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Captain of the Sleepers: A Novel
by Mayra MonteroFor fifty years, Andres Yasin has carried a grudge against J.T. Bunker. Now, Bunker, eighty-two years old and dying of cancer, wants to tell his side of a story, a story of his affair with Andres's mother. As a child Andres knew Bunker as the "Captain of the Sleepers"-so called because he transported the bodies of those who had died off the island, but wished to be buried at home. But what really happened between Bunker and Andres's mother, between his mother and her next lover, a leader in the Puerto Rican Nationalistic Insurrection, and what were the actual circumstances of Andres's mother's mysterious death?In this taut, erotic novel that slips effortlessly between past and present, remembrance and reality, Mayra Montero describes a feverish Caribbean childhood of secrets, disillusionment, and sexual awakening. Beautifully translated by Edith Grossman, The Captain of the Sleepers confirms Montero's stature as one of our finest prose stylists and as an international writer of the first rank.
The Thinking Life: How to Thrive in the Age of Distraction
by P. M. ForniHow do we turn off the noise of daily life, turn on our brains, and begin to engage in that fundamental human activity known as thinking again? P.M. Forni, America's civility expert has given some thought to how we can successfully think our way through a greatly distracting world and live a better life. In The Thinking Life, he looks at the importance of thinking: how we do it, why we don't do it enough and why we need to do more of it. In twelve short chapters, he gives readers a remedy for the Age of Distraction, an age fuelled by social networking overload, compulsive texting and an omnipresent stream of cellphone calls. He shows how to put aside time each day to improve:- Attention- Introspection- Self-control- Positive thinking- Proactive thinking- Decision making- Creative thinking- Problem solving Just as Forni did with civility, he puts the importance of good thinking front and center in a book as lucid and profound as his earlier works."The most provocative and useful book I've read in years." -Robert Sutton, New York Times bestselling author of The No Asshole Rule
The Race Card: How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse
by Richard Thompson FordA New York Times Notable Book of the YearWhat do hurricane Katrina victims, millionaire rappers buying vintage champagne, and Ivy League professors waiting for taxis have in common? All have claimed to be victims of racism. But these days almost no one openly defends bigoted motives, so either a lot of people are lying about their true beliefs, or a lot of people are jumping to unwarranted conclusions--or just playing the race card. Daring, entertaining, and incisive, The Race Card brings sophisticated legal analysis, eye-popping anecdotes, and plain old common sense to this heated topic.
Read Bottom Up: A Novel
by Neel Shah Skye ChathamA charming novel about falling in love (or like) in the digital age—the never-before-seen full story.Madeline and Elliot meet at a New York City restaurant opening. Flirtation—online—ensues. A romance, potentially eternal, possibly doomed, begins.And, like most things in life today, their early exchanges are available to be scrutinized and interpreted by well-intentioned friends who are a mere click away.Madeline and Elliot's relationship unfolds through a series of thrilling, confounding, and funny exchanges with each other, and, of course, with their best friends and dubious confidants (Emily and David). The result is a brand-new kind of modern romantic comedy, in format, in content, and even in creation—the authors exchanged e-mails in real time, blind to each other's side conversations. You will nod in appreciation and roll your eyes in recognition; you'll learn a thing or two about how the other half approaches a new relationship . . . and you will cheer for an unexpected ending that just might restore your faith in falling in love, twenty-first-century style.
Your Kitchen's Magic Wand: Getting the Most Out of Your Handheld Immersion Blender
by Tom SteeleYour Kitchen's Magic Wand consists of 60+ recipes for all kinds of dishes that are made considerably easier with the use of an immersion blender, in terms of convenience, time-saving, and clean-up. The book takes the immersion blender out of the smoothie and soup closet and into the mainstream, with a wide range of appetizers, cocktails, salads, pastas, entrees, side dishes and desserts, in addition to some wonderful soups and smoothies -- all made easier and faster because they're made with an immersion blender at a crucial point in the recipe.Recipes include:Penne with green peppercorn cream sauceVeal-saffron meatloafPanchetta and red peppersBeef tenderloin steaks stuffed with Brie in a cranberry Balsamic reductionChilean Shepherd's Pie
The Reel Truth: Everything You Didn't Know You Need to Know About Making an Independent Film
by Reed MartinDid you know that most of the biggest indie filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers working today each made the same avoidable mistakes early on in their careers?The Reel Truth details the pitfalls, snares, and roadblocks that aspiring filmmakers encounter. Reed Martin interviewed more than one hundred luminaries from the independent film world to discuss the near misses that almost derailed their first and second films and identify the close shaves that could have cut their careers short. Other books may tell you the best way to make your independent film or online short, but no other book describes so candidly how to spot and avoid such issues and obstacles as equipment problems, shooting-day snafus, postproduction myths, theatrical distribution deal breakers, and dozens of other commonly made missteps, including the top fifty mistakes every filmmaker makes.From personal experience and his years as a freelance reporter covering independent film for USA Today and Filmmaker magazine, Martin uncovers the truth about the risks and potential rewards that go with chasing celluloid glory. Whether you're writing a screenplay, looking for financing, about to start shooting, or thinking about investing time and money (or someone else's money) in an independent film, The Reel Truth is a must-read.
The Mosul Legacy
by Christopher LoweryThere are no winners in war… Mosul, Iraq, 2016: Once ISIL's greatest conquest, the city is fast becoming a giant graveyard. As Western attacks devastate the city, even senior officers like Karl realise defeat is inevitable, while traumatised families find themselves displaced, looking for somewhere safe to call home. On Karl&’s instructions, two jihadists travel across the EU, planning to bring terror to the West. German police officer Max Kellerman is on their trail, but can he find them in time to prevent a catastrophic terrorist attack? Meanwhile, the Al-Douri family flee Mosul in search of peace and safety in Western Europe. As refugees they face an impossible journey fraught with danger, but will they ever reach the safety they dream of?The Mogul Legacy is a story about love, sacrifice and the horrors of war, that combines detailed factual events with a gripping multi-stranded plot and culminates with a surprise finale…
Holiday in July: An emotional and feel good women's fiction novel (Tarrin’s Bay)
by Juliet MadisonLacie is used to keeping her Hollywood clients&’ secrets—but when it comes to keeping her own, things seem much more complicated . . . When she touches down for a fleeting family reunion in Tarrin&’s Bay, Lacie knows she&’s pregnant. She also knows who the father is, and suspecting he won&’t be thrilled by the news, she keeps the news to herself. Then she meets Nathan, who makes her heart and her stomach flip. When she returns to the United States and the two keep in touch, it&’s clear this is more than a holiday romance. But Lacie hasn&’t told him about the baby, and the moment has long passed when she should have come clean. But fate has a way of forcing your hand. And another unexpected trip to Australia brings into sharp focus everything that Lacie holds dear. Maybe it&’s not such a tough choice after all.Holiday in July is the latest immersive novel in the beloved Tarrin&’s Bay series from acclaimed author Juliet Madison, richly evoking a world of family, friendship, the challenges of love, and the comforts of home.
Battles of the Wars of the Roses
by David CohenThe Wars of the Roses saw a series of bloody battles during one of the most turbulent periods of English history. The houses of Lancaster and York fought for control of the crown, devastating the nobility and bringing an end to the illustrious Plantagenet dynasty. Starting with an overview of the politics and events that culminated in the wars, this new history focuses on the seventeen battles that took place around the country between 1455 and 1487. It considers the causes, course and result of each battle, beginning with the first battle of St Albans on 22 May 1455, which was won by the Yorkist faction lead by Richard, Duke of York. The bloodiest battle ever known on English soil at Towton on 29 March 1461, and the victory there of the first Yorkist King Edward IV is described here in vivid detail. The battle of Tewkesbury on 4 May 1471 saw the death of Edward Prince of Wales, the last male heir of the Lancastrians, and the subsequent murder of King Henry VI at the Tower of London. The defeat and death of King Richard III at the battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485 marked the end of the Plantagenet dynasty. The last battle of the Wars of the Roses was at East Stoke on 16 June 1487 where the first Tudor King Henry VII crushed the Yorkist revolt. The final chapter of the book is devoted to the mystery of the Princes in the Tower, who disappeared at the Tower of London during the reign of King Richard III in 1483, and the suspects to their likely murders. Written with the most up-to-date archaeological and documentary research, and including many images of the main protagonists, battle sites, maps and genealogical charts, this is a fascinating new insight into the Wars of the Roses.
Speed Queens: A Secret History of Women in Motorsport
by Rachel Harris-GardinerSpeed Queens is a history of women in motorsport, from the very beginning in 1897 to the modern era. Tracing the different ways that women have found into motor racing and rallying, it covers over a century of stories across the world. Each chapter takes a particular event as an introduction to a racer and her contemporaries, taking a different theme each time and moving forward through history. Circuit racing and rallying are both covered. Much more than a collection of profiles and lists of achievements, it explores ideas including sportswomen as performers in the early 20th century, women, death and risk and how the expansion of small car production in the 1960s benefitted female drivers. Some of the best-known female competitors such as Michele Mouton (rallying) and Lella Lombardi (Formula 1) make appearances, but Speed Queens is not just concerned with big names and historic “firsts”. For every woman to be the first to do something on wheels, there were usually several others vying for that honor. In this book, they are given back their place in the story and their relationships to one another examined.
One Hot Summer: A completely hilarious feel-good romantic comedy
by Debbie IoannaThe author of Blind Date returns with a wildly entertaining tale of friends, fix-ups, and holding out for your hero . . . Now that Jenny is happily coupled-up, the tables have turned—and it&’s time to help her best friend, Sarah, achieve her happily ever after. Jenny knows that Sarah is going to find love. But Sarah isn&’t so sure . . . Sarah&’s gorgeous both inside and out, so despite her recent breakup, it shouldn&’t be hard for her to find someone to settle down with. The trouble is, she doesn&’t want just anyone—she wants The One. But will Mr. Right come along? And if he does, how will she recognize him? This heartwarming, riotous tale about love and enduring friendship from Debbie Ioanna is perfect for fans of Joanna Bolouri, Jo Platt, and Hannah Ellis.
Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother
by Gareth StreeterFor too long, Arthur Tudor has been remembered only for what he never became. The boy who died prematurely and paved the way for the revolutionary reign of his younger brother, Henry VIII. Yet, during his short life, Arthur was at the center of one of the most tumultuous periods of England’s history. At the time of his birth, he represented his father’s hopes for a dynasty and England’s greatest chance of peace. As he grew, he witnessed feuds, survived rebellion and became the focal point of an international alliance. From the threat of pretenders to West Country rebellions, the dramatic twists and turns of early Tudor England preoccupied Arthur’s thoughts. At a young age, he was dispatched to the Welsh border, becoming a figure head for a robust regional government. While never old enough to exercise full power in his dominion, he emerged as a figure of influence, beseeched by petitioners and consulted by courtiers. While the extent of his personal influence can only be guessed at, the sources that survive reveal a determined prince that came tantalizingly close to forging his future. Finally, after years of negotiation, delay and frustration, the prince finally came face to face with his Spanish bride, Katharine of Aragon. The young couple had shared a destiny since the cradle. Securing the hand of this prestigious pride for his son had been a center piece of Henry VII’s foreign policy. Yet, despite being 14 years in the making, the couple were to enjoy just five months together before Arthur succumbed to a mysterious illness. Arthur’s death at the age of 15 was not just a personal tragedy for his parents. It changed the course of the future and deprived England of one of the most educated and cultivated princes in their history. Arthur would never wear the crown the of England. But few Princes of Wales had been better prepared to rule. Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother shows that Arthur Tudor was more than a prince who died. He was a boy that really lived.
The Way Things Were: A Novel
by Aatish TaseerAn absorbing family saga set amid the commotion of the last forty years of Indian historyThe Way Things Were opens with the death of Toby, the Maharaja of Kalasuryaketu, a Sanskritist who has not set foot in India for two decades. Moving back and forth across three sections, between today's Delhi and the 1970s, '80s, and '90s in turn, the novel tells the story of a family held at the mercy of the times. A masterful interrogation of the relationships between past and present and among individual lives, events, and culture, Aatish Taseer's The Way Things Were takes its title from the Sanskrit word for history, itihasa, whose literal translation is "the way things indeed were." Told in prose that is at once intimate and panoramic, and threaded through with Sanskrit as central metaphor and chorus, this is a hugely ambitious and important book, alive to all the commotion of the last forty years but never losing its brilliant grasp on the current moment.
Murders at the Harmony Hollows Resort (The Prunella Pearce Mysteries)
by Gina KirkhamA sleuthing librarian and her friends embark on a fun-filled trip to a holiday camp—but death isn&’t taking a holiday . . .June 1998: Elodie Marshall has committed a terrible crime. But when she&’s deemed unfit to plead, she is sentenced to living within the confines of a mental health facility . . .Present day: Amateur detective Pru Pearce and her friends from the Winterbottom Women&’s Institute are about to embark on their annual getaway. The 1960s Butlins-style Harmony Hollows Resort has caught their attention for a few reasons, including the northern ballroom championships and the unsolved double murder from 1983. But what the women thought was just a cold case soon steps into the present when a murderer, dubbed The Grim Sleeper, strikes. Soon, Pru and the other WI women are dragged deeper into the mysteries of both the past and present-day murders. But this is no evening entertainment—this is real life, and everyone is in danger . . . Can Pru uncover the truth before another innocent camper is offed? Or are her friends in Chalet 13 destined to meet a grisly end? This killer comedy is the latest in the series of &“warm, cozy crime capers&” by the author of the Constable Mavis Upton novels (Jill&’s Book Café).
The Obsidian Temple: A Desert Rising Novel (Desert Rising Novels #2)
by Kelley GrantIn this mesmerizing sequel to the epic fantasy Desert Rising, Kelley Grant brings us back to the cities of Illian and Shpeth, where the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and two twins--Sulis and Kadar--might have enough magic and power to finally bring about peace.After a harrowing escape to the desert, Sulis Hasifel finds her calling is not yet fulfilled. Traveling to the Obsidian Temple—the site of an ancient divine battle—Sulis is tasked with mentoring Ava, a young girl with a troubled past. Together, they join a group of magically gifted warriors to re-make the very fabric of the universe. But the fate of the world hinges on whether Ava can harness her power, and some trials cannot be overcome.Returning to Illian, Sulis's twin Kadar finds that his lover, Farrah, has abandoned their newborn daughter for the revolutionary cause. Not willing to give up his dream of a family, Kadar vows to stay by Farrah's side. But when he finds that Farrah is willing to anger the gods to aid the Forsaken caste's uprising, and as she steps farther down a violent and dark path, Kadar must decide if he will help her…or let the world spin out of control.
Silences So Deep: Music, Solitude, Alaska
by John Luther Adams"[An] illuminating memoir." —Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, The New York TimesThe story of a composer's life in the Alaskan wilderness and a meditation on making art in a landscape acutely threatened by climate changeIn the summer of 1975, the composer John Luther Adams, then a twenty-two-year-old graduate of CalArts, boarded a flight to Alaska. So began a journey into the mountains, forests, and tundra of the far north—and across distinctive mental and aural terrain—that would last for the next forty years. Silences So Deep is Adams’s account of these formative decades—and of what it’s like to live alone in the frozen woods, composing music by day and spending one’s evenings with a raucous crew of poets, philosophers, and fishermen. From adolescent loves—Edgard Varèse and Frank Zappa—to mature preoccupations with the natural world that inform such works as The Wind in High Places, Adams details the influences that have allowed him to emerge as one of the most celebrated and recognizable composers of our time. Silences So Deep is also a memoir of solitude enriched by friendships with the likes of the conductor Gordon Wright and the poet John Haines, both of whom had a singular impact on Adams’s life. Whether describing the travails of environmental activism in the midst of an oil boom or midwinter conversations in a communal sauna, Adams writes with a voice both playful and meditative, one that evokes the particular beauty of the Alaskan landscape and the people who call it home.Ultimately, this book is also the story of Adams’s difficult decision to leave a rapidly warming Alaska and to strike out for new topographies and sources of inspiration. In its attentiveness to the challenges of life in the wilderness, to the demands of making art in an age of climate crisis, and to the pleasures of intellectual fellowship, Silences So Deep is a singularly rich account of a creative life.
Badlands
by Gary KruseWhen her sister goes missing, a woman must confront the past she&’s tried to escape in this &“gripping and intense&” thriller &“with a dark twist&” (Jenna Morrison, author of A Brother&’s Truth). Willow has run as far as she can. From her home. From the friends she hurt. From the family who betrayed her. From herself. But when her sister, Ellie, goes missing, Willow is drawn back to her old life. She must face her family, the sins of her past, and the darkness at the heart of a quiet Cornish community. What happened to Ellie? Can Willow uncover how close the enemy is, or will she become yet another victim of the Badlands?
How I Came to Sparkle Again: A Novel
by Kaya McLarenSet in a Colorado ski town, Kaya McLaren's How I Came To Sparkle Again is a remarkable breakout novel that chronicles three people and their journey from loss to love; heartbreak to hopeJill Anthony spent her young adulthood in the ski town of Sparkle, Colorado. But more than a decade has passed since she left when, only weeks after a very late miscarriage, she finds her husband in bed with another woman, she flees Austin, Texas for the town she knows: Sparkle. Lisa Carlucci wakes up one morning after another night of meaningless sex, looks in the mirror and realizes that she no longer wants to treat her body like a Holiday Inn. She's going to hold out for love. The only problem is, love might come in the form of her ski bum best friend, who lives next door with his ski bum friends in a trailer known as "the Kennel." Cassie Jones, at age ten, has lost her mother to cancer and no longer believes in anything anymore. She knows her father is desperately worried about her, and she constantly looks for messages from her deceased mother through the heart-shaped rocks they once collected in the streams and hills of Sparkle. Three people at the crossroads of heartbreak and healing. Three lives that will be changed one winter in Sparkle. One tender, funny, tear-jerking novel you won't soon forget.
Girl Out of Sight
by Helen MatthewsIn London and an Albanian village, two young women have vastly different lives—but a shocking secret is about to connect them . . . Odeta lives a dull life running her father&’s grocery store in a remote Albanian village. So when an enigmatic stranger appears, promising her an exciting career in London, she jumps at the opportunity. Odeta&’s life is about to change, but not in the way she expected . . . Kate, a journalist in London, has a seemingly perfect life. But she worries that her son spends too much time online, and decides to disconnect him so Ben can get outside and make some friends. But there may be things she doesn&’t know about her own community . . . What connects Kate and Odeta? And can you ever really know your neighbors?Previously published as After Leaving the VillagePraise for Helen Matthews &“Utterly compelling.&” —Katharine Johnson, author of The Suspects
Best Intentions: A Novel
by Erika Raskin“Best Intentions is that rare novel that grows more gripping and emotionally rich with every turn of the page.” —Carla BuckleyMarti Trailor—social worker on hold, mother of three, wife of a successful obstetrician, daughter of a Congressman—is ready to go back to work. She’s thrilled when the perfect opportunity falls in her lap. The catch? The job is at her husband's hospital and he seems not to share her enthusiasm. Undeterred, she takes the position counseling vulnerable young women as they prepare to give birth.Marti quickly begins to feel like she is making a difference in the lives of her clients. Soon, though, she finds herself caught up in the dark side of the medical center—with its long hours, overworked doctors and entrenched practices. When she witnesses something she can't unsee, Marti, who has always done her best to keep a low-profile, finds herself thrust under a dangerous spotlight with all of Richmond, Virginia watching.In her captivating domestic suspense novel Best Intentions, Erika Raskin weaves together high stakes hospital politics, the pressures of family life, and the consequences of trying to do the right thing, particularly in a city with a history as fraught as Richmond's.
Hope: A School, a Team, a Dream
by Bill ReynoldsThe inspirational true story about the trials and victories of the Hope High School basketball team in inner-city Providence, Rhode Island.Hope High School in Providence, Rhode Island was once a model city school, graduating a wide range of students from different backgrounds. But the tumult of the 1960s and the drug wars of the 70s changed both Providence and Hope. Today, the aging school is primarily Hispanic and African-American, with kids traveling for miles by bus and foot each day.Hope was known for its state championship basketball teams in the 1960s, but its 2012 team is much different. Disobedient, distracted, and overwhelmed by family troubles, with mismatched sneakers and a penchant for profanity and anger, these boys represent Coach Dave Nyblom's dream of a championship, however unlikely that might seem. Nyblom's mostly black players, including several who emigrated to Providence from war-torn Liberia, face gang violence, domestic uncertainty, drug problems, and a host of other issues. But with the unfailing support and guidance of Nyblom and other Hope coaches, their ragtag team gradually pulls together, overcoming every obstacle to find the faith and trust in themselves that Nyblom never stops teaching.A look at a hidden world that just a few hundred yards from Brown University, Bill Reynolds's Hope is the inspiring true story of young men and their mentors pursuing one goal—a championship—but achieving so much more.
In the Mind of Stalin
by James GreensmithOn 1 October 1939, Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty and soon to be the UK’s wartime leader, described Russia as ‘a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma’. The same can certainly be said of Stalin. How can this paradox of a man, who on the one hand had once exhibited great tenderness and kindness to his daughter Svetlana, and on the other sent millions – including members of his own family - to their deaths, be explained? It is impossible to quantify the total number of deaths attributable to the policies of Stalin, but the ‘Excess Mortality’ (i.e., deaths over and above what would normally have been expected during the period in question) gives an approximate figure in excess of 40 million. However, this is only part of the story of the amount of misery inflicted by the Stalin regime through torture, deliberate starvation, neglect, separation from loved ones, cold and hypothermia (e.g. in the prisons of Siberia), which is unquantifiable and unimaginable. Svetlana confessed that she ‘would never undertake to “explain” what motivated all my father’s actions, simply because I do not possess the psychological genius of [Russian novelist] Dostoevsky, who knew how to “penetrate” into another man’s soul and “examine it from within”’.
The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats
by Clea SimonWhat is it with women and cats? The Feline Mystique is the first serious examination of the intense relationship between woman and their cats and of the repercussions that bond can have on others. Richly researched and searchingly personal, The Feline Mystique uses history, science, art, and literature as touchpoints to explain and explore contemporary women's lives with their cats.From a glamorous tiger trainer to a feral-cat rescuer, from a show breeder to Simon and her own relationship with the gray longhair Cyrus, this book will introduce you to women both ferocious and nurturing and animals both whimsical and noble. It's a fresh, fascinating exploration of the timeless bond between women and cats, and will deepen your understanding of your relationship with your own feline-be he or she tiger or tabby. A cat person's answer to Pack of Two and The Secret Life of Dogs, The Feline Mystique is an eye-opening and soul-soothing book for all cat lovers.
Seeing Is Believing: How Hollywood Taught Us to Stop Worrying and Love the Fifties
by Peter BiskindSeeing is Believing is a provocative, shrewd, witty look at the Hollywood fifties movies we all love-or love to hate-and the thousand subtle ways they reflect the political tensions of the decade. Peter Biskind, former executive editor of Premiere, is one of our most astute cultural critics. Here he concentrates on the films everybody saw but nobody really looked at--classics like Giant, On the Waterfront, Rebel Without a Cause, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers--and shows us how movies that appear to be politically innocent in fact carry an ideological burden. As we see organization men and rugged individualists, housewives and career women, cops and doctors, teen angels and teenage werewolves fight it out across the screen from suburbia to the farthest reaches of the cosmos, we understand that we have been watching one long dispute about how to be a man, a woman, an American--the conflicts of the period in action. A work of brilliant analysis and meticulous conception, Seeing Is Believing offers fascinating insights into how to read films of any era.
Major Characters in American Fiction: A Biographical Encyclopedia Of More Than 1500 Of The Most Influential Fictional Creations Of American Writers
by Jack Salzman Pamela WilkinsonMajor Characters in American Fiction is the perfect companion for everyone who loves literature--students, book-group members, and serious readers at every level. Developed at Columbia University's Center for American Culture Studies, Major Characters in American Fiction offers in-depth essays on the "lives" of more than 1,500 characters, figures as varied in ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, age, and experience as we are. Inhabiting fictional works written from 1790 to 1991, the characters are presented in biographical essays that tell each one's life story. They are drawn from novels and short stories that represent ever era, genre, and style of American fiction writing--Natty Bumppo of The Leatherstocking Tales, Celie of The Color Purple, and everyone in between.