Married But Available ventures into a theme about which people say as much as they withhold. It explores intersections between sex, money and power, challenging orthodoxies, revealing complexities and providing insights into the politics and economics of relationships. During six months of fieldwork in Mimboland, Lilly Loveless, a Muzungulander doctoral student in Social Geography, researches how sex shapes and is shaped by power and consumerism in Africa. The bulk of her research takes place on the outskirts of the University of Mimbo, an institution where nothing is what it seems. Through her astounding harvest of encounters, interviews, conversations and observations, the reader gets a captivating glimpse into the frailty and resilience of human beings and society. Lilly Loveless comes out of it all well and truly baptized. And so does the reader! Views: 25
Magical stories set in alternate universes . . . tales of curses and gifts of healing . . . a wizard who has lost his powers . . . and a princess, a troll, and a teenage girl are featured in this diverse collection from Newbery Medalist Robin McKinley In "The Healer," Lily was born mute, but she has so great a natural gift for healing that the local midwife and healer takes her as an apprentice. One evening, riding home, she meets a stranger on the road who can speak to her silently, mind to mind. Overjoyed, she takes him home to Jolin—but Jolin can read the mage-mark on him and fears for Lily's safety, for mages are not to be trusted. In "The Stagman," Ruen is a princess and will become queen on her name day—if her uncle, the Regent, greedy for the power that should belong to his niece, cannot think of a way to prevent it. And so he invents portents and a purifying ritual that involves chaining Ruen to a rock in an old place of sacrifice, not... Views: 25
Continuing the story of the origins of the Clan and their discovery of how to travel through and draw upon the power of the M'hir, Riders of the Storm focuses on Om'ray Aryl Sac, who is gifted with this forbidden Talent. Aryl and her companions have found a new home in the mountains, but before long, their haven becomes a magnet for conflict.While trying to rebuild the divided village of Sona, Aryl must also safeguard the secret of her Talent from other arriving Om'ray who seek to use her power. Aryl becomes Clan Speaker to negotiate the peace, but tensions escalate, blood is spilled, and her fate-as well as Sona's-hangs in the balance. Views: 25
As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be -- but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend. When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.From National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr, Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts. Views: 25
A landmark work by a brilliant young author, THE SALT ROADS transports readers across centuries and civilizations as it fearlessly explores the relationships women have with their lovers, their people, and the divine. Jeanne Duval, the ginger-colored entertainer, struggles with her lover poet Charles Baudelaire...Mer, plantation slave and doctor, both hungers for and dreads liberation...and Thais, a dark-skinned beauty from Alexandria, is impelled to seek a glorious revelation-as Ezili, a being born of hope, unites them all. Interweaving acts of brutality with passionate unions of spirit and flesh, this is a narrative that shocks, entertains, and dazzles-from an award-winning writer who dares to redefine the art of storytelling. Views: 25
EDITORIAL REVIEW: This is a story of the greatest love, ever. An outlandish claim, outrageous perhaps, but trust me--And so begin the enchanting, unforgettable tale of J. J. Smith, Keeper of the Records for The Book of Records, an ordinary man searching for the extraordinary. J.J. has clocked the world's longest continuous kiss, 30 hours and 45 minutes. He has verified the lengthiest single unbroken apple peel, 172 feet and 4 inches. He has measured the farthest flight of a champagne cork from an untreated, unheated bottle 177 feet 9 inches. He has tasted the world's largest menu item, whole-roasted Bedouin camel.But in all his adventure from Australia to Zanzibar, J.J. has never witnessed great love until he comes upon a tiny windswept town in the heartland of America, where folks still talk about family, faith, and crops. Here, where he last expects it, J.J. discovers a world record attempt like no other: Piece by piece, a farmer is eating a Boeing 747 to prove his love for a woman.In this vast landscape of cornfields and lightning storms, J.J. is doubly astounded to be struck by love from the same woman, Willa Wyatt of the honey eyes and wild blond hair. It is a feeling beyond measure, throwing J.J.'s carefully ordered world upside down, proving that hears, like world records, can be broken, and the greatest wonders in life can not be qualified.Richly romantic, whimsical, and uplifting, **The Man Who Ate the 747** is a flight of fancy from start to finish. It stretches imagination, bends physics and biology, but believe it just a little and you may find yourself reaching for your own records, the kind that really count. Written with tenderness, originality, and insight, filled with old-fashioned warmth and newfangled humor, it is an extraordinary novel, a found treasure that marks the emergence of a major storytelling tale.*From the Hardcover edition.* Views: 25
It's the year 2015, and global warming is ravaging the environment. In response, the United Kingdom mandates carbon rationing. When her carbon debit card arrives in the mail, sixteen-year-old Laura is just trying to handle the pressure of exams, keep her straight-X punk band on track, and catch the attention of her gorgeous classmate Ravi. But as multiple natural disasters strike and Laura's parents head toward divorce, her world spirals out of control. With the highest-category hurricane in history heading straight toward London, chronicling the daily insanity is all Laura can do to stay grounded in a world where disaster is the norm. Views: 25
Perry excels at hard-boiled writing, flashing dialogue, and stripped-down action. Views: 25
SUMMARY: It seems like the summer of dreams come true for Hollywood princess Kaitlin Burke: the media loves her (again), super-cute and funny Austin Meyers is finally her boyfriend, and she's starring in a movie by her all-time favorite director Hutch Adams. What could be sweeter? But life on set is not as perfect as the makeup and costumes. And with an old love and a scheming new publicist on the scene, it's about to get a whole lot messier.Combining the vicarious glamour of the New York Times bestselling A-List series with the innocence of The Princess Diaries, this commercial and appealing sequel offers another captivating glimpse behind the velvet ropes of stardom.Tantalizing new Hollywood secrets appear throughout. Views: 25
Jack's family is based on Rottnest Island during WWII while his father helps build an airfield. Jack and his best friend Banjo have the run of the island and a remarkable knack for getting into trouble — but as Jack says, 'I'm not that bad, I just get caught a lot!' Dafty, a simple but loveable young boy, dotes on Banjo and Jack. When Dafty seeks revenge against the local schoolmaster for a punishment inflicted on Banjo, life suddenly becomes more serious. This poignant, multi-layered text offers young readers a valuable insight into life in Australia during the war. Views: 25
Mark Knightley - handsome, clever, rich - is used to women falling at his feet. Except Emma Woodhouse, who's like part of the family - and the furniture. When their relationship changes dramatically, is it an ending or a new beginning?Emma's grown into a stunningly attractive young woman, full of ideas for modernising her family business. Then Mark gets involved and the sparks begin to fly. It's just like the old days, except that now he s seeing her through totally new eyes.While Mark struggles to keep his feelings in check, Emma remains immune to the Knightley charm. She's never forgotten that embarrassing moment when he discovered her teenage crush on him. He's still pouring scorn on all her projects, especially her beautifully orchestrated campaign to find Mr Right for her ditzy PA. And finally, when the mysterious Flynn Churchill - the man of her dreams - turns up, how could she have eyes for anyone else?With its clueless heroine and entertaining plot, this modern retelling of Jane Austen's Emma stays true to the original, while giving fresh insights into the mind of its thoroughly updated and irresistible hero.Review`A great story which has been a joy to read.' `Juliet Archer writes heroes so convincingly and gives them a touch of weakness and insecurity without ever detracting from their masculinity. When mixed with a wicked sense of humour, this makes a very attractive combination!' `Right from the start of the story the main characters got inside my head, especially Mark.' --The Choc Lit Tasting Panel, December 20084 stars (out of 5), BUY = Yes, BORROW = Yes A spirited retelling of Emma by Jane Austen will provide an enjoyable read to those who know the original story and those who don't. Definitely recommended. Emma Woodhouse fancies herself as something of a matchmaker, having just married off Tom Weston to her best friend and she can't resist trying her hand with a few more people. There's Harriet Smith, fond of a local man, but Emma's convinced that she could do better for herself and she's aiming to pair her off with Philip Elton. As for herself, well she rather believes herself in love with Tom Weston's son and the good-looking Mark Knightley is just a problem, even if he is rather tempting on occasions. Does it sound familiar? If it doesn't, it should, as this is Juliet Archer's rewriting of Jane Austen's Emma. When it dropped through the letterbox on Saturday morning I was reading something rather worthy and I'm afraid that the temptation to relax and have some fun was more than I could resist and I'm not quite certain where the weekend went! The story's set very much in the twenty-first century rather than the nineteenth and Juliet Archer's retelling is skilful and never forced, despite staying very close to the original plot. Emma Woodhouse is the marketing director of Highbury Foods and Mark Knightley has come home from India to take over the reins of Donwell Organics whilst his father is away on an extended holiday. Harriet Smith is Emma's PA and she's a superb creation - Essex girl through and through. Her farva as a tan ass says something about the residence of a relative, but I'll let you work it out for yourself. The story is told in turn by Mark and Emma in short chapters. It took me just a few moments of wondering why Emma was (seemingly) so taken by a nice pair of female legs before I got into the rhythm but after that we swung along very nicely. Sometimes it was laugh-out-loud funny to see the same situation from the so-different perspectives, and Juliet Archer knows how to keep the reader's interest and the plot moving along very smoothly. So, what would Jane Austen have thought of Juliet Archer's retelling of Emma? Well, she'd have smiled delightedly at the writing, catching as it does the gentle comedy of her own work. She'd have been shocked at the sex scenes, wondering if, like some of the language, they were entirely necessary, particularly she might have added for those of us who are not entirely certain what 'the hilt' is and what it is in 'up to'. I think she'd have mused on the fact that the modern Emma is rather more likeable than her Georgian counterpart and enquired if that was deliberate or if we were simply more used to spoilt rich girls. She'd have nodded wisely and accepted the book as fine tribute. The retelling of a well-known story is always risky. It can be described as an 'elegant retelling' or, at the other end of the scale, as a 'rip-off'. This isn't quite at the top end of the scale but it certainly gave this jaded reviewer an enjoyable weekend's reading that she wasn't expecting. I'd like to thank Juliet Archer (see - she's even got the same initials) for sending a copy to The Bookbag. --The Bookbag, December 22, 2008 ReviewRating: 10/10 As some of you regular readers know, I am a big Jane Austen fan, and I've read quite a few modern versions of her work (Melissa Nathan, Kate Fenton spring to mind, as well as Bridget Jones). What I have found in reading these books is that they are usually only very loosely based around the original story. This has been a little frustrating for me as I often wondered why they had been changed so much when the original was so good. But lo and behold, at last, a modern version of a Jane Austen book that sticks to the original story, and is a fantastic read. I loved the way this novel took all the characters you love in the original Emma and planted them into the modern world - it worked really well. Emma herself is still both lovely and extremely irritating at times (just like the original). Mark Knightley is every woman's dream, and Juliet did a great job of giving both of them a history (and no, Emma isn't a virgin). This book also has a lot of humour in it, which will always get bonus points from me. So overall, if you love Jane Austen and want to read something fresh and new, then this is the book for you. If you don't like Jane Austen because it's a historical novel or some other strange reason like you have no taste, then this is the book for you too. You'll be very pleasantly surprised. Juliet has her version of Persuasion coming out next, which I'm very excited about. Views: 25
They thought they'd found a refuge, but the battle for survival has only just begun...Surrounded by the destruction of the human race, Euan, Nick, and Kira find solace in one another, making their underground bunker a haven and a home. Sheltered under layers of steel and cement, they should be safe, but danger isn't always kept outside — sometimes the enemy is within. When their electronic warning system detects intruders, Euan and Nick must investigate. Outside, they discover the true terror that is approaching, and Euan must make a terrible decision: stay or go. To stay is to watch the only people he loves perish under the weight of pure evil. To leave is to face his certain death to protect them and potentially save humankind. Despite all his preparation, skills, and strength, Euan knows that each decision carries the risk that he could destroy them all.The second book in the Refuge Trilogy. Views: 25
The path from Europe to Africa has been much traveled in literature but rarely in such an evocative, nuanced, and even playful way as in N.S. K÷enings's THEFT. Here are five seductive tales that move with grace and subtlety between the two continents and reveal with insight and wit that what seem to be very separate worlds are not so far apart after all. In Pearls to Swine, a lonely childless socialite invites her American goddaughter to spend the summer in her mansion. In Wondrous Strange, a spirit medium is haunted by the ghost of an ancient African djinn. In Setting Up Shop, a young Zanzibari woman dreams of traveling to the U.S., even as a local entrepeneur courts her relentlessly, even promising to leave his other wives for her. More praise for The Blue Taxi: The world K÷enings has created in her accomplished debut is tragic and exhilarating, as is her portrayal of weary, left-behind colonialists, poverty-stricken natives and the uneasy manner in which each regards the other.--... Views: 25
