaches the parish - the electricity is finally arriving. With it comes a lodger to Noel's home, Christy McMahon. Though he can't explain it, Noel knows right then: something has changed. As Noel navigates his coming-of-age by Christy's side, falling in and out of love, Christy's buried past gradually comes to light, casting a glow on a small world and making it new.
Conor Creighton came out of the womb chewing his fingernails. A chaotic childhood saw his default mode set to 'generally miserable', so he left home at 17, vowing never to return. The ensuing decades of disorder resulted in chronic anxiety. At rock bottom, he signed up for a ten-day silent meditation retreat. It was hell. His legs ached. His butt felt like it was on fire. His mind threw at him a never-ending collage of regrets, wants and realisations. Then, suddenly, for the first time in nearly twenty years, he felt calm as relief and, eventually, joy washed over him. He learned that meditation has just one goal: to recognise that this is it. There is nothing else. No desire to get anywhere or change or improve anything. When Conor stopped trying to get somewhere or 'be someone' and realised that this, and this alone, is it, his anxiety abated, he learned to like himself and he discovered that he might even be happy. By remembering that 'this is it' in uncomfortable times and in comfortable times, your life can become a lot like meditation. In this highly entertaining, refreshingly honest memoir and meditation guide, you'll discover how.
Listen up chumps, basically the Vicar asked us to edit the parish newsletter this month, we weren't gonna do it at first cos the vicar said 'I want you to channel your energy into doing something creative', which he knows brings back Kurtan's PTSD cos our old woodwork teacher Mr Perkins used to say it to him all the time, and when Kurtan actually DID channel his energy into something creative he managed to sand down some MDF to make a back scratcher and Darren Lacey pointed at it and laughed and called it an 'abomination to woodwork', which made Kurtan throw a chair across the room in rage and one of the chair legs hit Rob Robinson and left a dent in his forehead. So we decided to write this...
A THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019 'The best introduction to the plays I've read, perhaps the best book on Shakespeare, full stop' Alex Preston, Observer 'It makes you impatient to see or re-read the plays at once' Hilary Mantel A genius and prophet whose timeless works encapsulate the human condition like no others. A writer who surpassed his contemporaries in vision, originality and literary mastery. Who wrote like an angel, putting it all so much better than anyone else. Is this Shakespeare? Well, sort of. But it doesn't really tell us the whole truth. So much of what we say about Shakespeare is either not true, or just not relevant, deflecting us from investigating the challenges of his i...
A personal journey through the challenges of adulting, revealing the difference Jesus makes This book is for you if: * You dread family occasions because relatives will ask you what you’re doing with your life * Social media leaves you with the miserable suspicion that most of your friends have more fun/a better relationship/more money/a better house/more friends than you do * Watching sitcoms from your adolescence on Netflix makes everything feel better * You’ve ended up in a job that has absolutely nothing to do with what you dreamed of doing when you were six (or eleven, or sixteen) * You still keep loads of stuff at your parent’s house Sooner or later, most of us find that adult life is not all it’s cracked up to be. At some point most of us take a look at where we’ve got to and wonder: “Is this it? Why did no one warn me that adult life was going to be this... difficult?” Rachel Jones is 20-something, trying to keep it together, and ready to say what we’re all thinking. Whether you’re just feeling a bit lost or having a full “quarter life crisis”, this funny, honest, hopeful book reveals the difference Jesus makes to the angst of adulting.
‘Reveals his poignant battle against the dark side of his return to the pool’ - Donald McRae, Guardian By the age of 14, at a time when most boys are coming to terms with teenage life, Ian Thorpe was representing his country and becoming the youngest ever individual male world champion. The ‘Thorpedo’ was soon the most famous swimmer in the world, routinely picking up Olympic gold medals and setting record-breaking times. But behind the public face of success, there was the hardship of a life lived in the constant glare of media attention and rumour. As Thorpe continued to work for his fans, he hid away a secret battle against depression and was ushered into retirement at just 24 years of age. Raw, honest and compelling, Thorpe’s memoir brilliantly unveils the costs that sometimes come with unimaginable success. ‘Fans of his easy style are in for a shock with his book’ - Giles Hattersley, Sunday Times
You will discover that this book can be: A secret message - tear out a page, write a note on it for a stranger, and leave it in a public place. A recording device - have everyone you contact today write their name in the book. An instrument - create as many sounds as you can using the book, like flipping the pages fast or slapping the cover. This Is Not a Book will engage readers by having them define everything a book can be by asking, 'If it's not a book, what is it then?' - with a kaleidoscope of possible answers.
Discover the open, frank, funny, and sometimes shocking story of a proud, working single mum, who has led an extraordinary life and who has never been afraid of fighting for what she wants.
Well guys, here we are! What an absolute whirlwind of a journey this has been so far. So much has happened in the last couple of life-changing years and I'm so excited to share it with you all- my Hinchers. You have been right by my side for every step of the way and I honestly couldn't have done it without the amazing love and support from this incredible family we've built together. It's often felt like a fairy tale but it hasn't always been easy, and I'm going to let you in on the highs and the lows as well as my biggest fears and my darkest challenges. Because this book right here, is me. This is me, Soph, the wife, the mother and the person behind Mrs Hinch. So let's do this! Put your Hinch Lists to one side, get comfy and join me on the sofa with a cuppa. Welcome to my world. This is my story.
WINNER OF THE BOOKTRUST STORYTIME PRIZE 2020 This is Owl. Have you met? No? Well let me introduce you... With flaps and interactive play, this humorous title will have you clapping and flapping along!