BookOdyssey

Ever since being brought up by The Beatles, Frankie Boyle has been a tremendous liar. Join him on his adventures with his chum Clangy The Brass Boy and laugh as he doesn’t accidentally kill a student nurse when a party gets out of hand. I don\'t think anyone can have written an autobiography without at some point thinking \"Why would anyone want to know this shit?\" I\'ve always read them thinking \"I don\'t want to know where Steve Tyler grew up, just tell me how many groupies he f**ked!\"\' So begins Frankie\'s outrageous, laugh-out loud, cynical rant on life as he knows it. From growing up in Pollockshaws, Glasgow (‘it was an aching cement void, a slap in the face to Childhood, and for the family it was a step up\'), to his rampant teenage sex drive (‘in those days if you glimpsed a nipple on T.V. it was like porn Christmas\'), and first job working in a mental hospital (\'where most evenings were spent persuading an old man in his pants not to eat a family sized block of cheese\'), nothing is out of bounds. Outspoken, outrageous and brilliantly inappropriate, Frankie Boyle, the dark heart of Mock the Week, says the unsayable as only he can. From the TV programmes he would like to see made (\'Celebrities On Acid On Ice: just like Celebrity Dancing On Ice, but with an opening sequence where Graham Norton hoses the celebrities down with liquid LSD\'), to his native Scotland and the Mayor of London (\'voting for Boris Johnson wasn\'t that different to voting for a Labrador wearing a Wonder Woman costume\'), nothing and no one is safe from Frankie\'s fearless, sharp-tongued assault. Sharply observed and full of taboo-busting, we-really-shouldn\'t-be-laughing-at-this humour, My Shit Life So Far shows why Frankie Boyle really is the blackest man in show business. Σελίδες: 304, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0610, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

\'Fascinating and hugely entertaining\' Daily Telegraph\'It\'s not like other comedians\' memoirs. It\'s funny\' GuardianThe Sayles might not have been the only Jewish atheist communist family in Liverpool, but Alexei knew from an early age that they were one of the more eccentric.Born on the day egg rationing came to an end, Alexei was the only child of Joe, an affable trade unionist who led the family on railway expeditions across eastern Europe, and Molly, a hot-tempered red-head who terrified teachers and insisted Alexei see the Red Army Choir instead of the Beatles.Perceptive and hilarious, this is a portrait of a family, a city, a country and a continent going through enormous changes.\'Sayle\'s book has charm and substance, both as memoir and history\' Times Literary Supplement Σελίδες: 320, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0809, Διαστάσεις: 17x17cm

Dive into the wonderful world of Tommy Cooper!The perfect gift for anyone who loves to laugh, packed with side-splitting humour and classic one-liners from the legendary comedian, including:\"My wife is a magician, yesterday she turned our car into a tree.\"\"A big white horse walks into a pub. The barman says, \'we have a drink named after you.\' The horse says, \'what? Eric?\'\"\"I said, \'waiter, what\'s that in my soup?\' he said, \'I\'d better call the boss, I can\'t tell one insect from another.\'\"\"I\'m reading a book called \'Sex Before 20\'. Personally I don\'t like audiences.\"\"I said, \'it\'s serious, doctor, I\'ve broken my arm in 20 places\'. He said, \'well stop going to those places.\'\"\"I call my car flattery. It gets me nowhere.\"Bringing together his timeless wit and charm, the All in One Joke Book reveals why Tommy Cooper remains one of our greatest and most beloved comedians of all time. Σελίδες: 336, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

This revised Student Edition includes an introduction by Bess Rowen, Assistant Professor at Villanova University, US, which looks in particular at the play\'s treatment of rape, vulnerable people, mental institutions (especially in connection to Williams\'s own family), sexuality and sexual desire.A Streetcar Named Desire shows a turbulent confrontation between traditional values in the American South - an old-world graciousness and beauty running decoratively to seed - set against the rough-edged, aggressive materialism of the new world. Through the vividly characterised figures of Southern belle Blanche Dubois, seeking refuge from physical ugliness in decayed gentility, and her brutal brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski, Tennessee Williams dramatises his sense of the South\'s past as still active and often destructive in modern America.METHUEN DRAMA STUDENT EDITIONS are expertly annotated texts of a wide range of plays from the modern and classic repertoires. A well as the complete text of the play itself, this volume contains:· A chronology of the play and the playwright’s life and work· An introductory discussion of the social, political, cultural and economic context in which the play was originally conceived and created· A succinct overview of the creation processes followed and subsequent performance history of the piece· An analysis of, and commentary on, some of the major themes and specific issues addressed by the text· A bibliography of suggested primary and secondary materials for further study Σελίδες: 160, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0420, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

This encouraging, no-nonsense guide walks you through the whole process of applying for drama school – including doing your initial research, selecting the right school for you, choosing and preparing your audition pieces, nailing the audition and dealing with recalls. This revised and updated edition incorporates recent changes to the application process such as online auditions, ensuring you have the most up-to-date information. Perfect for any aspiring actor, as well as anyone advising or coaching them, it will answer your questions, bust commonly held myths and give you all the knowledge you need to boost your chances of getting into drama school. The Compact Guides are pocket-sized introductions for actors and theatremakers, each tackling a key topic in a clear and comprehensive way. Written by industry professionals with extensive hands-on experience of their subject, they provide you with maximum information in minimum time. Σελίδες: 136, Διαστάσεις: 11.1x11.1cm

The star of Marvel’s first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant, his battles with cultural stereotypes and his own identity, becoming a TV star, and landing the role of a lifetime. In this honest, inspiring and relatable memoir, Simu Liu chronicles his family\'s journey from China to the bright lights of Hollywood with wit and humour. As a child, Simu\'s parents left him in the care of his grandparents, bringing him to Canada when he was four. However, Simu soon senses that his new guardians lack the gentle touch of his grandparents, resulting in harsh words and hurt feelings between him and his parents, who find their son emotionally distant and difficult to relate to. Although they are related by blood, they are separated by culture, language, and values. As Simu grows up, he plays the part of the pious child flawlessly – he gets straight As, performs exceptionally in national math competitions and makes his parents proud. However, as time passes, he grows increasingly disillusioned with the path that has been laid out for him. Less than a year out of University, he is fired from his first job and hits rock bottom. He develops a determination centred around creating his own path. This leads him to not only succeeding as an actor, but also opens the door to reconciling with his parents. We Were Dreamers is a story about growing up between cultures, finding your family, and becoming the master of your own extraordinary circumstance. Σελίδες: 304, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

The number one bestseller and Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year by national treasure Bob Mortimer.‘The most life-affirming, joyful read of the year’ - Sunday Times‘Winningly heartfelt’ – The Guardian‘A triumph’ – Daily Mail Bob Mortimer’s life was trundling along happily until suddenly in 2015 he was diagnosed with a heart condition that required immediate surgery and forced him to cancel an upcoming tour. The episode unnerved him, but forced him to reflect on his life so far. This is the framework for his hilarious and moving memoir, And Away… Although his childhood in Middlesbrough was normal on the surface, it was tinged by the loss of his dad, and his own various misadventures (now infamous from his appearances on Would I Lie to You?), from burning down the family home to starting a short-lived punk band called Dog Dirt. As an adult, he trained as a solicitor and moved to London. Though he was doing pretty well (the South London Press once crowned him ‘The Cockroach King’ after a successful verdict), a chance encounter in a pub in the 1980s with a young comedian going by the name Vic Reeves set his life on a different track. And now, six years on, the heart condition that once threatened his career has instead led to new success on BBC2’s Gone Fishing. Warm, profound, and irrepressibly funny, And Away… is Bob’s full life story (with a few lies thrown in for good measure.)PLEASE NOTE: This book has been printed with three different colour designs, green, blue, and orange. We are unable to accept requests for a specific cover. The different covers will be assigned to orders at random. Σελίδες: 352, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0526, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

The hysterical, shocking and incredibly intimate memoir from one of the most original and unique comedians alive today. Hello! I’m Brian Limond, aka Limmy. You might know me from Limmy’s Show. Or you might not know me at all. Don’t worry if you don’t. They asked me to write a book about mental health, because I sometimes talk about my mental health in tweets and interviews, like suicidal thoughts and anxiety, and what I’ve done to try and deal with it. I said to them, oh, I don’t know if I could fill a whole book with just that. But how’s about I write a general autobiography type of thing, and all the mental health stuff will naturally appear along the way? I could talk about growing up and slashing my wrist and taking acid all the time and getting done for car theft and feeling like a mad freak that would never amount to anything. And then how I made my own sketch show. I directed it and everything. Plus I’m a dad. I’m an adult. But I still feel like that mad freak from years ago. I still feel like chucking it all away, for a laugh. I asked them if they wanted me to write about all that, plus some other stuff. Like being an alky. And my sexual problems. Stuff like that. They said aye. So here it is. Σελίδες: 352, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER | WITH EXCLUSIVE NEW MATERIAL\'I want to be Sheila Hancock when I grow up\' - Lorraine Kelly\'Wise, witty, kind and true\' – Sunday Times\'A sparkling memoir as funny and insightful as it’s moving\' – Daily Mail\'A captivating memoir\' – Mail on SundayIn 2016, Sheila Hancock sat down to write a book about a serene and fulfilled old age. This is not that book.In Old Rage, one of Britain’s best-loved actors opens up about her tenth decade. Funny, feisty, honest, she makes for brilliant company as she talks about her life and takes an uncompromising look at a world so different from the one of her wartime childhood. And yet – despite age, despite rage – she finds there are always reasons for joy.\'The much-loved actor candidly shares the fear, joy and frustration she has found in her ninth decade\' Guardian, Books of the Year 2022\'Sheila Hancock reflects upon her life and career with all the winning candour and warm-heartedness we have come to expect from the legendary actress\' Waterstones Σελίδες: 304, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1003, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

\'An outpouring of truth, wit, and beautiful comedic wisdom.\' Katherine Ryan\'Such a funny and interesting book.\' Sara Pascoe\'Finally my vagina has a voice!\' London Hughes\'Powerful, bold, vulnerable, beautiful, hilarious, universal, unique.\' Scarlett Curtis**********************************************For as long as she can remember, Grace Campbell has been told that she doesn\'t suit her name. But being graceful is no fun anyway.Growing up in a world of privilege and politics, she had a lot to feel confident about. But she was also a record-breaker when it came to feeling shame. Shame about sex, shame about rejection, shame about mental health.But over time, and with a 24 carat gold dose of female friendship, Grace has turned shame into a defiant sense of self. At only 27, Grace has got a lot to learn about being an adult, but she\'s already got a lot to share about being a disgrace, and how she came to be utterly, disgustingly, disgracefully proud of it.This is the book every young woman should read, and every young man should worry about. Σελίδες: 304, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1012, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

Kiefer Sutherland has not always led the pampered life of a son of celebrity parents. He has carved his own path, made his own mistakes, as well as some unusual and surprising life decisions along the way. Kiefer Sutherland: The Biography traces the actor\'s life from his childhood, through his parents\' divorce to his struggle to break into acting and the success he has achieved today. He has appeared in almost 60 films but his role as Jack Bauer in 24 has given him a new, international audience. This biography explores his versatility as an actor, his involvement with the Brat Pack when he became known as a hellraiser, and the years when he turned his back on Hollywood to travel on the rodeo circuit. In this first biography of the notorious actor, the author will explore the relationships in Kiefer\'s life: the unique and enduring bond with his father, Donald Sutherland, and his chequered love life including the cancellation of his wedding to Julia Roberts. Bestselling writer Laura Jackson examines closely the many aspects of the actor\'s life revealing his true story for the first time. Σελίδες: 256, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0607, Διαστάσεις: 12.6x12.6cm

A heart-breaking and hilarious memoir about the author’s fight to be true to themself WINNER OF THE POLARI FIRST BOOK PRIZE 2020 WINNER OF A SOMERSET MAUGHAM AWARD Amrou knew they were gay when, aged ten, they first laid eyes on Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone. It was love at first sight. Amrou’s parents weren’t so happy… From that moment on, Amrou began searching in all the wrong places for ways to make their divided self whole again. Life as a Unicorn is a hilarious yet devastating story of a search for belonging, following the painful and surprising process of transforming from a god-fearing Muslim boy to a queer drag queen, strutting the stage in seven-inch heels and saying the things nobody else dares to …. Σελίδες: 304, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

Once in a generation a woman comes along who changes everything. Tina Fey is not that woman, but she met that woman once and acted weird around her.Before 30 Rock, Mean Girls and \'Sarah Palin\', Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher.She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV. She has seen both these dreams come true.At last, Tina Fey\'s story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately half-hearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon - from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.Tina Fey reveals all in this hilarious memoir, and proves what we\'ve all suspected: you\'re no one until someone calls you bossy. Σελίδες: 304, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0131, Διαστάσεις: 13.4x13.4cm

Foreword by Sandi Toksvig | WATERSTONES\' BEST BOOKS OF 2023: ENTERTAINMENT\'Give this book to everyone you know - NOW!\' Miriam Margolyes\'This is a joyous, uplifting book\' Observer\'He was so funny and such fun and here he is again in all his rib-tickling glory\' Gyles Brandreth‘I don’t know how long I’ve got left … I don’t even buy green bananas anymore’ When the legendary comedian Barry Cryer died in January 2022, there was a vast outpouring of grief, appreciation and anecdotes – from the general public and fellow comics alike. Now, his son, Bob, is doing what Barry’s humility did not allow: revealing the story of the man behind the jokes.This book is an ode both to Barry’s incredible life and to the lessons he so generously imparted on the art of comedy during his sixty-year career. Stretching from the music halls of the fifties, via working alongside everyone from Morecambe and Wise to Kenny Everett and David Frost, and into more recent times as a stalwart of Radio 4’s long-running I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, where he worked with Rob Brydon and David Mitchell among many others, this book is a hugely entertaining insight into the life of a true comedy legend. Bob also shares a range of exclusive material unique to the Cryer family – including family photos, memorabilia, oral recordings, interviews with friends and colleagues (among them Michael Palin and Eric Idle) – as well as Bob’s own personal reflections on living and working with a comedy icon. Laced with candour, warmth and filled with his trademark humour, Barry Cryer: Same Time Tomorrow? is not just a wonderfully witty and affectionate biography of a father by a son, but a heartwarming insight into a vanishing era of comedy. Σελίδες: 304, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1001, Διαστάσεις: 19.6x19.6cm

This clear, accessible guide to creating and putting on a solo show is packed with inspiring, practical advice for writers, actors, directors, and anyone who wants to know how solo shows are actually made. Written by two theatremakers with a wealth of experience in the field, it leads you through the whole process – from finding a subject you\'re passionate about, to developing your ideas and getting the script written, through to rewrites, rehearsals and getting your show on stage. It tackles key questions such as: What makes a \'good\' solo show? How do I engage the audience? How should directors and writer-performers work together? And what\'s the best way of approaching a producer? There\'s also invaluable advice on looking after yourself, coping with anxieties, dealing with reviews, and taking your show to the Edinburgh Fringe. With practical exercises throughout to help you put everything into action, this book is an indispensable toolkit for making your solo show a reality. Lisa Carroll is a playwright, screenwriter and comedian, whose plays have been staged at Soho Theatre, the Arcola Theatre, and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Milly Thomas is an actor and writer whose plays have been staged at Theatre503, the Edinburgh Fringe, Soho Theatre, the West End\'s Trafalgar Studios and New York Theatre Workshop. Together, Lisa and Milly have taught regular solo-show workshops, including for training and creative organisation The Mono Box. The Compact Guides are pocket-sized introductions for actors and theatremakers, each tackling a key topic in a clear and comprehensive way. Written by industry professionals with extensive hands-on experience of their subject, they provide you with maximum information in minimum time. Σελίδες: 192, Διαστάσεις: 11.1x11.1cm

‘Pacy, witty and affectionate’ Guardian Rob Beckett never seems to fit in. At work, in the middle-class world of television and comedy, he’s the laddy, cockney geezer but to his mates down the pub in south-east London, he’s the theatrical one, a media luvvy. Even his wife and kids are posher than him. In this hilarious exploration of class, Rob tries to understand the life he lived growing up as a working-class kid in comparison to the life he lives now. Will he ever favour a craft beer over strong lager? When did it become normal for kids to eat sushi? Is he still working class? Why does he feel so embarrassed about success? And, will it ever be acceptable to serve pie mash on a wooden board? Tackling the questions big and small, A Class Act is a funny, candid, often moving account of what it feels like to be an outsider and why actually that’s the best (slightly awkward) place to be. Σελίδες: 288, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

Lessons in life from the fabulous, fearless, and phenomenal world of drag Drag is a world of larger-than-life personalities, glamorous looks, and attitude to die for. When you feel lacking in confidence, unsure of yourself, or just plain unhappy, who better to give you a boost of self-esteem than the queens and kings of the drag world? With their firm belief that anyone can be who they want to be, they are living proof that you can change what you don\'t like about your life and even yourself. With the help of real-life drag stories, Brandi Amara Skyy shows you how to follow the rules of drag, to be the most fabulous you that you can be.  Σελίδες: 144, Διαστάσεις: 11.5x11.5cm

From before history was recorded to the present day, theatre has been a major artistic form around the world. From puppetry to mimes and street theatre, this complex art has utilized all other art forms such as dance, literature, music, painting, sculpture, and architecture. Every aspect of human activity and human culture can be, and has been, incorporated into the creation of theatre. In this Very Short Introduction Marvin Carlson takes us through Ancient Greece and Rome, to Medieval Japan and Europe, to America and beyond, and looks at how the various forms of theatre have been interpreted and enjoyed. Exploring the role that theatre artists play -- from the actor and director to the designer and puppet-master, as well as the audience -- this is an engaging exploration of what theatre has meant, and still means, to people of all ages at all times. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. Σελίδες: 160, Διαστάσεις: 11.4x11.4cm

Adapted from a series of four lectures, originally delivered as the first of the Granada Northern Lectures Peter Brook\'s The Empty Space is an exploration of four aspects of theatre, \'Deadly, Holy, Rough and Immediate\', published in Penguin Modern Classics.\'I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage\'In The Empty Space, groundbreaking director Peter Brook draws on a life in love with the stage to explore the issues facing any theatrical performance. Here he describes important developments in theatre from the last century, as well as smaller scale events, from productions by Stanislavsky to the rise of Method Acting, from Brecht\'s revolutionary alienation technique to the free form Happenings of the 1960s, and from the different styles of such great Shakespearean actors as John Gielgud and Paul Scofield to a joyous impromptu performance in the burnt-out shell of the Hamburg Opera just after the war. Passionate, unconventional and fascinating, his book shows how theatre defies rules, builds and shatters illusions and creates lasting memories for its audiences.Peter Stephen Paul Brook CH CBE (b. 1925) is a highly influential British theatrical producer and director. During the 1950s he worked on many productions in Britain, Europe, and the USA, and in 1962 returned to Stratford-upon-Avon to join the newly established Royal Shakespeare Company. Throughout the next the 1960\'s he directed many ground breaking productions for the RSC before in 1970 forming The International Centre for Theatre Research in Paris. If you enjoyed The Empty Space, you might like John Berger\'s Ways of Seeing, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.\'A brilliant book ... should be read by the many besides the passionate few to whom it will be required reading\'Daily Telegraph Σελίδες: 160, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

If you grow up in a world where wrinkles are practically illegal, going bald is cause for a mental breakdown, and women over size zero are encouraged to shoot themselves (immediately), what the hell do you do if you’re, gasp … DISABLED? Whatever body you’re born into, the pressure to be normal is everywhere. But have you ever met a normal person? What do they look like? Where do they live? What do they eat for breakfast?And what the **** does normal mean anyway?This is the award-winning wobbly comedian Francesca Martinez’s funny, personal, and universal story of how she learned to stick two shaky fingers up to the crazy expectations of a world obsessed with being ‘normal’. Σελίδες: 336, Διαστάσεις: 12.6x12.6cm

Him & Me is a hugely entertaining and irreverent account of a unique relationship between a father and son. Written in two distinctive styles, it reflects the larger-than-life personalities of its authors, Jack and Michael Whitehall. \'This book is a portrait of the pretty odd relationship I have with my elderly father. It\'s given me an opportunity to share memories of him losing his temper with foreigners on holidays, being rude to my mother\'s family at Christmas and failing epically during the fathers\' race at my prep school. He\'s also written some stories about me, but can I just say, before you read anything, that I recall being a calm, well-behaved and learned child, not the intellectually subnormal, mal-coordinated dipshit that he paints me as. Nor am I, as he suggests inside, a sex addict, a flasher or a Scientologist.\' Jack \'How dare Jack refer to me as elderly! People always tell me how young I look for my age. In this book, I have at last been able to recount the many occasions when I have been let down by my only son. He failed on the stage, the sports field and he even screwed up the interview for his first boarding school by pretending he had mental health issues. Despite being practically illiterate, he tells stories about me, strewn with grammatical errors and peppered with endless exaggerations and lies. I was a kind, doting father, who guided his son through his formative years with love, care and respect.\' Michael \'I\'m not your only son, what about Barnaby?\' \'Oh yes, I forgot about Barnaby.\' Packed with anecdotes, some embarrassing and indiscreet, many warm and touching, Him & Me is lavishly illustrated with family photographs and Jack\'s original illustrations. Friends, relatives, neighbours, teachers, actors, none are safe once Jack and Michael have opened up the Whitehall archives and shared their hilarious memories with us. Praise for Him & Me: \'The rapport between them is palpable and priceless . . . crackles with their back-and-forth dynamic... an embarrassment of biographical riches\' Daily Telegraph \'Disgracefully funny and rather touching\' R4 Midweek Jack Whitehall is a comedian, actor and television presenter. Following his first solo show at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, he has subsequently won numerous comedy awards, most recently King of Comedy, voted for by the public at both the 2012 and 2013 British Comedy Awards. A regular guest on panel shows, including Have I Got News For You and A League of Their Own, he is currently starring in two hit TV series: Bad Education for the BBC, which he also wrote, and the award-winning Channel 4 series Fresh Meat in which he plays JP. Jack\'s new national arena tour Jack Whitehall Gets Around played to sell-out audiences across the country and will be available on DVD this Autumn. Michael Whitehall as a theatrical agent has been involved in the careers of many eminent actors, including Colin Firth, Richard Griffiths, Angela Thorne, Michael Fassbender, Daniel Day Lewis, Nigel Havers and Judi Dench. He is also a television and theatre producer. His memoir Shark Infested Waters was published in 2007 and is currently being developed for television. He appeared with Jack at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Backchat, which was subsequently commissioned by BBC TV as a six-part series and screened in the Autumn of 2013. A second series is due for transmission in the Summer of 2014. He recently fulfilled his lifelong ambition of appearing in Dictionary Corner on Countdown. Σελίδες: 384, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA Times, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Radio Times, Daily Herald and FT Book of the Year\'I was born with a warped sense of humour and when I was carried home from being born it was Coronation Day and so I was called Victoria but you are not supposed to know who wrote this anyway it is about time I unleashed my pent-up emotions in a bitter comment on the state of our society but it\'s not quite me so I think I shall write a heart-warming story with laughter behind the tears and tears behind the laughter which means hysterics to you Philistines...\'From \'Pardon?\' by Vicky Wood, Aged 14. Bury Grammar School (Girls) Magazine, 1967In her passport Victoria Wood listed her occupation as \'entertainer\' - and in stand-up and sketches, songs and sitcom, musicals and dramas, she became the greatest entertainer of the age. Those things that might have held her back - her lonely childhood, her crippling shyness and above all the disadvantage of being a woman in a male-run industry - she turned to her advantage to make extraordinary comedy about ordinary people living ordinary lives in ordinary bodies. She wasn\'t fond of the term, but Victoria Wood truly was a national treasure - and her loss is still keenly felt. Victoria had plenty of stories still to tell when she died in 2016, and one of those was her own autobiography. \'I will do it one day,\' she told the author and journalist Jasper Rees. \'It would be about my childhood, about my first few years in showbusiness, which were really interesting and would make a really nice story.\' That sadly never came to pass, so Victoria\'s estate has asked Jasper Rees, who interviewed her more than anyone else, to tell her extraordinary story in full. He has been granted complete and exclusive access to Victoria\'s rich archive of personal and professional material, and has conducted over 200 interviews with her family, friends and colleagues - among them Victoria\'s children, her sisters, her ex-husband Geoffrey Durham, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Dawn French, Anne Reid, Imelda Staunton and many more. What emerges is a portrait of a true pioneer who spoke to her audience like no one before or since. Σελίδες: 592, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1012, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

Life advice from a screen legend Arguably one of the most recognisable actresses of all time, this unauthorised collection of inspirational quotes demonstrates the spirit of a true style icon, and reflects on charity, fashion, elegance, humanity, beauty and beyond.---\'Every day, you should have one exquisite moment.\'\'Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.\'\'You have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.\'\'Life is a party. Dress for it.\' Σελίδες: 96, Διαστάσεις: 12.6x12.6cm

Hilarious, heartwarming and inspirational, this is the number 1 Sunday Times bestselling autobiography by comedian Sarah Millican. The funniest book of the year! *****\'The naughtiest, helpiest, laughieoutloudiest and goodest book I\'ve ever done reading on. Give that girl a banana!\' DAWN FRENCH SARAH MILLICAN\'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, FEEL NORMAL AND PROBABLY SNIFF YOUR LEGGINGS. Part autobiography, part self help, part confession, part celebration of being a common-or-garden woman, part collection of synonyms for nunny, Sarah Millican\'s debut book delves into her super normal life with daft stories, funny tales and proper advice on how to get past life\'s blips - like being good at school but not good at friends, the excitement of IBS and how to blossom post divorce. If you\'ve ever worn glasses at the age of six, worn an off-the-shoulder gown with no confidence, been contacted by an old school bully, lived in your childhood bedroom in your thirties, been gloriously dumped in a Frankie and Benny\'s, cried so much you felt great, been for a romantic walk with a dog, worn leggings two days in a row even though they smelt of wee from a distance, then this is YOUR BOOK. If you haven\'t done those things but wish you had, THIS IS YOUR BOOK. If you just want to laugh on a train/sofa/toilet or under your desk at work, THIS IS YOUR BOOK. \'Of course Sarah Millican\'s book will make you laugh out loud, but there are moments where she will touch you deeply. The dirty bitch.\' KATHY BURKE Σελίδες: 304, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0529, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

\'With spot-on injections of humour and a frequently raised sardonic eyebrow, joy and warmth shine from this fascinating and funny book\' Jo BrandA joyful celebration of amateur theatreFrom the Mystery Plays of the Middle Ages, via the Georgian aristocrats who built opulent private theatres in their own homes, to the radical lefties taking political theatre to the streets, this is the story of amateur dramatics in Britain. We meet a cast of characters who tell us about the joy amateur theatre brings them and we follow the full arc of a production, from first auditions to last night party, with all the mishaps and forgotten lines that come in between. In a triumphant mix of memoir, social history and manifesto, Jenny Landreth opens our eyes to am-dram and shows us a vibrant world that is a crucial part of our culture. Σελίδες: 336, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

BE NO MAN\'S PEACE.Have you ever been badgered by an annoying pick-up artist at the bar? Ever felt a burning desire to emotionally torture a friend\'s boyfriend in an act of revenge? Have you ever endured just talking to a man before?If so, then this book is for you.With more than 100 phrases, questions, and comebacks, How to Piss Off Men is your essential guide to sending even the most relentless mansplainer into an existential crisis. Whether it\'s referring to his expensive football shirt as \'cosplay\' or letting him know he has the confidence of a much taller man, this handbook will ensure you\'re equipped to combat toxic masculinity in any situation.** The advice in this book has been thoroughly tested for effectiveness. Even on the author, bless his heart. Σελίδες: 144, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1112, Διαστάσεις: 14.2x14.2cm

A lesson in living, laughing and loving. Whether your boss has just fired you through a bathroom door or you need a reminder that hot people aren’t that interesting, there’s no better guide than Jennifer Coolidge. The queen of our hearts and our screens, JC has a lifetime of wisdom that we can all learn from, and this book captures the moistest kernels. Keep Coolidge and Carry On as you read up on her life and discover how to live yours better, whether that’s in a haunted house in New Orleans or on a vespa in Italy. Σελίδες: 104, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0227, Διαστάσεις: 16x16cm

From Charlamagne Tha God, host of the morning radio phenomenon The Breakfast Club, and founder and CEO of iHeartRadio’s Black Effect Podcast Network, a rundown on how small talk from small minds have taken over our world, and the BIG conversations needed to climb our way back. For over a decade, Charlamagne Tha God has cohosted iHeartRadio’s nationally syndicated morning radio show The Breakfast Club and has proven his power as a culture mover and thought leader, by being his completely authentic self on-air. From his famous “You ain\'t black” moment with President Biden, to heartfelt chats with cultural icons like Sean “Jay-Z” Carter and Judy Blume, to viral classics with Kamala Harris and Soulja Boy, his incredible reach and impact on American culture continues to grow. In Get Honest or Die Lying: Why Small Talk Sucks, Charlamagne takes full command of his new perch, broadening his scope and embracing his life roles as a cultural curator, social commentator, job-creator, mental health advocate, and Girl Dad in ways we’ve never seen before. In his signature irreverent style, he looks at the world through his own lens, concluding that many of our divisions, our unhappiness, and our dissatisfactions stem from our failure to have meaningful conversations with each other. With lessons pulled from his past, and an eye on the future, Get Honest or Die Lying: Why Small Talk Sucks makes us laugh, cry, and think as Charlamagne shares his thoughts on growth, empowerment, and evolution in our fast-changing world. In short—it’s time to stop lying to each other, and ourselves. Fame, money, social media, politics, hip-hop culture, and fatherhood, he takes it all on here. This master of seeing through the BS even calls it on himself, as he delivers his most insightful and heartfelt work yet—his call to stop the insanity while we still can. Σελίδες: 240, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0424, Διαστάσεις: 14x14cm

*A FEARNE COTTON HAPPY PLACE BOOK CLUB PICK*\'This book had sex with my brain!\' SARA PASCOE\'Hilarious. Intimate. Vital.\' JAMEELA JAMIL\'I couldn\'t put the book down!\' LAURA BATESComedian Sofie Hagen has not had sex in 3,000 days (and counting). And it turns out, she\'s not the only one . . .In an attempt to find out why we\'re not having the sex we want, Sofie asks the questions: can we blame a lacking sex education? Is it all just sexual trauma? Where\'s the radical sexual liberation we were promised? What are we going to do about this? Should she have slept with that guy in that bush that one time? How do you overcome being a 35-year-old virgin (when it comes to queer sex, that is)? How do the socially awkward and the neurodiverse have sex?In Will I Ever Have Sex Again?, Sofie Hagen explores the quirks and difficulties of being an \'involuntary celibate\' (but one of the feminist, progressive ones). With a blend of memoir and conversations with experts, therapists, sex workers, porn stars, comedians and public figures, this is a humorous and bold undertaking to gain a better understanding of how we can think, talk and feel about sex.\'I was expecting a tad more tahini\' YOTTAM OTTOLENGHI\'Refreshingly honest\' ROSIE JONES\'Warm, Curious, Charming\' AUBREY GORDON Σελίδες: 288, Διαστάσεις: 13.2x13.2cm

Jackie Goldschneider, star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, bravely chronicles her decades-long battle with anorexia and public journey to recovery in this “courageously candid” (Kirkus Reviews) memoir.All Jackie Goldschneider ever wanted was to be thin. As a child, she’d stand in front of the mirror, sucking in her stomach and arching her back to feel her ribs, praying to see a model-like figure looking back. As an obese teen, lonely and tormented by her weight, her doctor encouraged her to start dieting, ultimately leading to a prolonged battle with anorexia that nearly took her life. After decades of hiding her eating disorder from friends, family, and the world, Jackie is ready to expose the realities of her devastating struggle, including the harrowing day-to-day tactics she employed to count calories and restrict meals, her struggles with fertility and pregnancy, the effects of her eating disorder on her relationships with her husband and children, and ultimately how, in a twist of fate, becoming a reality TV star saved her life. The Weight of Beautiful is Jackie’s personal story, but within it are also the stories of millions like her, striving to lead healthy, happy lives despite their eating disorders. In the vein of Unbearable Lightness, Hiding from Reality, and What Remains, The Weight of Beautiful is a moving testament of strength, honesty, and recovery. Σελίδες: 256, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0313, Διαστάσεις: 15.2x15.2cm

By turns hilarious, revelatory and desperately sad, here is the autobiography of the man whose TV and stage appearances such as Hello Dolly!, Some Mothers Do `Ave \'Em and The Phantom of the Opera have made him a national institution. The story of the true identity of his father, which is behind this book\'s title, leads into an evocative depiction of his tender childhood years. Whilst all the men were away at war, Crawford was surrounded by loving women. For him this was an idyllic wartime childhood, but the return of the men in peacetime signalled darker times to come. Crawford\'s infectious enjoyment of stage work illumines his account of his early struggles to make a name for himself in the theatre business, and his early failures with girls are lifted by his abiding sense of the absurd. Both in his private life and his work as a successful actor and TV comedian, he begins a lifetime\'s habit of pratfalls that he would later turn to good use in the character of Frank Spencer in smash hit 1970s TV comedy show Some Mothers Do`Ave \'Em. His talent for mimicry makes the great personalities in his life come alive on the page; people he has worked with, including Benjamin Britten who taught him to sing, John Lennon - with whom he shared a villa - and Oliver Reed, Michael Winner, Barbra Steisand, Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. Σελίδες: 448, Διαστάσεις: 11.1x11.1cm

Afterword by Alzheimer\'s Research UK. \'Shobna Gulati is the Northern heroine of a nation\' - Lemn Sissay\'Lucid and probing\' - Guardian\'Wonderful and emotional, a masterpiece of resilience.\' - Emma Kennedy Remember Me? is a memoir about caring for a parent with dementia and the memories that resurface in the process. In her first book, Shobna Gulati sets out to reclaim her mother\'s past after her death, and in turn, discovers a huge amount about herself and their relationship. Remember Me? captures the powerful emotions that these memories hold to both Shobna and her mother; secrets they had collectively buried and also the concealment of her mother\'s condition. What ensues is a story of cultural assimilation, identity and familial shame.\'A raw, honest, moving and wry account of the complexity of a mother daughter relationship convoluted by the torment of dementia.\' - Sanjeev Bhaskar\'Gulati\'s book not only describes the complexities of caring (we must not forget its joys, she says, alongside its difficulties) and her mother\'s dementia, it is also an exploration of identity.\' - Guardian\'You\'ll find yourself not wanting to leave her trusted embrace.\' - Desiree Burch\'Beautifully written. Heartfelt.\' - Kate Robbins \'I laughed, I cried ... a relationship like no other.\' - Ferne Mccann Σελίδες: 272, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1227, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

\'Funny, filthy and fantastic. Cackled from start to finish\' - Rylan ClarkHow do you ask your mate for that £50 back?When is OK to trump in front of your partner?And what should you do if you\'ve accidentally sexted your boss?William and Jordan are from very different worlds.William\'s an etiquette expert, with his tongue firmly in his teacup and unparalleled knowledge of table linen. Jordan\'s a TV and radio presenter, the patron saint of Burnley and an expert in all things common. Together they\'ve entertained millions of listeners worldwide with their hit podcast Help I Sexted My Boss.Now, they’ve pooled all of their wisdom on how to get through life’s most awkward moments.From candlelight suppers to picky teas, first dates to flatmate dramas, Help I Sexted My Boss is full of both useful and useless advice. This is your indispensable guide to navigating the trepidation and challenges of modern life.\'Hilarious lads.. and weirdly useful. This generation’s Ant and Dec. If one of them was really posh. Great read\' - Vicky PattisonSunday Times Bestseller, November 2023 Σελίδες: 368, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

For fans of Really Good Actually and I\'m Glad My Mom Died\'Moving, hilarious and generally astonishing\' - Guardian\'The most fun a reader can have this summer\' - Daisy Buchanan\'Brave, funny and moving\' - Aisling Bea \'A deftness that catches your breath\' - Fern Brady\'An incredible piece of writing\' - Brett Goldstein\'Interrogates moments of trauma with insight, kindness and humanity\' - John RobinsThis is a book about mistakes. And why we should de-flower shame in all its messy, complicated glory...This book contains tales of dead dads, pretend dead dads, getting barred from an osteopath\'s, getting arrested, sex crimes and forgiveness. I used to be addicted to boys and alcohol and then men and alcohol and then some other things. I was a little unhinged. I\'ve got some great stories about when I was as mad as cheese and then some more stories about how I got less mad and more happy.If that\'s the sort of thing you\'re after, please pick me up and take me to bed (that\'s the book speaking so a little joke there). Σελίδες: 288, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

A SUNDAY TIMES BEST FILM AND THEATRE BOOK OF 2022 \'Anyone in love with the arts will fall in love with this beautifully written and fascinating book\' Kathy Burke Astonish Me! is an adrenaline-charged rollercoaster through history\'s seismic first nights, exploring how individual artists can change and shape the story of culture - and allow us to see ourselves in new ways. It tells of times when \'the air between people seems to alter\' as art achieves profound change, across the globe and across history. Dominic Dromgoole has created a radical and fresh canon. He begins in New York in 1963, as Lorraine Hansberry remakes American theatre and a nation\'s perception of race. And then, as the lights go up, we find ourselves in Renaissance Florence, watching Michelangelo\'s David being hauled into the Piazza della Signoria. The dust settles and we are transported to the birth of theatre in fifth-century Athens - and then to Paris to meet with Diaghilev and Stravinsky for the Rite of Spring. We witness kabuki\'s creation, as a radical women\'s performance, in Kyoto; the Sex Pistols shattering Thatcherite Britain at Manchester\'s Free Trade Hall; and watch as Hitchcock directs Psycho. Σελίδες: 384, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1005, Διαστάσεις: 13.6x13.6cm

Relatively little has been written about how ballet teachers become teachers themselves and how each generation passes on its experience to the next. The teacher-dancer relationship within the context of the Russian classical tradition is a theme of “A Life Well Danced”. It is presented through the lens of a young girl who lived through emigration and displacement at the time of the Russian Revolution, who experienced this again as an adult after the Second World War and who went on to establish a successful career as a teacher, examiner and choreographer. The book also touches on the teaching and performing of European character dance which is also an under-appreciated field.   “A Life Well Danced” was inspired by the author’s direct connection through Zybina and her teachers, Nicolai Legat in London, Evgenia Eduardova in Berlin and Elena Poliakova in Belgrade, to the flowering of Russian classical ballet in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when Marius Petipa was choreographing works such as Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. An interview with Zybina provides the framework for material in memoirs and first-hand accounts that are drawn upon for their lively descriptions of the Imperial Theatre School and the Mariinsky ballet company in St. Petersburg. Born in Moscow, Zybina and her family fled to Europe at the time of the Russian Revolution. Her first marriage to an English diplomat took her to Belgrade and a career as a dancer and ballet mistress in Yugoslavia. The Second World War saw her still in Yugoslavia with her second husband when they and a number of close friends worked in intelligence on behalf of the Allies. A strange twist of events, brought them to England where Zybina established her ballet school and became an examiner for the Federation of Russian Classical Ballet and the Society of Russian Style Ballet Schools. Σελίδες: 304, Διαστάσεις: 15.6x15.6cm