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The Melody: A Novel
by Jim CraceFrom the Booker Prize-shortlisted author of Harvest, Quarantine, and Being Dead, a tender new novel about music, celebrity, local intrigue, and lost love--all set by the Mediterranean SeaAside from his trusty piano, Alfred Busi lives alone in his villa overlooking the waves. Famed in his town for his music and songs, he is mourning the recent death of his wife and quietly living out his days, occasionally performing the classics in small venues--never in the stadiums he could fill when in his prime. On the night before receiving his town's highest honor, Busi is wrested from bed by noises in his courtyard and then stunned by an attacking intruder--his hands and neck are scratched, his face is bitten. Busi can't say what it was that he encountered, exactly, but he feels his assailant was neither man nor animal.The attack sets off a chain of events that will cast a shadow on Busi's career, imperil his home, and alter the fabric of his town. Busi's own account of what happened is embellished to fan the flames of old rumor--of an ancient race of people living in the surrounding forest--and to spark new controversy: something must finally be done about the town's poor, the feral vagabonds at its edges, whose numbers have been growing. All the while Busi, weathering a media storm, must come to terms with his wife's death and decide whether to sing one last time.In trademark crystalline prose, Jim Crace portrays a man taking stock of his life and looking into an uncertain future, all while bearing witness to a community in the throes of great change--with echoes of today's most pressing social questions.
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 Memoirs of Stockholm Sven
by Nathaniel Ian MillerThe &“captivating&’&’ and &“powerful&’&’ story (Publishers Weekly, starred review) of one man who banishes himself to a solitary life in the Arctic Circle, and is saved by good friends, a loyal dog, and a surprise visit that changes everything, in a novel that is both &“ceaselessly brilliant&’&’ (Adam Johnson, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Orphan Master&’s Son) and &“pure delight&’&’ (Christina Baker Kline, #1 bestselling author of Orphan Train)#1 INDIE NEXT PICKLonglisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel PrizeIn 1916, Sven Ormson leaves a restless life in Stockholm to seek adventure in Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago where darkness reigns four months of the year and he might witness the splendor of the Northern Lights one night and be attacked by a polar bear the next. But his time as a miner ends when an avalanche nearly kills him, leaving him disfigured, and Sven flees even further, to an uninhabited fjord. There, with the company of a loyal dog, he builds a hut and lives alone, testing himself against the elements. The teachings of a Finnish fur trapper, along with encouraging letters from his family and a Scottish geologist who befriended him in the mining camp, get him through his first winter. Years into his routine isolation, the arrival of an unlikely visitor salves his loneliness, sparking a chain of surprising events that will bring Sven into a family of fellow castoffs and determine the course of the rest of his life. Written with wry humor and in prose as breathtaking as the stark landscape it evokes, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven is a testament to the strength of our human bonds, reminding us that even in the most inhospitable conditions on the planet, we are not beyond the reach of love.
The Memoirs of Two Young Wives
by Honore De Balzac Jordan Stump Morris DicksteinTwo very intelligent, very idealistic young women leave the convent school where they became the fastest of friends to return to their families and embark on their new lives. For Renée de Maucombe, this means an arranged marriage with a country gentleman of Provence, a fine if slightly dull man for whom she feels admiration but nothing more. Meanwhile, Louise de Chaulieu makes for her family’s house in Paris, intent on enjoying her freedom to the fullest: glittering balls, the opera, and above all, she devoutly hopes, the torments and ecstasies of true love and passion. What will come of these very different lives? Despite Honoré de Balzac’s title, these aren’t memoirs; rather, this is an epistolary novel. For some ten years, these two will—enthusiastically if not always faithfully—keep up their correspondence, obeying their vow to tell each other every tiny detail of their strange new lives, comparing their destinies, defending and sometimes bemoaning their choices, detailing the many changes, personal and social, that they undergo. As Balzac writes, “Renée is reason...Louise is wildness...and both will lose.” Balzac being Balzac, he seems to argue for the virtues of one of these lives over the other; but Balzac being Balzac, that argument remains profoundly ambiguous. “I would,” he once wrote, “rather be killed by Louise than live a long life with Renée.”
The Memory Bank
by Carolyn Coman Rob SheppersonA new classic from Newbery and Printz Honor winning author Carolyn Coman. THE MEMORY BANK is the story of Hope Scroggins, who lives with her beloved sister Honey and the Dursley-esque parents they share. In fact these parents are SO horribly awful that one day, when the sisters disobey the rule against "no laughing", they banish Honey forever, telling Hope that she must simply "forget" her. Hope knows that she HAS to find her sister again, before her memories of Honey fade. But before she can even begin to look, she's whisked away to the World Wide Memory Bank, where her accounts are in disarray... Images and image descriptions available.
The Memory Book: A reassuring story about understanding dementia
by Louise Gooding"A helpful book for families affected by dementia" - CARERS UKI love visiting my grandma. We read together, play her piano, feed the birds in the garden and we love looking through her big box of photos . . .But when Grandma starts to forget who the people in the photographs are, Mum explains that Grandma is living with something called dementia. She says, "Grandma is still the person we know and love, she's just a little different now . . . "A reassuring story about the love between a little girl and her grandma, with practical information to help young children understand dementia and the changes it can bring.Bonus material to discuss with little ones includes: - What is dementia?- How you can help- Looking after YOU
The Memory Box: A heart-breaking historical novel set partly in World War Two, inspired by true events, from the global bestselling author
by Kathryn HughesSome love stories last a lifetime...'UTTERLY UNPUTDOWNABLE' Jenny Ashcroft'Wow, wow, wow!!! The BEST BOOK I have read all year. A gorgeous story which had me hooked. Make sure you have a box of tissues when you read this beautiful story ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'_______From the million-copy-bestselling author of The Letter, Kathryn Hughes, and inspired by true events, an unforgettable, moving and timeless story of love and war which will stay with you for ever. Readers who adored The Nightingale, The Notebook or The Tattooist of Auschwitz will love to unlock The Memory Box...Jenny Tanner opens the box she has cherished for decades. Contained within are her most precious mementoes, amongst them a pebble, a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read. But Jenny knows the time is finally here. After the war, in a mountainside village in Italy, she left behind a piece of her heart. However painful, she must return to Cinque Alberi. And lay the past to rest.After a troubled upbringing, Candice Barnes dreams of a future with the love of her life - but is he the man she believes him to be? When Candice is given the opportunity to travel to Italy with Jenny, she is unaware the trip will open her eyes to the truth she's been too afraid to face. Could a place of goodbyes help her make a brave new beginning?_______Will you be the next reader to lose your heart to The Memory Box?'A heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of love, loss and forgiveness' Daily Mail'A spellbinding tale with lots of surprises and endearing characters. Hughes is a wonderful storyteller' Woman's Weekly'I could not put this book down! It is absolutely phenomenal from the very first page... it is heartbreaking, joyful and hopeful ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''I've loved every single one of Kathryns' books, but this one was my absolute favourite! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''The twist at the end made me gasp! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''I absolutely loved this book. Devoured it in a few days. I eagerly await more of Kathryn Hughes' books. I will be first in line. Excellent ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''What a gorgeously written tale... heartbreaking but also heartwarming. Full of unexpected twists, this one had me gripped! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''A stunningly beautiful story. Brilliantly developed characters. A heart-warming and emotional read that I read in one sitting ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''A heartwarming, well-written story. Heartbreaking in places but a story that had to be told ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'
The Memory Box: A heart-breaking historical novel set partly in World War Two, inspired by true events, from the global bestselling author
by Kathryn HughesSome love stories last a lifetime...'UTTERLY UNPUTDOWNABLE' Jenny Ashcroft'Wow, wow, wow!!! The BEST BOOK I have read all year. A gorgeous story which had me hooked. Make sure you have a box of tissues when you read this beautiful story ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'_______From the million-copy-bestselling author of The Letter, Kathryn Hughes, and inspired by true events, an unforgettable, moving and timeless story of love and war which will stay with you for ever. Readers who adored The Nightingale, The Notebook or The Tattooist of Auschwitz will love to unlock The Memory Box...Jenny Tanner opens the box she has cherished for decades. Contained within are her most precious mementoes, amongst them a pebble, a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read. But Jenny knows the time is finally here. After the war, in a mountainside village in Italy, she left behind a piece of her heart. However painful, she must return to Cinque Alberi. And lay the past to rest.After a troubled upbringing, Candice Barnes dreams of a future with the love of her life - but is he the man she believes him to be? When Candice is given the opportunity to travel to Italy with Jenny, she is unaware the trip will open her eyes to the truth she's been too afraid to face. Could a place of goodbyes help her make a brave new beginning?_______Will you be the next reader to lose your heart to The Memory Box?'A heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of love, loss and forgiveness' Daily Mail'A spellbinding tale with lots of surprises and endearing characters. Hughes is a wonderful storyteller' Woman's Weekly'I could not put this book down! It is absolutely phenomenal from the very first page... it is heartbreaking, joyful and hopeful ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''I've loved every single one of Kathryns' books, but this one was my absolute favourite! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''The twist at the end made me gasp! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''I absolutely loved this book. Devoured it in a few days. I eagerly await more of Kathryn Hughes' books. I will be first in line. Excellent ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''What a gorgeously written tale... heartbreaking but also heartwarming. Full of unexpected twists, this one had me gripped! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''A stunningly beautiful story. Brilliantly developed characters. A heart-warming and emotional read that I read in one sitting ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''A heartwarming, well-written story. Heartbreaking in places but a story that had to be told ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'
The Memory Box: An absolutely heartbreaking WW2 novel about love against the odds, based on a true story
by Kathryn HughesA heartbreakingly beautiful novel, The Memory Box unlocks an unforgettable epic story of love and war, from the million-copy-selling author of The Letter, Kathryn Hughes. If you adored The Nightingale, The Tuscan Contessa or My Name is Eva, this is the book for you. Some love stories can't be forgotten...Jenny Tanner opens the box she has cherished for decades. Contained within are her most precious mementoes, amongst them a pebble, a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read. But Jenny knows the time is finally here. After the war, in a mountainside village in Italy, she left behind a piece of her heart. However painful, she must return to Cinque Alberi. And lay the past to rest.After a troubled upbringing, Candice Barnes dreams of a future with the love of her life - but is he the man she believes him to be? When Candice is given the opportunity to travel to Italy with Jenny, she is unaware the trip will open her eyes to the truth she's been too afraid to face. Could a place of goodbyes help her make a brave new beginning?(P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Limited
The Memory Garden
by Mary Rickert"A potent brew of guilty secrets and tragic histories, but also of enduring friendship and love. Add a pinch of the botanical. Serve on a luminous night faintly reminiscent of a Midsummer Night's Eve. A totally charming, totally engaging story told by Rickert, a magus of the first order. Magic in every line."--Karen Joy Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves and The Jane Austen Book Club Bay Singer has bigger secrets than most. Not that she knows about them. Her mother, Nan, is sure that the burden of those secrets would be too much, and that's why she never told anyone the truth, not even Bay. There's a lot that Nan's kept quiet over the years, especially those times with Mavis and Ruthie--times that were dark and full of guilt. But some secrets have a power all their own, and Nan realizes she needs Mavis and Ruthie now more than ever. When the three meet again in Nan's garden, their reunion has spellbinding effects that none of them could have imagined, least of all Bay... "Mary Rickert's debut novel is absolutely stunning. An emotionally complex story bridges the divide between the past and the present, between generations, and between age-old friendships compromised by a web of secrets and lies. Be prepared to fall under this novel's strange and sensuous spell."--Christopher Barzak, author of One for Sorrow
The Memory Keeper
by Jennifer CamicciaFish in a Tree meets The Thing About Jellyfish in this heartfelt middle grade debut about long-buried secrets, the power of memory, and the bond between a girl and her gram.All Lulu Carter wants is to be seen. But her parents are lost in their own worlds, and Lulu has learned the hard way that having something as rare as HSAM—the ability to remember almost every single moment in her life—won’t make you popular in school. At least Lulu has Gram, who knows the truth about Lulu’s memory and loves her all the more for it. But Gram has started becoming absentminded, and the more lost she gets, the more she depends on Lulu…until Lulu realizes her memory holds the very key to fixing Gram’s forgetfulness. Once Lulu learns that trauma can cause amnesia, all she needs to do to cure Gram is hunt down that one painful moment in Gram’s life. With her friends Olivia and Max, Lulu digs into Gram’s mysterious past. But they soon realize some secrets should stay buried, and Lulu wonders if she ever knew Gram at all. It’s up to Lulu to uncover the truth before the only person who truly sees her slips away.
The Memory Key
by Liana LiuLora Mint is determined not to forget.Though her mother's been dead for five years, Lora struggles to remember every detail about her--most important, the specific events that occurred the night she sped off in her car, never to return.But in a world ravaged by Vergets disease, a viral form of Alzheimer's, that isn't easy. Usually Lora is aided by her memory key, a standard-issue chip embedded in her brain that preserves memories just the way a human brain would. Then a minor accident damages Lora's key, and her memories go haywire. Suddenly Lora remembers a moment from the night of her mother's disappearance that indicates her death was no accident. Can she trust these formerly forgotten memories? Or is her ability to remember every painful part of her past driving her slowly mad--burying the truth forever?Lora's story of longing for her lost mother--and for the truth behind her broken memories--takes readers on a twisty ride. The authentic, emotional narrative sparks fascinating questions about memory and privacy in a world that increasingly relies on electronic recall.
The Memory Shop
by Ella Griffin'Ella Griffin can make you laugh and cry in the turn of a page' Marian Keyes 'A cleverly crafted, charming romance' Sunday MirrorWill every treasured possession find its perfect home? Nora's world has been turned upside-down. Escaping heart-break in London, she returns to her childhood home in Dublin where her grandmother's beloved house is being sold. Nora has been left with an inheritance of treasured belongings, but no home of her own in which to keep them.Unable to bear auctioning them off, Nora resolves to stay in Dublin and open The Memory Shop, a very special business which matches each gorgeous object with a perfect new owner. It's not long before these objects begin to transform the lives of those they touch, creating new stories and new chances at happiness. As Nora lets go of a lifetime of treasures, she unlocks tantalising clues to her grandmother's mysterious past. But can she finally let go of her own...? An uplifting novel set in a charming Irish community, about love, family and finding your way. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Emma Hannigan and Carole Matthews. *********Praise for Ella Griffin'Her characters are captivating, nuanced and their individual stories make fascinating reading as she explores intimacy and relationships with warmth and feeling' The Express 'A pleasure to read - assured, witty and highly likeable' Irish Mail on Sunday 'Beautifully interwoven stories, perfect for Maeve Binchy fans' My Weekly 'A fabulous read' RTE Guide
The Memory Spinner
by C. M. CornwellA luminous fantasy debut about a young girl who must choose between staying immersed in a magical past with her deceased mother, or saving those she loves most in the complicated, yet real present. A JLG SELECTION!"Emotions bubble like potions: Grief, anger, jealousy, and regret simmer beneath the surface of richly drawn characters with complex motivations....A heartfelt story that will leave readers hoping for more from this promising new voice."--Kirkus Reviews Since her mama died, thirteen-year-old Lavender has a disastrous memory problem. She forgets her lessons with her papa, an apothecary. She develops elaborate evasions to hide her lack of memory of the herbs and remedies she must learn to attain her dream of being an apothecary apprentice. Worst of all, she forgets memories of her mama.Despite her papa&’s disdain for magic, Lavender seeks a memory remedy from a clothing enchantress named Frey. As the two develop a friendship, Frey uses her spinning magic to help Lavender re-experience past moments with her mama. Lavender hears her mama&’s laughter again, her singing voice, and how it felt to be wrapped in her hugs.But when Lavender discovers the truth about Frey's magic and its vengeful purpose she must decide whether to stay immersed in beloved memories with her mama or save the people she loves most in the present.
The Memory String
by Eve Bunting Ted RandEach button on Laura's memory string represents a piece of her family history. The buttons Laura cherishes the most belonged to her mother-a button from her prom dress, a white one off her wedding dress, and a single small button from the nightgown she was wearing on the day she died. When the string breaks, Laura's new stepmother, Jane, is there to comfort Laura and search for a missing button, just as Laura's mother would have done. But it's not the same-Jane isn't Mom. In Eve Bunting's moving story, beautifully illustrated by Ted Rand, Laura discovers that a memory string is not just for remembering the past: it's also for recording new memories.
The Memory Tree
by Shari MaserThroughout the seasons, a family enjoys their backyard tree until it needs to be cut down. The family plants a sapling in its place.
The Memory Trees
by Kali WallaceA darkly magical novel about a mysterious family legacy, the bonds of sisterhood, and the strange and powerful ways we are shaped by the places we call home, from the critically acclaimed author of Shallow Graves.For the first eight years of her life, an unusual apple orchard in Vermont is Sorrow Lovegood's whole world. The land has been passed down through generations of brave, resilient women, and while their offbeat habits may be ridiculed by other townspeople—especially their neighbors, the Abrams family—Sorrow and her family take pride in its odd history.Then one winter night, an unthinkable tragedy changes everything. In the aftermath, Sorrow is sent to Miami to live with her father, away from the only home she’s ever known.Now sixteen, Sorrow's memories of her life in Vermont are maddeningly hazy. She returns to the orchard for the summer, determined to learn more about her troubled childhood and the family she left eight years ago. But it soon becomes clear that some of her questions have difficult—even dangerous—answers. And there may be a price to pay for asking.
The Memory Wall
by Lev Ac RosenThere's a fine line between real life and video games in this engrossing novel that's part Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird, part Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls. Severkin is an elf who slinks through the shadows of Wellhall's spiraling stone towers, plundering ancient ruins and slaying mystical monstrosities with ease. He's also a character in a video game--a character that twelve-year-old Nick Reeves plays when he needs a break from the real world. And lately, Nick has really needed a break. His mother had an "incident" at school last year, and her health has taken a turn for the worse. Nick is convinced his mother's illness has been misdiagnosed, but no one believes him. His only escape is the online world of Wellhall, where, as the elf character Severkin, he can face any problem. But when Nick finds himself fighting alongside another elf who reminds him of someone he knows in real life, his worlds begin to collide. . . .
The Memory of Lavender and Sage
by Aimie K. Runyan&“A standout voice in women&’s fiction. I was captivated from the very first line.&” — Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Summer of SongbirdsPerhaps the secrets of her mother&’s past in this tiny French town hold the key to her own future. . .Food critic Tempèsta Luddington has always felt like the odd person out in her family, ever since she lost her beloved mother at the tender age of thirteen. When her workaholic father passes fifteen years later, Tempèsta is not surprised that the majority of the considerable family money will pass to her dutiful younger brother, Wal. Still, she is left a modest remembrance from her mother, and for the first time Tempèsta has a world of choices before her.Lost in grief and hoping to reconnect with her memories and her mother&’s past, she uses the money to buy a ramshackle manor house in Sainte-Colombe, a small village in Provence, where her mother had grown up. But she is greeted with more questions than answers. Her welcome, especially by the town&’s stodgy mayor, is cold at best, and she finds herself wondering if the entire experiment was a mistake.Yet she stays, stubbornly sticking it out, slowly learning that her mother&’s legacy was more than just a nest egg. Through her mother and the village, Tempèsta learns the value of community and friendship, the importance of self-confidence, and the power of love and trust. What&’s more, she sees for herself that there is magic and beauty in the everyday—even something as simple as a sprig of lavender and sage.&“For readers who love Under the Tuscan Sun and Chocolat, this is your next heartfelt, delightful read.&” —Jennifer Moorman, bestselling author of The Baker's ManA dreamy escape into Southern France from bestselling author Aimie K. Runyan.Perfect for fans of Katherine Center, Rebecca Serle, and Sarah JioKate Quinn described Runyan&’s previous work as &“a moving tale of female solidarity and courage.&”Stand-alone novel of approximately 100,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubs
The Memory of Water
by Karen WhiteOn the night their mother drowns trying to ride out a storm in a sailboat, sisters Marnie and Diana Maitland discover there is more than one kind of death. There are also the deaths of innocence, of love, and of hope. Both harbor secrets about what really happened that night-secrets that will erode their lives as they grow into adulthood. After ten years of silence between the sisters, Marnie is called back to the South Carolina Lowcountry by Diana's ex-husband, Quinn. His young son has returned from a sailing trip with his emotionally unstable mother, and he is deeply disturbed and refusing to speak. In order to help the traumatized boy, Marnie must reopen old wounds and bring the darkest memories of her past to the surface. And she must confront Diana...before they all go under.
The Memory of Water
by Karen WhiteOn the night their mother drowns, sisters Marnie and Diana Maitland discover there is more than one kind of death. There is the death of innocence, of love, and of hope. Each sister harbors a secret about that night-secrets that will erode their lives as they grow into adulthood. After ten years of silence between the sisters, Marnie is called back to the South Carolina Lowcountry by Diana's ex-husband, Quinn. His young son has returned from a sailing trip with his emotionally unstable mother, and he is refusing to speak. In order to help the traumatized boy, Marnie must reopen old wounds and bring the darkest memories of their past to the surface. And she must confront Diana, before they all go under. .
The Memory of You
by Catherine WestThirteen years ago, Natalie lost a part of herself when her twin sister died. Will traveling back to the family winery finally put the memory to rest, or will it completely destroy her? When Natalie Mitchell learns her beloved grandfather has had a heart attack, she’s forced to return to their family-owned winery in Sonoma, something she never intended to do. She’s avoided her grandparents’ sprawling home and all its memories since the summer her sister died—the awful summer Natalie’s nightmares began. But the winery is failing, and Natalie’s father wants her to shut it down. As the majority shareholder, she has the power to do so. And Natalie never says no to her father. Tanner Collins, the vintner on Maoilios, is trying to salvage a bad season and put the Mitchell family’s winery back in business. When Natalie Mitchell shows up, Tanner sees his future about to be crushed. Natalie intends to close the gates, unless he can convince her otherwise. But the Natalie he remembers from childhood is long gone, and he’s not so sure he likes the woman she’s become. Still, the haunted look she wears hints at secrets he wants to unearth. He soon discovers that on the night her sister died, the real Natalie died too. And Tanner must do whatever it takes to resurrect her. But finding freedom from the past means facing it.
The Mennyms (Red Fox Classics Ser.)
by Sylvia WaughIncludes extra content detailing the story behind how the Mennyms came to be. Previously unpublished and exclusive to the ebook editions, the author hopes her readers, new and old, will enjoy discovering the back story to this mysterious family of life-sized rag dolls.From the outside, 5 Brocklehurst Grove looks like an ordinary house - the windows are always clean, and the garden well tended. And from the inside, to hear the voices of the inhabitants, the Mennym family, you would think they were a perfectly ordinary family, too. But you'd be wrong, for the Mennyms are far from ordinary. The whole family shares an astonishing secret behind which it's hidden for forty years; a secret to which nobody has ever come close - until perhaps, now. When a letter arrives from Australia, the whole family is plunged into fear that now, for the first time, their secret is about to be exposed . . .Sylvia Waugh's extraordinary debut novel about the Mennyms, a family of life-sized rag dolls, won the 1994 Guardian Children's Fiction Award.
The Merciful Scar
by Rebecca St. JamesKirsten has spent her life trying to forget. But mercy begs her to remember.When she was in high school, a terrible accident fractured her family, and the only relief Kirsten could find was carving tiny lines into her skin, burying her pain in her flesh. The pain she caused herself was neat and manageable compared to the emotional pain that raged inside.She was coping. Or so she thought.But then, eight years later, on the night she expects her long-time boyfriend to propose, Kirsten learns he's been secretly seeing her best friend. Desperate to escape her feelings, she reaches for the one thing that gives her a sense of control in the midst of chaos.But this time the cut isn't so tiny, and it lands her in the psych hospital. Within hours of being there she knows she can't stay--she isn't crazy, after all. But she can't go back to the life she knew before either.So when her pastor mentions a treatment program on a working ranch, Kirsten decides to take him up on the offer and get away from it all. But the one thing she can't escape is herself--and her shame.The ranch is home to a motley crew, each with a lesson to teach. Ever so slowly, Kirsten opens herself to embrace healing--even the scarred places that hurt the most. Mercy begs her to remember the past . . . showing her there's nothing that cannot be redeemed."[St. James and Rue] tackle a tough topic with sensitivity and forthrightness in an intense novel about self-injury, self-esteem, and the numerous shades of love. Highly recommended." --Library Journal, starred review
The Mermaid Chair: A Novel
by Sue Monk KiddThe New York Times-bestselling second novel by the author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings (Viking, January 2014)Inside the church of a Benedictine monastery on Egret Island, just off the coast of South Carolina, resides a beautiful and mysterious chair ornately carved with mermaids and dedicated to a saint who, legend claims, was a mermaid before her conversion.When Jessie Sullivan is summoned home to the island to cope with her eccentric mother's seemingly inexplicable behavior, she is living a conventional life with her husband, Hugh, a life "molded to the smallest space possible." Jessie loves Hugh, but once on the island, she finds herself drawn to Brother Thomas, a monk about to take his final vows. Amid a rich community of unforgettable island women and the exotic beauty of marshlands, tidal creeks, and majestic egrets, Jessie grapples with the tension of desire and the struggle to deny it, with a freedom that feels overwhelmingly right and the immutable force of home and marriage.Is the power of the mermaid chair only a myth? Or will it alter the course of Jessie's life? What happens will unlock the roots of her mother's tormented past, but most of all, it will allow Jessie to comes discover selfhood and a place of belonging as she explores the thin line between the spiritual and the erotic.From the Trade Paperback edition.