Book division successes 1999

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind

One of the most exhilarating periods in film history began with Easy Rider in 1969 and ended with Raging Bull in 1980, with Beverly Hills shrouded under a blanket of cocaine: at least, that's how it seemed. Based on interviews with all the Hollywood players of the time, this text tells the story of creativity and excess in Hollywood, when Coppola, Bogdanovich, Scorsese, Lucas, Hopper, Altman and Spielberg were at the height of their powers. Recounted with refreshing candour, many celebrities talk frankly to the author about one another and the sex, drugs, and money that made so many of them crash and burn.

The Endurance by Caroline Alexander

In August 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 set sail aboard the 'Endurance' bound for the South Atlantic. Their goal was to be the first men to cross Antarctica. Caroline Alexander tells the story of Shackleton's expedition accompanied by the photographs of Australian Frank Hurley.

Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Drawing on access to business leaders around the world and thorough research, Daniel Goleman demonstrates that emotional intelligence matters twice as much as cognitive abilities such as IQ or technical expertise. The impact of this is greater at the top of the leadership pyramid.

The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif

In Egypt Lady Anna Winterbourne meets Sharif, an Egyptian Nationalist committed to his country's cause. They fall in love and marry, but can Anna turn herself into an Oriental wife? A century later, Isabel Parkman - descendant of the marriage - is in love with Omar-al-Ghamrawi - another descendant.

Sheer Blue Bliss by Lesley Glaister

Connie has kept her last painting of the eccentric visionary Patrick Mount under wraps for thirty years, since his famous disappearance. Now the National Portrait Gallery is holding a full retrospective of her work and a striking and disturbed young man is showing an unusual amount of interest.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K.Rowling

Winner 1999 Whitbread Book of the Year Award Children's Book Category; Winner 1999 Smarties Book Prize 9-11 Category; Shortlisted for the 2000 Children's Book Award, Category 3, the longer novel.

When Harry and his friends go back for their third year at Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. There's an escaped murderer on the loose and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school. Lessons, however, must go on and the subjects include Care of Magical Creatures.

The House Gun by Nadine Gordimer

A successful, respected executive director of an insurance company, Harald, and his doctor wife, Claudia, are faced with something that could never happen to them: their son has committed murder. What kind of loyalty do a mother and a father owe a son who has committed this unimaginable horror?

Soft by Rupert Thomson

Jimmy Lyle may have taken things too far with his advertising campaign for a new soft drink. When the drink hits the streets it triggers a series of events that he could not have expected. Jimmy discovers there is nothing soft about the soft drinks industry as the story reaches a chilling climax.

No Matter What by Debi Gliori

A little fox is in a big bad mood, and is worried that its mother won't love it forever. In this picture book, a clever and resourceful mother proves to her child that a parent's love is limitless - no matter what!

Face by Benjamin Zephaniah

'Martin was on top of the world. His credibility was sealed and Natalie was proud of him.' If there's one thing that Martin is sure about, it's that life is pretty good to him. But life - as Martin is about to find out - has a habit of throwing the unexpected at you.' At this point Martin knew something terrible had happened to his face. His heart pounded in his chest. He shifted his eyes to the left and saw his father standing over him 'Are you OK, son?'' Martin's life is about to change forever. In his debut novel, poet Benjamin Zephaniah tackles the story of a young man whose life is completely changed when his face is badly scarred in a joyriding accident.

Megan by Mary Hooper

Megan, at age 15, discovers that she is five months pregnant in her 'Personal Development' class. How she copes, the decisions she has to make, and how her family and friends react are all revealed in this compulsive story.

The Selfish Crocodile by Faustin Charles

Every morning a very large and very snappy crocodile shouts: 'Stay away from my river! It's MY river! If you come in my river, I'll eat you all'. All the animals are frightened to go in the river until one day the crocodile is ill, and a mouse solves their dilemma.