In Margaret Atwood's stunning new collection of stories, her first since her #1 nationally bestselling 2006 collection, Moral Disorder, she returns to the here and now in this brilliant, new collection of stories. In these nine dazzlingly inventive and rewarding stories, Margaret Atwood's signature dark humour, playfulness, and deadly seriousness are in abundance. In "Freeze-Dried Bridegroom," a man who bids on a storage locker has a surprise. In "Lusus Naturae," a woman with a genetic abnormality is mistaken for a vampire. In "I Dream of Zenia with the Bright Red Teeth," we remeet Tony, Charis, and Roz from The Robber Bride, but, years later, as their nemesis is seen in an unexpected form. In "Torching the Dusties," an elderly lady with Charles Bonnet's syndrome comes to terms with the little people she keeps seeing, while a newly formed populist group gathers to burn down her retirement residence. In "Stone Mattress," a long-ago crime is revenged in... Views: 55
"The unevenly clustered historical conditions of the Caribbean nations bind us to the revival and redefinition of the ideals of unification begotten by 19th Century Puerto Rican thinkers. Coleccion Caribena is intended to build connection points that will enable the exchange of ideas, languages and forms. In doing so this collection will reflect the plural character of the region while publishing a comprehensive sample of works in various fields-Literature, Social Sciences, Literary Criticism, History-and, hopefully in various languages. This novel includes the original prologue in which the author coins the term ""magic realism"" (lo real maravilloso) to describe Latin American reality, and a second prologue." Views: 55
The first in an acclaimed series of historical novels--including Tiberius and Caesar--reconstructs the lost memoirs of Augustus, recounting the life of the founder of the Roman Empire in his own frank, forceful style Views: 55
“This heartfelt, witty addition to women’s fiction will appeal to fans of Elizabeth Berg and Anna Quindlen.” (Booklist)Georgia Waltz has things many people only dream of: a plush Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park, a Hamptons beach house, valuable jewels and art, two bright daughters, and a husband she adores, even after decades of marriage. It’s only when Ben suddenly drops dead from a massive coronary while training for the New York City Marathon that Georgia discovers her husband—a successful lawyer—has left them nearly penniless. Their wonderland was built on lies.As the family attorney scours emptied bank accounts, Georgia must not only look for a way to support her family, she needs to face the revelation that Ben was not the perfect husband he appeared to be, just as her daughters—now ensconced back at home with secrets of their own—have to accept that they may not be returning to their lives in Paris and at Stanford subsidized by the Bank of Mom and Dad. As she uncovers hidden resilience, Georgia’s sudden midlife shift forces her to consider who she is and what she truly values. That Georgia may also find new love in the land of Spanx and stretch marks surprises everyone—most of all, her.Sally Koslow’s fourth novel is deftly told through the alternating viewpoints of her remarkable female protagonists as they plumb for the grit required to reinvent their lives. Inspiring, funny, and deeply satisfying, The Widow Waltz explores in a profound way the bonds between mothers and daughters, belligerent siblings, skittish lovers, and bitter rivals as they discover the power of forgiveness, and healing, all while asking, “What is family, really?”ReviewPraise for The Widow Waltz:Chosen by People magazine as a Great Summer Read“Witty and insightful.”—People magazine (A Great Summer Read Pick)“Lovers of breezy beach reads . . . will enjoy the journey.”—*Real Simple*"Well-written, page-turning domestic fiction about a family’s reinvention and healing that will attract fans of Elizabeth Berg."*—Library Journal*"An inspirational piece about rising up to meet challenges, valuing family, and finding independence, inner strength and new perspectives. . . . Those of you looking for a breezy summer book should thoroughly enjoy Koslow's latest effort."—*Book Reporter*“Sally Koslow delivers another winner, a smart and hopeful story of a mother and daughters growing up and starting over—together.”—Eleanor Brown, author of The Weird Sisters"I devoured this book."—Jesse Kornbluth, *The Huffington Post*"Entertaining . . . Koslow knows how to please." *—Kirkus Reviews*“Pop Quiz: Your beloved husband dies suddenly, leaving you penniless and perplexed. Do you (a) climb into bed until your house is repossessed (b) find another, wealthier man to pick up the tab, or (c) take a deep breath, grab hold of your daughters, and dive into the mess? Because I myself lean toward (a), I was charmed and inspired by Georgia Waltz, heroine of The Widow Waltz, who in the face of calamity, digs deep for answers and discovers her better self in the process. By turns lighthearted and insightful, The Widow Waltz is a clarion call for any woman who's been disappointed by love: Take a chance! Forgive yourself! Forgive each other! Buy this book!”—Jillian Medoff, author of Hunger Point and I Couldn't Love You More"Sally Koslow gives us a portrait of female fortitude and reinvention in her tale of how fifty-something Georgia must start again from 'Go’ after her luxurious Manhattan life implodes overnight. Reading a Koslow novel is like eating a top-of-the-line gourmet truffle: exquisitely and carefully constructed, ultimately pleasurable—yet there's iron in it, too. Readers of Anne Tyler, Elin Hilderbrand, Cathleen Schine, and Randy Susan Meyers will devour this book as I did."—Jenna Blum, author of Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers“Sally Koslow takes economic downturn . . . and turns it into an urban fairy tale featuring plucky heroines, wolfish villains, a magic garden, and one unlikely knight. The Widow Waltz tells a story of reinvention with humor, intrigue, and just the right touch of mid-life romance.”—Ann Bauer, author of The Forever Marriage“Poignant, charming, and funny, The Widow Waltz is a wonderful reminder that we are never too old to grow up. A must-read.”—Julie Buxbaum, author of The Opposite of Love “With style, wit, and unflinching honesty, Sally Koslow explores the devastating confusion of a woman and her daughters betrayed by their beloved husband and father, who has died suddenly and taken secrets with him, and how these women summon wisdom and power to help one another heal.”—Erika Robuck, author of Hemingway’s Girl and Call Me Zelda"The Widow Waltz is as smart, savvy, and clear-sighted as its heroine, a woman who searches for the truth beneath her dead husband's betrayal. Sally Koslow has written a warm and buoyant story about marriage, motherhood, and second acts."—Caryn James, author of Glorie and What Caroline Knew“This heartfelt, witty addition to women’s fiction will appeal to fans of Elizabeth Berg and Anna Quindlen.”—Booklist About the AuthorSally Koslow is the author of three novels, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx, a Target Book Pick; With Friends Like These; and Little Pink Slips, inspired by her time as the editor in chief of McCall’s; and Slouching Toward Adulthood, a witty and insightful report from the parenting trenches. She lives in New York City. Views: 55
My Detachment is a war story like none you have ever read before, an unromanticized portrait of a young man coming of age in the controversial war that defined a generation. In an astonishingly honest, comic, and moving account of his tour of duty in Vietnam, master storyteller Tracy Kidder writes for the first time about himself. This extraordinary memoir is destined to become a classic.Kidder was an ROTC intelligence officer, just months out of college and expecting a stateside assignment, when his orders arrived for Vietnam. There, lovesick, anxious, and melancholic, he tried to assume command of his detachment, a ragtag band of eight more-or-less ungovernable men charged with reporting on enemy radio locations. He eventually learned not only to lead them but to laugh and drink with them as they shared the boredom, pointlessness, and fear of war. Together, they sought a ghostly enemy, homing in on radio transmissions and funneling intelligence gathered... Views: 55
Lessons Learned Because of her painful past, teacher Beth Ryken has one rule when it comes to men and marriage: never fall for a cop. So when the new sheriff's deputy asks her to tutor his young son, she agrees to work with the boy while hoping to avoid the handsome widower. She knows former big-city detective Nicholas Grey moved to LeNaro, Michigan, to give his child a safe and stable life. But sometimes a cop's job means risk and danger. As Beth works with Nick's struggling son, she grows unexpectedly close with the small Grey family. How will she possibly protect her heart from breaking all over again? Views: 55
Anne Perry’s very special world of mystery, passion, and danger has attracted an entire generation of readers to her bestselling Victorian novels. Treason at Lisson Grove, her first Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novel in three years, is a masterpiece, inspired by history and spinning on a razor’s edge of tension, with a cast of characters as rich as the universe Perry evokes. The man who lies bleeding to death in a London brickyard is no ordinary drifter but a secret informant prepared to divulge details of a potentially devastating international plot against the British government. Special Branch officer Thomas Pitt, hastening to rendezvous with him, arrives a second too late, preceded by a knife-wielding assassin. As the mortally wounded man’s life slips away, so too does the information Pitt desperately needs. The killer in turn flees on an erratic course that leads Pitt in wild pursuit, from London’s cobblestone streets to picturesque St. Malo on the French coast.Meanwhile, Pitt’s supervisor, the formidable Victor Narraway, finds himself accused of embezzling government funds. With Pitt incommunicado in France, Narraway turns to Pitt’s clever wife, Charlotte, for help. The man who badmouthed Narraway and ruined his career with innuendo can be found in Ireland—so Charlotte agrees to pose as Narraway’s sister and accompany him to Dublin to investigate. But unknown to Pitt and Narraway, a shadowy plotter is setting a trap that, once sprung, could destroy not just reputations but the British empire itself.From the Hardcover edition. Views: 55
From the beloved creator of Winnie-the-Pooh comes an irresistible collection of short stories guaranteed to delight readers of all ages.Drawing from a collection of stories originally published in 1921 and chosen exclusively by the author himself, The Sunny Side gathers the best short works by the inimitable A. A. Milne. Written for the satire magazine Punch, these brief stories and essays perfectly capture Milne's sly humor, beguiling social insight, and scathing wit. From "Odd Verses" to "War Sketches," "Summer Days" to "Men of Letters," Milne takes his readers from the stiff British drawing room to the irreverent joy of a boy's day at the beach. Ideal for curling up with in the hammock or stretching out by the fire, these tales shine brightly any day of the year.Complete with a series of whimsical illustrations, The Sunny Side offers the perfect chance to rediscover this forgotten classic by one of our most cherished authors. Views: 55
A daring, category-confounding, and ruthlessly funny novel from National Book Award honored author Edmund White that explores polyamory and bisexuality, ageing and love.Sicilian aristocrat and musician, Ruggero, and his younger American wife, Constance, agree to break their marital silence and write their Confessions. Until now they had a ban on speaking about the past, since transparency had wrecked their previous marriages. As the two alternate reading the memoirs they've written about their lives, Constance reveals her multiple marriages to older men, and Ruggero details the affairs he's had with men and women across his lifetime-most importantly his passionate affair with the author Edmund White. Sweeping outward from the isolated Swiss ski chalet where the couple reads to travel through Europe and the United States, White's new novel pushes for a broader understanding of sexual orientation and pairs humor and truth to create his most fascinating and complex... Views: 55