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The Metal Heart: A Novel of Love and Valor in World War II
by Caroline Lea“The story of true innocents caught up in the machinery of war. Exquisitely researched, beautifully told, this tiny corner of Scotland came alive for me in all of my senses and I found myself rooting for the central characters with all my heart.” —Mary Beth Keane, author of Ask Again, YesIn the dark days of World War II, an unlikely romance blossoms between a Scottish woman and an Italian prisoner of war in this haunting novel with the emotional complexity of The Boat Runner and All the Light We Cannot See—a powerful and atmospheric story of love, jealousy, and conscience that illuminates the beauty of the human spirit from the author of The Glass Woman.In the wake of the Allies’ victory in North Africa, 1,000 Italian soldiers have been sent to a remote island off the Scottish coast to wait out the war. Their arrival has divided the island’s community. Nerves frayed from three years of war and the constant threat of invasion, many locals fear the enemy prisoners and do not want them there.Where their neighbors see bloodthirsty enemies, however, orphaned sisters Dorothy and Constance see sick and wounded men unused to the freezing cold of an Orkney winter, and volunteer to nurse them. While doing so Dorothy finds herself immediately drawn to Cesare, a young man broken by the horrors of battle.But as the war drags on, tensions between the islanders and the outsiders deepen, and Dorothy’s connection to Cesare threatens the bond she shares with Constance. Since the loss of their parents, the sisters have relied on each other. Now, their loyalty will be tested, each forced to weigh duty against desire . . . until, one fateful evening, a choice must be made, one that that will have devastating consequences.
Mixed Doubles
by Zoe Le VerdierWhen Natalie Crawford is offered the job as manager of a tennis club in a wealthy English suburb, she jumps at the chance. There's an extra perk, too: Paul, the club's coach, is handsome and charming, and she wastes no time in making him her lover. Then she hires Chris, a coach from a rival club, whose confidence and sexual prowess swiftly puts Paul in the shade. Natalie cannot believe the tactics Chris uses to get female club members to improve their game. And when he embroils Natalie into his kinky sex capers, will she be able to keep control of her business aims, or will her lust for the arrogant sportsman get out of control?
The Seven Year List
by Zoe Le VerdierNewspaper photographer Julia Sargent should be happy and fulfilled. But flattering minor celebrities is not her idea of a challenge, and she's also having doubts about her impending marriage to stunning-looking actor, David Tindall.In the midst of her uncertainty comes an invitation to a school reunion. Seven years earlier, Julia and her friends wrote down their future goals. When the group meet up, adolescent passions are rekindled - as are bitter rivalries - and between old flames Nick and Steve. She cannot resist one last fling, but Steve will not let Julia go. Not until he has completed the final goal of his own seven-year list
The Succubus
by Zoe Le VerdierAdele is a talented ballet dancer, but her dance company is in danger of losing its funding. When Rafique offers the company his backing in return for a private performance, Adele is keen to help. She must dance the role of a sex-crazed demon, and she learns to relish her new role.
Undercover Secrets
by Zoe Le VerdierAnna Caplin is an ambitious TV reporter. When her boss offers her a chance to infiltrate a secret medical institute, she grabs the opportunity, not realising the institute specialises in sexual experimentation. It isn't long before Anna finds herself involved in some highly unorthodox situations with Doctor Galloway - the institute's director.The she meets the attractive but melancholy Frank, Doctor Galloway's son, who knows the secrets on the institute. Will Anna discover them before her taste for games of submission and control grows into an insatiable hunger?
Built to Last
by Minh LêMeet two friends who think they're building imaginative worlds with blocks but come to realize they've been building something far greater--a sturdy, solid friendship--in this picturebook by award-winning creators.Two kids build entire worlds out of blocks, cardboard, and imagination. From boats attacked by a sea creature to a castle crumbling into the ocean. And they don&’t mind when these creations break apart and CRASH to the floor. In fact, they think it&’s pretty funny! Every time, a creation falls apart, they pick up the pieces and keep building bigger and better.But when their latest masterpiece tumbles down in spectacular fashion, the boys aren&’t laughing anymore. Have these two friends reached their breaking point?Playful text by wordsmith Minh Le and dazzling illustrations by artisan Dan Santat showcase their close collaboration in their latest picturebook. As merry as it is moving, here is a story that recognizes the friendships in life that are truly built to last.
The Language of the Night: Essays on Writing, Science Fiction, and Fantasy
by Ursula K. Le GuinFeaturing a new introduction by Ken Liu, this revised edition of Ursula K. Le Guin&’s first full-length collection of essays covers her background as a writer and educator, on fantasy and science fiction, on writing, and on the future of literary science fiction.&“We like to think we live in daylight, but half the world is always dark; and fantasy, like poetry, speaks the language of the night.&” —Ursula K. Le Guin Le Guin&’s sharp and witty voice is on full display in this collection of twenty-four essays, revised by the author a decade after its initial publication in 1979. The collection covers a wide range of topics and Le Guin&’s origins as a writer, her advocacy for science fiction and fantasy as mediums for true literary exploration, the writing of her own major works such as A Wizard of Earthsea and The Left Hand of Darkness, and her role as a public intellectual and educator. The book and each thematic section are brilliantly introduced and contextualized by Susan Wood, a professor at the University of British Columbia and a literary editor and feminist activist during the 1960s and &’70s. A fascinating, intimate look into the exceptional mind of Le Guin whose insights remain as relevant and resonant today as when they were first published.
Torn Apart: How Two Sisters Found Each Other After Sixty-Five Years
by Blanche Le Fleur Derek Flory Sybil Le FleurWhen Sybil and Blanche Le Fleur were growing up in idyllic Burma in the 1920s and '30s, little did they realise the changes and challenges that they would face during their lives. With the death of first their mother and then their father, they had to cope with enormous personal tragedy, including the loss of all their family wealth. Then the Japanese bombed Rangoon on 23 December 1941. Sybil managed to get out of the city, but there was no way for her to return to her sister, or even to know if Blanche was still alive, as the death toll was so high.While Sybil escaped from Burma and settled in Scotland after marrying a Scottish soldier, Blanche lived for over three years under Japanese occupation. After leaving for India in 1958, Blanche made a new life while still thinking of and praying for her sister. Decades later, a chance set of circumstances led to the discovery by Sybil's son that Blanche was alive and living in India. Torn Apart is the heart-rending, inspirational account of how the Le Fleur sisters lived separate lives for more than 65 years before an emotional reunion brought them together again in 2007.
Uncle Silas (Penguin Modern Classics)
by J. Le FanuOne of the most significant and intriguing Gothic novels of the Victorian period and is enjoyed today as a modern psychological thriller. In UNCLE SILAS (1864) Le Fanu brought up to date Mrs Radcliffe's earlier tales of virtue imprisoned and menacedby unscrupulous schemers. The narrator, Maud Ruthyn, is a 17 year old orphan left in the care of her fearful uncle, Silas. Together with his boorish son and a sinister French governess, Silas plots to kill Maud and claim her fortune. The novel established Le Fanu as a master of horror fiction.
The Student Cookbook
by Beverly Le BlancOne of the harshest realities of student life is when you suddenly realise no-one is cooking for you anymore! But don't despair. Forget beans on toast every night and frittering money away on take-aways, there are plenty of tasty recipes in The Student Cookbook. No matter how strapped for cash, how hungover or partied out you are, how weary from cramming, there's inspiration galore in this book, including great ideas for all day breakfasts, a selection of one pot meals, a few 'posh-nosh' ideas for entertaining, cocktail recipes and hangover cures.
The Student Vegetarian Cookbook: 150 Quick and Easy Vegetarian Recipes to Suit All Budgets
by Beverly Le BlancThere's more to being a veggie than eating tofu and chickpeas, and there's more to being a student than beans on toast and chips from the kebab van.With 150 recipes from across the world, this inspiring cookbook is crammed with meals even the novice cook will be able to master, from simple curries and pasta dishes to South American stews and Spanish tortillas.More interesting than the usual student fare, and with delicious recipes students will really go for, from quick and easy meals in minutes to cheap but impressive dinner party winners to wow their mates, The Vegetarian Student Cookbook is a recipe for a tasty and healthy student life.
Witch, Please: Magical Musings on Life, Love, and Owning Your Power
by Sonia LazoThere's more than one way to be a witch! Some witches harness the properties of herbs and crystals, and some craft their own spells and rituals for empowerment and success; some dress all in black, and some prefer a more colorful aesthetic. Author and illustrator Sonia Lazo celebrates the power and diversity of contemporary witches in this enchanting love letter to all things occult. Her charming illustrations offer an inclusive, body-positive message to modern mystics all over the world, reminding readers that anyone can tap into their inner magic—all you have to do is be true to yourself.
Two Children Behind A Wall
by Catherine LaylleIn 1984, Catherine Laylle, a Frenchwomen living in London, met and married a German medical student, Dieter. The couple had two sons, Alexander and Constantin. When, however, at Dieter's insistence, they moved back to his home town in Germany, the marriage began to fall apart. Dieter refused to get a job, Catherine found living with his family oppressive and eventually, she returned to London with the children. The boys spent term time with their mother, holidays with their father - until the summer of 1994, when Dieter decided that his sons should be raised as Germans and, with the support of the local judge, defied the London court ruling that gave Catherine custody. Catherine went to the courts in London, Germany and the Hague - but it seemed that no court outside the jurisdiction of Lower Saxony would overrule the decision. Today, Alexander is eleven and Constantin is nine. Catherine has barely seen them in the two years since Dieter kidnapped them - and then only under the supervision of one of his friends. This is the harrowing story of a mother's attempts to regain her children, and of her desperate struggle against a tyrannical family and the blind injustice of the courts in Europe.
There And Back Again: An Actor's Tale
by Joe Layden Sean AstinWhen Sean Astin, veteran Hollywood actor of over 30 movies including The Goonies, and Rudy, landed the part of Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, he knew it was going to be different to anything he'd ever worked on before. Here he shares his heartfelt opinions on his early movies, how he got the part of Sam at that point in his career, and what it was like to be on set for nearly two years of his life. How did he and the other cast members get along? What were the excitements and the dangers they faced during filming? What happened the evening that Elijah Wood lost the keys to his room? How did Sir Ian McKellen cope when he didn't like the music the hobbits listened to during make-up and what happened when the crew considered striking?Revealing and immensely readable, There and Back Again is the behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to be involved in the making of one of the biggest movie franchises of all time.
The Ghost Horse: A True Story of Love, Death, and Redemption
by Joe LaydenIn The Ghost Horse, Joe Layden tells the inspiring true tale of a one-eyed, club-footed thoroughbred racehorse and a journeyman trainer, Tim Snyder, who scraped together every penny he had to purchase the broken and unwanted filly. Snyder helped the horse overcome its deficiencies, eventually naming her in part after his deceased wife, Lisa, the great and only love of his life—a bright and sweet-tempered woman whose gentle demeanor seemed eerily reflected in the horse. The trainer (and now owner) was by nature a crusty and combative sort, the yin to his wife's yang, a racetrack lifer not easily moved by new-age mysticism or sentiment. And yet in those final days back in 2003, when Lisa Snyder lay in bed, her body ravaged by cancer, she reassured her family with a weak smile. "It's okay," she'd say. "I'll see you again. I'm coming back as a horse."Tim Snyder did not then believe in reincarnation. But he acknowledged the strangeness of this journey, the series of coincidences that brought them together, and the undeniable similarities between the horse and his late wife. And so did those who knew the couple well, and who could now only marvel at the story of the filly, Lisa's Booby Trap, and the down-on-his-luck trainer who apparently had been given a new lease on life.The Ghost Horse is a powerful horseracing story of underdogs and second chances.
Monster Shoes
by Emma LaybournJack's mum insists he has new school shoes and the only ones they can find are horrid, black lace-ups. They are so stiff, noisy and uncomfortable that Jack suspects they must be monster shoes, especially when they seem to kick his classmates for no reason and make the football go in completely the wrong direction at playtime. Jack desperately works on a plan to get rid of them, until he discovers, quite by accident, a way of taming the monster shoes...
Public Administration: For State Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations - Competitive Exam
by M LaxmikanthThis book is meticulously crafted to aid students preparing for Civil Service Examinations, starting from the basics and progressing to complex concepts in an easily understandable language. It elucidates different theories related to civil administration with clarity and simplicity, facilitating clear comprehension. Beyond exam preparation, it offers insights into State and District Administration, and Local Government, catering not only to civil service aspirants but also competitive exam candidates, students, researchers, and academic professionals. Featuring study materials organized by chapters and a question bank for enhanced preparation, it ensures thorough understanding with updated concepts. Divided into twelve comprehensive chapters covering topics like Financial Administration and Theories of Administration, it also delves into Administrative Development and New Public Administration. Overall, it serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in civil services exams or government-related examinations.
Raceless: In Search of Family, Identity, and the Truth About Where I Belong
by Georgina LawtonA Bustle Most Anticipated Debut of the YearFrom The Guardian’s Georgina Lawton, a moving examination of how racial identity is constructed—through the author’s own journey grappling with secrets and stereotypes, having been raised by white parents with no explanation as to why she looked black.Raised in sleepy English suburbia, Georgina Lawton was no stranger to homogeneity. Her parents were white; her friends were white; there was no reason for her to think she was any different. But over time her brown skin and dark, kinky hair frequently made her a target of prejudice. In Georgina’s insistently color-blind household, with no acknowledgement of her difference or access to black culture, she lacked the coordinates to make sense of who she was.It was only after her father’s death that Georgina began to unravel the truth about her parentage—and the racial identity that she had been denied. She fled from England and the turmoil of her home-life to live in black communities around the globe—the US, the UK, Nicaragua, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, and Morocco—and to explore her identity and what it meant to live in and navigate the world as a black woman. She spoke with psychologists, sociologists, experts in genetic testing, and other individuals whose experiences of racial identity have been fraught or questioned in the hopes of understanding how, exactly, we identify ourselves.Raceless is an exploration of a fundamental question: what constitutes our sense of self? Drawing on her personal experiences and the stories of others, Lawton grapples with difficult questions about love, shame, grief, and prejudice, and reveals the nuanced and emotional journey of forming one’s identity.
Mary Poppins, She Wrote: The Life of P. L. Travers
by Valerie LawsonTHE ONLY TRUE STORY BEHIND THE CREATOR OF MARY POPPINSThe remarkable life of P.L. Travers, the creator of Mary Poppins—perfect for fans of the movie Mary Poppins Returns and the original Disney classic!&“An arresting life…Lawson is superb at excavating the details.&” —Library JournalThe spellbinding stories of Mary Poppins, the quintessentially English and utterly magical nanny, have been loved by generations. She flew into the lives of the unsuspecting Banks family in a children&’s book that was instantly hailed as a classic, then became a household name when Julie Andrews stepped into the title role in Walt Disney&’s hugely successful and equally classic film. But the Mary Poppins in the stories was not the cheery film character. She was tart and sharp, plain and vain. She was a remarkable character. The story of Mary Poppins&’ creator, as this definitive biography reveals, is equally remarkable. The fabulous English nanny was actually conceived by an Australian, Pamela Lyndon Travers, who came to London in 1924 from Queensland as a journalist. She became involved with Theosophy, traveled in the literary circles of W.B. Yeats and T.S. Eliot, and became a disciple of the famed spiritual guru, Gurdjieff. She famously clashed with Walt Disney over the adaptation of the Mary Poppins books into film. Travers, whom Disney accused of vanity for &“thinking you know more about Mary Poppins than I do,&” was as tart and opinionated as Julie Andrews&’s big-screen Mary Poppins was cheery. Yet it was a love of mysticism and magic that shaped Travers&’s life as well as the character of Mary Poppins. The clipped, strict, and ultimately mysterious nanny who emerged from her pen was the creation of someone who remained inscrutable and enigmatic to the end of her ninety-six years. Valerie Lawson&’s illuminating biography provides the first full look whose personal journey is as intriguing as her beloved characters.
Ecological Ethics and the Philosophy of Simone Weil: Decreation for the Anthropocene (Routledge Environmental Ethics)
by Kathryn LawsonThis book places the philosophy of Simone Weil into conversation with contemporary environmental concerns in the Anthropocene.The book offers a systematic interpretation of Simone Weil, making her ethical philosophy more accessible to non-Weil scholars. Weil’s work has been influential in many fields, including politically and theologically-based critiques of social inequalities and suffering, but rarely linked to ecology. Kathryn Lawson argues that Weil’s work can be understood as offering a coherent approach with potentially widespread appeal applicable to our ethical relations to much more than just other human beings. She suggests that the process of "decreation" in Weil is an expansion of the self which might also come to include the surrounding earth and a vast assemblage of others. This allows readers to consider what it means to be human in this time and place, and to contemplate our ethical responsibilities both to other humans and also to the more-than-human world. Ultimately, the book uses Weil’s thought to decanter the human being by cultivating human actions towards an ecological ethics.This book will be useful for Simone Weil scholars and academics, as well as students and researchers interested in environmental ethics in departments of comparative literature, theory and criticism, philosophy, and environmental studies.
For the Children: A heart-wrenching World War Two novel of bravery and resistance
by David LawsA young British war widow embarks on a dangerous journey that will change her life, and those of countless others, in this gripping, emotional novel by the author of The Fuhrer&’s Orphans. Helen Fairfax is a ferry pilot and the mother of Peter, aged six. From Monday to Friday she flies from factories to airfields, then returns to the family farmhouse where her parents look after the boy. She feels torn being away from her son so much, but after her husband died in the Battle of Britain she vowed to live up to his example of courage and strike back at the enemy. Now the Germans are about to launch the V-2 against London, and MI6 is desperate to get its hands on an undamaged prototype of the rocket to discover how it might be defeated. One has fallen in Poland—and Helen must pilot a secret flight into enemy territory to obtain it, accompanied by Leo Beck who, ashamed of his part in building the rocket, volunteers to assist her. But after a successful landing, they find themselves pulled into another mission. Parents beg her to fly their kids to safety, far from Nazi squads that have begun kidnapping children. It will mean defying military regulations—but that is far from the only risk she will take when she agrees to this unofficial rescue operation . . .</
Real Ale: Recipes, History, Snippets
by Bill LawsThis delightful book tells you everything you ever wanted to know about real ale - from its first recorded brewing by the Sumerians 5,000 years ago through its spread to Europe via the cultivation of grains to its establishment as a British favourite. Did you know beer was buried with the Pharaohs in Egypt and used as an offering to the gods? Or that in Norse mythology, a warrior who died in battle would go to Valhalla and be entitled to drink as much beer as he wanted? Real Ale unearths all these unknown snippets and is packed with trivia that will inform and entertain.From the origins and history of brews like Bitter, originated in Burton-on-Trent due to the particular style of the water supply, and Black Beer created as a prophylactic against scurvy, this tantalising book includes accessible recipes for brewing and cooking classic beer dishes like Beef and Guinness stew and Welsh rarebit. With delicious recipes alongside little known facts, Real Ale will appeal to everyone from the avid foodie to anyone who simply savours a good pint.
How to Avoid a Happy Life
by Julia LawrinsonSome people are born into bad situations, some people have bad situations thrust upon them, and some people find bad situations through their dodgy choices, lack of information and personal idiosyncrasies. Julia' s life sits at the intersection of all three. From high school dropout on a psych ward to card-carrying lesbian on a motorbike, from enduring a controlling relationship with her ex-lover' s brother to being chased by a media scrum outside a Perth court, the life of beloved children' s author Julia Lawrinson is stranger than fiction – and she draws on all her power as a storyteller to turn a life of intense headlines into a wild, marvellous tale.
Ceramic Science For The Potter (Creative Crafts Ser.)
by W. G. LawrenceThe ceramic artist, potter or designer makes use of materials to create a useful and appealing object. In this creative effort he uses many types of materials, often with little background knowledge as to how they may be¬have. Unexpected or disappointing results may ultimately be corrected on a trial and error basis but usually at too great a cost in time and jangled nerves. For those who have made such mistakes and who wish to understand their materials more thoroughly, this book will be useful.
Wicked Games
by Kelly Lawrence‘Looking back, I think I knew I was in trouble the first time I met him. The road he took me down was at once both more liberating than I could have dreamed of, and yet more intense than I could cope with. If the path of love doesn’t always run smooth ... then how much more crooked it becomes when mixed with raw desire.’This is no novel, but the memoir of an intense, exciting and at times unsettling relationship. Alex, for all his charms, is no billionaire playboy, and Kelly is no blushing virgin; rather your typical, overworked teacher who has no time for games, certainly not the wicked games he leads her into. Games that she ends up craving like a drug…