Set on the snaking, sinuous Danube River, Algernon Blackwood's tale "The Willows" represents a high point in the development of the horror genre. Indeed, acknowledged master H.P. Lovecraft regarded it as the best supernatural tale ever written. More awe-inspiring and thought-provoking than gory or terrifying, "The Willows" is a must-read for fans of classic ghost stories.
The insecure, bookish Willow became fast friends with Buffy upon her arrival to Sunnydale. As a high-tech Slayerette, Willow used her computer skills for good and, with time, her powers turned to the realm of magic. She's always longed for more parental guidance, but when Sunnydale's adults are swept up in a witch-hunt, Willow finds that her mother's judgement really burns. And who knew that forays into the black arts would bring Willow face-to-face with a side of herself she never imagined existed?
Struggling with a sleep paralysis and a lifetime of unexplained paranormal events, Willow Graves just wants to find a place to settle down. Lake Serenity seems like the perfect place to begin unraveling the webs spinning from her head. For almost a year, she feels as if she made the right choice, that is, until the locals start turning up dead and a corrupted sheriff is hell-bent on blaming Sterling Walker, one of few people Willow has grown to trust.Suddenly, the real reason as to why the mountain is so different from any other place makes itself known, and Willow's past, and that of the mountain, entangles her within a dangerous web greater than those that haunt her mind.Can Willow survive, or is she even meant to? Just what brought her to the lake to begin with, and who is she really? That's what Willow Graves is about to find out even if it's the last thing she ever learns.
Included in the "Most Anticipated Books of 2024" by the Chicago Review of Books In the backyard of Margaret and Joe Dowling’s new house in the north suburbs of Chicago, Joe plants a young willow tree as a symbol of home, belonging, and growth. As the years pass, the willow becomes a place for Margaret to share life’s wisdom with their four young daughters. Years after leaving the nest, now in their early forties, the Dowling women find themselves faced with changes that will define their lives. Debra, the oldest, is shattered when she is asked for a divorce. Rose, who has long hidden her true self, finally begins to evaluate her pattern of being in uncommitted relationships. Linney fears losing Magnolia, the magical shop where she works. Charlotte, the youngest, is the only one who knows their mother is terminally ill, and has been charged by her with keeping it a secret. And Margaret, now faced with the greatest of challenges and struggling with whether she has done enough to help her daughters find their way in life, calls them all to the family home to reunite under the willow one last time. A metaphorically rich and reflective tale of sisterhood and strength, The Wisdom of the Willow is a story of hope and healing, of the choices that shape our lives, and the challenges we all face as we seek to find our places in the world.
Octavio Paz (México, 1914–1998) was one of the foremost poets and essayists of the twentieth century. Read in translations into many of the world’s languages, Paz received numerous awards and prizes during his lifetime, participated in major artistic and political movements of the twentieth century, served as Mexico’s ambassador in India (1962–1968), and was the editor of Plural and Vuelta, two literary journals of prominent influence in Mexico, Latin America, and Spain. In 1990 Paz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. This book of essays is a commemoration of Octavio Paz on the first centenary of his birth, a celebration undertaken with Paz’s distinguishing legacy: criticism, internationally inclusive, and open to differing viewpoints. The Willow and the Spiral: Essays on Octavio Paz and the Poetic Imagination contains studies in English and in Spanish by top-ranking Paz scholars from various continents and wide-ranging literary traditions, as well as by an emerging generation of critics who approach the work of Octavio Paz from diverse and recent theoretical methods. Specially written for this volume, the fourteen essays are in-depth studies of Paz’s poetry and essays in relation to art, eroticism, literary history, politics, the art of translation, and to Paz’s life-long reflections on world cultures and civilizations as represented by China, France, India, Japan, the United States and, among others, Mesoamerica. The essays range from new critical analyses of Piedra de sol (Sunstone) and Blanco, to studies of Renga, the haiku tradition and, among other topics, Marcel Duchamp and the literary Avant-Garde. This book will be of importance to Paz scholars, teachers, students, and the general reader interested in Octavio Paz and in topics related to artistic, literary, and cultural movements that shaped the twentieth century and that continue to inspire and steer artists and writers in the twenty-first century.
Bim's unique and varied life is reflected in his observations, humor, and the wonder he experiences in every day. This book represents a collection of entries, poems, and thoughts from the journals of his life.
A chance meeting between Marianne Severns and John Wintergreen down by the river brings forth echoes of a long ago secret tragedy. As a result of their ill-fated encounter both are shocked and mystified when their lives dramatically change. John is cruelly punished. But Marianne receives the harshest sentence: wrenched from her beloved cottage in the wood and sent into exile. Devastated, she vows that one day she will reclaim the cottage, whatever the cost. It will be something to live for. Something to die for… Set amidst the turmoil and rebellion of Tudor England, The Willow Horse is a tale of obsession, a tragic family secret and the haunting power of the past over the present. Book 2 in The Barnsbridge Series
The accidental death of her father, a prominent citizen of Corona, leaves Victoria Moreno full of doubt, questions and anger. Suicide rumors heighten her grief. Why would her father, a devout Catholic kill himself? Was the death accidental? Struggling to cope with his actions, the 17-year old, finds solace in the inspiring and calming presence of Father John Collins rather than Ricardo, her betrothed childhood match. The bond between Victoria and Father John strengthens and evolves into a deep friendship riddled with confusion, complications, challenged beliefs and the discovery of a compelling, tender and sensual love that holds them captive and others in consternation. With mounting passion, they strive to reconcile the desires of the heart, mind and soul as they struggle with a culture defined by duty, tradition and religion, and a family saga steeped in secrets, guilt and greed. This is a strong, human story of a panorama of relationships of real people with hopes and fears that brings out the magic and beauty within us all besides the dark secrets that haunt us. Will their love prevail or will "duty and reputation" dictate its course? The intrigue entwines the relationship of an imperfect mankind to something higher, as it poses difficult questions, defies convention, and yet affirms age-old truths. Moving, original and provocative the tale turns and twists deepening our understanding of the vicissitudes of our humanity. Set in South Texas, in cinematic, vibrant and imaginative settings, the Texas/Hispanic culture gives the narrative its direction. Heartbreaking and soaringly uplifting, The Willows of Corona is told with candor, sensitivity and a perceptive observation as it treads delicately in one of the more complex paths of life.
Elvira Perkins was one of the first people to arrive in Oregon. She stayed there for 20 years. During those 20 years, she and her husband had many adventures, including saving an Indian boy from being buried alive. She wrote a lot of those adventures down in the form of poetry. From saving lives to losing them, this book is a wonderful read for anyone who likes poetry.
