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If You Knew My Name: A Novel in Verse
by Lisa Roberts CarterMason ZyíAire Tyndall has big dreams. Dreams of sick beats, epic mic-drops, sold out stadiums. Masonís going to be a rap staróand you donít become a rap star by hitting up BLM protests with your mom or sitting at a desk. Mason wants to get out there and make a name for himself, but heíll have to graduate high school first. And he canít do that if he fails his senior year. Convinced his poetry class is a waste of time, Masonís teacher helps him see just how valuable a couplet and a rhyme can be. But when an unarmed Black man is killed by the police in his city, tensions start to riseóamong the cops, the community, and even Masonís peers. Caught in the middle of increasingly violent conflicts, Mason will have to find a way to use his voice for changeÖand fast.
Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19
by Jennifer Haupt"Could there be a timelier gift to quarantined readers...? I doubt it."óThe Washington Post"A heartening gathering of writers joining forces for community support."óKirkus Reviews"Connects writers, readers, and booksellers in a wonderfully imaginative way. It's a really good book for a really good cause"óBestselling author James PattersonALONE TOGETHER: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19 is a collection of essays, poems, and interviews to serve as a lifeline for negotiating how to connect and thrive during this stressful time of isolation as well as a historical perspective that will remain relevant for years to come.All contributing authors and business partners are donating their share to The Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc), a nonprofit organization that coordinates charitable programs to strengthen the bookselling community.The roster of diverse voices includes Faith Adiele, Kwame Alexander, Jenna Blum, Andre Dubus III, Jamie Ford, Nikki Giovanni, Pam Houston, Jean Kwok, Major Jackson, Devi S. Laskar, Caroline Leavitt, Ada LimÛn, Dani Shapiro, David Sheff, Garth Stein, Luis Alberto Urrea, Steve Yarbrough, and Lidia Yuknavitch.The overarching theme is how this age of isolation and uncertainty is changing us as individuals and a society."Alone Together showcases the human desire to grieve, explore, comfort, connect, and simply sit with the world as it weathers the pandemic. Jennifer Haupt's timely and moving anthology also benefits the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, making it a project that is noble in both word and deed."óAnn Patchett, Bestselling author, bookseller, and Co-Ambassador for The Book Industry Charitable Foundation
Amanda on the Danube: The Sounds of Music (An Amanda Travels Adventure #5)
by Darlene Foster"Be prepared to learn a lot about the culture while you follow Amanda on her adventure.îóLaura Best, author, Bitter, SweetìWhat a great way for a young person to learn about a culture and to be inspired to experience other countries themselves."óIrene Butler, author, Trekking the Globe with Mostly Gentle FootstepsTwelve year old Amanda Ross finds herself on an elegant riverboat with her bestie, Leah, cruising down the beautiful Danube, passing medieval castles, luscious green valleys and charming villages. When she is entrusted with a valuable violin by a young, homeless musician during a stop in Germany, a mean boy immediately tries to take it from her.Back on their cruise, Amanda struggles to keep the precious violin safe for the poor prodigy. Along the way, she meets a mysterious monk, a Santa Claus look-alike, and the same nasty boy.Follow Amanda down the Danube, through Germany, Austria and Hungary, as she enjoys the enchanting sounds of music everywhere she goes. She remains on the lookout though, wondering just who she can trust.Be sure to read all the books in this exciting Amanda Travels series! 1. Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask2. Amanda in Spain: The Girl in the Painting3. Amanda in England: The Missing Novel4. Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone5. Amanda on the Danube: The Sounds of Music6. Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind7. Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action8. Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady
The Memory of Her (The Gentleman Spy Mysteries #3)
by Bianca M. SchwarzThe third book in the darkly romantic Gentleman Spy Mysteries.Eliza Broad has overcome trauma and loss to become the confident woman and spy she is today. Allen Strathem, fellow spy and good friend, has loved Eliza since the moment he first set eyes on her. But he left England without telling her so, bound for a mission on the Crimea with his secret buried deep.When he returns, Eliza is tasked with helping Allen recover from the horrors he has experienced, and she dedicates herself to banishing the specters of his Russian captivity and restoring the sparkle in his eyes. As Allen recuperates, they realize danger has followed him back to England. Together, they set a trap for the man who tortured him, only to discover something far more menacing afoot. With danger and intrigue around every corner, Eliza and Allen rely on and trust each other, and soon their once-buried love becomes a driving force. The perilous adventure they share and thrive on binds them together, but will that be enough to protect them from those who wish to see them dead?
Leilani (The Quest for Reason Series #3)
by LM DeWalt"An exciting vampire adventure that will make you fall in love with paranormal genre all over again." ó Page Turners (Lily) Lily, once a solitary and lonely vampire, has finally found the love she longed for in Christian, her husband and newly turned vampire. Once settled in Peru, life is finally taking on a semblance of normalcyódespite the bodyguards protecting them from a cadre of evil vampires desperate for revenge. Lily, Christian, and their friends are on a quest to find their newly adopted sonís long-lost sister, a child with an uncontrollable power, when their son becomes gravely ill and is then taken from his hospital ward. When Christian also inexplicably disappears, and long buried secrets come to light, Lilyís world is turned upside down, forcing her to question her desire to remain a part of the undead world in which sheís lived for almost a century. Read all 3 books in The Quest For Reason series: 1.Lily 2.Datura 3.Leilani
Return to Yesterday (A Shore Leave Cafe Romance #9)
by Abbie Williams"Abbie Williams is an author who excels at the romance genre. Her Shore Leave Cafe Romance series is a showcase for her ability to weave a contemporary tapestry, complete with rich characters, vivid settings and seductive moods."óDean Mayes, Author of: The Hambledown Dream, Gifts of the Peramangk, The Recipient, The Artisan HeartRuthann Gordon has disappeared.The stakes have never been higher for sisters Camille, Tish, and Ruthann Gordon. Separated by unimaginable circumstances, they must fight to save each other and those they love from Fallon Yancyís wrath. Destiny has caused their paths to intersect across centuries, a long and treacherous link between the Davis and Yancy families, a link that must now be severed before it is too late.Mathias Carter, Case Spicer, and Marshall Rawley have dared to love the three sisters despite the ancient family curse. Each has his own fate to contend with, both in the past and in present-day. Ruthann and Marshall must fight to return to the future ñ or will the unthinkable happen, keeping one of them forever in the past?A story about heartbreak, blame, family, destiny, and the difficulties of returning home, Return to Yesterday is the final book in A Shore Leave Cafe Romance series.A Shore Leave Cafe Romance series:1. Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe2. Second Chances3. A Notion of Love4. Winter at the White Oaks Lodge5. Wild Flower6. The First Law of Love7. Until Tomorrow8. The Way Back9. Return to YesterdayThe story continues in her most recent novel, A Place to Belong.Also from Abbie Williams, The Dove Saga1. Heart of a Dove2. Soul of a Crow3. Grace of a Hawk
Call Me Home: Poems
by Harman KaurExplore the multifaceted concept of "home" through Kaur's evocative poetry. Journey beyond its physical confines to discover its emotional and psychological depths, touching on themes like immigration, womanhood, and spirituality. Encounter narratives of loss, rediscovery, and healing that resonate with the human experience. With rich language and imagery, this collection offers fresh perspectives, inviting readers to reconsider their understanding of what it means to feel at home.
Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask (An Amanda Travels Adventure #1)
by Darlene Foster"Be prepared to learn a lot about the culture while you follow Amanda on her adventure.îóLaura Best, author, Bitter, SweetìWhat a great way for a young person to learn about a culture and to be inspired to experience other countries themselves."óIrene Butler, author, Trekking the Globe with Mostly Gentle FootstepsAmanda Ross is an average twelve year old Canadian girl. So what is she doing thousands of kilometres from home in the United Arab Emirates? It's her own fault really, she wished for adventure and travel when she blew out those candles on her last birthday cake. Little did she know that a whole different world awaited her on the other side of the globe, one full of intrigue, mystery and folklore. A world with a beautiful princess, a dangerous desert and wonderful friends.Join Amanda on her first adventure as she discovers the secrets behind The Perfume Flask.Be sure to read all the books in this exciting Amanda Travels series! 1. Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask2. Amanda in Spain: The Girl in the Painting3. Amanda in England: The Missing Novel4. Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone5. Amanda on the Danube: The Sounds of Music6. Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind7. Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action8. Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady
25 Love Poems for the NSA
by Iain ThomasWarning. Every poem in this book has one or more words in it that have been taken from the NSAís watch list. A full list of the words appears at the back of this book. By transmitting this book via email or other means, you are liable to be tracked by the NSA as a potential terrorist threat. This book is dedicated to how ridiculous that is.
I'll Cry If I Want To: Poems
by Raquel FrancoI'll Cry If I Want To is a poignant collection that delves into the intricate experiences of womanhood, motherhood, marriage, mental health, grief, and the challenges of being biracial. Each poem offers a candid glimpse into the raw realities of life, resonating with honesty and emotional depth. Throughout the collection, Franco explores the highs and lows of existence with unapologetic sincerity. From the joys of motherhood to the complexities of marriage, every aspect of life is examined through a lens of gratitude and resilience. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder that it's okay to embrace our vulnerabilities and acknowledge our struggles. Through evocative verses and illustrations, readers are reassured that they are not alone in their journey, finding solace in the recognition that someone out there sees and understands them.
Heart of a Dove (The Dove Saga #1)
by Abbie WilliamsHeart of a Dove is the first book in a gripping, sweeping romantic saga of pain, unbearable choices, loss and true love set against the backdrop of a scarred, post-Civil War America. Independent Publishers Awards - Gold Medal The Civil War has ended, leaving the country with a gaping wound. Lorie Blake, a southern orphan sold into prostitution at fifteen, has carefully guarded her aching soul from the disgrace forced upon her every evening. Two years have passed, leaving her with little hope of anything more. Meanwhile, three men ñ longtime friends ñ and a young boy with a heart of gold are traveling northward, planning to rebuild their lives in the north and leave behind the horrors of their time as soldiers in the Confederate Army. Fate, however, has plans of its own, causing their lives to collide in a river town whorehouse. Forced to flee, Lorie escapes and joins them on the journey north. But danger stalks them all in the form of a vindictive whorehouse madam and an ex-Union soldier, insane and bent on exacting revenge. At last, Lorie must come to terms with her past and devastating secrets that she cannot yet bear to reveal.The Dove Saga 1. Heart of a Dove 2. Soul of a Crow 3. Grace of a HawkAlso from Abbie Williams, A Shore Leave Cafe Romance series: 1. Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe 2. Second Chances 3. A Notion of Love 4. Winter at the White Oaks Lodge 5. Wild Flower 6. The First Law of Love 7. Until Tomorrow 8. The Way Back 9. Return to Yesterday The story continues in A Place to Belong.
Dear Virginia, Wait for Me: A Novel
by Marcia ButlerFor as long as she can remember, Peppa Ryan has been guided by a benevolent voice in her head who she believes is Virginia Woolf. Though she's an exceptionally bright twenty-year-old, she suffers from crippling low self-esteem and has barely left her parents' ramshackle home in Queens, New York City. At the turn of the millennium, Peppa is caught between her fatherís wishes for her to run the family business and her motherís mental illness. In spite of these pressures, she bravely ventures out on her own to start a job at a Wall Street investment firm. But her parents continue to pull strings, insisting she date a handsome plumber in the hopes that sheíll abandon her job and return to her roots. Peppa plans to immediately dismiss him, but to her surprise they discover an unlikely bond over a shared love of Virginia Woolf. With the encouragement of her kindhearted boss, his eccentric client, and the voice of Virginia, Peppa gains confidence and begins to thrive in her new life. Then, when Peppa discovers a betrayal by her family, she suffers a breakdown. And on one crisp and clear autumn morning, as she slowly recovers, Peppa finds herself on the path to reconciliation. For those who loved Where'd You Go, Bernadette, The Remedy for Love, or And Then We Came to The End, this is a sensitive coming-of-age novel of a fragile yet brilliant young woman who, like Virginia Woolf, is determined to carve her unique path in life.
A Place to Belong: A Novel
by Abbie Williams"Tackling topics of forbidden love, honor, and the importance of family, A Place to Belong is a heart-wrenching and satisfying romance."óForeword ReviewsAn emotional love story about the momentous ways that even the smallest of choices can forever shape our lives.Millie Jo Gordon cannot remember a time before she loved Wyatt Rawley ñ at age five, she told her parents that she would marry him someday, a tale retold since her childhood.Now, many years later, Millie is seventeen and more deeply in love than ever. At twenty-three, sweet, passionate Wy, only a few semesters away from practicing veterinary medicine, secretly returns those feelings. In the ripe heat of summer, Wy at last confesses and the two share a week of sublime happiness before a heartbreaking revelation forces them apart.Years pass, following each in their separate lives ñ Wy a talented and well-respected vet whose marriage to another is only an aching reminder of what he could have had with Millie. Meanwhile, Millie attends college to become an equine therapist, grappling with her enduring and unspoken connection to Wy, a love that refuses to wither and leave her in peace.More great reads from Abbie Williams...The Shore Leave Cafe Romance series:1. Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe2. Second Chances3. A Notion of Love4. Winter at the White Oaks Lodge5. Wild Flower6. The First Law of Love7. Until Tomorrow8. The Way Back9. Return to YesterdayThe Dove Saga1. Heart of a Dove2. Soul of a Crow3. Grace of a Hawk
Datura (The Quest for Reason Series #2)
by LM DeWalt"An exciting vampire adventure that will make you fall in love with paranormal genre all over again." ó Page Turners (Lily) After nearly a century of wandering the globe alone, Lily finally has everything she never knew she wanted, family, friends, and most of all, their love. As Lily attempts to start her new life, in the lively streets of Lima, Peru, she feels she is constantly being followed. With Ian, her first love and maker, now gone, who is left to destroy the happiness she has finally found? Someone still longs for Lilyís destruction. Vengeance or jealousy threaten to destroy her, and Lily must summon all the strength she can find to protect everything she cherishes against vampires, hunters, and witches. Read all 3 books in The Quest For Reason series! 1.Lily 2.Datura 3.Leilani
Oslo, Maine: A Novel
by Marcia Butler"This book will break your heart and heal it." - E.J. Levy, author of The Cape Doctor A pregnant moose walks into a rural Maine town called Oslo, looking for food and a place to deliver her calf. Just as when strangers run into each other on the street, the movement of the moose determines the fate of three families in the town as they grapple with trauma, marriage, ambition, and their fraught relationship with the natural world. Meet Pierre Roy, a brilliant twelve-year-old, who loses his memory in an accident. Then Claude Roy, Pierreís blustery and proud fourth-generation Maine father who cannot, or will not, acknowledge the too-real and frightening fact of his sonís injury. And his wife, Celine, a once-upon-a-time traditional housewife and mother who descends into pills as a way of coping. Enter Sandra and Jim Kimbrough, musicians and recent Maine transplants who scrape together a meager living as performers while shoring up the loose ends by attempting to live off the grid. Finally, the wealthy widow "from away," Edna Sibley, whose dependent adult grandson is addicted to 1980ís Family Feud episodes. Their disparate backgrounds and views on life make for, at times, uneasy neighbors. But when Sandra begins to teach Pierre the violin, forces beyond their control converge. The boy discovers that through sound he can enter a world without pain from the past nor worry for the future. He becomes a preadolescent existentialist and invents an unconventional method to come to terms with his memory loss, all the while attempting to protect, and then forgive, those whoíve failed him.Oslo, Maine is a character-driven novel exploring class and economic disparity. It inspects the strengths and limitations of seven average yet extraordinary people as they reckon with their considerable collective failure around Pierreís accident. Alliances unravel. Long held secrets are exposed. And throughout, the ever-present moose is the linchpin that drives this richly drawn story, filled with heartbreak and hope, to its unexpected conclusion."(T)he flawed but deeply relatable characters in Butler's second novel ... exude an authentic sense of humanity, making this a sure-fire recommendation for Fredrik Backman fans." óCarol Haggas, BooklistA seductive, imaginative, and utterly unique story; an astute and compassionate foray into the intersecting lives of characters who are both ordinary and exceptional, saintly and deeply flawed." óKaren Dionne, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Wicked Sister
Gifts of the Peramangk: A Novel
by Dean Mayes"Gifts of the Peramangk is an achingly beautiful story about perseverance and hope that I wished would never end. Dean Mayes clearly cares deeply about his characters, and his dedication to them shines through. I highly recommend this tale."óLong and Short ReviewsIn 1950s Australia, during the height of the divisive White Australia Policy, Virginia, a young Aboriginal girl is taken from her home and put to work on an isolated and harsh outback station. Her only solace: the violin, taught to her secretly by the kind-hearted wife of the abusive station owner. However, Virginia's prodigious musical gift cannot save her from years of hardship and racism.Decades later, her eight year old granddaughter Ruby plays the violin with the passion Virginia once possessed. Amidst poverty, domestic violence and societal dysfunction, Ruby escapes her circumstance through her practice with her grandmother's frail, guiding hand. Rubyís zeal attracts the attention of an enigmatic music professor and with his help, she embarks on an incredible journey of musical discovery that will culminate in a rare opportunity. But with two cultural worlds colliding, her gift and her ambition will be threatened by deeply ingrained distrust, family jealousies and tragic secrets that will define her very identity."Dean writes so beautifully, that you can hear the music playing."ñBooks Complete MeBe sure to also read Dean Mayes' other novels:The Hambledown DreamThe Artisan HeartThe Recipient
We've Seen the Enemy
by Paul DaytonAn alien ship crashes on Earth; its contents make it clear that the dead ant-like aliens inside were on an offensive mission. As humanity is presented with the prospect of their doomed world, construction begins on hundreds of World Federation ships and extrasolar defense weapons to be used in the inevitable war.Weíve Seen The Enemy is set 700 years after the Great War and is a desperate race by a suicide team that may finally lead to the end of this interstellar war. Meanwhile, pockets of left-over human tribes on Earth have their own struggles, as they face power-hungry dictators and warped religious leaders. Behind all this are multiple alien forces, each with their own agenda. As truths turn into lies and friends become enemies, can humanity unite together to fight their common enemy?
The Edge of Nowhere: A Novel
by C. H. Armstrong"Refreshing and devastating"óThe OklahomanDespised and feared by her sprawling family, Victoria Hastings Harrison Greene refuses to go quietly from her long life without revealing the secrets she's held locked away for more than fifty yearsóthe same secrets consistent with the rumors her grandchildren whisper behind her back during family gatherings.Widowed with nine children during the one-two punch of The Great Depression and the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Victoria made harsh choicesódesperate choices that reduced a once soft and loving young woman into the reviled matriarch she is today. Hers is the story of one womanís courage in the midst of overwhelming adversity, and her absolute conviction to never stop fighting...no matter what it takes.
The Artisan Heart
by Dean MayesFans of The Artisan Heart are saying "such a good book, I didn't want it to end", "small town charm at its finest" and "a feel good, heartwarming story".Hayden Luschcombe is a brilliant paediatrician living in Adelaide with his wife Bernadette, an ambitious event planner. His life consists of soul-wrenching days at the hospital and tedious evenings attending the lavish parties organized by Bernadette.When an act of betrayal coincides with a traumatic confrontation, Hayden flees Adelaide, his life in ruins. His destination is Walhalla, nestled in Australiaís southern mountains, where he finds his childhood home falling apart. With nothing to return to, he stays, and begins to pick up the pieces of his life by fixing up the house his parents left behind.A chance encounter with a precocious and deaf young girl introduces Hayden to Isabelle Sampi, a struggling artisan baker. While single-handedly raising her daughter, and trying to resurrect a bakery, Isabelle has no time for matters of the heart. Yet the presence of the handsome doctor challenges her resolve. Likewise, Hayden, protective of his own fractured heart, finds something in Isabelle that awakens dormant feelings of his own.As their attraction grows, and the past threatens their chance at happiness, both Hayden and Isabelle will have to confront long-buried truths if they are ever to embrace a future.Be sure to also read Dean Mayes' other novels:The Hambledown DreamGifts of the PeramangkThe Recipient
The Spy's Daughter (The Gentleman Spy Mysteries #4)
by Bianca M. SchwarzThe fourth and final book in the darkly romantic Gentleman Spy Mysteries. Emily March, the illegitimate daughter of Sir Henry March, has all she needs: bountiful wealth, ample beauty, and abundant talent. But will this be enough to secure the one thing she truly wants: a loving marriage and her own family? However, itís not her illegitimacy that stands in her way, but a mystery her fatheróan agent of the crownóhas never been able to solve. Max Warthon has twice rescued Emily from the machinations of his sinister grandfather, the Earl of Warthon, enemy of Sir Henry. Max knows that getting too close to his daughter will lead to certain peril, but he cannot resist her. Played out in front of Londonís high society, their whirlwind romance attracts everyone's attention ó and raises the ire of the Earl. With old secrets standing in their way, will Emily and Max be able to unravel the mystery of an ancient hatred and unmask the true enemy? Their happiness and their lives depend on it.
All Dogs Are Good: Poems & Memories
by Courtney PeppernellWritten for anyone who has known the touch of a cold nose on their hand, the bark of a best friend, or the joy of a walk accompanied by a wagging tail, All Dogs Are Good pays tribute to the special bond we share with our canine companions.Filled with heartfelt poems and prose on the love, dedication, and laughter our dogs bring, as well as the unique lessons they teach us along the way, bestselling author Courtney Peppernellís vignettes of life with our dogs are a touching reminder of the gifts they give us during their journey on earth. Celebrating dogs everywhere, All Dogs Are Good is a collection dog lovers will hold in their hearts forever.
The Rise of Winter (Terra Protectorum Series #1)
by Alex LyttleThis action-packed first book of a middle grade fantasy trilogy brings together magical animals, environmental destruction, and finding oneís place in a world where everything is about to change.Centuries ago, the world, Terra, was nearly destroyed by humans. As she recovered, Terra created the Guardians ñ a group sworn to protect her. But humans have returned to their plundering ways and Terra needs the Guardians. She calls on them only to find they have fractured ñ their last leader murdered years before. They need a new leader ñ a new Terra Protectorum ñ but when a young girl is chosen, outrage ensues. Questions demand answers.Why has Terra selected a girl with no knowledge of the Guardians? Why has she chosen a human when it is the humans destroying the earth? And most importantly, why has she chosen the girl whose father murdered the last Terra Protectorum?"Filled with pulse-pounding action, otherworldly characters to root for, and a timely message about the state of our planet, The Rise of Winter soars."óJoel A. Sutherland, author of Summer's End and the Haunted Canada seriesAlso from Alex Lyttle: From Ant to Eagle
Intentional Dissonance: A Book About Falling
by Iain ThomasItís been 10 years since the world officially ended. In the last city on Earth, Jon Salt is addicted to Sadness, a drug that invokes its name, and obsessed with his lover, Michelle; both of which threaten to drive him insane. Strange creatures and new technologies appeared in the last days of humanity and the widespread adoption of teleportation technology sundered the fabric of time and space, leaving a smattering of looping ghosts. It is a sad, monotone world, but the remaining populace is happy, thanks to the anti-depressants in the water supply.The last government on Earth has taken a special interest in a gift that Jon possesses: the ability to make his thoughts real. Jon must rely on that gift and the help of a few unlikely friends to stay one step ahead of those who desperately want to use him for something far more sinister than even he could dreamÖ
Goyhood: A Novel
by Reuven FentonFunny, poignant, and revelatory while plumbing the emotional depths of the relationship between estranged brothers, Goyhood examines what happens when one becomes unmoored from a comfortable, spiritual existence and must decide whether coincidence is in fact destiny. When Mayer (nÈe Marty) Belkin fled small town Georgia for Brooklyn nearly thirty years ago, he thought he'd left his wasted youth behind. Now he's a Talmud scholar married into one of the greatest rabbinical families in the world - a dirt poor country boy reinvented in the image of God. But his mother's untimely death brings a shocking revelation: Mayer and his ne'er-do-well twin brother David aren't, in fact, Jewish. Traumatized and spiritually bereft, Mayer's only recourse is to convert to Judaism. But the earliest date he can get is a week from now. What are two estranged brothers to do in the interim? So begins the Belkins' Rumspringa through America's Deep South with Mom's ashes in tow, plus two tagalongs: an insightful Instagram influencer named Charlayne Valentine and Popeye, a one-eyed dog. As the crew gets tangled up in a series of increasingly surreal adventures, Mayer grapples with a God who betrayed him and an emotionally withdrawn wife in Brooklyn who has yet to learn her husband is a counterfeit Jew.
The Heart is a Star: A Novel
by Megan RogersLayla Byrnes is exhausted. She's juggling a demanding job as an anesthesiologist, a disintegrating marriage, her young kids, and a needy lover. And most particularly she's managing her histrionically unstable mother, who repeatedly threatens to kill herself. But this year, it's different. When her mother calls just before Christmas, she doesn't follow the usual script. Instead, she tells Layla that there's something she needs to tell her about her much-loved father. In response, Layla drops everything to rush to her childhood home on the wild west coast of Tasmania. She's determined to finally confront her mother - and find out what really happened to her father - and lay some demons to rest.The Heart is a Star is an engrossing, lyrical and powerfully absorbing novel about the complicated and beautiful messiness of midlife; about the ways in which we navigate an intricate, complicated world; and about how we can uncover our true selves when we are forced to face the myths that make us.