Originally published: New York : Scribner, c1990Amid the rubble of San Francisco's 1906 earthquake, Max Kosegarten, the
narrator of this lyrical first novel, becomes the inseparable boyhood
friend of Duncan Taqdir, son of a Persian sculptor and an English
archeologist. Set mainly in 1914-1916 and told in diary-like entries
interspersed with 36 brooding illustrations by the author, the story
follows the boys as they become lovers, ultimately separated by college
and a tragic accident. Together they explore California's woods, beaches
and mountains, and search for evidence of the earthquake that brought
them together. Their excavations as well as Max's reading of Ruskin and
Cicero, point to this sensitive novel's motif: how memory accretes into
character and shapes perception. Another theme is a teen's acceptance of
his homosexuality. Max's perky, self-absorbed mother, who is having an
affair with Duncan's father, is sharply drawn. Letters from Max's uncle,
serving on a hellish front in WW I, add period flavor. Views: 23
During a school trip to Washington, D.C., identical teen-age twins Chris and Susan Pratt get involved in a lot more than sightseeing. A beautiful Russian ballet dancer with a secret draws them into the most daring—and the most dangerous—adventure of the girls' entire lives. Will Chris and Sooz's identical appearance, along with their cleverness, help them win this high-stakes game? Young Adult Fiction by Cynthia Blair; originally published by Fawcett Juniper Views: 23
In this mystery Dangerous Davies, "the last detective", falls in love. The object of the mystery is the death of Lofty Brock, a harmless old man, and the object of the detective's infatuation is the striking black girl with a gap in her teeth, the extraordinary Jemima. Views: 23
The pageantry and passionate intrigues of King Arthur's court are expertly re-created in this historical novel—the only Arthurian novel in which all of the central characters are portrayed as intrinsically good people. Views: 22
This 1987 winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Award contains 12 stories that focus on contemporary Americans: their fragile relationships, their interest in activism and their experiences with rape, drugs and homosexuality. Views: 22
The kidnapping of Frank Hardy's girlfriend at an antiterror convention in Washington, D.C., sends the brother sleuths running straight into a terrorist deathtrap. Views: 21
While James White is best known for the Sector General series, he has written many more science fiction novels. This is one of his best, easily equal to any of the Sector general series. The book is set in a near future after humanity’s contact with aliens. The aliens offer to relocate all of mankind who qualifies to the Federation World, a Dyson sphere near the center of the galaxy. The principal characters are not accepted for citizenship, instead qualifying for positions on the Federation staff. Their job is to make contact with new species and to invite them to join the Federation if they qualify. White’s writing is remarkably clear and easy to read. Views: 21
Summer's Lease - the classic, international bestselling novel by John Mortimer 'Amusing, entertaining ... and a cracking good read' Sunday Express'And summer's lease hath all too short a date' - Sonnet 18, William ShakespeareIt's high summer when Molly Pargeter drags her amiably bickering family to a rented Tuscan villa for the holidays. Molly is sure that the house is the perfect setting for their three-week getaway, but soon she becomes fascinated by the lives of the absent owners - and things start to go horribly wrong ... 'With a cosy fluency of wit, Mortimer charms us into his urbane tangle of clues' Mail on Sunday Summer's Lease, which was made into popular BBC TV mini-series starring John Gielgud, is a delightful novel from Rumpole author John Mortimer: witty, compassionate, humane, perfectly plotted and wonderfully readable. It will be adored by... Views: 21
Jeffrey loves to tell a good story, but it actually turns out that his new best friend is mischief-loving ghost from the 1950s named Max. Views: 21
In this bizarre thriller set in an Arab emirate, an English scientist is trying to teach a chimpanzee to communicate. But when the chimp is the sole witness to a murder, giving evidence strains its new skill to the limit. Views: 21
When a client dies in a car explosion, Orlando detective Fred Carver learns the man may not have been who he said he wasFor Bert Renway, it starts out as a simple proposition: a fat bundle of money to spend a few weeks impersonating Frank Wesley, a local tycoon. But after a while Bert grows suspicious of the easy money, and seeks help in the shape of Fred Carver, an ex–Orlando policeman turned private investigator. Like Bert, Carver smells trouble, and agrees to help him find out who his employers are and why they want him to play Wesley. Neither of them is suspicious enough. A few minutes after Bert leaves, an explosion sounds in the parking lot—the new client’s car gone up in a burst of flame. When they pull his body from the wreckage, dental records identify him not as Bert Renway, but as Frank Wesley. Carver doesn’t care. He’s on the case no matter who the man was. This ebook features an illustrated biography of John Lutz including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author’s personal collection. Views: 21
'Hill is an instinctive and complete novelist who is blessed with a spontaneous storytelling gift' Frances Fyfield, Mail on Sunday Years ago, young Tracey Pedley disappeared in the woods around Burrthorpe. The close-knit mining village had its own ideas about what happened, but the police pinned it on a known child-killer who subsequently committed suicide. Now Burrthorpe comes to police attention again. A man's body is discovered down a mine shaft and it's clear he has been murdered. Dalziel and Pascoe's investigation takes them to the heart of a frightened and hostile community. But could the key to the present-day investigation lie in the past when little Tracey vanished into thin air...? Views: 20
New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods sweeps readers away with a reader-favorite tale of finding strength--and love--in unexpected places. Audrey Nelson had heard the words "We knew we could count on you" too many times. She was known as a good sport, but to her that meant she was just a wimp! Canceling her vacation to cover a hot-air balloon festival was the absolute last time she would give in.But Blake Marshall's high-handed manner didn't give her a chance to say no. He literally swept her off her feet before she could protest, and his charm made dangerous inroads into her outrage. Audrey knew Blake understood her need for control and self-respect. Could he get her to say yes to the most important question of all? Views: 20
From Publishers WeeklyIn this suspenseful sequel to Go Saddle the Sea and Bridle the Wind , both set in early 19th century Spain, a mature Felix returns, prepared for adventure. Three children have been kidnapped by their father, an escaped political prisoner who is hiding in the mountains. Will Felix be able to free them? Even knowing these are "wild and heartless times" because of King Ferdinand's terrible reign, he agrees to try. The trip will give him a chance to see his love, Juana. From the start, it seems that the little party is being followed. The horses are poisoned, and there are further ominous signs of a plot. Whom can they trust? Have they been sent into a trap? Intrigue is Aiken's stock-in-trade, and there is plenty to be found in this novel. While readers may sense a lack of underlying theme and wish for a greater development of Felix's affection for Juana, they could hardly ask for a more diverting, action-filled plot. As usual, Aiken writes with endless inventiveness and ease. Ages 12-up. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library JournalGrade 7 Up A stirring continuation of the adventures of the resourceful orphaned heir who, at 12, ran away from his Spanish grandfather's estate to seek his English father's people in Go Saddle the Sea (Doubleday, 1977; o.p.); and a year later made a shipwrecked return, in Bridle the Wind (Delacorte, 1983). It is a more mature Felix, now 18, who develops an understanding of his responsibilities as he meets physical dangers and political intrigues when his studies are interrupted and his help asked in regaining custody of children kidnapped by their mad fatheran escaped political prisoner. His elderly aunts fear that it is all a political trap to confiscate the estates, as grandfather is a known liberal, whose friends and views are out of favor with the restored monarch turned reactionary. But one member of the rescue party is Juana, the Basque girl whom Felix lovesrespectfully, since she has entered a conventand hopefully, since she has not taken final vows. Full of action, interesting characters, and made-real places, this forms a well-meshed conclusion to earlier episodes and an intriguing glimpse into Spain in the 1820s. (Author's historic notes and reading list are appended.) These books get better with each reading; share them with the adults. Ruth M. McConnell, San Antonio Public LibraryCopyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. Views: 20
Dave Barry is a staff writer for the Miami Herald, where he writes about such topics as politics, world affairs, and giant mutant crickets attacking villages in Peru. His weekly humor column appears in more than 120 newspapers, and his writing has appeared in a number of national magazines. In 1986 he won the American Association of Newspaper Editors’ Distinguished Writing Award for commentary. In 1988 he won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary, an event that confirmed the widely held view that western civilization is headed down the toilet. Barry lives with his wife, Beth, and son, Robby, in Coral Gables, Florida, in a house that is slowly getting worse. Views: 20
