Fiction | Non-Fiction | Poetry
The selections includes books which are available in accessible formats on revealweb (i.e. large print, talking books or Braille) and these are indicated with 
To find the book in your local library click on the ISBN below and for a printable version of the full list click here»
Asboville - Danny Rhodes
ISBN: 190455922-0
'An excellent debut novel. Definitely in my top 10 of the year.' Scott Pack, The Bookseller 'A tender take on modern youth. Rhodes dramatises their sense of exclusion with freshness and insight' - The Guardian ‘This finely crafted and often lyrical debut novel offers far more than hoodie-hugging sympathy or sink-estate despair.' - Boyd Tonkin - The Independent
-- HackneyCountry of origin: United Kingdom
The Automatic lighthouse -
ISBN: 1904551246
The second anthology from South East London press, Tall lighthouse featuring new voices as well as established writers - a taster of London talent
Country of origin: other
ISBN: 978190128549
Originally published in the 1930s, and recently republished, this is an achingly wonderful story of an army officer who out of pity visits a rich and 'invalid' young girl. His good intentions are misread and try as he might he finds it impossible to extricate himself. The story spirals out of control but Zweig's poetic prose never, for a moment, loses its grip.
-- EnfieldCountry of origin: United Kingdom
A Blues for Shindig - Mo Foster
ISBN: 0955109426
Refreshingly original and written with an ascerbic wit, Foster's portrayal of Soho's underworld is a joy to read and just as relevant today. The story is narrated by feisty barmaid Shindig who seems to fit right in with an unusual brew of characters until things change for the bosses up west and the powerss in Soho look to be shifting. (Adapted from publisher's and Amazon review)
-- MertonCountry of origin: United Kingdom
The Book of Chameleons - Jose Eduardo Agualusa
ISBN: 1905147651
Set in contemporary Angola, The Book of Chameleons is populated with characters whose stories never quite settle... It is some pages in before you realise that the narrator - rather charming, witty as he is - a lizard, living on Felix Ventura's living room wall. Felix trades in an usual commodity - he sells pasts. If you don't like yours, he can come up with an entirely new one for you, full of better memories and with a complete lineage. This is a book about the landscape of memory, its inconsistencies and its randomness. (in www.maiapress.com )
-- RichmondCountry of origin: Angola
Boys’ Night Out in the Afternoon - Tim Wells
ISBN: 9780954198374
-- RichmondCountry of origin: other
Brown Linoleum Green Lawns - Peter Campbell
ISBN: 1905082045
-- HackneyCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Butterfly in the Wind - Lakshmi Persaud
ISBN: 9780948833366
This fictionalised autobiography gives an insight into the life of a young Hindu girl growing up in the West Indies. Her inner voice questions the many conflicts between the diverse social and cultural differences faced by her as she grows from a child to a young woman.
-- BromleyCountry of origin: other
A Century of Black journalism: a kaleidoscopic view of race and the media (1893-2003) - Lionel Morrison
ISBN: 9780955554001
Country of origin: other
Crossing the dark - Heidi Boehringer
ISBN: 9781852424985
-- IslingtonCountry of origin: United Kingdom
The Dagenham murder - Linda Rhodes et al.
ISBN: 0900325372
Winner of the Crime Writers Association Golden Dagger for Non-fiction 2006 this lavishly illustrated book is the full-length study of the brutal murder, still unsolved, of a police constable whilst on night duty. A fascinating study with the authors using original sources to uncover many new facts and insights into this case.
-- Barking and DagenhamCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Diaspora City - London New Writing Anthology
ISBN: 190 085 0753
-- KingstonCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Duino Elegies - Rainer Maria Rilke
ISBN: 9781904634232
Perhaps no cycle of poems in any European language has made so profound and lasting an impact on an English-speaking readership as Rilke’s Duino Elegies.
-- RichmondCountry of origin: other
The Elephant in the corner - Aoife Mannix
ISBN: 1904551130
A regular turn at London's live literature gigs, Aoife is a scriptwriter, short story author as well as poet. This is her first collection, published by in 2005 by local press Tall Lighthouse
Country of origin: other
Eva's Waltz: hot clubs, cool Jazz and Eva Braun - Mel Wright
ISBN: 1898536120
Soho - London, 1943. Polish emigree Lenny is busy scraping a living as a drummer around the jazz dives. He's also trying to win the heart of Sonia, the fiery diva, and along with sidekick Al, a black G.I. trumpeter, they form a band, and dodge the bombs, the police and hard-nose spivs with the drummers' black market stash in tow. Meanwhile in Germany, Hitler's mistress Eva Braun has taken an interest in a waltz written by Lenny and his brother before he fled Poland.
-- WestminsterCountry of origin: other
Family Connections - Chrissie Gittins
ISBN: 1844712982
South London has taken to the trademark deadpan Lancastrian wit of poet, playwright and short story writer, Chrissie Gittins. Equally adept, whether the characters she brings to life in this short story anthology are blood relatives or not. Get sucked in.
-- LewishamCountry of origin: other
Finding the Plot - Siobhan Curham
ISBN: 9781434327697
Everyone has those moments where you stick to the same old routine, or take a deep breath and make a bold, brave step into the unknown. This book holds out a hand to it's readers encouraging bold steps in real life.
-- HillingdonCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Generation TXT - Tom Chivers (ed.)
ISBN: 9780955384615
An anthology of new British talent,
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Here or There - Rebecca Strong
ISBN: 9780955103261
11 characters, discontented with their lives and seemingly unconnected to each other. Their lives begin to touch, with far reaching consequences, including murder.
-- HarrowCountry of origin: United Kingdom
How Things Are On Thursday - Ros Barber
ISBN: 9780856463747
The poems in this debut collection demonstrate her wide range in form and subject and her skill in highlighting the extraordinary within the commonplace. With their leavening of dark humour and their formal dexterity, her poems charm, entertain and provoke. (in www.anvilpresspoetry.com)
-- RichmondCountry of origin: other
I am twenty people! - Mimi Khalvati (ed.)
ISBN: 9781904634362
A Third Anthology from the Poetry School. The third of an ongoing series of anthologies, I am twenty people! celebrates The Poetry School's tenth anniversary in style.
-- RichmondCountry of origin: other
In the company of poets - John Rety
ISBN: 9781870841894
-- Hammersmith and FulhamCountry of origin: United Kingdom
ISBN: 9780955103247
This is an ambitious novel that flips between travelogue, murder mystery and philosophical discussion. It tells the story of two women who leave a post 9/11 London to travel India. Their Journey is both a physical one and an internal one, and although the book's characters suffer a fair amount of fear and suspicion during the narrative the
-- SouthwarkCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Kaleidoscope - Jamal Msebele
ISBN: 9780955559402
"I am amazed at the level of maturity in the writing. It is an absolute gem." Valerie Bloom "This 13 year old garlanded with prizes for his Betjemen-esque vision. More from Jamal...a future Poet Laureate." Libby Purves on the BBC's Learning Curve.
-- NewhamCountry of origin: United Kingdom
The Kilburn hoodoo - Hayley Long
ISBN: 9781905762026
A darkly comic novel set partly in a Camden comprehensive and partly in the African quarter of Brussels. This is a wickedly funny, multi-cultural modern day tragic-comedy about blame, guilt and vengeance. (Publisher's text) Also described by Amazon reviewers as "very clever" and "fantastic"
-- MertonCountry of origin: United Kingdom
The Last Card - Kolton Lee
ISBN: 9781904559252
Set on the meaner streets of London that no tourist is ever likely to see, this striking noir thriller from a great new talent is authentic, fast-moving and entertaining. (in www.maiapress.com )
-- RichmondCountry of origin: other
Leaving Beruit - Mai Ghoussoub
ISBN: 0863566766
A twelve-year-old girl writes an essay that extols revenge to impress her teacher, and is surprised to receive criticism rather than praise. 'Revenge', Mrs Nomy insists, is 'the most cowardly' human behaviour. Years later, having fled Beirut, she reflects upon the devastating role revenge has played in her country. Might she have found it so easy to forgive if she had stayed? Or might she, too, have contemplated retribution? This is a compelling and humane book, which abounds in courage and compassion.
-- HackneyCountry of origin: United Kingdom
ISBN: 9781903155516
Molly and her 4 older brothers were brought up in London, part of an 'ordinary' Victorian family. There wasn't much money and life was not always easy but Molly's story is one of happiness and innocence.There are other titles about Molly's life available.
-- HarrowCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Mad Pursuit - Marilyn Lowery
ISBN: 9781874509783
Maggie Featherstone is uprooted from her Hollywood Hills home when her ambitious husband accepts a job at Lloyds.Maggie's 'mad pursuit' of Gerald and his busty blonde secretary, takes her all over London both past and present. Will you guess the ending?
-- HarrowCountry of origin: United Kingdom
ISBN: 09534780-1-7
Persephone Bookshop in Lamb's Conduit Street in the heart of Bloomsbury and Holborn is a rare and charming treat to the discerning reader. Persephone prints mainly neglected fiction and non - fiction by women, for women about women. The titles are chosen to appeal to busy women who rarely have time to spend in ever - larger bookshops and who like to have access to books designed to be neither too literary nor too commercial. The books are guaranteed to be readable, thought - provoking and impossible to forget. Persephone's books are a pleasure to read and a treasure you'll want to keep.
-- CamdenCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Marisa - Peter Cowlam
ISBN: 1902086031
This is a very enjoyable book, it is beautifully written, sparse prose. The English is a delight and had to be read carefully so as not to misss anything. It is a short book, the characters and epoch well observed.
-- WandsworthCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Memphis Underground - Stewart Homes
ISBN: 9781905005420
One of Homes best novels yet. Set in London and Scotland it traces the lives of two people; one an artist in residence in a remote Scottish community who uncovers a world of corruption, wife-swapping and military secrets, and another, whose life revolves around clubs, pubs, fights and feuds. An absolute must for the twenty first century reader!
-- IslingtonCountry of origin: United Kingdom
New and Selected Poems - Dennis O'Driscoll
ISBN: 9780856463730
New and Selected Poems shows him to be a poet of humanity and wit whose observant, rhythmically supple poetry is attuned to the tragedies and comedies of contemporary life. One of the book's highlights is The Bottom Line, a multi-voiced and multifaceted portrait of business managers and bureaucrats. (in www.anvilpresspoetry.com)
-- RichmondCountry of origin: other
Passages of Time - James Byrne
ISBN: 9780954224721
"Once in a while a new voice resonates so strongly in the poetic world that it simply cannot be ignored." Tony Buzan (in www.flippedeye.net)
-- RichmondCountry of origin: other
Plotting for Beginners: a novel of new beginnings - Sue Hepworth
ISBN: 1905005121
We first meet Sally Howe taking her husband to the airport for his year long trip in the Rockies. Sally plans to spend the time writing and her diary charts her husband free year and her attempts to get her writing career started. This a warm and amusing story of a lady who is 50+ and more than a match for Bridget Jones.
-- Hammersmith and FulhamCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Prague winter - Gerda Meyer
ISBN: 1870841123
Not long before Hitler annexed the Sudetenland in September 1938, Gerda Mayer's family moved from Karlsbad to Prague. The following March, not long before he entered Prague, she came to England as a kindertransport. She never saw her parents again. The family were German-speaking Czech Jews, some kind of enemy to nearly everyone. But Prague Winter is also an account of what it means to be an eleven-year-old daughter, her ordinary difficulties intensified by the extreme circumstances.
-- Hammersmith and FulhamCountry of origin: Czech Republic
A Pretty Kettle of Fish - Brian S Walters
ISBN: 1905621698
-- Waltham ForestCountry of origin: United Kingdom
Roman's Journey - Roman Halter
ISBN: 1846270332
A very poignant, moving account of a boy's life during the holocaust and escape from Poland written with humility and compassion.
-- HaringeyCountry of origin: United Kingdom
