Combining a gift for language, an exuberant sense of humor, and a boundless imagination, Herrick's coming-of-age novel is unlike any other. Navigating the mysterious path from childhood to adulthood, Sarah encounters a naked, winged man, rivalrous ghosts, and gods disguised as beggars.
Solidly grounded in contemporary biblical scholarship, this fascinating volume analyzes each of the major New Testament writers -- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul -- and places their accounts of Jesus' resurrection in the broader context of their entire output. Shepherd carefully studies the literary, historical, theological, anthropological, and sociological dimensions that color each writer's unique view of the resurrection, and examines how these passages may be read in various interpretive communities. Each section also includes sample sermons that illustrate how a preacher might treat these texts for an actual congregation. This is an excellent resource for pastors, and an informative, easy-to-read manual for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the New Testament.
What to read next is every book lover's greatest dilemma. Nancy Pearl comes to the rescue with this wide-ranging and fun guide to the best reading new and old. Pearl, who inspired legions of litterateurs with "What If All (name the city) Read the Same Book," has devised reading lists that cater to every mood, occasion, and personality. These annotated lists cover such topics as mother-daughter relationships, science for nonscientists, mysteries of all stripes, African-American fiction from a female point of view, must-reads for kids, books on bicycling, "chick-lit," and many more. Pearl's enthusiasm and taste shine throughout.
At age thirty-nine, Suzanne Spector found herself looking at what conventional 1950s thinking had brought her. Yes, she was a wife, mother of three, and successful school director. But she was also neglected in a sexless marriage, and feeling and as if the passion and juice of life had passed her by. She began with two questions: Who am I, really? and Is it too late ? After divorcing her husband, Suzanne set out to discover who she was as an independent woman with curiosity, questions, and lust for life. Tracing more than four decades of self-discovery and intellectual, spiritual, and creative exploration, Naked at The Helm is Spector’s story of becoming the captain of her own ship in midlife. Her adventurous journey led her from a nude beach on Ibiza at forty-one to a Siberian banya at fifty-five to a hot love affair at eighty. Her intellectual quest, meanwhile, led to a second career as director of a world-renowned psychology center, while deep friendships with women, including her daughters, sustained and nourished her through decades of global travel. These probably would not be the tales your mother or grandmother would tell about her life, but this eighty-six-year old’s ebullient memoir of the second half of her life will move you to weave some rich new yarns into the tapestry of your own story. And no, it’s not too late.
Throughout history rulers have used clothes as a form of legitimization and propaganda. While palaces, pictures, and jewels might reflect the choice of a monarch’s predecessors or advisers, clothes reflected the preferences of the monarch himself. Being both personal and visible, the right costume at the right time could transform and define a monarch’s reputation. Many royal leaders have known this, from Louis XIV to Catherine the Great and from Napoleon I to Princess Diana. This intriguing book explores how rulers have sought to control their image through their appearance. Mansel shows how individual styles of dress throw light on the personalities of particular monarchs, on their court system, and on their ambitions. The book looks also at the economics of the costume industry, at patronage, at the etiquette involved in mourning dress, and at the act of dressing itself. Fascinating glimpses into the lives of European monarchs and contemporary potentates reveal the intimate connection between power and the way it is packaged.
“Widely regarded as the nation’s most prestigious awards for short fiction”—The Atlantic Monthly The O. Henry Prize Stories 1992 gathers 20 of the best short stories of the year, selected from thousands published in literary magazines. Stories include: Cynthia Ozick “Puttermesser Paired” (first prize) Lucy Honig “English as a Second Language” Tom McNeal “What Happened to Tully” Amy Herrick “Pinocchio’s Nose” Murray Pomerance “Decor” Joyce Carol Oates “Why Don’t You Come Live With Me It’s Time” Mary Michael Wagner “Acts of Kindness” Yolanda Barnes “Red Lipstick” David Long “Blue Spruce” Harriett Doerr “Way Stations” Perri Klass “Dedication” Daniel Meltzer “People” Ken Chowder “With Seth in Tana Toraja” Alice Adams “The Last Lovely City” Frances Sherwood “Demiurges” Antonya Nelson “The Control Group” Millicent Dillon “Lost in L.A.” Kent Nelson “The Mine from Nicaragua” Ann Packer “Babies” Kate Braverman “Tall Tales from the Mekong Delta” “What readers can put their trust in is the ability of William Abrahams . . . to amass a selection of the finest short stories published in America.”—New York Times Book Review
Offers an annotated listing of 1,000 acclaimed or award-winning novels, each with a plot summary, indication of suitability for a discussion group, list of subject headings, and recommendations for similar titles.