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Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays (Complete Orwell Ser.)
by George Orwell George PackerGeorge Orwell was first and foremost an essayist, producing throughout his life an extraordinary array of short nonfiction that reflected--and illuminated--the fraught times in which he lived. "As soon as he began to write something," comments George Packer in his foreword, "it was as natural for Orwell to propose, generalize, qualify, argue, judge--in short, to think--as it was for Yeats to versify or Dickens to invent."Facing Unpleasant Facts charts Orwell's development as a master of the narrative-essay form and unites such classics as "Shooting an Elephant" with lesser-known journalism and passages from his wartime diary. Whether detailing the horrors of Orwell's boyhood in an English boarding school or bringing to life the sights, sounds, and smells of the Spanish Civil War, these essays weave together the personal and the political in an unmistakable style that is at once plainspoken and brilliantly complex.
Just Grace, Star On Stage (The Just Grace Series #9)
by Charise Mericle HarperIn a starred review, Booklist called the Just Grace series “hilarious” and said, “Give this to . . . anyone looking for a funny book.” Grace is a curious and well-meaning third-grader who occasionally gets into a little bit of trouble. This time, her class is putting on a play, and Grace is determined to be the star! But things don’t work out quite like she planned, and Marta gets the role. Grace is jealous at first, but soon realizes there’s more than one way to shine on stage. This is an act that fans of Judy Moody and Clementine surely won’t want to miss!
The Last Canyon: A Novel
by John Vernon“Both gritty and sublime” (Seattle Times), The Last Canyon tells the story of John Wesley Powell’s 1869 voyage of exploration through the Grand Canyon, the last great expedition of discovery in United States history. In this vivid novel, John Vernon intertwines two stories – that of Powell and his crew, and that of a band of Paiute Indians, known as the Shivwits, who lived on the north rim of the canyon. As the novel moves inexorably toward a violent encounter between the two groups, Vernon deftly leads us into perilous geographical and emotional territory. Powell’s adventure is a story of triumph, hardship, bravery, and ultimate loss.
In The Loyal Mountains: Stories
by Rick BassRick Bass's recent trio of novellas, Platte River, was hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as "a major step in [his] climb to the top echelon of American fiction writers." Now, with this dazzling new collection, Bass establishes himself as a master of the short story. These tales embrace vibrant images of human life and exuberant explorations of the natural world. In the title story, a man remembers his youth in the Texas hill country when he participated in his uncle's raucous escapades, which have taken new shape and meaning by what has happened since. Although his work is grounded in reality, Bass's stories acquire fantastic proportions: enormous pigs charge through the streets and root beneath houses; a narrator meets a woman who runs up and down mountains; two wild boys converge deep in the woods to joust. Each of these ten stories is a mythical narrative celebrating the tentative, moving relationship between people and their environment.
A Day In The Life Of A Smiling Woman: Complete Short Stories
by Margaret Drabble Jose Francisco FernandezMargaret Drabble’s novels have illuminated the past fifty years, especially the changing lives of women, like no others. Yet her short fiction has its own unique brilliance. Her penetrating evocations of character and place, her wide-ranging curiosity, her sense of irony—all are on display here, in stories that explore marriage, female friendships, the English tourist abroad, love affairs with houses, peace demonstrations, gin and tonics, cultural TV programs; in stories that are perceptive, sharp, and funny. An introduction by the Spanish academic José Fernández places the stories in the context of her life and her novels. This collection is a wonderful recapitulation of a masterly career.
Five Seasons: A Novel
by A. B. YehoshuaIn the autumn, Molkho's wife dies and his years of loving attention are ended. But his newfound freedom is filled with the erotic fantasies of a man who must fall in love. Winter sees him away to the operas of Berlin and a comic tryst with a legal advisor who has a sprained ankle. Spring takes him to Galilee and an underage Indian girl. Jerusalem in the summer presents him with an offer from an old classmate to seduce his infertile wife. And the next autumn it is Nina (if only they spoke the same language!), whose yearning for her Russian home leads Molkho back to life.Five Seasons is a finely nuanced, unabashedly realistic novel that provides immense reading pleasure.
Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Laws That Changed America (NONE)
by Nick KotzOpposites in almost every way, mortally suspicious of each other at first, Lyndon Baines Johnson and Martin Luther King, Jr., were thrust together in the aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Both men sensed a historic opportunity and began a delicate dance of accommodation that moved them, and the entire nation, toward the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Drawing on a wealth of newly available sources -- Johnson's taped telephone conversations, voluminous FBI wiretap logs, previously secret communications between the FBI and the president -- Nick Kotz gives us a dramatic narrative, rich in dialogue, that presents this momentous period with thrilling immediacy. Judgment Days offers needed perspective on a presidency too often linked solely to the tragedy of Vietnam. We watch Johnson applying the arm-twisting tactics that made him a legend in the Senate, and we follow King as he keeps the pressure on in the South through protest and passive resistance. King's pragmatism and strategic leadership and Johnson's deeply held commitment to a just society shaped the character of their alliance. Kotz traces the inexorable convergence of their paths to an intense joint effort that made civil rights a legislative reality at last, despite FBI director J. Edgar Hoover's vicious whispering campaign to destroy King. Judgment Days also reveals how this spirit of teamwork disintegrated. The two leaders parted bitterly over King's opposition to the Vietnam War. In this first full account of the working relationship between Johnson and King, Kotz offers a detailed, surprising account that significantly enriches our understanding of both men and their time.
Secrets Of The Southern Table: A Food Lover's Tour of the Global South
by Virginia WillisRecipes and stories of the modern South In Secrets of the Southern Table, award-winning chef and cookbook author Virginia Willis takes you on a tour of today's South—a region rich in history and cultural diversity. With her signature charm and wit, Virginia shares many well-known Southern recipes like Pimento Cheese Tomato Herb Pie and "Cathead" Biscuits, but also some surprising revelations drawn from the area's many global influences, like Catfish Tacos with Avocado Crema, Mississippi-Style Char Siu Pork Tenderloin, and Greek Okra and Tomatoes. In addition to the recipes, Virginia profiles some of the diverse chefs, farmers, and other culinary influencers who are shaping contemporary Southern cuisine. Together, these stories and the delicious recipes that accompany them celebrate the rich and ever-evolving heritage of Southern cooking.
The Nazis Next Door: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler's Men
by Eric LichtblauRead the history behind the series THE HUNTERS (starring Al Pacino) in this &“captivating book rooted in first-rate research&” (New York Times Book Review) that tells the true story of how America became home to thousands of Nazi war criminals. For the first time, once-secret government records and interviews tell the full story of the thousands of Nazis—from concentration camp guards to high-level officers in the Third Reich—who came to the United States after World War II and quietly settled into new lives. Many gained entry on their own as self-styled war &“refugees.&” But some had help from the U.S. government. The CIA, the FBI, and the military all put Hitler&’s minions to work as spies, intelligence assets, and leading scientists and engineers, whitewashing their histories. Only years after their arrival did private sleuths and government prosecutors begin trying to identify the hidden Nazis. Now, relying on a trove of newly disclosed documents and scores of interviews, Eric Lichtblau reveals this shocking, shameful, and little-known chapter of postwar history. New York Times bestseller — Espionage category &“Disturbing.&” — Salon &“Engaging.&” — Chicago Tribune &“A gripping chronicle.&” — Times of Israel &“Riveting . . . An important, fascinating read.&” — Jewish Book Council
Dream Home: The Property Brothers' Ultimate Guide to Finding & Fixing Your Perfect House
by Jonathan Scott Drew ScottA New York Times bestseller Jonathan and Drew Scott have taken HGTV by storm with their four hit shows, Property Brothers, Property Brothers at Home, Buying & Selling, and Brother vs. Brother. The talented duo&’s good-natured rivalry, playful banter, and no-nonsense strategies have earned the popular twins millions of devoted fans who have been anxiously waiting for a Scott Brothers book. Dream Home is a comprehensive source, covering the ins and outs of buying, selling, and renovating a house, with hundreds of full-color photos throughout. The brothers cover numerous topics including the hidden costs of moving, savvy negotiating tactics, and determining your home must-haves. Other handy features include a calendar of key dates for finding the best deals on home products and a cheat sheet of worth-it fix-its. Look inside for a wealth of information on attaining what you want—on time and on budget. Dream Home also includes all the tips and tricks you won&’t see on TV, making it a must-have resource not just for fans but for any current or aspiring homeowner.
Betty Crocker 20 Best Boozy Baking Recipes (Betty Crocker eBook Minis)
by Betty CrockerEnjoy Some Spirited BakingPhoto of Every Recipe It’s fun to add some new flavors to your baking, and the recipes here will give you some great new ideas. Try Triple Chocolate-Stout Whoopie Pies and Mojito Cake, and for a grown-up birthday party, serve Zinfandel Wine Cupcakes or Pink Champagne Layer Cake. Cheers – here’s to more fun with baking!
Manhattan Transfer: A Novel (Everest Readers Ser.)
by John Dos PassosConsidered by many to be John Dos Passos's greatest work, Manhattan Transfer is an "expressionistic picture of New York" (New York Times) in the 1920s that reveals the lives of wealthy power brokers and struggling immigrants alike. From Fourteenth Street to the Bowery, Delmonico's to the underbelly of the city waterfront, Dos Passos chronicles the lives of characters struggling to become a part of modernity before they are destroyed by it. "A novel of the very first importance" (Sinclair Lewis), Manhattan Transfer is a masterpiece of modern fiction and a lasting tribute to the dual-edged nature of the American dream.
Your One And Only (Fountas & Pinnell LLI Blue)
by Adrianne FinlayJack is a walking fossil. The only human among a sea of clones. It&’s been hundreds of years since humanity died off in the slow plague, leaving the clones behind to carry on human existence. Over time they&’ve perfected their genes, moving further away from the imperfections of humanity. But if they really are perfect, why did they create Jack? While Jack longs for acceptance, Althea-310 struggles with the feeling that she&’s different from her sisters. Her fascination with Jack doesn&’t help. As Althea and Jack&’s connection grows stronger, so does the threat to their lives. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?
Circus Galacticus
by Deva FaganRebel. Champion gymnast. Intergalactic traveler? Trix can deal with being an orphan charity case at a snotty boarding school. She can hold her own when everyone else tells her not to dream big dreams. She can even fight back against the mysterious stranger in a silver mask who tries to steal the meteorite her parents trusted her to protect.But her life is about to change forever. The Circus Galacticus has come to town, bringing acts to amaze, delight, and terrify. And now the dazzling but enigmatic young Ringmaster has offered Trix the chance to be a part of it. Soon Trix discovers an entire universe full of deadly enemies and potential friends, not to mention space leeches, ancient alien artifacts, and exploding chocolate desserts. And she just might unravel the secrets of her own past—if she can survive long enough.
Einstein's Greatest Mistake: A Biography
by David Bodanis&“What Bodanis does brilliantly is to give us a feel for Einstein as a person. I don&’t think I&’ve ever read a book that does this as well . . . Whenever there&’s a chance for storytelling, Bodanis triumphs.&” —Popular Science &“Fascinating.&” —Forbes Widely considered the greatest genius of all time, Albert Einstein revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos with his general theory of relativity and helped lead us into the atomic age. Yet in the final decades of his life, he was ignored by most working scientists, and his ideas were opposed by even his closest friends. How did this happen? Best-selling biographer David Bodanis traces the arc of Einstein&’s life—from the skeptical, erratic student to the world&’s most brilliant physicist to the fallen-from-grace celebrity. An intimate biography in which &“theories of the universe morph into theories of life&” (Times, London), Einstein&’s Greatest Mistake reveals what we owe Einstein today—and how much more he might have achieved if not for his all-too-human flaws.
I'd Walk With My Friends If I Could Find Them: A Novel
by Jesse GoolsbyIn this powerful debut novel, three American soldiers haunted by their actions in Afghanistan search for absolution and human connectionin family and civilian life. Wintric Ellis joins the army as soon as he graduates from high school, saying goodbye to his girlfriend, Kristen, and to the backwoods California town whose borders have always been the limits of his horizon. Deployed in Afghanistan two years into a directionless war, he struggles to find his bearings in a place where allies could at any second turn out to be foes. Two career soldiers, Dax and Torres, take Wintric under their wing. Together, these three men face an impossible choice: risk death or commit a harrowing act of war. The aftershocks echo long after each returns home to a transfigured world, where his own children may fear to touch him and his nightmares still hold sway. Jesse Goolsby casts backward and forward in time to track these unforgettable characters from childhood to parenthood, from redwood forests to open desert roads to the streets of Kabul. Hailed by Robert Olen Butler as a &“major literary event,&” I&’d Walk with My Friends If I Could Find Them is a work of disarming eloquence and heart-wrenching wisdom, and a debut novel from a writer to watch.
The Rector Of Justin: A Novel
by Louis AuchinclossRegarded as one of Louis Auchincloss's most accomplished novels, The Rector of Justin centers on Frank Prescott, the founder of an exclusive school for boys. Eighty years of his life unfold through the observations of six narrators, each with a unique perspective on the man, his motivations, and the roots of his triumphs and failings.
The Borgias And Their Enemies: 1431-1519
by Christopher HibbertThis colorful history of a powerful family brings the world they lived in??—??the glittering Rome of the Italian Renaissance??—??to life and is "simply unputdownable" (New York Times Book Review).The name Borgia is synonymous with the corruption, nepotism, and greed that were rife in Renaissance Italy. The powerful, voracious Rodrigo Borgia, better known to history as Pope Alexander VI, was the central figure of the dynasty. Two of his seven papal offspring also rose to power and fame??—??Lucrezia Borgia, his daughter, whose husband was famously murdered by her brother, and that brother, Cesare, who served as the model for Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince. Notorious for seizing power, wealth, land, and titles through bribery, marriage, and murder, the dynasty's dramatic rise from its Spanish roots to its occupation of the highest position in Renaissance society forms a gripping tale. Erudite, witty, and always insightful, Hibbert removes the layers of myth around the Borgia family and creates a portrait alive with his superb sense of character and place.
100 Best Quick Gluten-Free Recipes (100 Best Recipes)
by Carol FensterAn irresistible guide to simple, delicious, gluten-free recipes made in thirty minutes or less As a top gluten-free teacher and writer, Carol Fenster knows what cooks need: easy recipes for every day. 100 Best Quick Gluten-Free Recipes is Fenster’s answer to her fans. In this book, she offers an easy collection of satisfying recipes that take thirty minutes or less to make, showcasing thirty gorgeous photos to inspire any cook. Recipes include favorites like Microwave Muffins in a Mug, Breakfast Pizza, Garlic Breadsticks, Buttermilk Biscuits, Chicken Parmesan, Mini Meat Loaves, Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes, No-Cook Chocolate Cheesecakes, and even a fancy Black Forest Trifle. Because good nutrition is important for gluten-free diets, there are also recipes for Orange-Olive Salad, Tuscan Bean Soup, Split Pea Dal with Rice, and Grilled Fruit with Honey Yogurt. Nutrition information for every recipe, icons for vegetarian dishes, and tips on quick-cooking techniques will make planning meals easy. Fenster’s impeccable knowledge of gluten-free foods and what tastes good makes this a must-have gluten-free guide.
The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next
by Lee SmolinIn this illuminating book, the renowned theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that fundamental physics -- the search for the laws of nature -- losing its way. Ambitious ideas about extra dimensions, exotic particles, multiple universes, and strings have captured the public’s imagination -- and the imagination of experts. But these ideas have not been tested experimentally, and some, like string theory, seem to offer no possibility of being tested. Yet these speculations dominate the field, attracting the best talent and much of the funding and creating a climate in which emerging physicists are often penalized for pursuing other avenues. As Smolin points out, the situation threatens to impede the very progress of science. With clarity, passion, and authority, Smolin offers an unblinking assessment of the troubles that face modern physics -- and an encouraging view of where the search for the next big idea may lead.
The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded American is Tearing Us Apart
by Bill BishopThe award-winning journalist reveals the untold story of why America is so culturally and politically divided in this groundbreaking book.Armed with startling demographic data, Bill Bishop demonstrates how Americans have spent decades sorting themselves into alarmingly homogeneous communities??—??not by region or by state, but by city and neighborhood. With ever-increasing specificity, we choose the communities and media that are compatible with our lifestyles and beliefs. The result is a country that has become so ideologically inbred that people don't know and can't understand those who live just a few miles away.In The Big Sort, Bishop explores how this phenomenon came to be, and its dire implications for our country. He begins with stories about how we live today and then draws on history, economics, and our changing political landscape to create one of the most compelling big-picture accounts of America in recent memory.
The Alaskan Laundry: A Novel
by Brendan JonesOn the icy waters of the Bering Sea, a lost, fierce young woman finds herself through the hard work of fishing and the stubborn love of real friendship.Tara Marconi has made her way from Philly to “the Rock,” a remote island in Alaska governed by the seasons. Her mother’s death left her unmoored, with a seemingly impassable rift between her and her father. But in this majestic, rugged frontier she works her way up the commercial fishing ladder??—??from hatchery assistant all the way to king crabber. Disciplined from years as a young boxer, she learns anew what it means to work, to connect, and??—??through an unlikely old tugboat??—??how to make a home she knows is her own. A testament to the places that shape us and the places that change us, The Alaskan Laundry tells one woman’s unforgettable journey back to the possibility of love. “This novel will reconvince you of the power of wilderness to heal a human heart” (Pam Houston, author of Contents May Have Shifted).
The Pattern In The Carpet: A Personal History with Jigsaws
by Margaret DrabbleThe Pattern in the Carpet: A Personal History with Jigsaws is an original and brilliant work. Margaret Drabble weaves her own story into a history of games, in particular jigsaws, which have offered her and many others relief from melancholy and depression. Alongside curious facts and discoveries about jigsaw puzzles — did you know that the 1929 stock market crash was followed by a boom in puzzle sales? — Drabble introduces us to her beloved Auntie Phyl, and describes childhood visits to the house in Long Bennington on the Great North Road, their first trip to London together, the books they read, the jigsaws they completed. She offers penetrating sketches of her parents, her siblings, and her children; she shares her thoughts on the importance of childhood play, on art and writing, on aging and memory. And she does so with her customary intelligence, energy, and wit. This is a memoir like no other.
A Journey To The End Of The Millennium: A Novel of the Middle Ages
by A. B. YehoshuaIn the year 999, when Ben Attar, a Moroccan Jewish merchant, takes a second wife, he commits an act whose unforeseen consequences will forever alter his family, his relationships, his business-his life. In an attempt to forestall conflict and advance his business interests at the same time, Ben Attar undertakes his annual journey to Europe with both his first wife and his new wife. The trip is the beginning of a profound human drama whose moral conflicts of fidelity and desire resonate with those of our time. Yehoshua renders the medieval world of Jewish and Christian culture and trade with astonishing depth and sensuous detail. Through the trials of a medieval merchant, the renowned author explores the deepest questions about the nature of morality, character, codes of human conduct, and matters of the heart.
1919: Volume Two of the U.S.A. Trilogy (U.S.A. Trilogy #2)
by John Dos PassosWith 1919, the second volume of his U.S.A. trilogy, John Dos Passos continues his "vigorous and sweeping panorama of twentieth-century America" (Forum), lauded on publication of the first volume not only for its scope, but also for its groundbreaking style. Again, employing a host of experimental devices that would inspire a whole new generation of writers to follow, Dos Passos captures the many textures, flavors, and background noises of modern life with a cinematic touch and unparalleled nerve.1919 opens to find America and the world at war, and Dos Passos's characters, many of whom we met in the first volume, are thrown into the snarl. We follow the daughter of a Chicago minister, a wide-eyed Texas girl, a young poet, a radical Jew, and we glimpse Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Unknown Soldier. 1919 provides an incomparable portrait of America from the turn of the century to the Depression of 1929.