Other books that might interest you

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  Ten Bridges I've Burnt - A...

  Brontez Purnell

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  In Ten Bridges I've Burnt, Brontez Purnell—the bard of the underloved and overlooked—turns his gaze inward. A storyteller with a musical eye for the absurdity of his own existence, he is peerless in his ability to find the levity within the stormiest of crises. Here, in his first collection of genre-defying verse, Purnell reflects on his peripatetic life, whose ups and downs have nothing on the turmoil within. "The most high-risk homosexual behavior I engage in," Purnell writes, "is simply existing." 
   
   
   
  The thirty-eight autobiographical pieces pulsing in Ten Bridges I've Burnt find Purnell at his no-holds-barred best. He remembers a vicious brawl he participated in at a poetry conference and reckons with packaging his trauma for TV writers' rooms; wrestles with the curses, and gifts, passed down from generations of family members; and chronicles, with breathless verve, a list of hell-raising misadventures and sexcapades. Through it all, he muses on everything from love and loneliness to capitalism and Blackness to jogging and the ethics of art, always with unpredictable clarity and movement. 
   
   
   
  With the same balance of wit and wisdom that made 100 Boyfriends a sensation, Purnell unleashes another collection of boundary-pushing writing with Ten Bridges I've Burnt, a book as original and thrilling as the author himself.

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  Birdsplaining - A Natural History

  Jasmine Donahaye

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  Winner of the 2021 New Welsh Writing Awards: Rheidol Prize for Prose with a Welsh Theme or Setting
  'Vivid, quick and iridescent, Birdsplaining is an absolute kingfisher of a book' – Mike Parker
  A wren in the house foretells a death, while a tech-loving parrot aids a woman's recovery. Crows' misbehaviour suggests how the 'natural' order, ranked by men, may be challenged. A blur of bunting above an unassuming bog raises questions about how nature reserves were chosen. Should the oriole be named 'green' or golden? The flaws of field guides across decades prove that this is a feminist issue. A buzzard, scavenging a severed ewe's leg, teaches taboos about curiosity.
  Whose poo is the mammal scat uncovered in the attic, and should the swallows make their home inside yours? The nightjar's churring brings on unease at racism and privilege dividing nature lovers, past and present. The skin of a Palestine sunbird provokes concern at the colonial origins of ornithology. And when a sparrowhawk makes a move on a murmuration, the starlings show how threat – in the shape of flood, climate change or illness – may be faced down.
  Jasmine Donahaye is in pursuit of feeling 'sharply alive', understanding things on her own terms and undoing old lessons about how to behave. Here, she finally confronts fear: of violence and of the body's betrayals, daring at last, to 'get things wrong'.
  Roaming across Wales, Scotland and California, she is unapologetically focused on the uniqueness of women's experience of nature and the constraints placed upon it. Sometimes bristling, always ethical, Birdsplaining upends familiar ways of seeing the natural world.
  'Unusual, vivid… remarkably easy-to-read & enjoyable. Doesn't shy away from taking on difficult subjects… A means for personal reflection.' – BTO News [British Trust for Ornithology]
  'An erudite, bold, questing and valid collection of beautifully written essays. Whilst one eye stays focused on the injustices and cruelties of the world, the other gulps in its jewels and preciousness. Moving, stirring, and vital.' – Niall Griffiths
  'Superb… by turns moving, funny, illuminating… and… thought-provoking' – Katherine Stansfield
  'Upends familiar ways of seeing the natural world ― and in doing so, creates its own ecological niche' – Karen Lloyd, Caught by the River
  'A curiosity and passion so unapologetically alive that her words form wings' – Lotte Williams, Nation.Cymru
  'Neither human-centred nor its opposite. Although she explores human grief, violence and recovery, Donahaye also has a beautifully conveyed passion for the unromantic aspects of the environment… She bridges the very gap [in nature writing] that she identifies.' – Saskia McCracken, The Welsh Agenda
  'Whilst birds might not provide the answer to the meaning of life for Donahaye, they do have a part to play in finding meaning IN life, whether that be through personal symbolism and anecdotal encounters, or in larger questions about power and responsibility.' – Gwales.com
  'A fresh way of looking at nature writing, a deeply personal account that embraces its own subjectivity' – Zoe Kramer, Wales Arts Review
  'This is a beautiful collection where the nonhuman appears as a close neighbour… [and which] searches for hope and resilience in times of risk.' – Yvonne Reddick, New Welsh Reader

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  Eye for Genius An: James Brand...

  Kerry Sutherland

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  A middle aged author declining in popularity. An up and coming literary agent with an eye for genius. A partnership that would forge a prodigious legacy in American literature.  
  Henry James was a middle-aged author who had established himself on a transatlantic scale when he employed James Brand Pinker as his literary agent in 1898. The changing preferences of a growing audience of readers along with James’s self-defeating practice of shifting from publisher to publisher, rather than adhering to the trade courtesy of remaining loyal to one house, were making the author’s efforts to keep his work in print increasingly difficult; bringing Pinker, who managed the literary business of over 100 authors including Stephen Crane, H.G. Wells, Joseph Conrad, and Jack London, into the picture made it possible for James to maintain a presence before the reading public to an extent that would have been impossible without the agent’s assistance. 
  Pinker’s involvement was vital to the continuance of James’s career, as his later works and the New York Edition proved difficult material to place. The agent’s role as the mediator of conflict between the commercial writer and literary artist, positions that James had difficulty reconciling, had considerable influence on the shape of James’s later career and thus the way in which the author is remembered; James’s legacy is therefore clearly tied to Pinker’s efforts. 
  Using correspondence between Pinker, James, and the primary publishers of James’s material from 1898 until Pinker’s death in 1922, along with secondary works addressing the agent’s endeavors during this period, this volume demonstrates the link between Pinker’s work and James’s continued presence in print, both during the author’s lifetime and after his death.

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  The Autobiography of Benjamin...

  Benjamin Franklin

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  "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" is a foundational work of American literature, offering an intimate portrayal of one of the United States' founding fathers. Written from 1771 to 1790, this work is divided into four parts, reflecting different periods in Franklin’s life. The Autobiography offers insights into his formative years, diverse accomplishments, inventions, philosophical insights, and contributions to American society and governance. Franklin's narrative is imbued with wit, wisdom, and a sense of self-reflection, making it not only a historical document but also a work of literature that explores themes of self-improvement, virtue, and civic duty.

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  Running on Broken Legs - My...

  Elinor Young

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  Take undersized five-year-old farm girl Elinor, give her the polio that not only cripples her but also nearly kills her, then give her an impossible dream. In her childhood and again as a college student she rebels against the plan. Finally, she embraces the dream, and it leads Elinor to one of the most primitive, rugged places on earth and to a life that brawny international explorers would envy.For nearly eighteen years Elinor deals with murdering tribal people, a devastating earthquake and the relief efforts that follow, joys, triumphs, depression, peace, life-threatening illnesses, recovery, and friendship with the Kimyal tribal people, whom she comes to deeply respect and love. The Kimyal people give her the name Bad Legs, which to them reflects how her weak body shows them God's love. Finally, the late effects of Elinor's original polio force her to leave the place and people that her heart has embraced. She must find a way to say goodbye.

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  Beyond Babylon Resilience in...

  Jason Jansson

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  Preface 
  Welcome to the vibrant, unpredictable world of Slab City California—a place where trials and transformation intersect amidst the desert ruins. In the season of 2024, I embarked on a journey to this otherworldly post-apocalyptic landscape, seeking refuge from the constraints of modern society and discovering profound lessons in resilience and human connection. 
  My experiences in Slab City were nothing short of transformative. What began as a quest for escape evolved into a profound exploration of self-discovery and communal living. Here, amidst the remnants of a forgotten military base, I encountered a community unlike any other—a gathering of souls navigating their own purgatories, seeking solace and renewal in the desert expanse. 
  As you delve into the pages of this book, you'll join me on a journey of personal evolution and collective wisdom. From the vibrant art installations of East Jesus to the camaraderie of the Oasis Club, each encounter in Slab City left an indelible mark on my spirit. The Slabbers I met—resilient, resourceful, and irreverently creative—taught me invaluable lessons about living authentically and embracing the unexpected. 
  Through the trials and tribulations of Slab City, I discovered that true transformation begins with the courage to embrace the unknown and the willingness to connect deeply with others. This book is a testament to the enduring spirit of humanity, a celebration of unconventional living, and a reminder that amidst desolation, hope and community flourish. 
  Join me as we uncover the secrets of Slab City, where the mundane fades away and the extraordinary emerges. May this journey inspire you to seek your own path of authenticity and resilience, wherever your adventures may lead. 
  Let the metamorphosis begin. Jason

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