Showing results by author "The Banks’s" in All Categories

The Wasp Factory is a bizarre, imaginative, disturbing, and darkly comic look into the mind of a child psychopath - one of the most infamous of contemporary Scottish novels.

Count Sessine is about to die for the very last time.... Chief Scientist Gadfium is about to receive the mysterious message she has been waiting for from the Plain of Sliding Stones.... And Bascule the Teller, in search of an ant, is about to enter the chaos of the crypt.... And everything is about to change.... For this is the time of the encroachment and, although the dimming sun still shines on the vast, towering walls of Serehfa Fastness, the end is close at hand.

Discover transformative conversations and powerful insights to elevate your mindset, business, and life. Join hosts Kelly & Jay on a journey of growth and inspiration—let’s level up together!

In the winter palace, the King's new physician has more enemies than she at first realises. But then she also has more remedies to hand than those who wish her ill can know about. In another palace across the mountains, in the service of the regicidal Protector General, the chief bodyguard, too, has his enemies. But his enemies strike more swiftly, and his means of combating them are more traditional. Spiralling round a central core of secrecy, deceit, love, and betrayal.

A guide to why we should first love ourselves and how to go about it. Most women have been conditioned to believe that self-love is selfish and that self-sacrifice is a virtue. Many focus their desire for love and wholeness outside themselves and onto others, such as their partners, only to feel disappointed that they don’t get back what they give. Does this ring true for you?

Whether you find yourself constantly seeking reassurance in love or pushing away from too much closeness, "Anxious Attachment and Avoidant Detachment" provides the tools to navigate the complexities of intimacy with grace and confidence. You'll learn to speak the language of love fluently, to listen with empathy, and to build the kind of relationships you've always deserved—one where love is not a source of angst but a foundation for growth.

Negativity is a normal part of life. Nobody can be positive all that time because life isn’t always going to be perfect. That said, sometimes negativity infiltrates our minds and bodies and never leaves. A good day can be ruined by your mind dwelling on something stupid that happened years ago. You sit for hours ruminating over it, and before you realize it, you have wasted a great day. We’ve all had experiences like that, and they suck.

Cody Walker is a cocky grump. Okay, fine. He’s a hot cocky grump. But still. I don’t have time for his teasing or his jokes. I’m a woman on a mission. And I’m not about to let anyone stand in my way. Especially not him. Besides, guys who look like Cody don’t go for curvy girls like me. Right? I mean yeah, he did sort of save my life. And he was really sweet when I basically fell apart in his arms.

He’s grumpy. He’s bossy. He hates my freaking guts. So why do I get the feeling… That he secretly wants to kiss me? Carter Walker is the worst boss in history. Okay fine. He’s the worst hot boss in history. Still. It’s not like it matters or anything. The man hates my guts. I mean, he has to. Why else would he walk around glaring at me all the time? And demand I spend the day shopping with him? Yeah, he’s definitely doing it just to torture me. It’s probably nothing. Except now he’s telling me that my curves are beautiful.

One shady deal could kill them all. A mysterious illness plagues shapeshifters at the Summit, and if Jolie can't find out what's causing it, she may lose her best friend and one of her former lovers. But when a note appears demanding Jolie in exchange for the antidote, Jolie must choose between her friends... and herself.

Iain Banks, aka Iain M Banks, came to fame in 1984 with his transfixing debut The Wasp Factory, described as both ‘a work of unparalleled depravity’ and 'a masterpiece'. In 1993 he was acknowledged as one of the Best of Young British Writers, and his numerous bestselling books include The Crow Road, Complicity and the ‘Culture’ sci-fi series. Collected here are three of his best works, as heard on BBC Radio.

Colt Walker is a charming grump. Okay fine. He’s a hot, charming grump. I’ll give him that. Even though me being stuck out here alone is my own fault. He doesn’t make me feel bad about it. Or ask me my why I’m trying to avoid my stepsister’s wedding. He just scoops me into his arms and carries me off into the woods. Back to his cabin. Where he lives. I’m not normally like this.

A man lies in a coma after a near-fatal accident. His body broken, his memory vanished, he finds himself in the surreal world of the bridge - a world free of the usual constraints of time and space, a world where dream and fantasy, past and future, fuse. Who is this man? Where is he? Is he more dead than alive? Or has he never been so alive before?

From infancy to empty-nesting, parenting is full of surprises and scares, hard decisions and unexpected blessings. Through it all, your children need your prayers. In 90 days of poignant prayers drawn from Scripture, James Banks guides you to speak God’s words of promise and comfort back to Him. As pastor, parent, and grandparent, James uses his deep knowledge of the Bible to address your child’s needs and challenges, covering everything from salvation and temptation to anxiety, growth, and contentment.

Power Play reveals the unvarnished realities of any workplace where power disparities and gender politics collide: from the unequal opportunities, casual sexism and systemic misogyny, to pressures around looks, age and family responsibilities, and the consequences of speaking out. Julia shares personal stories, practical advice, and a resounding argument for why women aren't the problem – but why more women in decision-making positions will help us find the solution.

Callum Walker is a crazy grump. Okay, fine. He’s a hot, crazy grump. Still. He’s known me for less than a day. And now he’s showing up at my job saying that I’m the one. Like I said. Crazy. But there’s something else about him too. Something protective in the way he looks at me. And when he sees me on one of the worst days of my life He doesn’t even flinch. He just tosses me over his shoulder and says “you’re mine.”

The future of our society depends on our gifted children - the population in which we'll find our next Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, or Virginia Woolf. Yet the gifts and talents of some of our most brilliant kids may never be recognized because these children fall into a group known as twice exceptional, or "2e". Twice exceptional kids are both gifted and diagnosed with a disability - often ADHD or an autism spectrum disorder - leading teachers and parents to overlook the child's talents and focus solely on his weaknesses.

Jolie has settled into life in Jinla with her four guards at her side. She couldn't be happier, but happiness is often fleeting. When the Sirens return to Jinla, they turn Jolie's life upside down. Now, she's forced to leave her guards behind and travel to the undersea realm of Atlantis, where things are not as they seem. Her survival is at risk, as well as the lives of her friends. She doesn't want to sacrifice so much, but how can she refuse when she's Atlantis' only hope?

Arial knows the rules that keep her safe. She's been following them since she was a little girl: Do not tell. Do not show. But in a moment of terror, facing an attacker intent on taking more than just her life, Ari has no choice but to unleash the psychic powers she's been hiding since childhood.

A few spliffs, a spot of mild S&M, phone through the copy of tomorrow's front page, catch up with the latest from your mystery source - could be big, could be very big - in fact, just a regular day at the office for free-wheeling, substance-abusing Cameron Colley, a fully paid-up Gonzo hack on an Edinburgh newspaper. The source is pretty thin, but Cameron senses a scoop and checks out a series of bizarre deaths from a few years ago - only to find that the police are checking out a series of bizarre deaths that are happening right now. Cameron just might know more about it than he'd care to admit.