A new Alexander McCall Smith title is always a real treat, and My Italian Bulldozer is
published by Birlinn in May. (hb, £12.99, 978 1846973550). This is a
brand new stand-alone novel based on an immensely popular short story from the
author whose books have sold over 25 million copies. Fatty O’Leary’s Dinner Party won
the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic
Fiction in 2015 and this looks equally entertaining. When
writer Paul Stewart heads to the idyllic Italian town of Montalcino to finish
his already late book, it seems like the perfect escape from stressful city
life. Upon landing, however, things quickly take a turn for the worse when he
discovers his hired car is nowhere to be found. With no record of any reservation
and no other cars available it looks like Paul is stuck at the airport. That
is, until an enterprising stranger offers him an unexpected alternative: a
bulldozer! With little choice in the matter, Paul accepts and so begins a
series of laugh out loud adventures through the Italian countryside. A story of
unexpected circumstance and a lesson in making the best of what you have, My Italian Bulldozer is
a warm holiday read guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Find
out more and order it here.
We’re used to Biteback bringing us interesting
political titles that give us the low-down on what actually has occurred in
Westminster – but coming in June is a title that examines things that haven’t
come about (yet!) Prime Minister Corbyn: And Other
Things That Never Happened by Iain Dale
and Duncan Brack (hb, £14.99, 978
1785900457) contains twenty-six expert examinations of things that never
happened – but easily could have done if events had so conspired. In this book,
a collection of distinguished commentators, including journalists, academics
and former MPs consider how things might have turned out differently throughout
a century of political history – from a permanent union between France and the
UK in 1940, to Reagan and Thatcher being assassinated in 1981 and 1984
respectively, to Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister in 2020. It includes
what would have happened if Gladstone had drowned in 1885? Britain went
Blackshirt in 1934? Labour had won the 1951 election? Britain had lost the
Falklands War? German reunification had never happened? The UK had joined the
Euro? Yevgeny Primakov rather than Vladimir Putin had become Russian President
in 2000? David Miliband had beaten Ed to the Labour leadership in 2010?
Scholarly analyses of possibilities and causalities take their place beside
enthralling fictional accounts of alternate political histories – and all are
guaranteed to entertain and make you think. This brand new collection of
political “what ifs?” offers a fascinating depiction of how history could have
been oh so different and
you can order it here.
Loving this
story from Oxfam books in Swansea, who have now received
so many second hand copies of Fifty Shades of Grey that they’ve been
able to build a castle out of them – and are now begging the public not to give
them any more please!!
Who wants to reclaim their inner Goddess? Definitely me,
yes please – especially if it can include eating your own body weight in Easter
eggs. If you've ever struggled with diets, food, body image or your weight,
then The Goddess Revolution is your new handbook for life. Melissa Wells truly
believes that all women are born Goddesses, but we tell ourselves over and over
again that for some reason, we don't deserve to feel good. The Goddess Revolution is
taking over as the new 'anti-diet': it’s a revolutionary new way of thinking
that will help women to end the war on their bodies, start embracing an
incredibly rewarding relationship with food, and become happier and more
fulfilled. Tackling very modern issues including 'fitspiration' and the
obsession with perfection caused by celebrity culture and magazine airbrushing;
Melissa speaks in a language that women can relate to. The Goddess Revolution: Make Peace with Food, Love Your Body
and Reclaim Your Life (pb, £10.99 978
1781807125) is published in June by Hay House, and excitingly, we’ve
just heard that the author will be a guest on ITV’s Lorraine to
publicise it. There will also be a feature in the Daily Mail. Mel is
pretty well known in the Goddess world, she has built up a client list
including many celebrities, actresses, models and reality stars, helping them
quit dieting, and transform themselves into Goddesses too – you can read more
about her on her blog here and
you can order The Goddess Revolution here.
From one Goddess to another – I’m very much enjoying this video on YouTube showing people’s reactions to Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest smoothie recipe…
Nothing says wartime nostalgia quite like Dad’s Army
– the original I mean, not that lamentable film. Re-live one of its funniest
moments ever here!
The Unforgotten by Laura Powell is getting some BRILLIANT review coverage – read this
one here in
the Daily Mail – and there was also a great plug for it in last weekend
in the Sunday Telegraph’s Stella Magazine. The Sun said it has “intrigue,
suspense and a unique story. The author is annoyingly talented and I devoured
this in a day.” This psychological tale of illicit love, bloody murder and
impossible choices is set in drab, sinister, post-war Cornwall where the
15-year-old heroine is drawn towards forbidden love. It has a very striking
cover – and as I say, the publicity has been terrific. The Unforgotten by Laura Powell (pb, £8.99, 978 1910449592) has just
been published by Freight and you can order it here.
Tom Pickard is one of Britain’s legendary poetry-activists and the
founder of the Morden Tower poetry scene. Allen Ginsberg called him “One of
the most live and true poetic voices in Great Britain” and Paul McCartney
said “with sharp vision Pickard dissects his gut reaction and reminds us to
appreciate the cool clear beauty of our own situation.” Winter Migrants is
a poetic coastal mediation and strikingly describes a bird’s journey over the
fells. It features the Poetry Prize-winning sequence “Lark and Merlin”. Winter Migrants by Tom Pickard (pb,
978 1784102647, £9.99) is published by Carcanet in June – it has a
gorgeous cover, and you can find
out more about it here.
Let’s finish with some music! I love this duet between
James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti! Now that should set you up for the weekend!
Who’s
tried to do some Easter baking? Hopefully it’s worked out a whole lot better
than this unfortunate tray of chicks!
That’s all for now folks! More
in two weeks!
This blog is taken from an e-newsletter which is sent weekly to over 700 booksellers as
well as publishers and publicists. If you would like to order any of the titles
mentioned, then
click here or talk to your Compass Sales
representative.
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