WINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK AWARD 2013 `I`ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name`s Simon. I think you`re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he`ll be dead. & he was never the same after that.` There are books you can`t stop reading, which keep you up all night. There are books which let us into the hidden parts of life & make them vividly real. There are books which, because of the sheer skill with which every word is chosen, linger in your mind for days. The Shock of the Fall is all of these books. The Shock of the Fall is an extraordinary portrait of one man`s descent into mental illness. It is a brave & groundbreaking novel from one of the most exciting new voices in fiction. ...

The year is 1853, & a young Japanese girl`s world is about to be turned upside down. When black ships carrying barbarians arrive on the shores of Japan, the Satsuma clan`s way of life is threatened. But it`s not just the samurai who must come together to fight: the beautiful, headstrong Okatsu is also given a new destiny by her feudal lord
- to save the realm. Armed only with a new name, Princess Atsu, as she is now known, journeys to the women`s palace of Edo Castle, a place so secret it cannot be marked on any map. Behind the palace`s immaculate facade, amid rumours of murder & whispers of ghosts, Atsu must uncover the secret of the man whose fate, it seems, is irrevocably linked to hers
- the shogun himself
- if she is to rescue her people...


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Things are hotting up for Tintin as a huge fireball comes hurtling towards earth! Soon he is setting sail with Captain Haddock to find the meteorite in the stormy Arctic Ocean, but a valuable metal is contained in the meteorite & Tintin`s attempts to reach it are met with relentless sabotage! ...

Convenience is in the bag with this vibrant & stylish personal shopper, an essential for the city, it’s also brilliant at the beach as it is incredibly robust & strong, holding up to 10kg/22lbs. Inside, a handy pocket means that you can keep valuables secure & conveniently doubles up as a carry pouch which the bag folds into. Quick & easy to pack away, it is compact when packed & is also superbly lightweight, a must-have for any adventure. ...

This title was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award 2015. It was also shortlisted for the Times/ Peters Fraser & Dunlop Young writer of the Year Award. It is longlisted for the Baileys Women`s Prize for Fiction 2015. The Shore. A collection of small islands sticking out from the coast of Virginia into the Atlantic Ocean that has been home to generations of fierce & resilient women. Sanctuary to some but nightmare to others, it`s a place they`ve inhabited, fled, & returned to for hundreds of years. From a brave girl`s determination to protect her younger sister as methamphetamine ravages their family, to a lesson in summoning storm clouds to help end a drought, these women struggle against domestic violence, savage wilderness, & the corrosive effects of poverty & addiction to secure a sense of well-being for themselves & for those they love. Their interconnecting stories form a deeply affecting legacy of two island families, illuminating the small miracles & miseries of a community of outsiders, & the bonds of blood & fate that connect them all. Dreamlike & yet impossibly real, profound & playful, the Shore is a richly unique, breathtakingly ambitious & accomplished debut novel by a young writer of astonishing gifts. ...

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by the riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character introduced in Eclipse, & the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery & romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree & the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan & the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion. 'I'm as surprised as anyone about this novella, ' said Stephenie Meyer. ' When I began working on it in 2005, it was simply an exercise to help me examine the other side of Eclipse, which I was editing at the time. I thought it might end up as a short story that I could include on my website. Then, when work started on The Twilight Saga: The Official Guide, I thought the Guide would be a good fit for my Bree story. However, the story grew longer than I anticipated, until it was too long to fit into the Guide. ...

The Short Story of Art is a new & innovative introduction to the subject of art. Simply constructed, the book explores 50 key works, from the wall paintings of Lascaux to contemporary installations, & then links these to se ctions on art movements, themes & techniques. The design of the book allows the student or art enthusiast to easily navigate their way around key periods, artists & styles. Accessible & concise, it simplifies & explains the most important & influential concepts in art, & shows how they are linked. The book explains how, why & when art changed, who introduced certain things, what they were, where they were produced, & whether they matter. It demystifies artistic jargon, giving readers a thorough understanding & broad enjoyment of art. ...

READ IN AN AFTERNOON. REMEMBER FOR A LIFETIME. In this short, entertaining & thought-provoking book, acclaimed historian John Hirst provides a fascinating exploration of the qualities that have made Europe a world-changing civilisation. Starting with a rapid historical overview from the ancient Greeks to the present day (the `shortest history` itself), Hirst goes on to explore in detail what makes Europe unique: its political evolution; the shaping influence of its linguistic boundaries; the crucial role played by power struggles between Pope & Emperor; & of course the great invasions & conquests that have transformed the continent. Written with clarity, feeling & wit, The Shortest History of Europe is a tour-de-force: read in a single afternoon, it will be remembered for a lifetime.NB This is a updated & expanded edition, with new sections covering the industrial revolution, the world wars & the postwar period. ...

In his acclaimed new bestseller, now in paperback, James Hawes tells the story of Europe`s most admired & feared country, from Julius Caesar to Angela Merkel. With more than 100 maps & images, this is a fresh, concise & entertaining attempt to answer the question: are the Germans really us, or them? ...

Ernesto Duran is convinced he is sick. It becomes an obsession far exceeding hypochondria, & when Dr Andres Miranda gives up responding to e-mails, Duran resolves to stalk him. The fixation has its own creeping effect on Karina, the hospital secretary, who cannot resist becoming involved. Meanwhile Dr Miranda is coming to terms with a tragedy of his own: his father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, & yet the doctor
- the son
- finds it impossible to tell him. He hopes that by taking his father on a trip to Isla Margarita, where they once went when he was a child, he might be able to reveal the truth. The nature of sickness as experienced by two individuals provides the backbone to this tender, thoughtful & refined novel. The Sickness is profound & philosophical, & yet written with an agility that expresses the tragedy, but also the comedy of life itself. A brilliantly achieved first novel.

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