The phenomenal New York Times bestseller that “explores the upstairs-downstairs goings-on of a posh Parisian apartment building” (Publishers Weekly). In an elegant hôtel particulier in Paris, Renée, the concierge, is all but invisible—short, plump, middle-aged, with bunions on her feet and an addiction to television soaps. Her only genuine attachment is to her cat, Leo. In short, she’s everything society expects from a concierge at a bourgeois building in an upscale neighborhood. But Renée has a secret: She furtively, ferociously devours art, philosophy, music, and Japanese culture. With biting humor, she scrutinizes the lives of the tenants—her inferiors in every way except that of material wealth. Paloma is a twelve-year-old who lives on the fifth floor. Talented and precocious, she’s come to terms with life’s seeming futility and decided to end her own on her thirteenth birthday. Until then, she will continue hiding her extraordinary intelligence behind a mask of mediocrity, acting the part of an average pre-teen high on pop culture, a good but not outstanding student, an obedient if obstinate daughter. Paloma and Renée hide their true talents and finest qualities from a world they believe cannot or will not appreciate them. But after a wealthy Japanese man named Ozu arrives in the building, they will begin to recognize each other as kindred souls, in a novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us, and “teaches philosophical lessons by shrewdly exposing rich secret lives hidden beneath conventional exteriors” (Kirkus Reviews). “The narrators’ kinetic minds and engaging voices (in Alison Anderson’s fluent translation) propel us ahead.” —The New York Times Book Review “Barbery’s sly wit . . . bestows lightness on the most ponderous cogitations.” —The New Yorker
Lady Anne Bacon Drury (1572-1624) was the granddaughter and niece of two of England's Lord Keepers of the Great Seal, Sir Nicholas Bacon and Sir Francis Bacon. Lady Anne was also the friend and patroness of John Donne and Joseph Hall; however, she deserves to be remembered in her own right. Within her massive country house, Lady Anne created a tiny painted room that she seems to have used as a kind of three-dimensional book. The walls consisted of panels of pictures and mottoes, grouped under Latin sentences. These panels can still be viewed in a Suffolk museum: Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich. Some panels point to classical and Biblical sources, and to popular emblem books. The sources of other panels are more recondite, while still others are original compositions by Lady Anne. The panels exhibit a contemptus mundi theme and reflect a struggle with ambition, pride, and even despair. Some panels also appear to register carefully veiled but pointed critiques of political and religious events and figures. Lady Anne's painted closet or 'architext' is thus relevant to a wide range of early modern scholarship in various disciplines but is as yet largely unappreciated. For the first time in four hundred years, this book fully describes the closet and places it in its personal, social, intellectual, and aesthetic contexts. It argues for the painted closet's importance for understanding early modern conceptualizations of private and public spaces, and for illuminating fundamental early modern habits of seeing and reading (especially combinations of text and image). Finally, this book explores the closet as an example of the ingenious ways in which female subjectivity found ways to express itself even within the constraints of early modern patriarchal society in England.
A second chance… With his first love? Single dad and rancher Colter Wayne has moved mountains to bring teachers to Pronghorn, Oregon. So he’s floored when one of the new arrivals is the woman he almost married. To make matters worse, it looks like Willa Marshall still hasn’t forgiven him. But the kids need Willa, and she needs his help navigating small-town life. Can Colter and Willa learn to let go of the past and embrace the future…together? From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging. The Teacher Project Book 1: Lessons from the Rancher Book 2: Winning the Sheriff's Heart
You never know just what will change your life. Massimo Vacchetta, an Italian veterinarian, provides expert care for large animals—cows, horses, sheep. One day, a friend asks him to help care for something much smaller: an orphaned baby hedgehog. Only a few days old and so very alone, Massimo is struck by her helplessness and connects with her in a way he’s never connected with any other animal. He names her Ninna. Soon, another sick hedgehog lands in his lap. And then another. As Massimo finds these hedgehogs who need his help, he finds himself—and the true meaning of compassion. While his other prickly patients are healed and released, Massimo continues to dote on Ninna like a child, constantly fretting about her health and happiness, not ready to say goodbye. But the cage that once kept her safe soon becomes a prison, and as much as it breaks Massimo's heart to let her go, he knows she longs to be free. Through this life-affirming story of a man and his hedgehog, we learn that there’s no such thing as too small an act, if it’s done out of great compassion and love.
Each of these volumes explores five popular genres and shows how they can be used to promote learning in the library and classroom. After introductory discussions of each genre, McElmeel recommends books, gives lists of related titles, and provides a variety of ideas for genre-related activities that complement classroom thematic units. Grades 4-
In a book filled with anecdotes and disarming stories, Zee discusses phenomena ranging from the emergence of galaxies to the curvature of space-time, evidence for the existence of gravity waves, and the shape of the universe at creation and today. 52 halftones & line illustrations.
Harlequin® Heartwarming celebrates wholesome, heartfelt relationships that focus on home, family, community and love. Experience all that and more with four new novels in one collection! This Harlequin Heartwarming box set includes: LESSONS FROM THE RANCHER The Teacher Project by Anna Grace A second chance… With his first love? Single dad and rancher Colter Wayne has moved mountains to bring teachers to Pronghorn, Oregon. So he’s floored when one of the new arrivals is the woman he almost married. To make matters worse, it looks like Willa Marshall still hasn’t forgiven him. But the kids need Willa, and she needs his help navigating small-town life. Can Colter and Willa learn to let go of the past and embrace the future…together? THE COWGIRL NANNY The Montana Carters by Jen Gilroy He needs a nanny… But what about love? With two kids and a ranch to run, Bryce Carter needs a nanny for the summer. And professional barrel racer Carrie Rizzo might be perfect, at least until she returns to the rodeo in the fall. But while Carrie’s incredible with his kids, Bryce isn’t ready to open his family—let alone his heart—to anyone…even if she might be the perfect cowgirl for him. A FAMILY FOR HIS BOYS A Ranch to Call Home by M. K. Stelmack Sometimes family… Is right next door Fired from her big-city law firm, headstrong Grace Jansson is making a fresh start by opening a B and B in the Alberta Foothills. Her steadfast neighbor, Hawk Blackstone, runs the ranch next door, and she sees his struggle to solo parent wild twin boys. Grace is happy to help out, until she finds her childhood feelings for Hawk resurfacing. Grace never wanted the family life—can Hawk and his twins change her mind? HER HOMETOWN SECRET Coronado, Arizona by LeAnne Bristow Can a surprise baby… Bring these friends together? Emily Beck has kept the secret of who fathered her sweet baby boy. She never wanted to stop Luke Sterling from chasing his dreams in Nashville, so she built a life for herself and her son in Coronado, Arizona. But when Emily’s long-lost letter brings Luke home to meet his baby, Emily dares to hope they can finally be a family. But is Luke ready to be a father…and a husband? Look for 4 compelling new stories every month from Harlequin® Heartwarming!