Lovers for a Day
Lovers for a Day

Author: Ivan Klíma

Publisher: Open Road + Grove/Atlantic

Published: 2007-12-01

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 0802196640

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This short story collection spanning the celebrated Czech author’s career is a “taxonomic survey of Eros . . . [by] a writer at the top of his form” (The Boston Globe). In these stories that span an acclaimed career from the 1960s to the present, Ivan Klima offers a vivid gallery of people searching for an escape in love: factory girls and assembly-line workers find respite from their daily grind in Walter Mitty-esque fantasies; a young woman finds herself on a honeymoon with a man she did not marry; a divorce-court judge loves the routines of his marriage in ways his mistress can’t understand; and a young wife falls into a passionate affair with an elderly bookbinder crippled by war. Lovers for a Day is a book stamped with Klima’s unique vision. With a personal history of a nation’s evolution, this moving examination of our attempts to find freedom in love will demonstrate why Klima is considered by so many to be “a Czech genius” (Los Angeles Times Book Review).

A Hundred Lovers
A Hundred Lovers

Author: Richie Hofmann

Publisher: Knopf

Published: 2022-02-08

Total Pages: 81

ISBN-13: 0593320980

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An erotic journal in poems, from a rising star in the American poetry scene, author of the highly acclaimed collection Second Empire. “A book of love poems that consciously and subversively hearken back to Shakespeare’s sonnets, marking Hofmann’s position as one of our necessary poets of erotic desire.” —Jericho Brown, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Tradition A Hundred Lovers is a catalog of encounters, sublime, steamy, and frank. Inspired by French autofiction, the poems feel both sharp and diaristic; their lyrical, intimate world brings us everyday scenes imbued with sex. "Eros enters, where shame had lived," the speaker observes, as the poems explore risk and appetite, promiscuity and violence, and, in the wake of his marriage, questions about monogamy and desire. Bringing us both the carefully knotted silk ties of the wedding pair and their undress in a series of Hockney-like interiors where passion colors every object, Hofmann speaks plainly of the saliva, tears, and guts of the carnal, just as he does of the sublime in works of art. A Hundred Lovers invites us to consider our own memories of pleasure and pain, which fill the generous white space the poet leaves open to us between his ravishing lines.

The Lover's Dictionary
The Lover's Dictionary

Author: David Levithan

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Published: 2011-01-21

Total Pages: 205

ISBN-13: 1429994304

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How does one talk about love? Is it even possible to describe something at once utterly mundane and wholly transcendent, that has the power to consume our lives completely, while making us feel part of something infinitely larger than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this age-old problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary constructs the story of a relationship as a dictionary. Through these sharp entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of coupledom, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

I Capture the Castle
I Capture the Castle

Author: Dodie Smith

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Published: 2003-04-01

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 1466842121

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One of the 20th century's most beloved novels is still winning hearts, Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle! “This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met.” -- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series Adapted to a feature film in 2003, I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills. She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Her journals candidly chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle's walls, and her own first descent into love. By the time she pens her final entry, she has "captured the castle"-- and the heart of the reader-- in one of literature's most enchanting entertainments.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Author: Robin Sloan

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2012-10-02

Total Pages: 301

ISBN-13: 1443415804

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The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a web-design drone, and serendipity, sheer curiosity and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey have landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than its name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything. Instead they “check out” impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he has embarked on a complex analysis of the customers’ behaviour and roped his friends into helping him figure out just what’s going on. But once they take their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the secrets extend far beyond the walls of the bookstore. Evoking both the fairy-tale charm of Haruki Murakami and the enthusiastic novel-of-ideas wizardry of Neal Stephenson or Umberto Eco, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like—an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave.

Birthday Monsters!
Birthday Monsters!

Author: Sandra Boynton

Publisher: Workman Publishing

Published: 1993-01-12

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13: 1563054434

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You hear your door come crashing down—those birthday monsters are in town! And they're going to wreak havoc in the most extraordinarily rude ways. What fun! From Boynton on Board, the more-than-20-million-copy-bestselling series of extra-big, extra-fat, and extra-fun board books, here is BIRTHDAY MONSTERS. Featuring Sandra Boynton's lively rhyming text and inimitable illustrations, this story about a madcap crew of lovable party crashers will appeal to kids and adults alike.

Lies Lovers Tell
Lies Lovers Tell

Author: Zuri Day

Publisher: Dafina

Published: 2010-04-19

Total Pages: 317

ISBN-13: 0758264836

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Zuri Day heats up the pages with an irresistible tale of glamour and deception as a savvy businesswoman plays winner-take-all with a mysterious billionaire--and a dangerous, seductive truth. . . From Santa Monica's uber-trendy shores to Century City's glittering towers, everything is up for grabs in Los Angeles' high stakes real-estate game. Knowing the competition's every move is the razor-edge difference between winning. . .and surviving. Now, a mysterious new player has the city's biggest powerbrokers--and one woman--willing to do anything to take him down. . . An assistant to the biggest real-estate mogul in Los Angeles, Maya Jamison is only a promotion away from the big leagues. Her new assignment: infiltrate investment tycoon Sam Walters' household and uncover the truth about his company. But her biggest obstacle is the sexy stranger who's been burning up her midnight hours off the clock. And when he turns out to be the man she's been sent to expose, she's forced to up the ante. Now their game of seduction and deceit is way out of control. And with every dangerous lie, Maya will have to risk everything--or lose it all. . .

A Tree a Day
A Tree a Day

Author: Amy-Jane Beer

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Published: 2022-04-05

Total Pages: 369

ISBN-13: 1797217259

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Immerse yourself in the beauty and power of nature with a different tree for every day of the year. Spend every day of the year with one of the world's most fascinating trees. In A Tree a Day seasoned nature writer and journalist Amy-Jane Beer shares 365 majestic and memorable trees from around the world. From the strength of Alder trees to the biology behind the autumn colors of New England; from folkloric medicines in tree sap to Shakespeare's Birnam Wood; from the giant sequoias of California to Klimt's Birch trees—A Tree a Day explores the botany, poetry, folklore, rich history, and natural beauty of trees. Dip in and out or spend each day exploring a new natural wonder. With award-winning photography, works of art, and detailed illustrations on every page, A Tree a Day illuminates the timeless splendor and power of the world's trees. GORGEOUS ILLUSTRATIONS: Each tree is illustrated with a unique work of art—from classical painting to breathtaking photographs. MEDITATIVE START TO EACH DAY: A Tree a Day is a beautiful reminder to pause each day and appreciate the natural world—no matter where you are. Each of the 365 entries offers a seasonal quote, fact, or story about trees to inspire gratitude and wonder. EVERGREEN: Nature lovers will return to this book day after day, year after year—it makes for the perfect bite-sized, bedside reading. AUTHOR EXPERTISE: In addition to being a nature writer for The Guardian, Amy Jane-Beer has written more than 30 books about science and natural history. Perfect for: Tree and Nature Enthusiasts; Gardeners; Hikers, Backpackers, and Campers; Environmentalist; Fans of A Cloud a Day

One Day
One Day

Author: David Nicholls

Publisher: Vintage

Published: 2010-06-15

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 0307739309

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NOW A NETFLIX SERIES • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • TWO PEOPLE. ONE DAY. TWENTY YEARS. • What starts as a fleeting connection between two strangers soon becomes a deep bond that spans decades. • "[An] instant classic. . . . One of the most ...emotionally riveting love stories you’ll ever encounter." —People It’s 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July 15th—of each year. They face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. Dex and Em must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself. As the years go by, the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed. "[A] surprisingly deep romance...so thoroughly satisfying." —Entertainment Weekly

Films of Endearment
Films of Endearment

Author: Michael Koresky

Publisher: Harlequin

Published: 2021-05-04

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1488078351

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An Esquire Best Book About Hollywood A USA TODAY Best Book of 2021 “A lovely and loving book.”—Will Schwalbe, New York Times bestselling author of The End of Your Life Book Club "I'm not sure I have ever read a book about movies that is as tender and open-hearted as Films of Endearment."—Mark Harris, New York Times bestselling author of Mike Nichols: A Life A poignant memoir of family, grief and resilience about a young man, his dynamic mother and the '80s movies they shared together Michael Koresky's most formative memories were simple ones. A movie rental. A mug of tea. And a few shared hours with his mother. Years later and now a successful film critic, Koresky set out on a journey with his mother to discover more about their shared cinematic past. They rewatched ten films that she first introduced to him as a child, one from every year of the '80s, each featuring women leads. Together, films as divergent as 9 to 5, Terms of Endearment, The Color Purple and Aliens form the story of an era that Koresky argues should rightly be called "The Decade of the Actress." Films of Endearment is a reappraisal of the most important and popular female-driven films of that time, a profound meditation on loss and resilience, and a celebration of the special bond between mothers and their sons.