Take a trip back to a different place and time. Where crowds of hunched and oddly dressed youths would probably be train-spotters, where you could have a reign of terror on a Sunday afternoon just by riding your cast-iron scooter across the blue brick pavement, and where the height of excitement on the street was getting two Beech Nut chewing gum packets on the fourth turn of the handle. Philip Whiteland entertains with this collection of articles presenting some keenly observed and very funny meanders through the past and present. Why not come and join him on the trip, but, whatever you do, remember to keep “Steady Past Your Granny’s” "Steady Past Your Granny's" is the first book in the 'nostalgedy' collection of stories, which also includes "Crutches for Ducks" and "A Kick at the Pantry Door"

Fly away with Granny as she takes a magic carpet ride around the world, collecting a steadily increasing number of souvenirs from each unique location! This rhyming story will take young readers on an adventure to different countries while teaching them to count along the way.

A page-turning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of Western thought, Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. One day fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each: "Who are you?" and "Where does the world come from?" From that irresistible beginning, Sophie becomes obsessed with questions that take her far beyond what she knows of her Norwegian village. Through those letters, she enrolls in a kind of correspondence course, covering Socrates to Sartre, with a mysterious philosopher, while receiving letters addressed to another girl. Who is Hilde? And why does her mail keep turning up? To unravel this riddle, Sophie must use the philosophy she is learning—but the truth turns out to be far more complicated than she could have imagined.

Sarah MacAlpin has always felt like an outsider. Raised by her Scottish grandmother deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sarah grew up with one foot in the old world and one foot in the new world. Her childhood friends were the stuff of ancient Celtic legends. But Sarah's seemingly idyllic past hides a horrifying secret. As a little girl she watched her mother's inexorable slide into madness. But she hasn't let her past stop her from reaching for her dreams. She has managed to put together a pretty good life for herself. She has great friends, a boyfriend, and her career as a folklorist is all planned out. That is until she meets Dermot Sinclair. The handsome Scot seems to be dogging her every step. At best he's a fellow folklorist who can help her research. At worst, he could be there to steal her work. All she has to do is find one song that proves her thesis and her dissertation will be done. Unfortunately, unlocking that song may also mean unlocking some buried memories and a dangerous destiny set in motion generations ago.

Learn the language of Nebraska . . .and 49 other states With more entries than any other reference of its kind,McGraw-Hill’s Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs shows you how American English is spoken today. You will find commonly used phrasal verbs, idiomatic expressions, proverbial expressions, and clichés. The dictionary contains more than 24,000 entries, each defined and followed by one or two example sentences. It also includes a Phrase-Finder Index with more than 60,000 entries.

An “outrageous, profane, hilarious, sexy and all kinds of wacky” romantic comedy from theNew York Times bestselling author of Size Matters (Michelle Rowen, national bestselling author). What happens when an accountant decides to grab life by the horns and try something new? Apparently a pirate named Dave, a lot of pastel fleece, and blackmail—just to start with . . . Visualize and succeed, Oprah said. I was sure as hell trying, even if my campaign to score a job as the local weather girl had ended in a restraining order. Okay, TV was not my strength. But a lack of talent has never stopped me before. Which is why I’ve embarked on a writing career. I mean, how hard can it be to come up with a sexy romance? Leave it to me to wind up in a group of porno writing grannies who discuss sex toys and apple cobbler in the same breath. Also leave it to me to leak an outlandish plot idea to a bestselling author with the morals of a rabid squirrel. And only I could get arrested for a jewelry heist I didn’t commit—by a hunky cop whose handcuffs just might tempt me to sign up for a life of crime. Maybe I’ve found my calling after all . . . “A zany over-the-top rompfest.”—Lexi George, author of Demon Hunting with a Sexy Ex “The most f*cked-up bag of wonderful crazy ever.”—Dear Author “If readers are in the mood for hilarious kinkiness woven through a fun romance, then this is the book to try.”—Long and Short Reviews (4 stars)

Can a woman ever really know herself if she doesn't know her mother? From the author of the smash-hit bestseller Firefly Lane and True Colors comes Kristin Hannah's powerful, heartbreaking novel that illuminates the intricate mother-daughter bond and explores the enduring links between the present and the past. Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time—and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya's life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother's life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.

'The Diary and Memoirs of an Incarcerated Granny' is a frank 'lockdown diary' full of anecdotes, musings, reminiscences and irreverent commentary. Author Angela Lister has looked at an unprecedented year through the prism of lockdown, to produce a remarkable book that is both a diary and an autobiography. She eloquently contrasts her incarceration at home during lockdown with memories of spending five years living in the Dordogne with her late husband, James. She combines charm, warmth and a mischievous sense of humour in this candid and entertaining read. The author's witty and vibrant pen covers subjects such as downsizing, family, friendships, dogs called Poppy and Violet, food, politics and Zoom. 'The Diary and Memoirs of an Incarcerated Granny' is a cathartic romp through the seasons of a unique year. In Angela's own words, it's necessary to ensure that 'positive thoughts abound'.

Fire up your crochet hooks and get your granny on! This accessible guide includes clear instructions and a photo of each finished project. Adapted from the best-selling The Granny Square Book, Second Edition, Granny Square Crochet for Beginnersgives you everything you need to get started with crochet and to start making and creating projects with granny squares. Granny Squares for Beginners shows you how the easy technique of crocheting square by square is not only portable and convenient but is also amazingly versatile and can be interpreted in countless ways with different yarns. You’ll find: Easy essentials. Learn about basic supplies and stitches, easy techniques for making granny squares, and adding simple details and finishing. A rich collection of granny square patterns. Explore a wide range of designs, from classic geometrics to fun florals. Easy, beginner-level projects. The simple projects for accessories, garments, and gifts prove that granny squares can be used to make almost anything. Learn to crochet granny squares and create your own unique projects with Granny Square Crochet for Beginners.