Nankichi Niimi & Kenji Miyazawa are undoubtedly two of Japan's most highly regarded writers of fantasy fiction. Book 2 of Tales From A Japanese Dreamland contains four stories by Kenji Miyazawa and one story by Nankichi Niimi. In addition to the title story, this book also includes Kenji's much loved The Restaurant of Many Orders and Niimi's Buying Mittens. A wonderful collection.Nankichi Niimi & Kenji Miyazawa are undoubtedly two of Japan's most highly regarded writers of fantasy fiction. Book 2 of Tales From Japan contains four stories by Kenji Miyazawa and one story by Nankichi Niimi. In addition to the title story Gauche the Cellist, this book also includes Kenji's much loved The Restaurant of Many Orders.Gauche is a hopeless musician and he's always being yelled at by the conductor. It's not because he doesn't try, it's just that there is something lacking in his music. And now the orchestra is preparing for a big concert so if Gauche doesn't improve in a real hurry he's going to be in big trouble. One day a strange cat turns up holding a tomato in his mouth and then all sorts of strange things start to happen to Gauche.A Story with a MessageThe underlying theme in Gauche the Cellist is admitting our weaknesses and recognizing our strengths. It is not easy to admit when we are doing something wrong, especially when we are putting in so much effort. But if that effort is being applied in the wrong place, then it is almost impossible to achieve the goals that we have set ourselves. Admitting to ourselves that we've been doing something the wrong way is the first step to achieving our dreams. And in the same way, it is also important to recognize the things that we've been doing right, and take pride in what you have achieved up until now.The Nighthawk StarThe nighthawk has a hard time of it. He's got a face like a mud pie, he gets teased by all the other birds and he has to put up with bullies. Hans Christian Andersen was a great inspiration to Kenji and you will recognize something of the Ugly Duckling in this story, but the setting and the finale is classical Kenji, making this story a standout favorite amongst many Japanese readers.Wild Pear (Yamanashi)A surreal tale about a family of crabs on the bottom of the river. The amazing descriptions of life under the water will leave you with a truly new perspective on the world. An extremely well-crafted fable, with a profound underlying message.The Restaurant of Many OrdersThis is perhaps the most famous of Kenji's short stories and one of his personal favorites, as it was the title story of his one and only self-published collection of short stories. Two hunters go on a hunting trip in the country and end up completely lost. Luckily they come across what appears to be an extremely popular restaurant…but everything is not as it seems.Buying Mittens by Nankichi Niimi Mama fox only wants the best for her little one, so when the cold winter arrives and her precious boy needs some mittens, then she knows what she must do. The only problem is that she is afraid and her legs won't take her any further. So her son must go on his own. The highlight of this delightful children's story is the beautiful description of the foxes' journey through the snow covered woods during the middle of the night. Views: 591
Rarely reprinted, rarely staged, and often entirely unpublished, Flann O'Brien's works for the stage and television are speculative, inventive, and as wickedly funny as his novels. Views: 591
Scott and Joe have been fighting their growing attraction. Challenges to Scott's business threaten their budding relationship. Views: 590
For the past four years, Danni Singer’s had a crush on Darren Jacobs. Good-looking, popular, and star catcher of the varsity baseball team, Darren has it all. When a car accident turns his world upside down, Danni finally has the chance to get to know Darren and an unlikely friendship is born. Will they be able to overcome impossible odds or will the obstacles of the accident keep them apart?He's the most popular guy in school and she's the biggest nobody. One night, and one mistake, will change both of their lives forever. For the last four years, Danni Singer’s had a crush on Darren Jacobs. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to know she exists. That’s because he’s one of the most popular guys in school, and Danni’s a nobody. That’s the way it is and the way it’ll probably stay. At least that’s what she thinks until a car accident suddenly changes everything. Darren loses his arm, leaving Danni to wonder if she could still have feelings for him. Determined to find out, and perhaps driven by a morbid sense of curiosity, Danni visits him in the hospital. It turns out his arm isn’t the only thing he’s lost. All of the friends Darren once had are no where to be found. Danni knows the pain of being an outcast all too well, and she reaches out to Darren. In the days and weeks that follow, their unlikely friendship blossoms in to an even more unlikely romance. Being in love is never easy, but for this pair it’s harder than most. Still struggling to accept the loss of his arm, Darren sometimes pushes her away and they end up fighting a lot. When she isn’t fighting with Darren, she’s dealing with the jealousy of her friends and the pressure of always trying to convince Darren his disability doesn’t change her feelings for him. This definitely isn’t what she imagined when she dreamed of dating Darren Jacobs. The truth is this is better. Despite the disagreements with Darren and the fights with her friends, Danni and Darren have a real love for one another. Sometimes things don’t work out the way you think they will, but they always work out! Views: 590
Mr. Whiskers is dead. All Laney had to do was feed the cat. Too bad she hadn't known there was a cat. But an obscure spell contains the power to grant life. Just because she botches the simplest of spells doesn't mean she can't control complicated magic, right? After struggling through the spell, they find that giving Mr. Whiskers a tenth life turns out to be more than they bargain for.Mr. Whiskers is dead—muerto—shuffled off his mortal coil. All Laney had to do was watch the store and feed the cat. Too bad she hadn't known there was a cat.She has a plan though. An obscure spell contains the power to grant life, only long enough to save her job, and her vacation in Paris. Just because she botches the simplest of spells doesn't mean she can't control complicated magic, right?The mysterious new guy at school, Kody, goes along for the ride; providing emotional support and, well, let's be honest, he's just hot.After struggling through the spell—when nothing seems to be going right—they find that giving Mr. Whiskers a tenth life turns out to be more than they bargained for. Views: 590
Faith and Lucien. Together, they are an answered prayer… As the attraction grows between the silent and emotionally damaged Daughter of Man and Lucien, the reclusive Liege Lord, the events of both their pasts begin to replay in the present. Must history repeat itself or can their future be changed? Views: 590
Balancing a professional life and a personal life is always difficult. When you're the Sheriff of a county that brings in a million tourists like Chance Fitzsimmons is, you stand as the thin blue line between order and anarchy twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. Trying to plan a Christmas wedding to begin a decade's long-delayed life with her fiancée, Jax St. Claire, can throw things out of balance.If that's not enough, an influx of opioids causing multiple overdoses at a county festival followed by a mass casualty incident at a popular ski resort threaten to push the county emergency service resources to their breaking point. Chance's dedication stresses her conviction to the five principles she lives by like a rescue rope loaded to its safety limit.Jax's life isn't exactly calm either at the Three River's Animal Clinic, where a sinister visitor introduces unwelcomed sexual advances that cause waves of... Views: 590
Marjorie Knight is not new to magic but when she is thrown into a world of magical people, she must fight to stay afloat in a world of dangerous beasts and more dangerous people.Kennedy Riser never thought that she'd want to go back to her boring life in the suburbs of Villa Chica. But, after all was said and done, she found herself wishing that she could return to her former Freak Girl status and continue to lead her once inconsequential life away from demons and shadows and overgrown insects from hell. But, fate had other plans for her and now she had to hide, to run away from everything that she knew and thought she hated. The one good thing that came out of it, a fire that burned at the pit of her stomach ignited by electric blue eyes and a crooked smile.Shadow Riser is the first book in Deborah Barreto's Shadow series. Views: 590
Callis Rose is a girl blessed with a gift from above or cursed with a ruthless power she barely understands; it's really just a matter of degrees. As her family life is turned asunder she is thrown into an indifferent social services program where she defends herself the only way she knows how.
Callis is moved from home to home until she finally settles at the Lowries'. As she starts her first day of high school she meets both her favorite and least favorite person. Both happen to be part of the same household. Mindy Denton makes it her single mission in life to destroy Callis, even as her brother Kevin falls deeper into love with the mysterious and beautiful girl who is hiding something from them all. Views: 590
For my customers who read my books and have questions, “Who is Air Rescue?” What is Global Rescuer?” Here is the Air Rescue Story. Be advised, some parts are techie, very techie, but it should give you a good prospective into my thoughts when I write my books..…Lon Maisttision.This is the story about Air Rescue and the helicopter rescue business. In later years, Air Rescue Special Forces was established to rescue kidnapped business people using commandos for large fees. Business was so successful that Air Rescue created Global Rescuer, a clandestine ship that carried the Fast Attack Gunship and rescue helicopters. This ship enabled Air Rescue to do multi-million dollar rescues, which led to stories known as the Sage of Global Rescuer. Views: 590
Charles Clee has been stranded one million years in the future. Earth has become a cosmic playground where aliens hunt genetically-engineered nightmares and reborn monsters from Time's dawn. As much as he wants to return home, can he abandon his new world to its conquerors? Volume one of The Stolen Future trilogy, adventure in the vein of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Views: 590
"One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."
Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.
Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.
After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever. Views: 590
Already addicted to the pharmaceutical drug that keeps her body from decomposing, Bryn has to stop a secretive group of rich and powerful investors from eliminating the existing Returné addicts altogether. To ensure their plan to launch a new, military-grade strain of nanotech, the investors’ undead assassin—who just happens to be the ex-wife of Bryn’s lover Patrick—is on the hunt for anyone that stands in their way. And while Bryn’s allies aren’t about to go down without a fight, the secret she’s been keeping threatens to put those closest to her in even more danger. Poised to become a monster that her own side—and her own lover—will have to trap and kill, Bryn needs to find the cure to have any hope of preserving the lives of her friends, and her own dwindling humanity… Views: 589
