When the mad philosopher Quincas Borba dies, he leaves to his friend Rubiao the entirety of his wealth and property, with a single stipulation: Rubiao must take care of Quincas Borba's dog, who is also named Quincas Borba, and who may indeed have assumed the soul of the dead philosopher. Flush with his newfound wealth, Rubiao heads for Rio de Janeiro and plunges headlong into a world where fantasy and reality become increasingly difficult to keep separate. Brilliantly translated by Gregory Rabassa, Quincas Borba is a masterful satire not only on life in Imperial Brazil but the human condition itself. Views: 194
This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic, timeless works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them. Views: 194
Switters is a contradiction for all seasons: an anarchist who works for the government; a pacifist who carries a gun; a vegetarian who sops up ham gravy; a cyberwhiz who hates computers; a man who, though obsessedwith the preservation of innocence, is aching to deflower his high-school-age stepsister (only to become equally enamored of a nun ten years his senior). Yet there is nothing remotely wishy-washy about Switters. Hedoesn't merely pack a pistol. He "is" a pistol. And as we dog Switters's strangely elevated heels across four continents, in and out of love and danger, discovering in the process the"true" Third Secret of Fatima, we experience Tom Robbins-that fearless storyteller, spiritual renegade, and verbal break dancer--at the top of his game. On one level this is afast-paced CIA adventure story with comic overtones; on another it's a serious novel of ideas that brings the Big Picture into unexpected focus; but perhaps more than anything else, Fierce Invalids is a sexycelebration of language and life. "From the Trade Paperback edition." Views: 194
More than a decade ago, Harry Bosch worked on the case of Marie Gesto, a twenty-two-year-old who went missing but was never found. Now, with the Gesto file still on his desk, Bosch gets a call from the District Attorney: A serial killer has confessed. Did Harry miss a key clue? Or is something more going on here?
In 1993 Marie Gesto disappeared after walking out of a supermarket. Harry Bosch worked the case but couldn't crack it, and the twenty-two-year-old was never found. Now, more than a decade later, with the Gesto file still on his desk, Bosch gets a call from the District Attorney.
A man accused of two heinous murders is willing to come clean about several others, including the killing of Marie Gesto. Taking the confession of the man he has sought-and hated-for thirteen years is bad enough. Discovering that he missed a clue back in 1993 that could have stopped nine other murders may just be the straw that breaks Harry Bosch. Views: 194
Texas Cattleman's Club member Darius Foster is tired of women chasing after his millions. But his jaded heart is about to get a jump-start.The wealthy rancher never expected to see Summer Martindale in his part of Texas. Darius was still trying to forget that incredible night they'd spent together...a night that never should have happened. Certain she had relocated just to get close to him--and his money--the ex-lawman vowed to keep his distance. But when danger came calling, Darius knew he was the only one who could protect Summer. And that meant getting closer to her...in every way! Views: 194
Long before there was a Catch-22, before there was even a Catch-18 (the novel's original title), Joseph Heller had begun sharpening his skills as a writer, searching for the voice that would best express the peculiarly wry view that he held of the world. Starting in 1945, with the publication in Story magazine of the short story "I Don't Love You Anymore," Heller began to reach out to an audience of readers damaged and disillusioned by their experiences during World War II. That story dealt with the return home of an American soldier who was having more than a little trouble adjusting. The stories published following this debut continued to reflect people at odds with the world around them, usually featuring the "little guy," the "underdog," the "average Joe" who beats the odds by surviving in a generally hostile and unwelcoming world. Written in what is termed the "New York Style," his were stories of urban naturalism, realistic and straightforward,... Views: 194
From the author of the best-selling and universally adored No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series—a stand-alone, big-hearted, and often heartbreaking novel about unrequited love and the unexpected places it takes us.
At age 4, Thursday chooses her own name. At age 6, she falls in love with her best friend, James, with whom she happily spends all her time. But in the adult world, things are not so simple: at the same time that Thursday’s mother finds she’s fallen out of love with her husband, she realizes that James’s father is interested in her. As the children grow into adulthood, their connection becomes more complicated as well: James drifts away from Thursday, but she keeps him in her sights: she attends the same college in Scotland and then follows him to London, Sydney, Singapore, rebuilding her life in every city, hoping each time that James will see what he is missing. As Thursday and James, and their parents, navigate their irresistible but baffling mazes of emotion, we are given a beautifully realized tale about how love, even if unrequited, can shape a life. Views: 194
Maria Thompson Daviess (1872 –1924) was an American novelist and artist, best known for her popular novels written with a "Pollyanna" outlook. Daviess was born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky in 1872. After her father died when she was eight, her family relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. She studied one year at Wellesley College, and then went to Paris to study art. Returning to Nashville, she continued to paint and also took up writing. Her first novel, Miss Selina Lue and the Soap-box Babies was published in 1909. The Melting of Molly, published in 1912, was one of the top best-selling books for the year. She published sixteen novels between 1909 and 1920. Views: 193
How far would you go to avenge the one you love? Would you go beyond death?Born into the stifling confines of French upper society, Babette Varanus never thought that she would have to answer that question. Surrounded by wealth yet ostracized by her peers, Babette had little interest in love until she met Korbinian, a scandalous German baron with the audacity to regard her as his equal. But when the intrigues of her grandfather's enemies conspire to tear them apart, Varanus will embark upon a journey of vengeance, love, and redemption that will take her beyond the limitations of mortality and reveal to her the dark forces that command humanity from the shadows. Faced with madness, murder, hidden cults, and erudite vampires, does she have the strength to withstand the storm that rises against her? Views: 193
In the fifth installment of James Patterson's action-packed Daniel X series, Daniel must now face an alien whose origins appear nearer to the depths of Hell than the outer reaches of the galaxy. Number Two is an unstoppable criminal that's slowly been amassing an underground army of disgusting, disgruntled, and dangerous aliens to help him enslave Earth's population. And it's all in preparation for the arrival of Number One, the most powerful alien in the universe and Daniel's arch-nemesis.
To Daniel's horror, thousands of humans defect to the alien's side, making the odds of success that much more impossible. But for the first time in his life, Daniel isn't alone in his fight. He's connected with several military and intelligence groups--including the daughter of a prominent FBI agent--and is prepared to lead the ultimate showdown against the evil that has plagued planet Earth for so long. Readers, beware--and be prepared for a truly epic battle that evokes the ancient prophecies of Armageddon! Views: 193
Published to coincide with the 125th anniversary of James Thurber's birth, this treasury combines, for the first time, Fables for Our Time and Further Fables for Our Time with Thurber's unpublished preface and ten previously uncollected or unpublished stories. James Thurber has been called "one of the world's greatest humorists" by Alistair Cooke (Atlantic), "one of our great American institutions" (Stanley Walker), "a magnificent satirist" (Boston Transcript)—and few works reveal Thurber's genius as powerfully as his fables. Perennially entertaining and astutely satirical, Thurber pinpricks the idiosyncrasies of life with verbal frivolity, hilarious insights, political shrewdness, and, of course, quirky, quotable morals. Now, readers can savor 85 fables by the twentieth century's preeminent humorist collected for the first time in a single anthology: Fables for Our Time, Further Fables for Our Time, Thurber's unpublished preface, and ten previously... Views: 193
Jon’s future in New York seems bright. He’s on the corporate fast track as an executive problem solver, but somehow he can’t help feeling hollow. Yearning for a life spent outdoors makes no sense if he wants to flourish in this city, nor does losing his cool with clients when they make bad decisions. Only leaving the East Coast behind for three months can save his business reputation.
His exile in Seattle has unexpected upsides. Jon’s rented home has a garden where his true passions blossom. It’s overgrown yet idyllic—perfect if he didn’t have to share it with another tenant. Tyler might be as cute as hell, and their landlady adores him, but Jon can’t let himself fall for someone who seems lazy.
Three months could be enough time to see Tyler clearly, but choosing which to nurture long-term—love or a business career—might take Jon longer than one summer. Views: 193
A poetic experience from the author of Centric, USA: United States of Adversity and the Birth of Mars: a poetic play, these poems reflect things that are beautifully human, but far from perfect. Beautyful includes the poems Words & Other Weapons, Purple Flowers, Supreme and features the poem Symbiotic, a collaboration with Pharoe.3 distinct series. 7 books. 7 chapters. In the spirit of try before you buy, this sampler pack will give you just that. A sample of Jill Cooper's writing. The Dream Slayer Series: Paranormal adventures with heartache, laughter, triumph, showcasing the spirit of it's young heroines. 15 Minutes: A time travel thriller whirlwind adventure with romance, suspense, and more twists than a water park. Glistening Haven: A scifi dystopian political thriller with a splash of paranormal. It'll suck you in before Leave it to Beaver can say Gosh Darn it! Devour: A stand alone horror romance that is sure to curl your toes with desire, and make your hair stand on end in terror. Views: 193
In Ruggles of Red Gap, Lord Burnstead gambles away his eminently correct English butler, Marmaduke Ruggles. Ruggles\' new \'owners\', crude nouveau riche Americans Egbert and Effie Floud, bring Ruggles back to Red Gap, Washington, a remote Western boomtown. When the butler is mistaken for a wealthy Englishman, he becomes a small-town celebrity. As Ruggles attempts to adjust to this rough new community, he learns to live life on his own terms, achieving a fulfilling independence as a result. Views: 193
