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Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History
by James CarrollThe &“monumental&” New York Times bestseller in which a Catholic explores the problem of anti-Semitism through Church history (The Washington Post).A Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year and a New York Times Notable BookIn this &“masterly history&” (Time), National Book Award-winning author James Carroll maps the profoundly troubling two-thousand-year course of the Church&’s battle against Judaism and faces the crisis of faith it has provoked in his own life as a Catholic.More than a chronicle of religion, this dark history is the central tragedy of Western civilization, its fault lines reaching deep into our culture. The Church&’s failure to protest the Holocaust — the infamous &“silence&” of Pius XII — is only part of the story: the death camps, Carroll shows, are the culmination of a long, entrenched tradition of anti-Judaism. From Gospel accounts of the death of Jesus on the cross, to Constantine&’s transformation of the cross into a sword, to the rise of blood libels, scapegoating, and modern anti-Semitism, Carroll reconstructs the dramatic story of the Church&’s conflict not only with Jews but with itself. Yet in tracing the arc of this narrative, he implicitly affirms that it did not necessarily have to be so. There were roads not taken, heroes forgotten; new roads can be taken yet. Demanding that the Church finally face this past in full, Carroll calls for a fundamental rethinking of the deepest questions of Christian faith. Only then can Christians, Jews, and all who carry the burden of this history begin to forge a new future.&“Carroll discusses the history of Christian-Jewish relations honestly, touchingly, and personally…Carroll investigates his own prejudices as a believing Christian, a former Catholic priest, and a long-time civil rights activist. As he unearths history (using all the best sources), he also encounters emotions he didn't realize he had and shows how his historical journey was also a personal pilgrimage of faith.&”—Booklist &“A triumph.&”—Atlantic Monthly
The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table: Or Every Man His Own Boswell (Dover Thrift Editions: Literary Collections Series)
by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.Essays inspired by the renowned nineteenth-century writer&’s time at a Boston boardinghouse. These philosophical essays, enlivened by a number of poems, draw upon Oliver Wendell Holmes&’s time spent as a young man at the table with his fellow boarders—the professor, the divinity student, and the schoolmistress, as well as the landlady—in the thriving cultural hub of Boston. First published in the Atlantic Monthly in the 1850s, they reflect on topics ranging from the nature of conversation to the surprising benefits of old age—filled with the flavor of historical New England, and often sharpened with wonderful comic flair. Featured poems include &“The Deacon&’s Masterpiece,&” &“The Chambered Nautilus,&” &“Contentment,&” and &“The Living Temple.&”
Thicker Than Water (Orca Soundings)
by Natasha DeenZack Bernard has a thing for crime shows, especially the forensic-investigation kind. So when his friend Ella goes missing, Zack can't help piecing together what he thinks is concrete evidence that could lead to her whereabouts. The problem is, it's all pointing toward his dad. He knows his dad is lying about not having seen Ella because Zack saw them together at the mall the day she disappeared. What he doesn't know is why. With the help of his friend Ayo, Zack tries to solve the mystery himself to avoid having to make the terrible choice between losing someone close to him and betraying his family. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Watch Out (Orca Soundings)
by Alison HughesFifteen-year-old Charlie stays home from school so he can help his older brother, Tom, who is in a hip-to-toe cast after breaking his leg in a football game. When not waiting on his brother hand and foot, Charlie investigates a series of break-ins that have the whole neighborhood on edge. Things really hit home when Charlie nearly catches the thief and then foils an attempted break-in at his own house. As he continues to piece together the clues, Charlie realizes that the easiest way for the culprit to avoid suspicion is to hide in plain sight. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Up North (Orca Soundings)
by Jeff RossThis is the second story featuring Rob and Adam Maclean after Coming Clean Rob Maclean and his mom have moved to a small community in northern Ontario in order to be closer to Rob's imprisoned brother, Adam. One night after a rowdy party, Rob and some friends end up in a van speeding through a First Nations reserve. The driver of the van has a deep hatred for Indigenous people, and he lobs rotten fruit at a group of young men gathered in front of a community center. The young men chase them down, and Rob's friend Alan is injured and ends up in a coma. Now the police are pressuring Rob to identify their prime suspect. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
See No Evil (Orca Currents)
by Diane YoungWhen Shawn and Daniel witness a gang beating behind the local mall they flee the scene, terrified that they've been seen. They recognize one of the attackers as a locally infamous gang member. When they learn that the kid who was attacked is in critical condition, Shawn wants to go to the police, but Daniel convinces him that they are in more danger if they speak up. The threats they receive from other members of the gang reinforce the boys' fears. When the gang attacks Daniel, Shawn has to put his own safety at risk to help his friend. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
The Way It Works (Rapid Reads)
by William KowalskiWalter Davis is young, handsome, intelligent, dynamic, personable and homeless. The product of a bi-racial marriage but abandoned by his father as a young child, he prides himself on three things: his drive to succeed, his fine clothes and never having been late for anything in his life. Walter is also homeless. The medical expenses that came with his mother's brief and unsuccessful battle against cancer have left him destitute. Still, ever the optimist, Walter believes that if he lives in his car for a few months, he will have the time he needs to find a good job in the business world and turn his life around. His situation gets more complicated when he finds himself attracted to a girl he meets at the mailing center where he keeps a post box. But trying to impress a girl when you have no fixed address proves difficult, and when he's caught in a lie, she shuns his company. Walter's struggles grow when his car is impounded and he can't afford to pay the fine. Only resilience, ingenuity and his drive to succeed can bring Walter back from the brink of despair. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for older teen readers and adults who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Shark (Orca Soundings)
by Jeff RossSeventeen-year-old Mark "Shark" Hewitt is good at playing pool. Really good. When he, his mom and sister move to a new town, Mark immediately seeks out the local pool hall. He loves to play, but even more than that, he just loves hanging out with the regulars. It reminds him of good times with his dad, who is no longer in the picture. When one of the patrons notices Mark's natural gift for the game, he forces Mark to use his talent for profit. Now Mark has to find a way to get out from under this sleazeball's thumb and protect his family. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Unity Club (Orca Currents)
by Karen Spafford-FitzBrett is president of her school's Unity Club. When a new group home for at-risk youth opens in the neighborhood, Brett becomes friends with Jude, one of the boys who lives at the home. After a series of acts of vandalism, the community starts demanding that the group home be shut down. Brett doesn't believe that Jude, or any of the other teens, is responsible, but when an elderly woman is seriously injured, Brett begins to have doubts. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Tick Tock Terror (Orca Currents)
by Melanie JacksonConor loves to climb. So when the crusty old manager of a thrill ride based on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum" challenges Conor to scale the ride in the dark of night and hide a package at the top, he foolishly accepts. But it isn't long before he realizes that he is now involved in something far more dangerous. What is in the package, and what does it have to do with Edgar Allan Poe? And why is the town bully so terrified of the old man? The more Conor learns, the deeper in trouble he gets. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Room 555 (Orca Currents)
by Cristy WatsonFourteen-year-old Roonie loves hip-hop almost as much as she loves her grandmother. Roonie cannot wait to compete in her school's dance competition. But as her grandmother's health deteriorates, Roonie becomes more and more reluctant to visit her in the care home. These feelings of guilt and frustration cause Roonie to mess things up with her hip-hop dance partner and best friend, Kira. But while doing some volunteer hours in the hospital geriatric ward, Roonie meets an active senior recovering from a bad fall. Their shared love of dance and the woman's zest for life help Roonie face her fears, make amends with Kira and reconnect with Gram before it’s too late. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Running Behind (Orca Currents)
by Sylvia TaekemaEven though he was once his biggest rival, Jake Jarvis is thrilled when Spencer Solomon agrees to join the Diamonds cross-country team to compete in the Barry's Bay provincial championships. Everyone is pumped, everyone is focused, and Jake has to admit, he really likes their chances. At the last moment, Spencer informs the team that he can't go. Jake is furious. But when Spencer explains that he's worried about leaving his wheelchair-bound father alone, Jake gets to work on finding a solution to get Spencer and the Diamonds back on track. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Livia: First Lady of Imperial Rome
by Anthony A. BarrettThe author of Rome Is Burning separates fact from fiction as he examines the life of an ancient Roman figure made famous in the TV miniseries I Claudius.Livia—wife of the first Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, and mother of the second, Tiberius—wielded extraordinary power at the center of Roman politics. In this biography of Livia, the first in English, Anthony Barrett sets aside the portrait of a cunning and sinister schemer to reveal Livia as a complex figure whose enduring political influence helped shape Roman government long after her death.&“An excellent biography of Livia—as appealing to the general reader as it is satisfying to the scholar.&” —Colin M. Wells, Trinity University, San Antonio&“In reading Anthony Barrett&’s biography of Livia, I not only learned about this remarkable woman, but also gained a meaningful appreciation of life and society in her time.&” —Howard Alper, President, The Royal Society of Canada &“First-rate.&” —Mary Beard, Times Literary Supplement
Mark the Sparrow
by Clark HowardA suspenseful novel about the last-minute battle to save a man on death row and the uproar surrounding his case as his time runs out . . . Weldon Whitmen was arrested for committing a series of robberies and bizarre sex crimes while out on parole. Now he&’s condemned to die. Claiming innocence, he makes headlines with his appeal—and two people decide to come to his aid. One is a journalist who thinks the sentence is unjust. The other is a law librarian who has feelings for Whitmen. Amid public outcry and political warfare, they will fight the execution while the nation watches, unsure whether justice will ultimately be done . . . This edgy, twisting tale comes from an Edgar Award–winning author whose works have been adapted for film and for television programs such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas (Penguin Modern Classics Ser.)
by Paul TherouxThe acclaimed travel writer journeys by train across the Americas from Boston to Patagonia in this international bestselling travel memoir.Starting with a rush-hour subway ride to South Station in Boston to catch the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago, Paul Theroux takes a grand railway adventure first across the United States and then south through Mexico, Central America, and across the Andes until he winds up on the meandering Old Patagonian Express steam engine. His epic commute finally comes to a halt in a desolate land of cracked hills and thorn bushes that reaches toward Antarctica. Along the way, Theroux demonstrates how train travel can reveal &“"the social miseries and scenic splendors&” of a continent. And through his perceptive prose we learn that what matters most are the people he meets along the way, including the monologuing Mr. Thornberry in Costa Rica, the bogus priest of Cali, and the blind Jorge Luis Borges, who delights in having Theroux read Robert Louis Stevenson to him.
Einstein's Unfinished Symphony: The Story of a Gamble, Two Black Holes, and a New Age of Astronomy
by Marcia BartusiakThis updated edition of the New York Times Notable Book recounts the long hunt for Einstein&’s predicted gravitational waves—and celebrates their discovery. In February 2016, astronomers announced that they had verified the last remaining prediction of Einstein&’s general theory of relativity—vibrations in space-time, called gravitational waves. Humanity can now tune in to a cosmic orchestra. We have heard the chirp of two black holes dancing toward a violent union. We will hear the cymbal crashes from exploding stars, the periodic drumbeats from swiftly rotating pulsars, and maybe even the echoes from the Big Bang itself. More than a decade earlier, Marcia Bartusiak chronicled the gamble taken by astronomers who were determined to prove Einstein right. In their quest to detect gravitational waves, they built the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors, the most accurate measuring devices ever created. In this updated edition, Bartusiak brings the story to a thrilling close with the triumphant discovery of gravitational waves made with the LIGO. "An important, multifaceted scientific story…part theoretical physics, part astronomy, part experimental physics, part engineering."—James Ryerson, New York Times Book Review
Devil's Heaven (The Neil Hockaday Mysteries #4)
by Thomas AdcockA killer targets New York&’s gay community in this &“well-plotted&” police procedural in the Edgar-winning series (Publishers Weekly). Neil Hockaday&’s on furlough from the NYPD as he attempts to cut back on the booze, but his new wife, Ruby, is going back to her advertising job after the couple&’s trip to Ireland. Unfortunately, the same day she returns to the office, her much-disliked ex-boss&’s body is found, killed in grisly fashion and wearing a leather mask. Meanwhile, some of Hock&’s colleagues on the force appear less than interested in solving a string of murders in which gay men are the victims. Now the detective&’s working on his own time, in cooperation with a private investigator he knows, to uncover the truth in a case that will take him everywhere from the Metropolitan Opera to the nightclubs of Manhattan. &“[A] beautifully written series.&” —The Washington Post
A Wedding Ceremony to Remember: Perfect Words for the Perfect Wedding (A\wedding Ceremony To Remember Ser.)
by Marty YounkinA helpful, inspiring planning guide for brides and grooms, officiants, and wedding consultants. This e-book edition of A Wedding Ceremony to Remember now offers even more choices to create a wedding ceremony that&’s both memorable and meaningful. Choose from nine complete ceremonies, a variety of Vows, Readings, Prayers and Blessings, Wedding Traditions, and other Special Touches to design your ceremony and make it uniquely you. In addition, an Order of Service, Program Samples, Diagrams, and Rehearsal and Ceremony Worksheets assist you with all the details—and help make your decisions a piece of cake.
Richard Lederer's Literary Trivia: From Mythology, Shakespeare, And The Bible [standard Large Print 16 Pt Edition]
by Richard LedererThe author of Anguished English presents a compendium of fascinating facts and anecdotes about some of literature&’s greatest authors and works. Author and English teacher Richard Lederer is one of the world&’s foremost lovers of language and literature. In this endlessly engaging volume, he collects some of the most curious trivia about world-renowned authors and poets as well as their many immortal creations. The perfect gift for bibliophiles, Richard Lederer&’s Literary Trivia sheds surprising new light on the books and writers we love.
Nature and Other Essays
by Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson’s famous essay “Nature” declared that understanding nature was the key to understanding God and reality, and laid the groundwork for transcendentalism. His legacy of boldly questioning the doctrine of his day and connecting with nature will resonate with today’s readers in search of meaning and enlightenment. Essays include “Nature” (1836) and Emerson’s first series, published in 1841: “History,” “Self-Reliance,” “Compensation,” “Spiritual Laws,” “Love,” “Friendship,” “Prudence,” “Heroism,” “The Over-Soul,” “Circles,” “Intellect,” and “Art.” Nature and Other Essays joins Gibbs Smith’s best-selling Wilderness series. Standing beside the works of his protégée Henry David Thoreau, as well as John Muir, Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, and Jack London, these essays are reissued to encourage and inspire philosophers, travelers, campers, and contemporary naturalists.
Thrilled to Death Volume One: Hunter, Cain, and Leviathan (Thrilled to Death)
by James Byron HugginsWhen man plays god, evil follows in these three sci-fi fantasy thrillers by the international bestselling author whose &“pacing is nonstop&” (Publishers Weekly, on Hunter). Hunter Scientists have accidentally tapped into the deepest recesses of the human mind—and unleash a terrifying force. Now, with an infected creature is loose in the Alaskan wilderness, the America military asks expert tracker Nathaniel Hunter to locate the beast before it destroys mankind. Cain A top-secret project brings CIA hit man Roth Tiberius Cain back to life as the ultimate predator. But this killing machine has the soul of a devil. Now the only chance of stopping him rests with a soldier who lost his family, a priest who lost his faith, and the beautiful scientist who created Cain and then lost control of him. Leviathan On an Icelandic Island, an illegal biological weapons experiment has transformed an innocent creature into the biblical Leviathan that once terrorized the world. Escaped from its pen, Leviathan is loose in a vast underground chamber—and if it reaches the surface, it could destroy the world. And a lone electrical engineer must find a way to save his family and kill this powerful Beast of Legend.
13.8: The Quest to Find the True Age of the Universe and the Theory of Everything
by John GribbinThe bestselling author of The Scientists presents &“alively and accessible look at how astronomers determined the age of our universe&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). The twentieth century gave us two great theories of physics. The general theory of relativity describes the behavior of very large things, and quantum theory the behavior of very small things. In this landmark book, John Gribbin—one of the best-known science writers of the past thirty years—presents his own version of the Holy Grail of physics, the search that has been going on for decades to find a unified &“Theory of Everything&” that combines these ideas into one mathematical package, a single equation that could be printed on a T-shirt, containing the answer to life, the Universe, and everything. With his inimitable mixture of science, history, and biography, Gribbin shows how—despite skepticism among many physicists—these two great theories are very compatible, and point to a deep truth about the nature of our existence. The answer lies, intriguingly, with the age of the universe: 13.8 billion years. &“Gribbin is a confident, engaging guide . . . a lovingly rendered history.&”—The Wall Street Journal &“An exciting chronicle of a monumental scientific accomplishment by a scientist who participated in the measuring of the age of the universe.&”—Kirkus Reviews &“A book that hits readers with unrelenting detail. And with a story as grand as this one, that&’s exactly the way a good science book should have it. Nothing will be lost here, and everything—a clear understanding—will be gained.&”—Astronomy &“A welcome and relatively quick read for cosmology buffs, students, and amateur astronomers.&”—Booklist
Enemy of the People: A Kyle Dawson Thriller (The Kyle Dawson Thrillers #2)
by Peter EichstaedtWhen terrorists kidnap the president, a reporter uncovers a shocking conspiracy in this thriller by the award-winning journalist and author of Borderland. The US president has called a summit with top congressional representatives in a swank resort retreat in northern New Mexico. But the confab quickly morphs into a national crisis when the president is kidnapped by Islamic terrorists who have secreted into the country across the US-Mexico border. Reporter Kyle Dawson of the Washington Herald covers this delicate political performance with a jaundiced eye. Using his contacts in the region, he starts investigating how the abduction happened. Along with him is his cousin Raoul Garcia, an ex-Special Forces commando who&’s highly capable of the measures required to free the president. But when they learn that the terrorists have secured a tactical nuclear weapon from Los Alamos, Dawson and Garcia realize they&’re up against a conspiracy of terrifying proportions.
The Zodiac and the Salts of Salvation: Homeopathic Remedies for the Sign Types
by Gen. George WashingtonA medical doctor and American mystic explores the relationship between homeopathic remedies and the 12 zodiac signs in this classic text. The Zodiac and the Salts of Salvation combines scientific and spiritual knowledge to provide a holistic, astrology-based approach to wellness. Expanding on Dr. George W. Carey&’s treatise, The Relation of the Mineral Salts of the Body to the Signs of the Zodiac, this two-part volume presents a thorough introduction to the esoteric chemistry of the human body. In Part 1, Dr. Carey discusses each homeopathic remedy and how it relates to the body&’s physiology. In Part 2, co-author Inez Eudora Perry explains the meaning, origin and spiritual significance of each zodiac sign in both eastern and western religion, as well as masonic texts. The authors then detail how each of the homeopathic remedies behave in the body depending on the person&’s sun sign and the current phase of the solar calendar. First published in 1932, The Zodiac and the Salts of Salvation remains an important and informative guide for all students of homeopathy and astrology.
The Parties Versus the People: How to Turn Republicans and Democrats Into Americans
by Mickey Edwards&“An urgent and engaging look at how American politics have become the founding fathers&’ worst nightmare&” (The Daily Beast). America&’s political system is dysfunctional. We know it, yet the problem seems intractable—after every election, voters discover yet again that political &“leaders&” are simply quarreling in a never-ending battle between the two warring tribes. As a former congressman, Mickey Edwards witnessed firsthand how important legislative battles can devolve into struggles not over principle but over party advantage. He offers graphic examples of how this problem has intensified and reveals how political battles have become nothing more than conflicts between party machines. In this critically important book, he identifies exactly how our political and governing systems reward intransigence, discourage compromise, and undermine our democracy—and describes exactly what must be done to banish the negative effects of partisan warfare from our political system and renew American democracy. &“Overcoming tribalism and knee-jerk partisanship is the central challenge of our time. Mickey Edwards shows why and how in this fascinating book filled with sensible suggestions.&” —Walter Isaacson, New York Times–bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci &“Many Americans, whether Democrats, Republicans, independent or otherwise, would welcome a few more like [Edwards] in office.&” —The Boston Globe