Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever. Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jea
At the heart of this epic saga, set just before the Opium Wars,is an old slaving-ship, The Ibis. Its destiny is a tumultuousvoyage across the Indian Ocean, its crew a motley array of sailorsand stowaways, coolies and convicts. In a time of colonialupheaval, fate has thrown together a truly diverse cast of Indiansand Westerners, from a bankrupt Raja to a widowed villager, from anevangelical English opium trader to a mulatto American freedman. Astheir old family ties are washed away they, like their historicalcounterparts, come to view themselves as jahaj-bhais orship-brothers. An unlikely dynasty is born, which will spancontinents, races and generations. The vast sweep of thishistorical adventure spans the lush poppy fields of the Ganges, therolling high seas, and the exotic backstreets of China. But it isthe panorama of characters, whose diaspora encapsulates the vexedcolonial history of the East itself, which makes Sea of Poppies sobreathtakingly alive -- a masterpiece from one of the world'sfinest novelist
The Diary of a Nobody is so unassuming a work that even its author, George Grossmith, seemed unaware that he had produced a masterpiece. For more than a century this wonderfully comic portrayal of suburban life and values has remined in print, a source of delight to generations of readers, and a major literary influence, much imitated but never equalled. If you don't recognise yourself at some point in The Diary you are probably less than human. If you can read it without laughing aloud you have no sense of humour.
Six years in the writing, The Lost Symbol is Dan Brown's extraordinary sequel to his internationally bestselling Robert Langdon thrillers, Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code. Nothing is ever what it first appears in a Dan Brown novel. Set over a breathtaking 12 hour time span, the book's narrative takes the reader on an exhilarating journey through a masterful and unexpected landscape as Professor of Symbology, Robert Langdon, is once again called into action. Expertly researched and written with breakneck pace, The Lost Symbol once again demonstrates why Dan Brown is the world's bestselling thriller writer. 作者简介： Dan Brown is the bestselling author of Digital Fortress, Deception Point, Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Phillips Exeter Academy, where he has taught English and creative writing. He lives in New England. Visit his UK website at www.danbrownofficial.co.uk.
With more than 500,000 copies of her books in print in theUnited States, Donna Leon continues to find new fans for herriveting Commissario Guido Brunetti mysteries. In "Death andJudgment," a truck crashes and spills its dangerous cargo on atreacherous road in the Italian Dolomite mountains. Meanwhile, inSanta Lucia, a prominent international lawyer is found dead aboardan intercity train. Suspecting a connection between the twotragedies, Brunetti digs deep for an answer, stumbling upon a seedyVenetian bar that holds the key to a crime network that reaches farbeyond the laguna. But it will take another violent death in Venicebefore Brunetti and his colleagues begin to understand what isreally going on.
20 years after "A Time To Kill '(Engl.' The Jury '), John Grisham returns back with seven short stories by Country Ford, a small town in the southern United States and the scene of the bestseller.
Starred Review。 Some failures lead to phenomenal successes，and this American nurse’s unsuccessful attempt to climb K2，the world’s second tallest mountain，is one of them。Dangerously ill when he finished his climb in 1993，Mortenson was sheltered for seven weeks by the small Pakistani village of Korphe； in return， he promised to build the impoverished town’s first school， a project that grew into the Central Asia Institute， which has since constructed more than 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan。 Coauthor Relin recounts Mortenson’s efforts in fascinating detail， presenting compelling portraits of the village elders，con artists， philanthropists，mujahideen， Taliban officials，ambitious school girls and upright Muslims Mortenson met along the way。As the book moves into the post-9/11 world， Mortenson and Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to educa
Recently single, Danny Wallace was falling into loneliness and isolation. Until one day, when a stranger on a bus advised, "Say yes more." At that moment, Wallace vowed to say yes to every offer, invitation, challenge, and chance. For a year. Soon after resolving to be more open to what the universe had to offer, Danny wins $45,000 and becomes a television executive...and a minister. He gives spare change to anyone who asks. Invents things. Travels the globe. Nods a lot. And finds that romance isn't as complicated as it seems. Yes Man is inspiring proof that a little willingness can take anyone to the most wonderful of places. 作者简介：Danny Wallace is a cult leader, a producer, and a comedian. He is the author of the number one British bestseller Join Me, which is currently being adapted for film. BBC America recently and bizarrely dubbed him "one of Britain's most respected journalists," but perhaps Playboy had a more accurate de*ion of him: "F***ing brilliant." He is twenty-seven and l
Elena Gilbert is once again at the centre of magic and dangerbeyond her imagining. And once more, Stefan isn't there to help!Elena is forced to trust her life to Damon, the handsome but deadlyvampire who wants Elena, body and soul. They must journey to theslums of the Dark Dimension, a world where vampires and demons roamfree, but humans must live as slaves of their supernatural masters.Damon's brother, the brooding vampire Stefan whom Elena loves, isimprisoned here, and Elena can only free him by finding the twohidden halves of the key to his cell. Meanwhile, the tensionbetween Elena and Damon mounts until Elena is faced with a terribledecision: which brother does she really want to be with? The drama,danger and star-crossed love that fills each Vampire Diaries bookis in full effect here, with Elena Gilbert once again filled withsupernatural powers.
(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed) Franz Kafka's imagination so faroutstripped the forms and conventions of the literary tradition heinherited that he was forced to turn that tradition inside out inorder to tell his splendid, mysterious tales. Scrupulouslynaturalistic on the surface, uncanny in their depths, these storiesrepresent the achieved art of a modern master who had the gift ofmaking our problematic spiritual life palpable and real. Thisedition of his stories includes all his available shorter fictionin a collection edited, arranged, and introduced by GabrielJosipovici in ways that bring out the writer's extraordinary rangeand intensity of vision. Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir
Written in 1953, published in 1959 (after the 1957 publicationof Kerouac's On the Road made him famous overnight) and long out ofprint, this touching novel of adolescent love in a New England milltown is one of Kerouac's most accessible works.
Lawrence's finest, most mature novel initially met with disgust and incomprehension. In the love affairs of two sisters, Ursula with Rupert, and Gudrun with Gerald,critics could only see a sorry tale of sexual depravity and philosophical obscurity. Women in Love is, however, a profound response to a whole cultural crisis. The 'progress' of the modern industrialised world had led to the carnage of the First World War. What, then, did it mean to call ourselves 'human'? On what grounds could we place ourselves above and beyond the animal world? What are the definitive forms of our relationships - love, marriage,family, friendship - really worth? And how might they be otherwise? Without directly referring to the war, Women in Love explores these questions with restless energy. As a sequel to The Rainbow, the novel develops experimental techniques which made Lawrence one of the most important writers of the Modernist movement.
‘I am writing to a rhythm and not to a plot’，Virginia Woolf stated of her eighth novel，The Waves。 Widely regarded as one of her greatest and most original works，it conveys the rhythms of life in synchrony with the cycle of nature and the passage of time。 Six children-Bernard，Susan，Rhoda，Neville，Jinny and Louis-meet in a garden close to the sea，their voices sounding over the constant echo of the waves that roll back and forth from the shore。 The subsequent continuity of these six main characters，as they develop from childhood to maturity and follow different passions and ambitions，is interspersed with interludes from the timeless and unifying chorus of nature。 In pure stream-of-consciousness style，Woolf presents a cross-section of multiple yet parallel lives，each marked by the disintegrating force of a mutual tragedy。 The Waves is her searching exploration of individual and collective identity，and the observations and emotions of life，from the simplicity and sur
Bill Canavan rode into the valley with a dream to start hisown ranch. But when he managed to stake claims on the three bestwater holes, the other ranchers turned against him. No one is moredetermined to see Canavan dead than Star Levitt. Levitt is anunscrupulous businessman who has been accumulating cattle at analarming rate. Suspicious after witnessing a secret meeting betweenthe riders of warring ranches, Bill begins noticing other dubiousbehavior: Why is Levitt's fiancee, Dixie Venable, acting more likea hostage than a willing bride-to-be? Canavan doesn't have muchtime to figure out what's going on. The entire valley is againsthim, and everyone is ready to shoot on sight.
The unforgettable story of Heathcliff and Catherine, whose doomed love torments them in a tempest of madness, vengeance, and redemption. EACH ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES: A concise introduction that gives readers important background information A chronology of the author's life and work A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations Detailed explanatory notes Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full pot
Written with complete access to the Queen Mother's personalletters and diaries, William Shawcross's riveting biography is thetruly definitive account of this remarkable woman, whose lifespanned the twentieth century. Elizabeth Angela Marguerite BowesLyon,the youngest daughter of the Earl of Strathmore, was born on 4August 1900. Drawing on her private correspondence and otherunpublished material from the Royal Archives, William Shawcrossvividly reveals the witty girl who endeared herself to soldiersconvalescing at Glamis in the First World War; the assured youngDuchess of York; the Queen, at last feeling able to look the EastEnd in the face at the height of the Blitz; the Queen Mother,representing the nation at home and abroad throughout her longwidowhood.
They were just kids when they stumbled upon the hidden horror oftheir hometown. Now, as adults, none of them can withstand theforce that has drawn them all back to Derry, Maine, to face thenightmare without end, and the evil without a name.
Gossip Girl is back in its 3rd installment and the gossip is hotter than ever. Its Christmas time in the prestigious Upper East Side of New York and that means midterms, presents, breakup and get togethers, and college essays. Serena and Blair are friends again, and back to their old tricks and scandals. Partie, limo rides with celebrities, and jetting off to the island of St. Barts for Christmas vacation with a bunch of friends are just some of the antics Blair and Serena are up to so they can blow off some steam after midterms. On the wild beaches of St. Barts theres plenty of scandal and backstabbing as Blair flirts with her stepbrother Aaron's drummer friend Miles while Aaron is trying to suppress his feeling for Blair himself. Meanwhile Blair is still trying to write her Yale essay, based on who else but her idol Audrey Hepburn, even though she knows she been putting it off for way too long. After a botched Yale interview, the essay is extremely important if she wants a ticket to Yale. The sophistica
