Dagbøker og memoarer

Brighid 'Biddy' McLaughlin, the acclaimed Irish journalist and storyteller, has endured unthinkable tragedy-the murder of her beloved sister Siobhan and the devastating drowning of her husband. Yet, in the face of overwhelming grief, McLaughlin refuses to be consumed by darkness. From behind the half-door of her enchanting Dalkey cottage, in exquisite and honest prose, McLaughlin reflects upon the cherished memories evoked by the objects surrounding her, carrying the reader along on a journey of grief, resilience and hope. From the delicate Madeleine tray that whispers Siobhan's name to her own folk art illustrations that dance across the pages, McLaughlin's memoir is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of storytelling to heal even the deepest wounds.As the late John B. Keane once remarked, 'Biddy had been a storyteller all her life. In drawings, words and painting, she has captured the tales of common and not-so-common folk caught up in the maelstrom of life.'McLaughlin's memoir celebrates the people, places, and passions that sustained her: her unconventional background, her bohemian friends, her love of art and cooking, and the solace found within the walls of her cottage.Tales of a Patchwork Life is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and comfort. It offers a powerful reminder of the extraordinary strength that lies within

At the age of 16, a boy amongst men, Andy Farrell made his first-team debut for Wigan Warriors - and became a father for the first time. At 18, he won his first senior international cap. At 21, he won his first Man of Steel Award for the Super League player of the year. He went on to win the Golden Boot award for world player of the year. All of that on its own would have been enough to make him a sporting legend - and none of it even hinted at the fascinating second chapter of his sporting life, as a rugby union player with Saracens and England, or the third chapter, as a highly successful and beloved union coach. Under his leadership, Ireland have played a brilliant brand of rugby combining precision and freedom, and have been consistently ranked either number 1 or number 2 in the world. Warm, thoughtful and passionate, Andy Farrell is not just a brilliant rugby man: he is a fascinating human being. His autobiography brings us back to his childhood in Wigan, when he made a meteoric ascent to the highest levels of rugby league; and to the extraordinary moment when, aged 15, he and his girlfriend Colleen - now his wife - learned they were going to have a baby. He writes about his ambitious attempt to remake himself as a rugby union player in his thirties. He writes about his remarkable relationship with his first child, Owen - who has gone on to become a legend of English rugby - and about the importance of family in his life. And he traces the journey that has led to him become one of rugby's most successful coaches, explaining what he has learned about leadership along the way.

The hair-raising tale of adventurer Jules Mountain's bid to cross the Atlantic in a lightweight helicopter with a maximum range of 300 miles.  The only way was over the polar ice cap, which made it more perilous

From the celebrated athlete and award-winning author, an inspirational collection of personal stories and lessons that will spark change within you and transform how you contribute to the world. Arshay Cooper believes in bringing people together, seeking out opposing ideas to collaborate and find consensus rather than focusing on differences and othering.In Let Me Be Real with You, he reflects on his personal journeyfrom the trials he faced as a young Black boy from the West Side of Chicago to finding international recognition as an athlete and philanthropistsharing insights to guide you on your own journey.The stories in Let Me Be Real with You will help you navigate difficulties and challenges with grace, awareness, hope, and even humor, and fortify your commitment to a life lived in service to others without sacrificing your own self-care. Ashray introduces you to the eight essential tenets of wellnessmental, physical, environmental, vocational, financial, intellectual, social, and spiritualand teaches you how to incorporate them into daily life.Cooper reveals how a wellness mindset and practices became an integral part of his life and success and how they can become central to yours as well. A memoir and inspirational guide, Let Me Be Real with You is for all of us who want to change our lives and find the courage to doing it afraid."

When Felicity Cloake announced that she was planning her dream cycle around the United States, not everyone shared her excitement. "You'll die," a Californian colleague told her matter of factly. "No one rides a bike round here." Her mum agreed - "you can't go on your own, you'll be murdered." Friends were horrified - "but... what will you eat?"

In, Life Love Death NYPD, the author takes readers on a poignant journey through his early years in the bustling city. From his birth during a record snowstorm in 1947 to his childhood adventures in Manhattan and eventual move to the Bronx, the author shares vivid memories and experiences that put doubt to the meaning of the word "Coincidence" and shaped his upbringing. With a mix of humor, heartache, and resilience, this memoir offers a glimpse into a bygone era and the challenges faced growing up, falling in love, joining the N.Y.P.D. and miraculously escaping death as a result of doing both. Life Love Death NYPD is a touching and nostalgic account of family, community, and the importance of becoming aware of the things unseen. Ignoring them can cost you, and others, your very lives.REQUIRED READING FOR CADETS ATTENDING A LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY

In this intimate, enormously personal memoir, the author, Melissa McKay, guides the reader through a lovingly crafted tale over twenty years in the making: the story of her life. A woman who married her high school sweetheart and raised two children, all while involving herself in her local church community, Melissa takes the time to reflect on her many lived experiences. She details her various struggles and triumphs, from facing family bereavement and trauma, to her long-running battles with depression, to the ups and downs of raising a child on the autism spectrum.Cucumbers in Heaven spins a touching, inspiring yarn, one of family, of faith and love, of struggling against all odds and still coming out the other side, stronger than ever. With its message of self-love, perseverance, and hope, Melissa's journey is one that is guaranteed to stay with you long after you put it down.

Whitney Straight is a gripping tale of speed, heroism, romance, determination and tragedy

A personal memoir of deployment with the strike cell that hunted America's enemies in Iraq using cutting-edge technology.

A compelling collection of personal essays that reminds us of the power of love and writing to connect us, despite the forces that seek to keep us separate.“What if we survive by converting what we get into what we need?” asks Jennifer Bowen Hicks in a series of linked essays that offer care and attention as balm for our contemporary loneliness. The founding director of one of the most groundbreaking prison writing workshops in the United States, she has seen firsthand the effects of absence and isolation. Reading and writing, she posits, can be radically connective acts—proof, finally, that we’re not alone. Written during a time when division is constantly being sown between us, The Book of Kin argues powerfully for our need to understand ourselves and each other as full, complex beings worthy of love.From the unexpectedly salvific attentions of a cow to the time-bending drama of watching a child grow into an adult, and from pastoral carceral settings to the spectacle of an antiquated prison rodeo, Bowen Hicks examines a wild spectrum of shapes that care can take—and what happens when its absence is marked. These unflinching, surprisingly funny, and emotionally vulnerable essays are driven by a curiosity to uncover what might be gleaned from various separations, or vanishments, in her own life—from the shadow of her own father to disappeared backyard chickens—and in American life writ large, where “harm is shared, and healing is too.” The Book of Kin is a rhapsodic debut that explores the beautiful, determined ways we imperfectly care for one another and how we might keep trying, despite it all.

A beautiful, uplifting celebration of the life of The Hairy Bikers' Dave Myers from his widow LiliDave Myers lived his life with joy. He always told his wife Lili that, if you were going to do something, you should do it full-heartedly. With that in mind, Lili gives her whole self to writing a celebration of his life and their love, full of the warmth and joy that Dave and the Hairy Bikers brought to their fans throughout their career spanning two decades. Inviting readers into their world, Lili shares her personal story alongside her professional insights as a grief counsellor, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of loss and the healing process.Lili takes us on an intimate journey through life with her beloved husband, recounting their serendipitous meeting in 2005, the blossoming of their relationship as pen pals and the adventures that followed as they built a life together in the UK. Interspersed with vivid memories - like the plaid shirt that carries a special significance, the shoes that tell a story of their travels, and the lost wedding ring that symbolises their unbreakable bond - Lili paints a rich tapestry of their life together. She describes the joy of their wedding day, the camaraderie of friendships, and the challenges they faced during Dave's cancer diagnosis, his treatment, and the final days they spent together.As well as a reflection on Lili's profound grief, this deeply moving memoir is a testament to the enduring power of love and, amidst the sorrow, Lili finds ways to celebrate Dave's life, honouring his legacy and the impact he had on a nation that adored him. Looking to the future, Lili offers readers a beacon of hope, sharing her coping strategies and the ways she keeps Dave's memory alive. Dave and Me is a deeply heartfelt tribute to a remarkable man and story of love that transcends loss.

Alan Munro reflects on his time in the RAF and the Cold War jets which he flew. It is his time on the Phantoms that is the main crux of this book. He discusses how the withdrawal of Lightnings from the RAF changed the Phantom's role and the impact this had on squadrons. This is a must for fans of the Cold War era fighters

A fascinating and beautiful mix of memoir, global naming trends and reclaiming who we are.

"For over thirty years, the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships has served as the University of Pennsylvania's primary vehicle for advancing civic and community engagement at Penn. The Netter Center develops and helps implement democratic, mutually transformative, place-based partnerships between Penn and its local geographic community of West Philadelphia. These partnerships advance research, teaching, learning, and service while improving the quality of life and learning in the community. One of the Netter Center's primary objectives has been to educate Penn students to be creative, compassionate, ethical citizens who contribute significantly to improving the welfare of others--while they are students and throughout their lives and careers. Community-Engaged Scholarship and the New Professoriate: Voices from Netter Center Alumni is a collection of stories told by alumni of the University of Pennsylvania whose lives were profoundly shaped by engaging with the West Philadelphia community as students. Their reflections trace the linear relationship between their involvement in democratic community partnerships through Penn's Netter Center and their current professional activities, primarily in academia, where they remain actively engaged in the struggle to build a more democratic and equitable society. The mutuality and humility that pervade these autobiographical accounts are the core of the democratic aspiration to which the Netter Center is and has always been dedicated. The stories are testimony to the Netter Center's and founding director Ira Harkavy's enduring influence on the next generation of community-engaged scholars and practitioners"--Publisher's description.

Born in Manchester in 1977, Anthony Kavanagh's rise to fame was stratospheric, scoring a record deal at the age of just sixteen and winning the much-coveted Smash Hits Male Artist of the Year Award in 1997, all the while appearing on countless magazine covers, performing on Top of the Pops and gigging alongside the Spice Girls. The stuff that dreams are made of. But Anthony - or Kavana as he had been christened - was also trying to keep his sexuality a secret while navigating his way through an industry where image was everything; where his success depended on him having to be exactly who he wasn't. What followed was a dark and dangerous spiral into addiction, an illness that would doggedly hound and baffle him for years to come. Popscars chronicles the highs, the lows, the lies, the debauchery, the hitting rock bottom and then finding out that rock bottom has a basement. Thirty years on, Anthony is ready to tell his jaw-dropping story. Pop Scars is a book about stardom, fame, addiction, grief and - ultimately - survival and sobriety.