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Global Happiness and Humanitarian Assistance: Systemic Solutions (Integrated Science #29)
by Sara SpowartThis book compiles concerning important solutions for current and future global challenges to wellbeing. The purpose of this book is to provide high-level, systems-thinking solutions to many relevant issues. Specifically, the most relevant identified concerns of depression, suicidal ideation, loneliness and isolation as identified by the World Organization are addressed. Other important topics that are addressed are global happiness, humanitarian challenges, physical health innovations, cultural norms and innovative solutions to improve well-being such as mental health literacy and reduced mental health stigma. This book is unique because it addresses health and wellbeing on a systems-based, solution and future-oriented perspective. A systems-based compilation of chapters is needed to improve well-being and address WHO concerns going forward. This systems-based approach should address a convergence of grassroots as well as large-scale concerns.
International Conference on Signal, Machines, Automation, and Algorithm: Proceedings of SIGMAA 2023, Volume 1 (Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing #1460)
by Hasmat Malik Sukumar Mishra Y. R. Sood Fausto Pedro García Márquez Taha Selim UstunThis book is a set of best quality peer-reviewed innovative research papers from the International Conference on Signals, Machines, Automation and Algorithm (SIGMAA 2023), held at Shoolini University, India, during 15–16 December 2023 in hybrid mode. This book has originality of work with the innovative ideas regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in the field of communication, computing, and power technologies.
The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom #2)
by Danielle L. JensenIn the second novel of the heart-pounding Bridge Kingdom series, one woman fights to win back her throne, her people, and the love of the man she betrayed—from the New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood.A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter.And it is bait she fully intends to take.Risking her life to the Tempest Seas, Lara returns to Ithicana with a plan not only to free its king, but for liberating the Bridge Kingdom from her father's clutches using his own weapons: the sisters whose lives she spared. But not only is the palace inescapable, there are more players in the game than Lara ever realized, enemies and allies switching sides in the fight for crowns, kingdoms, and bridges. But her greatest adversary of all might be the very man she's trying to free—the husband she betrayed.With everything she loves in jeopardy, Lara must decide who—and what—she is fighting for: her kingdom, her husband, or herself.Don&’t miss any of Danielle L. Jensen's Bridge Kingdom series:THE BRIDGE KINGDOM • THE TRAITOR QUEEN • THE INADEQUATE HEIR • THE ENDLESS WAR • THE TWISTED THRONE (April 8, 2025)
All Good People Here: A Novel
by Ashley Flowers#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In the propulsive debut novel from the host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie, a journalist uncovers her hometown&’s dark secrets when she becomes obsessed with the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbor—and the disappearance of another girl twenty years later.ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: PopSugar You can&’t ever know for sure what happens behind closed doors.Everyone from Wakarusa, Indiana, remembers the infamous case of January Jacobs, who was discovered in a ditch hours after her family awoke to find her gone. Margot Davies was six at the time, the same age as January—and they were next-door neighbors. In the twenty years since, Margot has grown up, moved away, and become a big-city journalist. But she&’s always been haunted by the feeling that it could&’ve been her. And the worst part is, January&’s killer has never been brought to justice.When Margot returns home to help care for her uncle after he is diagnosed with early-onset dementia, she feels like she&’s walked into a time capsule. Wakarusa is exactly how she remembers—genial, stifled, secretive. Then news breaks about five-year-old Natalie Clark from the next town over, who&’s gone missing under circumstances eerily similar to January&’s. With all the old feelings rushing back, Margot vows to find Natalie and to solve January&’s murder once and for all.But the police, Natalie&’s family, the townspeople—they all seem to be hiding something. And the deeper Margot digs into Natalie&’s disappearance, the more resistance she encounters, and the colder January&’s case feels. Could January&’s killer still be out there? Is it the same person who took Natalie? And what will it cost to finally discover what truly happened that night twenty years ago?Twisty, chilling, and intense, All Good People Here is a searing tale that asks: What are your neighbors capable of when they think no one is watching?
Primal Mirror (Psy-Changeling Trinity #8)
by Nalini SinghNew York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh takes us into a family dark with shadowy secrets, as the world of the Psy teeters on the edge of a final catastrophic collapse. . . . Daughter of two ruthless high-Gradient telepaths, Auden Scott is not the child her Psy parents wanted or expected, even before her brain injury. Her thoughts are scattered, her memories fuzzy—or just terrifyingly blank. The only thing she knows for certain is that she must protect her unborn baby . . . a baby she has no recollection of conceiving and who draws an unnerving depth of interest from her dead mother&’s closest associates. Leopard alpha Remi Denier is a man driven by the primal instinct to protect. Protect his pack, protect his allies . . . and protect the mysterious woman who has become a most unlikely neighbor. With eerie eyes that see too much and a scent that alters in ways disturbing and impossible, Auden Scott is the enemy . . . but nothing about this strange Psy is what it seems, and Remi&’s feline heart is as fascinated by her as his human half. Then Auden asks Remi to help her shatter the wall of secrets that is the Scott bloodline. What they unearth will reveal a nightmare beyond imagination. This time, the battle is to the death. . . .
The Obstacle is the Way Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
by Ryan HolidayAn updated and expanded edition of the book that launched a global phenomenon, The Obstacle Is the Way presents an infinitely elastic formula for turning our toughest trials into our greatest triumphs.Since bestselling author Ryan Holiday introduced Stoicism to the world with The Obstacle Is the Way in 2014, this simple but powerful philosophy for life has taken the world by storm. This brilliant and engaging book is an invaluable source of wisdom for anyone who wants to become more successful at what they do, whether you&’re a student, a parent, a professional athlete, or a world leader. Now, Ryan Holiday has updated and expanded this modern classic with a new introduction and new content featuring a diverse set of inspiring characters.Icons of history—from Epictetus and Demosthenes to Amelia Earhart and Richard Wright—followed a simple formula to achieve greatness. They were not exceptionally brilliant, lucky, or gifted. Their success in overcoming extreme obstacles was the result of a timeless set of philosophical principles that the greatest men and women have always pursued.In The Obstacle Is the Way, Ryan Holiday unpacks those lessons and reframes them for today's world, giving us an indispensable formula for turning our toughest trials into triumphs. This new edition is a chance for old fans to revisit a classic and for a new generation to discover the power of Stoicism.
Meeting the Shadow: The Hidden Power Of The Dark Side Of Human Nature (New Consciousness Reader Ser.)
by Connie Zweig Jeremiah AbramsOne does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. –C.G. Jung Cheating... lying ... jealousy ... blaming ... greed ... shame… These forbidden feelings and behaviors erupt from the dark, denied part of ourselves-the personal shadow. But they erupt with a purpose: They are trying to tell us their secrets. Meeting the Shadow is a landmark collection of 65 wide-ranging essays by thought leaders – including Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, Ken Wilber, James Hillman, Susan Griffin, Harville Hendrix—on the dark side of human nature as it appears in families, intimate relationships, sexuality, work, spirituality, politics, therapy, and creativity. It presents tools for shadow work that enable us to make a conscious relationship with the shadow, defuse negative emotions, release guilt and shame, achieve a genuine self-acceptance, and heal our relationships. Although we think of the shadow as containing only darkness, as Jung stated, its essence is "pure gold.&”
Space Operations: Invest in Space to Serve Earth and Beyond (Springer Aerospace Technology)
by Young H. Lee Alexander Schmidt Ed TrollopeThis book includes a carefully curated selection of contributions that were presented at the 17th International Conference on Space Operations (SpaceOps) held in Dubai, UAE, from March 6th to 10th, 2023. The selection of chapters was based on their relevance to the current space operations community. The contributions represent a cross-section of three main subject areas: Mission Management—management tasks for designing, preparing and operating a particular mission; Spacecraft Operations—preparation and implementation of all activities to operate a space vehicle (crewed and uncrewed) under all conditions; and Ground Operations—preparation, qualification, and operations of a mission dedicated ground segment and infrastructure, including antennas, control centers, and communication means and interfaces. The book highlights the SpaceOps Committee’s objective to encourage the exchange of technical knowledge regarding space mission operations and ground data systems. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of establishing and sustaining a global community of experts in space operations.
Canada and Competing Indo-Pacific Visions of China and the US: Caught in a Foreign Policy Dilemma (Global Foreign Policy Studies)
by Kenneth M. HollandThis book describes and analyzes the choices that Canada, as a Middle Power, has regarding the strategic rivalry between the United States and China. The administrations of Republican Donald Trump and his successor Democrat Joe Biden have taken a hardline stance toward Beijing, which in turn has adopted an increasingly belligerent tone toward Washington. The posture of the United States toward China has put traditional American allies in a difficult position. They must choose whether to join the effort to counter China’s ambitions, support those ambitions or take some intermediate stance. As one of America’s closest and longest-standing allies, Canada must make decisions that will affect its position in the world for the rest of the twenty-first century. The book argues that Canada’s national interests are best served by alignment with the confrontational posture of the United States while at the same time joining the efforts of U.S. allies Japan, India, and South Korea to moderate the thrust of Washington’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in a direction more consistent with multilateralism and the preservation of the rules-based international order. The book has important implications for other U.S. allies, including the member states of the European Union, Organization of American States and Association of Southeast Asian Nations, each of which finds itself caught in the middle between the world’s two greatest powers.
Fetal Origin of Diseases
by Hui Wang Liaobin Chen Dan XuThis book covers two decades of the author’s studies about fetal-originated diseases. It contains researches from the aspects of multiple inducing factors of fetal-originated diseases, including prenatal xenobiotic exposure, nutritional deficiency and other adverse environment during pregnancy. The authors introduce a series of animal models for studying the fetal origin of a variety of metabolic and neuropsychiatric diseases, and propose the mechanisms of developmental toxicity and susceptibility to multiple diseases, such as glucocorticoid programming. Moreover, the extended knowledge are also clearly addressed, like identification of biomarkers of developmental toxicity, and the strategies for early warning, prevention and treatment of fetal-originated diseases. Thus, the book is a systematic and complete reference for the researchers of related areas.
The Palgrave Handbook of Experimental Cinema
by Kim Knowles Jonathan WalleyThis book is a collection of newly commissioned essays by established and emerging scholars that maps out the current landscape of experimental cinema studies and sets agendas for future work in the field. Introducing new critical methodologies and calling overdue attention to neglected artists, regions, and topics, the contributions to this volume reassess and reassert experimental cinema as a site of formal exploration and interrogation as well as resistance to institutional, political, and social norms. This collection articulates what it means for experimental cinema to be these things in the contemporary moment, staking out new directions in thinking about the subject not only as a growing sub-field of cinema studies, but as an artistic and scholarly tradition in dialogue with art history, visual culture, philosophy, and the sciences. The contributions reflect a diversity of voices and perspectives, weaving together theoretical, poetic, and personal modes of writing and traversing questions of form, emotion, materiality, nationality, postcoloniality, the body, and ecology.
Sustainable Wealth Management: Directing Capital Towards Sustainability (Sustainable Finance)
by Karen Wendt Bernd VillhauerThis book explores sustainable wealth management and the challenges that arise for asset managers in times of ecological crises and climate change. It deals with portfolio engineering, combining risk and impact, transitioning from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concepts to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) concepts and the different role of the intermediaries and players in the financial markets. It provides researchers, scholars, academics and policy makers an interdisciplinary approach to redirecting capital towards sustainability.
Advances in Production Management Systems. Production Management Systems for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous Environments: 43rd IFIP WG 5.7 International Conference, APMS 2024, Chemnitz, Germany, September 8–12, 2024, Proceedings, Part I (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology #728)
by Matthias Thürer Ralph Riedel Gregor Von Cieminski David RomeroThe six-volume set IFIP AICT 728-729 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 43rd IFIP WG 5.7 International Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems, APMS 2024, held in Chemnitz, Germany, during September 8–12, 2024. The 201 full papers presented together were carefully reviewed and selected from 224 submissions. The APMS 2024 conference proceedings are organized into six volumes, covering a large spectrum of research addressing the overall topic of the conference “Production Management Systems for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous Environments”. Part I: advancing eco-efficient and circular industrial practices; barriers and challenges for transition towards circular and sustainable production processes and servitized business models; implementing the EU green deal: challenges and solutions for a sustainable supply chain; risk analysis and sustainability in an uncertain system in a digital era. Part II: smart and sustainable supply chain management in the society 5.0 era; human-centred manufacturing and logistics systems design and management for the operator 5.0; inclusive work systems design: applying technology to accommodate individual workers’ needs; evolving workforce skills and competencies for industry 5.0; experiential learning in engineering education. Part III: lean thinking models for operational excellence and sustainability in the industry 4.0 era; human in command – operator 4.0/5.0 in the age of AI and robotic systems; hybrid intelligence – decision-making for AI-enabled industry 5.0; mechanism design for smart and sustainable supply chains. Part IV: digital transformation approaches in production and management; new horizons for intelligent manufacturing systems with IoT, AI, and digital twins. Part V: smart manufacturing assets as drivers for the twin transition towards green and digital business; engineering and managing AI for advances in asset lifecycle and maintenance management; transforming engineer-to-Order projects, supply chains, and systems in turbulent times; methods and tools to achieve the digital and sustainable servitization of manufacturing companies; open knowledge networks for smart manufacturing; applications of artificial intelligence in manufacturing; intralogistics. Part VI: modelling supply chain and production systems; resilience management in supply chains; digital twin concepts in production and services; optimization; additive manufacturing; advances in production management systems.
Sustainable Finance and Business in Sub-Saharan Africa
by David Mhlanga Mufaro DzingiraiIn the 21st century, the imperative for sustainable development has assumed a paramount role, echoing the pressing global concerns surrounding environmental degradation, social inequalities, and economic challenges. Within this context, Sub-Saharan Africa emerges as a region of particular significance, where the pursuit of sustainability holds immense promise and relevance. Despite being endowed with abundant natural resources and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, Sub-Saharan Africa grapples with enduring issues of poverty, inequality, and environmental harm. This book explores the innovative paradigms of sustainable finance and business within Sub-Saharan Africa, exploring how novel approaches can effectively tackle the region's most pressing challenges while simultaneously catalyzing economic growth and societal progress. The chapters presented here comprise a diverse array of cutting-edge financial strategies, circular economy initiatives, technological advancements, and business models that are revolutionizing sustainable development across the continent. Sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by its youthful demographic and rapidly expanding economies, is poised for transformation. Yet, it confronts formidable obstacles in the form of poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a comprehensive framework to address these issues. However, realizing these objectives requires innovative solutions that can surmount the unique constraints of the region. Fortunately, Sub-Saharan Africa is a crucible of innovation, with a growing community of entrepreneurs, financiers, and decision-makers committed to sustainable development. Initiatives promoting circular economies are reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency, while financial instruments like impact investing and green bonds are attracting new streams of funding. Simultaneously, technological breakthroughs such as mobile payment systems and renewable energy solutions are expanding access to essential services and driving economic expansion. Despite these encouraging advancements, Sub-Saharan Africa stands at a pivotal juncture in its journey towards sustainability. This book, with a focus on practical and scalable solutions, endeavors to showcase the most promising and successful models that can propel sustainable development across the region.
Between Protection and Harm: Negotiated Vulnerabilities in Asylum Laws and Bureaucracies (IMISCOE Research Series)
by Luc Leboeuf Cathrine Brun Hilde Lidén Sabrina Marchetti Delphine Nakache Sylvie SaroleaThis open access book dissects the current narratives of ‘vulnerability’ in asylum laws and policies, by unpacking the meanings, productions, and performances, of ‘vulnerability’ in different contexts, from countries of first asylum in the Global South to Europe and Canada. It discusses how the increased reliance on ‘vulnerability’ to guide states’ replies to refugee movements improves refugee protection, while also generating contestations and exclusionary effects that may cause harm. Based on data collected as part of the EU Horizon 2020 VULNER project, the book examines existing legal and bureaucratic approaches to refugees’ vulnerabilities, which it confronts with the refugees’ experiences and understandings of their own life challenges. It analyses the perspectives from state actors, humanitarian organisations, and social and aid workers, as well as the refugees themselves. By emphasizing how these perspectives relate and feed into each other, the book unpacks the humanitarian replies from states and the international community to refugee movements – including in their implied exclusionary dimensions that generate contestations and implementation difficulties which, if not tackled and understood properly, risk exacerbating and/or producing vulnerabilities among refugees.
Geschlechtersensibles Lehren im Sport: Ein Ratgeber für Universitäten, Schulen und Sportvereine
by Natalia Fast Christine-Irene Kraus Valerie KastrupWelche Rolle spielt Geschlecht im Sport und warum sind geschlechtersensibles Handeln und Lehren in diesem Feld relevant? Dieses Fachbuch nimmt das Thema Geschlecht im Kontext des Sports in den Blick. Ziel ist es, verschiedene Akteur*innen für Geschlechteraspekte zu sensibilisieren und deren Geschlechterkompetenz weiterzuentwickeln. Hierfür werden theoretische Grundlagen und allgemeine sowie spezifische Empfehlungen für einen sensiblen Umgang mit geschlechtsbezogenen Situationen in unterschiedlichen Sportsettings thematisiert. Explizit werden verschiedene Bewegungsfelder unter Geschlechterperspektive reflektiert und praktische Hinweise für den Umgang mit geschlechtsbezogenen Aspekten gegeben. Zudem werden konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen für Schule, Studium und Verein anschaulich und praxisbezogen aufbereitet. Hochschullehrende, angehende und ausgebildete Sportlehrkräfte und Übungsleiter*innen werden hierdurch befähigt, geschlechtsbezogene Phänomene in universitären Lehrveranstaltungen, im Sportunterricht sowie im Vereinssport zu identifizieren, zu reflektieren und diesen produktiv zu begegnen.
Ratgeber Knie
by Joachim GrifkaDer Ratgeber Knie beschreibt die häufig vorkommenden Kniegelenksbeschwerden, wie man ihnen vorbeugen kann, wie sie behandelt werden und welche therapeutischen Möglichkeiten es gibt.
Knowledge Models and Dissemination for Sustainable Development: Italian UNESCO Chairs on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (Research for Development)
by Nora Lombardini Elena Fioretto Angela Colonna Federico BucciThis book delves into the invaluable contributions made by the Italian UNESCO Chairs toward addressing the intricate and pressing global challenges of our era. Established within the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs program initiated by UNESCO in 1992, these Chairs serve as vital links between the realms of academic research and civil society. They offer a conduit for disseminating knowledge, thereby advancing the objectives of global development. By facilitating the transfer and adoption of scientific methodologies through intellectual collaboration, they strive to enhance the sustainability and resilience of both individual communities and society at large. Through a series of dialogues, the Italian UNESCO Chairs critically examine the challenges inherent in this mission, the objectives they aim to achieve, the strategies employed in scientific research, and the development of novel areas of study. They approach these endeavors with a conscientious and responsible mindset, recognizing them as essential responses to the multifaceted issues arising in our rapidly evolving world. The contributions put forth by the Italian UNESCO Chairs serve as practical tools for the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, making them relevant to various stakeholders. These include not only citizens, scholars, public and private institutions, research centers, and administrators but also anyone with an interest in tackling the challenges of sustainable development in our everyday lives.
Advanced Data Mining and Applications: 20th International Conference, ADMA 2024, Sydney, NSW, Australia, December 3–5, 2024, Proceedings, Part V (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #15391)
by Quan Z. Sheng Gill Dobbie Jing Jiang Xuyun Zhang Wei Emma Zhang Yannis Manolopoulos Jia Wu Wathiq Mansoor Congbo MaThis six-volume set, LNAI 15387-15392, constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Advanced Data Mining and Applications, ADMA 2024, held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, during December 3–5, 2024. The 159 full papers presented here were carefully reviewed and selected from 422 submissions. These papers have been organized under the following topical sections across the different volumes: - Part I : Applications; Data mining. Part II : Data mining foundations and algorithms; Federated learning; Knowledge graph. Part III : Graph mining; Spatial data mining. Part IV : Health informatics. Part V : Multi-modal; Natural language processing. Part VI : Recommendation systems; Security and privacy issues.
Säuren-Basen-Haushalt: Azidosen und Alkalosen verstehen, erkennen und behandeln
by Frank WaltherDieses Buch beinhaltet Grundlagen, Diagnostik und Therapie von Störungen des Säuren-Basen-Haushalts. Wer sich dafür interessiert, wie eine diabetische Ketoazidose entsteht, wie man sie behandelt, welchen Stellenwert die Therapie mit Puffersubstanzen bei Störungen des Säuren-Basen-Haushaltes hat, wie sich eine Hypothermie auf den Säuren-Basen-Haushalt auswirkt, was eine posthyperkapnische Alkalose ist, oder wer wissen möchte, wodurch sich BE- und Standardbikarbonat-Wert im Säuren-Basen-Status unterscheiden, findet die Erklärungen und Grundlagen dafür und noch etliches mehr in diesem Buch. Neben Kapiteln, die sich mit den weitgehend unveränderlichen Grundlagen und Grundsätzen der therapeutischen Möglichkeiten beschäftigen bzw. für Bereiche mit noch unzureichender Evidenzgrundlage die aktuell führenden Expertenmeinungen wiedergeben, werden zur Veranschaulichung 12 klinische Fälle präsentiert, an deren Beispiel die diagnostische Vorgehensweise bei unterschiedlichen Säuren-Basen-Störungen und die klinischen bzw. therapeutischen Schlussfolgerungen erläutert werden. Ziel des Buches ist die Vermittlung von fundiertem und praxisrelevanten, am Krankenbett einsetzbaren Wissen auf der Grundlage des Wissens aus der Biochemie und Physiologie-Ausbildung des Physikums. Es wendet sich an Ärztinnen und Ärzte verschiedener Facharztausbildungen sowie Medizinstudentinnen und -studenten. In der 2. Auflage wurde das Buch sorgfältig überarbeitet und aktualisiert und um neue Informationen ergänzt, z. B. zum Kalzium-Phosphat-Haushalt und zur 2022 erschienenen neuen Leitlinie für die Behandlung der diabetischen Ketoazidose im Kindesalter.
Ecce Homo: How One Becomes What One is
by Friedrich NietzscheIn late 1888, only weeks before his final collapse into madness, Nietzsche (1844-1900) set out to compose his autobiography, and Ecce Homo remains one of the most intriguing yet bizarre examples of the genre ever written. In this extraordinary work Nietzsche traces his life, work and development as a philosopher, examines the heroes he has identified with, struggled against and then overcome - Schopenhauer, Wagner, Socrates, Christ - and predicts the cataclysmic impact of his 'forthcoming revelation of all values'. Both self-celebrating and self-mocking, penetrating and strange, Ecce Homo gives the final, definitive expression to Nietzsche's main beliefs and is in every way his last testament.
Mesopotamia: The Invention of the City (The\a To Z Guide Ser.)
by Gwendolyn LeickSituated in an area roughly corresponding to present-day Iraq, Mesopotamia is one of the great, ancient civilizations, though it is still relatively unknown. Yet, over 7,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, the very first cities were created. This is the first book to reveal how life was lived in ten Mesopotamian cities: from Eridu, the Mesopotamian Eden, to that potent symbol of decadence, Babylon - the first true metropolis: multicultural, multi-ethnic, the last centre of a dying civilization.
Pretties (Uglies #2)
by Scott WesterfeldThe second installment of Scott Westerfeld&’s international bestselling Uglies series – the global phenomenon that started the dystopian trend. In Tally&’s world, looks are all that matters. And now that she&’s finally undertaken the surgery to become a &‘Pretty&’, everything seems perfect: her looks are flawless, her clothes are cool, her boyfriend is totally gorgeous, and she's completely popular. But beneath the fun of non-stop parties, high-tech luxury and apparent total freedom, Tally can&’t stop a nagging sense that something is wrong. Something important. Then a message from her &‘Ugly&’ past arrives, forcing Tally to remember the truth she learned before her transformation, and the fun stops cold. Because the true price of this perfect world is more than Tally is willing to pay…
Last Orders (Vintage International)
by Graham SwiftWINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 1996 Four men once close to Jack Dodds, a London butcher, meet to carry out his peculiar last wish: to have his ashes scattered into the sea at Margate. For reasons best known to herself, Jack&’s widow, Amy, declines to join them . . . On the surface a simple tale of an increasingly bizarre day&’s outing, this Booker-prize winning, internationally acclaimed novel is a resonant and classic exploration of the complexity and courage of ordinary lives. Intensely local but overwhelmingly universal, faithful to the fleeting rhythms and accidental eloquence of everyday speech but also to the timeless truths of life and death, it succeeds in being comic and heartstopping, affectionate and wise, and in conferring on its stumbling, disappointed characters an enduring decency, dignity and depth. &‘A surpassing testament to Swift&’s vibrant and powerful gifts&’ The Times&‘A triumph . . . a story about the most fundamental things of all&’ Evening Standard
The Lion Women of Tehran: The life-affirming BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick
by Marjan KamaliA BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK 'As heart-wrenching as it is achingly beautiful' Sadeqa Johnson, author of The House of Eve'Heartbreaking and life affirming' Adrienne Brodeur, author of Little Monsters'Courage, friendship, loyalty, hardship, love – this novel has everything' Mary Beth Keane, Ask Again, YesFrom the author of The Stationery Shop of Tehran, a heartfelt, epic new novel of friendship, betrayal and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran. In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother&’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams of a friend to alleviate her isolation. Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind, passionate girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa&’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions for becoming 'lion women.' But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls&’ high school in Iran, Ellie&’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie&’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives. Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences.Praise for Marjan Kamali &‘Evocative, devastating, and hauntingly beautiful&’ Whitney Scharer, author of The Age of Light &‘A beautifully immersive tale&’ Jasmin Darznik, author of The Good Daughter and Song of a Captive Bird &‘At once masterfully plotted, beautifully written, and populated by characters who are arresting, lovable and so real&’ Elinor Lipman, author of Turpentine Lane &‘A sweeping romantic tale of thwarted love&’ Kirkus Reviews &‘Enchanting&’ My Weekly