eBook Bonus:New Photos plus Video, Blog and Interview links.What happens when a thirty-five-year-old average American woman spends one year following every piece of Oprah Winfrey's advice on how to "live your best life"? Robyn Okrant devoted 2008 to adhering to all of Oprah's suggestions and guidance delivered via her television show, her Web site, and her magazine. LIVING OPRAH is a month-by-month account of that year.Some of the challenges included enrollment in Oprah's Best Life Challenge for physical fitness and weight control, living vegan, and participating in Oprah's Book Club. After 365 days of LIVING OPRAH, Okrant reflects on the rewards won and lessons learned as well as the tolls exacted by the experiment. Views: 36
A grasshopper walked into a bar and ordered a drink.The bartender looked at him and said, "You know we have a drink named after you?"The grasshopper replied, "You have a drink named Stanley?"Schtick happens. For five thousand years, God's chosen people have cornered the market on knee-slappers, zingers, and knock-knock jokes. Now Old Jews Telling Jokes mines mothers, fathers, bubbies, and zaydes for comic gelt. What we get are jokes that are funnier than a pie in the punim: Abie and Becky jokes; hilarious rabbi, doctor, and mohel tales; and those bits just for Mom (Q: What's the difference between a Jewish mother and a Rottweiler? A: Eventually a Rottweiler will let go!). Some are just naughty and some are downright bawdy--but either way you'll laugh till you plotz. With Borscht Belt gags from Brooklyn to Bel Air to Boca, Old Jews Telling Jokes is like chicken soup for your funny bone. I mean, would it kill you to laugh a little?From the... Views: 36
SUMMARY:
Enter the spellbinding world of dragons . . . and those who tend them One of the most gifted fantasy authors writing today, New York Times bestselling author Robin Hobb has dazzled readers with brilliantly imaginative, emotionally resonant, and compulsively readable tales set in far-flung realms not unlike our own. In this enthralling new novel, she returns to the territory of her beloved Liveship Traders and Tawny Man trilogies with a story of dragons and humans, return and rebirth, and the search for meaning, belonging, and home. For years, the Trader cities valiantly battled their enemies, the Chalcedeans. But they could not have staved off invasion without the powerful dragon Tintaglia. In return, the Traders promised to help her serpents migrate up the Rain Wild River after a long exile at sea—to find a safe haven and, Tintaglia hopes, to restore her species. But too much time has passed, and the newly hatched dragons are damaged and weak, and many die. The few who survive cannot use their wings; earthbound, they are powerless to hunt and vulnerable to human predators willing to kill them for the fabled healing powers of dragon flesh. But Tintaglia has vanished and the Traders are weary of the labor and expense of tending useless dragons. The Trader leadership fears that if it stops providing for the young dragons, the hungry and neglected creatures will rampage—or die along the river's acidic muddy banks. To avert catastrophe, the dragons decree a move even farther up the treacherous river to Kelsingra, their ancient, mythical homeland whose mysterious location is locked deep within the dragons' uncertain ancestral memories. To ensure their safe passage, the Traders recruit a disparate group of young people to care for the damaged creatures and escort them to their new home. Among them is Thymara, an unschooled forest girl of sixteen, and Alise, a wealthy Trader's wife trapped in a loveless marriage, who attaches herself to the expedition as a dragon expert. The two women share a deep kinship with the dragons: Thymara can instinctively communicate with them, and Alise, captivated by their beauty and majesty, has devoted her life to studying them. Embarking on an arduous journey that holds no promise of return, the band of humans and dragons must make their way along the toxic and inhospitable Rain Wild River—an extraordinary odyssey that will teach them lessons about themselves and one another, as they experience hardships, betrayals, and joys beyond their wildest dreams. Views: 36
EDITORIAL REVIEW:
As man expands beyond explored space, the need to find a way to make inhospitable planets hospitable grows greater. One young biologist, Carol Marcus, has a project that she is convinced can reshape planets. She puts together a team of young, committed scientists who dare to dream as she does: of a Federation remade so hunger is eradicated, where every world can be reshaped into a paradise. The belief that all things are possible, that man can strive to conquer space not with force but with science, is shared by James Kirk, a young Starfleet officer and her lover.
Leila Kalomi, a renowned botanist, is looking for a new direction. After hearing about Marcus's project, she applies for a position. She finds Carol's passion contagious, and a chance encounter with the *Enterprise*'s science officer, Spock, convinces her to join Project: Inception.
Four people just trying to find the balance between their careers and their personal lives, trying to make the right choice not just for themselves but for the betterment of all mankind. The choices they make will rewrite the history of the Federation and change forever how man explores space. Views: 36
Kit, a work-obsessed literature student, decides on a whim to go to a dance class. And for a while it looks like Joe, the shadowy figure she meets there, may tempt her to put her books aside and live a little. But as Joe’s world becomes increasingly threatening and Kit’s research leads her to stumble on an extraordinary historical mystery, she is faced with a choice. Will she hide herself away in her studies or will she make the leap of faith that could change her existence forever? The Twisted Heart is both a hugely enjoyable novel about the challenges of love and a startling exploration of previously unrecognised links between the young Charles Dickens and the deranged murder of a prostitute known as The Countess. Brilliantly weaving these threads together, it confirms Gowers as one of the most exciting voices in Britain today. Views: 36
THE SOULS OF THE DEAD Naked. Incoherent. Covered with blood. That's how Detective Frank Blackburn finds her-a beautiful Jane Doe brandishing a pair of scissors near the scene of a brutal murder. Is she the perpetrator? Or is she the only eyewitness to the handiwork of Vincent Van Gogh, a twisted serial killer with an "artistic" bent? THE SINS OF THE LIVING To find out, Blackburn takes her to renowned psychiatrist Dr. Michael Tolan. But Tolan has problems of his own. One year ago today, his beloved wife Abby was savagely slaughtered by the very same serial killer. And when Jane Doe starts saying things that only Abby could know… about long-buried secrets…about the night of Abby's death…Tolan finds himself headed for a confrontation with his past that could well lead to a breakdown. Now it's up to Frank Blackburn to find the connection between Jane, Tolan…and Vincent-before the killer strikes again. Views: 36
SUMMARY: Marlena de Blasi, the acclaimed author of such delectable memoirs as A Thousand Days in Venice and That Summer in Sicily, now brings her luminous prose to the world of fiction with this remarkable debut novel. Set against the backdrop of Europe as it moves inexorably toward World War II, Amandine follows a young orphan's journey in search of her heritage. The story opens in Krakow in 1931, as a baby girl is conceived out of wedlock, the byproduct of a foolish heart and a tragic inheritance. The child's grandmother, a countess, believes that she is protecting her daughter when she claims that the baby didn't survive. In truth, however, she deposits the infant at a remote convent in the French countryside, leaving her with a great sum of money and in the care of a young governess named Solange. Solange takes it upon herself to give the child a distinctive name, Amandine, and the two form a special bond. But even Solange's unconditional love cannot protect her charge. Mistrusted by both the abbess and the convent girls, the unusually astute and curious Amandine finds her childhood filled with challenges and questions: Who is she? Where does she come from? Eventually, Solange is forced to choose between the terrors of the convent and those of a global war looming outside its doors. Thus, with a purseful of worthless francs and a sack of provisions, the two flee north toward Solange's childhood home. But what should have been a two-day journey by train becomes a perilous, years-long odyssey across Occupied France--and deeper into the treacheries of war. Tracing the flight of Amandine and Solange while peering into the lives of the countess and her daughter, Amandine's mother, who still mourns and dreams of the child she thinks she lost forever, Marlena de Blasi's epic novel winds its way toward a dramatic and compelling conclusion, as mother and daughter draw ever nearer. Amandine is a sumptuous tale of identity and survival, persistent hope and unexpected love. Views: 36
Review "The Riyria Revelations is a much needed return to fantasy's grassroots. For fans who miss the straightforward adventurous tales-- the stories that got a lot of us 35+ year-olds hooked on fantasy to begin with--The Crown Conspiracy brings back that excitement. --Tammy Moore, sfSite"When I started reading about Royce and Hadrian, Lieber's famous sword-and-sorcery duo, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, immediately came to mind, but I actually like The Riyria Revelations better." --Greg Hersom, Fantasy Literature"In the space of a short year and a half, Michael Sullivan has moved from a small press debut author that featured in one of my first Indie Spotlight Reviews to a name in the fantasy field who sold-out his first novel and is getting both critical acclaim and fan appreciation. In my 2009 end-of-the-year rankings, Avempartha went head to head against the big names and made both my Top 2009 Books list and Cindy's Top 2009 Book list, while The Crown Conspiracy made Mihir's Top 2009 Reads too." --Liviu Suciu, Fantasy Book Critic Product Description A FORCED WEDDING. A DOUBLE EXECUTION. TWO THIEVES HAVE OTHER PLANS.The New Empire intends to celebrate its victory over the Nationalists with a day that will never be forgotten. On the high holiday of Wintertide the empress will be married. Degan Gaunt and the Witch of Melengar will be publically executed. Then the empress will suffer a fatal accident leaving the empire in the hands of the new emperor. It will be a perfect day. There is only one problem-Royce and Hadrian have finally found the lost heir.ABOUT THE SERIESInstead of a string of sequels The Riyria Revelations is a fantasy series conceived as a single epic tale divided into individual self-contained episodes. All were written before the first was released so that plot elements are intertwined, yet each book has its only story and conclusion.AWARDS AND ACCOLADES2010 Fantasy Book Critic Top 12 Novels as of First Quarter (The Emerald Storm)2010 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (Avempartha)2010 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (Nyphron Rising2009 Winner of Book Spot Central's Fantasy Tournament of Books (Avempartha)2009 Top 10 Books by Dark Wolf Fantasy Reviews (The Riyria Revelations)2009 National Indie Book Award Finalist (The Crown Conspiracy)2008 ReaderViews Annual Literary Award Finalist (The Crown Conspiracy)2007 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (The Crown ConspiracyBOOKS OF THE RIYRIA REVELATIONSThe Crown Conspiracy (October 2008)Avempartha (April 2009)Nyphron Rising (October 2009) The Emerald Storm (April 2010)Wintertide (October 2010)Percepliquis* (April 2011) Review "The Riyria Revelations is a much needed return to fantasy's grassroots. For fans who miss the straightforward adventurous tales-- the stories that got a lot of us 35+ year-olds hooked on fantasy to begin with--The Crown Conspiracy brings back that excitement. --Tammy Moore, sfSite "When I started reading about Royce and Hadrian, Lieber's famous sword-and-sorcery duo, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, immediately came to mind, but I actually like The Riyria Revelations better." --Greg Hersom, Fantasy Literature "In the space of a short year and a half, Michael Sullivan has moved from a small press debut author that featured in one of my first Indie Spotlight Reviews to a name in the fantasy field who sold-out his first novel and is getting both critical acclaim and fan appreciation. In my 2009 end-of-the-year rankings, Avempartha went head to head against the big names and made both my Top 2009 Books list and Cindy's Top 2009 Book list, while The Crown Conspiracy made Mihir's Top 2009 Reads too." --Liviu Suciu, Fantasy Book Critic Product Description A FORCED WEDDING. A DOUBLE EXECUTION. TWO THIEVES HAVE OTHER PLANS. The New Empire intends to celebrate its victory over the Nationalists with a day that will never be forgotten. On the high holiday of Wintertide the empress will be married. Degan Gaunt and the Witch of Melengar will be publically executed. Then the empress will suffer a fatal accident leaving the empire in the hands of the new emperor. It will be a perfect day. There is only one problem-Royce and Hadrian have finally found the lost heir. ABOUT THE SERIES Instead of a string of sequels The Riyria Revelations is a fantasy series conceived as a single epic tale divided into individual self-contained episodes. All were written before the first was released so that plot elements are intertwined, yet each book has its only story and conclusion. AWARDS AND ACCOLADES 2010 Fantasy Book Critic Top 12 Novels as of First Quarter (The Emerald Storm) 2010 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (Avempartha) 2010 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (Nyphron Rising 2009 Winner of Book Spot Central's Fantasy Tournament of Books (Avempartha) 2009 Top 10 Books by Dark Wolf Fantasy Reviews (The Riyria Revelations) 2009 National Indie Book Award Finalist (The Crown Conspiracy) 2008 ReaderViews Annual Literary Award Finalist (The Crown Conspiracy) 2007 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (The Crown Conspiracy BOOKS OF THE RIYRIA REVELATIONS The Crown Conspiracy (October 2008) Avempartha (April 2009) Nyphron Rising (October 2009) The Emerald Storm (April 2010) Wintertide (October 2010)Percepliquis* (April 2011) Views: 36
Edgar Award finalist Alison Gaylin, who brought readers "something completely different" (Chicago Tribune) with Hide Your Eyes and You Kill Me, presents a brand-new novel of suspense set against the surreal backdrop of contemporary Hollywood—where a trashing in the tabloids can make you or break you, and dirty little secrets are the lifeblood of the media machine. Working for an infamous scandal sheet, Simone Glass is learning what they didn't teach her at Columbia's journalism school: Always wear gloves when digging through the trash, never give your real name, and, above all, trust no one. . . . Since nobody will speak to The Asteroid on the record, Simone is forced to go undercover—posing as a cater-waiter at a gala benefit, hiding out in a Dumpster in hopes of hearing incriminating conversation, even sneaking onto the set of the hot new TV series Suburban Indiscretions. When a soap opera star commits... Views: 36
A rip-roaring read that takes Jack Crane into the heart of a deadly crime... Jack Crane's quiet retirement from the army is shattered when his iconic Red Mustang is stolen by a gang of vicious car thieves. Come what may, he wants his car back! Jack corners one of the gang members, a feisty young woman who is being coerced into the gang by its leader, Bradley. She agrees to help Crane, but before long they are drawn into a dangerous web, which takes them from East Anglia to France. Help arrives in the form of the gang's French security guard – an unlikely hero who is appalled to realise that the gang's sinister dealings also include child abduction. The trio find themselves embedded in a deadly crime syndicate. Cunning and resourceful, gang leader Bradley returns to the UK where he ensnares a close friend of Crane and holds her to ransom. It will take all of Crane's SAS skills to stop his murderous intent... Views: 36
NOMINEE 2011 – Toronto Book AwardsWhen Edal Jones wakes to the sound of a mouse on the hardwood floor by her bed, she doesn’t quite know why she says softly, “Hello.” But then, a lot of things have stopped making sense for Edal. As a federal wildlife officer at Pearson International Airport she’s seen everything from goliath bird-eating tarantulas crammed in a briefcase to a California condor “folded up like a sports coat.” So why has the sight of juvenile star tortoises crushed and broken in a grandmother’s luggage suddenly made it impossible for her to go on?That same morning, riding her bike in the empty downtown core, Edal spots a young homeless girl rescuing birds that have knocked themselves out against the glassy office towers. Edal tracks Lily through the city to Howell Auto Wreckers in Toronto’s east end and discovers a new world where the links between people and animals can heal rather than hurt. Handsome wrecking-yard owner Guy Howell employs Stephen, a young soldier on medical release whose duties include veterinary as well as mechanical tasks. Guy is rehabilitating a weakened red-tailed hawk, while Stephen raises a litter of orphaned raccoons, and Lily comes and goes with her birds and her constant companion, a massive black dog named Billy. All the characters in Fauna are animal lovers in search of something that human cruelty has denied them. As the narrative develops, we learn more about each of them, until they begin to feel like our intimate friends. The circle expands to include a young veterinary technician mourning her lover’s death, then expands again with dramatic consequences for all concerned when a disturbed young man starts taking out his anger and sorrow on the coyotes that live in the Don Valley. Gently, meditatively, this unique novel delivers a profoundly immersive experience. A new kind of urban writing,* Fauna *encourages us to look again at the margins and undercurrents of the cities we inhabit, and consider how we treat the other beings who call those spaces home. What’s more, the persuasive beauty of York’s writing, the tenderness of her approach to her characters, and the connections she draws between them invite us to look inward and re-evaluate both the human and the animal within.From the Hardcover edition.ReviewNATIONAL BESTSELLER“Rich and strange and deeply satisfying. Whether she’s adopting the voice of a homeless teen, a yuppy vet, or a famished coyote, York writes with a spare, unsentimental fluency that connects strangers, enemies, species. Fauna reminds us of the life that swoops and slithers and lopes and pounces all around us, even in the most urban of worlds; a wild life we share and ignore at our peril.” —Annabel Lyon, author of The Golden Mean“Fauna is the sort of rare novel that can change the way you see your world. Its cast of misfits and dreamers is united by their visceral connection to the forgotten animals surviving in the green patches of our big cities. This book is beautiful, unusual and memorable. And Alissa York is a daring and original talent.” —Jim Lynch, author of Border Songs“Layered with astonishing detail, with every location vividly evoked and every action a visceral experience.” — The Globe and Mail “One of the novel’s strengths is the way York turns her gaze from the human world to the world of Toronto’s skunks, coyotes, raccoons and squirrels. . . . Even as she brings animals to life with her writing, she is clear about the terrible toll taken by everything from cars, to skyscraper windows, to live electrical wires.” — Winnipeg Free Press“Lyrical. . . . Fauna is well crafted, morally serious and even noble in its sensitivity.” — Toronto Star“An extraordinary novel. . . . daring and exceptional.”— Quill & Quire (starred review)“A tender and beautiful novel.” — NOW (Toronto)From the Hardcover edition.About the AuthorAlissa York’s fiction has won the Journey Prize and the Bronwen Wallace Award, and has been published in Canada, the U.S., France, Holland and Italy. Her most recent novel, Effigy, was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. York has lived all over Canada and now makes her home in Toronto with her husband, artist Clive Holden.From the Hardcover edition. Views: 36
New York City has never been an easy place to make it, but in the year 2013, it's a little tougher than usual. Race riots. Massive unemployment. Rampant crime. Vacant buildings now housing a thriving black market. A worthless currency and a broken government. Welcome to the Second Great Depression. Some have adapted to life in tomorrow's Big Apple. Like Renny, a part-time fashion photographer and full-time drug dealer who oversees a network of taxicabs running contraband through the underground party circuit. He works for Reza, an enterprising immigrant who has turned the city's nightlife down a deadly road. Others in the city are just trying to hang on. Like Detective Sixto Santiago, part of an experimental new NYPD unit known as the Citywide Anticrime Bureau (CAB), squads of undercover cops in taxicabs who are meant to hold down the chaos just enough to keep tourists coming. Santiago's new assignment will send him after the man both Renny and Reza must ultimately answer to, a... Views: 36
The 1800 Club is a 21st Century haven for people seeking to escape New York City's frantic pace. Dressed in clothes their ancestors might have worn during the 1800s, members enjoy foods of the period and read periodicals featuring news of a particular date in 1865. However, the 1800 Club also has an astounding secret; Time Travel. Members travel back in time to keep history on track.Story One: Matt does not return from a trip back in time and Bill calls John Brand and Rocky Perna, his two friends and time traveling companions, to go back and help him locate Matt. The Brooklyn Police Department is tracking them down as suspected diamond robbersStory Two: Bill goes back on a mission and finds out that he is stranded in time. Views: 36
