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Books > Fiction > True stories > Endurance & survival
After Sarah's body was found, abducted and murdered by convicted
paedophile Roy Whiting, her mother, Sara, spoke of how she had
survived those terrible times. Now, seventeen years later, Sara
wants to tell the full story of how she coped then, and how she has
survived. Through a series of letters to her beloved daughter, she
takes the reader on a heart-breaking but uplifting journey through
every parent's worst nightmare in a moving account of the ultimate
emotional survival. It is a story for the little girl who was
taken, but a reminder to us all that hope never dies - and love
never ends.
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Taken
(Paperback)
Rosie Lewis
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Experienced foster carer, Rosie Lewis, takes on the heart-breaking
case of Megan, a baby born with a drug addiction and a cleft
palate. Addicted to drugs from birth because of her mother's
substance abuse during pregnancy, new-born Megan is taken into
Rosie's loving care. Rosie is supposed to help Megan find her new
permanent home, but it turns out that Megan has already found her
'forever mummy' in Rosie. Rosie grows incredibly attached to Megan
and applies to adopt her, but the system refuses her in favour of a
young couple and Rosie is devastated. Against all her instincts,
Rosie does her job and prepares Megan for her new 'forever family',
but everything about Megan leaving feels wrong. When Rosie learns a
few months later that Megan's adoption has broken down, she is
saddened but also filled with hope - will this little girl be
allowed to return to her true 'forever home'?
"I am just an ordinary mum, yet I would go to the ends of the earth
to get justice for my daughter. If I can change the way people are
treated, then Jodey will not have died in vain. I now feel that
this was her destiny; to change the lives of millions of others."
While Jodey Whiting was stuck in hospital battling pneumonia over
Christmas, a letter dropped on her doormat from the Department of
Work and Pensions, asking her to attend an assessment. It was a
letter she never saw. Despite suffering from major health problems
and needing daily care, the powers-that-be callously halted benefit
payments for the mum-of-nine. While waiting for her appeal, and
with no money coming in, Jodey killed herself, aged just 42.
Another DWP letter pronouncing her 'fit to work' was sent to her
home three days after her tragic death. A Mother's Job is the story
of how Jodey's mum Joy Dove, 67, took on the system - and won
justice for her daughter. A former cleaner and shop-worker, she is
intimidated by nothing and nobody. Joy reveals how she struggled to
raise her family, as a single mother, living on the now notorious:
'Benefits Street' estate in Stockton-on-Tees. Of how Jodey, her
middle daughter, developed problems including curvature of the
spine, a brain cyst, and bipolar and personality disorders and how,
as her health deteriorated, Joy became her unofficial carer,
visiting several times a day. Jodey left farewell notes following
her suicide, warning that her youngest son, Cory, a twin, was
particularly vulnerable. Tragically, her premonition was realised
when, unable to cope with his grief, he died from a drug overdose,
aged 19, in May 2020. Joy felt that the DWP had stolen two members
from her family. An inquiry after Jodey's death found the DWP had
failed to follow its own safeguarding practice. It issued an
apology and compensation. The case was discussed in Parliament
where the Prime Minister labelled it 'appalling.' Joy launched
'Justice For Jodey' which aims to hold the DWP to account and to
prevent other tragedies. She met other grieving families and her
campaign saw her take centre stage at the Labour Party conference
and argue her case in the High Court.
**WINNER OF THE 2019 MOORE PRIZE ** **THE NEW YORK TIMES
BESTSELLER** 'A riveting account of the multiple outrages of the
criminal justice system of Alabama. A harrowing masterpiece'
Guardian 'Hinton somehow navigates through his rage and despair to
a state of forgiveness and grace' Independent At age 29, Anthony
Ray Hinton was wrongfully charged with robbery and murder, and
sentenced to death by electrocution for crimes he didn't commit.
The only thing he had in common with the perpetrator was the colour
of his skin. Anthony spent the next 28 years of his life on death
row, watching fellow inmates march to their deaths, knowing he
would follow soon. Hinton's incredible story reveals the injustices
and inherent racism of the American legal system, but it is also
testament to the hope and humanity in us all. 'You will be swept
away in this unbelievable, dramatic true story' Oprah Winfrey
Jaco van Gass was 23 when he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade
in Afghanistan in 2009. Losing his left arm to the blast, he
sustained life-threatening injuries that stopped his heart twice;
yet by a miracle - and the skill of the medics treating him - he
survived. Against all the odds, Jaco has fought to build a post-
injury life as an adventurer and professional athlete, a journey
that has taken him from the slopes of the world's highest mountains
to the North Pole, from the Carretera Austral to international
cycling competitions in an Olympic velodrome. In his inspirational
autobiography, Jaco tells his compelling and inspiring story,
starting with his childhood in South Africa and ending on the
podium in Tokyo. Shedding light on the potholes and pitfalls
encountered along the way, he paints a vivid picture of the
harshness of Basic Training, the cruel realities of war, the
struggle to rebuild his life after losing a limb, the
energy-sapping cold experienced at 6,000 metres above sea level,
and the complexities of navigating the world of British Cycling.
From the dust of the Afghan desert to the blinding whiteness of the
North Pole, Jaco's story is one of horror and of great hope, of
near-death escapes and of fierce resolve, and, above all, his
unequivocal determination to succeed. Jaco has overcome
extraordinary odds, not only in refusing to let injury define his
life, but in going on to tackle challenges of which few people
would even dream. Not just for adventure and military enthusiasts,
Unequivocal is for any reader looking for an honest, inspiring
voice that will encourage them to live life to the full.
Now a major motion picture from Clint Eastwood, starring Tom
Hanks-the inspirational autobiography by one of the most
captivating American heroes of our time, Capt. 'Sully'
Sullenberger-the pilot who miraculously landed a crippled US
Airways Flight 1549 in New York's Hudson River, saving the lives of
all 155 passengers and crew. On January 15, 2009, the world
witnessed a remarkable emergency landing when Captain "Sully"
Sullenberger skillfully glided US Airways Flight 1549 onto the
Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew. His
cool actions not only averted tragedy but made him a hero and an
inspiration worldwide. His story is now a major motion picture from
director / producer Clint Eastwood and stars Tom Hanks, Laura
Linney and Aaron Eckhart. Sully's story is one of dedication, hope,
and preparedness, revealing the important lessons he learned
through his life, in his military service, and in his work as an
airline pilot. It reminds us all that, even in these days of
conflict, tragedy and uncertainty, there are values still worth
fighting for-that life's challenges can be met if we're ready for
them.
In July 2009, Geraint (Gez) Jones was sitting in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan with the rest of The Firm – Danny, Jay, Toby and Jake, his four closest friends, all junior NCOs and combat-hardened infantrymen. Thanks to the mangled remains of a Jackal vehicle left tactlessly outside their tent, IEDs were never far from their mind. Within days they’d be on the ground in Musa Qala with the rest of 3 Platoon – a mixed bunch of men Gez would die for.
As they fight furiously, are pushed to their limits, hemmed in by IEDs and hampered by the chain of command, Gez starts to wonder what is the point of it all. The bombs they uncover on patrol, on their stomachs brushing the sand away, are replaced the next day. Firefights are a momentary victory in a war they can see is unwinnable. Gez is a warrior – he wants more than this. But then death and injury start to take their toll on The Firm, leaving Gez with PTSD and a new battle just beginning.
'Jenny Tough writes with the same talent, imagination, and sheer
courage that she displays in her athletic endeavours. This book
will broaden the horizons of all who venture between its covers.' -
Emily Chappell, author of Where There's a Will 'I love that SOLO is
part-self help and part adventure story. Jenny shows us all that
the journey to self-belief comes with just as many ups and downs as
the mountains she traverses and that, with a little trust in
ourselves (and a few good cups of coffee) the next seemingly
insurmountable pass is never beyond our reach.' - Anna McNuff,
author of Bedtime Adventure Stories for Grown Ups Jenny Tough is an
endurance athlete who's best known for running and cycling in some
of world's most challenging events - achieving accolades that are
an inspiration to outdoor adventurers everywhere. But SOLO tells
the story of a much more personal project: Jenny's quest to come to
terms with feelings and emotions that were holding her back. Like
runners at any level, she knew already that running made her feel
better, and like so many of us, she knew that completing goals
independently was empowering, too. So she set herself an audacious
objective: to run - solo, unsupported, on her own - across mountain
ranges on six continents, starting with one of the most remote
locations on Earth in Kyrgystan. SOLO chronicles Jenny's journey
every step of the way across the Tien Shan (Asia), the High Atlas
(Africa), the Bolivian Andes (South America), the Southern Alps
(Oceania), the Canadian Rockies (North America) and the
Transylvanian Alps (Europe), as she learns lessons in self-esteem,
resilience, bravery and so much more. What Jenny's story tells us
most of all is that setting out to do things solo - whether the
ambitious or the everyday - can be invigorating, encouraging and
joyful. And her call to action to find strength, confidence and
self-belief in everything we do will inspire and motivate.
'A book grows rather like a snow crystal. One doesn't write it from
start to finish but, in greater or less degree, all at the same
time ... that is why my book is not in chronological order; for
everything is of the present, held in the moment when thought
captures it.' Kurt Diemberger's Summits and Secrets is a
mountaineering autobiography like no other. Writing anecdotally,
Diemberger provides an abstract look into his life and climbing
career that is both fascinating and awe-inspiring to navigate.
Known for surviving the 1986 K2 disaster - an account described in
harrowing detail in his award-winning book The Endless Knot -
Diemberger provides a captivating insight into his earlier climbs
in Summits and Secrets. From climbing his first peak in the Tyrol
mountains of Austria, to the epoch-making first ascent of Broad
Peak with Hermann Buhl in 1957, and then summiting Dhaulagiri in
1960, where he became one of only two people to have made first
ascents of two mountains over 8,000 metres, Diemberger recounts his
experiences with wit, honesty and an infectious enthusiasm: 'Every
climber knows the thrill ... the unique inexplicable tension, which
the regular shapes of the mountain world awake in him: huge
pyramids, enormous rectangular slabs, piled-up triangles of rock,
white circles, immense squares - the thrill of simplicity of shape
and outline and the excitement of mastering them, to an
unbelievable extent, by his own efforts, his own power ... '
Summits and Secrets is a must-read for those wanting an insight
into the life and achievements of one of the toughest high-altitude
climbers the world has ever known.
1976, the hottest summer for a generation and life was perfect for
the two young brothers Philip and Roger. They lived an idyllic life
on a farm in the picturesque dales of the north of England. With
their days spent on the farm, playing on Tarzan swings, building
dens and swimming outdoors, their perfect existence was plunged
into darkness when tragedy struck the family. Within a ten-week
period, the boys lost their parents and were left as orphans. This
is the story of Philip and his brother Roger, how their
grandparents stepped in to bring them up and how a family and
community came together to deal with the consequences that the
devastation of death had left behind. Orphan Boys is not a misery
memoir. It is a story full of love, strength and hope - an
uplifting tale of a family's survival and how they faced the huge
challenges that life threw at them.
Brian Pennie shouldn't be alive today. His drug addiction was so
bad that he was deemed too much of a risk for detox. Determined to
confront his demons, he went cold turkey at home. Discovered in a
pool of blood, it didn't exactly go to plan, but that's where his
life truly began. On 8 October 2013, he was finally clean after 15
years of chronic heroin addiction, and something extraordinary
happened: the world suddenly became beautiful. Free of the anxiety
and fear that had always plagued him, Brian was given a second
chance at life, and he devoured every minute of it. Bit by bit he
rebuilt his world and began to share what he learned with others.
In this incredibly honest and inspirational book, Brian shares the
story of how he turned a seemingly hopeless existence into a rich
and rewarding life, showing that change is always possible, no
matter how stuck we feel. 'The first book in 5 years I haven't been
able to put down' - Jennifer Zamparelli, 2FM. 'It's a hopeful tale'
- Oliver Callan, The Ryan Tubridy Show, RTE Radio 1. 'We really
enjoyed the book, Brian is a tremendous writer. It's going to be a
really important book for a lot of people.' - Dermot and Dave,
Today FM 'Brian's book provides hope that lives can be turned
around.' - The Mail on Sunday 'Brian Pennie's memoir tells the
story of addiction, recovery and redemption' - Patrick Freyne, The
Irish Times
'Moorehead paints a wonderfully vivid and moving portrait of the
women of the Italian Resistance' MAX HASTINGS, SUNDAY TIMES The
extraordinary story of the courageous women who spearheaded the
Italian Resistance during the Second World War In the late summer
of 1943, in the midst of German occupation, the Italian Resistance
was born. Ada, Frida, Silvia and Bianca were four young women who
signed up. Living in the mountains surrounding Turin their
contribution was invaluable. They carried messages and weapons,
provided safe houses and took prisoners. As thousands of Italians
rose up, they fought to liberate their country. With its
corruption, greed and anti-Semitism, the fall of Fascist Italy was
unrelentingly violent, but for the partisan women it was also a
time of camaraderie and equality, pride and optimism. Through the
stories of these four exceptional women, the resolve, tenacity and,
above all, courage of the Italian Resistance is laid bare. A
Spectator Book of the Year
The unsung and remarkable stories of the women who held London's
East End together during not one, but two world wars. 'Inspiring
tales of courage in the face of hardship' Mail on Sunday 'Inspiring
. . . Takes you back to a time of community and helping one
another' 5***** Reader Review 'It made me laugh and gasp in equal
measure' 5***** Reader Review ______ Meet Minksy, Gladys, Beatty,
Joan and Girl Walker . . . While the men were at war, these women
ruled the streets of the East End. Struggling against poverty to
survive, and fighting for their community in our country's darkest
hours. But there was also joy to be found. Across the East End the
streets were alive - you need only walk a few steps for a smile
from a neighbour or a strong cup of tea. From taking over the
London Underground, standing up to the Kray twins and crawling out
of bombsites, The Stepney Doorstep Society tells the vivid and
moving stories of the matriarchs who remain the backbone of the
East End to this day. ______ 'Kate Thompson's study of five
working-class women who lived through the blitz shows how informal
collectives can provide lasting support and inspiration . . . [a]
fascinating account' Guardian 'An important glimpse into a
vanishing world' Sunday Express 'One of the best books I have read
in recent years' 5***** Reader Review 'Crammed full of fascinating
stories' BBC 2 Steve Wright 'Fascinating . . . It was fascinating
to hear how these women kept going' 5***** Reader Review
'Astonishing' Radio 5 Live
"It's okay to be scared, to feel lonely... we'll get through it,
because we have to.'' For more than 40 years Linda and Anne have
performed side by side on stage as members of iconic Irish girl
group The Nolans. But in 2020 the sisters sat next to each other
for a very different experience. Soon after returning home from
filming their hit TV series The Nolans Go Cruising, with their
sisters Coleen and Maureen, Linda and Anne received devastating
cancer diagnoses within days of each other and soon began gruelling
rounds of chemotherapy together. It was a stark reminder of how
cruel life can be, and, of course, of their beloved sister Bernie,
who also faced and lost the same battle. Stronger Together is Linda
and Anne's story. A reflection on their close-knit relationship, in
the limelight and behind the scenes, and of how family helped them
hold it all together when things got tough. Deeply personal,
incredibly moving and told with trademark humour, it's a story they
hope will help you too.
After a tragic childhood among the Great War cemeteries of Flanders
Fields, a troubled young woman searches for love and meaning in war
ravaged Europe. Elaine Madden's quest takes her from occupied
Belgium through the chaos of Dunkirk, where she flees, disguised as
a British soldier, into the London Blitz, where she finally begins
to discover herself. Recruited to T Section of the Special
Operations Executive (SOE) as a 'fast courier', she is parachuted
back to the country of her birth to undertake a top secret
political mission and help speed its liberation from Nazi
oppression. Elaine Madden never claimed to be a heroine, but her
story proves otherwise. Its centrepiece - war service as one of
only two female SOE agents parachuted into occupied Belgium - is
just one episode in an extraordinary real-life drama of highs and
lows, love, loss and betrayal. Relayed to the author in the final
years of her life, Elaine's true story of courage and humour in
testing times is more intriguing and compelling than fiction.
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