Abi Daré

Award-winning interiors blogger Abi Dare, author of The Soft Minimalist Home, offers a new take on biophilic design using organic materials, colours and textures to bring the outside in. Nature provides ample inspiration for our homes, and a biophilic approach to design has been shown to enhance our mental and physical wellbeing. But there is more to it than adding lots of plants. Here, Abi Dare explores how to create an inviting home that makes subtle references to the natural world. The book is divided into six sections: colour, materials and texture, shape and pattern, light and dark, layout and view and finishing touches. In each, Abi provides practical tips and presents inspiring case studies, from a city apartment in Rotterdam to a family home in London and a farmhouse in the West Country. Palettes go beyond green, incorporating terracottas, pinks, peaches, blues and ochres. Wood, stone, plaster and linen offer a tactile experience, whether sleek and modern or rough-hewn and rustic. Soft curves, flowing lines and imperfect forms can be used to mimic nature, tempering straight lines and sharp angles. Windows let in sunlight and frame our views of the outside world. Throughout, Abi highlights that biophilic design is not just an abstract theory, but an accessible concept that can make a big difference to our homes and lives.

A new novel of resilience and hope, from the internationally bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding Voice

Award-winning interiors blogger Abi Dare of These Four Walls reveals a softer, more relaxed approach to minimalism that will enhance your wellbeing and simplify your home. Many of us yearn to turn our homes into calming sanctuaries, but there are still misconceptions of minimalist decor as sterile, unattainable and devoid of personality. In her first book, interiors stylist and writer Abi Dare busts the myths, demonstrating that minimalist spaces can be warm, welcoming and as individual as their inhabitants. The Soft Minimalist Home shows how a diverse range of people have created minimalist havens that reflect their tastes and tell their stories. An apartment in London brings unexpected pops of colour, a 1920s Dutch townhouse is filled with light and a family home in Sweden takes its cues from nature. These home tours are interspersed with practical advice on topics such as choosing a palette, optimizing storage and adding cosiness through texture. Throughout, Abi guides readers to harness the mood-boosting power of minimalist decor for themselves, proving that less really is more.

Plucky fourteen-year-old Adunni is in Lagos, excited to finally enrol in school. Having escaped her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she's found refuge with Tia, a kind and brilliant woman on her own troubled journey of self-discovery. But it's not so simple to run away from your past. On the night before she is due to join her new classmates for her first lesson, a terrible knocking at the front gate summons Adunni back to her home village, Ikati, where her dramatic story of resilience first begun. As Tia frantically tries to protect her from an uncertain fate, Adunni must try to save not only herself but all the young women of her village, and transform Ikati into a place where girls are allowed to claim the bright futures they deserve - and roar their stories to the world.

Adunni and Ms Tia are back, now forced to confront their pasts and find the courage to roar for themselvesWinner of the inaugural Climate Fiction Prize'Fresh, funny and fiercely feminist, Dare's empowering sequel to The Girl with the Louding Voice is a gut punch of a book'MAIL ON SUNDAY'Evocative'i NEWSPAPER, Best new books'Powerful and inspiring'GRAZIA'A novelist of great power, wit, and invention'ELIZABETH GILBERT, author of City of Girls'Daré has proved, once again, that she is a masterful storyteller to be reckoned with'TARA M. STRINGFELLOW, author of Memphis'An enduring story of hope, love and the power we hold'ORE AGBAJE-WILLIAMS, author of The Three of UsPlucky fourteen-year-old Adunni is in Lagos, excited to finally enrol in school. Having escaped her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she's found refuge with Tia, a kind and brilliant woman on her own troubled journey of self-discovery. But it's not so simple to run away from your past. On the night before she is due to join her new classmates for her first lesson, a terrible knocking at the front gate summons Adunni back to her home village, Ikati, where her dramatic story of resilience first began. As Tia frantically tries to protect her from an uncertain fate, Adunni must try to save not only herself but all the young women of her village, and transform Ikati into a place where girls are allowed to claim the bright futures they deserve - and roar their stories to the world. See what readers are saying about And So I Roar . . .'It's honestly an unputdownable read . . . celebrating the strength and resilience of girls in impossible situations . . . The book covers key issues relevant today through perspectives rarely regarded in reality, giving a voice to the voiceless. And girl, are the voices LOUD . . . I adored this book' NetGalley reviewer, ? ? ? ? ? 'Simultaneously heartbreaking and joyful . . . And So I Roar had me smiling one moment and tearing up the next . . . I give it all the stars!' Goodreads reviewer, ? ? ? ? ? 'I absolutely loved Daré's first novel so was very excited to get a copy of her second and it didn't disappoint! And So I Roar starts at a very fast pace leaving me quite breathless . . . Abi Daré is a phenomenal writer . . . I loved this book' NetGalley reviewer, ? ? ? ? ? 'Prepare to be swept away once again into the captivating world of Adunni, where hope, love, and the power of the human spirit reign supreme . . . a triumphant continuation of Adunni's journey - a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. So, if you're ready to be transported to a world where hope shines brightest in the darkest of times, this book is a must-read' Waterstones bookseller review, ? ? ? ? ? 'How can we not fall in love with the charismatic teen, Adunni, all over again . . . will she attain the freedom and justice she deserves, along with her fellow female companions? You must read it to find out' NetGalley reviewer, ? ? ? ? ? 'Captivating . . . An engrossing read that educates, inspires and tugs at the heartstrings' NetGalley reviewer, ? ? ? ? ?

A stunning, inspiring new novel from Abi Dar , New York Times bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding VoiceWhen Tia accidentally overhears a whispered conversation between her mother--terminally ill and lying in a hospital bed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria--and her aunt, the repercussions will send her on a desperate quest to uncover a secret her mother has been hiding for nearly two decades. Back home in Lagos a few days later, Adunni, a plucky fourteen-year-old runaway, is lying awake in Tia's guest room. Having escaped from her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she's finally found refuge with Tia, who has helped her enroll in school. It's always been Adunni's dream to get an education, and she's bursting with excitement. Suddenly, there's a horrible knocking at the front gate. . . . It's only the beginning of a harrowing ordeal that will see Tia forced to make a terrible choice between protecting Adunni or finally learning the truth behind the secret her mother has hidden from her. And Adunni will learn that her "louding voice," as she calls it, is more important than ever, as she must advocate to save not only herself but all the young women of her home village, Ikati. If she succeeds, she may transform Ikati into a place where girls are allowed to claim the bright futures they deserve--and shout their stories to the world.

A stunning, inspiring new novel from Abi Dar , New York Times bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding VoiceWhen Tia accidentally overhears a whispered conversation between her mother--terminally ill and lying in a hospital bed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria--and her aunt, the repercussions will send her on a desperate quest to uncover a secret her mother has been hiding for nearly two decades. Back home in Lagos a few days later, Adunni, a plucky fourteen-year-old runaway, is lying awake in Tia's guest room. Having escaped from her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she's finally found refuge with Tia, who has helped her enroll in school. It's always been Adunni's dream to get an education, and she's bursting with excitement. Suddenly, there's a horrible knocking at the front gate. . . . It's only the beginning of a harrowing ordeal that will see Tia forced to make a terrible choice between protecting Adunni or finally learning the truth behind the secret her mother has hidden from her. And Adunni will learn that her "louding voice," as she calls it, is more important than ever, as she must advocate to save not only herself but all the young women of her home village, Ikati. If she succeeds, she may transform Ikati into a place where girls are allowed to claim the bright futures they deserve--and shout their stories to the world.

Fjorten år gamle Adunni vokser opp på den nigerianske landsbygda og drømmer bare om én ting. Å få utdannelse. Moren hennes har alltid sagt at det er den eneste måten å få en stemme på, en mulighet til å bli hørt og bestemme sin egen framtid. Men i stedet for utdannelse får hun en mann, solgt av faren som kone nummer tre til en eldre mann som vil at hun skal føde ham en sønn og arving. Hun ser drømmen sakte smuldre opp og flykter til byen, med håp om et bedre liv, og ender opp som hushjelp hos en velstående familie i Lagos. Både som datter, underdanig kone og maktesløs tjener erfarer Adunni at hun er ingen. Når hun innser at hun må stå opp for, ikke bare seg selv, men også for andre som har vært der før henne og for de som kommer etter, finner hun en måte å snakke på, helt til noen lytter.

Fjorten år gamle Adunni vokser opp på den nigerianske landsbygda og drømmer bare om én ting. Å få utdannelse. Moren hennes har alltid sagt at det er den eneste måten å få en stemme på, en mulighet til å bli hørt og bestemme sin egen framtid. Men i stedet for utdannelse får hun en mann, solgt av faren som kone nummer tre til en eldre mann som vil at hun skal føde ham en sønn og arving. Hun ser drømmen sakte smuldre opp og flykter til byen, med håp om et bedre liv, og ender opp som hushjelp hos en velstående familie i Lagos. Både som datter, underdanig kone og maktesløs tjener erfarer Adunni at hun er ingen. Når hun innser at hun må stå opp for, ikke bare seg selv, men også for andre som har vært der før henne og for de som kommer etter, finner hun en måte å snakke på, helt til noen lytter.

Flickan som fick en röst är en oerhört gripande skildring av en skyddslös flickas förfärliga umbäranden men också en berättelse om styrka och mod. Karaktärerna känns levande och trovärdiga. Inte minst det ogrammatiska och uppfinningsrika språket skapar en känsla av äkthet och översättaren måste berömmas för sin både respektfulla och inkännande tolkning. BibliotekstjänstFjortonåriga Adunni drömmer bara om en sak. Att få utbilda sig. Hennes mamma har alltid sagt att det är det enda sättet att få en röst en möjlighet att göra sig hörd och bestämma sin egen framtid. Men istället för utbildning får hon en make, såld av sin pappa som fru nummer tre till en äldre man som vill att hon ska föda honom en son och arvinge. Hon ser sin dröm sakta vittra sönder och rymmer till stan, med förhoppningen om att få ett bättre liv, och hamnar som hembiträde i en välbärgad familj i Lagos. Både som dotter, undergiven fru och maktlös tjänare får Adunni lära sig att hon är ingen. De olyckliga omständigheter hon hamnar i tystar henne tillfälligt, men inte helt. Och när hon förstår att hon måste stå upp inte bara för sig själv utan även för andra som funnits där före henne och för de som ska komma efter, så hittar hon ett sätt att tala, tills någon lyssnar. Abi Daré växte upp i Lagos i Nigeria men bor nu i Storbritannien. Hon har studerat juridik, projektledning och kreativt skrivande. Flickan som fick en röst vann the Bath Novel Award 2018. Hon bor i Essex med make och två döttrar.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A READ WITH JENNA TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB PICK "Brave, fresh . . . unforgettable."--The New York Times Book Review "A celebration of girls who dare to dream."--Imbolo Mbue, author of Behold the Dreamers (Oprah's Book Club pick) Shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and recommended by The New York Times, Marie Claire, Vogue, Essence, PopSugar, Daily Mail, Electric Literature, Red, Stylist, Daily Kos, Library Journal, The Everygirl, and Read It Forward The unforgettable, inspiring story of a teenage girl growing up in a rural Nigerian village who longs to get an education so that she can find her "louding voice" and speak up for herself, The Girl with the Louding Voice is a simultaneously heartbreaking and triumphant tale about the power of fighting for your dreams. Despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in her path, Adunni never loses sight of her goal of escaping the life of poverty she was born into so that she can build the future she chooses for herself - and help other girls like her do the same. Her spirited determination to find joy and hope in even the most difficult circumstances imaginable will "break your heart and then put it back together again" (Jenna Bush Hager on The Today Show) even as Adunni shows us how one courageous young girl can inspire us all to reach for our dreams...and maybe even change the world.

The unforgettable, inspiring, New York Times bestselling debut, shortlisted for the 2020 Desmond Elliott prize.