An affectionately imagined, candid, and often funny view of British life, in the voice of the Queen

For many years, Her Majesty the Queen has received a weekly report on the news and issues of the day, known at the Palace as "The Current Affairs Briefing Document," from one of her senior private secretaries. She has replied to them in letters which have expressed her private thoughts, and occasionally questions, about what is happening in the world outside. Now she has decided to allow some of these letters from the last 12 months to appear in the public domain. They reveal for the first time what she really thinks about attitudes to the Royal Family, about the Prime Ministers she has met, about Helen Mirren, about why dogs are so superior to cats, about the great, the good, and the mysteriously famous people she meets as she goes about her duties. She shares what it is really like to jump out of a helicopter to open the Olympics, how to deal with a media obsessed with taking pictures of one's grandchildren without their clothes and, and the happy prospect of being a great-grandmother.

Divertentissimi, grotteschi, satirici, paradossali, questi racconti sono stati scritti a quattro mani nell'arco di vent'anni. Sono la parodia sciocchina e divertente dei romanzi rosa... Alcuni sono decisamente datati, altri fiammanti e chiaramente piu attuali. Il genere "rosa," come tutti i generi, e serio e sognante, serve (soprattutto al pubblico femminile) per uscire dalla dura realta quotidiana fatta di uomini esigenti e padroneschi, da una societa spietata e da alcuni topos e logos decisamente antifemminili, anche se alcuni romanzi sono autentici capolavori. Purtroppo, il romanzo rosa e stato a volte utilizzato proprio in funzione "antifemminile," per convincere il pubblico che si... La vita e dura... Ma che l'amore trionfa sempre. Donne, il principe azzurro si trasforma quasi sempre in un ciccione ciabattante che rutta e scorreggia, a volte si fila le amiche della moglie e, in qualche caso, persino delle figlie... Ecco cio che troverete in questo libro...

Quand le celebrissime Jean Aymard de Vauquonery decide de publier ses memoires, le monde litteraire fut bouleverse.
Voir couche sur papier une existence si pleine, avec une plume si legere ne pouvait qu'enthousiasmer les amateurs de belles lettres et de mots croises fantomatiques.
Nous nous souvenons tous de ses incroyables aventures qui nous sont si proches et pourtant si abstraites.
Apres de longues annees de recherches et d'introspection, Jean Aymard s'est enfin lance dans la redaction de son chef d' uvre. Les intenses descriptions et les emotions admirablement maitrisees montrent a quel point il est possible de surmonter l'angoisse de la page blanche.
Qui pourrait oublier pareille histoire ? Son histoire est la notre, elle nous appartient.
Et si la complexite apparente des tournures si subtiles de ses glorieux souvenirs vous effraient, n'ayez crainte, l'auteur a su s'exprimer de maniere limpide... voire transparente.
Et quand la lecture vous aura comble, il vous restera un merveilleux espace pour y gribouiller a satiete vos reflexions. Parce que Jean Aymard vous aime, vous et vos idees Parce que vous aurez l'honneur et le privilege de contribuer a cette uvre memorable.
Un livre a s'offrir et a offrir sans tarder
NB: un index des mots compliques vous est offert par l'editeur.

John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922) was born in Yonkers, New York, and is known for his work as an author, editor, and satirist. He worked for "Life," a number of "Harper's" periodicals, and "Puck," perhaps the foremost American humour magazine of its day. In "Alice in Blunderland: An Iridescent Dream"-first published in 1907-Bangs makes light of a range of economic issues familiar to his readers-these are quite topical and all-too familiar to today's reader as well. High taxes, corporate greed, bribery, institutional corruption, and governmental incompetence are amongst the themes of the book. Bangs' "Alice in Blunderland" relies more on absurdity than it does on nonsense, and some of the humour is indeed rather American. But Bangs' success is to make his reader smile wryly rather than laugh out loud-for his satire is very much on target.

Fresh brains roasting on an open fire . . .

Outside the temperature's dropping. The snow is falling, blanketing the world in white. Sleigh bells are jingling. Soon it will be that most wondrous time of the year

That time of flesh-devouring zombie horror

Yes, Christmas is on its way--and all the little boys and ghouls are dreaming of stockings filled with candied eyes and bleeding body parts. You'd better watch out Santa Claws is coming to town--and he knows who's been naughty, who's been naughtier . . . and who'll taste best with a nice glass of Chianti

In celebration of this merry macabre season, we present a peerless compendium of more than two dozen of the most soul-stirring, brain-boiling carols composed specifically for the decomposing. Holiday favorites such as "I Saw Mommy Chewing Santa Claus," "Deck the Halls with Parts of Wally," and "We Three Spleens" are guaranteed to lift the spirits of the lumbering, shuffling undead and their temporarily still breathing meals-to-be. So put down your gore-splattered baseball bats and raise your voices in song And sing loudly--to drown out all the screaming.

When you like, live forever, what's there to live for? 'About three things I was absolutely certain. First, Edwart was most likely my soul mate, maybe. Second, there was a vampire part of him - which I assumed was wildly out of his control - that wanted me dead. And third, I unconditionally, irrevocably, impenetrably, heterogeneously, gynecologically, and disreputably wished he had kissed me.' And thus Belle Goose falls in love with the mysterious and sparkly Edwart Mullen in this hilarious send-up of Twilight. Pale and klutzy, Belle arrives in Switchblade, Oregon looking for adventure, or at least an undead classmate. She soon discovers Edwart, a super-hot computer nerd with zero interest in girls. After witnessing a number of strange events - Edwart leaves his hash browns untouched at lunch! - he saves her from a flying snowball and Belle has a dramatic revelation: Edwart is a vampire. But how can she convince Edwart to bite her and transform her into his eternal bride, especially when he seems to find girls so repulsive? Complete with romance, danger, insufficient parental guardianship, creepy stalker-like behaviour, and a vampire prom, Nightlight is the hysterical tale of a vampire-obsessed girl, looking for love in all the wrong places.

From the founding editor of The Idler, the celebrated magazine about the freedom and fine art of doing nothing, comes not simply a book, but an antidote to our work-obsessed culture. In How to Be Idle, Tom Hodgkinson presents his learned yet whimsical argument for a new universal standard of living: being happy doing nothing. He covers a whole spectrum of issues affecting the modern idler--sleep, work, pleasure, relationships--while reflecting on the writing of such famous apologists for it as Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Nietzsche--all of whom have admitted to doing their very best work in bed.

Join certified Ig-master Vaguen on the road to bliss. You might think that ignorance comes naturally, but on the contrary, the world conspires to cram our heads full of useless and dangerous 'know-ledge' every day. Fall off this know-ledge into the safe and comforting world of oblivio(n/ousness) by discovering "The Power of Ignorance". In his seminars, Vaguen has helped successful people, wealthy people, good-looking people, and people just like you to attain the heights/depths of ignorance. For the first time, his secrets are revealed between the covers of a book. Purchase this reasonably-priced volume and join the ranks of those who understand that a lack of understanding is unimportant. This title is based on original material and characters by Jeff Sumerel and Sam Reynolds.

A smart, hilarious parody of Malcolm Gladwell's bestselling Blink.

Stop! Don't think! You already know what this book is about. That is the power of Blank: the power of not actually thinking at all. Using what scientific researchers call 'Extra-Lean Deli Slicing' (or would, if they actually bothered to research it), your brain has already decided whether you're going to like Blank, whether its cover goes with your shirt, and whether it will make you look smart if somebody sees you reading it on the train.

Chances are you and your shirt are both liking it a lot, you're going to buy several copies, and you don't even know why! That's why you've absolutely got to read Blank: to find out why your brain keeps doing these wacky things without your permission. In Blank, a hilarious parody of the No. 1 bestseller it looks eerily like (and sort of rhymes with) and that your brain wisely advised you to just read a review or magazine excerpt about while avoiding the actual book itself, the brilliantly impulsive and slightly irresponsible Noah Tall explains how people as diverse as General Custer, Roy Rogers, a semi-famous rock star, and the entire New York City Police Department either won big or lost miserably as a result of their minds going completely blank.

Your brain cells are prison cells Break free with "The Power of Ignorance," the smash Fringe play Join certified Ig-master Vaguen on the road to bliss. You might think that ignorance comes naturally, but on the contrary, the world conspires to cram our heads full of useless and dangerous know-ledge every day. Fall off this knowledge into the safe and comforting world of oblivio(n/ousness) by discovering "The Power of Ignorance." In this playscript Vaguen is featured at one of his seminars where he helps successful people, wealthy people, good-looking people, and "people just like you" to attain the heights/depths of ignorance.

THE FIRST THING THEY PRONOUNCE YOU IN LIFE IS "HUSBAND AND WIFE." THE NEXT THING IS "DEAD."
Up till now, preparing for marriage was a lot like preparing for death: You didn't know what was ahead and there was nothing you could do about it anyway LIFE SENTENCE changes all that with honest, guy-to-guy advice and counsel. Think of it this way: It's like getting your grubby hands on the other team's playbook before the big game. Which is why it's the one book they -- girlfriends, fiancees, and divorce lawyers -- don't want you to read. You'll gain valuable insights into:
BEING ENGAGED: It's the romantic equivalent of being in cyberspace. The ring is like signing a lease with an option to buy.
FIDELITY: If you think that fidelity is a raw deal, remember that she made the same deal. With you. You're the last guy she gets.
GOLF: Never, ever play with her.

"As I Lay Dieting". "Abstinence! Abstinence!" "Lite in August". Contestants who entered the Faulkner Write-Alike Contest were encouraged to "pound in fury" at their keyboards to write the best bad Faulkner they could. For those who love good parody and those who love good Faulkner--here is the best of both worlds. Black-and-white caricatures throughout.

"Nothing has driven home a certain truth about my generation, which is approaching the apex of its childbearing years, quite like this."
--"The New Yorker"
"A parenting zeitgeist"
--"Washington Post"
"A hilarious take on that age-old problem: getting the beloved child to go to sleep."
--National Public Radio
"A new Bible for weary parents"
--"New York Times"
"Resonates powerfully with almost everyone"
--"Boston Globe"
""Go the F*** to Sleep" challenges stereotypes, opens up prototypes, and acknowledges that shared sense of failure that comes to all parents who weary of ever getting their darling(s) to sleep and briefly resuming the illusion of a life of their own."
--"Midwest Book Review"
"Go the F*** to Sleep" is a bedtime book for parents who live in the real world, where a few snoozing kitties and cutesy rhymes don't always send a toddler sailing blissfully off to dreamland. Profane, affectionate, and radically honest, California Book Award-winning author Adam Mansbach's verses perfectly capture the familiar--and unspoken--tribulations of putting your little angel down for the night. In the process, they open up a conversation about parenting, granting us permission to admit our frustrations, and laugh at their absurdity.
With illustrations by Ricardo Cortes, "Go the F*** to Sleep" is beautiful, subversive, and pants-wettingly funny--a book for parents new, old, and expectant. You probably should not read it to your children.
"Seriously, Just Go to Sleep, " a children's book inspired by "Go the F*** to Sleep" and appropriate for kids of all ages, is forthcoming from Akashic Books in April 2012 and available NOW for pre-order.

THE PERFECT GIFT for all of the 'GROWN-UPS' still wondering what life is all about. Talking about the farmer's market: How much are these carrots? What, per kilogram? Each? Really? What does 'heritage' mean? Could I just have an onion, then, please? Oh. Do you take credit cards? _____________ Talking about running: Why am I running? Where am I going? Do I want a longer life if I have to spend so much of it running? Why aren't I at home? Am I running away from home? Am I scared of home? Why is my brain full of weird, horrible thoughts? Is it because running is so very, very boring? Why did I forget my headphones? This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them. The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope. Featuring original Ladybird artwork alongside brilliantly funny, brand new text. 'Hilarious' Stylist

The PERFECT STOCKING FILLER for anyone who has been having the same argument since 2001 or who no longer has ANY of their own clothes left, i.e. someone who is, or has ever been a sister. 'This is a sister. Wherever you go, whatever you do, a sister will always be there. Which can get really annoying.' _____________ 'Over the years, Gareth has bought his sister Kelly every possible birthday present he can find related to the film he remembers her enjoying in 1989. Kelly has had to come to terms with the idea that though they spent half their lives together, Gareth was not really paying attention for most of it.' This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them. The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope. Featuring original Ladybird artwork alongside brilliantly funny, brand new text. 'Hilarious' Stylist

pistache (pis-tash): a friendly spoof or parody of another's work. [Deriv uncertain. Possibly a cross between pastiche and p**stake.] From Thomas Hardy's football report to Dan Brown's visit to the cash dispenser, the work of the great and the not-so-great is here sent up with little hope of coming down. Most of these pieces began their life on Radio Four's The Write Stuff, but have been retooled for the printed page. Others, such as Martin Amis's first day at Hogwarts, have been written specially for this collection. Philip Larkin's Lines in Celebration of the Queen Mother's 115th Birthday, first banned, then cut by the BBC, appears in its entirety for the first time. This is not a book for the faint-hearted or the downstairs lavatory. It is a book for the bedside table of someone you cannot live without.

First published in 1922, this parody of etiquette and social mores makes fun of the pitfalls of courtship, engagement, and marriage, as well as such social settings as dinner parties, sporting events, and the theater. With satirical Jazz-era illustrations by Ralph Barton, known at the time for his caricatures of actors and other celebrities, the book's humor holds up remarkably well today, with such "crises" as how to deal with a screaming baby in a crowded, confined space or how to write a proper love letter to one's fiancee. With Marx Brothers-like literary slapstick, Perfect Behavior is the perfect impulse gift for anyone who enjoys a good laugh over everyday social foibles.

What would Kant's sexts look like? How would Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir break up? What would Confucius think of Tinder? Love Voltaire Us Apart is a hilarious spoof relationship guide with a philosophical edge, made up of philosophers' love letters, advice columns and breakup letters. From Confucius learning the Golden Rules of dating to Simone de Beauvoir considering bangs after breaking up with Jean-Paul Sartre, comedy writer Julia Edelman views the love lives of prominent philosophers through a clever and contemporary lens. She points out that Margaret Fuller is the "Carrie" of transcendentalism, and Nietzsche will always find a way to make a bad breakup infinitely worse. "Getting Meta(Physical)-Who is Your Philosopher Crush?" is the only quiz you'll need to find your soul mate, and "How To Know if Your Man is Writing a Manifesto" will show you how to avoid losing your relationship to imminent revolution. Based on Edelman's New Yorker article, "Excerpts from Philosophers' Breakup Letters Throughout History", Love Voltaire Us Apart is funny, smart, refreshingly original, and brought to life with charming illustrations by Hallie Bateman.

Young, arrogant tycoon Earl Grey seduces the naive coed Anna Steal with his overpowering good looks and staggering amounts of money, but will she be able to get past his fifty shames, including shopping at Walmart on Saturdays, bondage with handcuffs, and his love of BDSM (Bards, Dragons, Sorcery, and Magick)? Or will his dark secrets and constant smirking drive her over the edge?

A manifestation journal for actually going after your biggest f*cking future When was the last time you had a big f*cking dream? Seriously. When was the last time you had an off-the-wall, pie-in-the-sky, reach for the stars kind of dream? Can you picture it in your head right now? So why is it still only a dream? When you hear the word manifestation you may think of charging crystals, rising signs, and psychic readings. F*ck that. Manifestation is a no-bullsh*t way to get the life you've always wanted. It's for the dreamers, the doers, and every person ready to take charge of their own damn futures. If you're an ambitious bad*ss, a perpetual go-getter, someone who wants to carpe the f*ck out of every damn diem—then this journal is for you. With concrete exercises that redefine what it means to go after your future, Big F*cking Dreams is a positive self-help book for women looking to: Be thankful for the sh*t you have—the perfect gratitude journal to reevaluate your present giftsAttract the sh*t you want—understand the law of attraction with affirmations, self-care tips, meditation, and more.Embrace the bad*ss you are—because there isn't a big old future without some self-love in the mixAnd dream bigger than you ever f*cking believed—get ready to work for those big goalsWith guided prompts, sweary sayings, and an empowering AF attitude, this is the perfect journal for readers who are ready to take their futures into their own hands. The ideal spiritual gift for women, goals journal, or guided journal to get you through, this book will get you to stand up and declare, "I am going to go after my biggest f*cking dreams!"