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In Stitches: A Memoir
by Dr. Anthony YounScrubs meets David Sedaris in this hilarious fish-out-of- water memoir about a young Korean-American nerd turned renowned plastic surgeon. Tony Youn grew up one of two Asian-American kids in a small town where diversity was uncommon. Too tall and too thin, he wore thick Coke-bottle glasses, braces, Hannibal Lecter headgear, and had a protruding jaw that one day began to grow, expanding to an unthinkable, monstrous size. After high school graduation, while other seniors partied at the beach or explored Europe, Youn lay strapped in an oral surgeon’s chair where he underwent a life-changing jaw reconstruction. Ironically, it was this brutal makeover that led him to his life’s calling, and he continued on to endure the four horrific, hilarious, sex-starved, and tension-filled years that eventually earned him an M.D. Offering a window into a side of medicine that most people never see, Youn shares his bumpy journey from a shy, skinny, awkward nerd into a renowned and successful plastic surgeon. Now, Youn is the media’s go-to plastic surgeon. He appears regularly on The Rachael Ray Show, and his blog, Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery, is widely read and very popular. But it was a long road to success, and In Stitches recounts Dr. Youn’s misfit adolescence and his four tumultuous years in medical school with striking wit, heart, and humility. For anyone who has ever experienced the awkward teenage years or is ready for some escapist fun, In Stitches is one man’s heartfelt, candid, and laugh-out-loud funny, journey of finding his true calling in life—and learning to be comfortable in his own skin.
In The Company Of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #6)
by Alexander McCall SmithTHE SIXTH BOOK IN THE BELOVED NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY SERIESThe one where Mma Makutsi finds a dancing partner . . . Although Mma Ramotswe and Mr J. L. B. Matekoni have finally settled down, at the shared premises of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and Speedy Motors the staff are not mixing in a perfectly peaceful manner.But in the course of investigating her latest case, Mma Ramotswe's tiny white van comes into contact with a man on a bicycle who might be able to restore harmony. And Mma Makutsi at last seems to have found someone special . . .
In The Company Of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #6)
by Alexander McCall SmithPrecious Ramotswe, that cheerful Botswanan private investigator of 'traditional build', is now married to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. The Agency is busy, but Mma Ramotswe cannot ignore the plea which is made by a woman who comes to her with a tale of particular misfortune. Unfortunately, her attempts to help are interrupted by a close encounter between her tiny white van and a bicycle, and by a spectacular disagreement between her assistant, Mma Makutsi, and one of the apprentices at the garage. This apprentice has found a fancy girlfriend who drives a Mercedes-Benz. How can he be rescued from his folly? And as for Mma Makutsi, she has found a dancing class, and a man who may not be able to dance very well, but who admires her greatly. And all of this happens against a background of quiet sessions of bush tea, and of a land that stretches out forever under mile upon mile of empty sky...
In The Mood For Love: A dazzlingly romantic novel of love and cake (Cupcake Lovers #5)
by Beth CiottaThe enchanting fourth novel in Beth Ciotta's deliciously romantic Cupcake Lovers series. The Cupcake Lovers - a feel-good series of love, friendship and cake from author Beth Ciotta, follows a group of friends in the beautiful state of Vermont, as they navigate the romances and dramas that make up their lives. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan and Debbie Johnson. Sugar Creek, Vermont, is a world away from Los Angeles for high-powered, media-obsessed Harper Day. When she took the job doing publicity for the Cupcake Lovers, she never expected to be won over by the town's old-fashioned charms. But that was before she moved into the Victorian vacation home of her dreams and fell in with a man whose good looks and irresistible ways are anything but small-town... Sam McCloud is a widowed father of two. He and bossy, big-city Harper appear to have nothing in common... though the attraction they feel toward one another cannot be denied. But will their romance last longer than the day's headlines? There's more to Harper than meets the eye, and as it turns out, she needs to get married - fast. Little does Harper know that family-man Sam will do whatever it takes to keep her in Sugar Creek - even if that means taking matters into his own hands. And never letting her go...BONUS CONTENT: Make your own cupcakes with the Cupcake Lovers' recipes! Curl up with a cupcake and indulge in the rest of the deliciously romantic Cupcake Lovers series: Fool For Love, The Trouble With Love, Some Kind of Wonderful and In The Mood For Love. What readers are saying about In the Mood For Love: 'Every character involved comes to life''For fans of chick-lit and cupcakes. A light-hearted, easy to read, fun book with characters you can relate to''Five stars'
In The Simple Compass of Passion
by Raíssa Ribeiro DominguesMariana is a little coastal city which every year turns into the big music festival stage "Águas Sonoras". During two days, the tranquility of Mariana gives way to a frenzied frenzy of young people in and around the city. Daniel Vandres is the vocalist of the band "Sound of Silence", the main attraction of the festival. He, however, did not imagine that he would cross the path of the dreamy Josy who just think about work but it is convinced by her sister to go to the festival to have some fun. Roberta nurtures a platonic love for Daniel since childhood and is capable of any madness for the singer to notice her. It is in the middle of one of this madness that they know Beto and Miguel, two boys who will make Josy rethink a little about her concepts of fun.
In Todd We Trust
by Louise GalvestonOut of the dirt on Todd's smelly sock came a race of miniature people who worship Todd as a god.Now, the tiny Toddlians need everyone's prayers! The Toddlians have always believed in the omnipotence of their god, twelve-year-old Todd Butroche. <P><P> After all, Todd is their creator and they would not exist if it were not for him and his benevolent grossness. But when the Toddlians are confronted with a vile "red thing" (a moldy apple) and its mysterious and horrifying inhabitant (a worm!), they begin to believe Todd has forgotten all about them. There's only one solution to the Toddlians' problems: to find a new god! And so they decide to build a raft à la Noah's ark in order to search for a more thoughtful deity. But who can the Toddlians turn to in their time of despair? <P> And does Todd really not remember the miniature race generated by the dirt on his smelly sock? It will take more than divine intervention to save the Toddlians and mend their relationship with their neglectful creator.
In Trouble with Angels (A Valentine Rainbow)
by Felicitas IveyWith the increasing commercialization of Valentine's Day in the 1950s, the Pagan deities of Love, led by Eros, gather to make sure everything runs smoothly. Shy, quiet angel Shateiel offers help, and Eros is quite taken with the cute angel, though he keeps his lust to himself. When the higher-level angels discover Shateiel's little rebellious streak and how he's been spending his time, they intervene to keep him from falling from grace. Now, Eros may wish he'd admitted his feeling before it was too late.
In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes: A Spicy Small Town Grumpy Sunshine Romance (The Queen's Cove Series Book 3)
by Stephanie ArcherThe deal is simple: the grumpy guy will pay off my debt if I find him a wife.Holden Rhodes is grouchy, unfairly hot, and has hated me for years. He's the last person I'd choose to inherit an inn with. As we renovate the inn and put his dating skills to practice, though, I see a different side of him. What if I was all wrong about Holden?When we add 'friends with benefits' to the deal, our chemistry is so hot the sparks could burn down the inn. Holden's a secret romantic, and I'm secretly falling for him. I'm terrible at bartending, a video of a bear stealing my toywent viral, and everyone in this small town knows my business, but Holden Rhodes is so much more than I expected. I don't want him to find love with anyone but me. A grumpy-sunshine, friends-with-benefits, small-town romantic comedy with lots of spice and an HEA. This is book 3 in the Queen's Cove series but can be read as a standalone.
In Your Dreams: J.W. Wells & Co. Book 2
by Tom Holt'A definite must for all fans of comic fantasy' - ENIGMA'Wacky humour bubbles through the polished narrative ... Holt doesn't skimp on the flashes of brilliance' - SFXEver been offered a promotion that seems too good to be true? You know - the sort they'd be insane to be offering to someone like you. The kind where you snap their arm off to accept, then wonder why all your long-serving colleagues look secretly relieved, as if they're off some strange and unpleasant hook ...It's the kind of trick that deeply sinister companies like J.W. Wells & Co. pull all the time. Especially with employees who are too busy mooning over the office intern to think about what they're getting into. And it's why, right about now, Paul Carpenter is wishing he'd paid much less attention to the gorgeous Melze, and rather more to a little bit of job description small-print referring to 'pest' control ...Books by Tom Holt: Walled Orchard Series Goatsong The Walled Orchard J.W. Wells & Co. Series The Portable Door In Your Dreams Earth, Air, Fire and Custard You Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But It Helps The Better Mousetrap May Contain Traces of Magic Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Sausages YouSpace Series Doughnut When It's A Jar The Outsorcerer's Apprentice The Good, the Bad and the Smug Novels Expecting Someone Taller Who's Afraid of Beowulf Flying Dutch Ye Gods! Overtime Here Comes the Sun Grailblazers Faust Among Equals Odds and Gods Djinn Rummy My Hero Paint your Dragon Open Sesame Wish you Were Here Alexander at World's End Only Human Snow White and the Seven Samurai Olympiad Valhalla Nothing But Blue Skies Falling SidewaysLittle PeopleSong for NeroMeadowlandBarkingBlonde BombshellThe Management Style of the Supreme BeingsAn Orc on the Wild Side
In Your Dreams: J.W. Wells & Co. Book 2 (J.W. Wells & Co. #2)
by Tom Holt'A definite must for all fans of comic fantasy' - ENIGMA'Wacky humour bubbles through the polished narrative ... Holt doesn't skimp on the flashes of brilliance' - SFXEver been offered a promotion that seems too good to be true? You know - the sort they'd be insane to be offering to someone like you. The kind where you snap their arm off to accept, then wonder why all your long-serving colleagues look secretly relieved, as if they're off some strange and unpleasant hook ...It's the kind of trick that deeply sinister companies like J.W. Wells & Co. pull all the time. Especially with employees who are too busy mooning over the office intern to think about what they're getting into. And it's why, right about now, Paul Carpenter is wishing he'd paid much less attention to the gorgeous Melze, and rather more to a little bit of job description small-print referring to 'pest' control ...Books by Tom Holt: Walled Orchard Series Goatsong The Walled Orchard J.W. Wells & Co. Series The Portable Door In Your Dreams Earth, Air, Fire and Custard You Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But It Helps The Better Mousetrap May Contain Traces of Magic Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Sausages YouSpace Series Doughnut When It's A Jar The Outsorcerer's Apprentice The Good, the Bad and the Smug Novels Expecting Someone Taller Who's Afraid of Beowulf Flying Dutch Ye Gods! Overtime Here Comes the Sun Grailblazers Faust Among Equals Odds and Gods Djinn Rummy My Hero Paint your Dragon Open Sesame Wish you Were Here Alexander at World's End Only Human Snow White and the Seven Samurai Olympiad Valhalla Nothing But Blue Skies Falling SidewaysLittle PeopleSong for NeroMeadowlandBarkingBlonde BombshellThe Management Style of the Supreme BeingsAn Orc on the Wild Side
In Your Dreams: J.W. Wells & Co. Book 2 (J.W. Wells & Co. #2)
by Tom Holt'A definite must for all fans of comic fantasy' - ENIGMA'Wacky humour bubbles through the polished narrative ... Holt doesn't skimp on the flashes of brilliance' - SFXEver been offered a promotion that seems too good to be true? You know - the sort they'd be insane to be offering to someone like you. The kind where you snap their arm off to accept, then wonder why all your long-serving colleagues look secretly relieved, as if they're off some strange and unpleasant hook ...It's the kind of trick that deeply sinister companies like J.W. Wells & Co. pull all the time. Especially with employees who are too busy mooning over the office intern to think about what they're getting into. And it's why, right about now, Paul Carpenter is wishing he'd paid much less attention to the gorgeous Melze, and rather more to a little bit of job description small-print referring to 'pest' control ...Books by Tom Holt:Walled Orchard SeriesGoatsongThe Walled OrchardJ.W. Wells & Co. SeriesThe Portable DoorIn Your DreamsEarth, Air, Fire and CustardYou Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But It HelpsThe Better MousetrapMay Contain Traces of MagicLife, Liberty and the Pursuit of SausagesYouSpace SeriesDoughnutWhen It's A JarThe Outsorcerer's ApprenticeThe Good, the Bad and the SmugNovelsExpecting Someone TallerWho's Afraid of BeowulfFlying DutchYe Gods!OvertimeHere Comes the SunGrailblazersFaust Among EqualsOdds and GodsDjinn RummyMy HeroPaint your DragonOpen SesameWish you Were HereAlexander at World's EndOnly HumanSnow White and the Seven SamuraiOlympiadValhallaNothing But Blue SkiesFalling SidewaysLittle PeopleSong for NeroMeadowlandBarkingBlonde BombshellThe Management Style of the Supreme BeingsAn Orc on the Wild Side
In Your Prime: Older, Wiser, Happier
by India KnightHumane, witty, wise and full of practical advice: India Knight's guide to ageing is the book every woman has been waiting for.'Our mothers' fifty is not our fifty. We have no map, no blueprint, no nothing. We have no sense of what is and isn't age-appropriate, or even of whether age-appropriateness is still relevant. We're supposed to be grown-up, but we seldom feel it.'Part guide, part memoir, part manual, in In Your Prime India Knight seeks to provide proper, weighty answers to the questions women are asking themselves now. Covering a wide range of subjects from clothes and cosmetics, being a parent to older children, having older parents and what that entails, and of course, the menopause, In Your Prime is the definitive, much-needed guide to approaching middle age with confidence and panache.India Knight is the author of three previous novels: My Life on a Plate, Don't You Want Me and Comfort and Joy. Her non-fiction books include The Shops, the bestselling diet book Neris and India's Idiot-Proof Diet, the accompanying bestselling cookbook Neris and India's Idiot-Proof Diet Cookbook and The Thrift Book. India is a columnist for the Sunday Times and lives in London with her three children.
In Your Shoes
by September RobertsNobody said marriage was easy, but when Scott and Nicole magically switch bodies during a hypnotherapy session, they learn just how challenging it can be. On the verge of divorce, this chance to walk in each other's shoes may be just what they need to fall in love again. In Your Shoes from romance author September Roberts is a delightful tale filled with passion and humor.On the verge of divorce, Scott Erickson will do anything he can to save his marriage. After years of growing apart, Nicole isn't so sure it's worth saving, especially when she finds pictures of Scott with another woman. With the help of a marriage counselor, they attempt to communicate with each other, but each appointment is worse than the last until, finally, during a hypnotherapy session, they switch bodies.Faced with challenges neither of them is equipped to handle, they both must learn to survive in their new roles and unfamiliar bodies, but is there a way to switch back? And if so, can their marriage be restored after they've walked in each other's shoes?Content Notes: Hot, Romantic Comedy, Fantasy, Contemporary, Magic
In a Badger Way: A Honey Badger Shifter Romance (The Honey Badger Chronicles #2)
by Shelly LaurenstonNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelly Laurenston follows the explosive success of Hot and Badgered with the second installment in her sizzingly outrageous series, this time featuring a heroine who is half tiger, half honey badger shifter, and fully living her truth. Petite, kind, brilliant, and young, Stevie is nothing like the usual women bodyguard Shen Li is interested in. Even more surprising, the youngest of the lethal, ball-busting, and beautiful MacKilligan sisters is terrified of bears. But she&’s not terrified of pandas. She loves pandas. Which means that whether Shen wants her to or not, she simply won&’t stop cuddling him. He isn&’t some stuffed Giant Panda, ya know! He is a Giant Panda shifter. He deserves respect and personal space. Something that little hybrid is completely ignoring. But Stevie has a way of finding trouble. Like going undercover to take down a scientist experimenting on other shifters. For what, Shen doesn&’t want to know, but they&’d better find out. And fast. Stevie might be the least violent of the honey badger sisters, but she&’s the most dangerous to Shen&’s peace of mind. Because she has absolutely no idea how much trouble they&’re in . . . or just how damn adorable she is.Praise for Shelly Laurenston &“Hot and humorous.&”—USAToday.com on Hot and Badgered &“Laurenston delights…Zany, sarcastic humor…Familiar, well-developed characters and full immersion into the universe make this a must-read for a new and returning readers alike.&”—Publishers Weekly on In a Badger Way &“In a Badger Way is pure, unadulterated fun. It&’s ten pounds of bursting-at-the-seams excitement in a five pound bag…No one does it like Shelly Laurenston when it comes to unique, unparalleled heroines and the heroes who can&’t help but love them. Even when they&’re honey badgers.&”—Bookpage on In a Badger Way
In a Dark Wood: A Novel
by Amanda CraigThirty-nine, divorced, jobless: Benedick Hunter is going nowhere, heading in the exact opposite direction he expected. So when he comes across a children's book that his mother, Laura, wrote, he decides that her life and work - haunting stories replete with sinister woods, wicked witches and brave girls who battle giants - hold the key to finding out why his own life is such a mess. Setting out to discover why Laura killed herself when he was six, Benedick travels to the US. As he grows more obsessed with what happened to his mother, Benedick enters into a dark wood - one that is both hilariously real and terrifyingly psychological. Dark humorous and inventive, In a Dark Wood casts light on the nature of depression, genius and of the healing power of storytelling.
In a Daze Work: A Pick-Your-Path Journey Through the Daily Grind
by Siobhán GallagherChoose your way to a perfect day with this adventurous book full of personality, tongue-in-cheek wordplay, and gorgeous illustrations. From small-talk to dating to death, In A Daze Work is an exciting, playful new spin on the minute and mundane decisions that make up your daily life. Each flip of the page puts you in control of the story: Will you stay in or go out? Do you wake up or sleep in? How will you navigate a bad date, or a party full of cookie-cutter couples (available in vanilla flavor only)? More important, where will your decisions take you? Bringing humor and sly self-reflection to the humdrum details of adulthood, this relatable visual journey will help you find the extraordinary (or at least hilarious) moments in any day of the week. ----*Features American Illustration award-winning art
In a Glass Grimmly (Grimm Ser. #2)
by Adam GidwitzWhat really happened when Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water? Well, yes, Jack did break his crown and, yes, Jill did come tumbling after. BUT, they also went on a quest to find a looking glass, which really turned out to be a quest to find themselves. They challenged giants to an eating competition, were drowned by mermaids and were captured by goblins. Did they ever find the looking glass? Well, you'll just have to read this book and find out. Straight into the New York Times Top 10 - alongside A Tale Dark and Grimm! A brilliant combination of thoughtful, literary, gory and laugh-out-loud funny. 'This second foray is even more enjoyable than the author's acclaimed debut' Publishers Weekly The Grimm fairy tales are celebrating their 200th anniversary this year and the continued interest in them is more apparant than ever.
In a Good Place
by Rachel JohnsonMimi and her husband, Ralph, have left social climbing, pushy parenting, and their marital problems behind them in London in favor of perfect, bucolic tranquility. Or so they thought. What should be rural heaven turns out to be just as tricky to navigate as Notting Hill, even with Mimi's new best friend Rose -- Dorset's answer to Martha Stewart -- by her side.
In a Heartbeat
by Carla CassidyDOES THE HEART REMEMBER LOVE?Caleb McMann embarked on the most emotional journey of his life, the search for the little girl who had received the ultimate gift-a new heart. His daughter's heart. Hitting pay dirt, he temporarily moved next door to Erica Clemmons and her child, Hannah, to secretly check up on the young girl.However, Caleb had never counted on bonding with Hannah-or falling for her beautiful mother, whose compassion and life-affirming kisses made him whole again. But in a heartbeat everything could change, especially since he couldn't keep his true identity under wraps forever. Was a fresh start with this woman and child too much to hope for...?
In a Holidaze
by Christina LaurenThis instant New York Times bestseller from Christina Lauren will wrap you &“in its cozy, jolly embrace like a beloved holiday sweater&” (Entertainment Weekly) as Maelyn Jones discovers what happens when Christmas wishes comes true.It&’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She&’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions. But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will spend at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy. The next thing she knows, tires screech, metal collides, and everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she&’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe. &“Take one lovably flawed heroine, add a doting boy-next-door hero, and sprinkle in a cozy family holiday, and you have the recipe for a delicious time-looping romantic comedy&” (Library Journal, starred review) that will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.
In a Minute, Mama Bear (Mama and Bella Bear)
by Rachel BrightRachel Bright's In a Minute, Mama Bear is the first in a new series following Mama Bear and Bella Bear, from the author and illustrator of the #1 Publishers Weekly bestseller Love Monster.Mama Bear is all ready to start her busy day: there are errands to run, classes to get to, and lots more to do. Mama is raring to go! But toddler Bella is lagging behind. So Mama Bear decides to throw the to-do list out the window and spend the day playing and relaxing in the park with Bella Bear—and together they find that sometimes, when things don’t go as planned, they can still have a whole lot of fun.
In a New York Minute
by Kate Spencer&“A sparkling delight about found and chosen family, being brave even in the tiny moments, and the rewards we can reap when we put our authentic selves out there. What a sweet, hilarious treat.&” —Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author Franny Doyle is having the worst day. She&’s been laid off from her (admittedly mediocre) job, the subway doors ripped her favorite silk dress to ruins, and now she&’s flashed her unmentionables to half of lower Manhattan. On the plus side, a dashing stranger came to her rescue with his (Gucci!) suit jacket. On the not-so-plus side, he can&’t get away from her fast enough. Worse yet? Someone posted their (entirely not) meet-cute online. Suddenly Franny and her knight-in-couture, Hayes Montgomery III, are the newest social media sensation, and all of New York is shipping #SubwayQTs. Only Franny and Hayes couldn&’t be a more disastrous match. She&’s fanciful, talkative, and creative. He&’s serious, shy, and all about numbers. Luckily, in a city of eight million people, they never have to meet again. Yet somehow, Hayes and Franny keep running into each other—and much to their surprise, they enjoy each other&’s company. A lot. But when Franny&’s whole world is turned upside down (again!), can she find the courage to trust in herself and finally have the life—and love—she&’s always wanted? A clever, tender rom-com romp for readers of Jasmine Guillory, Abby Jimenez, and Sophie Cousens. Read this if you love: Opposites attract romance A love letter to New York City An adorable meet disaster Found family
In a Not So Perfect World: A Novel
by Neely Tubati-Alexander“Tubati Alexander is a writer to watch!” —Emily GiffinOne of Good Morning America's 15 books to read heading into spring and a SheReads and Zibby Mag Most Anticipated Book of the YearThe author of Love Buzz follows her acclaimed first novel with a delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course . . .Sloane Cooper is up for her dream job as a designer for a top video game company. During the interview, though, she somehow promises the all-male panel that she’ll remain single and fully dedicated to the work. It’s actually fine—after her last boyfriend cheated on her, she vowed to focus on her career anyway.Enter Charlie, aka Hot Neighbor Guy, a near-stranger who shocks her with the offer of an all-inclusive trip to a Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? Charlie originally planned the trip with his ex, and asks Sloane to pose as his new girlfriend to make his old flame come running back. Against her better judgment, Sloane says yes; she can use the time away to develop a game design that will dazzle the Catapult team and get her a job offer.Despite sparks flying in paradise, the trip can’t lead to more. As their connection deepens, Sloane is reminded that she can’t fall for Charlie and get knocked off her professional path. Besides, he’s trying to win back his true love.Can Sloane figure out a way to move past heartbreak, land the job of her dreams, and avoid catching feelings? The zombie apocalypse would be easier to solve—at least she’s prepared for that.
In a Sunburned Country
by Bill BrysonA CLASSIC FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE SUMMER Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods. In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiousity.Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path. Wherever he goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging, and these beaming products of land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine fill the pages of this wonderful book. Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bill Bryson its perfect guide.From the Trade Paperback edition.
In for a Penny
by James P. BlaylockThis mesmerising collection from World Fantasy Award-winner James P. Blaylock offers seven brilliant excursions into one of the most idiosyncratic imaginations of our time. Highlighted by the acclaimed novella, "The Trismegistus Club" - a brilliant riff on the antiquarian ghost story - In for a Penny goes from strength to strength, taking us deep into the heart of a quirky, deeply engaging fictional world that no one but Blaylock could have created.Other high points include "Home Before Dark," which chronicles one man's first few hours in the afterlife. Its thematic companion, "Small Houses," recounts an aging widower's last few hours on earth. Both stories constitute deeply felt, lovingly detailed farewells to the things and places of this world.In "The other Side," a minor precognitive episode leads the hero to an obsessive fascination with the hidden mysteries of the universe. In "His Own Back Yard," a story worthy of the great Jack Finney, a middle-aged man finds himself stranded in the haunted territory of his childhood. The blackly funny "War of the Worlds" uses a bowling ball and the imminent end of Life As We Know It to illuminate the fault lines in a modern marriage. Finally, in the wonderfully imagined title story, the single-minded pursuit of treasure - of something for nothing - leads Blaylock's protagonist to a harrowing confrontation with his own worst self.Startling, funny, eccentric, and often unexpectedly moving, the Blaylockian worldview shines forth with undiminished vigor in this marvellous collection, which shows us ourselves - and the world around us - from a wholly unique perspective.REVIEWSfrom Publishers Weekly"Simply, almost artlessly written, the six fantasy stories in this slim collection from Blaylock (Thirteen Phantasms), set in the gentle, loving territory of his personal California world, verge on the sentimental but never slip into the banal. In the brief "Home Before Dark," the tale's hero gets an unusual glimpse of heaven. In the nostalgic "His Own Back Yard," Alan revisits his old childhood home ("The abandoned house was boarded up, its chimney fallen, the white paint on the clapboards weathered to the color of an old ghost") and has the satisfaction of meeting a vision of his young father and discussing the past. "Small Houses" is a poignant reverie on age and shared love in which Johnson builds his own burial casket, to his wife's dismay. "The War of the Worlds" focuses on some suburbanites who believe that a flying saucer has landed in their midst, but the real war is the unexpressed one between husband and wife. In the humorous "The Other Side," the premonition-prone protagonist winds up in a support group for the paranormally inclined. In the title story, a tale with a moral and the best of the lot, George Mason buys a worn purse at a garage sale with a penny he finds in the purse, with unexpected consequences. The dignified, understated jacket art of an old man in a library nicely suggests the mood of the stories."Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.