The must-read memoir from the visionary figure behind Manchester's legendary music scene, from The Haçienda to The Warehouse Project.Tales From the Dance Floor is an electrifying journey into the heart of Manchester’s music culture with its most influential promoter.Over the past three decades, Sacha Lord has hosted countless iconic parties, booked legendary DJs, and shaped an underground scene that influenced a generation. Working with iconic acts including the Prodigy, New Order, the Chemical Brothers, Snoop Dogg, Fat Boy Slim, Andrew Weatherall, Aphex Twin, Four Tet, the Gallagher brothers and Jamie XX, he has thrown some of the biggest parties that the UK has ever seen.But it wasn’t an easy road to get there. As this no-holds-barred account makes clear, Manchester’s music revolution was fuelled by raw energy, creativity, enterprise and a number of other unidentified substances. From drive-by shootings to gang turf wars and nights out that never ended, Sacha Lord reveals, at 130bpm, the highs – and lows – of life bringing some of the planet’s biggest stars to the world’s greatest city.Featuring makeshift helipads, oysters with Grace Jones and more drugged-up rats than you could shake a big stick at, Tales From the Dance Floor is an absolute banger of a book.Sacha Lord's book 'Tales from the Dancefloor' was a No.2 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-04-08. Read more

THE OFFICIAL STORY OF A MUSICAL ICON - TOLD IN FULL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS OWN WORDS'In what might be the most entertaining music memoir since Elton John's Me, Boy George's Karma weaves a meandering path through several decades' of fame, success, crash and burn, before delivering him into a kind of autumnal meditative serenity... This is George O'Dowd in all his exhausting glory.' Observer'I went to a lot of trouble to create Boy George and then I went through a whole battle for years about not wanting to be him. But now I enjoy and embrace it in a way that I wasn't able to as a young person.... I'm finally learning to be George Alan O'Dowd from Eltham.'Karma is the definitive autobiography from the incomparable Grammy, Brit and Ivor Novello award-winning lead singer of Culture Club and LGBTQ+ vanguard: Boy George. Told in his inimitable style, Karma tells the story of the charismatic frontman - the drama, the music, his journey of addiction and recovery, surviving prison, meeting legends like David Bowie, Prince and Madonna, and the highs and lows of a life lived in the spotlight and in the headlines.This is the explosive and searingly honest account of Boy George's life as a child growing up in sixties London, coming out to his Irish Catholic family and exploring his sexuality through the hedonism of the seventies - the glam rock and punk rock revolution that birthed Culture Club - and the heydays of the nineties, to finally embracing the man and artist that he is today. With all the humour, honesty, sarcasm (and hats!) that you'd expect, Karma gives us a unique insight into Boy George's incredible story and the true evolution of a music icon.'Culture Club is always going to be one of those lovers I go back to. I've railed against it and that Boy George character I created. For years I convinced myself I was a creature of habit, unchangeable, immovable. But eventually you have to look in the mirror. Not looking for spots, looking for something deeper. Why the hell am I here? I would say life is the point of life.' Read more

**From the bestselling author of The Last Letter from Your Lover, now a major motion picture**The dark and romantic novel by Jojo Moyes, internationally bestselling author of Me Before You and the new bestseller The Giver of Stars. ****'Warm, engaging and acutely observed.' - Woman and HomeIsabel Delancey has always taken her gifted life for granted. But when her husband dies suddenly, leaving her with a mountain of debt, she and her two children are forced to abandon their home and move to a crumbling pile in the country.With the house falling down around them, and the last of her savings fast disappearing, Isabel turns to her neighbours, not knowing that her mere presence there has stirred up long-standing obsessions.As she fights to make her house a home, passions and lives collide. Isabel will discover an instinct for survival she never knew she had - and that a heart can play a new song . . .'A skilful blend of emotional intensity and satisfyingly drawn characters' - Marie Claire Read more

WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATUREThe celebrated first memoir from arguably the most influential singer-songwriter in the country, Bob Dylan.'I'd come from a long ways off and had started a long ways down. But now destiny was about to manifest itself. I felt like it was looking right at me and nobody else.' So writes Bob Dylan in Chronicles: Volume One, his remarkable book exploring critical junctures in his life and career. Through Dylan’s eyes and open mind, we see Greenwich Village, circa 1961, when he first arrives in Manhattan. Dylan’s New York is a magical city of possibilities - smoky, nightlong parties; literary awakenings; transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Elegiac observations are punctuated by jabs of memories, penetrating and tough. With the book’s side trips to New Orleans, Woodstock, Minnesota, and points west, Chronicles: Volume One is an intimate and intensely personal recollection of extraordinary times. By turns revealing, poetical, passionate, and witty, Chronicles: Volume One is a mesmerizing window on Bob Dylan’s thoughts and influences. Dylan’s voice is distinctively American: generous of spirit, engaged, fanciful, and rhythmic. Utilizing his unparalleled gifts of storytelling and the exquisite expressiveness that are the hallmarks of his music, Bob Dylan turns Chronicles: Volume One into a poignant reflection on life, and the people and places that helped shape the man and the art.'Chronicles stunned everyone . . . [it's] clear, apparently frank, unremittingly serious about his musical influences and exquisitely written. It is, in fact, a masterpiece' Sunday Times'Entertaining and surprisingly deprecating... The book's structure is elegant . . . Chronicles is tautly written, vividly cinematic, and funny . . . a courageous little book' Financial Times  'There is something on every page, in every paragraph, that demands attention . . .  In rock and roll terms, this book is like discovering the lost diaries of Shakespeare. It may be the most extraordinarily intimate autobiography by a 20th-century legend' Daily Telegraph Read more

SUNDAY TIMES MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023MOJO BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023A ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023AN UNCUT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023A VARIETY MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023One of the few indisputable geniuses of pop music, Sly Stone is a trailblazer who created a new kind of music, mixing Black and white, male and female, funk and rock; penned some of the most iconic anthems of the 1960s and 70s, from "Everyday People" to "Family Affair"; and electrified audiences with a persona and stage presence that set a lasting standard for pop culture performance. Yet he has also been a cautionary tale, known as much for how he dropped out of sight as for what put him in the spotlight in the first place. As much as people know the music, the man remains a mystery. In Thank You, his much-anticipated memoir, he's finally ready to share his story - a story that many thought he'd never have the chance to tell. Written with Ben Greenman, who has written memoirs with George Clinton and Brian Wilson among others, Thank You will include a foreword by Questlove. The book was created in collaboration with Sly Stone's manager Arlene Hirschkowitz. "For as long as I can remember folks have been asking me to tell my story," says Stone. "I wasn't ready. I had to be in a new frame of mind to become Sylvester Stewart again to tell the true story of Sly Stone. It's been a wild ride and hopefully my fans enjoy it too." Read more

The autobiography of Rolling Stones founder member Bill Wyman. Read more

'Clemency Burton-Hill makes classical music absolutely accessible, magical and medicinal. Another Year of Wonder is, indeed, another wonder.' Dolly Alderton, broadcaster, writer and bestselling author'Clemmie's recommendations have broadened my mind, sharpened my imagination, tugged on my heartstrings and given me a song for every mood. Read this book and let yourself float away for a moment or two. What a gift.' Emma Gannon, bestselling author and host of the Ctrl Alt Delete podcastANOTHER YEAR OF WONDER IS A CAREFULLY CURATED COLLECTION OF CLASSICAL MUSIC OFFERING ONE PIECE TO LISTEN TO EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.WITH A FOREWORD BY ELIZABETH DAYIn this follow-up to her much-loved Year of Wonder, award-winning broadcaster, journalist and violinist Clemency Burton-Hill continues her mission to demystify and open up the world of classical music to everyone, offering up one extraordinary piece of music to listen to every day of the year.'There is no algorithm to this book: it is a thoughtfully curated selection given from one human to another. It is not a history book, or a formal 'guide to classical music'. It is simply from my heart to yours. I have chosen pieces I love, or think historically interesting, or which have some resonance for me personally or in the world. But what matters is what you think; how they make you feel as you listen. I hope that you will fall in love with most of them, or at least be fascinated by their historical context, or find them curious in other ways, because then you are already in a relationship with classical music. This is your book, as much it is mine.'Another Year of Wonder shows that, whoever you are and wherever you come from, classical music can be a soundtrack for your everyday life and a reminder that finding a space to sit and listen to a piece of music every day can be a singular gift. Read more

Unlock the Secrets of Acoustic Rock’s Greatest GuitaristsWant to master the feel and authenticity of the acoustic guitar legends who shaped rock history?Ready to learn the driving rhythms, intricate picking, and expressive chord work that defined generations? The Acoustic Rock Guitar Book is your definitive guide to the riffs, rhythms and techniques that shaped the history of rock guitar. From the raw folk-blues influence of the 1960s to the anthemic strumming of the 1990s and beyond, this book dissects the playing styles of the most influential acoustic rock artists.Through carefully crafted examples, you will learn how players like Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Mark Knopflerbrought depth and colour to their songs. You will study how they blended intricate picking patterns, bold chord choices, and expressive rhythms to create some of the most iconic acoustic rock guitar moments in music.More than just a collection of exercises, The Acoustic Rock Guitar Book is a deep dive into how great acoustic rock guitarists think and play. You will uncover the secrets behind the unforgettable progressions of Tom Petty, the complex harmonies of The Eagles, and the percussive energy of Richie Sambora.You’ll discover over 150 clear examples with step-by-step breakdowns and develop a toolkit of techniques to craft dynamic, engaging acoustic guitar parts in your own playing. Whether you want to fingerpick delicate melodies or strum powerful rock ballads, The Acoustic Rock Guitar Book will elevate your musicianship and expand your creative options.Acoustic Rock Guitar Skills You’ll Master: The signature strumming techniques of Pete Townshend, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom PettyFingerpicking mastery from Paul Simon, Lindsey Buckingham, and James Taylor The harmonic brilliance of The Eagles and the chord magic of The BeatlesExpressive percussive playing in the style of Richie Sambora and Noel GallagherHow to craft intros, rhythms, and riffs that define acoustic rock guitarDiscover the Acoustic Guitar Styles of:Keith Richards • Pete Townshend • Ray Davies • George Harrison • John Lennon • Paul McCartney • David Bowie • Brian May • David Gilmour • Jimmy Page • Jackson Browne • Lindsey Buckingham • Tom Petty • Bruce Springsteen • Mark Knopfler • Richie Sambora • John Frusciante • Noel Gallagher • Peter Buck • Rich Robinson • Slash • Izzy Stradlin’ • Sheryl Crow • Johnny Buckland • Chris MartinThe Beatles • The Eagles • Boston • Heart • Kansas • Pearl Jam • ColdplayHere’s What You’ll Get:Play with confidence and authenticity in acoustic rock guitar stylesDevelop a deeper understanding of how legendary acoustic guitarists created unforgettable partsLearn techniques that bring depth, dynamics, and personality to your playingExpand your musical creativity with fresh approaches to strumming, picking, and arrangingCreatively apply these concepts to your own music and playing styleWhether you are an electric guitarist looking to improve your acoustic rock guitar skills or an acoustic guitarist wanting to play with more depth and expression, The Acoustic Rock Guitar Book offers you the tools to emulate the greats and develop your own voice too.Audio Included!Along with over 150 musical examples in Standard Notation and TAB, you can download over 160 audio tracks for free, allowing you to master every exercise in perfect detail.Ready to transform your playing and bring acoustic rock to life?Grab your copy of The Acoustic Rock Guitar Book today! Read more

Unique, practical and straightforward way to learn music theory and discover how music really works.Newly updated and massively expanded edition with new content, exercises and images.Make learning music theory easy.This book also features the links to audio examples (hosted on external website). These examples allow you to hear the relevant music theory concepts and understand them better!Have you ever wanted:To know how music theory can make you a better player on any instrument?To understand how music works, why there are 12 notes, how they relate to each other, and why we use intervals with imperfect resonance?To understand why something sounds good? To understand how music theory is not just some made up rules we invented out of thin air; 'what sounds good' is based on the natural laws and stems from natural occurrences.To unlock the mysteries of notes, intervals, music scales, modes, keys, circle of fifths, chords and progressions, rhythms and other important concepts in music, and how they all relate to one another?To get a deep understanding of scales, modes and chords, where they come from, what are the different types that exist, how they're built, and how to use any chord or scale in your playing?To learn how to form, name and play any chord that is possible to play?To learn how rhythm works and how to master your timing skills that will make you sound like a pro on any instrument?To understand harmony and the magic behind all the beautiful music that you love and how you can (re)create it by yourself?To get a wider perspective on tonal harmony and how melody, harmony, and rhythm work together?To understand composition and improvisation, and how to use voice leading and chord inversions to create beautiful harmonies?To get a grasp on the advanced concepts (such as modal playing, atonality, polychords and polytonality, free music) that usually only advanced jazz musicians may consider using?But...Have you ever had trouble learning music theory or thought that it was unnecessary, boring or too hard to learn?Have you perhaps thought using intellect will be bad for your playing?If you find yourself in any of this, then this book is the answer you’ve been looking for. It covers pretty much everything that anyone who plays or wants to play music should know. It is the book to have if you want to become a better musician, and have by your side as an immensely useful reference of knowledge.This book is structured in a way that makes it very easy to follow, digest and internalize all important concepts that constitute music theory. What's great is that you don't have to be a college musician in order to understand and use any of this – anyone can do it, even a total newbie. It also doesn't matter what instrument(s) you play, nor your current level of knowledge and playing ability, because music theory is universal and all about what sounds good together! Anyone can benefit from it. It explains the WHY and HOW, and it is your roadmap - a skill and a tool, guided by your ears, for creating your best music.This is the most comprehensive and evergreen book on music theory that you can find – a book you'll wish to study and refer to often, and keep it forever. You’ll also wish to gift it your friends and discuss about its content with other musicians.It will give you what is necessary to become an expert in music theory without frustration and feeling overwhelmed in the process, and this in-turn will have immense benefits to your playing and musicianship!But don’t take my word for it, use the Look Inside feature by clicking on the book cover to get a preview of what you'll find inside.Get this book now and solve all your problems with music theory! Read more

Music Reading Made Simple - Discover the Simple Step-By-Step Process to Learning How to Read Music ** A Successor and a Sibling to the Best-Selling Book: Music Theory - From Beginner to Expert, by Nicolas Carter ** Bars, notes, clefs, staves, time signatures, common notation, musical symbols… Have you ever wanted to learn how to read music but it seemed too difficult and not worth the effort? Have you tried searching for information online only to find yourself more confused by the seeming complexity of music theory and written music? Do you think that being able to read music and sightreading is only reserved for professional musicians who have had expensive education? Do you want to be able to quickly learn how to read sheet music and have a proper understanding of how music is written? Do you want to advance your skills as a musician?This in-depth book is the answer you may be looking for. This is the straightforward and concise guide meant to show that learning this valuable and impressive skill can be made simple, easy and fun, for any musician, on any instrument, at any time. It is meant to show that there is a simple process to learning anything, and music reading is no exception. You don’t have to attend music schools or expensive private classes and courses; anyone can learn how to read music by being self-taught. This book is going to help you easily understand music notation and how it relates to music theory. Along with the provided images, sheet music scores and music reading exercises, it will help you to build a proper foundation of knowledge, understanding, and skill; a foundation that will help you move forward as a musician. Here’s a sneak peak of what you’ll get: A detailed overview of a typical musical staff and its elements. A detailed explanation on frequency ranges, clefs and their relation to note pitches. Everything you need to know about key signatures and how to interpret them. A thorough understanding of the circle of fifths. Best step-by-step approach to reading notes and chords. Solfege explanation. A complete guide on how to read rhythms, how beat is divided, note durations, rests, ties, dotted notes. Fundamental rhythmic blocks and how to create rhythm patterns. How dynamics, articulation and extended techniques are notated. A complex exercise set to practice your skills and start sightreading!- And much, much more... You can get this book today for a low price >> To do that simply scroll back to the top of the page and click on the Buy Now button. Read more

In his first and only official autobiography, music icon Elton John reveals the truth about his extraordinary life. Me is the joyously funny, honest and moving story of the most enduringly successful singer/songwriter of all time.The Sunday Times bestseller with a new chapter bringing the story up to date. 'The rock memoir of the decade' – Daily Mail'The rock star's gloriously entertaining and candid memoir is a gift to the reader' – Sunday Times______________Christened Reginald Dwight was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was performing his first gig in America, facing an astonished audience in his bright yellow dungarees, a star-spangled T-shirt and boots with wings. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again.His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.In Me Elton also writes powerfully about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father. In a voice that is warm, humble and open, this is Elton on his music and his relationships, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story that will stay with you, by a living legend.______________'Self-deprecating, funny . . . You cannot help but enjoy his company throughout, temper tantrums and all' – The Times'Racy, pacy and crammed with scurrilous anecdotes - what more could you ask from the rocket man' – Guardian (Book of the Week)'Chatty, gossipy, amusing and at times brutally candid' – Telegraph Read more

Welcome to the sunshine island - where the beaches are golden, the lifestyle is perfect and anything is possible.Popstar Matteo Stanford is eager to escape to the sunshine island to catch up with his old friend Alex and secretly film his latest music video. But within moments of landing, the location for the shoot is leaked to the press, and his island escape and video might be over before they start.Not to be defeated, Alex’s girlfriend Piper recruits her two best friends Casey and Tara, who run the Smoke and Mirrors stall at the The Cabbage Patch market. It doesn’t take Casey more than a moment to realise the perfect setting for Matteo’s video is Gorey castle, but securing the venue means Casey is soon planning a secret wedding, finding an actress and becoming a set designer!It’s chaos and crazed fans, peppered with the sweetest moments she's ever experienced. But could a popstar really fall for island girl Casey Norman?A heartwarming romance perfect for fans of Jessica Redland and Helen Rolfe.Readers love Georgina Troy!'A gorgeous beachside setting, divine ice-cream sundaes, and a scorching summer love story - this book has it all!' Christina Jones'I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in this charming, evocative story. It's a perfect book to enjoy by the pool, in the sunshine, with a glass of Prosecco!' Kirsty Greenwood'A wonderfully warm and sweet summer read' Karen Clarke'The romance, the sunshine and the warmth of this island community is the perfect pick me up on a cold, wet day' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review'Georgina brings the Island to life' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review'What an absolute delight it was to read this book, it was so well written with so many twists and turns' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review Read more

A Times Book of the YearA Telegraph Book of the YearA Guardian Book of the Year A Rock 'n' Roll Book Club Book of the YearA Guardian 50 Best Holiday ReadsAn Independent Book of the YearA Mojo Music Book of the Year A Resident Book of the YearA Classic Pop Book of the Year'This really is a wonderful book for pop kids everywhere' - RICHARD OSMANUsing the arrival of the Spice Girls as a jumping-off point, this fascinating new narrative will explore, celebrate and contextualise the thus-far-uncharted period of British pop that flourished between 1996 and 2006. A double-denim-loving time before the glare of social media and the accession of streaming. The bastions of '00s pop - armed with buoyant, immaculately crafted, carefree anthems - provided entertainment, escapism and fun for millions. It was a heady, chorus-heavy decade - populated by the likes of Steps, S Club 7, Blue, 5ive, Mis-Teeq, Hear'Say, Busted, Girls Aloud, McFly, Craig David and Atomic Kitten, among countless others - yet the music was often dismissed as inauthentic, juvenile, not 'worthy' enough: ultimately, a 'guilty pleasure'. Now, music writer Michael Cragg aims to redress that balance. Using the oral-history format, Cragg goes beneath the surface of the bubblegum exterior, speaking to hundred's of the key players about the reality of their experiences. Compiled from interviews with popstars, songwriters, producers, choreographers, magazine editors, record-company executives, TV moguls and more, this is a complete behind-the-scenes history of the last great movement in British pop - a technicolour turning-point ripe for re-evaluation, documented here in astonishing, honest and eye-opening detail. Read more

Bob Dylan: Outlaw Blues by Spencer Leigh is a fresh take on this famous yet elusive personality, a one-man hall of mirrors who continues to intrigue his followers worldwide.It is an in-depth account with new information and fascinating opinions, both from the author and his interviewees. Whether you are a Dylan fan or not, you will be gripped by this remarkable tale.Most performers create their work for public approval, but at the centre of this book is a mercurial man who doesn't trust his own audience. If he feels he is getting too much acclaim, he tends to veer off in another direction. Despite his age, Bob Dylan still tours extensively. Famously known for not looking happy, the author looks at what motivates him. 'Journalists are very fond of saying Bob Dylan is an enigma,' says Spencer Leigh, 'but that word is flawed. It's as good as saying you don't know... I have not called Bob Dylan an enigma at any point in the book as I have tried to find answers.'Spencer Leigh has spoken to over 300 musicians, friends and acquaintances of Bob Dylan in his research for this book. Read more

'Fascinating, funny and tender' ADAM BUXTON'My favourite writer and interviewer' JUDE ROGERS'If Kate Mossman's name is on it, then I want to read it' PETE PAPHIDESFrom Jeff Beck to Ray Davies, Jon Bon Jovi to Kevin Ayers, Kate Mossman has long fostered an interest in male musicians of a certain age.Why is it that when I meet them, I feel something ignite inside me? What is this strange connection - to feel so excited, yet so at ease? And how is it that in the presence of a wrinkly rock star twice my age, I sometimes feel like I'm meeting . . . me?Featuring nineteen long-form profiles lovingly constructed for The Word magazine and the New Statesman, Men of a Certain Age chronicles the lives of some of the biggest rock stars of our time, including Brian May, Gene Simmons, Terence Trent D'Arby, Johnny Rotten and Nick Cave.The book is a meditation on the powerful archetype of the ageing rock star, but it is also a personal story - of music and obsession, and of the deep unconscious projections at play in our relationships with the famous people who most capture our hearts. As Kate travels 5,000 miles to try and find Glen Campbell, and to the depths of the Cornish countryside for a rendezvous with Roger Taylor, will she finally unravel the roots of her obsession with the elder statesmen of rock? Read more

In his own words is the candid, witty, and unvarnished story of the songs and shows, the hits and pans, the marriages and divorces, the ascents to the top of the charts and into the tabloid headlines.As one of only three musicians to sell over 100 million records both in a group and as a solo artist, Collins breathes rare air, but he has never lost his talent for crafting songs that touch listeners around the globe. This is the story of his epic career, from child actor to one of the most successful songwriters of the pop music era. A drummer since almost before he could walk, Collins received on-the-job training in the seedy, thrilling bars and clubs of 1960s swinging London before finally landing the drum seat in Genesis. Later he would step into the spotlight on vocals after the departure of Peter Gabriel, and compose the songs that would rocket him to international solo fame with the release of Face Value and 'In the Air Tonight'. Whether he's recalling jamming with Eric Clapton and Robert Plant, pulling together a big band fronted by Tony Bennett, playing twice at Live Aid, or writing the Oscar-winning music for Disney's smash-hit animated film Tarzan, Collins keeps it intimate and his storytelling gift never wavers. Read more

The inspirational and honest first book from S Club legend Rachel StevensWhether as part of the iconic S Club or as a successful solo artist, Rachel Stevens was in the eye of the Noughties pop storm when she was catapulted to fame in her teens. The whirlwind of celebrity life brought glamour, glitz and BRITs, but not everything was as it seemed behind the smile.Constantly stereotyped and controlled within the industry, Rachel privately struggled with her self-worth and mental health, but has since been on a journey of development and growth. Following a personal break-up and an S Club reunion – and after finding her voice and a new sense of confidence – Rachel is ready to open up for the very first time, covering everything from the impact of her childhood experiences to managing lifelong anxiety.Finding My Voice is Rachel’s inspiring, unfiltered story about discovering her true self in a manufactured world. Read more

Calling all teen and adult Swifties to a fun-filled Taylor Swift experience! Join in now if you want to guess, learn, and have a blast. 🎤✨Are you a die-hard Swiftie with an encyclopedic knowledge of Taylor Swift's iconic lyrics? Do you find yourself singing her songs on the move, in the shower, or even in your sleep?Well, get ready to prove your Swiftie status with this guess-the-song quiz designed to test your lyrical prowess and decipher some of her key lines.Let the Swiftie showdown begin! Match the 10 lyrics snippets to the correct song titles and prove you know every song by heart. This popular book for teens and adults is brought to you by a creative Swiftie deeply in love with Taylor's songwriting magic. Here’s an example he’d like to share with you, from her wonderful song All Too Well—track 30 on Red (Taylor’s Version):“We’re dancing ’round the kitchen in the refrigerator light”... because it captures such a romantic and intimate scene!More about this stunning lyric snippet, from the Swiftie behind this book:“This sentence takes such a simple, everyday moment and makes it feel magical. Dancing in the kitchen isn’t grand or extravagant—it’s ordinary. But Taylor shows how love has a way of transforming the simplest things into something extraordinary. The glow of the refrigerator light adds to the atmosphere, making it feel quiet, cozy, and dreamlike—like this small, perfect moment belongs only to them.Throughout the song, Taylor paints a picture of a relationship that was raw, passionate, and deeply personal. The “refrigerator light” moment is a symbol of that intimacy—a time when they were completely themselves, vulnerable and free, sharing a connection that felt unshakable. It’s not about fancy gestures or dramatic declarations; it’s about the quiet moments where love feels the most real.This line also feels bittersweet because it’s set against the backdrop of loss and nostalgia. The song is Taylor looking back at a love that’s long gone, and this memory of dancing in the kitchen is one of those vivid flashes of happiness that lingers even after everything else fades. It’s a reminder of what was lost and how those small moments often mean the most when looking back.What makes this snippet so powerful is how universal it is. It reminds us that love isn’t built on grand gestures but on little acts of connection—the unspoken moments that feel like they’re just yours. And when the relationship ends, it’s those memories that stick, making them both beautiful and painful to remember.We’re dancing ’round the kitchen in the refrigerator light ties perfectly into the song’s themes of love, loss, and nostalgia. It’s a quiet but deeply romantic moment that shows how love is found in the simplest times. And when those moments are gone, they remind us to cherish them while they’re happening—because they’re the ones we remember all too well.”It's brilliant lyric lines like this one that you're about to decode as you embark on the upcoming challenge! Okay, ready to get started? Let's go. 😉 Read more

From MILLION COPY BESTSELLER Judy Leigh‘Brilliantly funny, emotional and uplifting’ Miranda DickinsonIn the imposing Glen Carrick House overlooking Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, lives eighty-eight-year-old Mimi McKinlay, cared for by her three adult sons.Hamish has inherited his mother’s musical talents, Fin is the responsible brother, and Angus has the complicated and brooding personality to match his dashing good looks.But what all the brothers share is a concern that their beloved mother is living in her memories of her days on stage, while letting her present days pass her by.Jess Oliver is at a turning point. Amicably divorced after years of being married, this trip to the Highlands is a first taste of independence. It isn’t long before the beauty and hospitality of Scotland captures her heart.When Mimi and Jess’s paths cross, a friendship is formed that will change both women’s lives.  And as together they find ways to look forward instead of to the past, long forgotten dreams are within reach, and every new day is fresh with possibilities.Take a trip to the Highlands with Judy Leigh for an unforgettable story of glorious pasts and fabulous futures, of love, friendship, family and fun. The perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.Readers love Judy Leigh:'Lovely... a book that assures that life is far from over at seventy' Cathy Hopkins'Brimming with warmth, humour and a love of life… a wonderful escapade’ Fiona Gibson'This book, like its main character Mimi, exudes a certain joie de vivre feeling as you turn the pages. Highly emotional in places but heart warming and uplifting. Highly recommended’ Jennifer Bohnet‘The story’s simply wonderful, the theme of second chances will resonate whatever your age, there’s something for everyone among the characters, and I do defy anyone not to have a tear in their eye at the perfect ending’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review‘With brilliant characters and hilarious antics, this is definitely a cosy read you'll not want to miss’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review‘A lovely read of how life doesn't just end because your getting old’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review Read more

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE A COMPLETE UNKNOWN. One of the music world’s pre-eminent critics takes a fresh and much-needed look at the day Dylan “went electric” at the Newport Folk Festival.On the evening of July 25, 1965, Bob Dylan took the stage at Newport Folk Festival, backed by an electric band, and roared into his new rock hit, Like a Rolling Stone. The audience of committed folk purists and political activists who had hailed him as their acoustic prophet reacted with a mix of shock, booing, and scattered cheers. It was the shot heard round the world—Dylan’s declaration of musical independence, the end of the folk revival, and the birth of rock as the voice of a generation—and one of the defining moments in twentieth-century music.In Dylan Goes Electric!, Elijah Wald explores the cultural, political and historical context of this seminal event that embodies the transformative decade that was the sixties. Wald delves deep into the folk revival, the rise of rock, and the tensions between traditional and groundbreaking music to provide new insights into Dylan’s artistic evolution, his special affinity to blues, his complex relationship to the folk establishment and his sometime mentor Pete Seeger, and the ways he reshaped popular music forever. Breaking new ground on a story we think we know, Dylan Goes Electric! is a thoughtful, sharp appraisal of the controversial event at Newport and a nuanced, provocative, analysis of why it matters.“In this tour de force, Elijah Wald complicates the stick-figure myth of generational succession at Newport by doing justice to what he rightly calls Bob Dylan’s ‘declaration of independence’ . . . This is one of the very best accounts I’ve read of musicians fighting for their honor.” — Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties and Occupy Nation Read more