The Girl Who Married a Lion: And Other Tales from Africa


Alexander McCall Smith - 2004
    He now shares them in this jewel of a book.

Extreme Evil - Taking Crime to the Next Level (True Crime)


Phil Clarke - 2011
    Acts so powerful that they can scar a whole nation for generations. The perpetrators manage to achieve a level of notoriety only usually afforded to Hollywood icons. In their own twisted imaginations they sit in an Evil Hall of Fame among others of their kind: Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Andrei Chikatilo all jostling for the top spot. Extreme Evil throws light on the most vicious crimes ever committed, and the turbulent lives of the men and women behind them. Contents:Cannibals including Albert Fish, Armin Meiwes, Dennis Nilsen, Eladio Baule, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy Serial Killers including Andrei Chikatilo, H.H.Holmes, Javed Iqbal, John Wayne GacyLady Killers including Bell Gunness, Beverley Allit, Ilse Koch, Rosemary WestCult Killers including Charles Manson, David Koresh, Jim Jones, Shoko AsaharaTyrants including Adolf Hitler, Attila the Hun, Caligula, Pol Pot, Josef StalinChildren of Evil including Bryan and David Freeman, Edmund Kemper, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson

Secrets Beyond the Door: The Story of Bluebeard and His Wives


Maria Tatar - 2004
    But the story has remained alive for adults, allowing it to lead a rich subterranean existence in novels ranging from Jane Eyre to Lolita and in films as diverse as Hitchcock's Notorious and Jane Campion's The Piano.In this fascinating work, Maria Tatar analyzes the many forms the tale of Bluebeard's Wife has taken over time, particularly in Anglo-European popular culture. It documents the fortunes of Bluebeard, his wife, and their marriage in folklore, fiction, film, and opera, showing how others took the Bluebeard theme and revived it with their own signature twists.In some tales the wife is a deceiver; in others she is a clever investigator. Earlier ages denounced Bluebeard's wife for her "reckless curiosity" and for her "uncontrolled appetite"; our own times have turned her into something of a heroine, a woman who rescues herself--and often her marriage--through her detective work and psychological finesse. And as for Bluebeard? Once considered a one-dimensional brute, he has found renewed cultural energy both as a master criminal who kills in order to create a higher moral order and as an artist figure who must shield himself against intimacy to foster his creative powers. A brilliant account of how one classic fairy tale has been continually reincarnated, Secrets beyond the Door will appeal to both literary scholars and general readers.

Speed Reading For Dummies


Richard Sutz - 2009
    Learn to: Increase your reading speed and comprehension Use speed techniques for any type of reading material Improve your silent reading skills Recall more of what you read The fun and easy way(R) to become a more efficient, effective reader!Want to read faster -- and recall more of what you read? This practical, hands-on guide gives you the techniques you need to increase your reading speed and retention, whether you're reading books, e-mails, magazines, or even technical journals! You'll find reading aids and plenty of exercises to help you read faster and better comprehend the text.Yes, you can speed read -- discover the skills you need to read quickly and effectively, break your bad reading habits, and take in more text at a glanceFocus on the fundamentals -- widen your vision span and see how to increase your comprehension, retention, and recallAdvance your speed-reading skills -- read blocks of text, heighten your concentration, and follow an author's thought patternsZero in on key points -- skim, scan, and preread to quickly locate the information you wantExpand your vocabulary -- recognize the most common words and phrases to help you move through the text more quickly Open the book and find: Tried-and-true techniques from The Reader's Edge(R) program How to assess your current reading level Tools and exercises to improve your reading skills Speed-reading fundamentals you must know Helpful lists of prefixes, suffixes, roots, and prime words A speed-reading progress worksheet Exercises for eye health and expanded reading vision Tips for making your speed-reading skills permanent

Irish Fairy and Folk Tales


Various - 2014
    These are stories that passed down through the ages virtually unaltered in their telling. To those who told and listened to them, they expressed something fundamental about Irish culture and the Irish way of life. The stories in this volume feature a wide variety of fantastic beings, including ghosts, witches, fairies, and changelings, but several feature creatures that are virtually exclusive to Ireland: the banshee, the merrow, the pooka, and the leprechaun. Read these tales of frightening supernatural horrors, brave folk heroes, and everyday people clever enough to outwith the devil, and you'll agree that they could only take place on Irish soil.

Winning the Clutter War


Sandra Felton - 2010
    Hundreds of thousands of readers have already benefited from her strategies.

Is Tiny Dancer Really Elton's Little John?: Music's Most Enduring Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed


Gavin Edwards - 2006
    . . Ham Sandwiches?If you are a music fan, you may be aware of some of music’s most enduring mysteries. Where did Pearl Jam get their name? Are the White Stripes related by blood or by marriage? Did Mama Cass really die from choking on a ham sandwich? Gavin Edwards has heard just about every strange question, racy rumor, and legend of the music world. As the writer of Rolling Stone’s “Rolling Stone Knows” column, Edwards proved himself as a one-man encyclopedia of music trivia. Now he shares all of his knowledge with you. Look inside to find the answers to these questions and more: •What’s the connection between The Beach Boys and Charles Manson? •How did Dr. Dre and Eminem meet?•Did Mick Jagger and David Bowie really sleep together?•What’s the deal with Led Zeppelin and the shark?•What’s the feud between The Smashing Pumpkins and Pavement all about? •Was Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” really written about his most private body part?Is Tiny Dancer Really Elton’s Little John? might not tell you who shot Tupac or why Celine Dion is still allowed to make records, but with thorough research and answers straight from the mouths of the performers themselves, Edwards will help you become a music geek extraordinaire.

The Straight Dope


Cecil Adams - 1984
    Now the best of these questions and answers--from the profound to the ridiculous--are collected in book form so that you can know a little about a lot. Exploding myths, revealing shocking truths, and explaining all major mysteries of the cosmos, The Straight Dope contains more than four hundred fully-indexed entries on topics ranging from sex to consumer products, science to history, and rock 'n' roll to much, much more!

The Egyptian Book of the Dead


Anonymous
    Embodying a ritual to be performed for the dead, with detailed instructions for the behavior of the disembodied spirit in the Land of the Gods, it served as the most important repository of religious authority for some three thousand years. Chapters were carved on the pyramids of the ancient 5th Dynasty, texts were written in papyrus, and selections were painted on mummy cases well into the Christian Era. In a certain sense it stood behind all Egyptian civilization.In the year 1888 Dr. E. Wallis Budge, then purchasing agent for the British Museum, followed rumors he heard of a spectacular archaeological find in Upper Egypt, and found in an 18th Dynasty tomb near Luxor "the largest roll of papyrus I had ever seen, tied with a thick band of papyrus, and in a perfect state of preservation." It was a copy of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, written around 1500 B.C. for Ani, Royal Scribe of Thebes, Overseer of the Granaries of the Lords of Abydos, and Scribe of the Offerings of the Lords of Thebes.The Papyrus of Ani, a full version of the Theban recension, is presented here by Dr. Budge, who later became perhaps the world's most renowned Egyptologist. Reproduced in full are a clear copy of the Egyptian hieroglyphs, and interlinear transliteration of their sounds (as reconstructed), a word-for-word translation, and separately a complete smooth translation. All this is preceded by an introduction of more than 150 pages. As a result of this multiple apparatus the reader has a unique opportunity to savor all aspects of the Book of the Dead, or as it is otherwise known, the Book of the Great Awakening.

Curious Myths of the Middle Ages


Sabine Baring-Gould - 1868
    You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern


Todd McCaffrey - 2013
    The pioneering science fiction author behind the Dragonriders of Pern® series crafted intricate stories, enthralling worlds, and strong heroines that profoundly impacted the science fiction community and genre.In Dragonwriter, Anne’s son and Pern writer Todd McCaffrey collects memories and stories about the beloved author, along with insights into her writing and legacy, from those who knew her best. Nebula Award–winner Elizabeth Moon relates the lessons she learned from Pern’s Lessa (and from Lessa’s creator); Hugo Award–winner David Brin recalls Anne’s steadfast belief that the world to come will be better than the one before; legendary SFF artist Michael Whelan shares (and tells stories about) never-before-published Pern sketches from his archives; and more.Join Anne’s co-writers, fellow science fiction authors, family, and friends in remembering her life, and exploring how her mind and pen shaped not only the Weyrs of Pern, but also the literary landscape as we know it.Contributors include:• Angelina Adams• David Brin• David Gerrold• John Goodwin• Janis Ian• Alec Johnson• Georgeanne Kennedy• Mercedes Lackey• Sharon Lee and Steve Miller• Lois McMaster Bujold• Elizabeth Moon• Charlotte Moore• Robert Neilson• Jody Lynn Nye and Bill Fawcett• Robin Roberts• Elizabeth Ann Scarborough• Wen Spencer• Michael Whelan• Richard J. Woods• Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

Manslations: Decoding the Secret Language of Men


Jeff Mac - 2009
    'Manslations' is an hilarious - and honest - guide for women about what men say, who they are, and why they behave the way they do.

Edward's Menagerie: Over 40 Soft and Snuggly Toy Animal Crochet Patterns


Kerry Lord - 2014
    Over the next 12 months the collection of crochet animals expanded week on week until Edward's Menagerie was complete with 40 unique patterns.These cute animals with larger-than-life personalities are made using simple crochet techniques and the step-by-step instructions enable a complete beginner to get hooking straight away. Each animal also has a universal pattern where you can change your hook and yarn to create four different sizes, making 160 different possibilities.Be warned that these unlikely characters made using a supersoft yarn in a sumptuous natural colour palette will become your new best friends as you hook your way through the whole menagerie!

Unnatural Causes (Notorious USA Box Set: Kentucky, Pennsylvania & Ohio)


Gregg Olsen - 2014
    Within the pages of this latest volume in Notorious USA's New York Times bestselling series you'll discover how the unsuspecting succumbed to the evil that caught them by surprise, and what the authorities had to do to stop the madness.Cases include:KentuckySarah Hansen - A cheerleader and all-around good kid, she met a nightmarish death.Heather Teague - A young woman is abducted from a beach and is never seen again.Margaret Seitz - A mother of five, she killed two of them and then herself.Dr. John Strange - A newlywed disposes of his bride but doesn't know what to do with her head.James Sefchick and Danny Tetrick were drive-in killers, and no ticket-taker was safe.Jessica Thornsberry - Only 12, she went to her friend's house for a sleepover and wound up dead.PennsylvaniaAlec Kreider - He had a hunger for murder and started with his best friend's family.Charles Carl Roberts - loving husband, father, and killer of young Amish girls.Gary Heidnik - A collector of women, and it was death to those who complained.George Sodini - He never found the love of a woman, so he made women a target for murder.OhioAnthony and Nathaniel Cook - A murdering duo, they terrorized Toledo for years.Death of an Amish Wife - What happened to Ida Stutzman?Donald Harvey - An ordinary looking man, he earned the title: Angel of Death.Della Sutorius - She loved the book, The Bad Seed, and guided her life accordingly.

Killers in Cold Blood


Ray Black - 2007
    These are the men and women who commit heinous acts with a gruesome disregard for human life.