Author:Frederick Forsyth
PREPARE FOR TAKE-OFF ON THE FLIGHT OF A LIFETIME!
Frederick Forsyth, himself author of The Shepherd, one of the greatest flying stories of the century, has selected a magnificent collection of fictional tales by some truly distinguished talents. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Roald Dahl and Edgar Allen Poe are among the unexpected writers in this thrilling anthology.
Others - H.E.Bates, Len Deighton, Captain W.E.Johns, H.G.Wells and J.G.Ballard - have, more predictably, penned timeless stories of the air. There is science fiction too, mystery, horror, even detective fiction, in this, the ultimate flying collection.
Rather a treat ... this novel is less about death than it is about life - the messy unpredictability, hideous unfairness and perplexity of it, as well as its one magnificent certainty: love.
—— THE SUNDAY TIMESRemarkable ... A whip-smart, funny, beautifully observed and exquisitely characterised novel about how even the deepest of losses can be accompanied by a joyous affirmation of life.
—— OBSERVERImbued with love and humour ... this special book is in a class of its own.
—— EVENING STANDARDNewman's clearsighted and bracingly funny first novel is a moving celebration of friendship, love and cherished memories
—— DAILY MAILI adored this book. Jubilant, devastating, tender, heartbreaking, I found myself both in tears and 'snorty-laughing'. I know it will be one of those novels I return to time and time again, and recommend to everyone. There is so much love, funniness, honesty, courage, mess, bounce and surprise in this book, and not shred of it is mawkish. Loss might be the central theme but it is also the most robust and glorious affirmation of life. A masterclass on friendship, family love, memory, and the messiness of life and love and dying. Pure genius.
—— RACHEL JOYCEBreezy New York Nora-Ephron-style wit meets hospice memoir to create something profoundly beautiful...comforting, so funny, moving but never mawkish and packed with all kinds of love. It's one of my favourite books ever.
—— MARIAN KEYESTragically funny, with moments of clarity and wisdom, Newman writes loss and laughter in equally brilliant amounts.
—— BONNIE GARMUS, author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRYI have heard nothing but good things about [We All Want Impossible Things] and they were all quite right - it's so warm and funny and full of great observations ... it looks set for rip-roaring success, deservedly so!
—— CLARE CHAMBERS, author of SMALL PLEASURESGloriously funny, utterly heartbreaking, and really just brilliant, We All Want Impossible Things is one of the best novels on friendship I've ever read. I loved it.
—— AJ PEARCE, author of DEAR MRS BIRDSmart and funny and devastating, We All Want Impossible Things has huge Sorrow and Bliss vibes and I didn't want it to end.
—— LAURA PEARSONDevastatingly humorous and humorously devastating, We All Want Impossible Things is an unbelievably brilliant and funny book about friendship, family, food, sex, and death. Catherine Newman serves up a masterclass in narrative - you'll stay up late devouring every word.
—— KATHERINE HEINY, author of EARLY MORNING RISER and STANDARD DEVIATIONI absolutely adored this...what a beautiful, emotional novel it is, both heart-breaking and heart mending, with flawed, oh-so-human characters and events extolling the joy and pain of love, loss and life-long friendship.
—— JILL MANSELLHeart-breaking and heart-warming in equal measure, We All Want Impossible Things is shot through with whip-smart humour and boundless compassion. It's one of the best debuts I've read in a long time.
—— HANNAH BECKERMANFunny and tender and life affirming and quite simply GLORIOUS....The way the friendship is depicted in this story is a masterpiece... To say I have been deeply moved by this book would be an understatement. My heart is broken after finishing it this morning but it is also singing.
—— SARAH TURNERA riotously funny and fiercely loyal love letter to female friendship. The story of Edi and Ash proves that a best friend is a gift from the gods.... I laughed while crying, and was left revived. Newman is a comic masterhand and a dazzling philosopher of the day-to-day.
—— AMITY GAIGE, author of SEA WIFEWe All Want Impossible Things is one of those books I will be buying for everyone I know. A funny, moving, beautifully written book, I laughed and cried in equal measure. It is both a unique and wise take on friendship, love and loss that will stay with me for a very long time.
—— JENNIE GODFREY, author of THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGSThe funniest, most joyful book about dying - and living - that I have ever read.
—— K J DELL'ANTONIA, author of the New York Times bestselling THE CHICKEN SISTERSFor the last two days I have done nothing but read this book or think longingly about when I can return to reading this book. It's sad, and confronting, and comforting, and life-affirming all at the same time. Congrats, Catherine Newman, on an astonishing debut.
—— KATIE BISHOP, author of THE GIRLS OF SUMMERCatherine Newman sees the heartbreak and comedy of life with wisdom and unflinching compassion. The way she finds the extraordinary in the everyday is nothing short of poetry. She's a writer's writer-and a human's human.
—— KATHERINE CENTER , New York Times bestselling authorAn absolute heartbreaker of a novel. Catherine Newman's book... is a celebration of life. For anyone who has prepared a hole in their heart for loss, We All Want Impossible Things is a reminder that, in time, that hollowed hallowed space is also there for when the light and love pour back in.
—— LAURA ZIGMAN, author of SEPARATION ANXIETYHow did Catherine Neman write a book about dying that is so luminously alive? Earthy, funny, and terrifyingly honest - this is a book with heart and guts and all the other goopy gravt we need to stay among the living. A radical delight.
—— RUFI THORPENewman perfectly captures the beauty and burden of caring for someone in their final moments while showing the gift of Edi and Ash's once-in-a-lifetime friendship. A warm and remarkably funny book that will make readers laugh through their tears.
—— KIRKUSThis is a proper laugh-out-loud tale of friendship that will utterly win your heart ... A truly special book - prepare to read this, fall in love and then hector everyone you know into reading it.
—— STYLISTDevastatingly funny ... handled with compassion and courage in elegant prose lightened by honest humour.
—— MAIL ON SUNDAYWe All Want Impossible Things is a thing of rare beauty: sweet and sharp, to be devoured, then remembered and loved life-long.
—— iA celebration of friendship and family
—— FABULOUSBook of the month
—— GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGUtterly life-affirming and joyful
—— REDFull of humour, warmth and eye-popping honesty ... a beautiful, candid and uplifting testament to female friendship that will make you laugh and cry
—— WOMAN & HOMEBeautiful and emotional ... heartbreakingly sad, but also full of humour and ultimately about living and love. I will recommend this to everyone.
—— PRIMAFunny, bitter and life-affirming
—— GRAZIAThis is a story about holding on, the power of creating memories and, ultimately, letting go. Tissues at the ready.
—— THE HANDBOOKSmart dialogue and cutting wit ... an accomplished writer
—— IRISH TIMESA profound study of grief, love and friendship that will resonate with anyone who has lost someone special ... there are plenty of funny and touching moments in this beautiful novel that will make your heart soar.
—— HEATIn Newman's hands... this tale of love and friendship is tender, funny, life-affirming joy.
—— MARIE CLAIRE, 'Best Books of 2023'The most wonderful book in the way it celebrates friendship. I highly recommend it.
—— MARIELLA FROSTRUP, TIMES RADIOImpossible not to weep. Yet, we also find ourselves laughing out loud through the tears ... For all the sense of tragedy and loss, we see Ash develop renewed gratitude for the beauty and humour in even the most mundane moments of life.
—— DAILY EXPRESSFull of humour, warmth, and raw honesty ... a beautiful, uplifting testament to female friendship that will make you laugh and cry
—— WOMAN5 stars
—— SUNDAY EXPRESSUnique, touching and immersive
—— NB MagazineSupremely tense, intellectually sharp, and honed as hell
—— William Leith , ScotsmanBeyond virtuoso twists and turns, McEwan lays out the foreign landscape of 40 years ago – from smoky pubs to fuming punditry – with wry, affectionate panache
—— Boyd Tonkin , iTricksy, but satisfying
—— Justin Cartwright , ObserverThe sense of narrative purpose exerts its pull from the first
—— John Mullan , Guardian