I
have always loved penguins; something about their waddle and confidence appeals to me!
As soon as I started reading about the amazing life of Juan
Salvador, a little penguin rescued from an oil slick in South America, I was
hooked, rooting for the little guy as he and the English schoolteacher who
saved him as they make their way through various adventures and challenges.
Juan
Salvador becomes the mascot for a rugby team in Argentina and endears himself
to everyone, listening with his head cocked and imparting penguin wisdom
through his beady eyes. It’s a lovely book, beautifully written, charming, and very funny—definitely, one to revisit in the near future.
The unique, moving and heartwarming true story of an unlikely friendship which captured imaginations around the world . . .
'I can't remember the last time I read a book that made me smile so continuously' 5***** Reader Review 'How could a penguin transform so many lives? Read it and see. You'll not regret it' 5***** Reader Review 'Delightful, uplifting, enjoyable, fun and beautifully written' 5***** Reader Review _______
Tom Michell is in his roaring twenties: single, free-spirited and seeking adventure. He has a plane ticket to South America, a teaching position in a prestigious Argentine boarding school, and endless…
If
you enjoyed the Netflix series Queen’s Gambit, then you will enjoy this book
telling of the lives of many women chess players throughout the past 100 years
leading up to the great Judith Polgar and beyond.
I have played chess all my
life, including in competitions, so I have some knowledge of the intricacies of
the game. Still, the book is very accessible and well-written, dealing with the
difficulties faced by women in being taken seriously by the chess community,
mainly run by men. Yes, it is a feminist book, but it is neither strident nor
preachy, just honest.
Ms. Shahade is a top-level chess player, and through
interviews, anecdotes, and personal stories, her passion for the sport shines
through—an excellent book, not just for chess fans.
For fans of The Queen's Gambit, this is the real life story of a female chess champion travelling the world to compete in a male-dominated sport with the most famous players of all time.
Jennifer Shahade, a two-time US women's chess champion, spent her teens and twenties travelling the world playing chess. Tournaments have taken her from Istanbul to Moscow, and introduced her to players from Zambia to China. In this ultra male-dominated sport, Jennifer found shocking sexism, as well as an incredible history of the top female players that has often been ignored. But she also found friendships, feminism…
Having seen this book referred to as one of the best
novels of the past few years, I decided to pick up a copy, and I could hardly put
it down after page one!
This beautiful story tells of a shipwrecked boy in the Indian Ocean who has to share a life raft
with a Bengal tiger. It delves into spirituality and the practicalities of life on
the ocean and is described as a fantasy adventure novel.
At times, I laughed out
loud; other times, there were a few tears in my eyes as the incredible story
unfolded with some graphic incidents that might not be for the faint-hearted! But
oh, what a story and testament to life and love.
After the sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a wounded zebra, an orangutan—and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger.
Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi Patel, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with the tiger, Richard Parker, for 227 days while lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his…
From an early age, I felt I was different.
Growing up in a middle-class suburban house with a loving family, I had friends,
played sports, and enjoyed lots of hobbies.
However, despite all I had in my life, I couldn’t deny my innermost feelings—feelings that I was not being true to
myself and not showing everyone who I really was.
I grew up a boy, and only
much later in life did I come to terms with the fact that I was a girl. So come
with me on my journey of discovery, the highs and lows, changing from husband
to wife, from father to mother, and discover the joy and sadness of my life in
my memoir, My Name is Philippa.
