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The Waiter
by Matias FaldbakkenIn the tradition of modern classics The Dinner and A Gentleman in Moscow comes The Waiter, in which the finely tuned balance of a grand European restaurant (that has seen better days) is irrevocably upset by an unexpected guest. <P><P>In a centuries-old European restaurant called The Hills, a middle-aged waiter takes pride in the unchangeable aspects of his job: the well-worn uniform, the ragged but solid tablecloths, and the regular diners. <P><P>Some are there daily, like Graham “Le Gris”—also known as The Pig—and his dignified group of aesthetes; the slightly more free-spirited drinking company around Tom Sellers; and the closest one can get to personal friends of the waiter, Edgar and his young daughter, Anna. <P><P>In this universe unto itself, there is scarcely any contact between the tables...until a beautiful and well-groomed young woman walks through the door and upsets the delicate balance of the restaurant and all it has come to represent. Like living in a snow globe, The Waiter is a captivating study in miniature. <P><P>Everything is just so, and that’s exactly how the waiter needs it to be. One can understand why he becomes anxious when things begin to change. In fact, given the circumstances, anxiety just might be the most sensible response... <P><P>With the sophistication of The Remains of the Day and the eccentricity of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, The Waiter marks the North American debut of an exciting new voice in literary fiction.
Waiting for Bojangles
by Olivier BourdeautThe runaway international bestseller—shortlisted for one of France’s highest literary prizes—a dark, funny, and wholly charming novel about a young boy and his eccentric family who grapple with the realities of mental illness in unique and whimsical ways.A young boy lives with his madcap parents, Louise and George, and an exotic bird in a Parisian apartment, where the unopened mail rises in a tower by the door, the bird acts like a member of the family, and his parents dance to Nina Simone’s mellifluous classic “Mister Bojangles.” As his mother, mesmerizing and unpredictable, descends deeper into mental illness, it is up to the boy and his father to keep her safe and, when that fails, happy. Fleeing Paris for a country home in Spain, they come to understand that some of the most radiant people bear the heaviest burdens. Told from the perspective of a young boy who idolizes his parents and from George’s journals, detailing the epic love story with his wife, this charming, heartbreaking gem of a novel will stay with you long after the final page. As we read, their love story becomes ours.
Waiting For Doggo: The feel-good romantic comedy for dog lovers and friends
by Mark MillsIt takes one scruffy dog to show a man how to fall in love...No-one ever called Dan a pushover. But then no-one ever called him fast-track either. He likes driving slowly, playing Sudoku on his iPhone, swapping one scruffy jumper for another. He's been with Clara for four years and he's been perfectly happy; but now she's left him, leaving nothing but a long letter filled with incriminations and a small, white, almost hairless dog, named Doggo. So now Dan is single, a man without any kind of partner whether working or in love. He's just one reluctant dog owner. Find a new home for him, that's the plan. Come on...everyone knows the old adage about the best laid plans and besides, Doggo is one special kind of a four legged friend...and an inspiration.
Waiting For Froggo
by Alice CourtleyA hilarious, minimalist story about patience the ups and downs of waiting from author-illustrator, Alice Courtley.Rabbit is waiting for Froggo, quietly and patiently. Mouse is also waiting for Froggo, but not so quietly or patiently ... "What's a Froggo?" Mouse asks. "When will they get here? What do they look like?" Rabbit urges Mouse to wait but as more animals show up to join them, things start to get more busy and chaotic. Just as Rabbit is about to lose his temper, Mouse asks the biggest question: what if Froggo doesn't come? Inspired by Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, Alice Courtley's Waiting for Froggo is a minimalist story of the ups and downs of waiting with brilliantly expressive characters and charming deadpan humour. Froggo is definitely worth waiting for!
Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier: A dazzling mystery set in contemporary Paris
by Britta Rostlund'Are you waiting for Monsieur Bellivier, madame?' Helena should of course say no. She doesn't know the man talking to her, she doesn't know Monsieur Bellivier, and she certainly isn't waiting for him. But, bored of life, and sparked by a whim, she says yes. Mancebo, a Tunisian shopkeeper, lives a quiet life manning his grocery near the Sacré-Cœur. But one day he is approached by a woman asking whether he will spy on her boyfriend, who lives in the apartment across the street. To his surprise, Mancebo agrees. As Helena and Mancebo's missions overlap, they realise that the City of Light harbours more secrets in its cafés and courtyards than its inhabitants and visitors could possibly suspect . . .'An intriguing little mystery' Books on the 747 'An absolute delight to read . . . Paris is brought to life on the pages of this exquisite book about identity, finding yourself and the importance of taking a chance on life' Brew and Books Review
Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier: A dazzling mystery set in contemporary Paris
by Britta Rostlund'Are you waiting for Monsieur Bellivier, madame?' Helena should of course say no. She doesn't know the man talking to her, she doesn't know Monsieur Bellivier, and she certainly isn't waiting for him. But, bored of life, and sparked by a whim, she says yes. Mancebo, a Tunisian shopkeeper, lives a quiet life manning his grocery near the Sacré-C?ur. But one day he is approached by a woman asking whether he will spy on her boyfriend, who lives in the apartment across the street. To his surprise, Mancebo agrees. As Helena and Mancebo's missions overlap, they realise that the City of Light harbours more secrets in its cafés and courtyards than its inhabitants and visitors could possibly suspect . .
Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier: A dazzling mystery set in contemporary Paris
by Britta Rostlund'Are you waiting for Monsieur Bellivier, madame?'Helena Folasadu should of course say no. She doesn't know the man talking to her, she doesn't know Monsieur Bellivier, and she certainly isn't waiting for him. But, bored of life, and sparked by a whim, she says yes. The go-between leads her to a deserted floor in an office building and offers her a large sum of money to sit at a computer and forward emails to Monsieur Bellivier. The emails turn out to be in code, and the bouquets Helena is handed every evening entangle her in an even greater mystery.Mancebo, a Tunisian shopkeeper, lives a quiet and ordered life, manning his grocery on a street leading to the Sacré-Cœur. But one day he is approached by a woman asking whether he will spy on her boyfriend, who lives in the apartment across the street. To his surprise, Mancebo agrees. As he begins to focus on the man, his own life comes into focus, and he starts to suspect that his wife and cousin are leading secret lives.Helena and Mancebo don't know it yet - they haven't even met - but their missions will overlap in the most surprising ways. And, as they do, we will realise that the City of Light harbours secrets in its cafés and courtyards - more secrets than its inhabitants and visitors could possibly suspect...Read by Rosie Jones(p) 2017 Orion Publishing Group
Waiting For My Birth Certificate to Expire
by Dennis KnickLet's say you wake up one morning and look around your bedroom and at your wife (or significant other, or life partner. Don't want to leave anyone out.) and then you stand up and every bone and muscle in your body hurts. Next, you decide to lie back down, but you know it will hurt even more if you do. Finally, your bladder is full and you know the only way out is toward the bathroom. You'd think the day would get better from there, but it doesn't. As a matter of fact, it's pretty much like that all day, every day. I want to be clear here. I'm not starving, my family is only nominally dysfunctional, and I have a pretty good job, as jobs go. But, it's wrong. It's all wrong. There is a gaping, ugly hole that I can't fill in. It's been there since I was about 20. And I still don't know how it got there or how to make it go away. So, instead of spending more time trying to figure out how to make it go away, I thought I'd share my pain with all of you. And, when I'm done, you'll either feel better about your life, or agree with me and we'll all meet on the ledge some New Year's Eve and rain down on the celebrating crowds like so many 200 lb pieces of confetti. I started to make this about my life. You know, how I grew up, what happened to me to shape and mold my current personality, where is the puppy Grandma gave me, why do I look so much like the mailman, what happened to my first two failed marriages, how did being in the war in Vietnam curve my brain and so on. But, I don't think there was anything in those years that was traumatic enough to make me the way I am today, at 63 years old. Instead, I want to share what I've learned in my life and pass it along to all the people who have solid, prearranged, work-your-ass-off lives. Let's see what happens.
Waiting for Rain
by Susan Mac NicolThe village of Stamford, the quintessential chocolate box English scene, seemed an impossible dream for foster kid Toby Prentiss. Now he's found a home among the haystacks and village fairs as the general manager for the Duck and Drake Hotel. With the fears and demons from his youth hidden away in this bucolic oasis, he's very protective of who he lets in. Until he stumbles across shirtless carpenter Rain Engel building the hotel's new custom-designed bar. Working in the countryside, Rain prepared to face his biggest fear: sheep. He didn't expect to deal with his second biggest fear: commitment. Toby's controlled tough guy façade coupled with his "find happiness where you can" optimism calls to Rain like nothing before. While Rain may be an exhibitionist, his romantic history forces him to hold his emotions close. As their relationship develops, secrets from their pasts drive a wedge between them: the ex-boyfriend who tore apart Rain's trust and Toby's history with the law. But can the secrets hiding among the quirky villagers bring them together? With missing sheep, pole dancing at the winter festival, and a crippling drought, everyone is waiting for Rain.
Waiting for the Man: A Novel
by Arjun BasuAn advertising man searches for meaning in this &“fascinating dissection of the media world we live in . . . A thought-provoking road-trip tale&” (Chicago Tribune). Longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize In his mid-thirties, Joe works as an advertising copywriter for a slick New York agency. But he feels disillusioned with his life, and finds himself experiencing dreams about a mysterious man, seeing him on the street, hearing his voice. Joe decides to listen. So he waits on his stoop, day and night, for instructions. A local reporter takes notice, and soon Joe has become a media sensation, the center of a storm. When the Man tells Joe to &“go west,&” he does. What follows is a compelling and visceral story about the struggle to find something more in life, told in two interwoven threads—Joe at the beginning of his journey in Manhattan, and at the end of it as he finds new purpose on a ranch in Montana under the endless sky. &“A strangely engrossing, meticulously written allegory of the present moment.&” —Douglas Coupland, author of Worst. Person. Ever.
Waiting for the Punch: Words to Live by from the WTF Podcast
by Marc Maron Brendan McDonaldCandid conversations from Marc Maron&’s award-winning WTF podcast with guests from Amy Schumer to Mel Brooks to Bruce Springsteen to Barack Obama. From the wildly popular podcast WTF with Marc Maron comes a book of intimate, hilarious, and life-changing conversations with some of the funniest and most famous people in the world. Waiting for the Punch features such luminaries as Amy Schumer, Mel Brooks, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Sir Ian McKellen, Lorne Michaels, Maria Bamford, Wyatt Cenac, Judd Apatow, Lena Dunham, Jimmy Fallon, RuPaul, Louis CK, David Sedaris, Bruce Springsteen, and Barack Obama. This book is not simply a collection of interviews, but something more wondrous: a running narrative of the world&’s most recognizable names working through the problems, doubts, joys, triumphs, and failures we all experience. With chapters covering different topics—growing up, parenting, relationships, sexuality, mental health, and more—you&’ll find Barack Obama candidly discussing the bittersweet moments of seeing your children grow up; Amy Schumer recounting the pain of her parents&’ divorce; Molly Shannon uproariously remembering the time she and her best friend hopped a plane from Ohio to New York City at age twelve on a dare; and Bruce Springsteen expounding on how desperation can both motivate and devastate, in stories that are funny, heartbreakingly honest, joyous, tragic, and powerful. &“As readers will expect, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but what is more surprising and refreshing is how many profound and powerful insights Maron manages to draw from his guests. An insightful collection of interviews about what it means to be human.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“I&’m British, so I&’m medically dead inside, but even I can&’t help but open up whenever I talk to Marc. He uses his honesty like a scalpel, cutting himself open in front of anyone he&’s talking to, and in doing so, invites you to do the same.&” —John Oliver
Waiting for Tom Hanks
by Kerry WinfreyA rom-com-obsessed romantic waiting for her perfect leading man learns that life doesn’t always go according to a script in this delightfully charming and funny novel.Annie Cassidy dreams of being the next Nora Ephron. She spends her days writing screenplays, rewatching Sleepless in Seattle, and waiting for her movie-perfect meet-cute. If she could just find her own Tom Hanks—a man who’s sweet, sensitive, and possibly owns a houseboat—her problems would disappear and her life would be perfect. But Tom Hanks is nowhere in sight.When a movie starts filming in her neighborhood and Annie gets a job on set, it seems like a sign. Then Annie meets the lead actor, Drew Danforth, a cocky prankster who couldn’t be less like Tom Hanks if he tried. Their meet-cute is more of a meet-fail, but soon Annie finds herself sharing some classic rom-com moments with Drew. Her Tom Hanks can’t be an actor who’s leaving town in a matter of days...can he?
Wake Me with a Kiss
by Mila Summers Melody WinkleStacy honestly thinks it is a good idea to chase down a lucrative job offer on the spur of the moment. Her bubble bursts quickly after she finds out on the spot that the job is already taken. Without a penny to her name, she makes a far-reaching decision to go hitchhiking. Mitch Havisham, a lawyer from Memphis, takes her along to Chicago. On the drive, he makes an indecent proposal and doesn't let up until she finally consents ...
Wake Up and Smell the Shit
by Kristen KozaStand back! The tales in this raunchy round-the-world romp might get you dirty. We've all had unspeakable experiences while traveling that we're ashamed to admit, but these often become our best stories in the retelling. The writers in this collection cast inhibition aside and reveal their weirdest and worst moments and how they made the best of them. And memorable moments in exotic destinations come in all shapes and sizes: insects as big as Pam Anderson’s left tit, regrettable sex, stink-eyed officials, horrible healers, Lady Gaga’s shoes and Madonna’s special meal, trigger-happy militants, and peeping Tom rock stars. Adventure vicariously as: Spud Hilton (not Monty Python) finds the Holy Grail by accident. Meghan Ward squats, and then the toilet grunts back, in Goa. Kasha Rigby proved how tough she is on National Geographic’s Ultimate Survival Alaska, but is she a match for a 90-year-old bone breaker in Guatemala? Namibians stereotype Chinese men as Bruce Lee--Gerald Yeung wonders if attacking baboons will do the same. Keph Senett (hoping not to follow in the footsteps of Pussy Riot) braves bombs, police and a Soviet-era sofa bed to play soccer at the LGBT games in Putin’s Russia. Jabba-the-Turd versus Shannon Bradford in an epic showdown in Argentina. And many more. . . .
The Wake-Up Call
by Beth O'LearyTwo hotel receptionists—and arch-rivals—find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way. It&’s the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel&’s front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through.The hotel won't stay afloat beyond Christmas without some sort of miracle. But when Izzy returns a guest&’s lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management that this might be the way to fix everything. With four rings still sitting in the lost & found, the race is on for Izzy and Lucas to save their beloved hotel—and their jobs.As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas begin to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future. Can the two of them make it through the season with their hearts intact?
The Wake-Up Call: The addictive enemies-to-lovers romcom from the million-copy bestselling author of THE FLATSHARE
by Beth O'LearyThe much-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of The Flatshare and The No-Show -- pre-order now!'Beth O'Leary is that rare, one-in-a-million talent who can make you laugh, swoon, cry and ache all in the same book' Emily HenryTwo sworn enemies. A failing hotel. One chance to save the season...It's the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel's front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through. The hotel won't stay afloat beyond Christmas without some sort of miracle. But when Izzy returns a guest's lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management that this might be the way to fix everything. With four rings still sitting in lost property, the race is on for Izzy and Lucas to save their beloved hotel - and their jobs.As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas begin to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future. Can the two of them make it through the season with their hearts intact?HEAR WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING ABOUT BETH O'LEARY'Beth O'Leary crafts novels with such wit, heart and truth' Sophie Kinsella'A huge, heartwarming triumph' Josie Silver 'This delicious slice of feel-good fiction is a real tonic' Sunday Mirror 'Nobody does it like Beth does' Laura Jane Williams 'A Sleepless in Seattle for the 21st century' Sunday Express 'Heartwarming and uplifting' Heidi Swain 'This book is perfect' Rosie Walsh'Each novel is like if Richard Curtis and Nora Ephron made a story baby' Zoella Book Club'Brilliant, warm, funny, full of heart' Richard Roper 'Funny, relatable and tender' Red 'Such a clever, finely woven sweet and heart-rending story that I found myself utterly enchanted by' Bolu Babalola(P) 2023 Quercus Editions Limited
The Wake-Up Call: The addictive enemies-to-lovers romcom from the author of THE FLATSHARE
by Beth O'Leary'Beth O'Leary is that rare, one-in-a-million talent who can make you laugh, swoon, cry and ache all in the same book' Emily HenryThey'll do anything to save the hotel, except work together . . .Welcome to Forest Manor Hotel, where the staff and guests are one happy family. Except for Izzy and Lucas - bitter rivals banned from working the same shift, for everyone's sake. After struggling for years, the hotel may soon have to close its doors forever. But when Izzy returns a guest's lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management this might fix everything. With four rings still sitting in lost property, Izzy and Lucas are forced to work together to try to save the day. But as their rivalry becomes something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas start to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future . . .This Paperback Edition has Exclusive Extra Content'Heart-warming, touching, sharp and sexy' Lia Louis'Gorgeous, evocative' Carley Fortune'This is not just a great rom com, this is a Beth O'Leary rom com' Gillian McAllister'An utterly delicious read' Louise O'Neill
Wake Up, Nat & Darcy (Puck Struck #1)
by Kate CochraneEx-lovers. Ex-rivals. New cohosts. Oh, puck.Cut from the U.S. women&’s hockey team right before her third chance at gold, Natalie Carpenter is scrambling for a plan that&’ll help her avoid moving back home. The answer: a guest hosting gig on Wake Up, USA&’s winter games coverage. Her co-host: Darcy LaCroix, Nat&’s ex-girlfriend, one-time college teammate turned adversary.Since leaving Team Canada, Darcy has worked hard to make a name in broadcasting. If her big break requires sharing screen time with the former cocky freshman who turned her world upside down, so be it. At this point, there&’s nothing between them except history.But audiences disagree. #PuckingHotties is trending hard, and Nat and Darcy agree to lean into it...for ratings, obviously. It&’s not like Nat can forget the way Darcy broke her heart or their bitter team rivalry.Between working, traveling together, and that irresistible spark, it&’s getting hard to separate what&’s real and what&’s for the camera. Because somewhere underneath everything that went wrong is the sneaking suspicion that nothing will ever feel quite this right again.
Wake Up, Sir!
by Jonathan AmesAlan Blair, the hero of Wake Up, Sir!, is a young, loony writer with numerous problems of the mental, emotional, sexual, spiritual, and physical variety. He's very good at problems. But luckily for Alan, he has a personal valet named Jeeves, who does his best to sort things out for his troubled master. And Alan does find trouble wherever he goes. He embarks on a perilous and bizarre road journey, his destination being an artists colony in Saratoga Springs. There Alan encounters a gorgeous femme fatale who is in possession of the most spectacular nose in the history of noses. Such a nose can only lead to a wild disaster for someone like Alan, and Jeeves tries to help him, but... Well, read the book and find out!
Wake Up, Stupid
by Mark HarrisOriginally written in 1959, this is the hilariously explosive account of Youngdahl, a novelist, playwright, ex-Mormon, and father of seven. He is a frenzied man who is beginning a letter-writing campaign to escape his curiously ironic situation, and, of course, his profession. Along with Abner Klang, his not-so-literary agent who seems to have misplaced the F key on his typewriter, Youngdahl joins forces with a Mormon bishop, a TV adapter, and a prizefighter, among others, to spearhead a comic revolution.
Wakefield: A Novel
by Andrei CodrescuA modern-day Faust embarks on a wild romp through the peculiar and preposterous American landscape When the Devil shows up in Wakefield's living room to announce that his time is up, the bookish "de-motivational" speaker tries to strike a deal. The Devil agrees to prolong Wakefield's life--for now--on the condition that within the next year he finds a more authentic existence. For Wakefield, who is estranged from his family, nearly friendless, and excellent at his job of lowering expectations in a positivity-crazed world, living "authentically" is a tall order. But he will try: an extra 12 months might be worth it. Wakefield's bargain sets in motion a cross-country quest to find his life's purpose. Along the way, he encounters an array of all-American weirdness from plastic surgeons and sadomasochistic strippers to phony New Age yoga gurus and billion-dollar tech start-ups. Codrescu's astute observations and quick wit illuminate the comedy found in our national culture of narcissism and self-improvement.
The Wakes: The hilarious and heartbreaking Australian bestseller
by Dianne YarwoodFOUR FUNERALS. TWO MARRIAGES. ONE PRECIOUS LIFE.'Delicious' LIANNE MORIARTY'A delight' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Uplifting' OBSERVERThis is a story about Clare, Chris and Louisa. It is about two failing marriages, two strangers falling in love and two friends embarking on a potentially disastrous funeral catering business. It is most certainly not about frittatas (a terrible concession) and more to do with lemon tart (a perfect contrast of textures).This is a story about all the things that make life worth living, and how joy breaks in even when you least expect it.'Life-affirming and joyful, even as it breaks your heart' EMILY ITAMI'Insightful' THE TIMES'Comfort food for your mind' HARPER'S BAZAAR
Waking Beauty: A Novel
by Elyse FriedmanWhen Allison Penny miraculously wakes up thin and beautiful--a stark contrast to her last 22 years on earth--she experiences the blessing and curses of such an existence. This modern-day fairy tale proves that no matter how much we don't want to admit it, it's what's on the outside that counts.
Waking Beauty
by Leah WilcoxEveryone knows Sleeping Beauty has to be woken with a kiss, except Prince Charming. Every time the fairies watching over her try to tell him, he interrupts with his ideas of how to wake her.
Waking Beauty
by Leah WilcoxLaugh along with Prince Charming's misguided ideas for waking Sleeping Beauty, and delight at her reaction when he finally gets it right.When Prince Charming finds Sleeping Beauty and her fairies, he doesn't know what to do. The fairies try to tell him how to wake her up, but he keeps interrupting with crazy ideas of his own such as shouting, jumping on her bed, and pouring water on her. Of course none of those work, and he is mortified when he finally hears what it will take! A hilarious twist on the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, this is a companion to the hit Falling for Rapunzel.