Before she met Il-sun in an orphanage, Gi was a hollow husk of a girl, broken from growing up in one of North Korea’s forced-labor camps. A mathematical genius, she has learned to cope with pain by retreating into a realm of numbers and calculations, an escape from both the past and present. Gi becomes enamored of the brash and radiant Il-sun, a friend she describes as “all woman and springtime.” But Il-sun’s pursuit of a better life imperils both girls when her suitor spirits them across the Demilitarized Zone and sells them as sex workers, first in South Korea and then in the United States.This spellbinding debut, reminiscent of Memoirs of a Geisha, depicts—with chilling accuracy—life behind North Korea’s iron curtain. But for Gi and Il-sun, forced into the underworld of human trafficking, their captivity outside North Korea is far crueler than the tight control of their “Dear Leader.” Tenderhearted Gi, just on the verge of womanhood, is consigned to a fate that threatens not only her body but her mind. How she and Il-sun endure, how they find a path to healing, is what drives this absorbing and exquisite novel—from an exciting young Algonquin discovery—to its perfectly imagined conclusion.From BooklistDebut novelist Jones conducts a compelling psychological tour of life inside the socially and politically restrictive borders of North Korea via the poignant stories of two young girls on the cusp of womanhood. Gi, a mathematical genius compelled to keep her gifts hidden, nevertheless survives the seemingly inescapable brutality and drudgery of her existence by quietly exercising the life of the mind. When Gi meets the lushly beautiful Il-sun in an orphanage, the two girls forge a strong, immutable bond. They eventually escape but are then sold into sex slavery first in South Korea and later in the U.S., and it’s not difficult to guess who will flame out and who will triumph. This tale of female friendship is distinguished by its illuminating glimpse into the arcane intricacies of both an ancient and a modern culture. Guaranteed to appeal to fans of Memoirs of a Geisha (1997) and the novels of Lisa See. --Margaret Flanagan Review“Gripping.”—O, The Oprah Magazine“An eye-opening journey to the dark side of desire.”—Vogue.com“Lifting the veil on a little-known country, Brandon W. Jones’s debut novel tells the story of two North Korean teenagers escaping the authoritarian state and battling the modern-day slave trade.”—National Geographic Traveler“An all-around great read and the kind that needs and deserves to be passed around.”—Bookfoolery and Babble“Beautifully written, both in prose and plotting . . Very highly recommended.”—Devourer of Books“[A] moving, heartbreaking, yet hopeful novel.” —Salt Lake City Weekly“Compelling . . . poignant.” —Booklist “[A] terrifying and masterfully realized debut . . . Impossible to put down, this work is important reading for anyone who cares about the power of literature to engage the world and speak its often frightening truths.”—Library Journal“Dramatic . . . [A] well-paced story.”—Publishers Weekly“This book will open your eyes, break your heart, and then mend it again.”—Tayari Jones, author of *Silver Sparrow*“One of the most absorbing, chilling, beautifully written and important novels I’ve read in many years.”—Alice Walker“Riveting and utterly compelling to the very end.” —Wisconsin Bookwatch (Wisconsin Bookwatch ) Views: 73
Remarkable as it may seem today, there once was a time when the president of the United States could pick up the phone and ask the president of General Motors to resign his position and take the reins of a great national enterprise. And the CEO would oblige, no questions asked, because it was his patriotic duty. In Freedom’s Forge, bestselling author Arthur Herman takes us back to that time, revealing how two extraordinary American businessmen—automobile magnate William Knudsen and shipbuilder Henry J. Kaiser—helped corral, cajole, and inspire business leaders across the country to mobilize the “arsenal of democracy” that propelled the Allies to victory in World War II. “Knudsen? I want to see you in Washington. I want you to work on some production matters.” With those words, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enlisted “Big Bill” Knudsen, a Danish immigrant who had risen through the ranks of... Views: 73
From the New York Timesbestselling author of More Than Friends comes an emotionally charged novel that reflects upon the consequences of one irrevocable act.In the idyllic small town of Tucker, Vermont, life flows at a rhythmic pace for pediatrician Paige Pfeiffer. But when Mara O'Neill, her best friend and medical partner, inexplicably kills herself, Paige's comfortable life is suddenly shattered. Temporarily caring for Mara's newly adopted baby daughter while she comes to grips with her grief, Paige clings to the hope that, in time, her orderly life will return.What she hadn't counted on were the unexpected pleasures that often come with change, including the touch of a man who offers Paige things she never thought she wanted. She hadn't counted on finding the meaning of life in the death of a friend.For everyone who has ever made a choice between what is and what could be, Barbara Delinsky unveils a truly moving gift from the heart that captures one... Views: 73
Colin is tired of school bullies and other students' refusal to speak up or "rat" on the real troublemakers. When Colin does speak out against a couple of school thugs, they post an embarrassing photo of him on a social networking website. Colin makes some new enemies in the process but also a few new allies, including the VP, Mr. Miller. One of Colin's new unwanted allies, though, is Jerome, who is selling weapons to kids at school for "self defense." Colin threatens to turn Jerome in but backs off, tired of his growing reputation as the school rat. When Jerome is shot and killed, Colin regrets not speaking up earlier. Jerome's killer is now known but has not been located by the police. When the police show up, Colin tells them what he knows, and while he realizes that he has some enemies, he also has some real admirers as well. Views: 73
Green charts the friendship of unlikely duo Phil Harris and Frank Green from their early med school days in 1981 to the present day, incorporating all the short stories and the novel World of Chickens.From the disgraceful Creme de Menthe incident in their early med school days in 1981, to their time as Brisbane's maestros of fried chicken, all the way to a disastrous attempt at the 2012 New York marathon, Phil Harris and Frank Green have been an unlikely but enduring duo.For the first time, Green puts all the short stories together with the novel World of Chickens, plus a brand new piece to bring this uneasy friendship all the way to the present. Views: 73
Haunted by the atrocities of a civil war, and in desperate need to escape the memory of a departed first love, Arabella Gentry sets out on a journey to reunite with her long lost father. Little does she know that along the way, she ends up in the arms of a mysterious outlaw. Luke Shelton is a wanted man. He and his band of brothers have a score to settle, and they will stop at nothing to get what they want. That is until the handsome gunslinger unwittingly takes hostage, the sheriff's daughter. Never did he imagine that one night of wanton passion could literally drive a hardened criminal to his knees.Torn between a loyalty to avenge his past, and an unrelenting desire to hold on to the woman he loves, Luke Shelton must decide his ultimate fate. Views: 73
Humor and joy abound in this entertaining look at senior life. From handling day-to-day foibles to connecting with your kids and grandkids, gentle humorist Karen O'Connor keeps you smiling, laughing, and appreciating the wisdom that comes with experience. My Favorite Senior Moments encourages you to look on the sunny...and funny...side of the street and enjoy the benefits of living long, including...chuckling at how God uses children to remind you of His blessingsdiscovering that love and romance have no time limitsnavigating today's technology...with the help of grandkidsremembering penny loafers—even if the salesperson doesn'tenjoying new adventures and appreciating familiar ones. God is with you every step of the way, and these vignettes full of character and wit prove it. Views: 73
For Darl Union, life in Burnt Stand, North Carolina, has always been a mixture of wealth, privilege, loneliness and sinister family secrets. Even her childhood love for Eli Wade, the son of a stone cutter, was tangled in a web of deceit and murder. His father, an innocent man, died for killing her great aunt. Now Darl and Eli must come to grips with the past and all its mysteries. Views: 73
