Manette Ansay explores the rural Midwest landscape and the people who inhabit it: ordinary folk with extraordinary inner lives, struggling to make sense of the isolated, sometimes painful, and often intensely religious worlds in which they live. Her are 15 haunting and exquisitely written tales that offer a rare and unforgettable glimpse into the complexities of being human and being alive.

    This lavishly illustrated guide brings you the people and places from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Explore Middle-Earth, from the rolling hills of the Shire to the desolate ash plains of Mordor. Discover the secrets of a world where the elves roamed through enchanted forests and dragons slept in dark caverns under the mountains. With stunning artwork that re-imagines the places and people of Middle-Earth, Tolkien’s World is ideal for hobbit fans, big and small.Open the pages of Tolkien’s World and meet Bilbo Baggins, the hero of The Hobbit. Then find out about Gandalf the wizard and his incredible magic powers, uncover the story of the unfortunate Gollum or learn about magical weapons, such as Gandalf’s sword Glamdring. This meticulously researched guide lets you discover the amazing peoples and creatures that inhabit Middle-earth, from friendly elves and stout-hearted dwarves to the deadly dragon Smaug and the evil Sauron. Packed with adventure and lore, Tolkien’s World is a must for all Hobbit

    Frank Baum, and Dr. Seuss, Grimly presents more than 40 pieces of richly detailed artwork that accompanies a story about a down-and-out yet optimistic lad, a mad hare, a knight, and a muddy spud. Full color.

    So why, when Cassia Blake has just three months to organise her wedding, has he suddenly granted her magazine an exclusive, all-access interview? Against Cassia's better judgement, she hands the wedding planning over to her frosty mother-in-law, and flies out to Italy to spend time with Rocco. But Rocco isn't exactly looking forward to Cassia's arrival. Persuaded to do the interview to help publicise his business, he has enough on his plate with his fiery girlfriend, wedding-obsessed sister and fiercely protective grandmother. And now it seems as if someone is trying to sabotage his restaurants too... Cassia's summer in Sorrento is shaping up to be a recipe for disaster. But could it also be a recipe for love?

    Although she's had her ups and downs, life is good now: she lives with her twin brother, Onyx, and another friend in an artsy community in Cincinnati and is pursuing a master's degree in psychology. An avid reader, Ophelia likes everything to be orderly, including her job at a nearby bookstore. But when a good-looking stranger ends up in her apartment-invited to crash on their couch by her brother-her life begins to change forever.Brax Smith arrives to Cincinnati with nothing other than his van, having left Florida to start a new life, escaping the memories of losing his mother to cancer and dealing with his drunk father. A recovering alcoholic himself, Brax meets two guys at a group session in an eclectic area of Cincinnati when he gets to town. He feels grateful to have a place to stay but also comes face-to-face with the sister of one of his new friends, who is less than excited to have an additional roommate. Can he win her over, despite the fact that she has no interest in being his friend?In this novel, the lives of two struggling people collide and take them on a roller-coaster journey of good times and bad, ultimately leading to true love, devotion, and tragedy.

    In this lavishly illustrated retelling of the classic fairytale, Camille Rose Garcia reimagines Cinderella through her distinctive visual aesthetic. Hers is a Cinderella for the twenty-first century: Dark, compelling, vibrant, and enthralling.

    Madaris Saga by Brenda Jackson released on Oct 25, 2004 is available now for purchase.

    Is it for children, or for adults? Is it fantasy or a psychological novel? In its great range, it encompasses poetry and farce, comedy and tragedy -and sudden flights of schoolboy humour. White's `footnote to Malory' (his own phrase) resulted in the last major retelling of the story based on Malory's Morte Darthur, and Elisabeth Brewer explores the literary context of White's finest work as wellas considering his aims and achievement in writing it.White's story of Arthur begins with his `enfances', set in an imaginary medieval England, but it is far removed from the conventional historical novel. White was writing in wartime England, a country increasingly absorbed by a need to find an antidote to war. Through the medium of the Arthurian story he found his own voice, his unique contribution to keeping alive the flame of civilisation. Malory's chivalric virtues are rejected in favour of White's own twentieth-century values; the love affair of Lancelot and Guenever is interpreted in terms of modern psychology.The books which eventually made up The Once and Future Kingof 1958 appeared in distinctly different editions. In discussing these, Elisabeth Brewer looks at some of the ways in which White drew on his own personal experience at a deep psychological level, while also incorporating into his story material inspired by his antiquarian pursuits and by his years as a schoolmaster. She completes her study with an account of White's use of historical material, and the relationship of The Once and Future King to the Morte Darthur.ELISABETH BREWER lectured in English at Homerton College, Cambridge. She is the author of books and articles on Chaucer and the Arthurian legends

    When you read "Mirage by Clive Cussler - Reviewed" you will get a detailed chapter by chapter summary and analysis of the events as they unfold in Clive Cussler's and Jack Du Brul's bestselling Novel. You also get a deeper understanding of the characters, the plot, as well as the themes and symbolism included in Mirage. Just in case that's not enough for you I've also included a list of possible study questions (book club discussions topics) and quotes from Cussler's book that I found interesting. Wrapping it all up is a discussion of the critical reviews for Mirage as well as my overall opinion of the book. Plus much more! Whether you're reading this review for a book club, school report, or just want to catch up with your favorite characters and find out what happens before diving into the full length book, you can use this book summary and study guide to get the most out of your experience reading Mirage by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul.

    It doesn’t feel wrong. It just...feels.EJ Cunning, an art history major, dates musicians. Foster Blake, a chemical engineering major, can’t sing a tune. They’re not each other’s type. They’re coworkers.Then, one night leads to sex—sex between friends—which leads to an agreement. It all seems so simple—but nothing ever is.Many layers build a person’s facade.Look into the depths for what’s hidden within.It’s more than water. It’s a story—a living and breathing substance beyond the reflective surface.

    "A full-color picture book for adults that tells a wrenching story of eternal love.”—NPR Books"To truly love another, you must follow the lover’s path wherever it may take you . . . .”Filamena Ziani is the much younger sister of the most famous courtesan in sixteenth-century Venice, Tullia Ziani. Orphaned as an infant, Filamena has come of age bent like a branch to her sister’s will, sheltered and lonely in the elegant but stifling confines of their palazzo by the sea. Then a dark-haired stranger offers a gift that will change the course of her life forever: a single ripe plum, and an invitation to walk along the lover’s path, wherever it may lead.THE LOVER’S PATH, a moving tale of forbidden love, is an illustrated novella told in multiple layers. Through a sumptuous combination of Filamena’s narrative, famous love stories from history and mythology, ornate illustrations, and interactive maps, Filamena’s path is beautifully described and, finally, stunningly revealed.Praised by The New York Times Book Review for her “quality of myth and magic,” Waldherr brings to life a remarkable period in Venetian history. Her glorious celebration of romance, the feminine spirit, and the power of love to transform will inspire and move readers everywhere.

    This handsome hardcover contains never-before-seen concept art, the full history of Hyrule, the official chronology of the games, and much more! Starting with an insightful introduction by the legendary producer and video-game designer of Donkey Kong, Mario, and The Legend of Zelda, Shigeru Miyamoto, this book is crammed full of information about the storied history of Link's adventures from the creators themselves! As a bonus, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia includes an exclusive comic by the foremost creator of The Legend of Zelda manga - Akira Himekawa!

    What makes the Mona Lisa smile? Katie wants to find out so she climbs into the Leonardo Da Vinci painting. But the Mona Lisa is not really feeling very happy so Katie tries to cheer her up . . . with disastrous results!

    From Hollywood animal behavioristand author of Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived, Ralph Helfer, comes a surprising behind-the-scenes account of his years working as a trainer to the (four-legged) stars.In The Beauty of the Beasts, Helfer chronicles the many television programs and films in which his animals appeared, including Charlie's Angels and The Ten Commandments, and the stars he and his animals worked with such as Elvis Presley, Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe, Sonny and Cher, and more.Complete with a 16-page insert of photos from Helfer, The Beauty of the Beasts is a book about the important role animals play in our lives, and how much less human we would be without them.

    . . before."Jack was running like mad in the dark woods with a hen under his arm.Previously, he had stolen the hen and climbed down a beanstalk."But do you know what was Jack doing before he climbed down the beanstalk?Or what Jack and Jill were arguing about before they went up the hill? And what happened before that? Every story, every person, and every thing started somewhere, and now the inventive and whimsical Allan Ahlberg explores what all your favorite storybook characters were up to previously, aided by Bruce Ingman’s energetic illustrations.