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Sisters In Captivity
Dear Village Sisters In Captivity $24.99
The incredible account of Sister Betty Jeffrey OAM and the Australian war nurses who survived the bombing of evacuation ship SS Vyner Brooke in February 1942, and subsequently spent three years in Japanese prison camps in Sumatra. During those perilous years surviving in squalid conditions, Sister Jeffrey kept a secret diary of day-to-day events which, after the war, was turned into a hugely successful book and radio serial: White Coolies. She would often write of the powerful sisterhood that evolved as the prisoners of war took strength from each other, even forming a vocal orchestra. White Coolies was a major inspiration for the 1997 film Paradise Road.Sisters in Captivity builds on those diaries to not only re-live the years the nurses spent as POWs but also recounts the early life and influences that encouraged Betty Jeffrey into the field of nursing as a lifelong endeavour. A tireless advocate for returned nurses, she co-founded the Australian Nurses Memorial Centre with sole survivor of the Banka Island Massacre, fellow POW, and her longtime friend Vivian Bullwinkel. Featuring 32 pages of photos including personal mementos of Betty Jeffrey, courtesy of her family, and her drawings from the prison camps, this is a powerful account of women’s resilience amidst the devastating brutality of war.
Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis
Dear Village Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis $34.99
Softly, As I Leave You: Life After ElvisThe long-awaited, candid memoir by Priscilla Presley chronicling her difficult, inspiring journey beyond the walls of Graceland and behind the elegant image the world sees. The Elvis legacy seen from the inside ...Priscilla Presley's divorce from Elvis left his fans incredulous. How could she leave the man every woman wanted? From the outside, life in Elvis's mansion looked glamorous and enviable, and in many respects, it was. But inside the mansion, her husband was constantly surrounded by a male entourage while at the gates, lines of beautiful women waited hopefully for an audience with the King. From the time she was seventeen years old, that life was all Priscilla had known. During her ten years with Elvis, it became painfully apparent that she had no idea who she was outside Elvis's world. The only way to find herself was to leave that world and seek a new life of her own, because leaving was the only way to survive, for herself and for her daughter.Softly, As I Leave You, is the deeply personal story of what Priscilla lost and what she found when she walked away from the man she loved. Despite the legal separation, their love for one another transformed into a touching and tender dynamic that endured until Elvis's untimely death four years later. Shattered by Elvis's passing, she had to reinvent herself a second time as the single mother of a talented, often headstrong daughter who never really recovered from her father's death. Priscilla's dedication to motherhood was enriched by the birth of her second child, and she gradually found her footing as a businesswoman, actress, designer, and legislative advocate. She transformed Graceland into an international destination and helped guide the development of Elvis Presley Enterprises. But the unexpected, shattering loss of three immediate family members years later brought Priscilla to her knees. She shares her journey with a quiet dignity that will comfort and reassure anyone who has suffered - and survived - seemingly unbearable loss.A passionate, compassionate, and inspiring story of finding your place in the world, Softly, As I Leave You, is a sweet Southern melody that will take the reader with Priscilla on her long road home.
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Songbird
Dear Village Songbird $34.99
The only authoritative biography of the Fleetwood Mac legend, by a close friend and bestselling author
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Spinning Around
Dear Village Spinning Around $34.99
This stunning follow-up to Minds Went Walking- Paul Kelly's Songs Reimagined and Into Your Arms- Nick Cave's Songs Reimagined features Alice Pung, Ellen Van Neerven and Christos Tsiolkas, and is the perfect stocking stuffer for Christmas 2024.Australian icon Kylie Minogue is the musical muse for this sparkling new anthology. Twenty-four writers, a third of whom identify as LGBTQIA+, used a Kylie Minogue song as the springboard for a new, original piece of work, covering the genres of crime, memoir, speculative fiction, poetry and science fiction - from Kylie's 1987 release 'I Should Be So Lucky' all the way through to her newest album Tension.
Standstill
Dear Village Standstill $36.99
Standstill It's no fun losing an identity if you've dedicated your life to it, whether it's love, work or the place you call home. What happens if you bail on all three in quick succession? Sashi Perera found out the hard way.'Brilliant, vulnerable and hilarious. Sashi Perera has given us a comedy, a tragedy, a memoir, a polemic and an instruction manual on self-forgiveness. I laughed and cried, often at the same time.' SHANKARI CHANDRAN'This book is chaos. This book is laughter and love. This book is a friend. Give it to someone who struggles, to someone you love, someone who needs to forgive themselves. Give it to you. I adored it.' FREDRIK BACKMAN'This book isn't just funny (which, obviously) - it's also a deep dive into identity and belonging. Even when she's in a hectic shame spiral, completely adrift (which, let's be honest, happens a lot, Sashi), she's still relentlessly searching for meaning in a world that sometimes feels like it's lost its own. Bloody impressive. I loved every page. It's brilliant.' EM RUSCIANOAfter cancelling a destination wedding in Sri Lanka at the eleventh hour, most people would take a moment to regroup. Not Sashi - insisting she's unfazed, she plunges into working with international refugee organisations around the world. Those sleepless nights are for reflecting on chaotic romances, work stress and transient lifestyles, right?After one too many messy experiences, Sashi must accept that life is at a standstill. She returns to Australia where her reality stinks. But that just might be where she needs to be.From online comedy sensation Sashi Perera, Standstill is a memoir of reluctant self-discovery by a person forced towards a mirror kicking and screaming, finally looking in and saying, Oh shit. It's for anyone who's lost their identity, relationship or place in the world and hesitated every step along the journey to get them back.
Swellbeing
Dear Village Swellbeing $34.99
SwellbeingBlake 'Blakey' Johnston is a surfer. So was his dad. And his brothers. For Blake, growing up around the beaches of Cronulla, life was good and surfing was everything. At sixteen, he turned pro and took off around the world, chasing his dream to become the world's best. The thing about dreams, though, is that they change - sometimes by choice and sometimes by circumstance. For some people, that change can be too much. Too often, people stay silent about their struggles; too often, they can't see a way back.Nine Australians commit suicide every day. Blake's dad was one of them. Ever since, Blake has made it his mission to help people find the tools they need to stay alive. In his own struggles with mental health, they are the tools he's used to find the joys in nature, family, human connection, and himself. These tools even enabled him to unite a community, spend forty gruelling hours in the water, catch 707 waves, and claim the world record for longest surf. And then the world's biggest paddle-out.Now, in Swellbeing, his powerful and inspiring memoir, Blake outlines what he drew on to overcome his challenges with mental illness and shares the lessons he's learned to help others make it through the tough times to live their best lives. He's hoping his experience can ripple out and help others. Because . . . everyone deserves to feel awesome.
Taboo
Dear Village Taboo $34.99
The no-bullshit, no-frills guide to your twenties, from Cheek Media Co. Founder and Bite Back author, Hannah Ferguson. Weaving deeply personal stories with spot-on opinions and advice about sex, friendship, family, career and beyond, this is Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love meets Clare Bowditch's Your Own Kind of Girl for the next generation.
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Taylor Swift
Dear Village Taylor Swift $39.99
Your wildest dreams have come true. Get an insider's look at Taylor Swift's life and achievements in this pocket-sized collectible hardcover book for Swifties of all ages. Are you ready for it?Your wildest dreams have come true. Get an insider's look at Taylor Swift's life and achievements in this pocket-sized collectible hardcover book for Swifties of all ages. Are you ready for it?100+ stunning photos and clued-in commentary from top music and culture writers explore the power of Taylor's music and influence-and why she'll never go out of style.Taylor Swift is so much more than a pop star- she has more number one albums than any other female performer in history and The Eras Tour has filled stadiums across the world. Her influence on our culture seems to know no bounds.With more than 100 amazing photos, this luxe gift book immerses you in Taylor's world with smart, insightful text and celebrates the global superstar as a prolific songwriter, powerful storyteller and champion of her empowerment. Inside you'll find- <ul><li>Taylor's many performances from singing the national anthem at local sporting events to selling out worldwide blockbuster tours</li><li>The chart-topping launch of her 24 albums, including Taylor's Versions, her latest release, The Tortured Poets Department and what makes her personal yet relatable music so inspiring</li><li>Her stunning red carpet appearances at the Grammys, the Met Gala and more!</li></ul>Throughout the photo-packed pages, Swifties will follow Taylor's rise to pop icon status through all her eras with interviews from the vault of Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and Seventeen along with original essays from noted contributors.We know all too well you will love this gift book! Get one (or more!) for you and your bestie.
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The Art Of Risk
Dear Village The Art Of Risk $35.99
Diving doctor on the Thai Cave Rescue (now a Netflix series) and former joint Australian of the Year explores the stories of other people who regularly risk their lives and what we can learn from their expertise. Are free-solo climbers, underwater cave explorers and big-wave surfers crazy ... or cautious? How do soldiers and fighter pilots manage risk? What can we learn from how BASE jumpers and drag racers prepare that we can take into our own lives? ‘Harry’ Harris – Thai Cave Rescuer, joint Australian of the Year – has an unusual idea of fun: he crawls though pitch-black, confined caves, deep underground and usually underwater. To most, that’s a nightmare. To him, it’s recreation. He’s prepared for all conceivable risks, he’s completely focused. And the discipline and danger involved leave him better prepared for everyday life. In this ultimate armchair adventure, Harry takes us into the lives of other ‘risk-takers’, to find out why they do what they do. We meet people adventuring from the highest skies to the deepest oceans – BASE jumpers, drag racers, snipers and surfers – including climber Alex Honnold (from the movie Free Solo), sailor Jessica Watson, film director and deep-sea diver James Cameron. Each gripping story is a masterclass in risk from the experts: when to go, when to say no, how to prepare and above all, how pushing ourselves a little further helps us become more courageous and resilient in all of our challenges. Heart-pounding and eye-opening, you’ll never look at risk the same way again. ‘Richard “Harry” Harris peels back the mindset that shapes the line between recklessness and courage.’ Hugh Riminton
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The Bank Robber's Boy
Dear Village The Bank Robber's Boy $34.99
The Bank Robber'S Boy This is the against-all-odds story of Peter Norris, the son of one of Australia’s most wanted criminals, and his struggle to escape his father’s shadow. Born into a life of crime, Peter’s earliest memories are shaped by the chaos of his father’s criminal exploits. Torn from home to home and running from heist to heist, his childhood was marked by violence, betrayal, and upheaval. In this compelling memoir, Peter exposes the truth of his turbulent upbringing. As the youngest son of Clarence “Clarry” Norris, a notorious fugitive, Peter recounts the powerful love and loyalty that bound him to his father, creating a profound inner struggle between the allure of the underworld and the desire for normalcy. Faced with a heart-wrenching decision at just 12 years old, Peter had to choose between following his father's criminal path or seizing a lifeline. The memoir moves from the underbelly of 1970s Sydney to the outskirts of Melbourne, highlighting a troubling chapter in Australian history when Peter and other innocent children were sent to abusive institutions. Ultimately, Peter rises from the ruins of his troubled past, embarking on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and growth. He defies the odds to become a successful CEO, world-class athlete, and motivational speaker. The Bank Robber’s Boy is the unfiltered account of innocence on the edge of law and one young boy’s unyielding determination to overcome his past. ‘Extraordinary, shows how one man can defy his destiny – not despite the odds, but because of them.' ‘A powerful testament to resilience, hope, and one man’s determination to break free from the shadows of his past.’
Dear Village The Book Of Sheen $49.99
The Book Of Sheen "We can live the stories or hear about them later from others. I choose the former."Charlie Sheen should not be alive to tell these stories.But in The Book of Sheen, the star who has defied all odds – decades of addiction (to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and more), an HIV diagnosis, three divorces, a dust-up with the Sinaloan cartel, and other challenges that will leave readers stunned – finally presents the truth... or, at least his version. ("The facts are the facts; how I choose to interpret or deconstruct them falls squarely on me," Sheen writes.)From his childhood spent on movie sets for blockbusters like Apocalypse Now; to the golden days of 1980s Hollywood, filled with heartthrobs like Rob Lowe and Sean Penn; to the humid jungles of the Philippines and mock-army training that crossed dangerously into life-threatening for the filming of Platoon; to the early aughts' sitcom dominance, every Sheen anecdote drips with shocking lucidity, humor, and self-deprecation.Sheen deftly leads readers through his childhood as the son of award-winning actor Martin Sheen (a "Cathoholic"), which took the family from New York to Mexico to Italy and beyond; his competitive brotherhood against fellow teen heartthrob and Brat Pack member Emilio Estevez; his debilitating stutter that continued into adulthood and which he attempted to hide from producers and directors; his friendships with Chris and Sean Penn, Rob Lowe, Nic Cage, Matthew Perry, and other troubled stars of the era; his adventures on and off camera for films like Platoon and Wall Street and shows like Spin City and Two and a Half Men; his challenges in fatherhood and the kids that ultimately got him sober; and more. Woven throughout is a constant: addiction, and Sheen's perpetual battle with it.Riddled with regrets, filled with humor, and finally candid, Sheen delivers a truly hilarious no-holds-barred memoir, one fitting for a star of his caliber and controversy.
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The Boy From Boomerang Crescent
Dear Village The Boy From Boomerang Crescent $36.99
It’s a long, hard road from the Nullarbor to the MCG. Winner of the Australian Book Industry Awards, Social Impact Book of the Year Longlisted for the 2023 Indie Book Awards Sydney Morning Herald Best Reads of the Year for 2023 How does a self-described ‘skinny Aboriginal kid’ overcome a legacy of family tragedy to become an AFL legend? One thing’s for sure: it’s not easy. But then, there’s always been something special about Eddie Betts. Betts grew up in Port Lincoln and Kalgoorlie, in environments where the destructive legacies of colonialism – racism, police targeting of Aboriginal people, drug and alcohol misuse, family violence – were sadly normalised. His childhood was defined by family closeness as well as family strife, plus a wonderful freedom that he and his cousins exploited to the full – for better and for worse. When he made the decision to take his talents across the Nullarbor to Melbourne to chase his footballing dreams – homesickness be damned – everything changed. Over the ensuing years, Betts became a true giant of the sport: 350-plus games, 600-plus goals, multiple All-Australian nods and Goal of the Year awards, and a league-wide popularity rarely seen in the hyper-tribal AFL. Along the way, he battled his demons before his turbulent youth settled into responsible maturity. Today, the man the Melbourne tabloids once dubbed ‘bad boy Betts’ is a dedicated husband and father, a respected community leader and an increasingly outspoken social activist. Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic and always honest – often laceratingly so – The Boy from Boomerang Crescent is the inspirational life story of a champion, in his own words. Whether he’s narrating one of his trademark gravity-defying goals from the pocket, the discrimination he’s faced as an Aboriginal person or the birth of his first child, Betts’s voice – intelligent, soulful, unpretentious – rings through on every page. The very human story behind the plaudits is one that will surprise, move and inspire. Cover image © Kristina Wild
The Escape From Kabul
Dear Village The Escape From Kabul $26.99
The extraordinary, moving story of the Afghan women judges who fought for their careers and their lives, and the international network of women who helped them escape the Taliban.
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The House Of My Mother
Dear Village The House Of My Mother $34.99
THE HOUSE OF MY MOTHER From eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing.Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code while maintaining a façade of a picture-perfect family for their wildly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for a staggering 2.5 million subscribers. But a darker truth lurked beneath the surface – Ruby’s wholesome online persona masked a more tyrannical parenting style than anyone could have imagined.As the family’s YouTube notoriety grew, so too did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness. Fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, together they implemented an inhumane and merciless disciplinary regime.Ruby and Jodi were arrested in Utah in 2023 on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. On that fateful day, Shari shared a photo online of a police car outside their home. Her caption had one word: 'Finally'.For the first time, Shari will reveal the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and her family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, 'ConneXions'. No stone is left unturned as Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares for the first time her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty.
The Last Days Of Zane Grey
Dear Village The Last Days Of Zane Grey $34.99
The untold story of Hollywood legend Zane Grey's Australian adventures.