Het leven is vol uitdagingen: onverwachte ontmoetingen in de sauna, haperende telefoons, onaardige grondstewardessen die je bagage niet willen inchecken, al die dingen waar je mee zou moeten stoppen (klagen, uitstellen, pleasen), het gapende gat tussen hoe je bent en hoe je zou willen zijn. Hoe blijf je dan een goed mens? In Hee mooie ziel probeert Fleur Overgaag orde aan te brengen in de chaos door het mooie te zien in het geworstel van al die curlingouders, paardencoaches, langsrazende fietsers, ongeduldige types, overprikkelde lotgenoten, en vooral van zichzelf. Hilarische, troostrijke en pijnlijk herkenbare verhalen. Een onweerstaanbaar boek voor iedereen die zich staande probeert te houden in de onzin van alledag en zichzelf niet te serieus wil nemen.

Hee mooie ziel

De gehaaide schoolpleinmoeder, de wandelende wijnfles, de zeikerd, de bemoeimoeder, de tijd voor mezelf-moeder, de bescheidenheid zelve, de begrijpende echtgenote, de kandidaat-stiefmoeder, de goedbedoelende vriendin, de poezenmoeder, de betweter, de vermoeide juf en de vrouw met smetvrees. De gekke wijven-columns die Sylvia Witteman voor LINDA. schrijft, werden in korte tijd uiterst populair. Witteman neemt de Nederlandse vrouw in al haar onthutsende varianten kritisch onder de loep. En dat doet ze op een manier zoals we van haar gewend zijn: met onnavolgbare humor en een venijnig oog voor de pijnlijke details.

Gekke wijven en andere types

De bijzonderste, meest hilarische reisverhalen van 'Who Els', die in B&B Vol Liefde de harten van heel Nederland veroverde – geschreven en ingesproken door Els zelf. Afgelopen zomer keek heel Nederland naar het tv-programma B&B Vol Liefde. En als er één deelnemer uit sprong, dan was het wel voormalig stewardess Els. Door haar innemendheid, scherpe humor en talent als gastvrouw sloot iedereen Els in het hart. Het was dan ook een schok voor veel kijkers toen Els in Schotland door de B&B-eigenaar werd weggestuurd. Maar terug in Nederland zit Els niet bij de pakken neer. Het liefdesverdriet waait over en in korte tijd wordt ze razend populair op Instagram, waar ze haar dagelijkse belevenissen en haar bijzondere avonturen als stewardess deelt. Bijna twintig jaar lang vloog ze de hele wereld over, en daar kan ze geweldig over vertellen. In Somewhere Els deelt Els al haar reisavonturen en geeft ze een kijkje achter de schermen. Ze vertelt openhartig over het fascinerende beroep van stewardess: over de bijzondere ontmoetingen met passagiers, het keihard werken op tien kilometer hoogte, de hilarische situaties met reizigers, de hechte band met collega's en de fijne tussenstops op exotische bestemmingen.

Somewhere Els

Als Poppy na haar wereldreis dolverliefd én zwanger bij chef-kok Alex in Amsterdam-Zuid komt wonen, blijken daar eigen regels te gelden. De wereld van schone schijn, botox, roddels en rijkdom staat ver af van haar vrije, spirituele opvoeding. Na de geboorte van hun zoontje Wolf is de roze kraamwolk ver te zoeken en verandert Zuid in een mijnenveld waar de moedermaffia heerst en altijd meekijkt. Ondertussen komt het liefdadigheidsevenement van het jaar waarbij Alex een belangrijke rol heeft steeds dichterbij. Zal Poppy zich staande houden?

Zuid-moeders breken niet

De dieren op een boerderij komen in opstand tegen hun meester – de mens – en nemen zelf de macht in handen. De varkens, die lang tevoren in het geheim hebben leren lezen en schrijven, werpen zich op als de natuurlijke leiders van de revolutie. Zij staan immers op een hoger intellectueel peil dan de andere dieren. Ze breiden hun voorrechten steeds verder uit en vormen een nieuwe elite, even oppermachtig als de oude heersers. De catastrofale ineenstorting van deze gemeenschap kan ten slotte niet uitblijven. Animal Farm, geschreven in 1943, is een klassiek geworden satire op een totalitaire staat en samenleving, die vandaag de dag nog niets aan zeggingskracht heeft verloren.

Animal Farm

New York Times Bestseller ""There is no writer quite like Dolly Alderton working today and very soon the world will know it.” —Lisa Taddeo, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Three Women “Dolly Alderton has always been a sparkling Roman candle of talent. She is funny, smart, and explosively engaged in the wonders and weirdness of the world. But what makes this memoir more than mere entertainment is the mature and sophisticated evolution that Alderton describes in these pages. It’s a beautifully told journey and a thoughtful, important book. I loved it.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and City of Girls The wildly funny, occasionally heartbreaking internationally bestselling memoir about growing up, growing older, and learning to navigate friendships, jobs, loss, and love along the ride When it comes to the trials and triumphs of becoming an adult, journalist and former Sunday Times columnist Dolly Alderton has seen and tried it all. In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, finding a job, getting drunk, getting dumped, realizing that Ivan from the corner shop might just be the only reliable man in her life, and that absolutely no one can ever compare to her best girlfriends. Everything I Know About Love is about bad dates, good friends and—above all else— realizing that you are enough. Glittering with wit and insight, heart and humor, Dolly Alderton’s unforgettable debut weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of lists, recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with women of every age—making you want to pick up the phone and tell your best friends all about it. Like Bridget Jones’ Diary but all true, Everything I Know About Love is about the struggles of early adulthood in all its terrifying and hopeful uncertainty.

Everything I Know About Love

‘Ik word wakker, doe een plas, sta op en denk: Verrek, het moest andersom.’ Of, zoals Finkers ooit al zei: ‘De leukste grappen zijn de grappen die niet zijn bedacht, maar ja, bedenk die maar eens.’ In oneliners als deze, maar ook in verzen als: ‘Ik zit voor het raam, ik fluister zacht haar naam: Veldhuis,’ wordt bij Finkers het ongerijmde geloofwaardiger dan het gezond verstand, dat immers al genoeg ellende veroorzaakt. Zijn wijsheden worden evenveel geciteerd in het café als op filosofencongressen. Finkers op papier is plezier waar je lach- en denkrimpels van krijgt. In deze audiouitgave zijn een deel uit de overzichtswerken De cursus ‘omgaan met teleurstellingen’ gaat wederom niet door en Poëzie, zo moeilijk nie opgenomen. Een deel van de teksten bevat bijdragen van Wilfried Finkers.

De cursus 'omgaan met teleurstellingen' gaat wederom niet door - Poëzie, zo moeilijk nie

Omdat ze zich afvroegen of zij nou de enigen waren bij wie de rafelranden de successen overschaduwen, gingen schrijvers Roos Schlikker en Malou Holshuijsen op onderzoek uit. In de succesvolle podcast ‘Dit komt nooit meer goed’ interviewen ze grote namen over het moment in hun leven dat ze dit dachten. En hoe het toch goed kwam. Of niet. Nu zijn Malou en Roos zelf aan de beurt. In dit boek vertellen ze genadeloos eerlijk over de pijn in hun levens. Grote drama’s en klein gênant leed (hoewel, noem een aanzoek onder water maar klein leed...), alles komt aan bod. Van dood en verderf tot levendige mislukkingen, tot ongemakkelijke interviews tot de kunst van het opvoeden (of het gebrek daaraan), tot, o ja, ‘jij bent toch van de televisie?’ Het boek dat je aan je falende vrienden geeft, of zelf leest en beseft dat je niet de enige bent die het soms even niet meer helder ziet, geschreven door twee bijzondere schrijfsters.

Dit komt nooit meer goed

From the author of Everything I Know About Love and longtime Sunday Times Style columnist comes advice and answers to your questions about dating, love, sex, family, friendship and more. “One of the foremost ‘it’ writers of our time. . . . There is no writer quite like Dolly.”—Lisa Taddeo, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Three Women “Nora Ephron for the millennial generation.”—Elizabeth Day, author of How to Fail and The Party For years, New York Times bestselling author Dolly Alderton has been sharing her wisdom, warmth, and wit with the diverse universe of fans who have turned to her “Dear Dolly” column seeking guidance on a host of life problems. Dolly has thoughtfully answered questions ranging from the painfully—and sometimes hilariously—relatable to the occasionally bizarre. They include breakups and body issues, families, relationships platonic and romantic, dating, divorce, the pleasures and pitfalls of social media, sex, loneliness, longing, love and everything in between. Without judgement, and with deep empathy informed by her own, much-chronicled adventures with love, friends, and dating, Dolly helps us navigate the labyrinths of life. In this wonderful collection, she brings together her collected knowledge in one invaluable volume that will make you think, make you laugh, and help you confront any conundrum or crisis.

Dear Dolly

We leerden Hendrik Groen kennen door zijn dagboek Pogingen iets van het leven te maken. Samen met zijn vriend Evert en de andere leden van de Oud-maar-niet-dood-club probeert Hendrik zijn laatste levensjaren in een verzorgingshuis in Amsterdam-Noord zo aangenaam mogelijk te maken.Van tijd tot tijd valt het Hendrik zwaar om de moed erin te houden. Gelukkig heeft hij de pen weer opgepakt. Met de hem zo kenmerkende charmante humor neemt hij de medebewoners, de directie, zijn vrienden en de ouderdom in het algemeen op de korrel, waarbij hij zichzelf zeker niet spaart. De pers overZolang er leven is 'De dagboekfragmenten zijn charmant, soms hilarisch.' Elsevier 'Op elke dag wordt weer even geniaal gereflecteerd. Actualiteit, humor en de zwaarte van het leven komen in perfecte balans aan de orde.' **** Boekenkrant 'Instant humeur-oppepper!' Zin

Zolang er leven is

'This is every woman’s dream revenge plot come to life.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Are you on a date that doesn’t feel right? Can’t shake that creepy guy at the bar?Worried you’re being followed home?Message M.After one too many terrifying encounters, Millie Masters sets up a hotline for women who feel unsafe walking home alone at night: Message M. But very quickly she realises that there’s much more to be done to help the women who call in. Because the men just do it again the next night, and the next, and the next… And when her own sister is assaulted on a night out, the temptation to take the law into her own hands becomes too much to resist. Because M can also stand for murder… A deliciously dark, hilariously twisted serial killer thriller with a villainous female lead. Perfect for fans of Bella Mackie’s How to Kill Your Family, Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer, or anyone who enjoyed watching You. Readers are OBSESSED with How to Kill a Guy in Ten Ways!‘A masterclass in murder. Millie is the serial killer you never knew you needed in your life.’ LM Chilton ‘Deliriously dark and incredibly funny. How to Kill a Guy in Ten Ways is a wild revenge comedy that had me reading all night…Addictive and twisty, I loved it!’ Katie Marsh ‘We love the dark humour in this thriller.’ That’s Life Crime Scene ‘Eve Kellman – I applaud you. This was absolutely fantastic.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book! Brilliant twists all the way through and so cleverly written. A must read!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is … clever, quick-paced, and such a twist on the serial killer genre.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely LOVED this book! I flew through it! The feminine rage and the witty banter was *chefs kiss*. I can't wait for this to come out so I can buy copies for all my friends!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Ways

Lach je een breuk met Kidsweek! Wat is het verschil tussen een tandarts en een schoolmeester? Nou, bij de tandarts moet je mond open en bij de meester moet je mond dicht! In dit nieuwe moppenboek van de leukste krant van Nederland vind je de allerbeste moppen en raadsels over school. Dus trek je lolbroek en je grapjas aan en maak je juf of meester en al je klasgenoten aan het lachen met dit boek. Maar pas wel op: voor je het weet rol je uit de schoolbanken van het lachen... Het Kidsweek moppenboek deel 10 is het perfecte cadeautje voor grapjurken van 7 tot 99 jaar!

Kidsweek

Kidsweek moppenboek 10 - school

We gaan weer naar kantoor! Of je nu staat te popelen om eindelijk weer te gaan, of liever thuis blijft werken, dit is het moment voor een boek vol wijze lessen: Het onmisbare lijstjesboek van Japke-d. Bouma. De 8 dingen die je beter niet kunt zeggen tijdens een functioneringsgesprek, de top 10 van het ergste zoomjargon, 9 tips om duidelijker te schrijven op je werk, de 5 beste tips voor als je een hoger salaris wilt, de 17 beste smoezen voor op het werk, presenteren, profileren, afscheidsborrels – alles staat erin. Voor iedereen die zo een call in moet, een leidinggevende tevreden probeert te houden of te maken heeft met ‘product owners’, vergadertijgers en statusgevoelige CEO’s: De 19 dingen die je nooit met collega's moet doen is een onmisbaar boek vol lijstjes en verhalen met op elke pagina een handzaam carrièreadvies.

De 19 dingen die je nooit met collega's moet doen

In 'Max Havelaar', geschreven door Multatuli, wordt de lezer geconfronteerd met de wrede uitbuiting van Javaanse koffieboeren door de Nederlandse koloniale machthebbers. Het boek is een mix van proza en sociaal-realistische elementen, waarbij de auteur gebruik maakt van een satirische en krachtige stijl. Multatuli, pseudoniem van Eduard Douwes Dekker, verweeft autobiografische elementen met fictie, wat het verhaal zowel persoonlijk als universeel maakt. Zijn scherpe kritiek op het kolonialisme en de hypocrisie van de elites getuigt van zijn betrokkenheid bij sociale rechtvaardigheid en humanisme, en plaatst het boek in de context van de 19de-eeuwse Nederlandse literatuur die zich steeds kritischer begon te verhouden tot de koloniale praktijk. Multatuli was zelf een belangrijke maar complexe figuur in de Nederlandse literatuur en politiek. Geboren in 1820, was hij een ambtenaar in Nederlands-Indië, waar hij de ongerechtigheden van de koloniale overheersing van dichtbij meemaakte. Deze ervaringen vormden de basis voor 'Max Havelaar', dat in 1860 werd gepubliceerd en onmiddellijk een schokgolf veroorzaakte. Multatuli's diepgaande empathie voor de onderdrukten en zijn strijd voor sociale veranderingen maken hem tot een pionier in de literatuur, die de kracht van woorden gebruikte als een wapen tegen onrecht. 'Max Havelaar' is niet alleen een literaire klassieker, maar ook een dringende oproep tot reflectie over ethische verantwoordelijkheid en sociale rechtvaardigheid. Voor de hedendaagse lezer biedt het boek waardevolle inzichten in de historische context van kolonialisme en zijn blijvende impact. Het is een must-read voor iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in de thema's machtsstructuren en sociale ongelijkheid, en het stuurt een krachtige boodschap die relevant blijft in de moderne wereld.

Max Havelaar

“I’m sick to death of this particular self. I want another.” Virginia Woolf’s Orlando is the extraordinary biography of a young nobleman in the court of Elizabeth I who transforms into a woman and lives for over three centuries. In his youth, Orlando is a passionate lover and poet. He dotes on the Queen, serves King James faithfully, falls deeply in love with a Russian princess, and becomes an ambassador to Constantinople, but at his heart all Orlando ever wants to be is a great writer (and living at the same time as Marlowe, Donne, and Shakespeare, this is no easy thing). But while living in Constantinople, one evening Orlando is transformed into woman, though she retains all her memories and personality; the only thing that changes about Orlando is her body. Now as a woman, she must navigate complex and exclusionary legal systems throughout the ages, her own previous views on gender, society’s expectations of marriage, and her own ambitions as a poet—not to mention having to grapple with a seemingly immortal lifespan. An unusual and profound examination of gender roles, expression, and identity, Orlando is one of Woolf’s best known and best loved works, and it remains just as relevant and revolutionary today as when it was first published.

Orlando

De bloedspannende geschiedenis van de Targaryens uit de wereld van George R.R. Martin komt tot leven in dit absolute meesterwerk. Binnenkort te zien als de Game of Thrones-prequelserie House of the Dragon op HBO Max. Driehonderd jaar voordat Het Lied van IJs en Vuur begon, veroverde Aegon Targaryen met zijn zussen-gemalinnen en hun drie draken het continent Westeros. Meer dan 280 jaar hielden zijn nakomelingen de heerschappij in stand. Ze doorstonden opstanden, burgeroorlogen en familieruzies... totdat Robert Baratheon de waanzinnige koning Aerys II van zijn troon stootte. Dit is de geschiedenis van het grote Huis Targaryen, opgeschreven door aartsmaester Gyldayn, getranscribeerd door George R.R. Martin.

De wereld van het lied van ijs en vuur

Vuur en Bloed 1 - De Opkomst van het Huis Targaryen

Newly minted doctor Jane McGill is in hell. Not literally, of course. But between her drug addict patients, sleepless nights on call, and battling wits with the sadistic yet charming Sexy Surgeon, Jane can’t imagine an afterlife much worse than her first month of medical internship at County Hospital. And then there’s the devil herself: Jane’s senior resident Dr. Alyssa Morgan. When Alyssa becomes absolutely hell-bent on making her new interns pay tenfold for the deadly sin of incompetence, Jane starts to worry that she may not make it through the year with her soul or her sanity still intact.

Dr. Jane McGill

The Devil Wears Scrubs

‘Dark and funny’ Jackie Kabler, author of The Murder List ‘Deliciously dark and hilariously witty’ Sunday Post Say hello to Sally. ​ This is the story of how I killed Harry Collins. Destined to be the great love of my life – until one day I wake up in the Big Apple with the world's worst hangover, an empty bank account, and the sinking feeling that my life just nosedived. How it happened is a blur, but one thing is clear: I’ve been swindled and I’m not happy about it.​ ​She’s the woman of your dreams.​ And it's all thanks to Harry – a total dreamboat and a devil in disguise. He’s got charm, secrets, and a smile that screams trouble. Little did I know, Harry's not just a pretty face – he's a liar and conman.​ Or is she your worst nightmare?​ ​When I discover I’m not the only victim, I decide it’s only right I take my revenge. And with a group of wronged women behind me, murder isn’t on the agenda yet because Harry’s in for a nightmare and I’m only just getting started…​ ​A wicked, whip-smart revenge thriller, perfect for fans of Katy Brent, Bella Mackie and anyone who wants to take their revenge on The Tinder Swindler or Sweet Bobby.​ Readers LOVE When Sally Killed Harry!‘Darkly funny’ i News ‘Witty and sharp’ Bella ‘Everything a romcom gone wrong should be’ BookTrib ‘Sharp, brilliantly written, addictive’ Cosy Moose ‘Incredibly pacy, funny, oh-so-dark, devious and dare I say, relatable… I loved everything about it!’ Noelle Holton, author of His Truth Her Truth ‘Wow! I loved it. Devoured it in two days. It was dark, delicious and deadly.’ Louise Swanson, author of End of Story ‘I couldn't put it down … I'll have what Lucy Roth is having’ L.M. Chilton, author of Don’t Swipe Right ‘A bold and clever coming-of-rage story that gives a razor sharp twist on the classic romcom’ Victoria Hawthorne, author of The Darkest Night ‘The characters leapt off the page, their back stories were compelling and drove the story well. The Sally and Harry names riff was also good fun.’ Kay Wilson, author of The Stand-Up Mam 'Whip-smart characters and a compelling story' Lucy Vine, author of Date with Destiny ‘Found family, found salvation and found mission – plus a few surprises along the way. And yep, you will root for all of them.’ Reader review ‘Sally is a compelling anti-heroine who reminds me of Jason Dean – Christian Slater’s character from Heathers. She’s unhinged… and watching her unravel is part of the glee.’ Reader review ‘A darkly funny and unhinged wish fulfilment tale about women pushed to the edge to get justice in a patriarchal society.’ Reader review ‘If you’re looking for a rom-com that’s anything but conventional When Sally Killed Harrywill have you laughing, gasping and rooting for Sally and her crew every step of the way.’ Reader review ‘Sardonic and sharply written… a fun, fast-paced read’ Reader review ‘A bold, unapologetic and raw exploration of frustration, fury, and the simmering rage women feel when the world constantly asks them to tiptoe around their own pain’ Reader review ‘Hilariously witty, sharp and unfiltered’ Reader review ‘A book that tackles toxic masculinity head-on, not with kid gloves, but with a sledgehammer’ Reader review ‘It’s about amplifying the voices that have been silenced and empowering women to claim their space, their stories and their anger.’ Reader review

When Sally Killed Harry

Once, I knew this girl who sent a video of herself to her brother's best friend…while she was hopped up on pain meds. And he didn’t reciprocate her feelings. Sounds like a hilarious story, right? WRONG. This really happened…to ME, Melanie Taylor. That was five years ago, so I’m over it—over him. At least, I thought I was…until West got traded to the D.C. Eagles and moved to the same city as me! Oh yeah, did I forget to mention my brother’s best friend is Weston Kershaw? An incredibly talented and famous professional hockey player? Of course, I set out to avoid him completely but end up going to one of his games—against my will, I might add. When I have to face him again all of those stupid butterflies in my stomach return full force. Except this time, the attraction doesn’t feel so one-sided. This is a closed-door, dual POV romcom with mild language and innuendo. Trigger warnings: childhood trauma/anxiety.

D.C. Eagles Hockey

Passion or Penalty

Jan Versteegh, presentator, columnist bij Ouders van Nu én vader van twee dochters, beschrijft in Doodmoe en dolgelukkig op hilarische en eerlijke wijze wat je als aanstaande vader allemaal staat te wachten. Vanaf het moment dat de test twee streepjes aangeeft tot de dag dat je huilend voor de eerste keer op het schoolplein staat. En vergeet alles daartussenin niet. Jan neemt je mee langs de bevalling – zonder foto’s –, de kraamtijd, de eerste papadag, de nachtelijke uurtjes beneden, het contact met andere ouders en de wallen; die onder je ogen welteverstaan. Jan put uit zijn eigen leven en schroomt daarbij niet zijn blunders en missers te delen. Zodat ze jou niet overkomen. Of wel, maar dan ben je in ieder geval gewaarschuwd. Met tips, niet over hoe je een luier verschoont of je baby stil krijgt, maar wel hoe je zorgt dat je je vrouw niet in de weg loopt tijdens de bevalling en hoe je zo veel mogelijk uurtjes slaap bij elkaar sprokkelt tijdens die eerste maanden. Met vaderlijk advies en anekdotes van: Dominic Seldis, Jim Bakkum, Dennis Weening, Giel de Winter, Leo Alkemade en Wietze de Jager. ‘Met een trappelende baby in mijn buik dit boek gelezen. Gelachen én geleerd. Wat staat ons een boel te wachten en wat schrijft Jan het heerlijk op!’ Marieke Elsinga

Doodmoe en dolgelukkig

In dit prachtige jubileumboek blikt Karin Bloemen terug op 40 jaar in het theater én daarbuiten Als achtjarig meisje stond Karin Bloemen te zingen op de markt in Schagen, als tiener trad ze op als achtergrondzangeres van Gerard Joling. In 2023 is het veertig jaar geleden dat ze in de musical De zoon van Louis Davids haar eerste professionele schreden op het theaterpodium zette. Het was het begin van een sprankelende en bewogen carrière die nog lang niet ten einde is. In dit rijkgeillustreerde jubileumboek blikt Karin terug op veertig jaar theater en neemt ze je mee langs haar tumultueuze carrière en haar privéleven. Ze schetst het hobbelige pad langs uitverkochte zalen, een faillissement, gewonnen prijzen en een burn-out. Behalve over haar theaterprogramma’s vertelt ze openhartig over haar ervaringen in het schnabbelcircuit, haar werk voor radio en televisie en haar collega’s uit het vak. Met vlag en wimpers is een must-have voor iedere theater en cabaretliefhebber, barstensvol tot de verbeelding sprekende en vrolijke anekdotes. ‘Niemand is zo kleurrijk, royaal en krachtig als Karin. Ze tilt de avond altijd op, het maakt niet uit waar ze staat: als Karin zingt en grappen maakt, bloeit de hele zaal op tot en met de achterste rij van het balkon. De enorme gulheid die zij heeft voor haar publiek, heeft ze ook voor haar collega’s. Zo was ze toen ik net begon een mentor voor mij en is ze dat voor vele anderen, de lessen die ze mij heeft geleerd pas ik nog altijd toe in het theater. Karin is én én: talent, vakmanschap, een heel sterke persoonlijkheid en bovendien ongelooflijk liefdevol. Een unieke artiest en iemand om heel veel van te houden.’ – Sara Kroos ‘Karin is een solide vakvrouw en bovendien een lieve vrouw met een heel groot hart.’ – Brigitte Kaandorp ‘Een lichtend voorbeeld voor iedereen die van theater en muziek houdt.’ – Francis van Broekhuizen ‘Als ambitieuze eenentwintigjarige zat ik helemaal in mijn eentje bij de allereerste try-out van haar show La Bloemen. Ik werd weggeblazen en heb de hele nacht geen oog dichtgedaan van de adrenaline. Wat een inspiratie.’ – Richard Groenendijk

Met vlag en wimpers

In Van lichtekooi en zwiepkanarie reanimeren Stella Bergsma en Sylvia Witteman de taal van weleer. Toen balorige meisjes nog Milva’s waren en wufte meisjes bakvissen. Toen sijsjes parmantig zongen in het tweeduister, waarna de schrokop zich ledig in ’t oorkussen liet zakken. Vroeger, toen we nog levertraan slikten en saffies rookten. Toen snakerijen niet mochten en je nog potjandosie moest zeggen. Uit de columns van Bergsma en Witteman blijkt dat die oude woorden nog lang niet kassiewijle hoeven te zijn. Zij verzamelden onterecht vergeten woorden om mee naar huis te nemen, liederlijk te bepotelen, en aan je eigen lexicon toe te voegen.

Van lichtekooi en zwiepkanarie

We zijn in een fout vakantiepark in Zuid-Europa, in een postkantoor, in een ziekbed, op de markt, in een spookcafé, in een beschimmeld Limburgs huisje, het station van Maastricht, een volle tram, de slijmerige regen. Sylvia Witteman kijkt om zich heen en verwondert zich over de merkwaardigheden van het dagelijks leven. Waarom verkoopt de Hema geen shirts met ‘Cute little vakkenvuller’ erop? Waarom zou iemand in godsnaam een tatoeage nemen van een verwarmingsradiator? Waarom zou iemand een opgezette kat in een bruidsjurkje hijsen? Waarom zijn er al oliebollen in oktober? Op deze vragen is geen antwoord, behalve: tragiek is overal. Niemand is later prinses, sinterklaasgedichten worden verhaspeld en als je een dode poes begraaft dan krijgt ze zand in haar oogjes. Het enige dat je kunt doen is een saucijzenbroodje eten en verder met je leven. We zijn hier immers niet in China; we zijn zomaar ergens beland.

We zijn hier niet in China

The multi-million copy number one bestseller One of The Sunday Times's top 100 bestselling books of the past 50 years Welcome to Bridget's first diary: mercilessly funny, endlessly touching and utterly addictive. A dazzlingly urban satire on modern relationships? An ironic, tragic insight into the demise of the nuclear family? Or the confused ramblings of a pissed thirty-something? As Bridget documents her struggles through the social minefield of her thirties and tries to weigh up the eternal question (Daniel Cleaver or Mark Darcy?), she turns for support to four indispensable friends: Shazzer, Jude, Tom and a bottle of chardonnay. Helen Fielding's first Bridget Jones novel, Bridget Jones's Diary, sparked a phenomenon that has seen four books, newspaper columns and the smash-hit film series Bridget Jones's Diary, The Edge of Reason, Bridget Jones's Baby and Mad About the Boy. Bridget Jones's Diary was featured in 'The 100 bestselling books of the past 50 years' published by The Sunday Times on 18/08/2024

Picador Collection

Bridget Jones's Diary

“Roxane Gay is so great at weaving the intimate and personal with what is most bewildering and upsetting at this moment in culture. She is always looking, always thinking, always passionate, always careful, always right there.” — Sheila Heti, author of How Should a Person Be? A New York Times Bestseller Best Book of the Year: NPR • Boston Globe • Newsweek • Time Out New York • Oprah.com • Miami Herald • Book Riot • Buzz Feed • Globe and Mail (Toronto) • The Root • Shelf Awareness A collection of essays spanning politics, criticism, and feminism from one of the most-watched cultural observers of her generation In these funny and insightful essays, Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman (Sweet Valley High) of color (The Help) while also taking readers on a ride through culture of the last few years (Girls, Django in Chains) and commenting on the state of feminism today (abortion, Chris Brown). The portrait that emerges is not only one of an incredibly insightful woman continually growing to understand herself and our society, but also one of our culture. Bad Feminist is a sharp, funny, and spot-on look at the ways in which the culture we consume becomes who we are, and an inspiring call-to-arms of all the ways we still need to do better, coming from one of our most interesting and important cultural critics.

Bad Feminist

‘A thrill for the sickos among us’ JIA TOLENTINO ‘Utterly inimitable’ RAVEN LEILANI ‘Unrelentingly brutal and gut-bustingly funny and spares no one’ CARMEN MARIA MACHADO 'Symbiotically serious and funny' MEGAN NOLAN 'The funniest, darkest thing' ST VINCENT LONGLISTED FOR THE 2024 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IN FICTION An audacious, original and unforgettable novel-in-stories that follows a cast of intricately linked characters as rejection throws their lives and relationships into chaos. Sharply observant and outrageously funny, Rejection is a provocative plunge into the thorniest problems of modern life: sex, relationships, identity and the internet. We see a young man’s passionate allyship turn to a furious and debilitating nihilism as he realizes, over thirty lonely years, that his feminism isn’t getting him laid; a young woman’s unrequited crush spirals into borderline obsession and the systematic destruction of both her sense of self and her group chat; and witness a shy late bloomer’s flailing efforts at a first relationship lead to a life-upending mistake. As these characters pop up in each other’s dating apps and social media feeds, or meet in dimly lit bars and bedrooms, they reveal the ways that our delusions can warp our desire for connection. Written with the accomplished authority of a modern classic and the manic intensity of a losers’ manifesto, Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte radically redefines what it means to be rejected by lovers, friends, society and oneself. ‘A book of mad, madcap genius’ Garth Greenwell ‘He writes about these things in the way Anthony Bourdain wrote about restaurants… Tulathimutte is a big talent’ The New York Times Book Review ‘Blistering … takes a magnifying glass to the mind in the internet age’ Vogue ‘There’s a volatile thrill to the writing … snortingly funny’ Wall Street Journal ‘Obsessively readable, acerbic, Foster Wallace–inflected’ Vanity Fair ‘A master comedian with a virtuoso prose style … audacious, original and highly disturbing’ New York Times Magazine A Book of the Year in Wall Street Journal, New York Times, New Yorker, NPR, Time Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Kirkus Review and Electric Literature.

Rejection

Martine Bakker besluit om vlak voor haar dertigste haar droom na te jagen: optreden als stand-upcomedian. Toevallig, voor haar, ongeveer het allerengste op aarde. Ze denkt dat als ze dát doet, ze dan alles durft en eindelijk zonder angst kan leven. Wat volgt is een rondreis door het hedendaagse comedycircuit van Nederland. Ze trekt van comedyclub naar podiumvrees en van afgang naar festival. Ondertussen komt ze oog in oog te staan met de tierende innerlijke criticus in haar hoofd, weerstand en uitstelgedrag, en probeert ze zichzelf ervan te overtuigen dat het zin heeft dat ze dit allemaal doet. Maar bestaat een leven zonder angst eigenlijk wel?

Ik durf niets maar doe alles

101 vlotte stukjes vol verrassende weetjes over de Nederlandse taal. Voor iedereen die meer wil weten en perfect als cadeauboek. Voor de lezers van Paulien Cornelisse. Je spreekt Nederlands. Maar hoeveel weet je nu echt van onze taal? Die goeie ouwe taal staat boordevol onmisbare wetenswaardigheden en een taalquiz!. Taalwetenschapper Yoïn van Spijk neemt je in 101 korte stukken mee naar onverwachte hoeken van de Nederlandse taal. Wist je dat... … ons woord voor de oer-Nederlandse molen helemaal niet uit het Nederlands komt? … vroeger niet wilden maar juist wouden goed was? … het Franse leenwoord fauteuil afstamt van de voorouder van onze Nederlandse vouwstoel? … het eigenlijk heel logisch is om puzel te zeggen in plaats van puzzel? Sinds Yoin van Spijk in de vijfde klas een etymologisch woordenboek in handen kreeg, is hij gefascineerd door taal. Het gaat hem er niet om of taal goed of fout is, maar hoe taal verandert. Voor iedereen die meer wil weten over waar we vandaan komen, valt in onze taal veel te ontdekken! 'Een wervelend boek. De manier waarop het Nederlands zich ontwikkeld heeft, is nog nooit zo aantrekkelijk beschreven.'- Marc van Oostendorp ‘Met dit boek verrijk je je kennis.’ – Margriet ‘Ook de stijl is die van columns: slim en grappig.’ – NRC ‘Dit boek staat boordevol onmisbare wetenswaardigheden voor iedereen.’ – Zin magazine ‘Die goeie ouwe taal is een bijzonder onderhoudend boek, waaraan je veel leesplezier beleeft maar waarvan je beslist over de etymologie van woorden ook enorm veel opsteekt. Aanrader!’ – Deboekhouding ‘Leuke weetjes over taalevolutie in Die goeie ouwe taal.’ – New Scientist ‘Van Spijk deelt zijn kennis op een speelse maar duidelijke manier; het plezier spat ervanaf.’ – Hollands Glorie

Die goeie ouwe taal

Lauren Foley and Jack Fletcher already tried to be amicable once—on a blind date that ended in complete disaster. Now, years later, they have to put up with each other for the sake of her sister and his best friend, who are eloping on a cruise to the Bahamas. But that’s not the worst of it. No, Lauren’s in even deeper water when she finds herself agreeing to play Jack’s fake girlfriend for the duration of the cruise. Now the only thing on her mind is trying not to strangle him when he dials up the charm, but it becomes hard to remember exactly why she ever hated him in the first place. Jack, on the other hand, is enjoying the perks. Until the cruise lands on American soil again and real life hits them square in the face. Lauren is up for a promotion at work, and Jack promised her something that would secure it. But promises are easily broken, vacation life doesn’t always translate to the real world, and sometimes enemies start that way for a reason. Book one in the Arcadia Creek romance series, Love on Deck is a fake-dating enemies-to-lovers story with forced proximity and a happily ever after. This modern romance will also introduce you to small-town Texas and show you just how cozy it can be.

Arcadia Creek

Love on Deck

In late October 2006, one of the most spectacular kidnapping cases of the younger past had come to end, when Natascha Kampusch freed herself after being held captive in a hidden cellar (near Vienna, Austria) for more than eight years. Media companies from all over the world came to cover her life story, which has taken quite some twists since then. The result: two autobiographies, a feature film, several documentaries and hundreds of interviews – all within a decade. "10 Years of Freedom" offers us an insight into the impact such a nightmarish captivity has on a young woman's life. It tells the story of a naive victim, that had to learn to cope with the real world after being locked away for her whole youth. The author spans a wide range of themes from her first days in freedom and the turbulent times after gaining it again to a never-ending trauma, which she will have to deal with for the rest of her life. Natascha declares that she wasn't prepared to be a public figure after all, but was suddenly confronted with a heavy and controversial media coverage (including speculations by reporters regarding Stockholm syndrome and roleplaying, along with being labelled "cellar girl" and "sex slave"). Also, wild conspiracy theories gained popularity, resulting in several trials and review boards (including police and FBI investigations). Despite everything, she found certain ways to reconnect with her family and even founded/initiated several charity projects (e.g. the creation of a children's ward in Sri Lanka or the support of PETA, an organisation for animal rights). "Your book is remarkable. 10 Years of Freedom, I urge everyone to read it." - Piers Morgan, ITV "It's a very powerful read." - Huw Edwards, BBC "Very brave." - Emma Barnett, BBC

10 Years of Freedom

*Nominated for Best Book at the 2025 Chortle Awards* 'Outstanding, I want to press it into the hands of every newly diagnosed person' Fern Brady 'Like a Martian's guide to living on Earth. Funny, enlightening and gobsmacking' Frank Skinner 'A hilarious, crystal-clear guide to autism' Phil Wang 'An illuminating and joyously entertaining book' Daily Express Why were the other kids at school obsessed with Britney Spears instead of The Goon Show? Why don't people ever say what they mean? And... Why is everyone chewing so loudly? Comedian Pierre Novellie was on stage when a heckler suggested he was autistic. Usually, this disruption would be water off a duck's back but two things made this heckler different: first, he was himself autistic. Second, he turned out to be absolutely right. This random encounter led to a diagnosis of autism at the age of 31 that unravelled his world, explained his struggles and answered questions that had bothered him for his entire life. At once a hilarious and insightful journey through autism and neurodivergence, an entertaining explainer for the uninitiated and observational comedy for the neurodiverse, this is the perfect read for anyone who has ever asked themselves: why can't I just enjoy things? The audiobook includes an exclusive Q&A with comedian and BudPod co-host, Phil Wang.

Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?

Finley Blankenship is tired of always coming up short. When her long-time boyfriend dumps her because he isn’t ready to commit, only to announce his engagement to someone else months later, she’s had it. So when her now ex comes to her flower shop to check how she’s doing after hearing the news, she lies and tells him she’s moved on. Only for her brother’s best friend to walk in at the same time and get roped into her story. Committed to playing the part, she reluctantly agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with the one man in their small town that would never actually date her. Grey Sutton has been in love with Finley for fifteen years, but he’s never thought he had a chance. After all, he’s an honorary member of the Blankenship family because his own is so dysfunctional. He has no idea how to give Finley what she wants. Especially since he was offered a job out of state, and Finley is as rooted in this town as the trees. But as their relationship starts to feel less and less like a charade, it leaves them with more uncertainty than ever. Lines start to blur, and Grey and Finley have to decide if they’re willing to risk their hearts to have everything they’ve ever dreamed of.

The Mountains Are Calling

Only in Your Dreams

Ludique en zijn vrouw houden van het goede Franse leven. Van de Franse keuken, cultuur en leefstijl. Van goed, gezond en eerlijk eten. Van moestuin, fruitbomengaard, wecken en inmaken, Van koken, bakken, goede wijnen, antiek, brocante en curiosa. Van schrijven, schilderen en muziek. Op internetfora publiceert Ludique zijn veelgewaardeerde en humoristische columns over het leven in Frankrijk. Kaaskoppen in Frankrijk is bijzonder vermakelijk. 

Nederlanders over de grens

Kaaskoppen in Frankrijk

In Firestarter (Ogen van vuur) heeft een ogenschijnlijk onschuldig medisch experiment verregaande gevolgen. In hun studententijd deden Andy McGee en zijn vrouw Vicky vrijwillig mee aan een experiment om een totaal onbekend medicijn te testen. De gevolgen openbaren zich echter bij de geboorte van hun dochtertje Charlie. Al als baby kan zij dingen in brand zetten. Deze wilde krachten blijven toenemen en trekken de aandacht van mensen met duistere plannen... Bekroond met ***** in de VN Detective en Thrillergids In 2022 werd deze bestseller verfilmd met Zac Efron in de hoofdrol. ‘King is een rasverteller.’ Noordhollands Dagblad

Firestarter (Ogen van Vuur)

Hoe is het om na een jarenlang verblijf in een zonnige Amerikaanse suburb terug te keren naar Nederland? Opeens zit je weer zonder eekhoorntjes, Hand Sanitizer, ijsblokjesautomaten, afvalvergruizers, ontzettend lekkere augurken, Bottomless Coffee, lieve, gele schoolbussen, Pumpkin Pie, mormoonse kolonisten zonder wifi, tandenpoetsende beren zonder broek, zwembaden waar alles verboden is, Bake Sales, halloweenjurkjes voor honden, jaarkaarten voor Disney World, orthodontische hulp voor kleine knaagdieren, hertrouwen in Las Vegas, spierwitte tanden, en een president die nooit slaapt. Dat is allemaal wel weer even wennen. Maar in Nederland zijn wél kroketten. En je kunt er eindelijk weer eens gewoon lekker door een rood stoplicht lopen.

Veel gezelliger dan bij u thuis

Wie is er niet op zoek naar meer magie in het dagelijks leven? In Doe en denk als Harry Potter maak je kennis met de levenslessen van de beroemdste tovenaar ter wereld. Leer om volhardend en genereus te zijn, leer hoe je moeilijke situaties het hoofd kan bieden, leer van fouten en naar emoties te luisteren. En vooral: zorg altijd voor je vrienden. Harry Potter is de cultheld die iedereen kan inspireren om alle beproevingen te overwinnen, dreuzel of niet.

Doe en denk als Harry Potter

In ‘Doe en denk als De Kleine Prins’ laat Stéphane Garnier je kennismaken met de levenslessen van dit fenomenale personage uit de Franse literatuur. Laat je inspireren door de Kleine Prins en trek je minder aan van wat anderen van je vinden, neem de tijd om te leven en accepteer dat je mensen soms niet begrijpt. Pas de grootse principes van deze tijdloze held toe. Je leven zal kalmer worden en je zult je vrij voelen om te zijn wie je bent. De Kleine Prins helpt je je weg te vinden in een wereld die maar doordraait. Bestsellerauteur Stéphane Garnier staat bekend om zijn luchtige humor en schreef eerder het succesvolle ‘Doe en denk als een kat’.

Doe en denk als De Kleine Prins

“A funny, insightful memoir” (Kirkus Reviews) about growing up Iranian in America, and the quest to make it as an actor in Hollywood without having to wear a turban, tote a bomb, or get kicked in the face by Chuck Norris. After he emigrated with his family to the US during the Iranian Revolution, Maz Jobrani spent most of his youth trying to fit in with his adopted culture—learning to play baseball and religiously watching Dallas. But none of his attempts at assimilation made a difference to casting directors, who only auditioned him for the role of kebab-eating, bomb-toting, extremist psychopath. When he first started out in show business, Maz endured suggestions that he spice up his stand-up act by wearing “the outfit,” fielded questions about rising gas prices, and was jeered for his supposed involvement in the Iran hostage crisis. In fact, these things happened so often that he began to wonder: Could I be a terrorist without even knowing it? And when all he seemed to be offered were roles that required looking menacingly Arabic, he wondered if he would ever make it in America. This laugh-out-loud memoir chronicles a lifetime of both killing it and bombing on stage, with “plenty to say about matters of race, assimilation, embarrassing family members, life in America for brown-skinned people before and after 9/11, the vagaries of international pop culture, and making it in big, dumb, fizzy, sometimes beautiful America” (The New York Times).

I'm Not a Terrorist, But I've Played One On TV

A darkly comic, speculative debut following an adrift Pakistani translator in London who attends a mysterious language school which boasts complete fluency in just ten days, but at a secret, sinister cost. Anisa Ellahi dreams of being a translator of “great works of literature,” but instead mostly spends her days subtitling Bollywood movies, living off her parents’ generous allowance, and discussing the “underside of life” with her best friend, Naima. Anisa’s mediocre white boyfriend, Adam, only adds to her growing sense of inadequacy with his savant-level aptitude for languages, successfully leveraging his expansive knowledge into an enviable career. But when Adam learns to speak Urdu with native fluency practically overnight, Anisa forces him to reveal his secret. Adam begrudgingly tells Anisa about The Centre, an elite, invite-only program that guarantees near-instant fluency in any language. Skeptical but intrigued, Anisa enrolls—stripped of her belongings, contact with the outside world, and bodily autonomy—and emerges ten days later fluent in German. As Anisa enmeshes herself further within The Centre, seduced by all that it’s made possible, she soon realizes the true cost of its services. By turns dark, funny, and surreal, and with twists page-turning and shocking, The Centre takes the reader on a journey through Karachi, London, and New Delhi, interrogating the sticky politics of language, translation, and appropriation with biting specificity, and ultimately asking: what is success really worth?

The Centre

Tucker’s heart was broken, stomped on, chewed up, and spit back out. But that was five years ago. He’s had time and space to come to terms with being left behind, to heal his heart. It’s helped that June has stayed away from Arcadia Creek—except now she’s back. She says she's here to stay. But old wounds don't heal as smoothly the second time. And Tucker isn't about to trust her again—no matter how hard she tries.

Falling in Line

'This well-written page-turner is the definitive biography of the genius of Robin Williams, whose life redefines the highs and lows of the American dream' - Steve Martin From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations – all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another with lightning speed. But as Dave Itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, Williams’s comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt, which he drew upon in his comedy and in celebrated films like Dead Poets Society; Good Morning, Vietnam; The Fisher King; Aladdin; and Mrs Doubtfire, where he showcased his limitless gift for improvisation to bring to life a wide range of characters. And in Good Will Hunting he gave an intense and controlled performance that revealed the true range of his talent. Robin by Dave Itzkoff shows how Williams struggled mightily with addiction and depression – topics he discussed openly while performing and during interviews – and with a debilitating condition at the end of his life that affected him in ways his fans never knew. Drawing on more than a hundred original interviews with family, friends and colleagues, as well as extensive archival research, Robin is a fresh and original look at a man whose work touched so many lives.

Robin

** THE INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON ** 'There are many laughs in this book but it's so much more than just a comedy. It's a story about how friendship, selflessness and dignity lie at the heart of the human experience. When I'm an old man, I want to be Hendrik Groen' John Boyne, author of international bestseller The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas *** 'Another year and I still don't like old people. Me? I am 83 years old.' Hendrik Groen may be old, but he is far from dead and isn't planning to be buried any time soon. Granted, his daily strolls are getting shorter because his legs are no longer willing and he had to visit his doctor more than he'd like. Technically speaking he is ... elderly. But surely there is more to life at his age than weak tea and potted geraniums? Hendrik sets out to write an exposé: a year in the life of his care home in Amsterdam, revealing all its ups and downs - not least his new endeavour the anarchic Old-But-Not Dead Club. And when Eefje moves in - the woman Hendrik has always longed for - he polishes his shoes (and his teeth), grooms what's left of his hair and attempts to make something of the life he has left, with hilarious, tender and devastating consequences. The indomitable Hendrik Groen - Holland's unlikeliest hero - has become a cultural phenomenon in his native Netherlands and now he and his famously anonymous creator are conquering the globe. A major Dutch bestseller, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen will not only delight older readers with its wit and relevance, but will charm and inspire those who have years to go before their own expiry date. *** Praise for The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old 'A story with a great deal of heart, it pulled me in with its self-deprecating humour, finely drawn characters and important themes. Anyone who hopes to grow old with dignity will have much to reflect on' Graeme Simsion 'There are many laughs in this book but it's so much more than just a comedy. It's a story about how friendship, selflessness and dignity lie at the heart of the human experience. When I'm an old man, I want to be Hendrik Groen' John Boyne 'A funny but also touching diary praised for its wit and realism' BBC Radio 4 Front Row 'I laughed until I cried and then laughed and cried some more' David Suchet 'Thoughtful, anxious and gruff... Laced with humour' The Best New Fiction Mail on Sunday 'Amusing [and] wickedly accurate ... I was constantly put in mind of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, another comi-tragedy concerning the tyranny of institutions of the unwanted. Enjoy Groen's light touch but do not be fooled by it. We live in an ageing society. The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is a handbook of resistance for our time' ***** FIVE STARS Sunday Express 'Highly entertaining ... a delightful and touching saga of one man's way of coping with old age ... we may assume that Hendrik Groen is a character of fiction. But it is a fiction so closely based on the observation of real life that it is utterly convincing' Daily Express 'A joy to read, as much concerned with friendship and dignity as it is with the debilitating effects of aging ... An entertaining and uplifting story of a man in the winter of his days, stoic in the face of bureaucratic nonsense and an unabashed need to wear a nappy. Imagined or not, this is the diary of someone who wants nothing more than to be allowed see out his days with dignity and respect. It's not too much to ask, really, is it?' John Boyne Irish Times 'Full of off-beat charm and quirky characters' Cathy Rentzenbrink, Stylist 'Hendrik pens an exposé of his care home, sets up the Old-But-Not-Dead club and relishes the arrival of a new female resident. This geriatric Adrian Mole made me laugh and think. Terrific' Fanny Blake, Woman and Home

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old

“Gabriel Smith has written a truly unique and surprising book. He is the rarest thing: a distinctive stylist on the line and structure level. Brat is so strange and so funny. I laughed a lot while reading.” Rachel Connolly, author of Lazy City 'Iconic', Radio 1 'i've never heard of you. good luck with your book tho !' Charli XCX on X, formerly Twitter I was in the waiting room. Then I was in the examination room. Gabriel’s skin is falling off. His dad is dead. He owes his editor a novel. His girlfriend won’t answer his calls. Tasked by his horribly well-adjusted brother with clearing out the family home for sale, Gabriel’s sanity quickly begins to unravel. His parents’ old manuscripts appear to change each time he reads them. A bizarre home video hints at long-buried secrets. And there’s a hideous man in the garden. Disquieting and hilarious, taut yet lyrical, blisteringly-paced but formally inventive, Brat is a mediation on grief, art and love that will leave you altered, breathless and desperate for more. From a stunningly original new talent, this is a debut novel unlike anything you have read before. “Messy with glitched realities and body horror, Brat breathes the same thrillingly claustrophobic air as Inland Empire and Ubik. It’s a skin-shedding ouroboros of grief and laughter, and the most brain-melting British debut I’ve read in ages.” Ed Park, author of Same Bed Different Dreams “Gabriel Smith’s prose is like if Joan Didion and Shirley Jackson took Xanax and used the internet. Brat is a sharp, eerie, confident debut about grief, memory, art, and so much more. Smith is a major new talent.” Jordan Castro, author of The Novelist “Gabriel Smith’s jauntily creepy and hilarious tale of a grief-stalked scapegrace’s sloughing-off and regeneration of selves in the filial murk of a moldering homestead is a Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man for a new, quaking generation. Brat will unnerve and seduce you.” Garielle Lutz, author of Worsted

BRAT

Erasure is Percival Everett's hilarious satire about race and publishing, now an Oscar-nominated film, American Fiction, directed by Cord Jefferson and starring Jeffrey Wright and Tracee Ellis Ross. 'Hilarious . . . Everett is a first-rate word-wrangler.' – Nicholas Lezard, The Guardian Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison's once-acclaimed writing career has bottomed out: his latest manuscript has been rejected by seventeen publishers. He seethes on the sidelines of the literary establishment as he watches the meteoric success of We's Lives in Da Ghetto, a first novel by a woman who once visited 'some relatives in Harlem for a couple of days'. Meanwhile, Monk struggles with real family tragedies – his aged mother is fast succumbing to Alzheimer's, and he still grapples with the reverberations of his father's suicide seven years before. In his rage and despair, Monk dashes off an outlandish novel full of stereotypes. He doesn't intend for My Pafology to be published, let alone taken seriously, but it is, and soon it becomes the Next Big Thing. How Monk deals with the personal and professional fallout galvanizes this audacious, hysterical and quietly devastating novel. 'Sublime . . . brilliant, uproarious . . . A wise novel about how we live.' – Brandon Taylor, author of the Booker Prize-shortlisted Real Life 'Seminal doesn't even come close. This novel is Everett at his finest, full of trademark protest, humanity and incisive humour, all wrapped up in one hell of a story.' – Courttia Newland, author of A River Called Time Read Percival's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel James in paperback now.

Erasure

'This book had sex with my brain!' SARA PASCOE 'Hilarious. Intimate. Vital.' JAMEELA JAMIL 'I couldn't put the book down!' LAURA BATES Comedian 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. The audiobook includes an exclusive bonus interview with fellow comedian, friend and author, Sara Pascoe. 'I was expecting a tad more tahini' YOTTAM OTTOLENGHI 'Refreshingly honest' ROSIE JONES 'Warm, Curious, Charming' AUBREY GORDON

Will I Ever Have Sex Again?

I'm the notoriously angry, grouchy D.C. Eagles defenseman who just can’t keep his temper in check—a temper that leads to a fifteen-game suspension from the NHL. As if that’s not bad enough, I'm forced into a short-term youth-hockey coaching gig—which my manager swears will “rebuild my image.” But what I didn’t expect was for a gorgeous, spunky blonde to stomp onto the ice on day one and lecture me about being rude to her little brother. Something about this spitfire of a woman, and the boy she’s so protective of, has my defenses melting. And if I’m not careful, I’ll burst into flames, forever melting the ice I’ve carefully kept around my heart. This is a closed-door romcom with mild language. Trigger warnings include parental substance abuse and dealing with grief/loss of parents.

Desire or Defense

'A wonderful blend of nostalgia, hilarity and personal anecdotes that only Josh Widdicombe could deliver' James Acaster 'If you read only one book by Josh Widdicombe this year, make it this one' Jack Dee 'Beautifully written, cleverly crafted and charmingly funny' Adam Hills 'This is a book about growing up in the '90s told through the thing that mattered most to me, the television programmes I watched. For my generation television was the one thing that united everyone. There were kids at my school who liked bands, kids who liked football and one weird kid who liked the French sport of petanque, however, we all loved Gladiators, Neighbours and Pebble Mill with Alan Titchmarsh (possibly not the third of these).' In his first memoir, Josh Widdicombe tells the story of a strange rural childhood, the kind of childhood he only realised was weird when he left home and started telling people about it. From only having four people in his year at school, to living in a family home where they didn't just not bother to lock the front door, they didn't even have a key. Using a different television show of the time as its starting point for each chapter Watching Neighbours Twice a Day... is part-childhood memoir, part-comic history of '90s television and culture. It will discuss everything from the BBC convincing him that Michael Parkinson had been possessed by a ghost, to Josh's belief that Mr Blobby is one of the great comic characters, to what it's like being the only vegetarian child west of Bristol. It tells the story of the end of an era, the last time when watching television was a shared experience for the family and the nation, before the internet meant everyone watched different things at different times on different devices, headphones on to make absolutely sure no one else could watch it with them.

Watching Neighbours Twice a Day...

'This is a must-read for those who grew up in awe of The Phantom Tollbooth...Holt achieves near-perfection in his new comic fantasy.' - Publishers Weekly, starred review 'Exceedingly clever and funny.' RT Book Reviews New Evil. Same as the Old Evil, but with better PR. Mordak isn't bad, as far as goblin kings go, but when someone, or something, starts pumping gold into the human kingdoms it puts his rule into serious jeopardy. Suddenly he's locked in an arms race with a species whose arms he once considered merely part of a calorie-controlled diet. Helped by an elf with a background in journalism and a masters degree in being really pleased with herself, Mordak sets out to discover what on earth (if indeed, that's where he is) is going on. He knows that the truth is out there. If only he could remember where he put it. A witty fantasy novel of good, evil and everything inbetween, from one of Britain's best-loved comic writers - perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams. Books by Tom Holt: Walled Orchard Series Goatsong The Walled Orchard J.W. Wells & Co. Series The Portable Door In Your Dreams Earth, Air, Fire and Custard You Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But It Helps The Better Mousetrap May Contain Traces of Magic Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Sausages YouSpace Series Doughnut When It's A Jar The Outsorcerer's Apprentice The Good, the Bad and the Smug Novels Expecting Someone Taller Who's Afraid of Beowulf Flying Dutch Ye Gods! Overtime Here Comes the Sun Grailblazers Faust Among Equals Odds and Gods Djinn Rummy My Hero Paint your Dragon Open Sesame Wish you Were Here Alexander at World's End Only Human Snow White and the Seven Samurai Olympiad Valhalla Nothing But Blue Skies Falling Sideways Little People Song for Nero Meadowland Barking Blonde Bombshell The Management Style of the Supreme Beings An Orc on the Wild Side

YouSpace

The Good, the Bad and the Smug

The first in what will become the quintessential list of the best of live British comedy, AN AUDIENCE WITH BARRY CRYER brings you up close and personal with one of bastions of British comedy in this live recording of his sellout comedy tour. Available for the first time as a downloadable audio file. The AN AUDIENCE WITH… series will bring you a succession of live performances by some of Britain's best-loved comedians, opening with Barry Cryer, one of the stalwarts of Radio 4. The quintessential grumpy old man, Barry Cryer's standup combines the quick wit of Radio 4 with the charm and class of the 'Great Men of Comedy'. He has been a regular panelist on I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and Just a Minute, the latter of which he also chaired. In 1998, Barry wrote his autobiography, You Won't Believe This But…, which has been broadcast on Radio 4. Barry is also famous for having written gags for some of the legends of British comedy, including Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Stanley Baxter, Dick Emery, Dave Allen, Les Dawson, Bob Hope, Kenny Everett, Sir Harry Secombe, Billy Connolly, Jasper Carrot and Richard Pryor. With a CV that reads like the 'Who's Who of British Comedy Greats', Cryer's unique blend of old-school gentility and cutting edge intellect facilitates an audience-base that spans generations.

An Audience with Barry Cryer

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING JAKE GYLLENHAAL, JOHN C. REILLY AND JOAQUIN PHOENIX A BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST AND A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Publishers Weekly • Amazon • Hudson Booksellers • Washington Post Hermann Kermit Warm is going to die. The enigmatic and powerful man known only as the Commodore has ordered it, and his henchmen, Eli and Charlie Sisters, will make sure of it. Though Eli doesn’t share his brother’s appetite for whiskey and killing, he’s never known anything else. But their prey isn’t an easy mark, and on the road from Oregon City to Warm’s gold-mining claim outside Sacramento, Eli begins to question what he does for a living-and whom he does it for. With The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt pays homage to the classic Western, transforming it into an unforgettable comic tour de force. Filled with a remarkable cast of characters-losers, cheaters, and ne’er-do-wells from all stripes of life-and told by a complex and compelling narrator, it is a violent, lustful odyssey through the underworld of the 1850s frontier that beautifully captures the humor, melancholy, and grit of the Old West and two brothers bound by blood, violence, and love.

The Sisters Brothers

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