Shortlisted for the Costa Novel of the Year Award"This is an astoundingly beautiful book. It drips with tenderness. It breaks your heart and warms it all at once."—Matt Haig, author of How to Stop TimeFrom internationally bestselling author Sarah Winman comes an unforgettable and heartbreaking novel celebrating love in all its forms, and the little moments that make up the life of one man.This is almost a love story. But it's not as simple as that.Ellis and Michael are twelve-year-old boys when they first become friends, and for a long time it is just the two of them, cycling the streets of Oxford, teaching themselves how to swim, discovering poetry, and dodging the fists of overbearing fathers. And then one day this closest of friendships grows into something more.But then we fast-forward a decade or so, to find that Ellis is married to Annie, and Michael is nowhere in sight. Which leads to the question: What happened in the years... Views: 295
There is no better introduction to R.K. Narayan than this remarkable collection of stories celebrating work that spans five decades. Characters include a storyteller whose magical source of tales dries up, a love-stricken husband who is told by astrologers he must sleep with a prostitute to save his dying wife, a pampered child who discovers that his beloved uncle may be an impostor or even a murderer. Standing supreme amid this rich assortment of stories is the title novella. Told by the narrator's grandmother, the tale recounts the adventures of her mother, married at seven and then abandoned, who crosses the subcontinent to extract her husband from the hands of his new wife. Her courage is immense and her will implacable — but once her mission is completed, her independence vanishes. Gentle irony, wryly drawn characters, and themes at once Indian and universal mark these humane stories, which firmly establish Narayan as one of the world's preeminant storytellers. Views: 295
For The Week Before Halloween, This Joke Book Is FREE! There is a traditional joke form that goes "A priest, a rabbi, and a minister go into a bar...". What if more outrageous, supernatural trios went into that same bar or shared other activities? This book contains jokes about a ghost, a werewolf, a vampire, a witch, a skeleton, a troll, among others.For The Week Before Halloween, This Joke Book Is FREE! There is a traditional joke form that goes "A priest, a rabbi, and a minister walk into a bar...". What jokes could one make if more outrageous, supernatural trios walked into that same bar or shared other activities? This book contains jokes about a ghost, a werewolf, a vampire, a witch, a Frankenstein monster, a troll, Thor, a skeleton, a Hobbit, the Devil, an angel, a fairy, a zombie, a dragon, and the Invisible Man. Enjoy a Halloween "spook-tacular"! Views: 295
From the moment of his birth Alexander has to fight for his rights as heir to the throne of Macedon. His father is torn between pride in and antagonism towards his son and comes close to killing him more than once. Brought up in harsh competitive environment, Alexander emerges with a burning desire to conquer the known world.
H A Culley’s novel about Alexander’s boyhood and his path to the throne is a fast paced tale of intrigue and warfare. When his mother arranges his father’s assassination, Alexander is quick to eliminate his rivals and seize the crown for himself. With a speed that catches the other Greek states by surprise, he overcomes all resistance and makes himself the supreme ruler of Greece in just a few months.
However, he must still secure his route to the Danube, deal with insurrection in Illyria and the perfidy of Thebes before he can embark on his of conquest of Asia. Views: 295
A young man is summoned to a remote location for a midnight rendezvous with his lover, but is not certain if she will come.A young man is summoned to a remote location by his lover for a midnight rendezvous, but he harbors doubt that she will meet him and soothe his tortured and embattled heart. As the hours of darkness draws on, he loses faith and turns to drinking, only to have a surprise by the close of the night. Views: 295
A heartfelt story about finding where you belong. A new Woodlea rural romance by bestselling Australian author Alissa Callen. For only child Neve Fitzpatrick, family is everything. When she loses her mother, she heads to the bush to rent a farmhouse near her grandmother's family home. To keep herself busy and her grief at bay, she offers to look after two little redheaded cowgirls and adopts a sassy pony and shaggy donkey in need of a refuge. Drover and horse trainer Tanner Callahan may have just found his mother, but he's resolved never to let anyone too close. Abandonment has cursed him all his life, and he won't let it happen again. Only two things unnerve him: children and small–town matchmaking. Then he meets occupational therapist Neve. Warm–hearted and unforgettable, she represents all that Tanner feels will forever remain out of reach.But when an old iron key unlocks family secrets from the Second World War, Neve needs help only Tanner can... Views: 295
Tom will test the limits of science to save his family! Tom and his dad are in the park testing out Tom's new invisibility suit when suddenly a van pulls up—and kidnaps Mr. Swift! Tom is panicked: who would want to abduct his father? A strategy meeting is held and the FBI is called. But things get tricky when it looks like the kidnapping was an inside operation. Despite the FBI's insistence that Tom stay out of the investigation, Tom and his sister, Sandy, are determined to find their father—and whoever is responsible for taking him, whether it's TRB, their rivals at FUG, or even the FBI itself! Views: 295
Alison Callahan is your average 18-year-old just trying to find her place in the world. She's grown up alone and frightened for most of her life. When she meets an intriguing boy on a bus, things start to get strange. She realizes she may not be who she thought she was.Alison is tossed into a world full of magic, royalty and monsters and she may be the only one who can save everyone.To Alison there’s no such thing as too much trouble. Theo Veltri arrives on a bus, carrying nothing but a ragged old suitcase that has nothing but bizarre weapons inside. He is claiming that he is the King's Adviser. The Adviser to her dead father, the King of a far-off place known as Newhollow. Alison starts to question her own sanity. Maybe, her mother’s craziness was genetic? But His charm and good looks aren't the only thing attracting Alison to him. He's full of the adventurous spirit that she has always secretly craved.Alison quickly learns why she’s never felt like she belongs in this world as she fights off Sneaks and Shades and other treacherous creatures in a place full of secrets and danger. She stumbles upon a dreamy Wolf Prince named Riley in the forest, and he’s claiming that they’re Soulfires. But he also believes that Theo is a traitor. She couldn't possibly believe this person she just met over the one who showed her who she truly is: Could she? When all choices feel so forbidden—will it change the Prophecy that has been laid out before her for centuries. Can she still save the world with one of these men by her side? Or will both the human world she never belonged in and the new one that feels so much like the home she never knew collapse into the darkness? Views: 295
Fifteen-year-old Jessie Rivera is living every teenager’s nightmare. Her widowed mom has married a man who wears his heavy Christian values like his sergeant’s stripes – on both sleeves. His charm has her siblings won over in short order. But Jessie is determined that she won’t be won over, or give up her “freedom” without a fight. She knows what she wants, and it isn’t what they’ve got. Or is it?Fifteen-year-old Jessie Rivera is living every teenager’s nightmare. Her widowed mom has married a man who wears his heavy Christian values like his sergeant’s stripes – on both sleeves.Glenn Sparrow is persistent, immovable, and not afraid to be firm. Worse than that, he’s loving, kind – even fun – and he has Chris, Moe, and Katie completely won over.But Jessie is determined that she won’t be won over, or give up her “freedom” without a fight. She knows what she wants, and it isn’t what they’ve got.Or is it? Views: 295
A virtual first of its kind, this African American Young Adult Fantasy novel is full of adventure and heart. On the planet Madunia, a young arrogant warrior, Bomani is intent on proving himself worthy of his father's crown. His journey unites him with a young chatty sorcoress named Farra, She is just learning to use her powers and her magical bond with her wolf. Their best asset, friendship.Corry showed up at the orphanage two years ago, wearing strange clothes and speaking a language no one recognized. Corry can remember snippets of another life, but no matter how hard he tries to recall the details, it just keeps slipping away. Then one day, he meets a fauness in an orange grove. She’s from a world called Panamindorah, and he can understand her language. In addition, Corry can read a language that no one in Panamindorah has been able to read for three hundred years. Has he really been gone that long? Now he must recover his lost memories and rebuild his life, because the person who tried to kill him once is about to try again.This is the first book in The Prophet of Panamindorah trilogy. The series is also available as a single omnibus edition. Views: 295
Hiding in the shadows, lurking in the dark is a monster waiting to pounce, to suck the life from Alisa’s body, but what the monster doesn’t know is that Alisa will not be easy prey.As America approaches the middle of the 21st century, the total student loan debt outstanding has passed the $7 trillion mark. Hundreds of thousands of student loan debtors have fled a decaying American dystopia, searching for opportunity overseas. Mick Larson is one of these, having long ago ran out on his boring job while bravely leaving behind his massive student loan debt. He now lives comfortably in a Caribbean beach town with the money that he has been conning out of terrorist financiers while posing online as a radicalized American convert.Unfortunately for the student loan debt runaways, debt collectors have started to hunt them down. Now Mick finds himself targeted for collection, a process that can end in death. The feared student loan debt collector known only as 'The Executioner' has pinned down Mick's location, with the goal of confiscating his sizable cash reserves. The Executioner strongly believes that those who have fled the United States while leaving unpaid debts behind are responsible for the sad decline of America. His career of chasing down loan defaulters is part profit, part idealistic, and usually successful. And hoping to use Mick as bait to capture and bury alive The Executioner is Alison, a violent anarchist with a short temper and a long list of kills - mostly other anarchists. Alison has more than one set of loyalties. But today she is putting all that aside in her quest to kill The Executioner. All three want something from each other, and it won't likely be resolved peacefully. Views: 295
Children should be given an opportunity to bloom to their fullest without the worms of hatred and distrust eating away the petals of happiness in the little buds. Unfortunately, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia and dyscalculia were unheard of many years back. Such kids were considered lazy and beaten up by parents and teachers alike. An extreme reaction to this situation—the suicide pact— burns their souls.Back home after an eventful day, I watched my thirteen year old daughter’s face as she read the newspaper. Her anguish said the news was about something that tugged at her heart. She motioned her brother to read the news with her. His face too reflected the same distress. She exclaimed with pain in her voice, “Why can’t they just let the kids live? They will somehow grow up.”I immediately understood what they were reading—the suicide pact—the bane of our society!Each child is unique. Children see the world through their own innocent eyes. Nothing is more precious than their innocence. They should be given an opportunity to bloom to their fullest without the worms of hatred and distrust eating away the petals of happiness in the little buds. Unfortunately, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia and dyscalculia were unheard of many years back. Such kids were considered lazy and beaten up by parents and teachers alike. Unfortunately, in India parents consider education as the only way to excel in life. This is especially so if the parent is a teacher. The sadness in their lives is doubled as they are unable to accept the fact that their children are different. This kind of a situation has an adverse impact on these child and also their siblings. An extreme reaction to this situation—the suicide pact— burns the souls of hapless children even if they survive it… Views: 295
Welcome to Ordshaw.
Don’t look down.
Pax thought she knew the dark side of Ordshaw. A poker pro who hustles bankers and gangsters, she can take care of herself. But she’s about to discover the shadows hide worse things than criminals.
When a thief steals her bankroll, it could cost Pax her home. Following his trail unearths a labyrinthine mystery that could cost Pax her life.
People have disappeared simply for realising what's lurking under Ordshaw.
To get her life back, Pax needs to go much further than that.
Will Pax’s findings put the whole city at risk? Will her new allies prove more dangerous than the monstrous enemy?
Will she even be able to survive another day?
The Sunken City Trilogy collects the first complete arc in the Ordshaw series in one collectible edition, including Under Ordshaw, Blue Angel and The Violent Fae. You’ll love these urban fantasy thrillers, because they’re packed with compelling characters, clever twists and creatures that’ll keep you up all night. Views: 294
Shalimar the Clown is a masterpiece from one of our greatest writers, a dazzling novel that brings together the fiercest passions of the heart and the gravest conflicts of our time into an astonishingly powerful, all-encompassing story.
Max Ophuls’ memorable life ends violently in Los Angeles in 1993 when he is murdered by his Muslim driver Noman Sher Noman, also known as Shalimar the Clown. At first the crime seems to be politically motivated – Ophuls was previously ambassador to India, and later US counterterrorism chief – but it is much more.
Ophuls is a giant, an architect of the modern world: a Resistance hero and best-selling author, brilliant economist and clandestine US intelligence official. But it is as Ambassador to India that the seeds of his demise are planted, thanks to another of his great roles – irresistible lover. Visiting the Kashmiri village of Pachigam, Ophuls lures an impossibly beautiful dancer, the ambitious (and willing) Boonyi Kaul, away from her husband, and installs her as his mistress in Delhi. But their affair cannot be kept secret, and when Boonyi returns home, disgraced and obese, it seems that all she has waiting for her is the inevitable revenge of her husband: Noman Sher Noman, Shalimar the Clown. He was an acrobat and tightrope walker in their village’s traditional theatrical troupe; but soon Shalimar is trained as a militant in Kashmir’s increasingly brutal insurrection, and eventually becomes a terrorist with a global remit and a deeply personal mission of vengeance.
With sweeping brilliance, Salman Rushdie portrays fanatical mullahs as fully as documentary filmmakers, rural headmen as completely as British spies; he describes villages that compete to make the most splendid feasts, the mentality behind martial law, and the celebrity of Los Angeles policemen, all with the same genius.
But the main story is only part of the story. In this stunningly rich book everything is connected, and everyone is a part of everyone else. Shalimar the Clown is a true work of the era of globalization, intricately mingling lives and countries, and finding unexpected and sometimes tragic connections between the seemingly disparate. The violent fate of Kashmir recalls Strasbourg’s experience in World War Two; Resistance heroism against the Nazis counterpoints Al-Qaeda’s terror in Pakistan, North Africa and the Philippines. 1960s Pachigam is not so far from post-war London, or the Hollywood-driven present-day Los Angeles where Max’s daughter by Boonyi, India Ophuls, beautiful, strong-willed, modern, waits, as vengeance plays itself out.
A powerful love story, intensely political and historically informed, Shalimar the Clown is also profoundly human, an involving story of people’s lives, desires and crises – India Ophuls’ desperate search for her real mother, for example; Max’s wife’s attempts to deal with his philandering – as well as, in typical Rushdie fashion, a magical tale where the dead speak and the future can be foreseen.
Shalimar the Clown is steeped in both the Hindu epic Ramayana and the great European novelists, melding the storytelling traditions of east and west into a magnificently fruitful blend – and serves, itself, as a corrective to the destructive clashes of values it scorchingly depicts. Enthralling, comic and amazingly abundant, it will no doubt come to be seen as one of the key books of our time. Views: 294
Several months into his recovery from a near-fatal illness, novelist Sidney Orr enters a stationery shop in Brooklyn and buys a blue notebook. It is September 18, 1982, and for the next nine days Orr will live under the spell of this blank book, trapped inside a world of bewildering events that threaten to undermine his faith in reality. Views: 294
