Seven Dials Inklings

Join the book debate on the Seven Dials books forum... >>
Commission from book sales will be given to the Rockinghorse Appeal


	Alternative Ageing: The Natural Way to Hold Back the Years (Paperback) (The book featured on the Women's Hour feature about Super-foods) Synopsis Suzi Grant walks her talk. Now in her fifties, Suzi is the ultimate baby boomer; she lives life to the full and cares passionately about her health. As one of the UK's leading nutritionists, Suzi has been intensely researching the very latest breakthroughs on natural anti-ageing techniques and in Alternative Ageing she translates the science into a practical and easy plan. There are twelve steps to ageing well, and all work together to keep you feeling and looking young, fit and healthy. Discover which foods contain anti-ageing minerals, what to do to keep your mind fit and alert, and how to help your bones and joints stay supple and strong. The results: put your children, or even your grandchildren, to shame with your levels of energy and vitality. by Suzi Grant
	The Naked Jape by Jimmy Carr Is Man the only animal that laughs? Why are clowns so scary? Do jokes make children more intelligent? Are men funnier than women? Can God take a joke? What's brown and sticky? What do you get if you cross a joke book with a vivid, funny and fascinating look at what makes us laugh? Join top comedian Jimmy Carr and his best friend and fellow joke-lover, Lucy Greeves on a whistle-stop tour of the strange and wonderful world of jokes. From the mysterious pygmy jesters of Ancient Egypt to today's stars of stand-up comedy, via Shakespeare, Freud and Lenny Bruce, this journey is by turns thought-provoking and hilarious. And with a connoisseur's selection of over 400 of the best jokes ever told, "The Naked Jape" will be sure to find your funny bone.
	Waterloo by Andrew Roberts Evening Standard 'Andrew Roberts has amply demonstrated why he (Napoleon) lost in this short but wonderfully lucid account' Sunday Telegraph 'a concise, pacy and well-argued account that puts many of its predecessors...it represents a masterly synthesis of the latest scholarship"
	For Esme with Love and Squalor by JD Salinger The original American text of "A Perfect Day for Bananafish"; "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut"; "The Laughing Man"; "Down at the Dinghy"; "Just Before the War with the Eskimos"; "For Esme - With Love and Squalor"; "Pretty Mouth and Green my Eyes"; "De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period" and "Teddy". A must-have book for any true Salinger fan, "For Esme...", provides the reader with ten short stories of the highest calibre. You'll laugh and cry at the tragi-comic nature of the Glass family in tales such as "A perfect day for Bananafish", marvel at Salinger's fascinating autobiographical touch in "Love and Squalor"
	The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst It is the summer of 1983, and young Nick Guest has moved into an attic room in the Notting Hill home of the Feddens: Gerald, an ambitious new Tory MP, his wealthy wife Rachel, and their two children, Toby - whom Nick had idolized at Oxford - and Catherine, always standing at a critical angle to the family and its assumptions and ambitions. As the Thatcher boom-years unfold, Nick, an innocent in the worlds of politics and money, finds his life altered by the rising fortunes of the glamorous family he is entangled with. Two vividly contrasting love-affairs, with a young black clerk and a Lebanese millionaire, dramatize the dangers and rewards of his own private pursuit of beauty, a pursuit as compelling to him as that of power and riches to his friends. Starting at the moment The Swimming-Pool Library ended, The Line of Beauty traces the further history of a decade of change and tragedy. Richly textured, emotionally charged, disarmingly comic, it is a major work by one of the finest writers in the English language. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. The Times -Luminous... [an] astonishingly Jamesian novel. -- John Lanchester, Daily Telegraph -‘Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty is the best new novel I have read for some years.’ Barry Humphries, Sunday Telegraph -‘Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty is the first Booker prize winner in years to deserve it…’ Kate Atkinson, Daily Telegraph-‘... it is perhaps the book that Henry James would have written if he were alive now.’ -Geoff Dyer, Daily Telegraph -‘Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty deserves all the praise that has been heaped upon it.’ Evening Standard-'How to recommend last year's Booker-winner highly enough? It's hard - Hollinghurst's Eighties-set soap is hypnotically good.' Peter Kemp, The Sunday Times- 'the best-deserving Booker winner ever'
	The Secret Life Of Bees Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was four. She not only has her own memory of holding the gun, but her father's account of the event. Now fourteen, she yeams for her mother, and for forgiveness. Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her father, she has only one friend: Rosaleen, a black servant whose sharp exterior hides a tender heart. South Carolina in the sixties is a place where segregation is still considered a cause worth fighting for. When racial tension explodes one summer afternoon, and Rosaleen is arrested and beaten, Lily is compelled to act. Fugitives from justice and from Lily's harsh and unyielding father, they follow a trail left by the woman who died ten years before. Finding sanctuary in the home of three beekeeping sisters, Lily starts a journey as much about her understanding of the world, as about the mystery surrounding her mother. 'Wonderfully written, powerful, poignant, and humorous... Do read it' Joanna Trollope
	The Earth From Above For a new perspective on Earth every day of the year, Earth From Above: 365 Days can't be beaten. Yann Arthus-Bertrand's aerial photographs taken from high vantages all over the world are startling and beautiful. The book's format, short and wide, makes it an ideal desk companion for anyone who loves outdoor photography, anthropology or ecology. From tropical atolls to the highest mountain peaks, Earth From Above offers a point of view previously enjoyed only by pilots and astronauts.
	Toxic Childhood One in six children in the developed world is diagnosed as having 'developmental or behavioural problems', and the number is rising by 25% each year - this book explains why and shows what can be done about it Children throughout the developed world are suffering: instances of obesity, dyslexia, ADHD, bad behaviour and so on are all on the rise. And it's not simply that our willingness to diagnose has increased, there are very real and growing problems. Sue Palmer, a former head teacher and literacy expert, has researched into a whole range of problem areas, from poor diet, a lack of exercise and sleep deprivation to a range of modern difficulties that are having a major effect: television, computer games, mobile phones. This combination of factors, added to the increasingly busy and stressed life of parents, means that we are developing a toxic new generation. Sue Palmer's wonderful book illustrates the latest research from around the world - in Japan, for example, use of chopsticks is declining rapidly among children - and provides answers for worried parents as to how they can protect their families from the problems of the modern world and help ensure that their children emerge as healthy, intelligent and pleasant adults. Toxic Childhood is an enormously important book that reveals the issues behind our general concerns that 'things are getting worse' and shows how you can make sure that your own children suffer as little as possible.
	The Inheritance Of Loss by Kiran Desai At the foot of Mount Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas, lives an embittered old judge who wants nothing more than to retire in peace. But with the arrival of his orphaned granddaughter, Sai, and his cook's son trying to stay a step ahead of US immigration services, this is far from easy. When a Nepalese insurgency threatens Sai's blossoming romance with her handsome tutor they are forced to consider their colliding interests. The judge must revisit his past, his own journey and his role in this grasping world of conflicting desires every moment holding out the possibility for hope or betrayal.
	The Secret River by Kate Genville Daily Telegraph: "Grenville, as ever, describes an Australia so overwhelmingly beautiful that readers will lust after its sunbaked soul too." Synopsis: This story is set in London, 1807. William Thornhill, happily wedded to his childhood sweetheart Sal, is a waterman on the River Thames. Life is tough but bearable until William makes a mistake, a bad mistake for which he and his family are made to pay dearly. His sentence: to be transported to New South Wales for the term of his natural life. The Thornhills arrive in this harsh and alien land that they cannot understand and which feels like a death sentence. But, among the convicts there is a rumour that freedom can be bought, that 'unclaimed' land up the Hawkesbury offers an opportunity to start afresh, far away from the township of Sydney. When William takes a hundred acres for himself, he is shocked to find Aboriginal people already living on the river. And other recent arrivals - Thomas Blackwood, Smasher Sullivan and Mrs. Herring - are finding their own ways to respond to them. Soon Thornhill, a man neither better nor worse than most, has to make the most difficult decision of his life...
	Carry Me Down by M.J. Hyland JM Coetzee: 'This is fiction writing of the highest order.' Synopsis: John Egan is a misfit, 'a twelve-year old in the body of a grown man with the voice of a giant who insists on the ridiculous truth'. With an obsession for the "Guinness Book of Records" and faith in his ability to detect when adults are lying, John remains hopeful despite the unfortunate cards life deals him. During one year in John's life, from his voice breaking, through the breaking-up of his home life, to the near collapse of his sanity, we witness the gradual unsticking of John's mind, and the trouble that creates for him and his family. Set in early seventies Ireland, "Carry Me Down" is a deeply sympathetic take on one sad boyhood, told in gripping, and at times unsettling, prose. It plays out its tragic plot against a disarmingly familiar background and refuses to portray any of its lovingly drawn characters as easy heroes or villains.
	In The Country Of Men by Hishram Matar The Times: 'Extraordinary . . . Hailed internationally as one of the most brilliant literary debuts of recent years' Independent: 'Emerging from this moving and graceful novel is the insistence that memories of love will survive the country of men' FT Magazine: 'Moving and significant . . . A poignant tale of personal and collective betrayal' Synopsis: On a white-hot day in Tripoli, Libya, in the summer of 1979, nine-year-old Suleiman is shopping in the market square with his mother. His father is away on business - except that he is sure he has just seen his father, standing across the street in a pair of dark glasses. But, why isn't he waving? And, why doesn't he come over when he knows Suleiman's mother is falling apart? From a breathtaking new talent comes an utterly gripping, incredibly emotional novel told from the point of view of a young boy growing up in a terrifying and bewildering world where his best friend's father disappears and is next seen on state television at a public execution; where a mysterious man sits outside the house all day and asks strange questions; where his mother and uncle burn all his father's books when they know what an avid reader he is; and when it seems his father has finally disappeared for good. Soon, the whispers and fears, secrets and lies will become so intense that Suleiman can bear them no longer and in his terrified effort to save his family may end up betraying his friends, his parents and ultimately himself.
	Mother's Milk by Edward St Aubyn The Guardian: beautifully written..Polished yet profound, its even better than his previous work, and that's saying something. The Times: St Aubyn is a staggeringly good prose stylist and evidently has a big and open heart. Daily Mail: Reminiscent of John Updike and Iris Murdoch by turns...bitingly satirical and unfailingly entertaining.
	The Night Watch by Sarah Waters Philip Hensher, Observer: 'A truthful, lovely book that needs no conjuring tricks to make you want to read it again' Suzi Feay, Independent on Sunday: 'Brilliantly done... a tour-de-force of hints, clues and dropped threads' Melanie McGrath, Evening Standard: 'Sarah Waters's latest offering lingers on, long after the final page and its first, most fateful meeting' John Harding, Daily Mail: 'A stunning achievement. Waters's meticulous research drops the reader, emotionally and physically, into the maelstrom of the London Blitz' Peter Kemp, Sunday Times: 'This outstandingly gifted novelist releases her imagination into her most compelling depiction yet' Synopsis: Moving back through the 1940s, through air raids, blacked out streets, illicit liaisons, sexual adventure, to end with its beginning in 1941, The Night Watch is the work of a truly brilliant and compelling storyteller. This is the story of four Londoners - three women and a young man with a past, drawn with absolute truth and intimacy. Kay, who drove an ambulance during the war and lived life at full throttle, now dresses in mannish clothes and wanders the streets with a restless hunger, searching ...Helen, clever, sweet, much-loved, harbours a painful secret ...Viv, glamour girl, is stubbornly, even foolishly loyal, to her soldier lover ...Duncan, an apparent innocent, has had his own demons to fight during the war. Their lives, and their secrets connect in sometimes startling ways. War leads to strange alliances ...Tender, tragic and beautifully poignant, set against the backdrop of feats of heroism both epic and ordinary, here is a novel of relationships that offers up subtle surprises and twists. The Night Watch is thrilling. A towering achievement.

	Anyone Can Do It Anyone Can Do It chronicles the start and evolution of a successful business dream. Beginning with the Hashemi siblings' first conversations (when the seed of the idea was planted) it follows the progress of Coffee Republic from business plan to the present day. Coffee Republic is now worth around £50m with 90 outlets around the UK. This is a start-up business book for real people. Sahar and Bobby take the reader step by step through every aspect of starting and growing a business from asking 'why?' and writing the plan to hiring staff and letting go. The book is illustrated throughout with inspirational anecdotes from their own experience. It is a very personal story of dreaming, acting and succeeding offering a myriad of lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and blowing apart the myth that only 'special' people start successful businesses.
	Googlies, Nutmegs and Bogeys by Bob Wilson A great present for sport fans. Book Description Good gift. A brilliantly illustrated celebration of the colourful and highly idiosyncratic language of sport, by football legend Bob Wilson. Have you ever flashed at a googly in the corridor of uncertainty while on a sticky dog? The world of sport has its own language, rich in strange words and phrases whose origins often stretch back centuries. Googlies, Nutmegs and Bogeys is an illustrated lexicon – unravelling the true meanings, heritage and evolution of sporting terms – that will enlighten and amuse. Containing old favourites alongside many rare delights, this book is a perfect companion to the glorious absurdities of sporting vocabulary that continue to enliven the English language today.
	Notting Hell by Rachel Johnson A wicked comedy of manners filleting life on a Notting Hill communal garden, where lucky residents fall into one of only two social-economic groups: the haves - and the have-yachts... So, take your GBP3m key (it costs that much because if you lose it, you basically have to buy another house on the communal garden to replace it) and enter Lonsdale Gardens, meet the rest of the rich neighbours and see what really goes on behind that famous garden gate...
	Diaries 1969-1979 by Michael Pailn Michael Palin's diaries of his life before, during and after Monty Python
	The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger Evening Standard:‘I love books like this...perfect reading in the bath with a flute of champagne.’ Red:‘Delicious...a great insight into the world of magazines and fashion.’ It's a killer title: The Devil Wears Prada. And it's killer material: author Lauren Weisberger did a stint as assistant to Anna Wintour, the all-powerful editor of Vogue magazine. Now she's written a book, and this is its theme: narrator Andrea Sachs goes to work for Miranda Priestly, the all-powerful editor of Runway magazine. It turns out Miranda is quite the bossyboots. That's pretty much the extent of the novel, but it's plenty. Miranda's behaviour is so insanely over-the-top that it's a gas to see what she'll do next, and to try to guess which incidents were culled from the real-life antics of the woman who's been called Anna "Nuclear" Wintour.
	The Tony Years by Carig Brown Metro:"arguably the finest satirist working out of these shores today The Tony Years is...a dip-able delight..."
	Perfume by Patrick Suskind Synopsis: Survivor, genius, perfumer, killer: this is Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. He is abandoned on the filthy streets as a child, but grows up to discover, he has an extraordinary gift: a sense of smell more powerful than any other human's. Soon, he is creating the most sublime fragrances in Paris. Yet there is one odour he cannot capture. It is exquisite, magical: the scent of a young virgin. And to get it, he must kill. And kill. And kill.
	An Inconvenient TruthThe Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It by Al Gore Synopsis: The truth about the climate crisis is an inconvenient one that means we are going to have to change the way we live our lives. Our climate crisis may at times appear to be happening slowly, but in fact it has become a true planetary emergency and we must recognise that we are facing a crisis.
	33 Things Every Girls Should Know about Women's History
	Fugitive Pieces Synopsis; The stories of two men from different generations whose lives have been transformed by war. A young boy, Jakob Beer, is rescued from the mud of a buried Polish city during World War II and taken to an island in Greece by an unlikely saviour, the scientist/humanist Athos Roussos. Prize Winner Fugitive Pieces won the 1997 Orange prize for Fiction. John Berger said: 'The most important, beautifully important book I have read for forty years....'
	Freedom's Cause When Emmeline Pankhurst gathered a small group of women in Manchester 10 October1903, the mood was defiant. For the Suffragette movement, founded that day, sprang not merely from a simple desire to change the law but also from a deep-seated anger over sexism within the Labour movement. The fiery nature of its conception and birth was to characterise the Women's Social and Political Union, as it was formally known, throughout the 12 turbulent years of its life. In fact, what distinguished it from the more staid women's franchise campaigns which went before was its militancy - and, of course, its sheer bloody-minded determination.This is the remarkable (and often heroic story) of the Suffragettes, told through 12 portraits of their leaders, of ordinary members, of radicals and waverers.
	How To Survive and Thrive in an Empty Nest: Reclaiming Your Life When Your Children Have Grown
	The Edwardians by Roy Hattersley Synopsis Edwardian Britain is the quintessential age of nostalgia, often seen as the last long summer before the cataclysmic changes of the twentieth century began to take form. The class system remained rigidly in place and thousands were employed in domestic service. The habits and sports of the aristocracy were an everyday indulgence. But it was an age of invention as well as tradition. It saw the first widespread use of the motor car, the first aeroplane and the first use of the telegraph. It was also a time of vastly improved education and the public appetite for authors such as Conan Doyle, Rudyard Kipling and E. M. Forster was increased by greater literacy. There were signs too, of the corner history was soon to turn, with the problematic Boer War hinting at a new British weakness overseas and the rise of the Suffragette movement pushing the boundaries of the social and political landscape. In this major work of history, Roy Hattersley has been given exclusive access to many new documents to produce a magisterial appraisal of a legendary age. Reviews Telegraph, March 2006 -‘there is a lightness of touch and a wealth of detail. Hattersley demonstrates unusual range’ Independent, March 2006- ‘Hattersley’s account of this brief but pregnant era is packed with vivid detail … Hattersley is a spiffing guide.’ Observer, 19 March 2006-‘this excellently written and researched survey is a joy. Hattersley never forsakes personalities for generalities .. informative, entertaining and absorbing’. Herald, 18 March 2006- ‘In this enchanting history, Roy Hattersley .. draws a rich portrait of an age'
	Wild Law by Cormac Cullinan Book Description We are rapidly destroying our only habitat, Earth. It is becoming clear that many of the treaties, laws and policies concluded in recent years have failed to slow down, let alone halt or reverse, this process. Cormac Cullinan shows that the survival of the community of life on Earth (including humans) requires us to alter fundamentally our understanding of the nature and purpose of law and governance, rather than merely changing laws. In describing what this new ‘Earth governance’ and ‘Earth jurisprudence’ might look like, he also gives practical guidance on how to begin moving towards it. Wild Law fuses politics, legal theory, quantum physics and ancient wisdom into a fascinating and eminently readable story. It is an inspiring and stimulating book for anyone who cares about Earth and is concerned about the direction in which the human species is moving. Excerpted from Wild Law: Protecting Biological and Cultural Diversity by Cormac Cullinan. Copyright © 2003. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Almost every day I notice signs that more and more people are longing for our species to cease its self-destructive war with Earth and with one another. Despite the hype around the brave new ‘globalised’ world that is supposed to bring all manner of blessings for our children, an unsettling stench is seeping out through the cracks in the information super-highway. Beneath the shiny surface of our super-, techno-, digitalised-, genetically engineered, globalised, wonder-societies, our planet and our humanity is decaying. Have you ever looked into the bright, clear eyes of a child and tried to explain why the whales are being killed and the forests burnt? Why playing naked in the sun is dangerous and some streams are poisonous? Why some frogs now have five legs and teenagers blow themselves up in the process of killing other children in the Middle East? Do you ever wonder why some of us work so furiously while others can’t find work and why either way, a deep satisfaction and a sense of belonging is so elusive? This book doesn’t try to provide all the answers to these questions. However, it is an attempt to look one aspect of our 21st-century reality in the eye. The truth is that the dominant civilisations on the planet are behaving in a way that is leading our children and us into a bleak, unsustainable future that most of us do not want. It is a future that involves the casual destruction of ancient human cultures and biological communities, and the extinction of a shocking number of living beings that have co-evolved with us. Their passing involves not only the wanton destruction of millions of years of the Earth’s experience and wisdom recorded in genetic structures and the complex webs of relationships within ecosystems; it also permanently diminishes the Earth Community and robs the survivors of the opportunity to co-evolve with them.
	Sectacular Vernacular Synopsis "Spectacular Vernacular" is a guide to London's 100 strangest and most surprising buildings, new as well as old, revealing their histories and their many odd associations. Some are open to the public, if you know who to ask. Others remain strictly off-limits, this secrecy heightening the sense of mystery which surrounds them. And many more are so familiar that few of us ever stop to consider, actually, just how curious they are. Only yards from the Royal Albert Hall, for example, a 300ft-high tower attracts barely a glance and many Londoners don't even know it's there. A few miles away the capital's widest building at nearly 1,000ft has been favourably compared to the Winter Palace at St Petersburg. And on the river at Chelsea a Tudor hall, moved brick-by-brick from the City a century ago, is today being remodelled as London's largest private house. Elsewhere there are the grand yet almost ostentatiously anonymous premises of London's traditional gentlemen's clubs, a handful of private palaces, fake castles, false house fronts that conceal a railway, and such peculiarities as an arts centre constructed out of old shipping containers, a replica Arab tent built for a Victorian explorer, and even a privately owned tunnel for running cable-cars under the Thames. Also featured are several buildings that, if they had been built, would have dramatically changed the face of London - such as Wembley's answer to the Eiffel tower and the Regent Street monorail. This beautifully illustrated book will be a revelation for Londoners who think they know all there is to know about their city.
	The Culture Of The New Capitalism - Richard Sennett Synopsis The distinguished sociologist Richard Sennett here surveys major differences between earlier forms of industrial capitalism and the more global, more febrile, ever more mutable version of capitalism that is taking its place. He shows how these changes affect everyday life - how the work ethic is changing; how new beliefs about merit and talent displace old values of craftsmanship and achievement; how what Sennett calls "the spectre of uselessness' haunts professionals as well as manual workers; how the boundary between consumption and politics is dissolving. In recent years, reformers of both private and public institutions have preached that flexible, global corporations provide a model of freedom for individuals, unlike the experience of fixed and static bureaucracies Max Weber once called an "iron cage". Sennett argues that, in banishing old ills, the new-economy model has instead created new social and emotional traumas. Only a certain kind of human being can prosper in unstable, fragmentary institutions: the culture of the new capitalism demands an ideal self oriented to the short-term, focused on potential ability rather than accomplishment, willing to discount or abandon past experience. In a concluding section, Sennett examines a more durable form of self-hood, and what practical initiatives could counter the pernicious effects of 'reform'. Reviews: Will Hutton, The Observer, March 12 2006 - '[Sennett] has brilliantly pushed his thinking... [A] triumph...' Madeleine Bunting, New Statesman, March 13 2006 - '...packed with thought...profound and challanging... [I am] full of admiration for the subtlety and originality of Richard Sennett's work...' Sam Mendelson, Financial World Magazine, June 2006 - 'The academic rigour and creativity of the ideas...cannot be faulted...'
	P.G. Wodehouse Synopsis For more than a century, readers around the world would have been delighted by the novels, short stories, plays, lyrics and essays of Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, best known as the creator of the dimwitter English gentleman Bertie Wooster and his indispensable valet, Jeeves. The definitive authorised biography of one of the greatest literary humourists of all time, first published in 1974 and now appearing in a revised, updated edition. Comprehensively illustrated, with many unique family portraits, this is the first book to trace Wodehouse's career from his first magazine contribution in 1901 through his show-business years with Jerome Kern and George Gershwin to his one hundred books that have brought so much pleasure to readers over the years.
	Do You Think What You Think You Think? Synopsis Is your brain ready for a thorough philosophical health check? Really, it won't hurt a bit...Is what you believe coherent and consistent? Or is it a jumble of contradictions? If you could design yourself a God, what would He (or She, or It) be like? Can you spot the logical flaw in an argument (even if it's hiding from you)? And how will you fare on the tricky terrain of ethics when your taboos are under the spotlight? If all this causes your brain to overheat, there is a philosophy general knowledge quiz to round off with. "Do You Think What You Think You Think?" presents a dozen quizzes that will reveal what you really think and what it all adds up to (brace yourself: it might not add up to what you expected). Challenging, fun, infuriating - sometimes all at once - this book will enable you to discover the you you never knew you were. Think of it as an MOT for your mind.
	Magic Bus Rory MacLean Synopsis In the 1960s, hundreds of thousands of young westerners, inspired by Kerouac and the Beatles, blazed the hippie trail' overland from Istanbul to Kathmandu in search of enlightenment and a bit of cheap dope. Since the Summer of Love the countries that offered so much to these dreamers have confronted the full force of modernity, transformed from worlds of western fantasy to political minefields. Through a landscape of breathtaking beauty Rory MacLean retraces the path of the once well-worn hippy trail from Turkey to Iran, Afghanistan to Pakistan, India to Nepal, meeting trail veterans and locals on his way, and relives wide-eyed adventures as he witnesses a world of extraordinary and terrifying transformation. Reviews: TLS-'MacLean’s prose moves elegantly from the elegiac to the ironic, from the sad to the grotesque to the comic' Alexander Frater-'Utterly absorbing; if you read only one travel book this year, this should be it' Esther Freud-'Undaunted and unprejudiced . . . A disturbing, gripping and intensely passionate story' Katie Hickman-'MacLean is one of the most strikingly original and talented writers of his generation' Tim Mackintosh-Smith-'MacLean takes us through the shattered remains of Shangri-La and leaves us sombre, but enlightened' Sunday Times-'A rich cacophony of views on the meaning of life . . . strewn with fascinating relics. Absorbing'
	This Sceptred Isle 55BC - 1901 Synopsis This history of Britain begins with the Roman invasion in 55 BC and ends with Queen Victoria's death in 1901. Written to accompany the award-winning BBC Radio 4 series, the work brings to life the events and personalities that have shaped our nation. It tells of wars, bloodshed, murder and revenge, and of the tremendous social changes which the people of these islands have witnessed over the centuries. Weaving his text with accounts from contemporary chronicles and diaries, and extracts from Winston Churchill's "A History of the English-Speaking Peoples", Christopher Lee describes the evolution of Britain's great institutions, the powers of its kings and queens, and charts its political and economic development.
	The Good Earth Pearl S Buck - Recommended by a neighbour as a book that changed his life. Synopsis: When O-lan, a servant girl, marries the peasant Wang Lung, she toils tirelessly through four pregnancies for their family's survival. Reward at first is meagre, but there is sustenance in the land - until the famine comes. Half-starved, the family joins thousands of peasants to beg on the city streets. It seems that all is lost, until O-lan's desperate will to survive returns them home with undreamt of wealth. But they have betrayed the earth from which true wealth springs, and the family's money breeds only mistrust, deception - and heartbreak for the woman who had saved them. THE GOOD EARTH is a riveting family saga and story of female sacrifice - a classic of twentieth-century literature.
	The Singularity is Near by Ray Kurzweil Inventor & futurist Ray Kurzweil examines the next step in the evolutionary process of the union of human and machine. Kurzweil foresees the dawning of a new civilization where we will be able to transcend our biological limitations and amplify our creativity, combining our biological skills with the vastly greater capacity, speed and knowledge-sharing abilities of our creations. In practical terms, human ageing and illness will be reversed; pollution will be stopped and world hunger and poverty will be solved. There will be no clear distinction between human and machine, real reality and virtual reality. "The Singularity is Near" offers a view of the coming age that is both a dramatic culmination of centuries of technological ingenuity and a genuinely inspiring vision of our ultimate destiny. Mixing lucid arguments about artificial intelligence, cognitive science or genetics ... Compellingly multilayered - Guardian
	Red Strangers – Elspeth Huxley, forward by Richard Dawkins This evocative description of early twentieth century Africa, is told by two Kikuyu tribesmen. Brothers Matu and Muthegi are raised according to customs that began with the world. But when the ‘red strangers’ come, sunburned Europeans who seek to colonize their homeland, their people are overwhelmed by unknown diseases that traditional magic seems powerless to control. And as the strangers move across the land, the tribe rapidly finds itself forced to obey foreign laws, at best bizarre, and at worst entirely in conflict with the Kikuyu's own ancient ways, rituals and beliefs.
	We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver Daily Telegraph, May 6, 2006 ‘Massive and gripping’;The Sunday Times (Culture), May 7, 2006 ‘Urgent, unblinking and articulate fiction’; Observer' An elegant psychological and philosophical investigation of culpability with a brilliant denouement' What makes a monster? Tackling the ultimate taboo - that a mother can't dislike her own child - a brutally compelling book that encourages the reader to engage with a most contested moral dilemma. Lionel Shriver tells a compelling, absorbing, and resonant story while framing horrifying tableaux of teenage carnage as metaphors for the larger tragedy - the tragedy of a country where everything works, nobody starves, and anything can be bought but a sense of purpose. Lionel Shriver writes a weekly column for the Guardian. Born in the US, she has lived in Nairobi, Bangkok and Belfast. She is married to a jazz drummer and is based in London and New York
	Pam Ayres –The Works The Works collects together over 120 of Pam Ayres's best-known and loved poems covering subjects such as love, motherhood, families, gardening, ecology, travel. Her observations are touching, honest and above all inspired by a sense of the gentle absurdity of ordinary events. The Works is the best of the work which has made Pam Ayres a worldwide celebrity and bestselling poet.
	Pitch Yourself – Michael and Bill Faust Seven Dials resident, Bill Faust wrote what he describes as a toolkit for your career. Clear, concise and compelling - "Pitch Yourself" drags the traditional CV kicking and screaming into the 21st century. It's essential reading" - Harvey Nash/FirstPersonGlobal. "A CV revolution. It's guaranteed to land you that interview" - "Cosmopolitan". "Not only a way to live with competencies in recruitment but also a way for candidates to make the best of them in attempting to secure a job" - "Financial Times"
	Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble.- Lester R Brown The world faces numerous environmental trends of disruption and decline such as rising temperatures, falling water tables and rising sea levels. In addition, the world faces the peaking of oil, 70 million more people per year, a widening global economic divide and the spread of international terrorism. The scale and complexity of issues facing our fast-forward world have no precedent. In "Plan B", Lester R. Brown how ignoring nature's imperatives risks the disruption of economic progress.
	Crazy Diamond This is the first biography of Syd Barrett, the legendary founder of Pink Floyd, who left the band in mysterious circumstances after the first album. Amid stories of his acid-induced madness he made two solo albums and then retired from music in 1970. This book aims to clear up the mystery.
	The Sewing Circles of Herat Twenty-one-year-old Christina Lamb left suburban England for Peshawar on the frontier of the Afghan war. Captivated, she spent two years tracking the final stages of the mujaheddin victory over the Soviets, as Afghan friends smuggled her in and out of their country in a variety of guises. Returning to Afghanistan after the attacks on the World Trade Center to report for The Sunday Telegraph, Lamb discovered the people no one else had written about the abandoned victims of almost a quarter century of war. Among them, the brave women writers of Herat who risked their lives to carry on a literary tradition under the guise of sewing circles; the princess whose palace was surrounded by tanks on the eve of her wedding; the artist who painted out all the people in his works to prevent them from being destroyed by the Taliban; and Khalil Ahmed Hassani, a former Taliban torturer who admitted to breaking the spines of men and then making them stand on their heads. Christina Lamb's evocative reporting brings to life these stories. Her unique perspective on Afghanistan and deep passion for the people she writes about make this the definitive account of the tragic plight of a proud nation.
	Margrave of the Marshes John Peel’s contribution to British culture is undeniable. Beloved by millions - whether for his unstinting championing of musical talent on Radio 1 or for his wildly popular Radio 4 show Home Truths - this is the astonishing book he began to write before his untimely death in October 2004, completed by the woman who knew him best, his wife Sheila. The first half of the book, written by John, describes with characteristic humour his early life, from child to man, including his school days and National Service. You can hear the unique Peel voice in every sentence - rarely, if ever, before has a voice been so successfully transferred to paper. The second section, written by Peel's wife and soulmate of many years, Sheila Ravenscroft, gives us an intimate portrait of the man and his music, and the highs and the lows of everyday life at Peel Acres. The completion of this book has been a labour of love for John's family and their passion has paid off. It's every bit as extraordinary as the man himself and a fitting tribute to a bona fide legend.
	Breakfast In Brighton Brighton, the "antithesis of England" as Nigel Richardson describes it towards the beginning of his lyric to a unique town, Breakfast in Brighton: Adventures on the Edge of Britain. On the edge of England, certainly--Richardson makes much of his sea- front garret in a Regency square, café and pub life by the sea--but also Brighton as a place to live "on the edge": Richardson's Brighton is as much a state of mind as a geographical space, a refuge from the banality of everyday life. It's a fascinating tale, drawing on various real and mythic moments in Brighton's past (the Brighton Trunk Murders, the filming of Brighton Rock, the "Sea Monster" dredged up by fishermen in the mid-19th century) as well as the story of the painting which haunts this book: "Breakfast in Brighton", painted around 1950 by Edward le Bas. Inviting his readers to join him in his (visitor's) homage to the diversity, and exuberance, of the cultures around him-- "Brighton has a rare genius for moving with the times yet remaining the same", he muses on his journey through the North Laines--Richardson casts himself as a modern day flaneur, a man on the track of the history embedded in the fabric, and spectacle, of urban life.
	In Praise Of Slow In Praise of Slow heralds a growing international movement of people who are taking some of the speed out of modern life, and living better as a result. These days, our culture teaches us that faster is better. But in the race to keep up, everything suffers - our world, diet and health, our relationships and sex lives. We are in such a hurry that anyone or anything that slows us down, becomes the enemy. Thanks to our desire for speed, we live in an age of rage. Carl Honore uncovers a movement that challenges the cult of speed by proving that slower is often better. In this entertaining and enlightening tour of all things Slow - from the Slow Food of Italy to the Slow Exercise studio in New York - we learn of a lifestyle revolution in which quality overcomes our obsession with quantity. The Slow movement is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace; it’s about striking a better balance between fast and slow, so that we can live more productive, fulfilling lives.
	Yummy! Written by an advisor to Jamie Oliver’s School Dinners. Jane Clarke is one of our foremost nutritionists. How to get your kids to eat proper food without going mad - this is a comprehensive, easy-to-use guide for parents. How do you get your child to eat healthy nutritious food if all they want is McDonald's? Jane Clarke is a mum with the answers. Down-to-earth, realistic and easy-to-use this book addresses concerns like whether it's ever ok to give your child processed foods and how to encourage them to make healthy choices when you're not standing over them. There is a troubleshooting section too, such as how to deal with a fussy eater or a child with food allergies. More than 50 recipes and beautiful colour photos throughout it is a stalwart book for parents.
	A Short History Of Tractors A light hearted read: two Ukranian sisters struggle to separate their ageing deluded father from his gold digging “new love”. Oblivious to uproar within the family as the sisters discover the extent of her ruthlessness the father carries on with his important work: documenting the great history of tractors
	Dare To Be A Daniel: Then And Now This warm, affectionate, scintillatingly funny account reveals the childhood of a radical politician who has become a well-loved national figure, and shows how early influences have shaped the commitments and beliefs he holds today.
	Perfect Picnic There’s no doubt about it being Picnic Weather. Featuring a wide range of sweet and savoury foods to liven up a picnic, this collection has recipes for light salads such as French bean salad and heartier dishes such as chicken filo pie and Mediterranean quiche.
	The Woman On The Bus The bus from Dublin to Limerick has never meant much to the inhabitants of Kilbrody, until a woman steps off it, marches into the pub and drinks herself into oblivion. When she finally wakes up, several days later, it is to discover that Charlie Fin n (who put her to bed); the local garda and indeed the whole village are talking about her. Who is the woman on the bus? The question is, will she tell them? The author Pauline McLynn grew up in Galway, and first started acting while studying history of art at Trinity College, Dublin. She shot to fame playing the inimitable Mrs Doyle in Father Ted, and has appeared in numerous other film, television and stage roles. She divides her time between London and Dublin where she lives with her husband.
	The New Raw Energy Raw Energy is the unique, healthful quality found only in fresh, uncooked foods. A high raw diet in which 50-75% of your foods are eaten raw can help you to lose weight, prevent colds and ‘flu, and retard ageing. It can also help banish stress and fatigue, make you feel fitter and younger and give you a sense of vitality which you may not have experienced before. The New Raw Energy includes over 100 delicious recipes for salads, dips, dressings, soups, main courses, breads, drinks and desserts which demonstrate that a healthy diet need never be a dull one. This book provides over 100 recipes which show that a healthy diet need never be a dull one. It shows how raw energy can work wonders for your body and your life.
	Treat Your Own Back This easy-to-follow patient handbook which has sold over 3 million copies and has been translated into 15 different languages provides the reader with an active self-treatment plan to resolve and manage back pain. Now in its 5th edition, Treat Your Own Back has probably helped more people achieve freedom from back pain than any other publication. Several scientific studies show that after reading and complying with information provided in Treat Your Own Back, patients experienced great pain reduction, reduced rates of recurrence of painful episodes and were able to prevent the onset of back pain. The programme of care described in Treat Your Own Back provides all the recommended low back pain treatment protocols as suggested in current international guidelines.
	Too Many Mothers Roberta Taylor’s memories of her East End childhood and the extended family that brought her up. Roberta travels to the emotional heart of her childhood to reveal the lives led by the men and women who influenced her most in her formative years. "Too Many Mothers" is a portrait of an embattled family at war with itself and the outside world. From petty crime to pet monkeys, tender romance to emotional blackmail, illegitimacy, adoption and even murder, Roberta Taylor has written a bittersweet and memoir of her early life. Martina Cole:Absolutely breathtaking. What a fantastic read. Frank McCourt:A gut-wrenching memoir that still has you gasping with laughter… simply unforgettable. A hell of a book. The Sunday Times:Funny and touching, Too Many Mothers afforded me deep pleasure and it moved me to tears.
	The Long Way Round Long Way Round is the tale of a remarkable journey taken (on motorbike) by two men. The fact that those men are figures with notable film connections (Ewan McGregor is one of Britain’s most successful actors, Charley Boorman is the son of the celebrated director John Boorman) may be the reason the book got written – and the accompanying television series got made – but so what? McGregor, for whom motorbikes are as important as his acting career, was gazing at a map of the world when it occurred to him that it was possible to ride by bike all the way round the world (with just a smidgen of cheating around the Bering Strait), and he suggested over a meal with best friend and fellow thesp Charley Boorman, that the pair might chase their shadows from London to New York, across the Pacific to Alaska and other far-flung parts. But as the miles slipped beneath the tyres of their big BMWs, their troubles started. Exhaustion, injury and accidents tested their strength. Treacherous roads, unpredictable weather and turbulent politics challenged their stamina. They were chased by paparazzi in Kazakhstan, courted by men with very large guns in the Ukraine, hassled by the police, and given bulls' testicles for supper by Mongolian nomads. And yet despite all these obstacles they managed to ride more than twenty thousand miles in four months, changing their lives forever in the process. As they travelled they documented their trip, taking photographs, and writing diaries by the campfire. Long Way Round is the result of their adventures - a fascinating, frank and highly entertaining travel book about two friends riding round the world together and, against all the odds, realising their dream. Brighton Boozers: A History of the City's Pub Culture. Featuring the history of Brighton's braveries and pubs, this is a pocket edition
	Mao: The Unknown Story Jung Chang's "Wild Swans" was an extraordinary bestseller throughout the world, selling more than 10 million copies and reaching a wider readership than any other book about China. Now she and her husband Jon Halliday have written a groundbreaking biography of Mao Tse-tung. Based on a decade of research, and on interviews with many of Mao's close circle in China who have never talked before - and with virtually everyone outside China who had significant dealings with him - this is the most authoritative life of Mao ever written. It is full of startling revelations, exploding the myth of the Long March, and showing a completely unknown Mao: he was not driven by idealism or ideology; his intimate and intricate relationship with Stalin went back to the 1920s, ultimately bringing him to power; he welcomed Japanese occupation of much of China; and he schemed, poisoned and blackmailed to get his way. After Mao conquered China in 1949, his secret goal was to dominate the world. In chasing this dream he caused the deaths of 38 million people in the greatest famine in history. Combining meticulous history with the story-telling style of "Wild Swans", this biography makes immediate Mao's roller-coaster life, as he intrigued and fought every step of the way to force through his unpopular decisions. The reader enters the shadowy chambers of Mao's court, and eavesdrops on the drama in its hidden recesses. Mao's character and the enormity of his behaviour towards his wives, mistresses and children are unveiled for the first time. This is an entirely fresh look at Mao in both content and approach. It will astonish historians and the general reader alike.
	The Perfect Summer: Dancing Into Shadow in 1911 This is the enchanting and absorbing story of a remarkable season; defining a world on the cusp of irrevocable change. One summer of nearly a hundred years ago saw one of the high sunlit meadows of English history. A new king was crowned; audiences swarmed to Covent Garden to see the Ballet Russes and Nijinsky's gravity-defying leaps. The aristocracy was at play, bounding from house party to the next - the socialite Lady Michelham travelled with her nineteen yards of pearls. Rupert Brooke (a 23-year-old poet in love with love, Keats, marrons glaces and truth) swam in the river at Grantchester. But perfection was over-reaching itself. The rumble of thunder from the summer's storms presaged not only the bloody war years ahead: the country was brought to near standstill by industrial strikes, and unrest exposed the chasm between privileged and poor - as if the heat was torturing those imprisoned in society's straitjacket and stifled by the city smog. Children, seeking relief from the scorching sun, drowned in village ponds. What the protagonists could not have known is that they were playing out the backdrop to WWI; in a few years time the world, let alone England, would never be the same again. Through the eyes of a series of exceptional individuals - a debutante, a suffragette, a politician, a trade unionist, a butler and the Queen - Juliet Nicolson illuminates a turning point in history. With the gifts of a great storyteller, she rekindles a vision of a time when the sun shone, but its shadows fell on all.
	The Great Silent Gandmother Gathering Sharon Mehdi wrote this book when her grand daughter was born, in case she didn’t live until she was old enough for them to talk. The publication of this quiet private book came about organically and to the author’s great surprise. It is now inspiring women all over the world to take a few moments and stand together silently for peace.
	Labyrinth When Dr Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons during an archaeological dig in southern France, she unearths a link with a horrific and brutal past. But it's not just the sight of the shattered bones that makes her uneasy; there's an overwhelming sense of evil in the tomb that Alice finds hard to shake off, even in the bright French sunshine. Puzzled by the words carved inside the chamber, Alice has an uneasy feeling that she has disturbed something which was meant to remain hidden... Eight hundred years ago, on the night before a brutal civil war ripped apart Languedoc, a book was entrusted to Alais, a young herbalist and healer. Although she cannot understand the symbols and diagrams the book contains, Alais knows her destiny lies in protecting their secret, at all costs. Skilfully blending the lives of two women divided by centuries but united by a common destiny, LABYRINTH is a powerful story steeped in the atmosphere and history of southern France.
	Can We Live 150 Years? Your Body Maintenance Handbook There are some books that sell themselves without any help from marketers. I think "Can We Live 150 Year?" is one of them. For some a favourite small gift to friends. The author, former head of Center for Health Sciences in Moscow, shares his knowledge with the obvious intent to help others. Worth noticing is the fact that his remedies are either home-made or easily obtainable anywhere lending a non commercial feel to the book. The book is as simple and down-to-earth as it can possibly be, free of exaggerated claims. You will find a lot of advice on leading healthy life style. The author is pointing out the potential life span of a human being on the assumption of providing him with the ideal living conditions…although he does not promise to have the secret of a 150 year lifespan. He states “If, as a result of my advice, some people start feeling better, some get cured, and some realize the necessity of health maintenance, the objective of this book will be fulfilled."
	Long Way Down 'Can I explain why I wanted to jump off the top of a tower block?' For disgraced TV presenter Martin Sharp the answer's pretty simple: he has, in his own words, pissed his life away'. And on New Year's Eve, he's going to end it all. But not, as it happens, alone. Because first single-mum Maureen, then eighteen-year-old Jess and lastly American rock-god JJ turn up and crash Martin's private party. They've stolen his idea, but brought their own reasons. Yet it's hard to jump when you've got an audience queuing impatiently behind you. A few heated words and some slices of cold pizza later, and these four strangers are suddenly allies. But is their unlikely friendship a good enough reason to carry on living?
	Perfect Barbecue – Creative Recipes for Outdoor Cooking This book combines all the traditional barbecue favourites with more contemporary dishes, incorporating a wide range of tastes and flavours to show how versatile, and how much fun, outdoor cooking can be. Divided into five sections, the book presents 30 barbeque recipes which offer ideas and inspirations for every type of menu, occasion, special event and entertainment. Recipes include: five-spice ribstickers, peppered steaks in beer and garlic, spiced chicken breasts with coconut sauce, sardines with warm herb salsa, potato skewers with mustard dip and baked bananas with spice vanilla butter.
	Brighton Boozers: A History of the City's Pub Culture. Featuring the history of Brighton's braveries and pubs, this is a pocket edition

FOR YOUNGER READERS:

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
The Christmas Show At The Gardner!! A gruffalo? What's a gruffalo?" "A gruffalo! Why, didn't you know? He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws." And so begins the story of a quick-witted mouse as he encounters a host of predators who seem to think he might make a tasty treat. As he ventures deeper into the deep dark wood, stumbling across a hungry fox, a not-so-wise owl, and a slimy snake, spinning ever-extraordinary yarns about the scary, scaly gruffalo, he quickly realises that the hungry beast he has been talking of isn't imaginary after all. A witty, sly little story that wrings giggles from the belly of the reader, The Gruffalo is both stylish and hilarious, simple in its execution, as it plays skilfully on a child's fears and then shows that even the most threatening of monsters are not always as scary as they seem. A combination of read-along-rhyme by Julia Donaldson and illustrations by Alex Sheffler which perfectly capture the atmosphere of the story, The Gruffalo is an excellent picture book for 3-5-year-olds to read along with their parents, and is certain to become something of a classic.

The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson
Donaldson's rhyming text reads aloud like a dream... cleverly laid visual cues... Altogether a spine-tingling, mock-scary delight...
One dark night the Gruffalo's child disobeys her father's warnings and ventures out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn't really exist ...does he?

The Life Cycle of an Ant by Hadley Dyer
This book is suitable for ages 6-12. Watching an ant carry a crumb across a sidewalk holds great fascination for children. Children will certainly be eager to read more about this industrious insect in this book. The fascinating text is accompanied by full-colour images and illustrations, which help describe: an ant's body; it's habitat; the stages of ant
metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult; the roles of workers, males, and queens in the colony; and the importance of ants to the environment.

Doctor Who Stories 2007

Clarice Bean Don't Look Now by Lauren Child
There seems to be an awful lot to worry about in Clarice Bean's life so she devises a Worst Worry list. But what if your worst worry is the worry you haven't thought to worry about? The latest title featuring the hugely popular Clarice Bean is both hilarious and touching and is bound to be a surefire hit with her loyal and extensive fanbase.

I Absolutely Must Do Colouring-In Now by Lauren Child
Charlie has this little sister Lola. She is always very extremely busy. Lola says, "I love drawing and scribbling and cutting and sticking and painting and coloring." With 24 pages to fill, the lucky owner of this book can be just like Lola and make their very own pictures. They can choose whether to draw, color or paint. They can cut things out and stick them in, or even venture outside to see what they can find to put in the picture - a truly creative coloring book!

I am Not Tired and I Will Not Go To Bed by Lauren Child
Charlie has this little sister Lola. Sometimes he has to try and get her to go to bed. This is a hard job because Lola likes to stay up late. Ages 3 and over.

Can You Feel The Force?
Can You Feel The Force? by Richard Hammond Physics doesn't just happen in a lab it happens in the kitchen, in your bath, in a car! Author Richard Hammond is best known for co-presenting "Top Gear" alongside Jeremy Clarkson. He is passionate about science and learning, and is the host of "Brainiac: Science Abuse" on Sky One. This title helps you join a thrilling high-energy journey through time, space and beyond and find out about the physical forces that make our world what it is. Here, find out how science affects everything, from roller-coasters to fighter pilots. The book is crammed with fascinating physics facts and interactive experiments. It has a totally cool look at physics!

I Wonder Why Spiders Spin Webs

Winnie The Pooh by A.A. Milne Complete Collection. hardcover Our Local Bear!
Winnie the Pooh: The Complete Collection of Stories and Poems was originally published in 1994, but this beautifully produced slip-cased edition has been specially created to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the publication of the very first stories about Winnie the Pooh.
It consists of the classic, well-loved, tried-and-tested stories by AA Milne, from "Winnie the Pooh" (1926), "The House at Pooh Corner" (1928) and the poetry from "When We Were Very Young" (1924) and "Now We Are Six"
(1927).

Hat Full Of Sky by Terry Pratchett
Eleven-year-old Tiffany Aching wants to be a real witch. But a real witch doesn't casually step out of her body, leaving it empty. Tiffany does - and there's something just waiting for a handy body to take over. Something ancient and horrible, which can't die. Now Tiffany's got to learn to be a real witch really quickly, with the help of arch-witch Mistress Weatherwax and the truly amazing Miss Level. Oh, yes. And the Nac Mac Feegle - the rowdlest, toughest, smelliest bunch of fairles ever to be thrown out of Fairyland for being drunk at two in the afternoon. They'll fight anything-

Revolting Rhymes

Cautionary Tales by Hillaire Belloc
Highlights humorous accounts of the consequences of bad behavior and general misconduct, including the tales of Jim, "who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion," and Matilda, "who told lies and was burned to death."
Roald Dahl Calendar
A fabulous Roald Dahl calendar featuring some of the most unlikely, weird and wonderful creatures in children's literature, illustrated in glorious technicolour by the brilliant Quentin Blake. Also featuring a 'Fact of the Month' and full colour sticker sheet featuring 18 deliciously Dahl stickers to stick wherever you like, and another 15 stickers specially designed to help you remember important dates from exams and dentist's appointments to special birthdays and parties. With plenty of space to jot down important birthdays, holiday dates, special treats and anything else you like, every Roald Dahl fan from seven to seventy-five will want to get their mitts on a copy of this marvellous calendar!

Dr Who Annual
The official "Doctor Who Annual 2007" is packed with classic annual content - character profiles, quizzes, activities, fun features and alien facts! This exciting annual is perfect for Doctor Who fans, young and old.

Peter Pan
The wonderful classic. Buy as a gift so the new sequel has its roots... It was Friday night. Mr and Mrs Darling were dining out. Nana had been tied up in the backyard. The poor dog was barking, for she could smell danger. And she was right - this was the night that Peter Pan would take the Darling children on the most breath-taking adventure of their lives, to a place...

Peter Pan

Peter Pan In Scarlet
The sequel commissioned by Great Ormond Street to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of Peter Pan

Drawing For the Artistically Undiscovered
A Fantastic Present! Quentin Blake is one of the most celebrated illustrators in the world today, and the best person imaginable to collaborate on this sketchbook with training wheels. Full of inspirational artwork, instruction and plenty of white space reserved for the artist-to-be, the book comes with an artist quality sketch pen and two watercolour pencils.

Draw Thumb Animals

Broken Sky Part One
Strongly recommended by Seb in Book Forum Broken Sky is an epic tale of fighting fantasy, inspired by Japanese manga comics and videos.

Time Stops For No Mouse
See Ally's recommendation in Book Forum.
Hermux Tantamoq is an ordinary, hard-working mouse, living in an ordinary metropolis. But when adventuress and aviatrix Linka Perflinger walks into his watchmaker's shop, his life becomes anything but ordinary. Linka disappears very mysteriously and Hermux, more than a little in love with her, sets out to find her. Adventure and danger follow as he uncovers a quest for the formula for eternal youth. Half moon Investigation by Eoin Clfer

Half moon Investigation by Eoin Clfer
Synopsis Meet Fletcher Moon. Half-pint schoolboy and fully qualified private investigator. Since graduating online, he has solved all sorts of minor mysteries at school and at home. It was only a matter of time before things got serious. When Fletcher starts asking questions about a spate of odd crimes in the town of Lock, it quickly becomes clear that nothing is quite as it seems. And the hunter is about to become the hunted.

Just William - Box Set
Synopsis There's only one JUST WILLIAM! The classic JUST WILLIAM series is back with a brand-new, stylish look. This stunning boxed set contains small-format hardback editions of the first five JUST WILLIAM books. It is a collection to delight all of William's many existing fans, and introduces the naughtiest, funniest boy in children's books to a whole new generation of readers.

The Lion Children
Book Description The enchanting true story of three children who, with their mum, their elder sister and younger brother, up sticks from the Cotswolds to study lions in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, written by the children themselves. Synopsis Emily (16), Travers (10), Angus (9), Maisie (7) and Oakley (1) lived in an idyllic 300-year-old cottage in the Cotswolds. They attended the local school, watched TV and did all the things English middle-class children do. Then, in 1995, their biologist mother seized the opportunity to study lions in Botswana and, in the space of 3 months, changed the family's lives forever. Within 24 hours of landing in Gaborone they were travelling to their new home at Maun in the Okavango Delta, one of the most beautiful wildernesses on earth. Weeks after arriving, the children had made home in an old mission house full of stray dogs and were learning to fetch fresh water, dig a toilet and which creepy crawlies could kill you and which couldn't. Their classroom was an open hut and free days were spent in a Land Rover tracking prides of lions across hundreds of miles of bush. The Lion Children is an extraordinary life-enhancing story about the joy of childhood and living in an environment as different as it can be. But above all it is about the lions, who we get to know through the eyes of the children themselves. This story will capture the public's heart and imagination. It is illustrated with the children's own drawings and photographs taken over the 5 years. The children’s father is TV and film actor Ian McNeice, whose films include Ace Ventura, When Nature Calls, A life Less Ordinary and Funny Bones and many TV series including Longitude, Dune, David Copperfield and Hornblower. Their mother Kate is one of the world’s leading researchers in lion behaviour.

The Railway Children
Synopsis When father mysteriously has to go away for a time, three children and their mother leave London for the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, making friends with Perks the porter and with the station master himself. But will their father ever return? Quite a sad book. Very moving.

The Dangerous Book for Boys – Conn Iggulden, Hal Iggulden
If ever there was a book to make you switch off your television set, "The Dangerous Book for Boys" is it. How many other books will help you thrash someone at conkers, race your own go-cart, and identify the best quotations from Shakespeare? Written with verve and passion "The Dangerous Book for Boys" gives you facts and figures at your fingertips - swot up on the solar system, learn about famous battles and read inspiring stories of incredible courage and bravery. Teach your old dog new tricks. Make a pinhole camera. Understand the laws of cricket. There's a whole world out there.

The Road of Bones – Anne Fine
Unflinching, Anne Fine’s story is not about childsplay. Her central character, Yuri grows up in a country where no freedom of thought is encouraged – told who to cheer for, what to believe in and where neighbours are encouraged to report any dissension to the authorities. But Yuri is still a shocked when a few careless words lead to a virtual death-sentence - despatched to a camp amidst the frozen wastes. What, or who, can he possibly believe in now? Can he even survive? And is escape possible...?

The Snail and the Whale- Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler
A tiny snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of a whale. They go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it's the tiny snail who saves the day.

Wolves
An absolutely darling book, and great present. Written by a Brighton resident!!
Rabbit borrows a book about wolves from the library. Straightforward enough. But it's not long before a sinister figure with sharp claws and a bushy tail starts to creep right off the pages. You won't believe your eyes - especially if you're a rabbit. Brilliantly witty, with amazing artwork, two surprise endings, plus fun novelty elements, "Wolves" created a real buzz of excitement among critics and booksellers alike on first publication in 2005.

The Great Silent Gandmother Gathering
Sharon Mehdi wrote this book when her grand daughter was born, in case she didn’t live until she was old enough for them to talk. The publication of this quiet private book came about organically and to the author’s great surprise. It is now inspiring women all over the world to take a few moments and stand together silently for peace.

This Is All (15+)
Subtitled 'The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn' this is the story of Cordelia from the time she is 15 until she is 20. She is pregnant and plans to give this account to her daughter on her 16th birthday so that they can share their youth together. She chooses the old and famous Japanese book' 'The Pillow Book' by Sei Shonagon' as a model in order to include all kinds of things she has already written as well as the episodes and thoughts she has now as she compiles her book. She tells of her mother (who died when Cordelia was 5) of her father and her aunt Doris (who marry when she is 16), of her love for William Blacklin, the boy with whom she chooses to have her first sex - and with whom she falls deeply in love. She writes about Julie Martin her teacher who helps her spiritually, describes her love affair with an older married man and her terrifying sexual experience with an unbalanced young man who is obsessed with her. The book includes thoughts on being a women, on poetry, music, reading and writing, on being pregnant and finally of her marriage to William. This Is All is an anthology, written in six 'books' of Cordelia's adolescent life, by turns funny, poignant, sad, exciting, fascinating ironic and truthful about topics that parents often do not tell their children. It is a richly entertaining and challenging read.

Born Confused (13+)
Dimple doesn't know what to think. Her parents are from India, and she's spent years rebelling against their traditions. Now everything Indian is suddenly hip - even her best friend Gwyn has a bindi as an accessory. Dimple doesn't feel either Indian or American, she feels both. Mainly, she just feels confused...To make matters worse, Dimple's parents are trying to set her up with a "suitable boy." Their first meeting is a disaster, but then she bumps into him again at a club - where he's the DJ. Suddenly he becomes suitable because of his sheer unsuitability. Trouble is, Gwyn seems to think so too...Born Confused is a touching and funny novel about family, friendship and love, and about bringing together two cultures without falling apart yourself in the process.

The Doomspell Trilogy (10+)
The bestselling fantasy trilogy, THE DOOMSPELL, THE SCENT OF MAGIC and THE WIZARD'S PROMISE in one magical volume. Rachel and Eric are hurtled to a terrifying place. Like thousands of other children before them, they have been snatched away by the Witch. But she has met her match. Rachel and Eric discover they have astonishing powers. Rachel is a spellmaker who can fly, change shape and scent magic across other lands and oceans. Eric is a destroyer of spells. Together they embark on a journey from which there may be no return. The Witch will stop at nothing to enslave them and destroy her old adversaries the Wizards. The fate of all children lies in the balance - will Rachel and Eric save them, or will the Witch finally triumph? Cliff McNish's dazzling storytelling makes each page compulsive reading.

The Melanie Brown Stories (4+)
Five-year-old Melanie loves being in charge, but things have a habit of going hilariously wrong. This is a collection of all the previous Melanie Brown stories. The book is intended for reading aloud and for the newly fluent reader.

Mog and the V.E.T. (2+)
One day Mog was chasing a butterfly when something happened to her paw. "She'll have to go to the vee ee tee," said Mrs Thomas. But Mog hates going to the vet and before her paw can be made better, she causes great confusion in the vet's surgery...

	FOR YOUNGER READERS:
	The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson The Christmas Show At The Gardner!! A gruffalo? What's a gruffalo?" "A gruffalo! Why, didn't you know? He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws." And so begins the story of a quick-witted mouse as he encounters a host of predators who seem to think he might make a tasty treat. As he ventures deeper into the deep dark wood, stumbling across a hungry fox, a not-so-wise owl, and a slimy snake, spinning ever-extraordinary yarns about the scary, scaly gruffalo, he quickly realises that the hungry beast he has been talking of isn't imaginary after all. A witty, sly little story that wrings giggles from the belly of the reader, The Gruffalo is both stylish and hilarious, simple in its execution, as it plays skilfully on a child's fears and then shows that even the most threatening of monsters are not always as scary as they seem. A combination of read-along-rhyme by Julia Donaldson and illustrations by Alex Sheffler which perfectly capture the atmosphere of the story, The Gruffalo is an excellent picture book for 3-5-year-olds to read along with their parents, and is certain to become something of a classic.
	The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson Donaldson's rhyming text reads aloud like a dream... cleverly laid visual cues... Altogether a spine-tingling, mock-scary delight... One dark night the Gruffalo's child disobeys her father's warnings and ventures out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn't really exist ...does he?
	The Life Cycle of an Ant by Hadley Dyer This book is suitable for ages 6-12. Watching an ant carry a crumb across a sidewalk holds great fascination for children. Children will certainly be eager to read more about this industrious insect in this book. The fascinating text is accompanied by full-colour images and illustrations, which help describe: an ant's body; it's habitat; the stages of ant metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult; the roles of workers, males, and queens in the colony; and the importance of ants to the environment.
	Doctor Who Stories 2007
	Clarice Bean Don't Look Now by Lauren Child There seems to be an awful lot to worry about in Clarice Bean's life so she devises a Worst Worry list. But what if your worst worry is the worry you haven't thought to worry about? The latest title featuring the hugely popular Clarice Bean is both hilarious and touching and is bound to be a surefire hit with her loyal and extensive fanbase.
	I Absolutely Must Do Colouring-In Now by Lauren Child Charlie has this little sister Lola. She is always very extremely busy. Lola says, "I love drawing and scribbling and cutting and sticking and painting and coloring." With 24 pages to fill, the lucky owner of this book can be just like Lola and make their very own pictures. They can choose whether to draw, color or paint. They can cut things out and stick them in, or even venture outside to see what they can find to put in the picture - a truly creative coloring book!
	I am Not Tired and I Will Not Go To Bed by Lauren Child Charlie has this little sister Lola. Sometimes he has to try and get her to go to bed. This is a hard job because Lola likes to stay up late. Ages 3 and over.
	Can You Feel The Force? Can You Feel The Force? by Richard Hammond Physics doesn't just happen in a lab it happens in the kitchen, in your bath, in a car! Author Richard Hammond is best known for co-presenting "Top Gear" alongside Jeremy Clarkson. He is passionate about science and learning, and is the host of "Brainiac: Science Abuse" on Sky One. This title helps you join a thrilling high-energy journey through time, space and beyond and find out about the physical forces that make our world what it is. Here, find out how science affects everything, from roller-coasters to fighter pilots. The book is crammed with fascinating physics facts and interactive experiments. It has a totally cool look at physics!
	I Wonder Why Spiders Spin Webs
	Winnie The Pooh by A.A. Milne Complete Collection. hardcover Our Local Bear! Winnie the Pooh: The Complete Collection of Stories and Poems was originally published in 1994, but this beautifully produced slip-cased edition has been specially created to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the publication of the very first stories about Winnie the Pooh. It consists of the classic, well-loved, tried-and-tested stories by AA Milne, from "Winnie the Pooh" (1926), "The House at Pooh Corner" (1928) and the poetry from "When We Were Very Young" (1924) and "Now We Are Six" (1927).
	Hat Full Of Sky by Terry Pratchett Eleven-year-old Tiffany Aching wants to be a real witch. But a real witch doesn't casually step out of her body, leaving it empty. Tiffany does - and there's something just waiting for a handy body to take over. Something ancient and horrible, which can't die. Now Tiffany's got to learn to be a real witch really quickly, with the help of arch-witch Mistress Weatherwax and the truly amazing Miss Level. Oh, yes. And the Nac Mac Feegle - the rowdlest, toughest, smelliest bunch of fairles ever to be thrown out of Fairyland for being drunk at two in the afternoon. They'll fight anything-
	Revolting Rhymes
	Cautionary Tales by Hillaire Belloc Highlights humorous accounts of the consequences of bad behavior and general misconduct, including the tales of Jim, "who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion," and Matilda, "who told lies and was burned to death."
	Roald Dahl Calendar A fabulous Roald Dahl calendar featuring some of the most unlikely, weird and wonderful creatures in children's literature, illustrated in glorious technicolour by the brilliant Quentin Blake. Also featuring a 'Fact of the Month' and full colour sticker sheet featuring 18 deliciously Dahl stickers to stick wherever you like, and another 15 stickers specially designed to help you remember important dates from exams and dentist's appointments to special birthdays and parties. With plenty of space to jot down important birthdays, holiday dates, special treats and anything else you like, every Roald Dahl fan from seven to seventy-five will want to get their mitts on a copy of this marvellous calendar!
	Dr Who Annual The official "Doctor Who Annual 2007" is packed with classic annual content - character profiles, quizzes, activities, fun features and alien facts! This exciting annual is perfect for Doctor Who fans, young and old.
	Peter Pan The wonderful classic. Buy as a gift so the new sequel has its roots... It was Friday night. Mr and Mrs Darling were dining out. Nana had been tied up in the backyard. The poor dog was barking, for she could smell danger. And she was right - this was the night that Peter Pan would take the Darling children on the most breath-taking adventure of their lives, to a place...
	Peter Pan
	Peter Pan In Scarlet The sequel commissioned by Great Ormond Street to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Peter Pan
	Drawing For the Artistically Undiscovered A Fantastic Present! Quentin Blake is one of the most celebrated illustrators in the world today, and the best person imaginable to collaborate on this sketchbook with training wheels. Full of inspirational artwork, instruction and plenty of white space reserved for the artist-to-be, the book comes with an artist quality sketch pen and two watercolour pencils.
	Draw Thumb Animals
	Broken Sky Part One Strongly recommended by Seb in Book Forum Broken Sky is an epic tale of fighting fantasy, inspired by Japanese manga comics and videos.
	Time Stops For No Mouse See Ally's recommendation in Book Forum. Hermux Tantamoq is an ordinary, hard-working mouse, living in an ordinary metropolis. But when adventuress and aviatrix Linka Perflinger walks into his watchmaker's shop, his life becomes anything but ordinary. Linka disappears very mysteriously and Hermux, more than a little in love with her, sets out to find her. Adventure and danger follow as he uncovers a quest for the formula for eternal youth. Half moon Investigation by Eoin Clfer
	Half moon Investigation by Eoin Clfer Synopsis Meet Fletcher Moon. Half-pint schoolboy and fully qualified private investigator. Since graduating online, he has solved all sorts of minor mysteries at school and at home. It was only a matter of time before things got serious. When Fletcher starts asking questions about a spate of odd crimes in the town of Lock, it quickly becomes clear that nothing is quite as it seems. And the hunter is about to become the hunted.
	Just William - Box Set Synopsis There's only one JUST WILLIAM! The classic JUST WILLIAM series is back with a brand-new, stylish look. This stunning boxed set contains small-format hardback editions of the first five JUST WILLIAM books. It is a collection to delight all of William's many existing fans, and introduces the naughtiest, funniest boy in children's books to a whole new generation of readers.
	The Lion Children Book Description The enchanting true story of three children who, with their mum, their elder sister and younger brother, up sticks from the Cotswolds to study lions in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, written by the children themselves. Synopsis Emily (16), Travers (10), Angus (9), Maisie (7) and Oakley (1) lived in an idyllic 300-year-old cottage in the Cotswolds. They attended the local school, watched TV and did all the things English middle-class children do. Then, in 1995, their biologist mother seized the opportunity to study lions in Botswana and, in the space of 3 months, changed the family's lives forever. Within 24 hours of landing in Gaborone they were travelling to their new home at Maun in the Okavango Delta, one of the most beautiful wildernesses on earth. Weeks after arriving, the children had made home in an old mission house full of stray dogs and were learning to fetch fresh water, dig a toilet and which creepy crawlies could kill you and which couldn't. Their classroom was an open hut and free days were spent in a Land Rover tracking prides of lions across hundreds of miles of bush. The Lion Children is an extraordinary life-enhancing story about the joy of childhood and living in an environment as different as it can be. But above all it is about the lions, who we get to know through the eyes of the children themselves. This story will capture the public's heart and imagination. It is illustrated with the children's own drawings and photographs taken over the 5 years. The children’s father is TV and film actor Ian McNeice, whose films include Ace Ventura, When Nature Calls, A life Less Ordinary and Funny Bones and many TV series including Longitude, Dune, David Copperfield and Hornblower. Their mother Kate is one of the world’s leading researchers in lion behaviour.
	The Railway Children Synopsis When father mysteriously has to go away for a time, three children and their mother leave London for the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, making friends with Perks the porter and with the station master himself. But will their father ever return? Quite a sad book. Very moving.

	The Dangerous Book for Boys – Conn Iggulden, Hal Iggulden If ever there was a book to make you switch off your television set, "The Dangerous Book for Boys" is it. How many other books will help you thrash someone at conkers, race your own go-cart, and identify the best quotations from Shakespeare? Written with verve and passion "The Dangerous Book for Boys" gives you facts and figures at your fingertips - swot up on the solar system, learn about famous battles and read inspiring stories of incredible courage and bravery. Teach your old dog new tricks. Make a pinhole camera. Understand the laws of cricket. There's a whole world out there.
	The Road of Bones – Anne Fine Unflinching, Anne Fine’s story is not about childsplay. Her central character, Yuri grows up in a country where no freedom of thought is encouraged – told who to cheer for, what to believe in and where neighbours are encouraged to report any dissension to the authorities. But Yuri is still a shocked when a few careless words lead to a virtual death-sentence - despatched to a camp amidst the frozen wastes. What, or who, can he possibly believe in now? Can he even survive? And is escape possible...?
	The Snail and the Whale- Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler A tiny snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of a whale. They go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it's the tiny snail who saves the day.
	Wolves An absolutely darling book, and great present. Written by a Brighton resident!! Rabbit borrows a book about wolves from the library. Straightforward enough. But it's not long before a sinister figure with sharp claws and a bushy tail starts to creep right off the pages. You won't believe your eyes - especially if you're a rabbit. Brilliantly witty, with amazing artwork, two surprise endings, plus fun novelty elements, "Wolves" created a real buzz of excitement among critics and booksellers alike on first publication in 2005.
	The Great Silent Gandmother Gathering Sharon Mehdi wrote this book when her grand daughter was born, in case she didn’t live until she was old enough for them to talk. The publication of this quiet private book came about organically and to the author’s great surprise. It is now inspiring women all over the world to take a few moments and stand together silently for peace.
	This Is All (15+) Subtitled 'The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn' this is the story of Cordelia from the time she is 15 until she is 20. She is pregnant and plans to give this account to her daughter on her 16th birthday so that they can share their youth together. She chooses the old and famous Japanese book' 'The Pillow Book' by Sei Shonagon' as a model in order to include all kinds of things she has already written as well as the episodes and thoughts she has now as she compiles her book. She tells of her mother (who died when Cordelia was 5) of her father and her aunt Doris (who marry when she is 16), of her love for William Blacklin, the boy with whom she chooses to have her first sex - and with whom she falls deeply in love. She writes about Julie Martin her teacher who helps her spiritually, describes her love affair with an older married man and her terrifying sexual experience with an unbalanced young man who is obsessed with her. The book includes thoughts on being a women, on poetry, music, reading and writing, on being pregnant and finally of her marriage to William. This Is All is an anthology, written in six 'books' of Cordelia's adolescent life, by turns funny, poignant, sad, exciting, fascinating ironic and truthful about topics that parents often do not tell their children. It is a richly entertaining and challenging read.
	Born Confused (13+) Dimple doesn't know what to think. Her parents are from India, and she's spent years rebelling against their traditions. Now everything Indian is suddenly hip - even her best friend Gwyn has a bindi as an accessory. Dimple doesn't feel either Indian or American, she feels both. Mainly, she just feels confused...To make matters worse, Dimple's parents are trying to set her up with a "suitable boy." Their first meeting is a disaster, but then she bumps into him again at a club - where he's the DJ. Suddenly he becomes suitable because of his sheer unsuitability. Trouble is, Gwyn seems to think so too...Born Confused is a touching and funny novel about family, friendship and love, and about bringing together two cultures without falling apart yourself in the process.
	The Doomspell Trilogy (10+) The bestselling fantasy trilogy, THE DOOMSPELL, THE SCENT OF MAGIC and THE WIZARD'S PROMISE in one magical volume. Rachel and Eric are hurtled to a terrifying place. Like thousands of other children before them, they have been snatched away by the Witch. But she has met her match. Rachel and Eric discover they have astonishing powers. Rachel is a spellmaker who can fly, change shape and scent magic across other lands and oceans. Eric is a destroyer of spells. Together they embark on a journey from which there may be no return. The Witch will stop at nothing to enslave them and destroy her old adversaries the Wizards. The fate of all children lies in the balance - will Rachel and Eric save them, or will the Witch finally triumph? Cliff McNish's dazzling storytelling makes each page compulsive reading.
	The Melanie Brown Stories (4+) Five-year-old Melanie loves being in charge, but things have a habit of going hilariously wrong. This is a collection of all the previous Melanie Brown stories. The book is intended for reading aloud and for the newly fluent reader.
	Mog and the V.E.T. (2+) One day Mog was chasing a butterfly when something happened to her paw. "She'll have to go to the vee ee tee," said Mrs Thomas. But Mog hates going to the vet and before her paw can be made better, she causes great confusion in the vet's surgery...