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The Yemen Contract: A Hayden Stone Thriller (The Hayden Stone Thrillers #3)
by Arthur KernsA CIA agent must rescue his partner and save millions of lives in this action-packed, international spy thriller by a former intelligence officer. CIA operative Hayden Stone has his work cut out for him. Abdul Wahab seeks to make a power grab in the exotic land of Yemen and establish a terrorist base from which to launch an attack on Europe. Wahab lures Stone to Yemen by kidnapping his partner, CIA officer Sandra Harrington, in Sicily. Stone comfortably operates in this world where tribal leaders vie for power with the central government, al Qaeda exerts its influence through murder and mayhem, and double-dealing among Bedouin and townspeople is a national pastime. And the light from the merciless desert sun can cloak the most potent of weapons. The cat and mouse game goes from the capital Sana&’a, to the deserts in the far east of the country, and to the mountain villages in the north. Stone has a personal stake in this mission but can never keep his eye off the greater plot developing, the one that puts millions in peril, and that only he can stop.&“Kerns takes his readers into the shadowy world of international terrorism. Hayden Stone is a character worth rooting for, and Arthur Kerns is a talented storyteller.&”—Sheldon Siegel, New York Times bestselling author
The Dread Goddess: Book Of Icons - Volume Two (Book of Icons #2)
by Jillian KuhlmannA powerful young woman must restore peace to the land—and herself—in this Arabian Nights-style fantasy for fans of Bradley Beaulieu and N. K. Jemisin.In the rival kingdoms of Ambar and Aleyn, gods walk among mortals in the form of human icons, carrying out their whims and waging untold chaos… Having decimated the city of Jhosch, Aleynian icon Eiren flees to the wilderness of the Ambarian north. She finds solace in a distant sanctuary, trying to make peace with the knowledge that she embodies Theba, the goddess of destruction. Soon, though, there is more devastation on the horizon: an imposter has declared herself the Dread Goddess in Eiren&’s place and rallied the Ambarian army to destroy Aleyn. Traveling to cut them off and save her family&’s kingdom, Eiren works to uncover the secrets of her past and keep Theba in check―all while consumed by memories of Gannet, the Ambarian icon she left behind. Eiren&’s journey takes her back to the haunted ruins of Re&’Kether, an ancient city at the heart of a kingdom their warring peoples once shared. Now she must reconcile who she knows she is―a gentle-souled storyteller―with the monstrous Dread Goddess who dwells within.&“Lyrical and luminous―a great read.&”―Laura Bickle, author of The Hallowed Ones and The Outside on The Hidden Icon Eiren&’s journey takes her back to the haunted ruins of Re&’Kether, an ancient city at the heart of a kingdom their warring peoples once shared. Now she must reconcile who she knows she is—a gentle-souled storyteller—with the monstrous Dread Goddess who dwells within.
Albuquerque (A Southwestern Saga #2)
by Sara OrwigA pretty saloon singer finds danger and love in a novel by an author who &“draws readers in with just the right amount of mystery, humor and chemistry&” (RT Book Reviews). Albuquerque is the boomtown of the New Mexico territory, where ambition and greed make even the boldest of dreams come true. It is where April Dabney resides, singing in church by day and serenading the patrons of a local saloon by night. It is also where Noah McCloud, brother of a fallen Confederate soldier, comes to build a promising future from the remains of a broken past. Noah is convinced that the gold his brother carried was stolen by the woman who was with his last hours—April Dabney. Now the two find themselves caught in an unsettling mixture of suspicion and desire… From the USA Today-bestselling author, this is a novel of passion and intrigue in the Old West starring &“[a] winning heroine&”—Publishers Weekly
Cold in Hand (The Charlie Resnick Novels #11)
by John Harvey&“A welcome return for Nottingham Inspector Charlie Resnick, who&’s been absent from novel-length crime-fighting since Last Rites.&”—Kirkus Reviews It&’s Valentine&’s Day, and a dispute between rival gangs leaves a teenage girl dead. Detective Inspector Charlie Resnick, nearing retirement, is hauled back to the front line to help deal with the fallout. But when the dead girl&’s father seeks to lay the blame on Resnick&’s partner, DI Lynn Kellogg, Resnick finds the line between the personal and the professional dangerously blurred. Meanwhile, the Serious and Organized Crime Agency starts to show a keen interest in one of Kellogg&’s murder cases—a case the agency is convinced is linked to international gun running and people trafficking. Soon Kellogg is drawn into a web of deceit and betrayal that puts both her and Resnick in mortal danger. In Cold in Hand, John Harvey brings back &“one of the most fully realized characters in modern crime fiction&” in another heart-stopping procedural (Sue Grafton). &“The book is quite possibly Harvey&’s most authoritative in years: visceral, engaged and, yes, unputdownable.&”—Independent &“It&’s impossible not to greet the return of Resnick in this eleventh, coda-like, deeply melancholy novel with anything but celebration.&”—Booklist (starred review) &“Impassioned, at times heartbreaking . . . [Cold in Hand] confirms Harvey as one of our most accomplished writers in any genre.&”—Sunday Telegraph
Ellie Krieger's Favorite Vegetarian Recipes
by Ellie KriegerA delicious selection of vegetarian recipes from the New York Times bestselling author of Whole in One. Cooking show host and healthy living expert Ellie Krieger presents ten of her favorite meat-free recipes from the New York Times bestselling cookbook So Easy, like Four-Cheese Baked Penne with Romaine Hearts Mediterranean and Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes with Nutty Topping. In addition, there are three bonus recipes from Ellie's cookbook Comfort Food Fix, including Broccoli and Cheese Calzone and Zucchini-Walnut Bread.
Comanche Passion: The Comanche Series - Book Three (The Comanche Series #3)
by Sara OrwigA warrior kidnaps a US Cavalry officer&’s daughter in a novel by the USA Today-bestselling author whose &“characters leap from the pages&” (RT Book Reviews). Savannah Ravenwood has just stepped off the ship in Vicksburg, smuggling morphine in her hoop skirt, when she is captured by the handsome, dark-haired Red Hawk, a powerful, half-Comanche warrior. Red Hawk needs Savannah&’s help to rescue his orphaned nephew, but as they set on the mission that can cost them their lives, they find themselves surrendering their hearts—to one another. But Savannah knows a future with a man whose only desire is to return to his Comanche people would mean abandoning her own life in Texas. Not even true love can bridge the gap between their two very different worlds. But when tragedy strikes, they discover that the only future worth fighting for is their future together…
Generation Z: What It's Like to Grow up in the Age of Likes, LOLs and Longing
by The Washington PostAn in-depth profile of the digital native generation from the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. For the generation after Millennials, technology has been the only way of life since birth. These children are the first group to have their formative moments chronicled on Facebook, to grow up surrounded by the ubiquity of smartphones, and most important, to navigate a social landscape ruled by the internet. With this lifestyle comes a host of issues that prior generations never dealt with, including cyberbullying, alienation from peers with greater access to technology, and an increasing vulnerability to online sexual predators. This series of articles from the Washington Post delves into the everyday lives of American kids and teenagers. With its exploration of the unique pressures and complications of living an online life (and most of life online), this collection is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of Generation Z.
Lady Maryann's Dilemma (Regency Romance Ser.)
by Karla HockerA fiancé deceit leads a practical lady to embrace her true passion in this Regency romance by the author of The Devilish Marquis. Having never seen a love match that didn&’t end in disaster, Lady Maryann Rivington is determined to wed for practical reasons. So the last thing she wants to hear is a slanderous accusation against her carefully-chosen betrothed. She can't imagine why the handsome stranger who approached her in the Botanic Gardens is so intent on preventing her marriage. But she is so befuddled by the passion in his eyes that she no longer feels rational in the least. Major Stephen Fant spent months gathering evidence against the man who had destroyed his brother, and now the scoundrel is finally within his reach. Though he knows it could jeopardize everything, he simply has to warn his quarry's beautiful fiancée that her betrothed is under investigation. After all, Lady Maryann is far too delectable for the likes of the lowly Lord Tammadge. And as the major gazes into her wide gray eyes, he realizes he'd do anything to keep her safe—except stay away.
How the Weather Was
by Roger KahnThe author of The Boys of Summer writes about an array of legendary figures in this collection of essays and interviews from the late 1950s to the 1970s. &“… In the end, the range, like the style, reflects myself. Let the present, then, and the recent past, the ball players, poets, policemen, professors, musicians—in short, these emperors and clowns—stride before you, each hoping, as the author does, to please.&” Robert Frost, Claudio Arrau, John Lardner, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Leo Durocher, Bobby Thomson, Al Rosen, Jascha Heifetz, and other celebrities in their years of glory, in their times of trial. This is a book about people to be remembered, and what it was like in America at a very special time.&“Beautiful…persons and events through the eyes of a sharp, articulate observer.&”—New York Times &“No one else has written a piece so startling about the legend of Babe Ruth…After reading this book you will never feel the same about a lot of legends…A very special book…A book to treasure.&”—Chicago Sun-Times &“Irresistible…You can&’t stop reading!&”—Chicago Tribune
Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of Napoleon
by Rory MuirThis historical study of Napoleonic battles and tactics examines firsthand accounts from soldiers&’ memoirs, diaries, and letters: &“A major work&” (David Seymour, Military Illustrated). In this illuminating volume, historian Rory Muir explores what actually happened in battle during the Napoleonic Wars, putting special focus on how the participants&’ feelings and reactions influenced the outcome. Looking at the immediate dynamics of combat, Muir sheds new light on how Napoleon&’s tactics worked. This analysis is enhanced with vivid accounts of those who were there—the frightened foot soldier, the general in command, the young cavalry officer whose boils made it impossible to ride, and the smartly dressed aide-de-camp, tripped up by his voluminous pantaloons. Muir considers the interaction of artillery, infantry, and cavalry; the role of the general, subordinate commanders, staff officers, and aides; morale, esprit de corps, soldiers&’ attitudes toward death and feelings about the enemy; the plight of the wounded; the difficulty of surrendering; and the way victories were finally decided. He discusses the mechanics of musketry, artillery, and cavalry charges and shows how they influenced the morale, discipline, and resolution of the opposing armies. "Muir has filled an important gap in the study of the Napoleonic era."—Library Journal
1,000 Vegan Recipes (1,000 Recipes #6)
by Robin RobertsonA treasury of meat-free, dairy-free delights from &“an acclaimed authority on vegan cooking&” (Publishers Weekly). These delicious recipes, for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between, are cholesterol-free, low in saturated fat, and high in fiber and complex carbohydrates. You'll get crowd-pleasing appetizers and snacks like Mango-Avocado Spring Rolls and Savory Artichoke Squares and family favorites like Vegan Margarita Pizza and Baked Mac and Cheeze. Best of all, Robin Robertson gives you an endless variety of recipes from a diverse range of cultures—with something to suit everyone&’s taste. For anyone interested in healthy, delicious eating that&’s also ethically and environmentally responsible, 1,000 Vegan Recipes: Includes a &“FAST&” icon featuring quick and easy recipes that can be ready in 30 minutes or lessProvides kid-friendly recipes to help you get your kids to eat more nutritious foodsOffers detailed information and guidelines on ingredient substitutions, special nutritional concerns, and a handy list of important pantry staples Presents vegan alternatives to restaurant favorites with recipes such as Penne with Vodka-Spiked Tomato Sauce, Fajitas Without Borders, Cheezecake with Cranberry Drizzle, Vegan Tiramisu, and vegan ice creams, sorbets, and granitas
Banned: Baseball's Blacklist of All-Stars and Also-Rans
by Hal Bock The Associated PressAward-winning Associated Press sports writer Hal Bock brings us a fascinating history of the players, coaches and more barred from baseball's ranks, from Shoeless Joe Jackson to Jenrry Mejia. "Banned: Baseball's Blacklist of All-Stars and Also-Rans" weaves together tales of lesser-known characters from baseball's early years with infamous outlaws who have endured throughout the decades. Featuring stories of players like Eddie "The Only" Nolan, Cozy Dolan, Leo Durocher, and Pete Rose who have been expelled or suspended from the sport, Bock's chronicle delves deep into baseball's colorful history. For those who follow the current corporate era of businessmen players and billionaire owners, this book serves as a reminder that America's Pastime evolved from the days when gamblers filled the stands and influenced poorly paid scoundrels on the diamond.In his over 40-year career, Hal Bock has covered every major event on the sports calendar, including 30 World Series, 30 Super Bowls and 11 Olympic Games, making him the perfect storyteller for this retrospective. Featuring an introduction by John Thorn, the Official Historian of Major League Baseball, and more than 25 photographs from the Associated Press archives, "Banned" is a must-read for any fan of the game.
The Best of the Best American Mystery Stories: The First Ten Years (The Best American Series)
by Otto PenzlerTwenty great whodunnits from the first decade of this series, edited by the award-winning editor and founder of the Mysterious Press. This anthology collects the top twenty stories from the first decade (1997–2006) of The Best American Mystery Stories, selected and introduced by Otto Penzler. Contributors include Russell Banks, Jeffrey Deaver, Louise Erdrich, Brendan DuBois, Dennis Lehane, Elmore Leonard, Lou Manfredo, Ed McBain, Joyce Carol Oates, Scott Turow, and many others.
The Soul of Basketball: The Epic Showdown Between LeBron, Kobe, Doc, and Dirk That Saved the NBA
by Ian Thomsen&“A fascinating, thorough look at pro basketball&’s continuing evolution to becoming the &‘sport of the American Dream.&’&”—Publishers Weekly The Soul of Basketball tells the story of an NBA prodigy, his league, and their sport in the throes of crisis during the pivotal 2010-11 season. It began with The Decision, that infamous televised moment when uber-star LeBron James revealed that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers—thereby distancing himself from his role model Michael Jordan—to pursue his first championship with his former opponents on the Miami Heat. To the great fortune of LeBron, the NBA, and basketball itself, the mission didn&’t work out as planned. In this book, veteran NBA writer Ian Thomsen portrays the NBA as a self-correcting society in which young LeBron is forced to absorb hard truths inflicted by his rivals Kobe Bryant, Doc Rivers, and Dirk Nowitzki, in addition to lessons set forth by Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Larry Bird, David Stern, Joey Crawford, and many more. Brimming with inside access, The Soul of Basketball tells the inspiring story of LeBron&’s loneliest year, insecure and uncertain, when his ultimate foe was an unlikely immigrant who renewed the American game&’s ideals. From Miami to Boston, Los Angeles to Dallas, Germany to the NBA&’s Manhattan headquarters, the biggest names in basketball are driven by something more valuable than money and fame—a quest that would pave the way for Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and future generations to thrive. &“Ian Thomsen provides an antidote to the fast-food, twitter feed of instant information consumption…deft prose and snappy anecdotes…Great, great stuff.&”—Leigh Montville, New York Times-bestselling author of Sting Like a Bee &“A fine work of sports journalism.&”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
How to Cook Everything: 20 Fresh, Seasonal Recipes and 32 Variations
by Mark BittmanSummer cooking, simplified—with a recipe collection from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author.Summer cooking is a breeze with this inspiring collection of easy recipes from Mark Bittman, author of the award-winning How to Cook Everything. This quick reference is the perfect companion for a weekend getaway, a stroll through the farmers' market, a casual outdoor party, and planning simple everyday meals. How to Cook Everything Summer includes 20 of Bittman's favorite seasonal recipes—plus 32 variations—designed to help you eat well on even the laziest days, all with hints for ways to improvise with new foods and flavors. From garden-fresh salads, chilled soups, and picnic-portable sandwiches to mouthwatering ideas for the grill, quickly prepared fish and shellfish, and luscious fruit desserts, you'll find all you need to enjoy the most delicious summer ever.
Minds Make Societies: How Cognition Explains the World Humans Create
by Pascal BoyerA scientist integrates evolutionary biology, genetics, psychology, economics, and more to explore the development and workings of human societies. &“There is no good reason why human societies should not be described and explained with the same precision and success as the rest of nature.&” Thus argues evolutionary psychologist Pascal Boyer in this uniquely innovative book. Integrating recent insights from evolutionary biology, genetics, psychology, economics, and other fields, Boyer offers precise models of why humans engage in social behaviors such as forming families, tribes, and nations, or creating gender roles. In fascinating, thought-provoking passages, he explores questions such as: Why is there conflict between groups? Why do people believe low-value information such as rumors? Why are there religions? What is social justice? What explains morality? Boyer provides a new picture of cultural transmission that draws on the pragmatics of human communication, the constructive nature of memory in human brains, and human motivation for group formation and cooperation.&“Cool and captivating…It will change forever your understanding of society and culture.&”—Dan Sperber, co-author of The Enigma of Reason&“It is highly recommended…to researchers firmly settled within one of the many single disciplines in question. Not only will they encounter a wealth of information from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences, but the book will also serve as an invitation to look beyond the horizons of their own fields.&”—Eveline Seghers, Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture
The Aisles Have Eyes: How Retailers Track Your Shopping, Strip Your Privacy, and Define Your Power
by Joseph TurowThe author of Media Today offers &“a trenchant, timely, and troubling account of [retailers&’] data-mining, in-store tracking, and predictive analytics&” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). By one expert&’s prediction, within twenty years half of Americans will have body implants that tell retailers how they feel about specific products as they browse their local stores. The notion may be outlandish, but it reflects executives&’ drive to understand shoppers in the aisles with the same obsessive detail that they track us online. In fact, a hidden surveillance revolution is already taking place inside brick-and-mortar stores, where Americans still do most of their buying. Drawing on his interviews with retail executives, analysis of trade publications, and experiences at insider industry meetings, advertising and digital studies expert Joseph Turow pulls back the curtain on these trends, showing how a new hyper-competitive generation of merchants—including Macy&’s, Target, and Walmart—is already using data mining, in-store tracking, and predictive analytics to change the way we buy, undermine our privacy, and define our reputations. Eye-opening and timely, Turow&’s book is essential reading to understand the future of shopping. &“Turow shows shopping today to be an exercise in unwitting self-revelation—and not only online.&”—The Wall Street Journal &“Thoroughly researched and clearly presented with detailed evidence and fascinating peeks inside the retail industry. Much of this information is startling and even chilling, particularly when Turow shows how retail data-tracking can enable discrimination and societal stratification.&”—Publishers Weekly &“Revealing . . . Valuable reading for shoppers and retailers alike.&”—Kirkus Reviews
Milk: A Local and Global History
by Deborah ValenzeThe illuminating history of milk, from ancient myth to modern grocery store.How did an animal product that spoils easily, carries disease, and causes digestive trouble for many of its consumers become a near-universal symbol of modern nutrition? In the first cultural history of milk, historian Deborah Valenze traces the rituals and beliefs that have governed milk production and consumption since its use in the earliest societies.Covering the long span of human history, Milk reveals how developments in technology, public health, and nutritional science made this once-rare elixir a modern-day staple. The book looks at the religious meanings of milk, along with its association with pastoral life, which made it an object of mystery and suspicion during medieval times and the Renaissance. As early modern societies refined agricultural techniques, cow's milk became crucial to improving diets and economies, launching milk production and consumption into a more modern phase. Yet as business and science transformed the product in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, commercial milk became not only a common and widely available commodity but also a source of uncertainty when used in place of human breast milk for infant feeding. Valenze also examines the dairy culture of the developing world, looking at the example of India, currently the world's largest milk producer.Ultimately, milk&’s surprising history teaches us how to think about our relationship to food in the present, as well as in the past. It reveals that although milk is a product of nature, it has always been an artifact of culture.
Remember Your Lies
by Jill JonesAn ex-cop is drawn into a twisted game of violence and voodoo when she&’s arrested for a murder she didn&’t commit in this Southern romantic thriller. Ex-cop Angela Donahue has traded a life of mystery and danger for one of tranquility when she ended her career with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. But when she&’s arrested for the murder of a man she&’s never even heard of, she realizes that her old life isn&’t as far behind her as she&’d hoped. And neither is the man who once betrayed her heart… Upon receiving news of her arrest, undercover operative Dylan Montana returns from Angela&’s past, determined to clear the name of the woman he still loves. With staggering evidence against her and threats growing more deadly, Angela has no choice but to trust a man she swore she&’d never trust again. But in a whirlwind of deceit, violence, and murder, if Dylan wants to reclaim her heart, he&’ll have to save her life first.&“Voodoo, danger and romance all combine to construct an on the edge of your seat thriller!&”—RT Reviews
A Split Worlds Omnibus: Between Two Thorns, Any Other Name, and All Is Fair (The Split Worlds)
by Emma NewmanNow in one volume: the first three novels in the urban fantasy series &“that playfully mixes magic and interesting characters into an intriguing mystery&” (Kirkus Reviews). Between Mundanus, the world of humans, and Exilium, the world of the Fae, lies the Nether, a mirror-world where the social structure of 19th-century England is preserved by Fae-touched families who remain loyal to their ageless masters. Born into this world is Catherine Rhoeas-Papaver, who escapes it all to live a normal life in Mundanus, free from her parents and the strictures of Fae-touched society. But now she&’s being dragged back to face an arranged marriage, along with all the high society trappings it entails. Crossing paths with Cathy is Max, an Arbiter of the Split Worlds treaty with a dislocated soul who polices the boundaries between the worlds, keeping innocents safe from the Fae. After a spree of kidnappings and the murder of his fellow Arbiters, Max is forced to enlist Cathy&’s help in unravelling a high-profile disappearance within the Nether. Getting involved in the machinations of the Fae, however, may prove fatal to all involved. The Split Worlds Omnibus—spanning Between Two Thorns, Any Other Name, and All Is Fair—presents the intricately plotted and delightfully suspenseful world Emma Newman has crafted.Praise for the Split Worlds series&“JK Rowling meets Georgette Heyer . . . Newman renders the Split Worlds with verve and an infectious sense of fun, and presents in Cathy a strong and personable heroine.&”—The Guardian &“Learning to be a young lady has never seemed so dangerous.&”—Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Lady Astronaut series
1,000 Low-Calorie Recipes (1,000 Recipes #21)
by Jackie Newgent&“This is a gem of a cookbook. Not only is it loaded with healthy recipes, everything I&’ve made from pizza to salad dressing has been a showstopper.&”—Tara Collingwood, &“The Diet Diva,&” Healthline This incredible cookbook is packed with tasty, low-calorie recipes that give home cooks an unparalleled variety of meals and ideas for eating healthfully that their whole family will love. Every recipe clocks in at less than 500 calories, but most are no more than 300 calories per serving. They&’re easy to make and take the guesswork out of portion control and calorie counting. Recipes include complete nutrition information, and full menus help home cooks maintain a balanced eating approach—naturally. 1,000 Low-Calorie Recipes covers finger foods and snacks; salads and soups; meat, poultry, fish, and vegetarian entrees; breads and muffins; and yes, even desserts and cocktails. You&’ll find rustic comfort foods like Five-Spice Turkey Chili, favorites like Pizza Margherita, main courses like Tart Apple-Stuffed Pork Loin, plus innovative recipes that will intrigue and satisfy you, like Caprese Salad Lasagna, Five-Spice Yam Frites, Brooklyn Lager Baked Beans, Homemade Pretzel Puffs, Fudgy Superfood Brownies, and Chocolate Mint Almond-tinis. Written by Jackie Newgent, a well-respected Registered Dietitian who writes for and is interviewed by national media, such as The Dr. Oz Show, Cooking Light, Health, and Redbook, among others Includes clever advice on stocking a low-calorie pantry, maintaining a healthy weight, diet-friendly cooking, nutritious ingredient substitutions, full menus, and more Features ingredients that are fresh and flavorful, keeping with Jackie Newgent&’s &“real foods&” philosophy: nothing is artificial Whether you&’re following a particular diet or just want a single go-to guide for nutritious family meals, 1,000 Low-Calorie Recipes is the ultimate resource.
Conversions: Two Family Stories from the Reformation and Modern America (New Directions in Narrative History)
by Craig HarlineThe experiences of two families—one in seventeenth-century Holland, the other in America today—and how they coped when a family member changed religions.This powerful and innovative work by a gifted cultural historian explores the effects of religious conversion on family relationships, showing how the challenges of the Reformation can offer insight to families facing similarly divisive situations today.Craig Harline begins with the story of young Jacob Rolandus, the son of a Dutch Reformed preacher, who converted to Catholicism in 1654 and ran away from home, causing his family to disown him. In the companion story, Michael Sunbloom, a young American, leaves his family&’s religion in 1973 to convert to Mormonism, similarly upsetting his distraught parents. The modern twist to Michael&’s story is his realization that he is gay, causing him to leave his new church, and upsetting his parents again—but this time the family reconciles.Recounting these stories in short, alternating chapters, Harline underscores the parallel aspects of the two far-flung families. Despite different outcomes and forms, their situations involve nearly identical dynamics and heart-wrenching choices. Through the author's deeply informed imagination, the experiences of a seventeenth-century European family are transformed into immediately recognizable terms.&“A beautiful and moving book. Harline is a master at narrative and at making the most painstaking research look effortless.&” —Carlos Eire, Yale University&“An absorbing, creative book . . . it will definitely become a go-to book for readers interested in the history and psychology of conversion.&” —Lauren Winner, author of Girl Meets God: A Memoir&“An unexpected joy. . . . A compelling, insightful examination. . . . Conversions is a journey well worth taking.&” —Gerald S. Argetsinger, Affirmation.org
Scissors, Paper, Rock: A Novel (Kentucky Voices)
by Fenton JohnsonTwo generations of a Kentucky family struggle with loss and reunion in a novel by a Lambda Award winner: &“Brilliant . . . emotional jolts lurk on every page.&” —Entertainment Weekly Despite the emotional distance that has long existed between them, Raphael Hardin has left San Francisco to care for his dying father in his rural Kentucky hometown. Raphael had finally made a life for himself in California, away from the tiny Appalachian town of Strang Knob—but now that life is threatened by an AIDS diagnosis. As father and son reunite, the story moves to Raphael&’s siblings, among them an alcoholic brother haunted by guilt and a sister beset by loneliness—as well as Miss Perkins, an unmarried schoolteacher who has known the Hardins for decades—painting a portrait of a family and a community, of blood struggles, broken hearts, and binding loves. &“Powerfully moving.&” —New York Times Book Review &“A seductive rumination on the ways that memory can torment or soothe, and sometimes do both at the same time.&” —San Francisco Chronicle &“A wise and compassionate novel.&” —Publishers Weekly
The Big Money: Volume Three Of The U. S. A. Trilogy (U.S.A. Trilogy #3)
by John Dos Passos&“It is not simply that [Dos Passos] has a keen eye for people, but that he has a keen eye for so many different kinds of people.&”—The New York TimesMarking the end of &“one of the most ambitious projects that an American novelist has ever undertaken&” (Time), The Big Money brings us back to America after the Great War, a nation on the upswing. Industrialism booms. The stock market surges. Lindbergh takes his solo flight. Henry Ford makes automobiles. From New York to Hollywood, love affairs to business deals, it is a country taking the turns too fast, speeding toward the crash of 1929. Ultimately, whether the novels of John Dos Passos&’s classic USA Trilogy are read together or separately, they paint a sweeping portrait of collective America—and showcase the brilliance and bravery of one of its most enduring and admired writers. The Big Money, focusing on a passionate pilot whose compromises culminate in despair and an actress led astray by her ambitions, completes this &“fable of America's materialistic success and moral decline&” (American Heritage).
Mortal Rituals: What the Story of the Andes Survivors Tells Us About Human Evolution
by Matt J. RossanoA psychology professor examines what the survivors of the airplane crash hailed &“The Miracle of the Andes&” can show us about human evolution.On December 21, 1972, sixteen young survivors of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 were rescued after spending ten weeks stranded at the crash site of their plane, high in the remote Andes Mountains. The incident made international headlines and spawned several best-selling books, fueled partly by the fact that the young men had resorted to cannibalism to survive. Matt Rossano examines this story from an evolutionary perspective, weaving together findings and ideas from anthropology, psychology, religion, and cognitive science. During their ordeal, these young men broke &“civilized&” taboos to fend off starvation and abandoned &“civilized&” modes of thinking to maintain social unity and individual sanity. Through the power of ritual, the survivors were able to endure severe emotional and physical hardship. Rossano ties their story to our story, seeing in the mortal rituals of this struggle for survival a reflection of what it means to be human.&“[Rossano&’s] narrative describes a &“microcosm of human evolution,&” and I think this book will grab the interest of many readers―students as well as the general public―as it teaches essential facts about the way Homo sapiens evolved.&”—David Hicks, Stony Brook University and Clare College, Cambridge University &“[Rossano] masterfully weaves a moving contemporary drama with a compelling account of the evolutionary history of ritual and religion. An impressive accomplishment and a truly captivating read from start to finish.&”—Richard Sosis, University of Connecticut, cofounder and coeditor of Religion, Brain, & Behavior