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Books > Fiction > True stories > General
Ashley is a young single mum raising her daughter, Eden, and
working hard to do the very best job she can - until one night she
can't find a babysitter and makes the decision to leave Eden home
alone for a couple of hours, asleep inside a wardrobe. It is an
action that begins a terrible downward spiral for both of them.
When Eden arrives at experienced foster carer Louise Allen's home,
she has entered the care system because her mother is in prison.
Eden is five years old and will not speak to any human. She begins
exhibiting some other disturbing behaviours alongside the mutism,
too, including torturing the family pets she loves. This eventually
leads Louise to discover the pain and tragic reality behind Eden's
Story.
A charming, original and uncommonly sensitive portrait of Picasso and his beloved dachshund, Lump
One spring morning in 1957, veteran photojournalist David Douglas Duncan paid a visit to his friend and frequent photographic subject Pablo Picasso, at the artist's home near Cannes. As a co-pilot alongside Duncan in his Mercedes Gullwing 300 SL was the photographer's pet dachsund, Lump. Photographer and dog were close companions, but Duncan's nomadic lifestyle and his other dog - a giant jealous Afghan hound who had tormented Lump - made their life in Rome difficult. When they arrived at Picasso's Villa La Californie that historic day, Lump decided that he had found paradise on earth, and that he would move in with Picasso, whether the artist welcomed him or not.
This is the background for a totally original book that offers an uncommonly sensitive portrait of Picasso. Lump was immortalized in a Picasso portrait painted on a plate the day they met, but that was just the beginning. In a suite of forty-five paintings reinterpreting Velasquez’s masterpiece ‘Las Meninas’, Picasso replaced the impassive hound in the foreground with jaunty renderings of Lump.
Today, as a gift from the artist to his hometown as a youth, all of those historic canvases are now the centerpiece exhibition in the Picasso Museum of Barcelona. Fourteen of the paintings are reproduced here in full colour, juxtaposed with Duncan’s dramatic and intimate black-and-white photographs of Picasso and Lump, bringing full circle the odyssey of a lucky dachshund who found his way to becoming a furry, super-stretched icon of modern art.
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Charming' - The Sunday Times
'Delicious' - Daily Mail 'Wonderful' - Stephen Fry 'Delightful' -
Delia Smith 'Brilliant' - Claudia Winkleman 'Joyous' - Caitlin
Moran 'Entertaining' - Observer 'Funny' - Ken Follett 'Glorious' -
Daily Express 'Touching' - Robert Peston Appetite is a memoir with
a twist: each chapter is a recipe that tells a story. Ed Balls was
just three weeks old when he tried his first meal in 1967: pureed
roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. From that moment on he was hooked
on food. Taught to cook by his mother, Ed's now passing her wisdom
on to his own kids as they start to fly the nest. Reflecting on his
life in recipes, Ed takes us from his grandma's shepherd's pie to
his first trip to a restaurant in the 1970s (and ordering an orange
juice as a starter); from the inner workings of Westminster to the
pressures of parenting. This is a collection of the meals he loves
most, and the memories they bring back. The world may have changed
since 1967, but the best recipes last a lifetime. Appetite is a
celebration of love, family, and really good food.
Can you imagine an all powerful group, that knows no national
boundaries, above the laws of all countries, one that controls
every aspect of politics, religion, commerce and industry, banking,
insurance, mining, the drug trade, the petroleum industry, a group
answerable to no one but its members? That there is such a body,
called 'the committee of 300' is graphically told in this book.
Once you have read the applying truths contained in this book,
understanding past and present political, economic, social and
religious events will no longer be a problem. This powerful account
of the forces ranged against the US, and indeed the entire free
world, cannot be ignored.
It's time we celebrated women in adventure What does "toughness"
mean to you? Perhaps it's being physically fit and mentally
resilient. Perhaps it's doing something no one else has done
before. Perhaps it's breaking down boundaries and proving what you
can do, in spite of the naysayers. Perhaps it's travelling alone,
immersing yourself in new cultures and meeting new people. Perhaps
it's running ultramarathons in the blistering heat and beating the
competition. Perhaps it's conquering your fears. The badass
adventurers in this collection are all fearless, intelligent,
compassionate and curious about the world - and they all happen to
be female. From endurance obstacle races to arctic expeditions,
from mountain climbing to wingsuit flying, from horse trekking to
swimming the English Channel, they have set the bar high for what
women are capable of. Let yourself be inspired by their stories of
grit, courage, determination, triumph and heartbreak - you never
know, it might lead to something incredible!
The story of lust, black magic, kidnapping and murder that led to
the downfall of one of India's most brilliant entrepreneurs When P.
Rajagopal, founder of the famous Saravana Bhavan restaurant chain,
was arrested for murder, it sent shock waves throughout the
country. A gripping true-crime thriller, this is the first full
story of the meteoric rise and dramatic fall of the brilliant
entrepreneur, already married to two women, whose lust for a third
woman led him to plan a cold-blooded killing. A riveting
page-turner, Murder on the Menu follows the trail of the murder
plot over eight districts of Tamil Nadu. It describes the courtroom
dramas that took place as the case dragged on for eighteen long
years even as Rajagopal's empire continued to grow and prosper, and
tracks his life from his humble beginnings in a sleepy village to
his shocking end just days after the Supreme Court upheld his life
sentence for murder.
This is a compelling story about the brave recovery of a man whose
early life was full of hopelessness, who nevertheless overcame many
barriers so that he could become a normal member of society. The
author grew up in Surrey in a large working class family in which
problems were an everyday occurrence. From an early age life became
increasingly difficult due to a traumatic accident when he was
three years old, and later when at the age of twelve he was
sexually abused. Before the age of twenty-one he contracted a major
neurological illness called Dystonia. For many years thereafter, he
became addicted to prescribed medication which isolated him from
mainstream society. His problems were further exacerbated by a term
in prison. His recovery was arduous and painful and it took many
years before he found his way back to normal life through
University education, social work training and friendships. The
book is an inspiring read that will give hope and courage to many
others who have experienced similar setbacks in life.
It began in fine weather, then suddenly became a terrifying ordeal.
A Force 10, sixty-knot storm swept across the North Atlantic with a
speed that confounded forecasters, slamming into the fleet with
epic fury. For twenty hours, 2,500 men and women were smashed by
forty-foot breaking waves, while rescue helicopters and lifeboats
struggled to save them. By the time the race was over, fifteen
people had died, twenty-four crews had abandoned ship, five yachts
had sunk, 136 sailors had been rescued, and only 85 boats had
finished the race. John Rousmaniere was there, and he tells the
tragic story of the greatest disaster in the history of yachting as
only one who has sailed through the teeth of a killer storm can.
With a new introduction by the author.
The true story of 2 year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural
parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage. Elaine and Ian had
travelled half way round the world to adopt little Anna. She
couldn't have been more wanted, loved and cherished. So why was she
now in foster care and living with me? It didn't make sense. Until
I learned what had happened. ... Dressed only in nappies and ragged
T-shirts the children were incarcerated in their cots. Their large
eyes stared out blankly from emaciated faces. Some were obviously
disabled, others not, but all were badly undernourished. Flies
circled around the broken ceiling fans and buzzed against the grids
covering the windows. The only toys were a few balls and a handful
of building bricks, but no child played with them. The silence was
deafening and unnatural. Not one of the thirty or so infants cried,
let alone spoke.
Entertainers Roy and Dale Evans Rogers were thrilled when their
little daughter Robin was born. But their excitement turned to
concern when they were informed that Robin was born with Down's
Syndrome and advised to "put her away." The Rogers ignored such
talk and instead kept Robin, and she graced their home for two and
a half years. Though Robin's time on earth was short, she changed
her parents' lives and even made life better for other children
born with special needs in the years to come.
Angel Unaware is Robin's account of her life as she looks down
from heaven. As she speaks to God about the mission of love she
just completed on earth, the reader sees how she brought her
parents closer to God and encouraged them to help other children in
need.
This book, which changed the way America treated children with
special needs, is now available to a new generation. It is the
perfect gift for parents of special needs children, parents
grieving the death of a child, or anyone whose life has been
touched by a special child.
Running isn't a hobby, it's a way of life. Runners run to be the
best they can be, to challenge who they are, to inspire others and
to champion their cause. From the woman who ran for three and a
half days without sleep, to the 61-year-old man who broke records
in an 875-km ultramarathon, this collection of unforgettable
stories will inspire anyone who's ever pounded the pavement to keep
on running and enjoy every minute of this liberating sport.
Lydia was 19 years old and enjoying university with a loving family
and great friends when she became anorexic. The doctors told her
that she would die. This is Lydia's account of what anorexia did to
her, how it changed her and how it impacted on her family, friends
and all her choices in life. Her story is told through letters and
blogs that Lydia wrote at the best and worst of times, notes from
her parent s and friends desperately trying to find a way through
to her and doctors notes with the horrific exacting details. Lydia
is now 23 and 'recovering'. She strongly believes that recovery is
possible, and feels she is almost there. She wrote her book to
explain her deepest thoughts and to explain the painful mental
torture that she endured and overcame. And she wrote it in the hope
that others suffering would relate to it, and that other families
watching their loved ones will be touched and understand more
deeply how an eating disorder really feels.
Kindness matters When times are hard, we pull together. Despite the
difficulties of life during the coronavirus pandemic, love and
kindness prevail. Dive into this heart-warming book and discover
the many uplifting and inspiring acts of kindness that have come
from the crisis. Read about the postman who donned fancy dress
while doing his rounds to bring a smile to his community, the mum
who set up a virtual story time for young children, or the schools
that worked together to manufacture face masks for local care homes
and hospitals. The coronavirus crisis may be a challenging time for
the world, but the amazing stories in this book show that nobody is
too small to make a difference - and that, no matter what, we can
always find light in the darkness.
The shocking first true account from one of the young girls who
lived through and survived the Rotherham sex abuse scandal. In the
summer of 2014, the Rotherham sex abuse scandal sent shockwaves
through the nation. A report revealed that, since the 1990s, up to
1,400 young girls in the town had been regularly abused by sex
gangs, predominantly comprised of Pakistani men. As the media
descended on the small Yorkshire town, Sarah Wilson watched with
horror and relief as her voice was finally heard after years of
abuse. Sarah was just eleven years old when she was befriended by a
group of older men. Bullied at school, naive and vulnerable, the
gifts and attention they lavished on her were what she craved, she
just wanted to belong. But soon she was hooked on alcohol and
drugs, and then they owned her. She was just twelve years old when
she was bundled into a car by a man in his thirties and forced to
have sex with him. Soon, the gang were driving her to places where
she was raped by scores of men. Falling through the system, from
social services to school, no-one was able to help her. She
'escaped' when she became too old for the men at nearly sixteen.
Finally a victim of the Rotherham scandal tells her story in the
hope that other young girls will not fall prey to the same evil
that she endured.
*Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year*
'Harrowing, brave, hugely important book' HENRY WINTER 'Absolutely
amazed by the power of Andy Woodward's testimony' JEREMY VINE SHOW
'I'm sure this will be one of the defining football books of the
era' SAM WALLACE, CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER FOR THE TELEGRAPH The brave
and moving account by football's first whistle blower, breaking the
silence on the scandal of sexual abuse in youth clubs and junior
teams. Essential reading for parents, and for anyone afraid to
speak up. Andy Woodward was a wide eyed, hopeful footballer playing
for Stockport Boys, when Barry Bennell first noticed him. Andy was
11 years old, and Bennell a youth coach with a big reputation for
spotting and nurturing young footballing talent. The clubs Bennell
worked for and the parents of the boys he coached, trusted and
believed in him, inviting him into their lives and their homes. But
behind the charismatic mask was a profoundly evil man willing to go
to any lengths to satisfy his own dark appetites. Andy has been
heralded a hero for speaking up about his horrific experiences at
the hands of Bennell, but also at going further to expose the long
hidden abuse buried within our nations' best loved sport. His story
is only the tip of the iceberg. Andy's childhood was shattered by
what happened to him and by the fear and silence that surrounded
it. His youthful dreams of playing the game he loved were utterly
broken, and years of living with the terrible secret and shame all
but destroyed him. He hopes that by coming forward he might
encourage others in similar situations to find the courage to speak
out. A compelling and relevant story of the dark secret at the
heart of football and another chapter in the ongoing expose of
institutionalised corruption.
Meet the inspirational animals who went from being rescued to
becoming rescuer in these incredible true stories You'll read all
about... Constantine and Crystal, the guinea pigs who gave a
bullied girl with autism a reason to smile Alex, the tiger who
inspired a homeless drug addict to get her life back on track
Angel, the horse who helped her owner to lose weight and regain her
confidence Daniel, the duck who was rescued from a food market and
succeeded in soothing his owner's PTSD ... as well as many other
animal heroes who came to their owner's aid - whether it was
helping them to recover from mental illness, relationship breakdown
or bereavement. These remarkable creatures all repaid the love and
appreciation that their human companions displayed in caring for
them. Let these uplifting stories warm your heart, and show you
that adopted animals can heal our pain and transform our lives.
As Sherlock Holmes once conceded to Dr. Watson, 'If we could fly
out of that window hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently
remove the roofs and peep in at the queer things which are going
on, the strange coincidences, the planning, the cross-purposes, the
wonderful chain of events, working through generations and leading
to the most outreresults, it would make all fiction with its
conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and
unprofitable.' And with such a spirit for investigation and
discovery does David Grann set out in The Devil and Sherlock Holmes
to unravel the truth of twelve great, real-life mysteries. Although
Holmes is the subject of just one of the mesmerizing true stories
in this collection, all twelve contain elements of intrigue. Many
of the protagonists are sleuths: a Polish detective trying to
determine whether an author planted clues to a real murder in his
post-modern novel; an arson investigator racing to prove whether a
man about to be executed is innocent; a legendary French con man
questioning whether he is the one who is suddenly being conned; and
scientists stalking a sea monster. Unlike the adventures of
Sherlock Holmes, these tales are all true. The protagonists are
mortal and pieces of the puzzle often elude them. Some of the
characters are driven to deception and murder. Others go mad. But
ultimately the stories contained in The Devil and Sherlock
Holmesshed light on the human condition, and why some people on
this earth devote themselves to good and others to evil. As Holmes
put it, 'Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind
of man could invent'.
'Ground-breaking. Everyone should read this book' Bessel van der
Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score When it comes to
understanding the connection between our mental and physical
health, we should be looking at the exceptions, not the rules. Dr
Jeff Rediger, a world-leading Harvard psychiatrist, has spent the
last fifteen years studying thousands of individuals from around
the world, examining the stories behind extraordinary cases of
recovery from terminal illness. Observing the common denominators
of people who have beaten the odds, Dr Rediger reveals the immense
power of our immune system and unlocks the secrets of the mind-body
connection. In Cured, he explains the vital role that nutrition
plays in boosting our immunity and fighting off disease, and he
also outlines how stress, trauma and identity affect our physical
health. In analysing the remarkable science of recovery, Dr Rediger
reveals the power of our mind to heal our body and shows us the
keys to good health. 'In an era of incurable chronic diseases
causing 60% of all deaths worldwide, this book provides one
potential way out' Dr Mark Hyman, author of The Blood Sugar
Solution 'Seasoned with the author's penetrating insights about
healing, clearly articulated science and illuminating case
histories, Cured opens genuine vistas of transforming illness into
health' Gabor Mate, author of When the Body Says No
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