Christmas Books for HER

Christmas is that perfect time to give and receive books and it simply would not be christmas without a book to read over the festive season. So with that in mind, Books4TheBeach have put a selection of books together that would make that perfect gift for HER.

Synopsis

A practical illustrated book on fashion, beauty and style. It reveals secrets on dressing for special occasions, everyday wear, accessorizing, holiday tips and making the most of your wardrobe. It aims to make you feel confident - whether you're getting ready for work, a night out on the town or even doing the school run.

Synopsis

This is a glittering and sexy story of passion and betrayal and one woman's search for true love. Crystal is beautiful, talented and ambitious. All her life she has dreamed of making it as a singer.After years of trying to break into the music industry her chance finally comes when her girl band enters a TV reality show contest. But Crystal has a secret. She's fallen for the wrong man and this one mistake could cost her everything - her friendships, her fame and her chance of ever finding love again.


Synopsis

Nigella and her style of cookery have earned a special place in our lives, symbolising all that is best, most pleasurable, most hands-on and least fussy about good food. But that doesn't mean she wants us to spend hours in the kitchen, slaving over a hot stove. Featuring fabulous fast foods, ingenious short cuts, terrific time-saving ideas, effortless entertaining and easy, delicious meals, "Nigella Express" is her solution to eating well when time is short.


Synopsis
WHICH BODY SHAPE ARE YOU? A Skittle, Goblet, Hourglass, Cornet, Cello, Apple, Column, Bell, Vase, Brick, Lollipop or a Pear...Trinny & Susannah have identified 12 classic women's body shapes. In each case, it is proportion, not size, that matters. So whether you are a skinny, average or larger Skittle, Cello, Apple or Pear, the same principles of dressing will apply.Using real-life women, they analyse in depth each shape and show how to choose the clothes that fit and flatter it. They show the most common dressing mistakes and the three best looks.


Synopsis
Now in its fifth year, this diary doesn't just record your daily doings; it dictates them, resulting in what the editors call 'extreme self-improvement'. Part instruction book, part religious cult, part sheer mayhem, this anarchic humour bestseller is guaranteed to change anyone's life, and who knows? It may even be for the better..."Guaranteed to make you smile" - "The Times". "52 weeks of hilarious ideas" - "Dublin Evening Herald"

Christmas Books for HIM

Christmas is that perfect time to give and receive books and it simply would not be christmas without a book to read over the festive season. So with that in mind, Books4TheBeach have put a selection of books together that would make that perfect gift for HIM.

Synopsis

Bobby Charlton is Manchester United through and through. He was a member of the original 'Busby Babes' and has devoted his career to the club, playing in 754 games over 17 years. Here, he tells the story of those United years.

Synopsis

Puts British common sense back where it belongs. This book brings together the wit and wisdom of the Pub Landlord, and the thoughts of the locals at Al's pub. Together they speak for generations of down-to-earth, normal, hard working, sensible, law abiding, tax paying, normal, hard working, honourable, decent, reasonable people - British people.

Synopsis

Body Guarding a TV crew on the streets of war-torn Basra, ex-deniable operator Nick Stone seems certain to die when insurgent gunmen attack. Only the reporter's swift action saves his life. When the reporter vanishes within hours, presumed kidnapped, Stone is asked to find him. The trail leads from Iraq to London, Dublin, and ultimately Kabul.

Synopsis

Lewis Hamilton's explosive arrival on the Formula 1 scene has made front-page headlines. In My Story, for the first time Lewis opens up about his stunning debut season, including the gripping climax to the 2007 F1 World Championship, as well as his dad Anthony, his home life and his early years. The only book with the real story, as told by Lewis.

Synopsis

It's an offer you can't refuse. Who would not to wish to be the man in charge of Ankh-Morpork's Royal Mint and the bank next door? It's a job for life. But, as former con-man Moist von Lipwig is learning, the life is not necessarily for long.The Chief Cashier is almost certainly a vampire. There's something nameless in the cellar (and the cellar itself is pretty nameless), it turns out that the Royal Mint runs at a loss. A 300 year old wizard is after his girlfriend, he's about to be exposed as a fraud, but the Assassins Guild might get him first.In fact lot of people want him dead Oh. And every day he has to take the Chairman for walkies. Everywhere he looks he's making enemies.What he should be doing is ...Making Money!

World Without End - Ken Follett

Review - After Reading "Pillars of the Earth" I could not wait to read this one and purchased World Without End as soon as it was released. From the very first chapter I was captured by this book and immediately entered into the world of medieval Britain and into the lives of ordinary people living and working in towns and villages.

"World Without End" has many of the themes of “pillars of the Earth”, but with a new building project being one of the story-lines, Follett makes this book feel fresh and new. This book is a long read and has a thousand plus pages, but the characters are interesting and you get a real sense of their personalities and their lives.

You need not have read “Pillars of the Earth” to understand “World Without End” since this book is set two hundred years later and Follett does an exceptional job of referring back to his earlier work. However for those of you that have read and enjoyed “Pillars of the Earth”, it is fair to say in my opinion you will absolutely love this and will no doubt find yourself reading this book at every opportunity. written by Amy Walker - Hampshire

Synopsis - On the day after Halloween, in the year 1327, four children slip away from the cathedral city of Kingsbridge. They are a thief, a bully, a boy genius and a girl who wants to be a doctor. In the forest they see two men killed. As adults, their lives will be braided together by ambition, love, greed and revenge. They will see prosperity and famine, plague and war. One boy will travel the world but come home in the end; the other will be a powerful, corrupt nobleman. One girl will defy the might of the medieval church; the other will pursue an impossible love. And always they will live under the long shadow of the unexplained killing they witnessed on that fateful childhood day. Ken Follett's masterful epic "The Pillars of the Earth" enchanted millions of readers with its compelling drama of war, passion and family conflict set around the building of a cathedral. Now "World Without End" takes readers back to medieval Kingsbridge two centuries later, as the men, women and children of the city once again grapple with the devastating sweep of historical change.

Books4TheBeach.com launched today

(PRWEB)December 3, 2007 -- BOOKS4THEBEACH.com, a UK based online book site, announced its launch today promising online shoppers great choice and competitive prices.

BOOKS4THEBEACH.com aims to provide a huge selection of books primarily aimed at the general public who are looking for that great read to take on their vacation to read either on the plane, on the beach or around the pool. With fantastic selections on Crime and Thriller, Fiction, Biographies, Humour, Sport and much much more, online shoppers will be pleased to find as much as 50% reductions on thousands of popular and latest release titles.

Not only do BOOKS4THEBEACH.com provide a huge selection of fantastic reads for their customers (with over 700,000 titles + to choose from) they also offer an excellent travel section. With travel guides, phrase books and maps, travellers will be thrilled to find such a comprehensive and very competitive priced selection.

BOOKS4THEBEACH.com is fresh and offers a stress free shopping experience and includes browseable and searchable options. It also donates 1% of turnover to their chosen charity childflight.co.uk which is a charity raising money to help terminally ill, disabled and disadvantaged children.

Managing Director Anthony Franks comments "customers will also be pleased to know that BOOKS4THEBEACH will start to implement their plans to improve and grow the site within the first 12 months of business with the inclusion of additional features such as a holiday checklist, weather, currency converters and the addition of e-books.

Marketing Executive Joanne Wood recently launched their blog books4thebeach.blogspot.com which will include articles covering book recommendation, book reviews, news and monthly features.

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner is a story of two boys, growing up together roaming the streets of Kabul – Afghanistan. Amir and Hassen are like brothers; both growing up without the presence of a mother but their personalities couldn’t be more different. Amir, a Sunni Muslim and the son of a very affluent businessman is educated and very well read. Hassan is an illiterate Sh’ia Muslim and his father is a servant to Amir’s father, however, Hassan has an uncanny instinct for predicting exactly where a downed kite will land. Amir often uses his superior position to tease and mistreat Hassan but in 1975, on the day of Kabul's annual kite-fighting tournament, something unspeakable happens between the two boys. Written by Amir, a 40-year-old novelist living in United States, The Kite Runner tells the gripping story of a boyhood friendship destroyed by jealousy, fear, and the kind of ruthless evil that transcends mere politics. In my opinion the Kite Runner is a passionate and powerful story, a real page-turner, I found this book hard to put down.

Written by Joanne Franks

Books that changed the world

Vintage Classics offers published writers such as Graham Greene, Harper Lee, Joseph Heller, Ernest Hemingway, Vaginia Woolf and Franz Kafka. These illustrious names are now joined by the greatest writers from previous centuries including George Eliot, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Henry James, and Oscar Wilde. Vintage aims to publish the best writers of today, tomorrow and yesterday.

There are ten Vintage Classic Twins to collect. Each Twin consists of two books: a specially designed limited edition of one modern classic title and one established classic work. These books have been carefully selected to provide a thought-provoking combination

• VINTAGE CRIME
• VINTAGE FANTASY
• VINTAGE FEAR
• VINTAGE LIES
• VINTAGE LOVE
• VINTAGE LUST
• VINTAGE MONSTERS
• VINTAGE SATIRE
• VINTAGE SIN
• VINTAGE YOUTH

Our first weekly feature of vintage classics will look at the Vintage Twin...

Vintage Crime
Patricia Highsmith - Ripley's Game
Tom Riply detested murder. Unless it was absolutely necessary. If possible, he prefered someone to do the dirty work. In this case someone with no criminal record, who had an unusual but pressing reason to agree to commit 'two simple murders' for a very generous fee...
Fyodor Dostoevsky - Crime and Punishment
A troubled young man commits the perfect crime - the murder of a vile pawnbroker whom no one will miss. Raskolnikov is desperate for money, but convinces himself that his motive for the murder is to benefit mankind. So begins one of the greatest novels ever written, a journey into the criminal mind, a police thriller, and a philosophical meditation on morality and redemption

wannabe a writer?

Books4TheBeach have found an hilarious, informative guide to getting you wannabe writers into print, this is a must have for anyone who's ever thought they have a book in them, the book covers

• Where do you start?
• How do you finish?
• And will anyone ever publish it when you have?

Drawing on her own experiences as a novelist and journalist, Writing Magazine's agony aunt Jane Wenham-Jones takes you through the minefield of the writing process, giving advice on everything from how to avoid Writers' Bottom to what to wear to your launch party. Including hot tips from authors, agents and publishers at the sharp end of the industry, Wannabe a Writer? tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the book world - and a few things you didn't..

Christmas Cook Tips & Book Recommendations

Burnt Turkey

Sloppy Veg

Tasteless Gravy

Sound Familiar

then read on.....

Christmas dinner is one of the most stressful meals you will cook during the year, so with just weeks to go, Books4TheBeach have put together 5 top tips to ensure this years christmas dinner is absolutely delicious. We will also be recommending top cook books to give you inspirational ideas, impressive menus and fantastic recipes to dish up in this festive season.

Tip 1. Get Organised

To ensure everything runs smoothly on christmas day, make a list of everything you will need to prepare the meal, ensure the roasting tray is big enough to hold the turkey (or other meat selection) and prepare any of the vegetables the night before where possible.

Tip 2. Turkey

To avoid the turkey going dry regularly baste the bird and cover with a piece of muslin. Next the turkey crown can be covered evenly with a smooth mixture consisting of fresh thyme, garlic, sea salt, pepper and butter. The muslin is then placed over the crown and secured in place with string. The meat will remain moister by cooking at a lower temperature longer, this can be done by starting at around 120°C, and increasing to 160-180°C towards the end. Every 20 minutes baste over the muslin and then finally during the last 20 minutes remove the muslin and allow the bird to crisp up. Cooking times should always go on the weight of the bird.

Tip 3. Roast Potatoes

For lovely roasters par-boil for 8 minutes in gently boiling salted water and then set aside to cool before seasoning with a little salt. Next you need to pre-heat your chosen oil in a seperate pan, this should be at least 1/2 inch deep, adding any meat fat from the roasting tin just before adding the potatoes. Make sure the oil is sizzling hot before adding the potatoes and once added, turn the potatoes ensuring they are covered in a light coating of oil. Roast for 45 minutes turning several times and thats it, perfect roasters.

Tip 4. Sprouts

Believe it or not we use frozen sprouts. It is said that sprouts need a frost and there is no frost better than a freezer. Defrost your sprouts, take off the outer green leaves and fry them in a generous amount of butter. Wait until it is bubbling away nicely and then throw in one layer of sprouts across the base of the pan and fry them until they are slowly singed on the outside. They are better than any fresh sprout.

Tip 5. Gravy

Last but by no means least THE GRAVY

Firstly start by chopping an onion as finely as you like, and then gently fry in a small amount of oil until lightly browned. Add 1 heaped teaspoon of cornflour and stir well and if you are feeling a little adventurous for that extra colour allow the flour to brown but not burn. You can now add the juices from your meat, deglazing the roasting tin or pan with sherry (water or wine can be used as an alternative). Add extra liquid as required, this can be water from your vegetables. Season the gravy to taste. For that extra sheen, add a knob of butter just befor serving. Any unwanted onions can be sieved out befor serving up.

Book Recommendations................

Packed with inspirational ideas, impressive menus and fantastic recipes, festive foodies will find everything they need to make Christmas magical every year with "Good Food 101 Christmas Dishes." Add sparkle to your party nibbles, rev up the roast, delight your guests with truly decadent desserts. From canapes to Christmas cake, the team at BBC "Good Food Magazine" will take you every step of the way with simple, mouthwatering recipes that won't keep you in the kitchen for days on end.

Mrs Beeton has provided practical advice and inspiration to generations in their first attempts at running their own homes. This collection brings together a selection of reliable, delicious, seasonal recipes, fully updated for the modern kitchen, that will encourage beginners and provide inspiration for more experienced cooks. Whether you need to coordinate an enormous family feast, or you just want to make some spicy, decorated biscuits as gifts, you'll find everything you need to make Christmas cookery a more enjoyable experience.With helpful hints, freezing and microwave tips, menu plans and serving ideas, the

techniques are easy to follow. Here you will find all the familiar favourites, with a wide range of accompaniments and extras including sauces, confectionary and beverages, as well as tips for table laying, menu planning and the Christmas countdown

Written by Joanne Franks

Agatha Christie

As we wrote about in a previous blog, Agatha Christie is the top selling author of all time. It seemed only natural to start our first monthly feature of AUTHOR OF THE MONTH with Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was born Agatha May Clarissa Miller in Torquay, Devon.

Agatha was a quiet child and turned her hand firstly to music and then later in life to writing as a means of expression.

Agatha was a bright child and by the age of 5 had taught herself to read.

She met Archie Christie in 1912 who was a fighter pilot, they married in December 1914 but by 1926 were divorced since Archie met another woman.

Agatha re-married a archeologist called Max Mallowan and remained married for 46 years.

During the war in France, Agatha became a volunatary nurse working for the Red Cross in Torquay.

Her very first manuscript 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' believe it or not was rejected at least six times by publishers before finally being accepted in 1920

The publication of 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' in 1926 was her first major publication that was recognised, this being followed by 75 novels and works adopted for film, titles that we have all heard of, such as 'Death on the Nile', 'Witness for the Prosecution' and not forgetting 'Murder on the Orient Express'.

Christie was the creator of Hercule Poirot the Belgian Detective and Miss Jane Marple, Agathas final publication was Miss Marples, 'Sleeping Murder'.

Sites of interst for you agatha fans:

www.kirjasto.sci.fi/christie.htm

www.poirot.us/pfacts.html

www.topmystery.com/quick_facts.htm

Sudoku

Books4TheBeach today would like to share some interesting info on the latest phenomena Sudoku, a Japanese numbers puzzle.

Sudoku requires a player to fill in the 9 x 9 square grid with the numbers 1-9. You have to arrange the numbers in such a way that each column, row and mini grid only contains 1 of each number. By placing just one number incorrectly the whole puzzle is thrown out.

Sudoku or very similar was invented 200 years ago by a blind Swiss mathematician (Leon Hard Euler) from Basle. Leon lost his sight in his early middle age and after finding he could no longer work from books, developed a talent for composing puzzles and an ability to compile complex sums in his head.

Leon went on to develop a grid based puzzle and called it 'Latin Squares' and was made in all material aspects. Leon's 'Latin Squares' was little noticed until it appeared as the 'Number Place Game' in America in the 1980's. It was eventually noticed by Nobuhiko Kanamoto a Japanese employee of a puzzle magazine. The Japanese then further developed this puzzle and renamed it Sudoku meaning 'number single'.

Today Sudoku is not only spreading widely through newspapers and across the internet, but is now heading for television in the UK.

For all you you Sudoku fans we have found a couple of interesting sites:

The first site you can find a Sudoku puzzle which times you and allows you to submit your results against other sudoku fans - will you be the fastest?

The second, a well recommended site called Sudoku UK, you can find actual Sudoku puzzles ranging from easy to extreme to solve online. Also with added feature such as Sudoku solver, picture Sudoku, unsolved Sudoku and techniques. This is well worth a visit.

Happy Puzzling....

Written by Jo Franks

The Art Theif

Did you know that ART CRIME is the 3rd highest grossing criminal industry worldwide, behind only drugs and the arms trade and nets between US$2-6 billion per year for criminals.

Today we are recommending a book by Noah Charney called the Art Thief. He was born in 1979 in New Haven, United States but then moved to the UK where he gained Masters degrees in 17th century Roman sculpture and 16th century florentine painting and iconography. Shortly after Noah turned his hand to writing the Art Thief his first novel.

Charney undertook a PhD in the study of Art Crime which was a field that nobody had ever studied before and discovered almost all of art crime today is perpetrated either by, or on behalf of ,international organised crime syndicates. Charney believes that for this reason, art crime funds other crimes which are easy to recognise as severe, such as the drug and arms trades and international terrorism. Through fiction, lectures as well as diverse future enterprises, Charney's primary task is to inform the public and government about the severity of art crime.

The Art Thief by Noah Charney.....

The disappearance of a priceless Caravaggio in Rome and the famous 'White on White' by Russian painter Kasimir Malevich in Paris heralds the start of a series of seemingly unconnected art crimes across Europe. Fitting the pieces together as they follow a trail of bluffs and double-bluffs, bizarre clues and intellectual puzzles, Inspector Jean-Jacques Bizot in Paris and Harry Wickenden of Scotland Yard come to realize that what at first appears a spate of random thefts is all part of a single master plan, and that they are being led ever deeper into a baffling conspiracy. This fiendishly clever debut thriller takes us behind the scenes of the elite fine art world of auction houses, academia and museums to offer a fascinating view of art history, witty, fast-paced dialogue and an ever-surprising plot that twists its way from Rome to Paris to London and back again.

Interesting Facts About Books

DId You Know....

The origin of the Latin word for book, liber, comes from the Romans who used the thin layer found between the bark and the wood (the liber) before the times of parchment. The English word comes from the Danish word for book, bog, meaning birch tree, as the early people of Denmark wrote on birch bark.

Early books didn't have titles or authors or anything printed on the covers?
Books used to be shelved "backwards" with the spine facing the back of the shelf and the fore-edge facing out?

Books used to be chained to the bookshelves in libraries?

Books were sold unbound in quires (gatherings of printed sheets or signatures). If you wanted a bound book you had to buy the quires from the publisher and take them to your favorite bookbinder for binding in your choice of material

Best selling author of all time - this accolade goes to Agatha Christie, detective story authoress. Since 1920 her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another billion in over 45 foreign languages. She is outsold only by the Bible and William Shakespeare.

J K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in the acclaimed series, had a first-run print of 8.5 million copies. This is approximately 80 times the average bestseller!This beat the previous book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which had a first-run print of 4.8 million copies.

And finally, Computer Technology has led to the development of the electronic book or e-book. The e-book combines the storage, search capabilities, and adaptability of a computer with the simulated page format of a traditional book. Early versions of e-books appeared in the late 1990s. By 2000, thousands of books were being digitized.

With the ever changing ways of listening to music and 21st century gaming, will the book fans of today embrace the e-book. Let us know what you think ? Add a comment...

Destination of The Month

Books4TheBeach will be featuring a destination of the month. This months destination is Andalucia (Spain) which is composed of eight provinces that stretch from the south-east to the south-west of the country consisting of Cadiz, Cordoba, Jaen, Huelva, Almeria, Malaga, Granada and Sevilla each one named for its capital city

The provinces of Malaga, Granada and Seville are now some of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, thanks to its sandy beaches, beautiful countryside, dramatic mountain ranges, magnificent monuments and much, much more. The inhabitants of Andalucia are well known for their cheerfulness, warmth and hospitality. Not forgetting that Andalucia is also home of flamenco and bullfighting, which can be best enjoyed at the regions countless ferias and romerias.

The Mediterranean seaboard is graced by the Costa de Almeria, Costa Tropical and the glamorous, cosmopolitan Costa del Sol, while the Costa de la Luz lies along the Atlantic shore to the west of Gibraltar. Andalucia has 500 miles of coastline and of which 70% are sandy beaches. The region offers many sports including skiing, water sports and of course the Costa del Sol is renowned for its golf. There are now more than 60 golf courses stretching from Sotogrande in the west to the lesser-known Velez Malaga in the east and they all have one thing in common - the fantastic sunny and dry climate allowing golfers to play all year round

As well as Andalucia´s fascinating cities and dazzling shores, the region is sprinkled with tiny unspoiled villages and whitewashed towns - the famous pueblos blancos -, which tourists often overlook, even though they are of easy access, such as Casares, Gaucin and Frigilana. To conclude Andalucia is a region of startling contrasts and great charm.

The Ultimate Guitar Tutor

Everyone has heard of songs by THE KINKS, VAN MORRISON, GREEN DAY, JIMI HENDRIX, NIRVANA & R.E.M. Well, whether you are a budding lead guitarist or simply want to strum along with your favourite songs, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to playing the guitar and more

The book is intended to get you started with the business of playing the most versatile instrument there is: the guitar. The basics are more or less the same across the range of modern styles, so whatever your musical taste, this book contains all you need to get going.

The books aim is to give you the background knowledge you will need if you want to make use of the wealth of material around in more advanced tutor books, song books and guitar magazines.

Features of the book include Classic Pop and Rock Songs by legendary artists Jimi Hendrix, The Kinks, R.E.M., Van Morrison, Eagles, Green Day, Nervana, Elvis Presley and George Michael as well as well known folk and classical tunes. There is an introduction to TAB and standard notation as well as essential guitar techniques including tuning, power chords, barre chords, string bending, sliding and left handed damping. Also there is extra help throughout the book with top tips, fact files, recommended listening and extensive chord glossary.

A great addition to this book is the integral CD which comprises over 50 stunning sound-alike backing tracks

The author Tom Flemming is a skilled and highly experienced guitarist, adept in a wide variety of styles including rock, jazz and folk. He is also an arranger and composer, and an examiner for rock school, www.rockschool.co.uk the UKs only dedicated rock and pop exam board.

Pink Floyd - The Inside Story

A Great Book

A Great Group

This we had to show you

In July 2005 in Hyde Park, before a global audience in the tens of millions, Pink Floyd performed together on stage for the first time in 24 years. As even Bob Geldof himself acknowledged, it was 'a far bigger story than Live 8 itself'. From the moment the metronomic pulse of a human heartbeat thudded out to begin 'Speak to Me' to the soaring, stinging guitar solo by David Gilmour that climaxed 'Comfortably Numb', these four self-effacing men in their late fifties stole the show.

Almost a year later, the death of their troubled and reclusive founder-member Syd Barrett made headline news around the world. Both events signalled a kind of closure to the remarkable tale of one of the world's biggest bands. Now, in the first full-length history of the group for over 15 years, Mark Blake tells the complete story of how a group of middle-class Englishmen who grew up together in Cambridge went on to conquer the world with such classic albums as Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall, and put on some of the most pyrotechnically spectacular stage shows of all time.

Drawing on his own interviews with all of the band members, plus almost a hundred new interviews with the group's friends, road crew, producers, designers, former housemates and university colleagues - some of whom have never spoken before - as well as musical contemporaries including Pete Townshend and Alice Cooper, "Pigs Might Fly" follows Pink Floyd all the way from the early psychedelic nights at UFO in the mid-sixties to the stadium-rock and concept-album zenith of the seventies, and finally the acrimonious schism that sundered the band in the eighties and nineties. Along the way there are fascinating new revelations about Syd Barrett's chaotic menage at the time of Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the band's painstaking and Byzantine recording sessions at Abbey Road, and the fractious negotiations to bring about their fragile, tantalising reunion in Hyde Park. Meticulous, exacting and ambitious as any Pink Floyd album, "Pigs Might Fly" is the definitive account of this most adventurous, and at the same time most English of rock bands.

X Factor books - Make great christmas gift ideas

"The X Factor" is the most popular TV talent show in the UK, with over 12 million people watching Leona's victory in 2006. This is the book for all those fans, who will be eagerly awaiting the fourth series in autumn 2007.This official companion is packed with pictures and memories from every series, as well as introducing the new series finalists for the first time. The book takes readers behind the scenes at every stage of the competition from the auditions through boot camp to the live finals, with profiles of all the previous finalists - as well as everyone's favourite failures.This complete companion also includes exclusive interviews with all four judges and is packed with hints and tips from the vocal coaches, the judges and the finalists making it the ultimate book for anyone tempted to join that famous audition queue.

X-Factor judge, Louis Walsh, has managed acts such as Westlife, Girls Aloud, Shayne Ward and G4. He formerly steered Boyzone to chart topping success and also propelled Ronan Keating to solo stardom. Now he plans to guide other budding pop stars to superstar success with his "Fast Track to Fame".Louis has succeeded in notching up a staggering 28 number one singles through his stable of artists and has starred alongside Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne on X-Factor for three years. Now he is sharing his expertise with a new generation of pop wannabees. "Fast Track to Fame" takes us through the A-Z of the music business (or from A is for Agents to X is for X-Factor) with the honest truth of how the pop industry really works.The book is peppered throughout with contributions and anecdotes from many of Louis' stars, stories of their own successes and setbacks, and lavishly illustrated with exclusive colour photographs. It is essential reading for anyone, of any age, dreaming of becoming a star.

In her award-winning bestseller EXTREME, Sharon Osbourne revealed the truth about her life in her famously frank and gutsy way. In her new autobiography SURVIVOR she goes even deeper - revealing the secrets and heartbreak behind the headlines, along with the love and humour that have pulled her through. From the recent sad loss of her father, to her experiences as a judge on number 1 hit shows THE X FACTOR and AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, to the further jaw-dropping adventures and dramas in the Osbourne family, Sharon tells it like it really is - with wit, honesty and style.Set to be a huge bestseller this autumn, SURVIVOR is as astonishing, big-hearted and fascinating as Mrs O herself ...

THESE THREE FIVE STAR BOOKS4THEBEACH RECOMMENDATIONS ARE A MUST HAVE GIFT FOR ALL THOSE WANABEE STARS AND

X FACTOR FANS.

Blog of the day - The X Factor Blog

Child Flight Charity

Today, Books4TheBeach have chosen a charity. A charity close to our hearts which includes donating to children which are disabled, terminally ill and have medical needs.

ChildFlight is a children's charity established in 1987. Based at Manchester Airport with representatives and strong fund raising links in the areas of Manchester, Blackpool, Wirral and the North West of England. ChildFlight is a charity which specialises in providing flights and holidays for sick and deserving children of all ages, (essentially from the North West of England), for example children who require medical treatment abroad or have missed out on childhood experiences due to illness or who are socially deserving.

While the voluntary team of ChildFlight provide the expertise, enthusiasm and administration, it is the generosity of many companies, organisations and individuals in raising and donating money, that makes it possible to bring not only sunshine and fun into childrens lives, but a sense of wonder, adventure, laughter and much needed medical help.

As ChildFlight is operated entirely by volunteers 99p in £1 donated is used to provide flights and holidays for children.

An average flight for medical treatment / therapy costs £500.
Florida 2005 cost around £135,000.

It is estimated Florida 2007 will cost almost £200,000

Florida 2007

The holiday includes flights, accommodation, meals, transportation in Florida, medical insurance and medical equipment requirements and entrance to: Walt Disney World (Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, Epcot), Seaworld Adventure Park, Universal Studios and Gatorland. Entrace tickets are usually donated by the theme parks.
Organisation and assistance during the holiday are provided by the support team of Childflight members, Doctors, Nurses and First Choice Cabin Crew who have all volunteered their time.

Children must be aged between 5 and 16 at the time of the holiday, and must not have visited Florida in recent years and have not received a previous "wish" via the Compassion Partners Program. Children must be fit to travel and maintained stable for the period of the holiday. The immediate "family" travelling includes mother, father (or partners), brothers and sisters under the age of 16. Children / Babies under the age of two can be included on the holiday. However, as with any normal flight, seats will not be allocated to children under the age of two and they will need to be carried in the arms of a parent / guardian.

Subject to the final conditions:
Provision of a certification of illness and fitness to travel by the Child's Consultant / Doctor.
Acceptance by the Florida Theme Parks Compassion Program who will be checking their database for any previous visits.
Fitness to travel and illness maintained stable for the 4 week period prior to the holiday and expected by the medical team to remain stable for the period of the holiday without continued close medical support.
Medical Insurance acceptability.

Nominations should include Childs Name, Age, Illness, Address, Hospital Name, Consultants name, immediate family details including parents/guardians, siblings names and ages. Please send nominations ASAP to steve@childflight.co.uk or Childflight, c/o 15 Arbury Ave, Cheadle Heath, Stockport, SK3 0QA.

Santa Flight 2007

Dependant on fund raising during 2007, the 21st Annual Santa Flight will be taking place in mid-December.
The criteria for Santa Flights are:
Children aged between 5 and 12, who are disadvantaged, medically or socially and have not experienced a flight in an aircraft.
Or Children who have contributed to the local communities.
Or Children who have received special achievement awards.
Schools, societies, clubs and families who would like to be considered for Santa Flight should contact Childflight before 1st September either by emailling santa@childflight.co.uk or telephone 0161 4896393.

Medical Flights

In order for a child to qualify for medical flights, an application must be supported by a letter from the child's Doctor or Consultant (for invasive treatment). This letter should confirm that the child will benefit from the treatment/therapy/analysis to be undertaken.
Flights are provided for the child and one adult and although additional persons can travel with the child, Childflight cannot fund these as well. Medical flights are provided on the basis that funds are available and priority will be given to children from the north west of England.
Please send nominations ASAP to steve@childflight.co.uk or Childflight, c/o 15 Arbury Ave, Cheadle Heath, Stockport, SK3 0QA.

Books4TheBeach.com will be donating 1% of turnover to childflight along with helping with promotion for the charity and will be supplying books for the forthcoming santa flight. http://www.childflight.co.uk/"target="_blank"

Linda La Plante - Clean Cut

FOLLOWING ON FROM ABOVE SUSPICION AND THE RED DAHLIA, LINDA LA PLANTE SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED DI ANNA TRAVIS AS THE MOST COMPELLING FEMALE INVESTIGATOR SINCE JANE TENNISON OF PRIME SUSPECT.

IN CLEAN CUT D.I. ANNA TRAVIS AND HER BOSS DCI JAMES LANGTON ARE BACK, TRYING TO NAIL NOT ONE BUT TWO MURDERERS WHO SEND THEM RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES...

CLEAN CUT IS THE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED NEW NOVEL WITH ALL THE TRADE MARK LA PLANTE ATTENTION TO CRIME - BUSTING DETAIL.

HER MOST GRIPPING AND
TWISTING NOVEL TO DATE

LYNDA LA PLANTE IS A BAFTA, EMMY AND EDGAR ALLAN POE AWARD-WINNING WRITTER WITH A MAJOR TV CRIME FANBASE FROM PRIME SUSPECT TO TRIAL AND RETRIBUTION.

THE RED DAHLIA AND ABOVE SUSPICION BOTH SOLD OVER 80,000 COPIES IN HARDBACK AND IN TRADE PAPERBACK.

ABOVE SUSPICION HAS NOW SOLD OVER 300,000 COPIES IN PAPERBACK AND WAS A TOP 5 BEST SELLER ON PUBLICA

TION.

Steve Irwin - The Story of a Remarkable Man

Steve Irwin's death

shocked the world.

Steve was a much loved celebrity and his TV shows were broadcast worldwide, his image recognisable to millions. Respected for his charismatic persona, Steve also held a deep, passionate commitment to help animals threatened with extinction.

Steve and Terr'is story is not just one of sharing and following a noble cause but also a fairy tale love-affair. When Terri first laid eyes on Steve she saw a real-life action hero. They married in 1992 and together they changed the perception of conversation, sparked global interest in animals of the Australian bush and founded the Australian zoo, one of the worlds leading wildlife preservation centres.

In STEVE & ME, Terri tells their story for the first time, revealing the private side to the ebullient TV star, and how she heard the heartbreaking news of his death.

'"Make them love an animal," Steve always said, "and they'll never want to destroy it." That was Steve's legacy as a wild warrior, a message of love, enthusiasm and wonder and we are determined to carry that legacy on. '

-Terri Irwin

Sites of interest:

Steve Irwin memorial site

Australia Zoo

Book Review - The Afghan

Hi all,

Just returned to the cold of England, after a lovely week on the Costa del Sol. During my hol's I read THE AFGHAN. Great book if you have any interest in the behind the scenes of American & British Secret Services. The Afghan is Izmat Khan, who made his reputation fighting the Soviets. Then, during the Afghan civil war following the USSR's withdrawal, Khan became a Taliban commander battling against the Anglo-American supported Northern Alliance. After being captured and participating in the Qala-i-Jangi prison rebellion, Izmat was spirited off to the American detention center at Guantanamo Bay to be imprisoned there for four years.

Meanwhile, the CIA and MI6 catch whiff of a new Al Qaeda plot code named "al-Isra", which, in Islamic tradition, was the Prophet Muhammad's journey to heaven to be personally instructed on prayer rituals by Almighty God Himself. Obviously, to the experts, the new terrorist attack is to be no small bang. But what, exactly? It's decided to send in a deep cover operative to find out. Ex-Colonel Mike Martin of the Parachute Regiment and the SAS. Mike, raised in Iraq and with skin coloring and fluency in Arabic, is, with additional coaching on the Koranic verses, the perfect choice.

After a sham trial at Gitmo in which a recalcitrant Khan is judged innocent enough to be released back to Afghani government custody, the Afghan is whisked off to solitary confinement in an isolated CIA safehouse in the Washington State Cascade Range. Mike is substituted in his place and transported to Afghanistan, where his escape is staged and he bluffs his way into the Al Qaeda network. The covert mission is up and running.

One of this novel's best features is its summary history of the relationship of the Afghani Taliban and the Saudi-founded Al Qaeda, as well as portrayal of radical Islam's activities in the island nations north of Australia. It's a sobering picture. And the broad outline of the storyline is gripping enough as the terrorist plan plays out.

This is a very gripping book, and a real page-turner. With plots to release liquid petroleum gas, which could wipe out whole ports or by sinking oil filled tankers that would render ports inoperable for years to come. This book made me realise the reason why we need a navy and it just makes you wonder if these plots have already been thought and planned. (Written by Anthony Franks)