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Books > Sport & Leisure > Humour
There are many monologues books on the market but very few provide rich material for comedy. This collection from up and coming comedian & actress Katy Wix plugs that gap and provides female performers with the kind of wonderfully warm and interesting characters that they need – and deserve. A comedian and writer, Wix has for the past few years been writing audition speeches for students at drama schools including RADA, LAMDA, Drama Centre and The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. A book of contemporary comedy monologues does not exist for today's actor or indeed a book comprising solely of showcase speeches. This is a collection of very funny and original audition speeches filling a significant gap in the market: made up of monologues for various age ranges, each with a running time of two to three minutes. The brevity in length makes these ideal for auditions or showcases and the variety in age and style encompasses different comedic approaches; from the very quirky to the more traditional – perfect for every type of performer.
Attentive observers of the past ten years of British politics may not have heard of Kaya Mar, but chances are they will have seen one of his pictures - at a rally, or in an agency photograph syndicated around the world, or via a viral tweet. His paintings in oils are unlikely jewels of surreal satire, gleaming in the political desert in which we find ourselves: a kaleidoscopic gallery of the clowns, mountebanks and villains in charge, stripped of their self-importance and thrown overboard. This selection of 100 pictures, edited and introduced by Sam Kinchin-Smith, tells several stories at the same time: of how we got into this mess, of how we might get out of it, and of how Mar has become one of our most perceptive and wildly inventive political artists. It is the first proper account of the work of a cult figure around Westminster, promoted by the present crises to the status of national treasure: a satirist laureate for Brexit Britain. And fortunately, considering what doubtless lies ahead, he's only just getting started.
JP Duminy (1897-1980) was the only university professor to play cricket for South Africa. He was also the first alumnus of UCT to become Vice Chancellor and the first non-American to be elected a First Vice President of Rotary International. In this book, his son Andrew writes about his life and his distinguished career. Using diaries and private papers in the family's possession, he portryas his father as someone known for his good humour, clear-thinking and fair mindedness. In the words fo a senior academic who knew him well, he thought "dispassionately and fearlessly acted upon what he found to be true and in the best interests of the institution which he served".
WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2022 When a book and a reader are meant for each other, both of them know it . . . After the tragic death of his father, fourteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices. The voices belong to the things in his house and sound variously pleasant, angry or sad. Then his mother develops a hoarding problem, and the voices grow more clamorous. So Benny seeks refuge in the silence of a large public library. There he meets a mesmerising street artist with a smug pet ferret; a homeless philosopher-poet; and his very own Book, who narrates Benny's life and teaches him to listen to the things that truly matter. Blending unforgettable characters with jazz, climate change and our attachment to material possessions, this is classic Ruth Ozeki - bold, humane and heartbreaking.
'A major talent' Irvine Welsh Set at the fag-end of the 60s at the moment when Swinging London is starting to take on a darker hue in the wake of Charles Manson's murders, and framed as a novel within a novel published by a seedy Piccadilly-based publisher of pulp fiction, MAN-EATING TYPEWRITER is a homage to the great oulipo experiments in fiction. It is the story of a psychopath called Raymond Novak and his untimely demise told entirely in 'polari' - a language developed and used mainly amongst the metropolitan homosexual community in the time when being gay was still a criminal offence. From a love affair with a Barbary Ape on the Rock of Gibraltar to erotic cabaret in Paris and unreliable adventures with Madam Ovary, Raymond's mother in the bombed-out ruins of Blitzed London, MAN-EATING TYPEWRITER is an act of seductive sedition by a writer with unfathomable literary talent and chutzpah. Wild, transgressive, erotic, offensive and resolutely uncompromising, this marks the return of a writer who is out there on an island of his own making; a book that will be talked about, celebrated and misunderstood for decades.
Prepare yourself for a journey through the world of Patton Oswalt,
one of the most creative, insightful, and hysterical voices on the
entertain-ment scene today. Widely known for his roles in the films
"Big Fan "and "Ratatouille, "as well as the television hit "The
King of Queens, "Patton Oswalt--a staple of Comedy Central--has
been amusing audiences for decades. Now, with "Zombie Spaceship
Wasteland, "he offers a fascinating look into his most unusual, and
lovable, mindscape.
In all sporting contests, success and inspiration compete with failure and loss of nerve and golf is a more public showcase for human fallibility and eccentricity than many other sports. For every Paul McGinley or Larry Mize snatching unexpected victory there is somebody whose overconfidence or moment of self-doubt leaves the spectator burying his head in the nearest bunker. From Victorian times to the twenty-first century, Classic Golf Clangers takes a look at some of the moments their perpetrators would rather forget - whether it's Scotland's Bobby Cruickshank knocking himself out at the 1934 US Open or Jean van der Velde going for a paddle at Carnoustie - you're sure to find some of your favourite golfing gaffes in the pages of this book. Hale Irwin, Doug Sanders, Sam Snead and the Great White Shark all make an appearance for their contribution to at least one toe-curling moment. This book will appeal to golf lovers - or lovers of any sport - irrespective of age or ability, as a reminder of how human we are, and how easy it is to slice into the deepest rough from the broadest of fairways.
The original Anti-Cool Girl is back! Rosie Waterland took Australia by storm in 2015 with her critically acclaimed, bestselling memoir The Anti-Cool Girl, her irrepressible, blackly comic account of her unconventional childhood. Now Rosie returns with another irresistibly funny, sharply observed and deeply moving book of autobiographical essays about the lies she's told, the truths she's avoided and that funny grey area inbetween. Praise for The Anti-Cool Girl:'Hilarious, wise, gutsy, clear-eyed, devastating and uplifting. It's a marvel.' Richard Glover'Waterland's writing is ...individual, wounded, brilliant and hilarious' Sydney Morning Herald 'If Augusten Burroughs and Lena Dunham abandoned their child in an Australian housing estate, she'd write this heartbreaking, hilarious book.' Dominic Knight, The ChaserThe Anti-Cool Girl was shortlisted for the 2016 Indie Book Awards and for the 2016 ABIA Awards for Biography of the Year, and in addition was the Winner of the 2016 ABIA Awards People's Choice for the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year
Can a group of ten year old mates (and one scruffy dog) really outwit the most fiendish, cunning teachers in the universe and, after millions of years, finally make school cool?! When mysterious new teachers arrive to lay down the law at notoriously naughty Bash Street School, Dennis, Gnasher and friends finally face a classroom test they simply can't afford to fail ... Dennis and Gnasher are back for another adventure. An adventure story, told with funny pictures ...
Want to impress the hot stranger at the bar who asks for your take on Infinite Jest? Dying to shut up the blowhard in front of you who's pontificating on Cormac McCarthy's "recurring road narratives"? Having difficulty keeping Francine Prose and Annie Proulx straight? For all those overwhelmed readers who need to get a firm grip on the relentless onslaught of must-read books to stay on top of the inevitable conversations that swirl around them, Lauren Leto's Judging a Book by Its Lover is manna from literary heaven A hilarious send-up of--and inspired homage to--the passionate and peculiar world of book culture, this guide to literary debate leaves no reader or author unscathed, at once adoring and skewering everyone from Jonathan Franzen to Ayn Rand to Dostoyevsky and the people who read them.
'There's only control, control of ourselves and others. And you have to decide what part you play in that control.' Cast your eye over the comfortable north London home of a family of high ideals, radical politics and compassionate feelings. Julia, Paul and their two daughters, Olivia and Sophie, look to a better society, one they can effect through ORGAN:EYES, the campaigning group they fundraise for and march with, supporting various good causes. But is it all too good to be true? When the surface has been scratched and Paul's identity comes under the scrutiny of the press, a journey into the heart of the family begins. Who are these characters really? Are any of them the 'real' them at all? Every Trick in the Book is a genre-deconstructing novel that explodes the police procedural and undercover-cop story with nouveau romanish glee. Hood overturns the stone of our surveillance society to show what really lies beneath.
By turns uproarious and touching, the memoir of a young woman's search for an orgasm--and for the elusive connections between sex and love Twenty-six-year-old Mara Altman wanted to know what all the screaming was about. She'd lost her virginity at seventeen; grown up in southern California with sexually free parents; had lovers in India, Burma, and Peru; and spent a year in Bangkok observing all manner of depravity. And yet she was an attractive, successful, single woman in New York who'd never had an orgasm. And so she embarked on a wildly funny, emotionally resonant odyssey--a journey both inside and outside herself--only to discover that, for Mara, orgasm was connected to a part of her that no vibrator could reach. "Thanks for Coming" is one woman's look at our obsession with and anxiety over the female orgasm. Her quest to get her own yields poignant results that will surprise even the sexually awakened among us. From sex shows to sex conventions, from a therapist's couch to her own couch, from the bedroom to the bar, Mara Altman proves to be a guide as hilarious as she is investigative.
Barbara Johnson's approach to life is positive, uplifting, therapeutic and fun. Barbara Johnson is far from being a cock-eyed optimist―blind to life's grief and disappointment. In fact, her entire ministry of joy and encouragement began in the "slimy cesspool" of her own pain. She is a "clear-eyed" optimist. And that's why her laughter is so infectious and her widom rings so true in this joy-giving book, which offers giggles and guidance to help you:
"Almost everyone needs a splash of joy to get through the mess, to get cleaned off and get sweetened up―refreshed and ready to go again," Barbara Johnson says.
This is the real and totally true tale of Chicken Little. When something falls from the sky and bops Chicken Little right on the head, he looks high and low to figure out what it was. He even asks the sky if it's falling - after all, you can never be too sure. But when the other chickens worry that the sky really is falling, the coup quickly turns into CHAOS. How is Chicken Little going to fix this mess?! A brilliantly funny and especially endearing take on a much-loved classic. Fun illustrations that keep little readers entertained throughout. A true must have picture book for little ones' shelves.
Find out if your cat is Pussolini or Mother Purresa In ancient Egypt cats were viewed as gods and in modern day they are no stranger to worship as the internet's favourite animal, but have you ever stopped to consider the true nature of the smug little creatures we so willingly welcome into our homes? Is your cat a dazzling Dolly Purrton in the making? Or a hateful Hannibal Lickter waiting to strike? Find out with this killer purrsonality quiz. With 16 personality profiles and tips on how to live in harmony with your cat, whatever their result, find out if your furry housemate dreams of world peace or world domination.
From the self-made illustrator and creator Kitty Willow (@wobblywillows) comes a collection of creepy and cute sketches that are perfect coloring activities for children and adults. Experience cozy, magical, and witchy drawings for a delightful, creative, and indulgent me time. Sweet & Creepy Coloring contains over 60 adorable and slightly spooky black-and-white sketches that you can color, perfect for Halloween and suitable for all ages. Illustrations include mushrooms, bats, ghosts, ancient forests, cats, birds, potions bottles, crystals, and much more. Soon you'll be hanging up your finished artwork, or mimicking the sketches into your own doodles. Who doesn't love a little sweet and creepy mixed together?
Many musical and theatrical traditions walk the very narrow path between the sublime and the ridiculous, but perhaps none more so than opera, which, while maintaining an elegant reputation, makes a show out of princes making romantic speeches to soft fruit, noses being accidentally cut off and woodpeckers performing wedding ceremonies. Opera Obscura is a beautifully illustrated collection that contributes twenty-five brand new impossibly madcap operas to the canon of magnificent absurdities, along with the intricate blueprints for several incredible opera houses and information on of a whole range of almost unbelievably incredible instruments.
From the highly entertaining and global online phenomenon, Brother, comes a perfect how-to for millennial men everywhere. Let's face it - life can be complicated. From the classroom to the office, the bar to the bedroom, it's hard to know quite what to do to be the perfect modern gentleman. But not to worry; How to Not Be A Dick has all the answers you've been waiting for. Brother provides simple solutions to complex social interactions in the ultimate guide for gentlemanly etiquette. Unflinchingly direct, honest, but always hilarious, this book has got the modern man's worries covered in a compelling mix of essays, infographics, quizzes and more.
Book of the Week: The Idler It Gets Worse is the second instalment of Nicholas Lezard's rueful, dissolute life. Beginning where his first volume, Bitter Experience Has Taught Me, ended, Nick's fortunes have not improved. At home in the Hovel, his bachelor existence makes a further descent into chaos, yet the misadventures are faced with sardonic wit, pathos and something like dissident wisdom.
Whether you need a robotic companion to remember the names of people you meet at parties, an algorithmic pal to help you stomp on the crispy leaves in autumn, or just a really, really big 'bot for no particular reason at all, Small Robots is your spotter's guide to the wonderful world of robotic friends. They bring tea, complain in restaurants, retrieve lost balloons, but they also tackle more serious problems: mental health, disability, discrimination and grief, and will, when called upon, fiercely defend the marginalised and oppressed. This collection of one hundred of the best and most beloved 'bots delves into the functions, features, dimensions and backstories of these wonderful but often bafflingly obtuse creations. Discover how they perform their all-important tasks in the world of their large human friends, revealing how acts of kindness can be achieved in the littlest and most unexpected ways. |
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