When interstellar singer spy Jack Jones has to solve his own murder on The Shakespeare things do not go smoothly. First his clone body loses thirty years of memories, and then it starts experiencing strange urges and abilities. As he investigates he discovers brigands, space pirates and a secret faster-than-light drive, which could push the galaxy into war. He would sing a song, solve the mystery, and save he day--if only he could remember how.
In a place called Tanglewood town. There are eighteen, amusing short stories that focus on women who share a humorous attitude which varies in both age and circumstance. We start with Jane, whose live-in boyfriend is named Jason and he wants a pet. But is there room in her world for two dogs? And we end with a widow, who becomes a ‘Cougar’ when she gets involved with a much younger man. But will everyone else approve of this budding relationship? Join these women and others, for a hilarious glimpse into their daily lives. As funny and intertwining tales unfold into a truly delightful collection that reveals just how they cope with the little issues of life. . . ‘Farcical, frothy and fun,’ Tanglewood Times
Ivy Nichols O’Reilly has grown up in a wealthy family full of magic, fantasy creatures, and emotional abuse—but when her narcissistic mother arranges an unwanted marriage for her, the young witch reaches her breaking point. She drops out of college, changes her name to Georgette, and flees across the country with her best friend, a Wood Nymph named Mei-Xing. Georgette is determined to build a new identity and a new life. But her journey leads her to cross paths with a number of magical characters—a Werehyena searching for his kidnapped wife; a Vampire who runs a unique magical business; a curandero, a shamanistic practitioner of traditional medicine; and a Valkyrie who, along with her raven partner, wants to make a risky deal—who make it clear to her that the past is not so easily left behind. In order to grow into her new identity, help her new friends, and develop a healthy relationship with a man she’s beginning to care for, Georgette will have to confront the privileges that have shielded her from the pain and ugliness of the magic community in which she was raised—and find the strength to overcome the trauma of her childhood.
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most recognizable—and most parodied—names in western literature. Bill Mason, BSI, collects and annotates these parody names, from the first one that appeared in 1891, to the present day. As Mason says in his introduction: One of the great aspects of Sherlock Holmes is the fact that, just as the character himself is subject to endless variation, so is his name. Ellery Queen noted that the name itself “is particularly susceptible to the twistings and mis-shapenings of burlesque minded authors.” Surely, Arthur Conan Doyle, who struggled a little with what he was going to call his detective hero, could not have known just how perfect the name he finally selected—Sherlock Holmes—would be for parody, for rhyme, for the transposing of letters and sounds, for the substitution of suggestive words in the name of a comic character. Mason’s listings are an invaluable resource for the Holmsian scholar, researcher, or for those interested in whiling away a few hours with a delightful and chuckle-inspiring volume.
A brooding duke finds his beautiful new neighbor way too intriguing for his liking in this delightful Regency romance. "Grace Burrowes is terrific!" --Julia Quinn Nathaniel, Duke of Rothhaven, lives in seclusion, leaving his property only to gallop his demon-black steed across the moors by moonlight. Exasperated mamas invoke his name to frighten small children, though Nathaniel is truly a decent man -- maybe too decent for his own good. That's precisely why he must turn away the beguiling woman demanding his help. Lady Althea Wentworth has little patience for dukes, reclusive or otherwise, but she needs Rothhaven's backing to gain entrance into Polite Society. She's asked him nicely, she's called on him politely, all to no avail -- until her prize hogs just happen to plunder the ducal orchard. He longs for privacy. She's vowed to never endure another ball as a wallflower. Yet as the two grow closer, it soon becomes clear they might both be pretending to be something they're not. BookPage Best Romance Novels of 2020
In the rich and colorful history of Owensville, Missouri, one of the most interesting events is how the tiny settlement at the junction of Iron Road and Springfield Road got its name. It's a well-known fact that Frank Owen and Edward Luster had a horseshoe match for the naming rights. Only a few other details have been preserved, and while they are interesting, they aren't necessarily entertaining! Take the basic facts, tweak a few others, and imagine the possibilities!
Winner, 2019 Saul Viener Book Prize, given by the American Jewish Historical Society A groundbreaking history of the practice of Jewish name changing in the 20th century, showcasing just how much is in a name Our thinking about Jewish name changing tends to focus on clichés: ambitious movie stars who adopted glamorous new names or insensitive Ellis Island officials who changed immigrants’ names for them. But as Kirsten Fermaglich elegantly reveals, the real story is much more profound. Scratching below the surface, Fermaglich examines previously unexplored name change petitions to upend the clichés, revealing that in twentieth-century New York City, Jewish name changing was actually a broad-based and voluntary behavior: thousands of ordinary Jewish men, women, and children legally changed their names in order to respond to an upsurge of antisemitism. Rather than trying to escape their heritage or “pass” as non-Jewish, most name-changers remained active members of the Jewish community. While name changing allowed Jewish families to avoid antisemitism and achieve white middle-class status, the practice also created pain within families and became a stigmatized, forgotten aspect of American Jewish culture. This first history of name changing in the United States offers a previously unexplored window into American Jewish life throughout the twentieth century. A Rosenberg by Any Other Name demonstrates how historical debates about immigration, antisemitism and race, class mobility, gender and family, the boundaries of the Jewish community, and the power of government are reshaped when name changing becomes part of the conversation. Mining court documents, oral histories, archival records, and contemporary literature, Fermaglich argues convincingly that name changing had a lasting impact on American Jewish culture. Ordinary Jews were forced to consider changing their names as they saw their friends, family, classmates, co-workers, and neighbors do so. Jewish communal leaders and civil rights activists needed to consider name changers as part of the Jewish community, making name changing a pivotal part of early civil rights legislation. And Jewish artists created critical portraits of name changers that lasted for decades in American Jewish culture. This book ends with the disturbing realization that the prosperity Jews found by changing their names is not as accessible for the Chinese, Latino, and Muslim immigrants who wish to exercise that right today.
Building on the success of her last two mysteries in the same series, Tessa Arlen returns us to the same universe full of secrets, intrigue, and, this time, roses in this charming Edwardian mystery. The elegant Lady Montfort and her redoubtable housekeeper, Mrs.
Six degrees of separation just got a whole lot smaller in this humorous collection of eighteen, amusing short stories. As we return to Tanglewood town and reconnect with the ladies whose daily lives we glimpsed into last time. Where funny, intertwining tales follow on from our previous visit, but take place a couple of months down the line. We start with Jane, who's got herself a new boyfriend. But will Leo turn out to be one dog too many to handle? And we end it with the 'Cougar' who opens up her own dating club. But will she find a cub to keep her warm at night? Love, laughter and life are what it's all about.
THE STORY: Preparing for his bar mitzvah, Stanley Rosen is disconcerted by his proud mother's promise to commission a chopped liver sculpture in his likeness, but even more concerned about his father's decision to change the family name from Rosen
