- Table View
- List View
Thrush Green: A Novel (The Beloved Thrush Green Series #1)
by Miss ReadDiscover the little English village that neighbors Fairacre, in a novel that&’s &“enchanting, lovely, gentle, pointed, and charming&” (Minneapolis Sunday Tribune). Miss Read's charming chronicles of English small-town life have achieved legendary popularity, providing a welcome return to a gentler time with &“wit, humor, and wisdom in equal measure&” (The Plain Dealer). Welcome to Thrush Green, the neighboring village to Fairacre, with its blackthorn bushes, thatch-roofed cottages, enchanting landscape, and jumble sales. Readers will enjoy meeting a new cast of characters and also spotting familiar faces as they become immersed in the village&’s turn of events over the course of one pivotal day: May Day. All year, the residents of Thrush Green have looked forward to the celebration. Before the day is over, life and love, and perhaps eternity, will touch the immemorial peace of the village. &“The more turbulent the real world, the more charming we may find the stability of Miss Read&’s tiny fictional world.&” —Los Angeles Times
The Good Times
by Russell BakerA &“superb [and] often hilarious&” memoir of a life in journalism, from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Growing Up (The New York Times Book Review). &“Baker here recalls his years at the Baltimore Sun, where, on &‘starvation wages,&’ he worked on the police beat, as a rewrite man, feature writer and White House correspondent. Sent to London in 1953 to report on the coronation, he spent the happiest year of his life there as an innocent abroad. Moving to the New York Times and becoming a &‘two-fisted drinker,&’ he covered the Senate and the national political campaigns of 1956 and 1960, and, just as he was becoming bored with routine reporting and the obligation to keep judgments out of his stories, was offered the opportunity to write his own op-ed page column, &‘The Observer.&’ With its lively stories about journalists, Washington politicians and topical scandals, the book will delight Baker&’s devotees—and significantly expand their already vast number.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Aspiring writers will chuckle over Baker&’s first, horrible day on police beat, his panicked interview with Evelyn Waugh, and his arrival at Queen Elizabeth&’s coronation in top hat, tails, and brown-bag lunch.&” —Library Journal &“A wonderful book.&” —Kirkus Reviews
Death and the Maiden (The Lieutenant Trant Mysteries #3)
by Q. PatrickLieutenant Trant is on the case in this &“fun to read&” mystery by the Edgar Award–winning author who wrote the Peter Duluth Mysteries as Patrick Quentin (Kirkus Reviews). Patrick Quentin, best known for the Peter Duluth puzzle mysteries, also penned outstanding detective novels from the 1930s through the 1960s under other pseudonyms, including Q. Patrick and Jonathan Stagge. Anthony Boucher wrote: &“Quentin is particularly noted for the enviable polish and grace which make him one of the leading American fabricants of the murderous comedy of manners; but this surface smoothness conceals intricate and meticulous plot construction as faultless as that of Agatha Christie.&” Lee Loverling knew her roommate, Grace, had become somewhat of an enigma. After her father&’s suicide and her family&’s failed fortunes, Grace had changed into a willful woman whose romantic dalliances bordered on reckless—and whose moods had become almost sinister. But Lee could not have known just how far Grace had fallen until, after a night of fun in New York City, she&’s found dead in a river, apparently the victim of murder. All of Wentworth College is abuzz with the tragedy, and Lee is suddenly at the center of an investigation led by the intrepid Lieutenant Trant of the New York Homicide Squad that threatens to expose a great many people—both students and faculty—to the scandals Grace left in her wake. Working together, Lieutenant Trant and Lee must unravel the tangled web of Grace&’s life to uncover the truth behind the young woman&’s death.
Living "Illegal": The Human Face of Unauthorized Immigration
by Marie Friedmann Marquardt Timothy J. Steigenga Philip J. Williams Manuel A. VásquezA myth-busting account of the tragedies, trials, and successes of undocumented immigration in the United States. For decades now, America&’s polarizing debate over immigration revolved around a set of one-dimensional characters and unchallenged stereotypes. The resulting policies—from the creation of ICE in 2003 to Arizona&’s draconian law SB 1070—are dangerous and profoundly counterproductive. Based on years of research into the lives of ordinary migrants, Living &“Illegal&” offers richly textured stories of real people—working, building families, and enriching their communities even as the political climate grows more hostile. In the words of Publishers Weekly, it is a &“compassionate and well-reasoned exploration of why migrants come to the U.S. and how they integrate into American society.&” Moving beyond conventional arguments, Living &“Illegal&” challenges our assumptions about who these people are and how they have adapted to the confusing patchwork of local immigration ordinances. This revealing narrative takes us into Southern churches (often the only organizations open to migrants), into the fields of Florida, onto the streets of major American cities during the immigrant rights marches of 2006, and across national boundaries—from Brazil to Mexico and Guatemala.
Marlborough: His Life and Times (Marlborough: His Life and Times #3)
by Winston S. ChurchillThe third volume of the Nobel Prize winner&’s hailed biography of John Churchill covers his military leadership in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, was an accomplished military leader who never lost a battle. This is the third volume in Winston S. Churchill&’s sweeping, four-part biography of his illustrious ancestor, in which he recounts Marlborough&’s military successes in thrilling detail—including his support of William of Orange in the Glorious Revolution, his crucial role in the suppression of the Duke of Monmouth&’s rebellion, and his success in negotiating England&’s diplomatic position in the War of the Spanish Succession. With characteristic flair, Winston S. Churchill brings his ancestor&’s campaigns, intrigues, and personal relationships to life—and restores him to a prominent place in English history. &“A sustained meditation on statecraft and war by the greatest war leader of our time.&” —Foreign Affairs &“The greatest historical work written in our century, an inexhaustible mine of political wisdom and understanding, which should be required reading for every student of political science.&” —Leo Strauss
The Midwich Cuckoos (Fast Track Classics Ser.)
by John WyndhamThe classic science fiction horror novel of possessed children that inspired the terrifying Village of the Damned films. In John Wyndham&’s classically elegant, calm style, this novel explores the arrival of a collective intelligence on earth that threatens to eliminate mankind. The quiet, eerie changes that befall Midwich manifest in strange ways: On the surface, everything seems normal, but scratch a little deeper and there is a clear sense of dread. After the night of September 26, every woman of childbearing age is pregnant, all to give birth at the same time, to children who are all alike—their eyes mesmerizing, void of emotion. These children are innately possessed with unimaginable mental powers and a formidable intelligence. It is these children who develop into an unstoppable force, capable of anything and far out-reaching other humans in cunning. Whatever dwells in Midwich is sowing the seeds for a master race of ruthless and inhumane creatures who are bent on nothing less than absolute and total domination. The London Evening Standard called The Midwich Cuckoos &“humane and urbane with a lightly sophisticated wit putting the ideas into shape.&” Wyndham skillfully heightens the terror by making his narrative so rational and matter-of-fact. In such a nuclear and technological age, this story is rich in irony in that it is set in the picturesque, bucolic English Village and the &“enemy,&” or, the threat is seeming cherubim. &“Exciting, unsettling and technically brilliant.&” —The Spectator
Bordeaux: A Novel in Four Vintages
by Paul TordayA novel about a wine enthusiast&’s descent into addiction, and &“the cheerful face that money can put on an unhappy life&” (Publishers Weekly). After dedicating countless hours to building his software company—an effort that yields him a fortune—Wilberforce walks into a London restaurant, alone, and orders an extraordinarily expensive 1982 Cháteau Pétrus. It is quite an experience—so he asks for another bottle. From the acclaimed author of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, this novel traces the journey that leads Wilberforce from the top of the world to hitting rock bottom as he revels in his newfound wealth and more: his taste for the finer things, a love affair, and a variety of friendships, including one with an eccentric and enigmatic wine merchant named Francis Black. At some point along the way, Wilberforce, once an ordinary middle-class child and then a driven, lonely workaholic, convinces himself that he&’s finally found the good life. But as his story unspools, he learns that Black&’s cellar holds some unpalatable secrets, and that passion comes at a price. &“A heart-wrenching tale . . . A mesmerising page-turner.&” —The Mail on Sunday &“Although Wilberforce&’s tale carries universal moral significance, wine lovers in particular will find Torday&’s descriptive and narrative powers compelling.&” —Booklist
The Queens of Camelot: The Complete Series (The Queens of Camelot)
by Sarah ZettelAll four novels in the fantasy romance series featuring the beautiful women of Camelot from the Philip K. Dick Award–winning author of Reclamation. In this riveting series, author Sarah Zettel expands the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table to tell the stories of those untold heroes: the Queens of Camelot . . . Risa: In Camelot&’s Shadow: When Lady Risa of the Morelands discovers her father has promised her to the evil sorcerer Euberacon, she runs away. After meeting the gallant Sir Gawain, she thinks everything has changed, but Euberacon has other plans . . . Elen: For Camelot&’s Honor: As treachery and violence threaten Elen&’s homeland, a power begins to rise inside her. But with the foul witch Morgaine aiding her enemy, Elen will find strength and love in Sir Geraint. Lynet: Under Camelot&’s Banner: With the threat of war and dark magic looming over her land, Lynet travels to Camelot to seek help from the High Queen Guinevere and restore honor to her family. But she also encounters the womanizing squire, Gareth. Laurel: By Camelot&’s Blood: Laurel, queen of Cambryn, thought an arranged marriage to the reserved Sir Agravain would save her kingdom. However, she wasn&’t expecting to spend her honeymoon on the battlefield. Praise for the Queens of Camelot series &“Zettel&’s artful combination of romance and . . . adventures is truly magical to read and is accessible to even those unfamiliar with Arthurian writings.&” —Historical Novel Society on Risa: In Camelot&’s Shadow &“This novel delivers passion, danger, and excitement laced with fantasy.&” —RT Book Reviews on Risa: In Camelot&’s Shadow
1877: America's Year of Living Violently
by Michael A. Bellesiles&“[A] powerful examination of a nation trying to make sense of the complex changes and challenges of the post–Civil War era.&” —Carol Berkin, author of A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution In 1877—a decade after the Civil War—not only was the United States gripped by a deep depression, but the country was also in the throes of nearly unimaginable violence and upheaval, marking the end of the brief period known as Reconstruction and reestablishing white rule across the South. In the wake of the contested presidential election of 1876, white supremacist mobs swept across the South, killing and driving out the last of the Reconstruction state governments. A strike involving millions of railroad workers turned violent as it spread from coast to coast, and for a moment seemed close to toppling the nation&’s economic structure. Celebrated historian Michael A. Bellesiles reveals that the fires of that fated year also fueled a hothouse of cultural and intellectual innovation. He relates the story of 1877 not just through dramatic events, but also through the lives of famous and little-known Americans alike. &“A superb and troubling book about the soul of Modern America.&” —William Deverell, director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West &“A bold, insightful book, richly researched, and fast paced . . . Bellesiles vividly portrays on a single canvas the violent confrontations in 1877.&” —Alfred F. Young, coeditor of Revolutionary Founders: Rebels, Radicals, and Reformers in the Making of the Nation &“[A] wonderful read that is sure to appeal to those interested in the challenges of creating a post–Civil War society.&” —Choice
Don Quixote: In English Translation, With Active Table Of Contents
by Miguel de CervantesThe immortal comedy of Don Quixote, Sancho Panza, and their chivalrous misadventures. Entranced by romantic tales of heroism and chivalry, Don Quixote goes on a delusional quest for fame and adventure as a self-proclaimed knight errant. Riding his nag of a horse and wearing a rusty old suit of armor, he roams the countryside with his loyal squire Sancho Panza. Together they encounter an array of unforgettable characters and undertake some of the most famously foolhardy exploits in literature. Widely considered one of the greatest works of fiction ever written, Don Quixote is also recognized as the first modern European novel and a classic example of the picaresque novel. Originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, its iconic characters and timeless themes have inspired works of homage from generations of artists, including Pablo Picasso, Richard Strauss, and Orson Welles. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Prism: A Memoir as Fiction
by George C. ChesbroThe author of the Mongo Mysteries reveals the interior life of a troubled writer in this deeply personal autobiographical novel. At the age of fifty-eight, author Garth Fugue is adrift. For the last forty years he has poured his soul into twenty-three novels and countless short stories, all filled with murder and mayhem. By delving into the troubled minds of his characters, he has kept his own demons at bay. Now, Garth is at a crossroads. Despite his floundering literary career, he is attempting to write his magnum opus while simultaneously teaching at a children&’s psychiatric hospital. As he decides what to write about, Garth must ultimately wrestle with his own beliefs about humanity, morality, and the meaning of it all. In this insightful novel, George C. Chesbro exposes a fictional writer&’s tortured mind and, in doing so, divulges the struggles of the real, complicated man best known for penning quirky mysteries and pulpy thrillers. It is an intimate invitation not to be missed.
How to Cool the Planet: Geoengineering and the Audacious Quest to Fix Earth's Climate
by Jeff Goodell&“Thoughtful, informative, and darkly entertaining. It&’s the best treatment of this important (and scary) topic you can find.&” —Elizabeth Kolbert Right now, a group of scientists is working on ways to minimize the catastrophic impact of global warming. But they&’re not designing hybrids or fuel cells or wind turbines. They&’re trying to lower the temperature of the entire planet. And they&’re doing it with huge contraptions that suck CO2 from the air, machines that brighten clouds and deflect sunlight away from the earth, even artificial volcanoes that spray heat-reflecting particles into the atmosphere. This is the radical and controversial world of geoengineering, which only five years ago was considered to be &“fringe.&” But as Jeff Goodell points out, the economic crisis, combined with global political realities, is making these ideas look sane, even inspired. Goodell himself started out as a skeptic, concerned about tinkering with the planet&’s thermostat. We can&’t even predict next week&’s weather, so how are we going to change the temperature of whole regions? What if a wealthy entrepreneur shoots particles into the stratosphere on his own? Who gets blamed if something goes terribly wrong? And perhaps most disturbing, what about wars waged with climate control as the primary weapon? There are certainly risks, but Goodell believes the alternatives could be worse. In the end, he persuades us that geoengineering may just be our last best hope—a Plan B for the environment. His compelling tale of scientific hubris and technical daring is sure to jump-start the next big debate about the future of life on earth. &“Goodell explores with infectious curiosity and thoughtful narration this strange, promising, and untested suite of climate fixes.&” —BusinessWeek &“A quick, enjoyable read through a complex, timely topic. And after you read it, you&’ll never look at the sky or the ocean—or Earth, really—in quite the same way again.&” —The Christian Science Monitor
The War in the Air: Revised Edition Of Original Version (The\world At War Ser.)
by H. G. WellsModern warfare takes to the skies in this novel by a master of science fiction and fantasy. In 1907, young Bert Smallways, a brilliant mechanist and accidental aeronaut, finds himself a reluctant stowaway upon the very same airship that will begin the Great War. Soon, Smallways is swept away aboard the Vaterland, the flagship piloted by a belligerent German prince, whose mastery of technology heralds a new age of war that takes to the sky. Filled with petrol-powered war machines, ironclads, bombardments, and espionage, The War in the Air prophesied methods of warfare that would only develop later in the twentieth century. A cornerstone of early science fiction, this exciting tale is H. G. Wells at his best. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Death of a Cave Dweller (The Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend Mysteries #3)
by Sally SpencerChief Inspector Charlie Woodend enters the smoky dens of Liverpool to stop a killer stuck in a deadly groove. Liverpool, 1960s. When Eddie Barnes, lead guitarist of the rising group The Seagulls is electrocuted on stage at the Cellar Club in front of three hundred adoring fans, the Liverpool Police call in Scotland Yard&’s Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend. But Woodend doesn&’t understand why Eddie&’s mother says that Eddie had a girlfriend, while his best mate insists that he didn&’t. And who has been playing nasty tricks on The Seagulls, culminating in Eddie finding a dead rat—with a noose around its neck—in his guitar case? As Woodend battles with the complexities of the case, he is more than aware that if he does not find the murderer soon, there could well be another death. &“Solid and reliable as Woodend himself.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“Characters are diverse, intriguing and believable, plots never fail to surprise . . . Recommend Spencer confidently to anyone who enjoys British procedurals.&” —Booklist
Inside Out: Architectures of Experience (Conjunctions #68)
by Robert Coover Robert Clark Brandon Hobson Elizabeth Robinson Joyce Carol Oates Robert Kelly Andrew Mossin Ann Lauterbach Claude Simon Cole Swensen Kathryn Davis Joanna Scott Gabriel Blackwell Monica Datta Mary South Lance Olsen Susan Daitch Ryan Call Nathaniel Mackey Can Xue Matt Reeck Lisa Horiuchi Elaine Equi G. C. Waldrep Lawrence Lenhart Mark Irwin Justin Noga Karen Hays John Madera Karen Heuler Frederic TutenNew writings—on rooms, buildings, and the spaces and structures that surround us—from Robert Coover, Joyce Carol Oates, Joanna Scott, and more. From huts to houses to high-rises, childhood bedrooms to churches, the spaces we occupy and pass through shape our memories and perceptions, often without our conscious awareness. These stories, essays, and poems from a wide variety of contributors draw on our sense of place to explore the literal and metaphorical meanings of the roofs over our heads, the walls that protect—and separate—us from others, and the caves and castles that humans have made their homes throughout history. Like the best architecture, they combine form and function in a beautiful balance. Conjunctions:68, Inside Out includes original work by Joanna Scott, Andrew Mossin, Claude Simon, Cole Swensen, Robert Clark, Kathryn Davis, Elizabeth Robinson, Gabriel Blackwell, Monica Datta, Robert Kelly, Mary South, Brandon Hobson, Lance Olsen, Susan Daitch, Ryan Call, Nathaniel Mackey, Ann Lauterbach, Can Xue, Matt Reeck, Lisa Horiuchi, Elaine Equi, Robert Coover, G. C. Waldrep, Joyce Carol Oates, Lawrence Lenhart, Mark Irwin, Justin Noga, Karen Hays, John Madera, Karen Hueler, and Frederic Tuten.
Lawrence Durrell's Notes on Travel Volume One: Blue Thirst, Sicilian Carousel, and Bitter Lemons of Cyprus
by Lawrence DurrellTravel writing &“as luminous as the Mediterranean air&” from the acclaimed author of the Alexandria Quartet, who is featured in PBS&’s The Durrells in Corfu (Time). Born in India, acclaimed British novelist and poet Lawrence Durrell lived in Corfu as a young man, enjoying salt air, cobalt water, and an unfettered bohemian lifestyle, along with his brother, Gerald, who would also go on to be a writer and a naturalist. Their real-life family is portrayed in the PBS Masterpiece production, The Durrells in Corfu. Over the following decades, he rambled around the Mediterranean, making homes in Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece, always bringing his poet&’s eye to document his experiences. Blue Thirst: In the first of a pair of lectures, given during a 1970s visit to California, Durrell recalls his family&’s time living on the Greek island of Corfu, expanding on his eloquent memoir, Prospero&’s Cell. When the Second World War came to the Mediterranean, Durrell was swept into diplomatic service, an adventure he vividly recounts in his powerful second lecture. &“[Durrell&’s] travel books arrive like long letters from a civilized and very funny friend.&” —Time Sicilian Carousel: For years, Durrell&’s friend Martine had begged him to visit her on the sun-kissed paradise of Sicily, but it took her sudden death to finally bring him to the island&’s shores. With Martine&’s letters in his pocket, Durrell treks from sight to sight, dizzy with history and culture, and finds haunting echoes of his past lives in Rhodes, Cyprus, and Corfu. &“Elegant . . . wonderful.&” —Time Bitter Lemons of Cyprus: Against the backdrop of the push for independence on Cyprus in the early 1950s, the poet, novelist, and former British government official buys a house, secures a job, and settles in, yearning for a return to the island lifestyle of his youth. Winner of the Duff Cooper Prize, this memoir is an elegant picture of island life in a changing world. &“Brilliant depth of language . . . gathering slowly from the lighter delightful pages to its lost and questioning end. Never for a moment does [Durrell] lose the poet&’s touch.&” —The New York Times
William James: In the Maelstrom of American Modernism
by Robert D. RichardsonThe definitive biography of the fascinating William James, whose life and writing put an indelible stamp on psychology, philosophy, teaching, and religion—on modernism itself. Often cited as the &“father of American psychology,&” William James was an intellectual luminary who made significant contributions to at least five fields: psychology, philosophy, religious studies, teaching, and literature. A member of one of the most unusual and notable of American families, James struggled to achieve greatness amid the brilliance of his theologian father; his brother, the novelist Henry James; and his sister, Alice James. After studying medicine, he ultimately realized that his true interests lay in philosophy and psychology, a choice that guided his storied career at Harvard, where he taught some of America&’s greatest minds. But it is James&’s contributions to intellectual study that reveal the true complexity of man. In this biography that seeks to understand James&’s life through his work—including Principles of Psychology, The Varieties of Religious Experience, and Pragmatism—Robert D. Richardson has crafted an exceptionally insightful work that explores the mind of a genius, resulting in &“a gripping and often inspiring story of intellectual and spiritual adventure&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). &“A magnificent biography.&” —The Washington Post
The Cold Room (The Corbin and Bentibi Mysteries #2)
by Robert Knightly&“Clever plotting, unexpected twists, high-octane action&” make the second Harry Corbin novel &“a must-read&” from the ex-cop and author of Bodies in Winter (Booklist). NYPD detective Harry Corbin hasn&’t been allowed to work on a homicide case for almost a year after uncovering corruption among his colleagues and superiors. So when a young woman&’s body is found dumped and mutilated on a sweltering New York morning, Corbin jumps at the chance to redeem his career and solve the case. But more than his reputation is on the line as the investigation tales him on a journey into the dark and secretive world of illegal immigrants, where human beings are exploited and life is cheap. The compelling second installment in the Corbin and Bentibi Mysteries. &“[The] second Harry Corbin novel moves with dark deliberation and feels authentic in every detail.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“Ex-cop turned defense lawyer Knightly knows his way around New York City crime.&” —Publishers Weekly
The Shrinking Man (S. F. Masterworks Ser. #No.51)
by Richard MathesonThe legendary novel of science-fiction horror: &“The author who influenced me the most as a writer was Richard Matheson&” (Stephen King). After he is exposed to a radioactive cloud, Scott Carey finds himself shrinking, slowly, day-by-day, inch-by-inch. Scott once had a normal, everyday existence as a husband and father, but as time passes, he becomes a national spectacle, something worthy of newspaper headlines. As Carey shrinks, smaller and smaller, his family become giants, more and more unreachable, and even the family cat becomes a predatory menace. In this world of disproportion, increasingly perilous with each passing day, Scott struggles to survive—and is pushed to the very limits of fear and existence . . . Adapted into the Hugo Award–winning film The Incredible Shrinking Man, this is a classic by the author of I Am Legend and other renowned works—a master of imagination whom Ray Bradbury called &“one of the most important writers of the twentieth century.&” &“A classic of suspense as poignant as it is frightening—a mix that only Richard Matheson could pull off.&” —Dean Koontz
Fear of Flying Solo: An Empowering Guide to Recovery from Divorce
by Marsha VaughnA unique guide to moving on from divorce that &“brings light to an often dark path with humor, compassion, and just the right amount of guidance&” (Kristina Hallett, PhD, author of Own Best Friend). You bought the whole &“&’til death do us part&” thing. Now you find yourself newly—and shockingly—divorced. Perhaps you&’re feeling alone or unlovable. Perhaps being single again is overwhelming and scary. If you&’re freaked out about ever getting your life back together; or if you&’re asking yourself &“Where do I start?&”—the answers start here, in Fear of Flying Solo. In Fear of Flying Solo, licensed clinical social worker Marsha Vaughn teaches those going through divorce how to manage the transition and face all the challenges that come with it. She guides them through asking for support, what to do (or not do) about sex and dating, how to begin anew, and what practices will carry them forward into their new life. If you are caught in the divorce transition and don&’t want to do it alone, Fear of Flying Solo is there for you every step of the way.
A Devil's Chaplain: Reflections on Hope, Lies, Science, and Love
by Richard DawkinsEssays on morality, mortality, and much more from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion. This early collection of essays from renowned evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is an enthusiastic declaration, a testament to the power of rigorous scientific examination to reveal the wonders of the world. In these essays, Dawkins revisits the meme, the unit of cultural information that he named and wrote about in his groundbreaking work, The Selfish Gene. Here also are moving tributes to friends and colleagues, including a eulogy for novelist Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker&’s Guide to the Galaxy; correspondence with fellow biologist Stephen Jay Gould; commentary on the events of 9/11; and visits with the famed paleoanthropologists Richard and Meave Leakey at their African wildlife preserve. Ending with a vivid note to Dawkins&’s ten-year-old daughter, reminding her to remain curious, ask questions, and live the examined life, A Devil&’s Chaplain is a fascinating read by &“a man of firm opinions, which he expresses with clarity and punch&” (Scientific American).
Courting Shadows
by Jem Poster&“A fantastically tightly written, read-every-word novel . . . As a psychological thriller, it&’s as close to wonderful as anything I&’ve recently read&” (The Guardian). In the winter of 1881, John Stannard, a young architect, is in self-imposed exile in a remote English village, carrying out repairs to the parish church. Arrogant and insensitive to what he considers superstition and sentimental attachment to the past, he soon begins to inflict serious damage on the ancient building as well as on those with whom he comes into contact—most notably the beautiful, ambitious, local girl Ann Rosewell. This is the mesmerizing tale of a man who clings ferociously to his warped notion of civilized behavior, unwilling to admit his need for love. Set in a vividly evoked landscape and taut with foreboding, Jem Poster&’s striking first novel pits reason against emotion, progress against preservation, and explores our capacity for invention and self-delusion—the stories we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves. &“[A] dazzling debut . . . Wholly involving from start to finish.&” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) &“Written in lavishly beautiful prose, this is a consistently tense tale of rationality, self-delusion, and epidemic superstition.&” —Booklist
Journeys: 72 Essays about Immigration and American Greatness
by Alan Alda Arlene AldaA compilation of American immigration tales, featuring seventy-two essays from Nancy Pelosi, Dr. Oz, Michael Bloomberg, Alan Alda, Mary Choi, and others. Journeys captures the quintessential idea of the American dream. The individuals in this book are only a part of the brilliant mosaic of people who came to this country and made it what it is today. Read about the governor&’s grandfathers who dug ditches and cleaned sewers, laying the groundwork for a budding nation; how a future cabinet secretary crossed the ocean at age eleven on a cargo ship; about a young boy who fled violence in Budapest to become one of the most celebrated American football players; the girl who escaped persecution to become the first Vietnamese American woman ever elected to the US congress; or the limo driver whose family took a seventy-year detour before finally arriving at their original destination, along with many other fascinating tales of extraordinary and everyday Americans. In association with the New-York Historical Society, Andrew Tisch and Mary Skafidas have reached out to a variety of notable figures to contribute an enlightening and unique account of their family&’s immigration story. All profits will be donated to the New-York Historical Society and the Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Foundation. Featuring essays by: Arlene Alda, Tony Bennett, Cory Booker, Barbara Boxer, Elaine Chao, Andrew Cuomo, Ray Halbritter, Jon Huntsman, Wes Moore, Stephanie Murphy, Deborah Norville, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Gina Raimondo, Tim Scott, Jane Swift, Marlo Thomas, And many more! &“Illustrate[s] the positive and powerful impact that immigration has had in weaving the fabric of America . . . inspiring.&” —Warren Buffett
Finding Your Own Happy: The Soul-Searcher's Guide to Peace and Happiness in Everyday Life
by Elana DavidsonWhy do some people have to work so hard to find happiness? Discover the practices that can help on your journey to contentment. Have you been a soul-searcher all your life? A seeker, a quester for greater understanding of yourself and the human experience? Do you long to be able to be in this world in ways that you can feel truly sane and happy? Maybe life feels more intense and emotional for you than it does for those around you . . . or you wonder if you&’re just crazy because you seem to experience the world so differently than other people do? Perhaps you wonder if you&’ll ever get to a place of truly feeling happy. You&’re smart, conscious, and self-reflective. You seem to be doing all the &“right&” things. So why can&’t you seem to get there despite everything you&’ve tried? Part practical self-help guide, part honest and personal account of one soul-searcher&’s quest for happiness, Finding Your Own Happy shows you: The surprising number-one thing you&’ve been missing that has kept you from your happiness (until now)Why all the things you&’ve tried that seemed to work for other people actually couldn&’t work for youPractical tools and practices that can immediately change your experience and put you on the path to true and lasting happiness in your life If you&’re tired of trying so hard or searching for answers you cannot seem to find, let the insight and tools Elana Davidson has gained from years of working with clients and decades of searching for the missing keys to her own happiness support and guide you to a place of greater peace and fulfillment in your life.
The Liam Devlin Novels: The Eagle Has Landed, Touch the Devil, and Confessional (The Liam Devlin Novels #Bk. 1)
by Jack HigginsThree New York Times–bestselling thrillers take IRA gunman Liam Devlin from WWII to the Cold War to a terrorist plot in Northern Ireland. In The Eagle Has Landed, the inspiration for the film starring Donald Sutherland, an audacious Nazi plan to kidnap Winston Churchill threatens to tip the scales of World War II. In November 1943, an elite team of Nazi paratroopers descends on British soil with a diabolical goal: Abduct Winston Churchill and cripple the Allied war effort. The mission, ordered by Hitler himself and planned by Heinrich Himmler, is led by ace agent Kurt Steiner and aided on the ground by IRA gunman Liam Devlin. As the deadly duo executes Hitler&’s harrowing plot, only the quiet town of Studley Constable stands in their way. Its residents, including a beautiful widow, are the lone souls aware of the impending Nazi plan, and they must become the most unlikely of heroes as the fate of the war hangs in the balance. In Touch the Devil, in the shadow of the Cold War, two rugged IRA veterans must crush a ruthless mercenary before his deadly scheme can bring Europe to its knees. Terrorist-for-hire Frank Barry has been wreaking havoc in Germany and France with backing from the KGB. But his next mission might be his deadliest: Barry plans to steal a state-of-the-art missile and sell it to the highest bidder. Only Barry&’s longtime rivals, retired IRA gunman Liam Devlin and his ally Martin Brosnan, can prevent the missile from falling into the wrong hands. But first, Devlin must stage a thrilling jailbreak to free Brosnan before the men set off on a gripping race against the clock to eliminate Barry and end his reign of terror. In Confessional, a rogue terrorist in Northern Ireland prepares for his final deadly strike. Trained by the KGB, the assassin known as Cuchulain has cut a path of violence throughout the region for over two decades, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Now he has set his audacious sights on his highest profile target yet: the pope. Desperate to stop the terrorist, British Intelligence enlists an enemy Irish gunman, Liam Devlin, to accomplish what they never could. He must put an end to Cuchulain, once and for all. Jack Higgins is, without a doubt, &“the master&” (Tom Clancy) of well-crafted World War II espionage thrillers. These three novels featuring Liam Devlin are required reading for lovers of intrigue, action, suspense, and adventure.