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The Memoirs of Laetitia Horsepole
by John FullerDiscovered in the secret compartment of a North Italian cabinet, this enchanting manuscript may or may not be complete, and it may or may not be intended for posterity. Undeterred by these uncertainties, John Fuller gives us the early nineteenth-century 'memoirs' of Laetitia Horsepole, painter, philosopher and femme fatale. Shelley, apparently, came across this formidable woman, aged ninety, on his travels through Italy, and became her confidant and neighbour. Why, the reader may wonder, is she not better known? Why indeed? That long spell in Madagascar certainly interrupted her career. She was prickly and disinclined to ingratiate herself with the arbiters of fashionable taste. And then her virtual disappearance to Italy didn't help matters. But her obscurity gives added piquancy to the memoirs which - her idiosyncratic art theory and philosophy apart - are above all a dramatic eighteenth-century adventure in five acts which reflect her tempestuous involvement with the five 'husbands' of her life, from the brutish Crowther and the dull and the rich but louche Count Chiavari. Laetitia reflects on the vagaries of love and erotic involvement, on art and men, on flora and fauna, and reveals for the first time what actually happened in Madagascar. Shamelessly enjoyable, teasingly allusive, irresistibly funny and sometimes sad, Laetitia's is quite simply a brilliant and bewitching romance full of truths that lie deeper than fact.
The Memory Key: A time-hopping graphic novel adventure that will take you to unexpected places...
by Nigel BainesA time-hopping graphic novel adventure that will take you to unexpected places.Lately Lily's grandad has been confused and forgetful, but Lily just knows that if she can help Grandad unlock his past, he'll be back to normal. Then Grandad's memories magically start coming to life and Lily and Grandad travel back to his childhood in Hungary. But they both get more than they bargained for when they get stuck in Grandad's darkest memory....Can Lily find the light at the end of the tunnel?
The Men I Didn't Marry
by Janice Kaplan Lynn SchnurnbergerThe authors of the national bestsellers Mine Are Spectacular! and The Botox Diaries apply their trademark wit and wisdom to another delicious read. Join Hallie Lawrence Pierpont as she's whisked away on a journey into her past love life that leads to her future. Hallie's husband, Bill, doesn't even wait until they get home from dropping off their youngest daughter at Yale to announce that he's leaving-for fitness trainer Ashlee (two e's, perky breasts, and shiny hair to boot). After first succumbing to an Oreo-induced coma, Hallie is determined to get her life back. An unexpected call from an old college boyfriend sets a plan in motion. Whatever happened to all those men she didn't marry? First up is Eric, now an international businessman and number 277 on Forbes's "Richest People in the World" list. He and Hallie used to put a nickel in the piggy bank every time they made love. Now Eric would like to renew the investment. Next she finds Rav Jon Yoma Maharishi-formerly known as Barry. Her onetime backpacking boyfriend has become the spiritual leader at the Heavenly Spirit Retreat Center, and their reunion would be a little smoother if he weren't in the midst of a three-day silent meditation. Kevin, the sexiest man she ever met, is now a scuba-diving photographer working on Angelina Jolie's latest movie. When he seduces her into joining him at his beachfront paradise on Virgin Gorda, Hallie can overlook his gaggle of bikini-clad friends, but can a woman survive on a steady diet of sex, sharks, and air tanks? Back at home with her best friend, Bellini Baxter, Hallie visits an all-night spray-tanning salon and Soho's legendary Cellulite Exorcist, whose secret weapon looks suspiciously like an Oreck vacuum cleaner. Hallie's college-age children are protective of their mom but embarrassed to have her back in teenage territory-the world of dating and condoms. Finally, Hallie confronts the great love she swore she'd never see again and resolves an old family secret. Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnberger tell a heartfelt and hilarious story about moving forward by looking back. By turns poignant and laugh-aloud funny, this is a must read for every woman who's ever wondered about the men she didn't marry. From the Hardcover edition.
The Men from P.I.G and R.O.B.O.T
by Harry HarrisonTwo hilariously inventive stories about a very surprising kind of interstellar patrol, which uses everything from pigs to heavy-duty robots to help it carry out its duties.
The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom
by Jo BarrettThe Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom strives to answer life's most imponderable question: What Do Women Really Do in the Bathroom? When the witty and urbane Claire St. John leaves New York City and returns to Austin, Texas, she realizes that all of the good advice she has ever received has been from strangers in the women's bathroom. If only she'd listened before she'd married the wrong man and wound up on the losing end of a divorce. Swearing off men, Claire decides to take a big chance—she will quit her life as a lawyer and write the ultimate self-help book—a book detailing exactly what goes on in that most sacred feminine temple: the women's bathroom.But will the new how-to guru ever learn to take her own advice? While she's discovering the truth behind the bathroom door, re-assimilating to Texas culture by eating "nuclear" jalapeño carrots, speeding down highways through the famed Texas hill country, and even joining an ill-fated booze cruise, Claire St. John is fighting her feelings for Jake Armstrong, a dashing organic food entrepreneur who threatens to throw off the balance of her new life. Will she be able to handle the pressure or will she watch her love life get flushed away?
The Mental Floss History of the United States: The (Almost) Complete and (Entirely) Entertaining Story of America
by Will Pearson Erik Sass Mangesh HattikudorLaugh and learn with this humorous compendium that sets the historical record straight—and “manages to educate and entertain simultaneously” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer).Smarter than your old history teacher, funnier than the founding fathers, and more American than apple pie, The Mental Floss History of the United States is an almost (but not entirely) comprehensive primer on American history (or at least, the good stuff). From the editors of the popular website and magazine, this is an American history text packed with hilarious (but true!) trivia written in the smart-aleck tradition of Mental Floss—perfect for trivia buffs, history lovers, college students, and anyone who likes to laugh and learn. United States history has never been so much fun.“Breezy, bullet-pointed, and well-illustrated.” —Financial Times
The Mental Floss History of the World: An Irreverent Romp Through Civilization's Best Bits
by Will Pearson Erik Sass Steve Wiegand Mangesh Hattikudor“An admirable job of covering 60,000 years of human history in one volume. . . . fascinating stories, hilarious oddities, and plenty of fun.” —School Library JournalThe Mental Floss History of the World is an amazingly entertaining joyride through sixty millennia of human civilization. As audacious as it is edifying, here is a hilarious and irreverent—yet always historically accurate—overview of the ascent (or descent) of humankind, courtesy of the same rebel geniuses who brought you Mental Floss Presents Condensed Knowledge and Mental Floss Presents Forbidden Knowledge. The Mental Floss History of the World is proof positive that just because something’s true doesn’t mean it’s boring.“Filled with amusing tidbits and accurate and compelling information.” —Publishers Weekly
The Mercenary and the New Mom (Follow That Baby #5)
by Merline LovelaceFollow That BabyDADDY'S HOME...A grizzled stranger was standing at her newborn's crib, and Sabrina Jensen was prepared to do anything to protect her precious child. But when the intruder raised his unforgettable eyes, she froze. She'd once loved this man beyond reason. They'd created a baby together. But Jack Wentworth was supposed to be dead!Jack had been to hell and back, his only comfort the memories of the vivacious woman who'd claimed his heart. But now the beauty who'd borne his heir regarded him as the enemy-not a lover. He had to reclaim her trust...before the real threat struck home....A wealthy dynasty...a pregnant mom on the run. For fast-paced excitement by five fabulous authors...FOLLOW THAT BABY.
The Merchant of Venice: With The Extreme Cruelty Of Shylocke The Iew Towards The Saide Merchant, In Cutting An Iust Pound Of His Flesh; And The Obtaining Of Portia, By The Choyse Of Three Caskets (classic Reprint) (Dover Thrift Editions: Plays)
by William ShakespeareThe Merchant of Venice is an intriguing drama of love, greed, and revenge. At its heart, the play contrasts the characters of the maddened and vengeful Shylock, a Venetian moneylender, with the gracious, level-headed Portia, a wealthy young woman besieged by suitors. At the play's climax, Shylock insists on the enforcement of a binding contract that will cost the life of the merchant Antonio — inciting Portia to mount a memorable defense.In this richly plotted drama, Shylock, whom Shakespeare endowed with all of the depth and vitality of his greatest characters, is not alone in his villainy. In scene after scene, a large cast of ambitious and scheming characters demonstrates that honesty is a quality often strained where matters of love and money are concerned.The gravity and suspense of the play's central plot, together with its romance, have made The Merchant of Venice a favorite of audiences, and one of the most studied and performed of Shakespeare's plays. It is reprinted here from an authoritative text, complete with explanatory footnotes.
The Mermaid's Madness (Princess #2)
by Jim C. HinesCinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White face a deadly threat from under the sea.The first meeting between Princess Danielle Whiteshore, better known as Cinderella, and the merfolk who inhabit the seas of Lorindar, should have been a diplomatic formality. Instead, a deranged mermaid named Lirea launches a sudden and brutal attack that leaves Queen Beatrice on the edge of death.To stop Lirea and save the queen, Danielle, Talia (Sleeping Beauty), and Snow (White) must ally with a mysterious witch from the sea. Only together can they hope to stop the war Lirea has set in motion.But every secret they uncover leads deeper into danger. Lirea's wrath is tangled in older, more sinister plans that could change the fates of humans and merfolk both, plans that will test the strength of Danielle's team to the breaking point and beyond.
The Merriest Misters: A Novel
by Timothy JanovskyThe Santa Clause meets Husband Material in this delightful holiday novel!Patrick Hargrave and Quinn Muller have been married for less than a year, but their passionate romance is cracking under the pressures of domestic life and a cumbersome mortgage. That’s until Christmas Eve when Patrick wakes Quinn up with: “I think I’ve killed a man.”Quinn realizes the “burglar” Patrick knocked out is none other than Mr. Claus himself. Instructed by a harried elf to don the red suit and take the reins of the reindeer-guided sleigh up on the roof, Quinn and Patrick work together to save Christmas.But as the sun rises on Christmas morning, the sleigh brings them back to the North Pole instead of New Jersey, and they’re in for a massive shock. The couple must assume the roles of Santa Claus and the first ever Merriest Mister or Christmas will be canceled… permanently.With Christmas–and their marriage–on the line, Patrick and Quinn agree to stay together for one year. But can running a toy shop together save their relationship, or will Patrick and Quinn be stuffing coal in each other’s stockings come next Christmas?
The Merriest Misters: A delightful holiday rom-com!
by Timothy Janovsky'There is no one I trust more to deliver the holiday spirit wrapped up in perfectly-timed comedic gold than Timothy Janovsky' ALICIA THOMPSON'The Merriest Misters is endlessly inventive and just plain magical!' R. ERIC THOMAS...............Saving Christmas? Easy!Saving their relationship? Not so much . . .Patrick Hargrave and Quinn Muller have been married for less than a year, but their passionate romance is cracking under the pressures of domestic life. That's until Christmas Eve, when Patrick wakes Quinn up with: 'I think I've killed a man.'When Quinn realises that the 'burglar' Patrick knocked out is none other than Mr. Claus himself, the couple soon find themselves looped in by a harried elf to (red) suit up and save Christmas!But, as the sun rises on Christmas morning and the sleigh takes them back to the North Pole instead of New Jersey, they're in for a massive shock. The couple must assume the roles of Santa Claus and the first ever Merriest Mister, or Christmas will be cancelled . . . permanently.With Christmas - and their marriage - on the line, Patrick and Quinn agree to make a go of it for one year. But can running a toy shop together save their relationship, or will Patrick and Quinn be stuffing coal in each other's stockings by next Christmas?________________________________________________Readers are LOVING The Merriest Misters:'Holiday spirit abounds, with lots of whimsy and room for creativity...I'm not even that big of a holiday book reader, but I admittedly was starting to check the forecast in hopes of cooler days. Break out the hot chocolate!' 'A joyfully queer romcom''Queer people deserve this type of heartwarming, healing holiday story and I'm so glad to see books like this being published. Feel like it would be the perfect read to cosy up with a hot chocolate on Christmas Eve!''I absolutely adored this book, it was like Santa Clause the movie but make it LGBTQ+'
The Merry Christmas Project
by Cathy BramleyChristmas has always meant something special to Merry - even without a family of her own. This year, her heart might be broken but her new candle business is booming. The last thing she needs is another project; but when her hometown's annual event needs some fresh festive inspiration, Merry can't resist. <p><p>Cole loves a project too - though it's usually of the bricks and mortar variety. As a single dad, his Christmas wish is to see his kids again, so getting the new house finished for when they're all together is the perfect distraction. <p><p>But this Christmas, magic is in the air for these two strangers. Will it bring them all the joy they planned for . . . and take their hearts by surprise too? After all, anything can happen at Christmas. . .
The Merry Christmas Project: The new feel-good festive read from the Sunday Times bestseller
by Cathy BramleyThe perfect cosy Christmas novel to curl up with this winter, from Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Bramley.'Charming, cosy, candlelit romance all wrapped up in a gorgeous setting' Veronica Henry'The perfect Christmas treat!' Sarah Morgan'Stuffed with Cathy's sparkling wit and warmth - I devoured it whole' Milly Johnson'Treat yourself to this gift of a book - if Merry and Cole's story doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit, nothing will!' Holly Hepburn'Merry, bright and sparkly - we were enchanted by this feel-good romance' People's Friend* * * * Christmas has always meant something special to Merry - even without a family of her own. This year, her heart might be broken but her new candle business is booming. The last thing she needs is another project - but when her hometown's annual event needs some fresh festive inspiration, Merry can't resist.Cole loves a project too - though it's usually of the bricks and mortar variety. As a single dad, his Christmas wish is to see his kids again, so getting the new house finished for when they're all together is the perfect distraction. But this Christmas, magic is in the air for these two strangers. Will it bring them all the joy they planned for . . . and take their hearts by surprise too? After all, anything can happen at Christmas. . . * * * * Praise for Cathy Bramley from some of your other favourite authors: 'The perfect read to escape with over the festive season if you want your heart warmed and a smile on your face.' Veronica Henry'Filled with warmth and laughter' Carole Matthews'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'A gorgeously romantic comfort read' Rachael Lucas'Magical, heart-felt and uplifting, this book will bring joy to all who reads it.' Carmel Harrington'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamara'A wonderful warm hug of a book, brim full of festive comfort and joy!' Alex Brown
The Merry Christmas Project: The new feel-good festive read from the Sunday Times bestseller
by Cathy BramleyThe perfect cosy Christmas novel to curl up with this winter, from Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Bramley.'Charming, cosy, candlelit romance all wrapped up in a gorgeous setting' Veronica Henry'The perfect Christmas treat!' Sarah Morgan'Stuffed with Cathy's sparkling wit and warmth - I devoured it whole' Milly Johnson'A wonderful warm hug of a book, brim full of festive comfort and joy!' Alex Brown'Treat yourself to this gift of a book - if Merry and Cole's story doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit, nothing will!' Holly Hepburn'A real Christmas cracker of a book. Romantic and uplifting - the perfect early Christmas present for yourself!' Sophie Cousens'Merry, bright and sparkly - we were enchanted by this feel-good romance' People's Friend* * * * Christmas has always meant something special to Merry - even without a family of her own. This year, her heart might be broken but her new candle business is booming. The last thing she needs is another project - but when her hometown's annual event needs some fresh festive inspiration, Merry can't resist.Cole loves a project too - though it's usually of the bricks and mortar variety. As a single dad, his Christmas wish is to see his kids again, so getting the new house finished for when they're all together is the perfect distraction. But this Christmas, magic is in the air for these two strangers. Will it bring them all the joy they planned for . . . and take their hearts by surprise too? After all, anything can happen at Christmas. . . * * * * Praise for Cathy Bramley from some of your other favourite authors: 'The perfect read to escape with over the festive season if you want your heart warmed and a smile on your face.' Veronica Henry'Filled with warmth and laughter' Carole Matthews'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'A gorgeously romantic comfort read' Rachael Lucas'Magical, heart-felt and uplifting, this book will bring joy to all who reads it.' Carmel Harrington'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamara'A wonderful warm hug of a book, brim full of festive comfort and joy!' Alex Brown
The Merry Matchmaker: A Novel
by Sheila Roberts&“Sparkles with warmth, wit, and a sweet helping of holiday charm! The perfect stocking stuffer for readers who crave all the holiday feels and a happy ending!&” —Rachel Linden, bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop PieInspired by Jane Austen&’s Emma, this joyful Christmas romp tells the story of a woman who can&’t stop trying to help everyone around her find their happily-ever-after—even when her help leads to disaster. Frankie Lane knows what&’s best for just about everyone but herself. Her divorced sister, Stef, who is too young to give up on love; her shy employee, Elinor; and her daughter, Natalie, who works in Frankie&’s shop, Holiday Happiness, and really needs to start her own business selling the delectable chocolates she makes at home; even her best friend, Viola, who is trying to renovate her old Victorian. Frankie knows she could help all of them, if they&’d just let her—and if all of her help didn&’t end in utter disaster. Then there&’s Mitch Howard, the owner of the local hardware store. They&’ve been friends ever since Frankie opened her store, nine years earlier. He got her through the nightmare when she lost her husband in a freak accident, and he&’s her favorite shoulder to cry on. He&’s been divorced for years, and it&’s such a waste of man! Mitch is the fittest, finest man Frankie knows. He&’s easygoing, wise and kindhearted. Mitch needs someone. And she&’s determined to help him find that someone—whether he likes it or not.
The Merry Misogynist
by Colin CotterillPraise for Colin Cotterill: "[A] series of terrifically beguiling detective novels steeped in local color and history."--The New York Times Book Review "A delightfully fresh and eccentric hero."--John Burdett "Unpredictable. . . . Tragically funny and magically sublime."--Entertainment Weekly "A crack storyteller and an impressive guide to a little-known culture."--The Washington Post Book World "This witty and unusual series just keeps getting better."--Publishers Weekly "Delightul. A wry, eccentric addition to the genre."--Booklist (starred review) Dr. Siri is confronted with a deadly Casanova targeting lovely young women. In poverty-stricken 1978 Laos, a man with a truck from the city was "somebody," a catch for even the prettiest village virgin. The corpse of one of these bucolic beauties turns up in Dr. Siri's morgue and his curiosity is piqued. The victim was tied to a tree and strangled but she had not, as the doctor had expected, been raped, although her flesh had been torn. And though the victim had clear, pale skin over most of her body, her hands and feet were gnarled, callused, and blistered. On a trip to the hinterlands, Siri discovers that the beautiful female corpse bound to a tree has already risen to the status of a rural myth. This has happened many times before. He sets out to investigate this unprecedented phenomenon--a serial killer in peaceful Buddhist Laos--only to discover when he has identified the murderer that not only pretty maidens are at risk. Seventy-three-year-old coroners can be victims, too.From the Hardcover edition.
The Mesmer Menace
by James Hamilton Kersten HamiltonWelcome to the Amazing Automated Inn, home of twelve-year-old inventor Wally Kennewickett, his genius scientist parents, and his dashing dog, Noodles. From the lightning harvester on the roof to the labs full of experiments in the dungeon, the inn is a wonderful place for a curious boy and his loyal dog to live. That is, until President Theodore Roosevelt himself calls the elder Kennewicketts away, leaving Wally and Noodles to face the evil Mesmers, horrible hypnotists bent on controlling the minds of powerful people. It seems the inn is their first stop on the way to world domination . . . and only an ingenious boy, a staff of automatons, and a brave dachshund stand in their way!
The Mesmer Menace: Gadget and Gears #1 (Into Reading, Trade Book #2)
by James Hamilton Kersten HamiltonNIMAC-sourced textbook <P><P>Welcome to the Amazing Automated Inn, home of twelve-year-old inventor Wally Kennewickett, his genius scientist parents, and his dashing dog, Noodles. From the lightning harvester on the roof to the labs full of experiments in the dungeon, the inn is a wonderful place for a curious boy and his loyal dog to live. That is, until President Theodore Roosevelt himself calls the elder Kennewicketts away, leaving Wally and Noodles to face the evil Mesmers, horrible hypnotists bent on controlling the minds of powerful people. It seems the inn is their first stop on the way to world domination . . . and only an ingenious boy, a staff of automatons, and a brave dachshund stand in their way!
The Message in the Bottle and Lost in the Cosmos
by Walker PercyTwo fascinating philosophical inquiries from the &“dazzlingly gifted&” New York Times–bestselling and National Book Award–winning author of The Moviegoer (USA Today). Winner of the National Book Award for The Moviegoer, the Southern writer Walker Percy possessed &“an intellectual range and rigor few American novelists can match&” (The New York Times Book Review). In these two provocative works, Percy manages to be perceptive and playful as he more directly explores the philosophical foundations of his groundbreaking fiction. The Message in the Bottle: In these profound and passionate essays that &“have a way of quickening the spirit and cleansing the sight,&” Percy looks to language to answer the question of who we are as humans (The New Republic). He posits that the act of assigning meaning by naming things makes humans unique. Percy develops a theory of language through the example of Helen Keller being stimulated by the feel of water along with the sign for water, and explores questions such as why other animals don&’t talk and why humans in technologically advanced, materially comfortable societies are so sad. &“A delight . . . a pleasure to read.&” —Larry McMurtry, The Washington Post Book World Lost in the Cosmos: &“Charming, whimsical, slyly profound,&” Lost in the Cosmos is a one-of-a-kind mix of self-help parody and philosophical speculation (The New York Times). Filled with quizzes, essays, short stories, and diagrams, Percy&’s guide is a laugh-out-loud spin on a familiar genre that also pushes readers to serious contemplation of life&’s biggest questions, such as: &“Why is it no other species but man gets bored?&” and &“Explain why Moses was tongue-tied and stagestruck before his fellow Jews but had no trouble talking to God.&” &“A mock self-help book designed not to help but to provoke; a chapbook to inveigle us into thinking about who we are and how we got into this mess.&” —Los Angeles Times Book Review
The Messy Life of Blue
by Shawna Railey"Readers will laugh out loud, cry, and commiserate with her every step of the way....The protagonist is a feisty, mixed-up, phenomenal delight." Kirkus Reviews"Shawna Railey has crafted a funny, sensitive, yet relatable narrative around her title character. Anyone who has experienced loss can understand Blue's attempts to come to terms with it. A strong debut novel that would be an excellent recommendation for any reader looking for books on loss and sibling relationships." Booklist"Railey's debut is a touching and humorous tale of family, loss, grief, and friendship." School Library Journal"A book for our times."-Betsy Bird for School Library JournalEleven-year-old "Blue" Warren is cursed with three bothersome brothers, a too-busy father, a recently deceased mother, and she's annoyed. With humor, hijinks, and heart, this debut novel is a touching tale of grief and the healing power of family.Eleven-year-old Beulah "Blue" Warren spends every waking moment surrounded by boys: her three brothers, her father, her best friend, even the family dog, but that's never stopped her from being her usual rambunctious self. Grappling with the loss of her mother, Blue is determined to do what she wants without fear of consequences. When she is sent to the principal's office, she gets out of it like a pro. When the witchy neighbor next door trashes her yard, Blue doesn't just get even, she gets ahead. No clean underwear because she hasn't done the laundry? No worries. That's what her little brother's Superman underwear is for, isn't it? But everything changes on the day she explores the attic and finds her mother's death certificate. Blue will need to muster all the strength she has to deal with the truth, find forgiveness, trust in her father, and grieve for her mother once and for all.
The Messy Lives of Book People: A Novel
by Phaedra PatrickThe house cleaner of a famous author must carry out her employer's shocking last wish in this delightful new novel from beloved author Phaedra PatrickMother of two Liv Green barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So she can't believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, megabestselling author Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse. The last thing Liv expected was to be the only person Essie talks to, which leads to a tenuous friendship.When Essie passes away suddenly, Liv is astonished to learn that her dying wish was for Liv to complete her final novel. But to do so Liv will have to step into Essie&’s shoes. As Liv begins to write, she uncovers secrets from the past that reveal a surprising connection between the two women—one that will change Liv&’s own story forever…Don&’t miss Phaedra Patrick&’s uplifting new novel, The Little Italian Hotel!Check out these other heartwarming stories from Phaedra Patrick: The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone The Library of Lost and Found The Secrets of Love Story Bridge
The Met Gala & Tales of Saints and Seekers: Two Novellas
by Bruce WagnerThe sacred and the profane come together with visceral force in two novellas by Bruce Wagner, The Met Gala & Tales of Saints and Seekers.The Met Gala follows a prominent family of influencers and would-be philanthropic socialites in the Hollywood hills as they spiral ever further away from reality. Candida is a young actress who sleeps with the &“unhoused&”—the ultimate charitable act—and her brother, Charlie, transitioned into womanhood at the age of eleven. Their mother and father have long been divorced but still come together to torment their children, mutilating and destroying friends and enemies along the way.Tales of Saints and Seekers is the digestivo, a collection of stories about the journey to enlightenment and the wisdom given by gurus. Where The Met Gala pushes past boundaries and steps over the line, Tales of Saints and Seekers knows that there is no line at all, only characters who travel on their own path, sometimes straying and other times going completely off the map. Wagner is able to hold the dichotomy of the sacred and profane in one book, smearing them together, and ripping them apart. The Met Gala & Tales of Saints and Seekers is an illuminated manuscript of Heaven and Hell.
The Michael Cullen Novels: A Start in Life, Life Goes On, and Moggerhanger (The Michael Cullen Novels #1)
by Alan SillitoeThree uproarious comic novels from the iconic author of such classics as The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Alan Sillitoe has been hailed as &“the most quietly eloquent of his cohort of postwar British novelists&” (Jonathan Lethem). Here are three of Sillitoe&’s finest and funniest, chronicling the adventures of the &“happy bastard&” Michael Cullen. A Start in Life: The saga begins as Michael Cullen says goodbye to his home in Nottingham and hits the road for London. There he will make his fortune—or die trying. Life Goes On: The legend of Britain&’s most unlikely hero continues. After a series of outlandish criminal adventures, Cullen is a bastard no more. But he is still a rake with a refreshing lack of scruples. With the open road in front of him, the police behind him, and randy waitresses at every lay-by, Cullen is up to his old tricks once again. Moggerhanger: This madcap tale finds Cullen hired by his ex-boss, racketeer Claude Moggerhanger, to do a little &“job.&” But that&’s just the beginning of a wild adventure featuring crazed poets; endless women; rat catchers; Labrador retrievers; and his old friend, former mercenary soldier Bill Straw. Rolling Stone called Alan Sillitoe &“the master of British verbal architecture.&” These three novels also reveal him as a master of the picaresque, one of the truly unmistakable and original voices in modern fiction.
The Midas Deep
by John BrosnanIn the darkest depths of the Pacific lies a new, underwater frontier, where only the brave or the desperate dare to tread...Experts from the West, to harvest rich minerals - and to spy.The Russians, to further their plans for global domination.A team of sadistic mercenaries hired to protect mammoth business interests.And a British journalist, Christopher Maine, in search of a story - and the sinister truth.Down on the ocean bed a giant submersible forages for hidden treasures. But then the forces of man and nature terrifyingly unleash disaster after disaster - until the survival of the world itself is at stake.