Search:

Tiananmen Square / by Wen, Lai,author.;
As a child in Beijing in the 1970s, Lai lives with her family in a lively, working-class neighborhood near the heart of the city. Thoughtful yet unassuming, she spends her days with her friends beyond the attention of her parents: Her father is a reclusive figure who lingers in the background, while her mother, an aging beauty and fervent patriot, is quick-tempered and preoccupied with neighborhood gossip. Only Lai's grandmother, a formidable and colorful maverick, seems to really see Lai and believe that she can blossom beyond their circumstances. But Lai is quickly awakened to the harsh realities of the Chinese state. A childish prank results in a terrifying altercation with police that haunts her for years; she also learns that her father, like many others, was broken during the Cultural Revolution. As she enters adolescence, Lai meets a mysterious and wise bookseller who introduces her to great works-Hemingway, Camus, and Orwell, among others-that open her heart to the emotional power of literature and her mind to thrillingly different perspectives. Along the way, she experiences the ebbs and flows of friendship, the agony of grief, and the first steps and missteps in love. A gifted student, Lai wins a scholarship to study at the prestigious Peking University where she soon falls in with a theatrical band of individualists and misfits dedicated to becoming their authentic selves, despite the Communist Party's insistence on conformity-and a new world opens before her. When student resistance hardens under the increasingly restrictive policies of the state, the group gets swept up in the fervor, determined to be heard, joining the masses of demonstrators and dreamers who display remarkable courage and loyalty in the face of danger. As 1989 unfolds, the spirit of change is in the air.
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Bildungsromans.; Novels.; Books and reading; College students; Politicians; Protest movements; Young women;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

The aviator and the showman : Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the marriage that made an American icon / by Shapiro, Laurie Gwen,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The riveting and cinematic story of a partnership that would change the world forever. In 1928, a young social worker and hobby pilot named Amelia Earhart arrived in the office of George Putnam, heir to the Putnam & Sons throne and hitmaker, on the hunt for the right woman for a secret flying mission across the Atlantic. A partnership -- professional and soon otherwise -- was born. The Aviator and the Showman unveils the untold story of Amelia's decade-long marriage to George Putnam, offering an intimate exploration of their relationship and the pivotal role it played in her enduring legacy. Despite her outwardly modest and humble image, Amelia was fiercely driven and impossibly brave, a lifelong feminist and trailblazer in her personal and professional life. Putnam, the so-called "PT Barnum of publishing" was a bookselling visionary -- but often pushed his authors to extreme lengths in the name of publicity, and no one bore that weight more than Amelia. Their ahead-of-its time partnership supported her grand ambitions -- but also pressed her into more and more treacherous stunts to promote her books, influencing a certain recklessness up to and including her final flight. Earhart is a captivating figure to many, but the truth about her life is often overshadowed by myth and legend. In this cinematic new account, Laurie Gwen Shapiro emphasizes Earhart's human side, her struggles, and her authentic aspirations, the truths behind her brave pursuits and the compromises she made to fit into societal expectations. With a trove of new sources including undiscovered audio interviews from those closest to Amelia, Amelia and George presents her as a multifaceted woman -- complete with flaws, desires, and competitive drive. It is a gripping and passionate tale of adventure, colorful characters, hubris, and a complex and a vivid portrait of a marriage that shaped the trajectory of an iconic life"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Earhart, Amelia, 1897-1937; Putnam, George Palmer, 1887-1950; Domestic relations.; Publishers and publishing; Women air pilots;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Haunted / by Hooper, Kay.;
"When Deacon James's younger sister Melanie calls him, terrified, he goes to her aid in the small Georgia town of Sociable. What he finds is a scared young woman in the grip of what she insists is a paranormal nightmare--and murder. Two local men have been killed under mysterious circumstances. And Melanie is the prime suspect. Trinity Nichols left a high-stress job for quiet, small-town life. But news of the murders has left her--and the town--on edge, especially when there is nothing remotely ordinary about how the men died. And her investigation is yielding more than she bargained for, including a group of strangers who have descended on Sociable, some with abilities Trinity finds hard to believe, and agendas she refuses to trust. For some reason, they know a lot more than they should about what's happening in town. And what's happening is growing stranger by the minute. Now Trinity, Deacon, and this odd band of FBI agents must work together to solve a series of disturbances so incredible that Trinity, and the town of Sociable, will be changed forever. She just isn't certain who--or what--will be left standing when it's all over"--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Suspense fiction.; Mystery fiction.; Bishop, Noah (Fictitious character); Government investigators; Murder;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

The genius of dogs : how dogs are smarter than you think / by Hare, Brian,1976-; Woods, Vanessa,1977-;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Brian Hare, dog researcher, evolutionary anthropologist, and founder of the Duke Canine Cognition Center, and Vanessa Woods offer revolutionary new insights into dog intelligence and the interior lives of our smartest pets. In the past decade, we have learned more about how dogs think than in the last century. Breakthroughs in cognitive science, pioneered by Brian Hare have proven dogs have a kind of genius for getting along with people that is unique in the animal kingdom. Brian Hare's stunning discovery is that when dogs domesticated themselves around 40,000 years ago they became far more like human infants than their wolf ancestors. Domestication gave dogs a whole new kind of social intelligence. This finding will change the way we think about dogs and dog training--indeed, the revolution has already begun. Hare's seminal research has led him to work with every kind of dog from the tiniest shelter puppy to the exotic New Guinea singing dog, from his own childhood dog, Oreo, to the most fashionable schnoodle. The Genius of Dogs is nothing less than the definitive dog book of our time by the researcher who started a revolution. "--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Dogs; Evolution (Biology);
© c2013., Dutton,
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Cat's claw / by Albert, Susan Wittig.;
"Sheila Dawson has made history as the first female police chief in Pecan Springs, Texas. She's also cracked many a mystery in collaboration with local sleuth China Bayles--that's why everyone thinks she's such a smart cookie. Now, Sheila puts those smarts to work, sifting through secrets to find a killer on the prowl ... Larry Kirk, Pecan Springs' computer guru, has been shot dead in his kitchen. At first Police Chief Sheila Dawson believes it to be suicide, perhaps triggered by his painful divorce. Further investigation reveals that Kirk's death wasn't self-inflicted. And the truth is reinforced by her friend China Bayles' news--Larry recently asked her for legal advice in regards to a stalker. As a police chief in a male-dominated force, Sheila meets many challenges, especially when her theories rock the boat in high-profile cases like that of George Timms. He was caught breaking into Larry's computer shop to steal his own computer back because of dangerous personal information it contained. Now that Larry is dead, she's sure it's connected to the burglary. And she's also sure she'll get plenty of resistance on her assessment ... Timms' time to turn himself in to the police comes and goes, and he's nowhere to be found. In her investigation, Sheila uncovers secrets, terrible secrets that would drive anyone to kill. So who then? It's up to Sheila to prove she's got what it takes to hunt down the predator that's loose on the streets of Pecan Springs ..."--
Subjects: Detective and mystery stories.; Mystery fiction.; Bayles, China (Fictitious character); Women detectives; Women police chiefs;
© 2012., Berkley Prime Crime,
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

All is bright / by Spencer, Katherine,1955-;
"In the little town of Cape Light, Reverend Ben Lewis reflects on Christmas past-while his beloved daughter, Rachel, looks to the future. A box of old photographs sparks long forgotten memories for Reverend Ben, images of himself when he was a young minister, a newcomer to Cape Light and his congregation. He remembers the very first Christmas at his new church, when nothing turned out as he expected. A prominent church member and benefactor, Oliver Warwick, stood accused of a serious crime, and the entire town and congregation were quickly torn apart. Ben knew that he must carry the banner of God's love and mercy into the fray, all the while struggling to win his church's confidence and respect and prove to all-including himself-that he was worthy of his calling as a minister. As her father looks back, Rachel Anderson looks to the future, trying to imagine a life without her beloved husband, Jack. But then, single-dad Ryan Cooper appears on her doorstep like an unexpected package. Her son's basketball coach is just the man Rachel needs to shake up her world and show her there's such a thing as focusing-and fretting-too much. Ryan's gentleness, charm, and understanding are a convincing combination, and Rachel soon finds herself imagining a new world filled with hope and love. But deep loss and old fears are not so easily dispelled, and Christmas brings Rachel a serious choice: cling to a past filled with comforting memories, or reach for a future of bright possibilities"--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Christmas stories.; Domestic fiction.; Cape Light (Imaginary place); Clergy; Fathers and daughters; Man-woman relationships;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Kate & Frida : a novel of friendship, food, and books / by Fay, Kim,author.;
"A buoyant, mouth-watering oasis of a novel, Kate & Frida is a love letter to bookshops and booksellers, to the way stories shape how we perceive ourselves, to the passion we bring to life in our twenties, and to the last precious years before the internet changed everything. Twenty-something Frida Rodriguez comes to Paris in 1991, relishing the city's butter-soaked cuisine and seeking her future as a war correspondent. But when she writes to a bookshop in Seattle, she receives more than just the book she requests. A friendship begins that will redefine the person she thought she wanted to become. Seattle bookseller Kate Fair is transformed by Frida's free spirit, spurred to kiss her handsome coworker, to believe in herself as a writer, and to find beauty even in loss. Through the most tumultuous years of their young lives-personally and globally-Kate and Frida's friendship sustains and nourishes them as they show each other how to overcome self-doubt and the necessity of embracing joy even through our darkest hours"--
Subjects: Bildungsromans.; Recipes.; Novels.; Bookstore owners; Bookstores; Female friendship; Friendship; Women;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Papyrus : the invention of books in the ancient world / by Vallejo Moreu, Irene,author.; Whittle, Charlotte,translator.; translation of:Vallejo Moreu, Irene.Infinito en un junco.English.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Papyrus is an enthralling journey through the history of books and libraries in the ancient world and those who have helped preserve their rich literary traditions. Long before books were mass-produced, those made of reeds from along the Nile were worth fighting and dying for. Journeying along the battlefields of Alexander the Great, beneath the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius, at Cleopatra's palaces and the scene of Hypatia's murder, award-winning author Irene Vallejo chronicles the excitement of literary culture in the ancient world, and the heroic efforts that ensured this extraordinary tradition would continue. Weaved throughout are fascinating stories about the spies, scribes, illuminators, librarians, booksellers, authors, and statesmen whose rich and sometimes complicated engagement with the written word bears remarkable similarities to the world today: Aristophanes and the censorship of the humorists, Sappho and the empowerment of women's voices, Seneca and the problem of a post-truth world. Vallejo takes us to mountainous landscapes and the roaring sea, to the capitals where culture flourished and the furthest reaches where knowledge found refuge in chaotic times. In this sweeping tour of the history of books, the wonder of the ancient world comes alive and, along the way, we discover the singular power of the written word"--
Subjects: Books;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

With stars in her eyes : a novel / by Burke, Andie,author.;
"Next up from break out author Andie Burke (Fly with Me) is With Stars in Her Eyes, a swoon-worthy sapphic bookstore romance about fresh starts and finding that one person who feels like home. Seconds from a meteoric career launch, cellist Courtney Starling suffers a frightening migraine attack during a key performance. While harmful rumors fly, she escapes to her happy place-her best friend's Kansas bookshop. Courtney's working incognito when a scream sends her leaping off a shelving ladder to find the woman who screamed cowering near the register. When Thea Quinn dropped in for a misdelivered package, she did not expect a mortifying encounter with a bearded dragon in front of an inconveniently attractive bookseller. Clutching an upcoming book club flyer and the tattered shreds of her dignity, she heads back to her new piercing job at the tattoo shop next door. She moved to this quirky place for a fresh start. But maybe the meet-disaster was a sign? Maybe Thea needs to branch out beyond her photography hobby and connect with new people ... like at a historical romance book club run by a particularly mysterious and sexy bookseller with a pixie cut? Friendly lunches become stolen moments between the bookshelves. Courtney and Thea's old problems feel ages away. But just as their chemistry heats to a combustion point, consequences from Courtney's past arrive literally on her doorstep at exactly the wrong moment. New revelations and surprising connections take the pair from feeling joyfully lovestruck to confusingly star-crossed. Both women must decide what they're willing to give up for happily ever after"--
Subjects: Lesbian fiction.; Queer fiction.; Romance fiction.; Novels.; Bookstores; Cellists; Lesbians; Migraine; Sexual minorities; Woman-woman relationships; Women tattoo artists;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Monday rent boy / by Doherty, Susan,1957-author.;
"Monday Rent Boy begins in Somerset, England, in the mid-1980s, with the winning and heart-warming story of two 13-year-old friends and fellow altar boys, Arthur Barnes and Ernie Castlefrank. Endearing outcasts, they try not to speak of the secret tie that binds them: both boys are routinely preyed on by The Zipper, their nickname for Father Ziperto, the local Catholic priest. Still, they find adventure and release in the mischief they get up to together, as each also tries to survive in other ways. Arthur, a great reader and denier of reality, finds an ally in town bookseller Marina Phillips, who sets him on a path that eventually takes him to university and away. Ernie, a gifted mathematician and animal lover, is not so lucky. As he and Arthur age out of the abuse, Ernie notices younger and equally vulnerable boys being recruited. When he tries to blow the whistle, nobody believes him. At 16, he disappears, a loss that almost destroys his best friend but also confirms for Arthur that he was smart to stay silent. Arthur eventually also turns his back on the mystery of Ernie's disappearance, but his bookselling mentor and friend Marina Phillips finds a way to follow Ernie where rage and betrayal has led him--into the darkest corners of the dark web--a search that ultimately helps Arthur reckon with what happened to them both. In the novel's stunning, deeply affecting conclusion, Doherty draws a line directly from the covered-up abuse of children by Catholic priests to the current proliferation of child pornography and predators online--miraculously revealing the true heart of darkness while managing to affirm the light."--
Subjects: Bildungsromans.; Psychological fiction.; Novels.; Child pornography; Child sexual abuse; Friendship; Male sexual abuse victims; Secrecy;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI