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by Jess TaylorYou will talk about 2016. You will talk about The Lighted City. You will be brave and truthful. You will get to the bottom of what happened.Paul (Paulina) Hayes loves her cousin Adrian. Inseparable from a young age, they play The Lighted City, an imaginary world where they pretend to live together and can escape a childhood that seems both too sad and too grown-up. But The Lighted City isn' t without danger.Years later, Paul is struggling with PTSD after a season of turmoil— one in which Adrian is dead, and radio and television are filled with reports of missing children. Just as stability is settling into her life and relationships, Paul is dragged back into the fate that Adrian seems to have scripted for them. And so she finds herself journeying across the country, down into a ravine, and back to The Lighted City, where so much of her childhood played out. Only by doing so can she begin to come to terms with “ the day everything happened” — and what has unfolded since then.With a unique blend of contemporary storytelling and psychological fiction, Play is a haunting, riveting novel that reminds us of both the beauty and danger of imagination.
The Boyfriend Fix
by Lee PiniRenowned surgeon Ben McNatt is up for the job of his dreams, and when he gets it, he&’ll be the youngest chief of neurosurgery in his hospital&’s history. His success rate is flawless, but his perceived lack of compassion is hurting his chances. He&’s always viewed relationships as a distraction, but a loving partner might change his colleagues&’ ideas about his heartlessness. He&’ll do whatever it takes for this promotion—even pretend to date. The natural choice for his fake boyfriend is the cute guy at the coffee shop. Jamie Anderson is in student loan debt up to his eyeballs. He has three roommates, and not in a quirky found-family way. He works sixty hours a week as a barista, and his boss won&’t stop hitting on him. He&’s even given up on love. He makes do with fantasies about the hot doctor that comes in for coffee every day like clockwork. A fake relationship might solve Jamie&’s handsy boss problem too. And there&’s no way it will lead to real feelings when that&’s the last thing either of them wants. So why are they having so much trouble convincing themselves they aren&’t falling for each other?
Only a Few Blocks to Cuba: Cold War Refugee Policy, the Cuban Diaspora, and the Transformations of Miami (Politics and Culture in Modern America)
by Mauricio Fernando CastroIn Only a Few Blocks to Cuba, Mauricio Castro shows how the U.S. government came to view Cuban migration to Miami as a strategic asset during the Cold War, in the process investing heavily in the city’s development and shaping its future as a global metropolis.When Cuban refugees fleeing Communist revolution began to arrive in Miami in 1959, the city was faced with a humanitarian crisis it was ill-equipped to handle and sought to have the federal government solve what local politicians clearly viewed as a Cold War geopolitical problem. In response, the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations, and their successors, provided an unprecedented level of federal largesse and freedom of transit to these refugees. The changes to the city this investment wrought were as impactful and permanent as they were unintended. What was meant to be a short-term geopolitical stratagem instead became a new reality in South Florida. A growing and increasingly powerful Cuban community contested their place in Miami and navigated challenges like bilingualism, internal political disputes, socioeconomic polarization, and ongoing struggles and negotiations with Washington and Havana in the decades that followed. This contested process, argues Mauricio Castro, not only transformed South Florida, but American foreign policy and the calculus of national politics.Castro uses extensive archival research in local and national sources to demonstrate that the Cuban diaspora and Cold War refugee policy made South Florida a key space to understanding the shifting landscape of the late twentieth century. In this way, Miami serves as an example of both the lived effects of defense spending in urban spaces and of how local communities can shape national politics and international relations. American politics, foreign relations, immigration policy, and urban development all intersected on the streets of Miami.
Women and the Piano: A History in 50 Lives
by Susan TomesWomen are an essential part of the history of the piano—but how many women pianists can you name? Throughout most of the piano&’s history, women pianists lacked access to formal training and were excluded from male-dominated performance spaces. Even the modern piano&’s keys were designed without consideration of women&’s typically smaller hands. Yet despite their music being largely confined to the domestic sphere, women continued to play, perform, and compose on their own terms. Celebrated pianist and author Susan Tomes traces fifty such women across the piano&’s history. Including now-famous names such as Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn, Tomes also highlights overlooked women: from Hélène de Montgeroult, whose playing saved her life during the French Revolution, to Leopoldine Wittgenstein, influential Viennese salonnière, and Hazel Scott, the first Black performer in the United States to have a nationally syndicated TV show. From Maria Szymanowska to Nina Simone, and including interviews with women performing today, this is a much-needed corrective to our understanding of the piano—and a timely testament to women&’s musical lives.
The Performer: Art, Life, Politics
by Richard SennettAn acclaimed sociologist&’s exploration of the connections among performances in life, art, and politics In The Performer, Richard Sennett explores the relations between performing in art (particularly music), politics, and everyday experience. It focuses on the bodily and physical dimensions of performing, rather than on words. Sennett is particularly attuned to the ways in which the rituals of ordinary life are performances. The book draws on history and sociology, and more personally on the author&’s early career as a professional cellist, as well as on his later work as a city planner and social thinker. It traces the evolution of performing spaces in the city; the emergence of actors, musicians, and dancers as independent artists; the inequality between performer and spectator; the uneasy relations between artistic creation and social and religious ritual; the uses and abuses of acting by politicians. The Janus-faced art of performing is both destructive and civilizing.
How to Enjoy Architecture: A Guide for Everyone
by Charles HollandCharles Holland challenges us to look beyond the day-to-day familiarity of buildings to rediscover the pleasure of experiencing architecture Architecture is bound up with our daily lives but, for most of us, it is experienced as a blur of habit. Our reactions towards the buildings that surround us are often culturally generated, and we experience them in ways that are immediate but often mundane. How to Enjoy Architecture: A Guide for Everyone encourages us to move beyond this and, instead, really look at buildings. Renowned architect Charles Holland talks about the buildings and architects that excite and inspire him, and the ideas and principles through which we can engage with architecture. By breaking buildings down into categories such as materials, structure, space, and use, Holland guides us through drastically different styles and building types—from the satisfying symmetry of a Queen Anne house to the thrill of a high-tech tower, or the social ideals that lie behind a housing estate. In doing so, he demonstrates how looking at, experiencing, and using architecture can bring joy in itself. "A book that will enrich any encounter with a building, it made me want to look harder and be more curious. We are led playfully through the fundamentals of architecture so that we might enjoy the details and the poetry of buildings all the more. A walk through the city feels more fun and also more profound after reading this book." Grayson Perry, artist "We so often encounter architecture when it goes wrong, or offends us with its looks. Holland, though, is the perfect, clear-headed tour guide to help us appreciate it with newly sharpened senses and fall in love again – even those buildings we think we hate." Tom Dyckhoff, academic and broadcaster "An enlightening and urbane exploration of architecture that resonates beyond conventional chronological histories" Catherine Slessor, architecture writer and critic
Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis (Politics and Culture)
by James Davison HunterThe long-developing cultural divisions beneath our present political crisis Liberal democracy in America has always contained contradictions—most notably, a noble but abstract commitment to freedom, justice, and equality that, tragically, has seldom been realized in practice. While these contradictions have caused dissent and even violence, there was always an underlying and evolving solidarity drawn from the cultural resources of America&’s &“hybrid Enlightenment.&” James Davison Hunter, who introduced the concept of &“culture wars&” thirty years ago, tells us in this new book that those historic sources of national solidarity have now largely dissolved. While a deepening political polarization is the most obvious sign of this, the true problem is not polarization per se but the absence of cultural resources to work through what divides us. The destructive logic that has filled the void only makes bridging our differences more challenging. In the end, all political regimes require some level of unity. If it cannot be generated organically, it will be imposed by force. Can America&’s political crisis be fixed? Can an Enlightenment-era institution—liberal democracy—survive and thrive in a post-Enlightenment world? If, for some, salvaging the older sources of national solidarity is neither possible sociologically, nor desirable politically or ethically, what cultural resources will support liberal democracy in the future?
The Yemen Model: Why U.S. Policy Has Failed in the Middle East
by Alexandra StarkA close look at failed U.S. policies in the Middle East, offering a fresh perspective on how best to reorient goals in the region In this book Alexandra Stark argues that the U.S. approach to Yemen offers insights into the failures of American foreign policy throughout the Middle East. Stark makes the case that despite often being drawn into conflicts within Yemen, the United States has not achieved its policy goals because it has narrowly focused on counterterrorism and regional geopolitical competition rather than on the well-being of Yemenis themselves. She offers recommendations designed to reorient U.S. policy in the Middle East in pursuit of U.S. national security interests and to support the people of these countries in their efforts to make their own communities safe, secure, and prosperous.
Rich World, Poor World: The Struggle to Escape Poverty
by Ali A. AllawiA landmark history of the world economic order, exploring how developing countries have fought to escape impoverishment Over the past two decades, experiments in neoliberal economics have opened up a chasm of inequality between the Global South and the West. Development advice from richer nations has led to social upheaval, political unrest, environmental degradation—and even the creation of a new underclass. Brutal extremes of wealth and poverty are now commonplace. Ali A. Allawi traces the evolution of the world economic order from the late imperial era to the present day. Shedding light on continuing controversies, Allawi shows how the process of development has been hindered at every turn, from poor leadership and lost opportunities to widespread corruption. In doing so, he argues that the current neoliberal consensus is only the most recent of a series of failed policy imperatives. Covering issues in the Global South as well as failures in the West, this definitive account offers an impassioned and authoritative call for change.
Frail Riffs: The Rules of the Game, Volume 4 (The Margellos World Republic of Letters #4)
by Michel LeirisThe fourth and final volume of Michel Leiris’s renowned autobiography, now available in English for the first time, translated by Richard Sieburth Ex-surrealist and maverick anthropologist Michel Leiris (1901–1990) crafted his multivolume autobiography over the course of thirty-five years, profoundly influencing generations of French writers, from Sartre and Beauvoir to Modiano and Ernaux. In this fourth and final volume, Richard Sieburth completes the project of bringing Leiris’s monumental experiment in self-portraiture into English. With wit and playfulness, Leiris assembled a scrapbook of fragments—journal extracts, travel notes, transcriptions of dreams, poems—to document the vagaries of a life committed to the difficult marriage of poetry and revolutionary politics, which he witnessed firsthand in Mao’s China, Castro’s Cuba, and on the Paris streets in May ’68. Frail Riffs is a jazz improvisation on the twilight of a life, at once a painstaking self-examination and a chronicle of a century. As Leiris wrote, it is "neither a private diary nor a formal work, neither an autobiographical narrative nor a work of the imagination, neither prose nor poetry, but all this at the same time. . . . A perpetual work in progress.&rdquo
You Are Here: The new novel by the author of global sensation ONE DAY
by David NichollsThe new novel by the author of One Day, now a major Netflix seriesA highlight for 2024 for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Independent, New Statesman, i, Observer, Grazia, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Irish Times, Sunday Independent, Prima, Good Housekeeping, Daily Record'A triumph, a real gift of a novel'SUNDAY TIMES'A great comic novel . . . The reader becomes so invested in the outcome of this unspectacular, everyday, cagoule-clad romance that it makes the whole world shimmer with a kind of secret possibility'OBSERVER'Nicholls's knack for warm characters, funny dialogue and superb scene-setting is as spot-on as ever'DAILY MAIL'Refreshing . . . the romance has sincerity and authenticity'GUARDIAN'I read David Nicholls' new book You Are Here - you'll love it as much as One Day . . . Probably his best yet'INDEPENDENT'Few contemporary writers make characters feel as human as David Nicholls does'BBC.com'The irresistible feel of a classic romance'MAIL ON SUNDAY'I loved You Are Here even more than One Day'RED MAGAZINE'Romantic, funny and hopeful'DOLLY ALDERTON, author of Good Material'Tender, wise and joyful. I inhaled it'JOJO MOYES, author of Me Before You'Gorgeously witty and joyful, kind and sad: a book you do not want to be away from'KATHERINE RUNDELL, author of Super-Infinite'The genius who gave us One Day has written another classic and funny love story'MATT HAIG, author of The Midnight Library'I loved it'BONNIE GARMUS, author of Lessons in Chemistry'Magnificent'MARIAN KEYES, author of My Favourite MistakeSometimes you need to get lost to find your wayMarnie is stuck. Stuck working alone in her London flat, stuck battling the long afternoons and a life that often feels like it's passing her by.Michael is coming undone. Reeling from his wife's departure, increasingly reclusive, taking himself on long, solitary walks across the moors and fells. When a persistent mutual friend and some very English weather conspire to bring them together, Marnie and Michael suddenly find themselves alone on the most epic of walks and on the precipice of a new friendship.But can they survive the journey?A new love story by beloved bestseller David Nicholls, You Are Here is a novel of first encounters, second chances and finding the way home.ONE OF BRITAIN'S MOST ACCLAIMED WRITERS 'One of the most astute chroniclers of England as it is now' FINANCIAL TIMES 'An uncanny ability to make us laugh out loud, but also care passionately about his characters' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Nicholls writes with such tender precision about love' THE TIMES 'No one else writes novels that are both relatable and revelatory in the way he does' EVENING STANDARD 'Genuinely brilliant' NEW STATESMAN
Blood Justice (Blood Debts)
by Terry J. Benton-WalkerBlood Justice is the hotly anticipated sequel to Terry J. Benton-Walker's debut Blood Debts.'An extravaganza' Chloe GongCristina and Clement Trudeau have conjured the impossible: justice. Having restored their family's stolen throne, the time has come to look forward to a brighter future for the magical community. But for Valentina Savant, she lost everything and is hellbent on revenge. And lucky for her, she's not the only one. Hateful anti-magic protesters and a ruthless detective with a personal vendetta sabotage their reign at every turn. Worst of all, to protect the boy he loves, Clem has summoned a brutal god that stalks them from the shadows. Shocking murders, disappearances, and new alliances are changing the game forever - and not everyone will survive the final round.'Sings with hope and barely disguised rage'TJ Klune
The Backup Bride Proposal: a fun and flirty rom-com where sparks fly at first sight! (Boots and Bouquets)
by Jaci BurtonIf you love Holly Martin, Sarah Morgan and Jill Shalvis, you'll love Jaci Burton!'Always sexy, romantic and charming' JILL SHALVIS'The characters leap off the page and the romance sparkles' Romantic Times_____________________When a production company decides to shoot a movie at winery and wedding venue, Red Moss Vineyards, Mae Wallace is thrilled with the possibility of new business. She's less thrilled when she finds leading actor Kane August crashing one of the weddings!Kane is rarely surprised by anything-until he meets sharp and ever-so-slightly snarky Mae Wallace. But with his co-star held up on another set, he needs Mae to be his stand-in bride for the cameras. As he takes every opportunity to spend time with her and peel back her layers, he realises he's letting her in, too.When Kane takes her to his family's ranch in Texas, Mae discovers a whole new side to him. Once burned, she has no intention of falling in love ever again, but Kane is determined to show her he's the one man she can trust with her heart. If only Mae will allow herself to fall._____________________Want more Jaci Burton? Check out the rest of her sizzling and romantic series!Boots and BouquetsHopeBrotherhood by FirePlay-By-Play
Falling for Gage: The sweep-you-off-your-feet follow-up to the beloved ARCHER'S VOICE
by Mia SheridanA new contemporary romance from the author of the TikTok sensation ARCHER'S VOICE.....................The follow-up to New York Times bestseller Archer's Voice and its sequel, Travis. Full of charm and heart, this small town romance will sweep you off your feet from beloved bestselling author Mia Sheridan.How is it possible that perfect Gage Buchanan is still single after all these years?He can't quite figure it out himself. Perhaps he hasn't met the right woman. Maybe he's spent too many years focusing on work - or maybe he just isn't as perfect as everyone thinks he is.Gage thought he left his days of one-night stands behind him, however something about the gorgeous cocktail waitress in a town three hours away is far too intriguing. But when she shows up weeks later in his hometown, Calliope, pretending to be an art appraiser, Gage is completely blindsided - not to mention still very attracted to the (apparent) little liar. He can't figure her out: not her angle nor the persistent pull between them.Aurora 'Rory' Casteel is determined to find her father. All she knows from her late mother is that he lives in Calliope and he's an important part of the town. So when Rory's gallery-owning friend offers to run cover for her while she sleuths around town, she jumps at the chance. But she doesn't anticipate the man she spent one wild night with turning out to be a local.Sure, it puts a wrinkle in Rory's plan, but she can work around Gage Buchanan. Even as it gets harder to pretend her heart doesn't flip every time he's in the room. She has a suspicion he isn't everything he seems, either, but maybe it's 'perfect' Gage's flaws that are what she's really drawn to.....................Praise for Mia Sheridan:'The bible to how to write a good, convincing love story' L.J. Shen'There is no love story like a Mia Sheridan love story' A.L. Jackson
Star for Jesus (And Other Jobs I Quit): Rediscovering the Grace that Sets Us Free
by Kimberly StuartA funny, thought-provoking memoir-in-essays about learning to understand—again and again—that we can&’t earn God&’s love no matter how many rules we follow or boxes we check, and learning to accept the grace that is freely given. Growing up, Kimberly Stuart got really good at strapping on her spiritual tap shoes and trying to be a star for Jesus. She could sing all the songs, ace the sword drills, and know all the right theology. From earning creepy Jesus paperweights in her church&’s faux Girl Scout program to trying to calm an actual storm on the Mediterranean, she was doing her best… and still found herself longing for something more. She didn&’t mean to completely ignore the most beautiful tenets of her faith—the unwavering grace and tenacious love of God—but she did. Which, of course, was the problem. Her best was lackluster, and God wasn&’t looking for a star performer anyway.Star for Jesus (And Other Jobs I Quit), is an invitation for readers to spot unvarnished, amazing grace when they see it. With her trademark wit and transparency, Stuart brings readers through both big and small moments that teach us to cling to the fierce love of God instead of the flimsier versions we find elsewhere. With unflinching honesty and relatable humor, Stuart encourages readers to take another look at unrelenting grace; why, contrary to the cultural narrative, we are not actually enough, and that&’s good news; how we always, remarkably, have all the grace we need; and why this moment in history is the perfect time to extend no-strings-attached grace to an emotionally bedraggled, wary world. .
Undiplomatic: How My Attitude Created the Best Kind of Trouble
by Deesha DyerWithout credentials or connections, community college student and advocate Deesha Dyer navigated her imposter syndrome, landing one of the most exclusive positions in the White House. From the most unlikely person to end up as a senior official to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama comes a candid, incredible, and inspiring story. Moved by the election of the country&’s first Black president, Deesha Dyer applied for a White House internship in 2009 as a thirty-one-year-old part-time community college student, taking a leap that carried her into a permanent full-time position, followed by three promotions landing her at the epicenter of politics. In spite of the little voice in her head telling her she didn&’t deserve to be there, Deesha thrived and rose to the highly coveted role of White House social secretary, giving her a front-row seat to defining moments in history while curating some of the flyest parties 1600 Pennsylvania has ever seen. Yet, with humor and realness, she peels back the curtain, revealing the hard truth about why she spent years trying to hide behind it. Undiplomatic is a deeply personal narrative about combating self-doubt while being on top of the world. Deesha reflects on how imposter syndrome threatened her self-esteem, proven aptitude, and survival until she realized that it was neither her fault nor her responsibility. In this vivid portrayal from a true &“around the way girl&” on the personal impact of the Obama presidency, Deesha shares her road map from imposter to impact. In Undiplomatic, she invites you on a journey of self-discovery where she overcame doubt, unearthed true love for herself, and learned that your unique worth is not something to be earned, but something inherently deserved. Uplifting, funny, and sincere, Deesha&’s story shows you about authenticity at all costs, and the joy and freedom that awaits on the other side.
Circle in the Water (A Sharon McCone Mystery #36)
by Marcia MullerIn this twisting mystery in a New York Times bestselling series, pranks escalate into a deadly scheme that Private Investigator Sharon McCone must unravel—before they claim her life. San Francisco is home to more than 200 privately owned streets. Most are alleyways, but a select few look torn straight from the pages of a magazine. Lined with mansions and elaborate gardens, the properties are luxurious and perfectly maintained; security guards patrol the grounds to keep the curious at bay. Few know of these exclusive enclaves, but those who do prowl for availability, ready to make a grab for the precious real estate if opportunity strikes. When several such streets are targeted in a series of so-called pranks, Sharon is hired by a coalition of concerned owners to investigate. But as things escalate—an attempt on Sharon&’s life, an explosion at a meth lab, and a shocking murder—Sharon realizes far more is at play than a few misdemeanors gone wrong. The case takes a sudden turn when one of McCone & Ripinsky&’s most trusted employees is implicated, and Sharon will have to dig deep to save her agency—and her life.
The Longevity Imperative: How to Build a Healthier and More Productive Society to Support Our Longer Lives
by Andrew J. Scott&“A manifesto to guide the longevity revolution&” (David Sinclair) for individuals, institutions, and society to adapt to the reality of living longer lives Thanks to increases in life expectancy, we can now expect to live for a long time. Most of us would welcome an extra day in the week, so why do so many of us view the prospect of additional years with fear and skepticism? The reason is simple: society is not currently structured to support long lives. Rather than thinking in terms of the needs of a rising number of older people, we must instead support the young and middle-aged to prepare differently for the longer futures they can expect. The Longevity Imperative outlines the innovations needed to make the most of these longer lives: substantial changes to our health system, economy, and financial sector, as well as in how we manage our careers, health, finances, and relationships. Instead of seeing longevity as a problem, economist Andrew J. Scott challenges us to view it as an opportunity. This book charts a course to address the individual, social, political, economic, and cultural changes required so that all of us—regardless of age—can live lives that are not just longer but healthier, happier, and more productive.
Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace
by Elizabeth NeumannA former counterterrorism official explores how modern evangelicalism and right-wing conservatism intermingled to form the combustible ideology that resulted in the January 6 attacks on the Capitol—and which threatens to destroy the American Church from within. How did a Church that purports to follow the teachings of Jesus - the Prince of Peace - become a breeding ground for violent extremism? When Elizabeth Neumann began her anti-terrorism career as part of President George W. Bush&’s Homeland Security Counsel in the wake of the September 11 attacks, she expected to spend her life protecting her country from the threat of global terrorism. But as her career evolved, she began to perceive that the greatest threat to American security came not from religious fundamentalists in Afghanistan or Iraq but from white nationalists and radicalized religious fundamentalists within the very institution that was closest to her heart – the American evangelical church. And she began to sound the alarm, raising her concerns to anyone in government who would listen, including testifying before Congress in February of 2020. At that time, Neumann warned that anti-Semitic and white supremacist terrorism was a transnational threat that was building to the doorstep of another major attack. Shortly after her testimony, she resigned from her role as Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention in protest of what she believed was then-President Trump&’s failure of leadership and his stoking of the hatred, anger, and division from which she had dedicated her life to protecting her country. Her worst fears came true when she witnessed the attack on the capital on January 6, 2021. In Kingdom of Rage, Neumann explores the forces within American society that have encouraged the radicalization of white supremacist, anti-government and other far-right terrorists by co-opting Christian symbols and culture and perverting the faith&’s teachings. While Neumann offers decades of insights into the role government policies can play to prevent further bloodshed, she believes real change must come from the within the Christian church. She shines a bright light on the responsibility of ordinary Americans – and particularly American Christians – to work within their families and their communities to counteract the narrative of victimization and marginalization within American evangelicalism. Her goal for this book is not only to sound a warning about one of the greatest threats to our security but to rescue the Church from the forces that will, if left unchecked, destroy it – culturally, morally, and ultimately quite literally. This is a book for anyone who wants to understand the unholy marriage of right-wing politics and Christian exceptionalism in America and who wants to be a part of reversing the current path towards division, hatred, violence and the ultimate undermining of both evangelical Christianity and American democracy.
The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices
by Veera Hiranandani Supriya Kelkar Maulik Pancholy Simran Jeet Singh Aisha Saeed Reem Faruqi Rajani LaRocca Naheed Hasnat Sayantani DasGupta Mitali PerkinsDiscover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrates the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center. Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the local kids gather at the community center to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance, and even save a life. Cheer for Chaya as she wins chess tournaments (unlike Andrew, she knows stupid sugary soda won't make you better at chess), and follow as Jeevan learns how to cook traditional food (it turns out he can cook sabji-- he just can't eat it). These stories, edited by bestselling and award-winning Pakistani-American author Hena Khan, are filled with humor, warmth, and possibility. They showcase a diverse array of talented authors with heritage from the Indian subcontinent, including beloved favorites and rising stars, who each highlight the beauty and necessity of a community center that everyone calls home.
Covert City: The Cold War and the Making of Miami
by Vince Houghton Eric DriggsSecret operations, corruption, crime, and a city teeming with spies: why Miami was as crucial to winning the Cold War as Washington DC or Moscow. The Cuban Missile Crisis was perhaps the most dramatic and dangerous period of the Cold War. What's less well known is that the city of Miami, mere miles away, was a pivotal, though less well known, part of Cold War history. With its population of Communist exiles from Cuba, its strategic value for military operations, and its lax business laws, Miami was an ideal environment for espionage.Covert City tells the history of how the entire city of Miami was constructed in the image of the US-Cuba rivalry. From the Bay of Pigs invasion to the death of Fidel Castro, the book shows how Miami is a hub for money and cocaine but also secrets and ideologies. Cuban exiles built criminal and political organizations in the city, leading Washington to set up a CIA station there, codenamed JMWAVE. It monitored gang activities, plotted secret operations against Castro, and became a base for surveilling Latin American neighbors. The money and infrastructure built for the CIA was integral to the development of Miami.Covert City is a sweeping and entertaining history, full of stunning experimental operations and colorful characters--a story of a place like no other.
Fake It Till You Make It (The Calvary Brothers #1)
by Siera LondonDebbie Mason meets Lizzie Shane in this small-town romance where a burned-by-love veterinarian arranges a fake partnership with a down-on-her-luck city girl in order to save his family business. When Amarie Walker goes for something, she goes big—including starting over. Leaving her cheating ex and entire D.C. life in the rearview, she crash lands in a small town with no plan, no money, and no job. An opening at the animal clinic is the only gig for miles, no surprise considering the vet is a certified grump. If Eli Calvary ever cracked a smile, Amarie might faint on sight from shock. At least his adorable golden retriever appreciates her fabulousness…and shares her love of daily treats! When Eli took over his late father&’s practice, he quickly discovered the clinic was facing foreclosure. So there&’s no time for social niceties, especially not flirting, even with someone as gorgeous, bubbly, and business-savvy as Amarie. Yet when Eli needs to invent an investor on the fly, it&’s her name that comes to his lips. Now, for the sake of their furry clients, Eli and Amarie hustle to save the clinic, trying to ignore the nonstop sparks between them. Because while their partnership may be fake, their connection already feels way too real.
The Everything War: Amazon's Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power
by Dana MattioliMost Anticipated by Foreign Policy • Globe and Mail • Publishers Weekly • Next Big Idea Club Must Read April Books&“Will stand as a classic.&” – Christopher Leonard "Riveting, shocking, and full of revelations." - Bryan BurroughFrom veteran Amazon reporter for The Wall Street Journal, The Everything War is the first untold, devastating exposé of Amazon's endless strategic greed, from destroying Main Street to remaking corporate power, in pursuit of total domination, by any means necessary. In 2017, Lina Khan published a paper that accused Amazon of being a monopoly, having grown so large, and embedded in so many industries, it was akin to a modern-day Standard Oil. Unlike Rockefeller&’s empire, however, Bezos&’s company had grown voraciously without much scrutiny. In fact, for over twenty years, Amazon had emerged as a Wall Street darling and its &“customer obsession&” approach made it indelibly attractive to consumers across the globe. But the company was not benevolent; it operated in ways that ensured it stayed on top. Lina Khan&’s paper would light a fire in Washington, and in a matter of years, she would become the head of the FTC. In 2023, the FTC filed a monopoly lawsuit against Amazon in what may become one of the largest antitrust cases in the 21st century. With unparalleled access, and having interviewed hundreds of people – from Amazon executives to competitors to small businesses who rely on its marketplace to survive – Mattioli exposes how Amazon was driven by a competitive edge to dominate every industry it entered, bulldozed all who stood in its way, reshaped the retail landscape, transformed how Wall Street evaluates companies, and altered the very nature of the global economy. It has come to control most of online retail, and uses its own sellers&’ data to compete with them through Amazon&’s own private label brands. Millions of companies and governmental agencies use AWS, paying hefty fees for the service. And, the company has purposefully avoided collecting taxes for years, exploited partners, and even copied competitors—leveraging its power to extract whatever it can, at any cost. It has continued to gain market share in disparate areas, from media to logistics and beyond. Most companies dominate one or two industries; Amazon now leads in several. And all of this was by design.The Everything War is the definitive, inside story of how it grew into one of the most powerful and feared companies in the world – and why this lawsuit opens a window into the most consequential business story of our times.
Stuzzichini: The Art of the Italian Snack
by Stef FerrariA FOOD & WINE BEST NEW BOOK Capture the magic of Italian happy hour with over 100 stunningly-photographed recipes for easy-to-make snacks and memorable sips. From the Tuscan countryside to Sicilian cafes, Italians enjoy their drinks with snacks called stuzzichini ("stoo-zih-ki-ni"). These small bites, skewers, dips, toasts, pastries and more are provided at no extra charge by the restaurant or bar and served alongside Negronis and Aperol Spritzes at aperitivo hour. Let this magical tradition of hospitality inspire your spread the next time you&’re tempted to assemble a cheese board for a gathering or put out a bowl of chips for a snack. Discover Stuzzichini in all of its many mouth-watering iterations: Crunchy bites from Sage & Brown Butter Popcorn to Farfalle Chips with Parmigiano Reggiano Cream Finger foods like Classic Tuscan Crepes with Ricotta and Honey and Prosciutto Cups with Melon and Burrata Filling Fried bites like Ascolana Style Fried Olives or Crab Fritters with Strega Citrus Vinaigrette and a mix of classic and new aperitivo cocktails, from the classic Americano, to a Hibiscus Ginger Spritz and, of course, the mysterious Negroni Sbagliato It's time to relax like an Italian. Stuzzichini is your guide to elevated snacking and recreating that sun-soaked piazza energy, chilled Spritz in hand!
Their Unlikely Amish Courtship: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance
by Cathy LiggettA fake arrangement For the sake of a child No one in Sugarcreek, Ohio, can believe that charming Benjamin Byler and standoffish Miriam Schrock are dating—and they&’d be right. But the Amish bachelor needs the fake courtship to prove he can care for his orphaned niece. Now the mismatched couple must convince their community they&’re truly in love. Except Miriam is more caring and beautiful than Benjamin thought, and he might be in danger of falling for his own charade…From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.