The fourth novel in Anthony Powell's brilliant twelve-novel sequence, A Dance to the Music of Time Views: 786
A retelling of the Snow White fairy tale from the point of view of the "wicked stepmother."
This version was a chapbook compiled by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab and sold at Comic Con 2008 and on the BPAL website with all proceeds going to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Views: 786
This is a story about two sisters who love God, their family, and each other. Their creativity continually amazes Mom. They invent a new game called "Whack the Apple" which will give you belly laughs! Based on a true story involving apples and a twirling baton. Oh, the game takes practice...Paul Charles also writes spy novels as P. C. Dettman. Views: 786
A beautiful French chateau nestled in a quiet backwater of rural France. It's a designer's dream. Landscape Architect, Darcy, leaps at a job offer to redesign the gardens, thinking that she'll have time to collect her thoughts after finding that her husband has cheated on her. However in her hasty search for peace and quiet, she never quite took into account the chateau's new owner, Gabriel DuboisDarcy's husband, Patrick-le-Pew, turned out to be a right stinker. He casually announced over dinner one evening that he was leaving her for one of their dinner guests. Needless to say, the dinner ended badly.Oblivious to her rival sitting at her own dining table, Darcy didn't see it coming.Now the husband is an ex- and Darcy is left to pick up the pieces.She packs up her life and her two children, leaving London for rural France and a job designing a new garden for an old chateau not far from the historic city of Rouen, thinking this will be a golden opportunity to collect her thoughts before she moves on to something more permanent. But Life, like even the best of design, seldom goes precisely to plan and Darcy discovers that unexpected opportunities and complications arrive in the form of the chateau's straight-shooting owner and local bad boy made good, Gabriel Dubois. Views: 786
James Eddy's spellbinding collection of short stories, circles the lives of Scott Drake, a British singer-songwriter, and Rebecca, the passionate, intelligent young woman he had once loved and may yet love again. The revelation of both their shared and individual pasts is only the beginning of a story that features the contributions of a host of other characters whose paths intersect with theirs.James Eddy's spellbinding collection of short stories, circles the lives of Scott Drake, a British singer-songwriter, and Rebecca, the passionate, intelligent young woman he had once loved and may yet love again. The revelation of both their shared and individual pasts is only the beginning of a story that features the contributions of a host of other characters whose paths intersect with theirs. A man lost in love, a compulsive young thief, a single mother in the twilight of her youth, and a middle-aged man grieving the death of his mother and his lost dreams, all form the foreground and background to the larger story; of love lost, delayed and denied.We first meet Scott in his early twenties, running away from his guilt at the death of a friend by trying to help another. Five years on, he has found success as a musician but his feelings have changed very little; there is the same guilt as before, along with even more that has been piled on top of it, while his ability to self-destruct has not been diminished by the years. We learn the causes of these things and the sadness that can come with survival. We meet Rebecca at the moment she decides that she has to take a chance to see Scott again - at one of his gigs she finds a way backstage to meet him, her name opening doors in ways she hadn’t expected. We then encounter her aunt, Lily, and cousin, Diane, as circumstances envelope them all and place further obstacles into the path of her and Scott.Written in an array of styles and tones ranging from tragedy to surrealism to poetry, Diamonds is a book about the interplay of love and death, about survival, and about how hope can be nourished and set into motion by even the smallest of words and gestures. Views: 785
Luke is an ordinary young boy, or so he thinks, living with his uncle and cousin after the death of his parents shortly after his birth. Little does Luke know, he is about to embark on a life changing journey to his grandfathers’ house for the summer.Upon his arrival at his grandfathers’ estate he learns the world he lives in and what he is, is not what it appears to be.Luke has lived with his Uncle and his cousin Matt for the past thirteen years He has grown up as a normal human kid in Dallas, Texas. Two days before his fourteenth birthday he is moved to Eerie, Arkansas to live with his Grandfather. He learns that he is not human at all. He finds out that his mother was a werewolf, and his father was a vampire. It was thought to be impossible for a vampire to father a child, but with a spell created by a powerful witch named Rachel Hadison, they were able to conceive him. It was prophesied that Luke would be a very powerful being, and would rid the earth of evil. With his newly discovered powers, Luke sets out with his team of other supernatural beings to rid the world of evil one bad guy at a time. Views: 785
If a creature thinks, it will have a sense for right and wrong, and therefore for justice. But two thinking species are not guaranteed to have the same sense of justice, or the same way of arriving at a verdict. How, then, should one such species treat with the rights of another with whom it shares a world...when one regards the other as its food source, its rightful prey?We always say forgive and forget who poisoned our lives to move ahead. But sometimes it is difficult to do so. If blood bleeds due to some wrong doings by someone, are you going to stop criticising him/ her after his/ her death? Legally yes. You have to drop case against him. But your heart will never allow you to forget and forgive easily. Those who are not the victims can utter those saintly words very easily. But can you, as a victim?The other eight poems are based on contemporary situations of our daily social lives and social relations. Some of them are on serious issues and some are written on lighter vein. I hope my readers will like the compilation. Views: 785
In this dazzling tale, L. Frank Baum proves once again his power to delight and enchant readers of all ages. Follow the adventures of a charming new band of characters as they explore the wondrous land of Oz and discover that you learn more by traveling than by staying at home.Forced to venture out of the dark forest, Unc Nunkie and Ojo the Unlucky call on the Crooked Magician, who introduces them to his latest creation: a living girl made out of patchwork quilts and cotton stuffing. But when an accident leaves beloved Unc Nunkie a motionless statue, it is up to Ojo to save him. In his search for the magic ingredients that will restore his uncle to life, Ojo is joined by the Patchwork Girl and by the conceited Glass Cat, who boasts of her hard ruby heart, the resourceful Shaggy Man, and the lovable block-headed Woozy, whose tail hairs are just one of the things Ojo needs to rescue Une Nunkie.As they travel to the Emerald City, home of the wise and powerful Ozma, they meet Dorothy, the kind and sensible girl from Kansas; the gallant Scarecrow; and, of course, Toto. But no one proves more loyal than the spirited Patchwork Girl, who, although she was brought to life as a servant, is determined to see the wide world for herself.The Patchwork Girl of Oz has captivated readers for over eighty years. Now, in this stunning new edition--featuring all fifty-one of John R. Neill's original full-color plates as well as eighty black-and-white illustrations--a whole new generation can discover the beauty and wonder of Oz that have made this classic series an enduring favorite.Follow the adventures of a charming band of characters as they join Dorothy and the Scarecrow to explore the wondrous Land of Oz. Meet a living girl made out of patchwork quilts, a conceited Glass Cat, and the lovable block-headed Woozy. A favorite for over eighty years, this stunning facsimile of the rare fist edition features all fifty-one of Neill's full-color plates as well as eighty black-and-white illustrations. A Books of Wonder Classic. Views: 785
Ainsley O’Leary is so ready to get married—she’s even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn’t anticipate is being blindsided by a breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her older half sister, Kate, who’s struggling with a sudden loss of her own.
Kate’s always been the poised, self-assured sister, but becoming a newlywed—and a widow—in the space of four months overwhelms her. Though the sisters were never close, she starts to confide in Ainsley, especially when she learns her late husband was keeping a secret from her.
Despite the murky blended-family dynamic that’s always separated them, Ainsley's and Kate’s heartaches bind their summer together when they come to terms with the inevitable imperfection of relationships and family—and the possibility of one day finding love again. Views: 784
Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.
When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.
I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss. Views: 784
Official Summary:
The end of the world. Not something most people think about. Not something we even expect to ever really happen. But what if you found out an asteroid the size of New Jersey were about to collide with the earth? What would you do? It's the year 2011, and that's the question Jobs is asking himself. The question he asked his family. He certainly didn't expect the answer he got. Didn't expect that in a very short time he and his family would be some of the lucky few selected to board a revamped space shuttle... A shuttle that would leave Earth just before the asteroid destroys it. But there are a couple of catches: The shuttle has no ultimate destination; and all those aboard will be placed in a state of suspended animation---indefinitely. Or at least until the computers find a habitable planet for them to live.
Back-of-Book Summary:
It's 2011. An asteroid is on a collision course with the earth. And eighty people have been given the opportunity to survive. To leave the planet before the world ends.
Jobs isn't quite sure of what's going on. Just that he and his family are a few of the lucky ones chosen to board a revamped space shuttle. A shuttle that will leave Earth just before the final impact. No one knows where they're going. Or if they'll make it there at all. Because there isn't a lot of time for questions. And there are fewer answers. . . . Views: 784
Like a latter-day Palm Springs, Vermillion Sands is a fully automated desert resort designed to fulfill the most exotic whims of the idle rich. But now it languishes in uneasy decay, populated only by forgotten movie stars, solitary impresarios and artistic and literary failures, a place where love and lust pall before the stronger pull of evil.
Contents:
· The Cloud-Sculptors of Coral D [Vermillion Sands] · ss F&SF Dec ’67
· Prima Belladonna [Vermillion Sands] · ss Science-Fantasy #20 ’56
· The Screen Game [Vermillion Sands] · nv Fantastic Oct ’63
· The Singing Statues [Vermillion Sands] · ss Fantastic Jul ’62
· Cry Hope, Cry Fury! [Vermillion Sands] · ss F&SF Oct ’67
· Venus Smiles [“Mobile”; Vermillion Sands] · ss Science-Fantasy #23 ’57
· Say Goodbye to the Wind [Vermillion Sands] · ss Fantastic Aug ’70
· Studio 5, The Stars [Vermillion Sands] · nv Science-Fantasy #45 ’61
· The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista [Vermillion Sands] · nv Amazing Mar ’62 Views: 784
When dance academy student Emilee must spend the night on a haunted stage as a part of a hazing ritual, she is terrified but doesn't expect anything to happen...She's wrong.When dance academy student Emilee must spend the night on a haunted stage as a part of a hazing ritual, she is terrified. For as long as she could remember, she has heard stories about the dancing mannequin with a silver, rust covered mask that prompts young ballerinas to dance in the middle of the night. When they want to stop, he snaps their bones, starting at their ankles and moving on to their necks. Still, Emilee is a logical person. She knows that there is no such thing as ghosts. After a man dressed in black wearing a silver mask comes on stage, she thinks that it is just enhanced hazing meant to frighten her. She is determined not to be humiliated and begins to dance with him. Only too soon she realizes her masked partner was not a part of the school hazing ritual. She has two choices, dance all night and suffer or let him snap her joints, one by one. Views: 784
You could be in one of these stories.There is Gabby who inherits a cat and a new life. Itzy loses her job because of “hands on” kind of boss and finds her mother’s killer through her new job. Aileen finds strength in her loved ones’ when her son goes to jail for murder and Nelson wins the lotto. Each of the fourteen stories is a pleasure read and short enough to be read in one sittingThe game of Life has a way of sneaking unusual plots on us that change life’s direction. It must be played out like the last act of a Broadway play. There is no blueprint and the outcome is uncertain, the players are all there waiting to play their part while anticipating the next move. Most players don’t see what's coming and reject the concept. If they were asked, it’s just Life playing games Views: 783
*"I look up now into the oval mirror and see barely a trace of the mud-splattered girl tearing through the woodland on her horse, or the barefoot girl wading at Schonbrunn... I have become what Mama set out for me to be. Majestic. A Dauphine and eventually a Queen." *
So writes the headstrong 13-year-old Maria Antonia--future Queen of France--in her diary on October 23, 1769. In this engrossing addition to the Royal Diaries series (Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile), Kathryn Lasky invents a diary of the young Marie Antoinette in 1769--the year she is to be married off to Dauphin Louis Auguste, eldest grandson of the French king Louis XV. Arranged marriages were common in that day and age--as the Empress Theresa (of the Holy Roman Empire of the Germanic Nations) sought to consolidate power among nations by marrying off her children. Thus, the future of Austria and France falls upon Maria Antonia's young shoulders.
To prepare her for this awesome responsibility, she must be trained to write, read, speak French, dress, act... even breathe. Things get even more grim as she is shipped off to the court of Versailles and introduced to her puffy, awkward future husband and confronted with the court's ridiculous customs. Marie--an opinionated and insightful young woman--mocks the court of "impeccable etiquette and manners" that makes up nasty rhymes about those they hate, but panics when her hair is mussed. Lasky has done an excellent job of creating a very human character in the young Marie Antoinette--one whom young readers will want to learn more about. Fortunately, her story is given plenty of context with an epilogue describing the history of the young Queen after 1769, a historical note offering an 18th-century context, a Habsburg-Bourbon family tree, and various portraits of the royal family. (Ages 9 to 13) --Karin Snelson Views: 783
