How to Fail
- 352 pages
- 13 hours of reading
Op basis van haar eigen ervaringen legt de Britse schrijfster en journaliste uit wat je kunt leren van dingen die fout gaan, waarin je te kort schiet of mislukt.
Elizabeth Day Books
November 10, 1978
Elizabeth Day is an acclaimed English author celebrated for her compelling novels. Her work frequently delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the search for meaning in the modern world. With keen insight and a refined style, Day explores themes of identity, loneliness, and the yearning for connection. Her narratives are intimate and thought-provoking, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives.
A game-changing guide to being happier, healthier and succeeding better, based on the Sunday Times bestseller - 150,000 copies sold!
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of How to Fail and Magpie ‘Elizabeth Day has revolutionised the way we see failure’ Stylist ‘A beautiful timely and humane book’ Alain de Botton
THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, NOW WITH AN EXTRA CHAPTER! 'Essential reading' Guardian 'A joyful read' Sunday Times 'Disarmingly honest' Daily Mirror 'Bravely revealing' Bernardine Evaristo 'Filled with relatable insights' Daily Mail 'Funny, moving, helpful and true' Sathnam Sanghera 'A generous guide to a part of life every bit as crucial as romance' Observer As a society, there is a tendency to elevate romantic love. But what about friendships? Aren't they just as - if not more - important? So why is it hard to find the right words to express what these uniquely complex bonds mean to us? In this fascinating, insightful and uniquely moving book, Elizabeth Day embarks on a journey to find out. Friendaholic unpacks the significance and evolution of friendship from the ancient wisdom of Cicero to the modern curse of ghosting. How and why do we make friends? Is friendship an antidote to loneliness? How should we deal with a frenemy? And is it ok to end a friendship that has gone awry? Friendaholic examines what makes a 'good' friend and asks us what kind of friend we want to be - to each other but also to ourselves.
Beatrice Kizza, a woman in flight from a homeland that condemned her for daring to love, flees to London. There, she shields her sorrow from the indifference of her adopted city, and navigates a night-time world of shift-work and bedsits. Howard Pink is a self-made millionaire who has risen from Petticoat Lane to the mansions of Kensington on a tide of determination and bluster. Yet self-doubt still snaps at his heels and his life is shadowed by the terrible loss that has shaken him to his foundations. Carol Hetherington, recently widowed, is living the quiet life in Wandsworth with her cat and The Jeremy Kyle Show for company. As she tries to come to terms with the absence her husband has left on the other side of the bed, she frets over her daughter's prospects and wonders if she'll ever be happy again. Esme Reade is a young journalist learning to muck-rake and doorstep in pursuit of the elusive scoop, even as she longs to find some greater meaning and leave her imprint on the world. Four strangers, each inhabitants of the same city, where the gulf between those who have too much and those who will never have enough is impossibly vast. But when the glass that separates Howard's and Beatrice's worlds is shattered by an inexcusable act, they discover that the capital has connected them in ways they could never have imagined.
A frank and beautiful story of damage, survival and restoration from an exhilarating literary voice.
When Marisa meets Jake, her life seems perfect until their new lodger, Kate, arrives. Something feels off about Kate—her gaze at Jake, her toothbrush next to theirs, and her incessant questions about the baby they are trying for. Marisa starts to doubt her instincts, especially as Jake reassures her that it’s all in her head. Yet, she senses something is deeply wrong and is determined to uncover the truth, even if it means risking everything. This psychological thriller is praised for its elegance and tension, drawing readers into a thick atmosphere of dread. Critics describe it as utterly engrossing and impossible to put down, with a compelling narrative that twists and turns. The writing is sharp and sinister, creating a pulse-quickening tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. With a compassionately crafted story, it delivers a sleight-of-hand twist that leaves a lasting impression. The book has garnered acclaim from various authors and publications, marking it as a standout in the genre and a must-read for fans of psychological drama. Prepare for a gripping experience that will have you turning pages at a rapid pace.
As the train pressed on, I realised that my life was in the process of taking a different direction, plotted according to a new constellation. Because, although I didn't know it yet, I was about to meet Ben and nothing would ever be the same again.' Martin Gilmour is an outsider. When he wins a scholarship to Burtonbury School, he doesn't wear the right clothes or speak with the right kind of accent. But then he meets the dazzling, popular and wealthy Ben Fitzmaurice, and gains admission to an exclusive world. Soon Martin is enjoying tennis parties and Easter egg hunts at the Fitzmaurice family's estate, as Ben becomes the brother he never had. But Martin has a secret. He knows something about Ben, something he will never tell. It is a secret that will bind the two of them together for the best part of 25 years. At Ben's 40th birthday party, the great and the good of British society are gathering to celebrate in a haze of champagne, drugs and glamour. Amid the hundreds of guests - the politicians, the celebrities, the old-money and newly rich - Martin once again feels that disturbing pang of not-quite belonging. His wife, Lucy, has her reservations too. There is disquiet in the air. But Ben wouldn't do anything to damage their friendship. Would he?
