We live in a world of stories; yet few of us pause to ask what stories actually are, why we consume them so avidly, and what they do for story makers and their audiences. This book focuses on the experiences that good stories generate: feelings of purposeful involvement, elevation, temporary loss of self, vicarious emotion, and relief of tension. The author examines what drives writers to create stories and why readers fall under their spell; why some children grow up to be writers; and how the capacity for creating and comprehending stories develops from infancy right through into old age. Entranced by Story applies recent research on brain function to literary examples ranging from the Iliad and Wuthering Heights to Harold and the Purple Crayon, providing a groundbreaking exploration of the biological and neurological basis of the literary experience. Blending research, theory, and biographical anecdote, the author shows how it is the unique structure of the human brain, with its layering of sophisticated cognitive capacities upon archaic, emotion-driven functions, which best explains the mystery of story.
We live in a world of stories; yet few of us pause to ask what stories actually are, why we consume them so avidly, and what they do for story makers and their audiences. This book focuses on the experiences that good stories generate: feelings of purposeful involvement, elevation, temporary loss of self, vicarious emotion, and relief of tension. The author examines what drives writers to create stories and why readers fall under their spell; why some children grow up to be writers; and how the capacity for creating and comprehending stories develops from infancy right through into old age. Entranced by Story applies recent research on brain function to literary examples ranging from the Iliad and Wuthering Heights to Harold and the Purple Crayon, providing a groundbreaking exploration of the biological and neurological basis of the literary experience. Blending research, theory, and biographical anecdote, the author shows how it is the unique structure of the human brain, with its layering of sophisticated cognitive capacities upon archaic, emotion-driven functions, which best explains the mystery of story.
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and A Court of Thorns and Roses, this romantic series about a mortal girl and her dealings with a roguish Fae Prince will keep you turning pages late into the night! Never Anger the Fae. Never Trust the Fae. Never Love the Fae. Clara is an Obligate-a human servant at the Court of Dawn. She doesn't know why. She knows only that she broke the Pledge and must therefore spend her days obliging the every whim of a capricious fae princess. If she can keep her head down and follow the rules, she might survive to the end of her Obligation. But how can she stop devastatingly beautiful Lord Ivor from looking at her in that special way that makes her heart stutter? And how can she avoid the jealous fury of Princess Estrilde, who seeks to claim Lord Ivor for herself? Most of all, how can she elude the conniving Prince of the Doomed City . . . who is determined to buy her Obligation for his own dark purposes? Do you love all the lethal intrigues of a twisted fae court? Then don't miss Entranced, book 1 of the Prince of the Doomed City series. Bargains and treachery abound in this tale of slow-burn romance and heart-pounding adventure.
Have you ever loved anyone so much that you'd give them up at the expense of your own happiness?No? Well, I did.Okay, that's not the first lie I've ever told myself. I fought tooth and nail for the only man I'll ever love, but in the end, I had to concede defeat.Even now, seven years later, the cruel words Ryker uttered the morning after he took my virginity still wield the power to shatter the remains of my heart. Yet fate has a way of shaping our lives.No matter how hard we fight for a different outcome.Have you ever feared losing someone so much you'd give up the only woman who made your heart race?No? Well, I have.She holds the power to bring my entire world crashing down, which is why I've spent the last seven years forgetting she exists.And until today, I'd succeeded. But time isn't a healer, she's a cruel mistress.One who won't be ignored.Entranced is the first book in a brand-new six-part billionaire romance series from International Bestselling Author Tracie Delaney.
The Donovan Legacy continues in Entranced, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts’ mesmerizing novel about a headstrong detective expanding her mind to paranormal possibilities while opening her hardened heart to love. Tough and tenacious, Mary Ellen Sutherland is a private investigator who never gives up on a case or a friend in need. When her friend’s baby is abducted and every clue leads to a dead end, Mel reluctantly turns to Sebastian Donovan, a psychic reputed to possess extraordinary abilities. Despite her skepticism, Sebastian proves to be amazingly gifted—especially when it comes to enchanting Mel, body and soul.
Alana Avery's life is far from normal. Most of her family are Keepers, warriors chosen to protect the human race, and for as long as she can remember, she has been training to become a Keeper herself. So when she's chosen to be a Guardian, investigators who solve paranormal crimes and murders, her life changes in an instant.Alana has to attend Guardian Academy to train for her new role as a Guardian investigator. There, she meets Jaxon Gray, her new partner who happens to be a werewolf. Jaxon is smart, cocky, sexy, and drives Alana absolutely crazy.Despite Alana's confliction with Jaxon, her training and new life seem to be going well. That is until her grandfather is murdered. Alana is determined to track down who killed her grandfather, even if it means getting help from Jaxon. But as she digs deeper into the case, she discovers there might be more to her family and the academy than meets the eye. (A spin-off series from the Fallen Star Series about Gemma and Alex's daughter, but the Guardian Academy Series can be read on it's own.)
This is the first in-depth study of a preschool child's interaction with picture and story books. Based on five years of intensive observation of the authors' daughter, Anna, the book provides detailed, verbatim records of Anna's questions and comments as she listened to books being read aloud. It is a fascinating scholarly contribution to those interested in language acquisition. The first part of the study presents Anna's reactions to six books, ranging from Where the Wild Things Are at two years to The Story of Doctor Dolittle at four-and-a-half. The authors analyze what Anna said and did, drawing on contextual material to make it clear that initially inexplicable or irrelevant remarks are not only logical but often indicative of underlying emotional dynamics as well. Part two describes Anna's reaction to fictional experience in her own play and spontaneous monologue, of which several examples are transcribed and analyzed in full. The third section begins with two chapters devoted to the visual dimension of Anna's book experience. In chapters dealing with humor, fantasy, plot, narrative, voice, identification, and emotion, the authors use their findings to shed new light on frequently asked but rarely answered questions: "What do children laugh at?" "Are some books too frightening for children?" "Is a happy ending vital in a story for young children?" "Can preschoolers understand the difference between fantasy and reality?"
A National Indie Bestseller An NPR Best Book of the Year A New York Times Best Book of the Year An Amazon Best Book of the Year A Booklist Editors' Choice A BookPage Best Book of the Year A NECBA Windows & Mirrors Selection A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year A Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year A Today.com Best of the Year PRAISE "A modern masterpiece." —The New York Times Book Review "Supple, sparkling and original." —The Wall Street Journal "Mesmerizing." —TODAY.com "This book could change the world." —BookPage "Like nothing else you've read or ever will read." —Linda Sue Park "It hooks you right from the opening line." —NPR SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS ★ "A modern epic." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review ★ "A rare treasure of a book." —Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ "A story that soars." —The Bulletin, starred review ★ "At once beautiful and painful." —School Library Journal, starred review ★ "Raises the literary bar in children's lit." —Booklist, starred review ★ "Poignant and powerful." —Foreword Reviews, starred review ★ "One of the most extraordinary books of the year." —BookPage, starred review A sprawling, evocative, and groundbreaking autobiographical novel told in the unforgettable and hilarious voice of a young Iranian refugee. It is a powerfully layered novel that poses the questions: Who owns the truth? Who speaks it? Who believes it? "A patchwork story is the shame of the refugee," Nayeri writes early in the novel. In an Oklahoman middle school, Khosrou (whom everyone calls Daniel) stands in front of a skeptical audience of classmates, telling the tales of his family's history, stretching back years, decades, and centuries. At the core is Daniel's story of how they became refugees—starting with his mother's vocal embrace of Christianity in a country that made such a thing a capital offense, and continuing through their midnight flight from the secret police, bribing their way onto a plane-to-anywhere. Anywhere becomes the sad, cement refugee camps of Italy, and then finally asylum in the U.S. Implementing a distinct literary style and challenging western narrative structures, Nayeri deftly weaves through stories of the long and beautiful history of his family in Iran, adding a richness of ancient tales and Persian folklore. Like Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Nights in a hostile classroom, Daniel spins a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE (a true story) is a tale of heartbreak and resilience and urges readers to speak their truth and be heard.
Jack Keiser hasn't had an easy time of it. After a disastrous mission for the government years ago, he's been wary of trusting his fellow agents. Or ex-agents, since they no longer work for the government but for him. Keeping them in line is a full time job, made harder by his own strangely developing talent. Jack has the ability to change his shape. He's a chameleon who can assume the appearance of anyone he's ever touched. Even among psychics he's an oddball.Now Jack's in a bind. Heather Stallbridge, sister to his silent partner in the gym, has gone missing, and it's up to Jack to find her. His journey leads him into the German Alps and to a strange village with even stranger people. To top off an already bad situation, the moment Jack sees Heather, he experiences what feels like love at first sight. Their connection is irrefutable, but he can' t trust that it's real. And that doubt is a problem, because without working together, they'll never find a way to escape the killers in the mountains, or to discover the unexplainable love growing between them.
