100 Great Operas and Their Stories: Act-by-Act Synopses


Henry W. Simon - 1989
    Written in a lively anecdotal style, entries include character descriptions, historical background, and much more.

The Ghost: How a California Golden Boy Became America's Most Unlikely-and Elusive- Fugitive


Paige Williams - 2012
    He's the prime suspect in the 2004 murder of Keith Palomares, a 25-year-old armored truck guard. Despite the FBI's active investigation, Brown remains at large living among us without a trace. And yet, a faint pulse of his identity surfaces from time to time, haunting the detectives tasked to find him. In the Kindle Single The Ghost, crime writer Paige Williams chronicles the case and draws a portrait of a killer who is as slippery and elusive as he is enigmatic. Jason Derek Brown was raised by a Mormon father who held a high position in the church despite being a known con man. Jason himself was a devout Mormon for years, and maintained his generosity and Southern California charm even as he slid into a life of excessive materialism fueled by theft. Aside from the murder, he has no history of violence. His case is downright perplexing, and Williams captures it from multiple viewpoints in pitch-perfect prose. --Paul Diamond

Wagner Without Fear: Learning to Love—and Even Enjoy—Opera's Most Demanding Genius


William Berger - 1998
    He tells you all you need to know to become a true Wagnerite--from story lines to historical background; from when to visit the rest room to how to sound smart during intermission; from the Jewish legend that possibly inspired Lohengrin to the tragic death of the first Tristan. Funny, informative, and always a pleasure to read, Wagner Without Fear proves that the art of Wagner can be accessible to everyone.Includes:- The strange life of Richard Wagner--German patriot (and exile), friend (and enemy) of Liszt and Nietzsche- Essential opera lore and "lobby talk"- A scene-by-scene analysis of each opera- What to listen for to get the most from the music- Recommended recordings, films, and sound tracks

Domestic Hunt (Thomas Cole Book 4)


Scott Jones - 2016
    To the local authorities they are random acts of violence, robberies gone wrong. But to Army Ranger Thomas Cole there are too many coincidences. With the unofficial help of a shadowy presence from his past, Tom begins digging and soon discovers the War on Terror is very close to home.

American Sniper


Ian Patterson - 2019
    THEY TAUGHT HIM TO SURVIVE. NOW THE CIA WANTS HIM DEAD!He kills from a distance, a long-range sniper rifle his weapon of choice. He's more surgeon than he is butcher, never more than one shot, one kill. The targets are not Iraqi dead-enders battling U.S. troops in Fallujah or suicide bombers targeting American soldiers in Kabul. They are not foreign despots threatening to nuke the country's west coast. They are innocent civilians in cities and towns across America, unsuspecting women and men of all ages, race, and social standing, victims of an equal opportunity assassin with a kill-count in the double digits.But is he a serial killer, an Islamic extremist, or a domestic terrorist?With the body-count rising, it's a question Deputy Director of the FBI Gloria Resnick must answer and answer quickly. With the killing spree threatening to become public, Resnick turns to long-time friend Dabney Berkshire, Assistant Deputy Director of the Counter-Terrorism Center of the CIA’s National Clandestine Service.In his line of work, Berkshire knows a thing or two about assassins. More importantly, he knows a thing or two about snipers. He also knows a guy who knows a guy who can help. A former Navy SEAL credited with more kills in Iraq and Afghanistan than even the legendary American Sniper, Chris Kyle.But will a broken-down war hero abandon the woman he loves and the war he left behind to pursue a cold-blooded killer determined to challenge even Kyle's own notorious record? To honor his fallen comrades and to atone for his own dark past, this broken-down soldier must.When a series of brazen and sensational public attacks go wrong, the battle between hunter and the hunted turns suddenly personal. And the stakes couldn't be higher. One man willing to kill for the country he serves, the other ready to die for the woman he loves.AMERICAN SNIPER is The Thrill-Read of the Summer! Add it to your reading list today!

Greatest Inspirational Quotes: 365 days to more Happiness, Success, and Motivation


Joe Tichio - 2012
    Joe Tichio, creator of Greatest-Inpsirational-Quotes.com, shares an extraordinary collection of his favorite and most inspirational quotes from around the world and throughout history. The wisdom on these pages will empower and encourage you to live your life to the fullest. Start each day with a powerful dose of wisdom and inspiration as you are guided to take action, overcome fear, boost your self-esteem, create success, enjoy life, claim your inner strength, and make your dreams come true.Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for.-Socrates

Pink Floyd All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track


Jean-Michel Guesdon - 2017
    While much is known about this iconic group, few books provide a comprehensive history of their time in the studio. In Pink Floyd All the Songs, authors Margotin and Guesdon describe the origin of their nearly 200 released songs, details from the recording studio, what instruments were used, and behind-the-scenes stories of the tensions that helped drive the band.Organized chronologically by album, this massive, 544-page hardcover begins with their 1967 debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the only one recorded under founding member Syd Barrett's leadership; through the loss of Barrett and the addition of David Gilmour; to Richard Wright leaving the band in 1979 but returning; to Roger Waters leaving in 1985 and the albums recorded since his departure, including their 2014 farewell album, The Endless River, which was downloaded 12 million times on Spotify the week it was released. Packed with more than 500 photos, All the Songs is also filled with stories fans treasure, such as Waters working with engineer Alan Parsons to employ revolutionary recording techniques for The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios in 1972 or producer Bob's Ezrin's contribution in refining Water's original sprawling vision for The Wall.

Running the Smoke


Michael McEwan - 2017
    Inspirational stories from Sir Steve Redgrave and Michael Lynagh sit alongside the story of a man of 70+ who has run every London marathon, a woman has beaten cervical cancer twice, a military figure badly injured in the course of his work, a homeless man who survived the Rwandan Genocide, a car crash victim who battled back to health within a year to be at the start line, and many other heartwarming stories. Candid and inspiring if you are preparing for your first marathon or your 100th, Running The Smoke will give you the encouragement, insight and belief you need to cross that line.

THE DARKNESS


Stephen King - 2019
    King. Do not let the lack of light stop you from discovering more adventures and stories that will keep you up at night and ignite the imagination. There is no place to hide in, THE DARKNESS!

Early Music: A Very Short Introduction


Thomas Forrest Kelly - 2011
    In this Very Short Introduction, Thomas Forrest Kelly provides not only a compact overview of the music itself, but also a lively look at the many attempts over the last two centuries to revive it. Kelly shows that the early-music revival has long been grounded in the idea of spontaneity, of excitement, and of recapturing experiences otherwise lost to us--either the rediscovery of little-known repertories or the recovery of lost performing styles, with the conviction that, with the right performance, the music will come to life anew. Blending musical and social history, he shows how the Early Music movement in the 1960s took on political overtones, fueled by a rebellion against received wisdom and enforced conformity. Kelly also discusses ongoing debates about authenticity, the desirability of period instruments, and the relationship of mainstream opera companies and symphony orchestras to music that they often ignore, or play in modern fashion.

The Study of Orchestration


Samuel Adler - 1982
    The Third Edition retains the elements that have made the book a classic while embracing new technology and responding to the needs of today's students and teachers.

The Horror Collection: Black Edition


Becky NarronLee McGeorge - 2019
     Featuring stories by Richard Chizmar, Mark Lukens, Michael A. Arnzen, Eric J. Guignard, Veronica Smith, Lee McGeorge, James Matthew Byers & Kevin J. Kennedy

The Palm Beach Murder: The True Story of a Millionaire, Marriage and Murder


Marion Collins - 2004
    But when the reckless social climber and adulterer turned marriage in their Palm Beach mansion into a luxurious hell, the beautiful Georgia debutante wanted out--and half of her husband's fortune to take with her.Then in 1987, a hit man unloaded three bullets into Lita's head.Her family demanded justice. James had other plans--and the money to insure it. But it wasn't until eleven years later that a startling confession from a surprise witness would bring James Sullivan's comfortable life crashing down around him. The cold-blooded millionaire was indicted and fled the country turning hotspots across the globe into exotic private playgrounds before settling with his new fiancée in a sumptuous resort near Bangkok, where he was arrested four years later. From Palm Beach elite to life in a squalid Thailand jail cell, Marion Collins' Palm Beach Murder is the astonishing true story of one man's flight from justice and one family's burning desire to make him pay.

Boyfriend Stealer: Diary of a Wickedly Cool Witch 2


Kate Cullen - 2016
    What sort of girl steals boyfriends? Especially when you don’t even have a boyfriend to steal in the first place. Once again Lily, the good-hearted, 12 year old witch steps up to the challenge, when the school’s meanest cheerleaders, Tiffany and Krystal are up to their conniving tricks again and set to destroy the school’s Christmas party. And this time, they’re out to get Lily as well. Lily realises something smells fishier than sardines on a hot road, when Krystal starts hanging round Alex, Lily’s best ‘boy’ friend as he tries to organise a school party. But he’s not the only boy that Krystal has her sights set on, and she and Tiffany, her partner in bullying, will do anything to get what they want, even if it means putting everyone at the party in grave danger. It’s one of Lily’s most dangerous and difficult challenges yet, and she’s not sure if her witchcraft powers can save the day, but she does everything she can to try. Another light-hearted and humorous look at teenage life for girls. 'Boyfriend Stealer' deals with bullying, self-image, panic attacks, boys, staying true to yourself and just being a good friend.

Rocket Repo (Reassembly, #1)


C.P. James - 2021
    Together, they built the only ship capable of bringing Eli home. But on the eve of their departure, it disappears. Their quest to find it exposes a conspiracy to destroy all life in the universe — a plan they can't stop without their one-of-a-kind ship.For years, Geddy didn't need anything or anyone but a custom-made blaster and a couple fingers of Old Earth whisky. But since triggering the industrial accident that forced the evacuation of Earth 2, he's only had Eli for company. A daring escape off-planet lands him aboard a creaky salvage trawler with a plucky crew and the galaxy's worst business model.But stalwart friends are better than any weapon. With the help of Eli, his oddball crew, and their trusty trawler, Geddy must traverse the cosmos in order to track down his ship and save the universe. Each thrilling, hilarious new adventure brings them closer to the truth but ever farther from a decent steak.If you like solid sci-fi with a generous dose of wit, the scale of Guardians of the Galaxy, and the offbeat alien characters of Men In Black and The Orville, you'll devour Rocket Repo: Book 1 of Reassembly.