Amina Cain's Creature brings together short fictions set in the space between action and reflection, edging at times toward the quiet and contemplative, at other times toward the grotesque or unsettling. Like the women in Jane Bowles's work, Cain's narrators seem always slightly displaced in the midst of their own experiences, carefully observing the effects of themselves on their surroundings and of their surroundings on themselves. Other literary precursors might include Raymond Carver and John Cage, some unlikely concoction of the two, with Carver's lucid prose and instinct for the potency of small gestures and Cage's ability to return the modern world to elementary principles. These stories offer not just a unique voice but a unique narrative space, a distinct and dramatic rendering of being-in-the-world.From Publishers WeeklyCain's latest book, after I Go to Some Hollow, is a moody, enigmatic collection of 14 miniature stories, some as short as four pages. In one, a former cult victim recalls her abuse; in another, a woman enters into a three-way relationship with a married couple. Each narrator seems to have undergone trauma or something akin to it—unease, illness, adulthood—and so their streams of consciousness have the texture of recovery. Cain captures a particular kind of attempt at happiness: trying to be easy on oneself; praying at a Zen monastery; focusing on small pleasures like orchids and neatly folded towels. Perhaps that's why, in both form and content, so much here is microscopic, with a delicate sadness infusing mundane activities like bathing, spilling olive oil, and touching a wall. At times, this mélange of fragments produces the atmosphere of a whole, but at others the bits seem disconnected and the search for meaning desultory. But Cain's tone—unknowing, exhibiting the most awed reverence toward the smallest details of life and thought—remains wonderfully effective throughout, though one sometimes wishes she'd use it on richer content. It lingers after the pages are done, leaving an aftertaste that's somehow more pleasant than the experience itself. (Nov.) About the AuthorAmina Cain writes stories that revolve quietly around human relationality, landscape, and emptiness. She is also a curator and a teacher of writing/literature. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in publications such as 3rd Bed, DENVER QUARTERLY, La Petite Zine, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA PROJECT, and Action, Yes. She is the author of I GO TO SOME HOLLOW (Les Figues Press, 2009) and CREATURE (Dorothy, a publishing project, 2013). She lives and works in Los Angeles. Views: 20
Mary Alice Monroe invites you to meet five remarkable characters as she explores the power of friendship with tenderness, honesty and understanding. On the surface, it is a monthly book club. But for five women, it is so much more. For Eve Porter, whose husband's sudden death cheats her of every security she had planned on, the club is a place of sanctuary. For Annie Blake, a brilliant attorney intent on starting a family late in life, it is the chance to finally let down her guard and dream of other possibilities. For Doris Bridges, it is her support group as she acknowledges her dying marriage and finds the ultimate freedom in her husband's betrayal. For Gabriella Rivera, the "perfect" wife, mother and friend who offers support to everyone but is afraid to ask for it herself, it is a sense of community. And for Midge Kirsch, an artist who has always lived her life against the grain, it is a haven of acceptance. They are five women from different... Views: 20
Family secrets can bind and destroyKate is ready to put her nomadic, city-dwelling past behind her when she marries Joe Krause and moves with him to the Iowa farm that has been in his family for more than 140 years. But life on the farm isn't quite as idyllic as she'd hoped. It's filled with chores, judgmental neighbors, and her mother-in-law, who—unbeknownst to Kate until after the wedding—will be living with them.As Kate struggles to find her place in the small farming community, she begins to realize that her husband and his family are not who she thought they were. According to town gossip, the Krause family harbors a long-kept secret about a mysterious death that haunts Kate as a dangerous, unexplainable chain of events begins. Views: 20
The seven stories collected here showcase McCarthy's formidable powers of observation, her deliciously witty writing style, and her celebrated talent for dissecting characters with biting acuity. A young woman looks for subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways to escape her unsatisfying marriage; an innocuous single man's friends realize his companionship has an enormous price; and an Italian guide puzzles a traveling pair of Americans. Views: 20
Best Kept Secret is the second novel in Debra Moffit's Pink Locker Society series. Views: 20
1571. Chained to a slave galley in the heart of the Mediterranean, it seems that English adventurers Ingoldsby and Hodge might have finally run out of luck. But as former Knights of St John, they’ve survived worse, and while the men around them drop dead at their oars, they’re determined to escape. Views: 20
In the second of two companion mystery novels, the action at Moose Hill Summer Camp continues. The Saddle Club girls are happy when Lisa gets moved into the same cabin as Stevie and Carole. They're thrilled that Stevie and her boyfriend aren't arguing anymore. And they're delighted that Carole's horse, Starlight, has been shipped to the camp.But control-crazy Lisa seems to be eating less and obsessed with projects that are supposed to be fun. What could be wrong?The last two weeks of camp should be carefree, but Stevie, Carole, and Lisa continue to see signs that Moose Hill might not reopen the following summer. Who would want to close down their favorite riding camp? Views: 20
A new book about brain chemistry, neural systems, and the formation of beliefs from the scientist who brought to light serotonin's many crucial roles in human behavior. Beliefs: What are they? How have evolution and culture led to a brain that is seemingly committed to near endless belief creation? And once established, why are most beliefs so difficult to change? Believing offers answers to these questions from the perspective of a leading neuroscientist and expert in brain-behavior research. Combining personal anecdotes and the latest research, Dr. McGuire takes the novel approach of focusing on the central and critical role of brain systems and the ways in which they interact with the environment to create and maintain beliefs. This approach yields some surprising and counterintuitive conclusions:The brain is designed for belief creation and acceptance. It is biased in favor of its own beliefs and is highly insensitive to... Views: 20
Berringer Bodyguards File #4 Name: Luke Berringer Trademark: Single-minded determination... Biggest weakness: A sweet 'n' sexy gal who drives him to distraction! Luke Berringer used to have everything--money, status. And just like that, he lost it all. Now a bodyguard for Berringer Security, he's determined to track down the woman responsible for ruining his life. But when he finally catches up with Vanessa Grant, he's in for one heck of a surprise.... Vanessa is no con artist. It's a case of mistaken identity, and worse for Luke, the woman has a hidden sensuality that he can't resist. With her life in jeopardy, Luke must protect an innocent woman, track down a guilty one...and determine if maybe the "wrong woman" isn't really the right one, after all! Views: 20
