Everyone knows Rumpelstiltskin’s story—or thinks they do. But this innocent-seeming tale hides generations of women’s shrewd accounts of their relationships with men. And the verdict is not flattering. The fairytale may count among the world’s oldest dirty jokes. The theme of the tale, an observation repeated and varied throughout, mocks male inadequacy in many forms, beginning with sexual failure. The punchline misplaced, over time its wickedly funny insights about adult life passed for childish nonsense. The story hides, in plain sight, criticism of workplace sexual harassment—centuries before society took notice of the indignity. Rumpelstiltskin tells a feminist tale with lessons for men and women, about what women said to each other when they thought their private conversation and complaints passed unnoticed. In the story’s different versions, the Brothers Grimm, who recorded the tale, missed women’s wry observations.
This book is about language that is designed to mean what it does not seem to mean. Ciphers and codes conceal messages and protect secrets. Symbol and magic hide meanings to delight or imperil. Languages made to baffle and confuse let insiders talk openly without being understood by those beyond the circle. Barry Blake looks at these and many more. He explores the history and uses of the slangs and argots of schools and trades. He traces the centuries-old cants used by sailors and criminals in Britain, among them Polari, the mix of Italian, Yiddish, and slang once spoken among strolling players and circus folk and taken up by gays in the twentieth century. He examines the sacred languages of ancient cults and religions, uncovers the workings of onomancy, spells, and gematria, looks into the obliqueness of allusion and parody, and celebrates the absurdities of euphemism and jargon. Secret Language takes the reader on fascinating excursions down obscure byways of language, ranging across time and culture. With revelations on every page it will entertain anyone with an urge to know more about the most arcane and curious uses of language.
Half-Cherokee Marquitta "Skeet" Bannion thought she was leaving her troubles behind when she fled the stress of being the highest-ranking woman in the Kansas City Police Department, a jealous cop ex-husband, and a disgraced alcoholic ex-cop father. Moving to a small town to be chief of a college's campus police force, she builds a life outside of her work. She might even begin a new relationship with the amiable Brewster police chief. All of this is threatened when the student editor of the school newspaper is found murdered on campus. Skeet must track down the killer, following trails that lead to some of the most powerful people in the university. In the midst of her investigation, Skeet assumes responsibility for a vulnerable teenager when her ex-husband and seriously ailing father wind up back on her hands. Time is running out and college administrators demand she conceal all college involvement in the murder, but Skeet will not stop until she's unraveled every last secret. In award-winner Linda Rodriguez, mystery fans will find a unique voice and a gifted storyteller.
This extraordinary book reveals the secrets of automata mechanisms, which were developed over generations by makers who closely guarded their designs in the competitive business of automata making. Written by a specialist restorer, it gives a unique appreciation of the internal mechanisms that allow an automaton to move as if alive. Organised into popular subjects that are explored in entertaining detail, this book is a rich resource for makers, artists, restorers and collectors alike, as well as those who simply find themselves asking the question 'How does it do that?' Secrets of Automata is the culmination of its author's career-long fascination with automata mechanisms. Michael Start specialises in restoring clockwork figures and singing birds produced in Paris during the 19th century. It is no accident that this time and place became known as the 'golden age' of automata; the craftsmen of Paris competed with each other to capture a share of a growing global market for mechanical wonders. The various methods of portraying mechanical life using complex mechanisms and clever design were rarely recorded or publicised - but they are there, sealed within the automata themselves. As a restorer, Michael is unique in being able to provide a written exposé of the historical techniques of the lifelike movement. In Secrets of Automata, it is his great pleasure to share them with you.
There were not a lot of stories about Shelly. No one talked about her. No one knew her. She had no friend exept Huey Louie, her pet turtle of five years. One night, Shelly wrote on a paper star: I WISH TO HAVE A REAL FRIEND. Her wish comes true when she easily becomes a part of the group called Butterfly Club. For the first time, Shelly sat in the cafeteria with lunch buddies. But when she becomes the seatmate of the mysterious class outcast Vanna, Shelly also discovers a sweet and patient friend in her. But Vanna could never be part of the Butterfly Club. With friends on opposing sides, Shelly must learn what it means to be a true friend.
She gave him one lingering glance; then, turning abruptly, picked up her empty milk pail and started down the hill at a run. The man she left gave a sigh, deep and long of intense relief. Evening had fallen rapidly, and the purple darkness enveloped him in its warm, dense gloom. He sat absorbed in thought, his eyes turned towards the east, where the last stretches of the afternoon's great cloud trailed filmy threads of wooly black through space. His figure seemed gradually drawn within the coming night so as almost to become part of it, and the stillness around him had a touch of awe in its impalpable heaviness. One would have thought that in a place of such utter loneliness, the natural human spirit of a man would instinctively desire movement,—action of some sort, to shake off the insidious depression which crept through the air like a creeping shadow, but the solitary being, seated somewhat like an Aryan idol, hands on knees and face bent forwards, had no inclination to stir.
"Another fabulous story—a mystery to solve, danger and romance all wrapped together. If you're not already a fan of Barbara Freethy, this story is sure to make you one." – Susan D., Goodreads When firefighter Hunter Callaway makes a grisly discovery during a scorching fire at the house of his former high school sweetheart, everything he thought he knew about his past is now in question. The girl he'd loved, the one who'd broken his heart when she'd run away with another guy, might not have been who he thought she was. The last thing Cassidy Ellison ever wanted to do was revisit her past. But she's suddenly a suspect in a terrible crime, and while she might be able to put off the police, there's no running away from Hunter Callaway—not again. The boy of her dreams is now a man—an impatient, angry, demanding man who wants answers, some of which she has vowed never to speak. Staying silent has kept her alive, but now her secrets might not only take her life, but also Hunter's. As determined as Hunter is to make her talk, someone else is just as determined to keep her quiet… Fans of Susan Stoker, Kathryn Shay, Corinne Michaels, Marie Force and Robyn Carr will love this firefighter, second-chance romance with an edge of suspense by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy! The Callaway Family series offers romance, mystery and family drama in each standalone novel, and the books include some of your favorite storylines: alpha heroes, firefighter romance, girl next door, love at first sight, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, grumpy sunshine, meet cute, instalove, and second chance at love. Each book stands on its own. No cliffhangers! What the readers are saying… "I read SECRETS WE KEEP in one sitting and could not put it down. This is my "comfort food" author where I know I will enjoy and savor the story, still wanting more. The pace was consistent throughout the book and the character development had many layers where you were feeling happy, sad, anxious and overall feelings of hope for yet another Callaway." Debbie "Oh, I loved it so much. Another great read by Ms. Freethy! It has lots of romance, drama and laughs as well. SECRETS WE KEEP is another Great Callaway story. You must read this one." Mary "Falling in love is risky business for a Callaway in SECRETS WE KEEP. Freethy exercises every sense to create unforgettable. From the mind to the heart, nothing is off limits." Isha "SECRETS WE KEEP was intense, suspenseful, and kept me on the edge of who was the guilty one from Cassidy's past. Lots of twists and turns, almost being driven off a cliff, kidnapped, and almost shot. Lots of action to keep you on the edge. Loved it!!" Karen Also Available: The Callaways On A Night Like This #1 So This Is Love #2 Falling For a Stranger #3 Between Now and Forever #4 Nobody But You #5 – (Novella) All A Heart Needs #6 That Summer Night #7 When Shadows Fall #8 Somewhere Only We Know #9 Callaway Cousins If I Didn't Know Better #1 Tender Is The Night #2 Take Me Home #3 (Novella) Closer To You #4 Once You're Mine #5 Can't Let Go #6 Secrets We Keep #7
The Hidden Parchment is a Fantasy adventure set in two time frames. It is the story of how Birgit de Merlinus, a pawn of the Olde Gods/Goddesses, becomes aware that she is ‘The Seeker’, and has been allocated a Quest to pursue. Try as she may, she is unable to extricate herself from the task is forced to accept it after her High Priestess informs her that she has been selected and groomed for the task that began in another time frame when she was known as Princess Brighid, named after the Goddess, daughter of the King Peradur of Dragonia. When Lord Myrddin, Head Merlin of the Earthly Plains and High Steward in the realms of Chrysdragontail visits her father and forces her to return to the Earthly Plains to assist him. As an Enchantress, as yet unknown, does as she is bid her and future changes in such a way that the outcome is yet unresolved in the year 2003 where she has been reborn as Birgit de Merlinus, an orphan and an excellent student with an A+ average. On the day we meet her, she is celebrating her birthday by a walk along the River in Bournemouth UK with her two friends, Cherrie and Brendan. What commences as something pleasant becomes a nightmare of experiences that change her forever. Several large Ravens await her and under the instructions of the Mother Goddess, awaken her to her Destiny. From this time forth she undergoes dreams of such a horrific nature that she struggles to maintain her sense of who she is. As a trainee Witch, with the help of her high Priestess the Lady Moonfeather the Third, who initiates her, she jumps from one adventure to another. She finds that she not only can communicate with these ancient forces that she possesses the gift of the Dragon, the gift of fire, that if provoked can rise unaided and, that she can project it through her fingertips. In time, as she struggles in the two worlds that she resides in, her concentration lapses and she struggles to be a good student and receives very damaging marks that will deny her entrance to Oxford where her parents were Professors in the Archeology Department. As such, upon receiving a letter, as predicted by the High Priestess that she will be embarking upon a short trip, an Aunt of her deceased mother asks to visit with them. As she is feeling poorly, she accepts and, her Professor allows her to write two further essays that if she receives two A+ pluses he will reinstate her excellent credibility. Thus, we leave Birgit as she boards a plane to Melbourne.
WINTERBLOOM AND THE MAGICAL SWAN BOOK 1 is about a little orphan girl and her adventures with some magical friends she encounters in her grandmother's cottage. In Book 1 Discovery of the Moon Treasure that enables Winterbloom later on to help others in some of her future adventures when she becomes a teen. In future books of this series the reader becomes aware of a sinister evil threatening nearby countries of Winterbloom's imaginative world of Landia which can only be overcome by the ultimate rescue of the Magical Swan.
