Alice never imagined that she would end up like this. Is she the only mother who feels so permanently panic-stricken at the terrors of the modern world
- or is it normal to sit up in bed all night popping bubble wrap? She worries that too much gluten & dairy may be hindering her children's mental arithmetic. She frets that there are too many cars on the road to let them out of the 4x 4. Finally she resolves to take control & tackle her biggest worry of all: her daughter is definitely not going to fail that crucial secondary school entrance exam. Because Alice has decided to take the test in her place... With his trademark comic eye for detail John O' Farrell has produced a funny & provocative book that will make you laugh cry & vow never to become that sort of parent. & then you can pass it on to your seven-year-old because she really ought to be reading grown-up novels by now...
...

As far back as he can remember James Corden has only ever wanted to be in one place: in front of you doing something to make you cry shout scream or giggle uncontrollably; whether it's entertaining the congregation at his baby sister's christening at the age of four clowning around in class or snogging Sue Barker in front of thousands of people at Sports Relief. But it wasn't that easy getting there. Growing up his dad would drive him up & down to London for auditions sometimes three or four times a week only to be met with constant knockbacks. Even the teenage distractions of girls forming his own pop group attempted (and failed) shoplifting or the endless detentions he'd get from exasperated teachers didn't put him off. He knew where he wanted to be & he'd keep on trying until he got there. May I Have Your Attention Please?" is the story of how it all happened. From his time as one of the founding players of his school's first ever rugby team to nationwide fame as the loveably loud Smithy in the award-winning " Gavin & Stacey" this is a tenderly
- & very funnily
- told story of what it's like to try try & try again & get there in the end."

...

So...the story of my life. I've often thought about this moment about what it would be like to write my memoirs. I always thought it would make me feel important. It doesn't. If anything it makes me feel a little strange. The truth is I should never have been this famous guy. I wasn't the cool clever good-looking boy at school. But I always dreamt of it hoped for it longed for it: throughout school when I was disruptive in my teens when I tried to form my own boy band & through hundreds of auditions for parts which were met with constant rejection. Until finally I co-wrote Gavin & Stacey". & my whole life changed. This is that story. The story of how I found myself here talking to you." ...

Best known as the third presenter in the unholy trinity that is Clarkson Hammond & May on Top Gear James has lived breathed & dreamt about cars his entire life. There is something about cars that stirs up intense feelings in people
- how it makes them look to the outside world how it makes them feel about themselves how it looks to their girlfriends or their mates or their neighbours. These feelings are humorously described in May on Motors" as James takes us on the road & looks at the cars that have shaped him his world & the ordinary people of Britain. In " May on Motors" James has brought together his most controversial & amusing pieces to make a brilliant collection that will amuse & inspire all car enthusiasts."
...

It seems like the whole world has gone mad. His dad's obsessed with gas his best friend has come down with a case of hormones & his brother is in dire need of deodorant. Looks like there's going to be quite a stink. Is life still unfair for Norm? ABSO-FLIPPING-LUTELY! Jonathan Meres follows up May Contain Nuts & May Cause Irritation with another laugh-out-loud story about Norm a boy who can't understand why everything always seems unfair... An award-winning laugh-out-loud series for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid & David Walliams. ...

Harry is a Richard Nixon scholar who leads a quiet regular life; his brother George is a high-flying TV producer with a murderous temper. They have been uneasy rivals since childhood. Then one day Georges loses control so extravagantly that he precipitates Harry into an entirely new life. In May We Be Forgiven Homes gives us a darkly comic look at 21st century domestic life
- at individual lives spiraling out of control bound together by family & history. The cast of characters experience adultery accidents divorce & death. But this is also a savage & dizzyingly inventive vision of contemporary America whose dark heart Homes penetrates like no other writer
- the strange jargons of its language its passive aggressive institutions its inhabitants desperate craving for intimacy & their pushing it away with litigation technology paranoia. At the novels heart are the spaces in between where the modern family comes together to re-form itself. May We Be Forgiven explores contemporary orphans losing & finding themselves anew; & it speaks above all to the power of personal transformation
- simultaneously terrifying & inspiring.


...

A chance meeting on the Fijian island of Taveuni is the trigger for a fascinating & mysterious novel that intertwines the stories of John Spooke an English author who is grieving for his dead wife; Frank Andersen a Norwegian evolutionary biologist estranged from his wife Vera; & an enigmatic Spanish couple Ana & Jose who are absorbed in their love for each other. Why does Ana bear such a close resemblance to the model for Goyas famous Maja paintings? What is the significance of the Joker as he steps out of his pack of cards? As the action moves from Fiji to Spain from the present to the past unfolding further stories within the stories the novel reveals an astonishing richness & complexity. As bold & imaginative in its sweep as Sophies World it shows again that Jostein Gaarders unique & special gift is to make us wonder at the awe-inspiring mystery of the universe. ...

Well-known Maya professional Michael Ingrassia takes readers through his unique style of modeling: Image Based Modeling" where efficient realistic models can be created very quickly. Ingrassias techniques allow modelers to create exact replicas of their concept characters or objects. The techniques presented are very efficient & allow game modelers to quickly build out stand alone props to populate environments & game levels. Presented are tried & true techniques that the author has used successfully in game production for the past 10 years. Most if not all 3D books focus on basic "box" modeling techniques which are the basis for proper 3D modeling but not the complete solution. In the authors experience students who have learned through the Image Based Modeling brand have quickly excelled into effective modelers. One of the hardest things for any modeler to do is match their model EXACTLY to the concept art or photos they are provided. The insider tips in this book walk artists through this process. Artists begin with basic modeling & advance to a creating a complete scene & set design/game level. Rather than including sporadic models with zero association from to one another each model in the book becomes an integral part of an overall theme realistic in game development today. The accompanying DVD

Includes:: 8 exclusive video tutorials on advanced Maya techniques as bonus tracks for artists providing invaluable modeling rigging & texturing samples. Also an in-depth video on assembling a " Killer Demo Reel" showing simple but highly effective video editing techniques used by the author so that artists can learn how to get their work seen. The book not only teaches effective methodology but provides the user with impressive content for producing effective demo reels & portfolios. Pros & cons of demo reel website & artist representation are given along with insights into the expectations of game studios today. The video tutorials show users the finished product & then run through the process of step by step creation of that particular technique."

...

The Music Fairies desperately need Rachel's & Kirsty's help! Jack Frost & his naughty goblins have stolen the fairies' Magical Musical Instruments which means that music is being ruined for everyone! Jack Frost plans to use the instruments to help him win a national talent competition in the human world & with the help of the enchanted instruments he's bound to win. If this happens humans will find out about Fairyland & then all the fairies will be in danger! Can Rachel & Kirsty help Maya to take back her enchanted harp from the pesky goblins? ...

From the author of ' The House of Spirits'
- teenage Maya is in trouble. She's an alcoholic an addict & deeply involved with a
...