Jo Brand Boeken

Hastings in the seventies is not the coolest place to be. As Rachel and Susan teeter on the brink of adolescence, they realise safety lies in numbers and the best chance of surviving their teens is by sticking together. Their friendship protects them against the trials of parents, classmates, bullies who harass them in school, soggy chips, warm beer, aspiring guitar heroes, stoned hippies, men's clubs, derivative three chord bands and emotional neediness and weediness. But when Dave, local rock-star and general bad-boy, enters their lives, they discover that sex, drugs and rock'n'roll aren't always everything they've dreamed of. And then Punk music detonates the status quo and nothing will ever be the same again. This is a wonderfully funny and poignant novel about growing up in the seventies, the brittle nature of teenage friendship and the tough twists and turns of emerging adulthood.

The new hilarious, poignant and darkly comic novel by the Queen of Comedy

Why do good things cut the mustard? Who was the real Real McCoy? And why are false sentiments called crocodile tears? In this engaging exploration of language, Susie Dent draws from her popular television segment to address these intriguing questions and more. With her characteristic charm and erudition, Dent delves into 101 captivating inquiries about the English language, covering word origins, spelling, grammar, and usage. She examines the ancient roots of "tragedy," which originally meant "goat song" in Greek, alongside modern terms like "donk" from the Blackout Crew's song. The book is filled with captivating stories, such as the origin of "bankrupt," derived from the Italian "banca rotta," meaning "broken bench." This term traces back to the sixteenth century when money lenders operated outdoors on benches, leading to the modern concept of a "bank." Additionally, Dent recounts the origin of "white elephant," referring to a burdensome possession, which dates back to ancient Siam. There, rare white elephants were given to kings but could not be used for labor or riding, often becoming unwanted gifts to disfavored courtiers. Sparkling with linguistic insight, this delightful compendium is a must-read for anyone captivated by the quirks of language.