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Carnie King The Story of Patty Conklin and Conklin Shows [electronic resource] : by Thurston, John.aut; cloudLibrary;
The story of the audacious showman who built the greatest carnival dynasty in North America. Enter the realm of the carnie king, Patty Conklin, the flamboyant founder of what would become the world’s largest carnival company. Patty started on the mean streets of New York selling peanuts before becoming a a small-time operator. Willing to try anything to promote his show, he established himself as a carnie celebrity. Winning the midway contract for the Canadian National Exhibition in 1937, he made it his personal world’s fair. It became the foundation for his son and grandson to expand Conklin Shows until they were playing the biggest fairs and exhibitions throughout North America. Carnie King begins with the birth of Joseph Renker to German immigrant parents, tells of his personal transformation into Patty Conklin, and follows his incredible life through to his death in 1970. It covers his company's history after Jim Conklin took over, expanded it beyond recognition, then handed it on to his own son. Not only a history of Conklin Shows, Carnie King explores how midways work and their commercial and popular presence in North America The story it tells is based on dozens of interviews with carnies and access to the Conklin archives. It includes anecdotes about a range of characters and insights about life on the midway. Carnie King is at once a revealing look at a unique part of twentieth-century culture and a vivid account of three generations of showmen and their dominance of midways across the continent.General adult.
Subjects: Electronic books.; 20th Century; Circus; Entertainment & Performing Arts;
© 2024., Dundurn Press,
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An unfinished murder / by Deveraux, Jude,author.;
Sara Medlar may be retired as a bestselling author, but her career as an amateur detective is facing one final mystery--and it's a killer. Retired romance novelist Sara Medlar has been comfortably sharing her large home with her niece Kate and her "honorary grandson" Jack. It's a convenient arrangement given the Medlar Three, as they've become known, are often working closely together to solve mysteries in their small town of Lachlan, Florida. But when real estate agent Kate announces she's been given the listing for the town's storied Lachlan House, it sets off alarm bells for Sara and Jack. The infamous house has a dark history, one that's certain to haunt them all. With little memory of her childhood, Kate doesn't understand what the fuss is about--until the trio visits the house and makes a grim discovery. Flooded by memories of the past, Kate realizes she spent time there as a child. But stumbling upon a skeleton dressed in a rotting tuxedo--a murder victim with connections to her father--causes Kate to wonder if the childhood she can't remember might be one she'd rather forget. As Sara, Kate and Jack delve deeper into the dead man's history, they learn he was last seen at a party held at Lachlan House in the late nineties--a swanky soiree attended by his many enemies. With more than one motive in play, every partygoer is a suspect, and Sara is determined to find the culprit, even if it means digging up past secrets she's worked hard to keep buried.
Subjects: Detective and mystery fiction.; Novels.; Family secrets; Murder; Secrecy; Women authors; Women detectives;
Available copies: 2 / Total copies: 3
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Liberation day [sound recording] : stories / by Saunders, George,1958-author,narrator.; Fey, Tina,1970-narrator.; McKean, Michael,narrator.; Patterson, Edi,1974-narrator.; Slate, Jenny,1982-narrator.; McBrayer, Jack,1973-narrator.; Hardin, Melora,narrator.; Root, Stephen,narrator.; Saunders, George,1958-Liberation day (Compilation).[sound recording].; Random House Audio Publishing,publisher.;
Read by the author, Tina Fey, Michael McKean, Edi Patterson, Jenny Slate, Jack McBrayer, Melora Hardin, Stephen Root."The 'best short story writer in English' (Time) is back with a masterful collection that explores ideas of power, ethics, and justice, and cuts to the very heart of what it means to live in community with our fellow humans. With his trademark prose--wickedly funny, unsentimental, and perfectly tuned--Saunders continues to challenge and surprise: here is a collection of prismatic, deeply resonant stories that encompass joy and despair, oppression and revolution, bizarre fantasy and brutal reality. 'Love Letter' is a tender missive from grandfather to grandson, in the midst of a dystopian political situation in the not-too-distant future, that reminds us of our obligations to our ideals, ourselves, and each other. 'Ghoul' is set in a Hell-themed section of an underground amusement park in Colorado, and follows the exploits of a lonely, morally complex character named Brian, who comes to question everything he takes for granted about his 'reality.' In 'Mother's Day,' two women who loved the same man come to an existential reckoning in the middle of a hailstorm. And in 'Elliott Spencer,' our eighty-nine-year-old protagonist finds himself brainwashed--his memory 'scraped'--a victim of a scheme in which poor, vulnerable people are reprogrammed and deployed as political protesters. Together, these nine subversive, profound, and essential stories coalesce into a case for viewing the world with the same generosity and clear-eyed attention as Saunders does, even in the most absurd of circumstances"--
Subjects: Audiobooks.; Short stories.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The forgotten home child / by Graham, Genevieve,author.;
"Canada, 2018 At ninety-seven years old, Winnifred Ellis knows she doesn't have much time left. Soon she'll be gone, just like her husband, her daughter, and the many loved ones she's lost over the years, and the story of her shameful past will die with her. When her great grandson Jamie, the spitting image of her husband, asks about his family tree, Winnifred can't lie any longer, even if it means breaking a promise she made so long ago ... England, 1936. Fifteen-year-old Winny has never known a real home. After running away from an abusive stepfather, she falls in with Mary and Jack and their ragtag group of friends roaming the streets of Liverpool, but when they are caught stealing food, Winny and Mary are placed in Dr. Barnardo's Barkingside Home for Girls, a local home for orphans and forgotten children found in the city's slums. There, Winny learns she will join other boys and girls in a faraway place called Canada, where families eagerly await them. But when they arrive, their dream of a better life is quickly shattered. Winny is separated from Mary and Jack and sent to live with a family who doesn't want another daughter, but an indentured servant to work on their farm. Faced with this harsh new reality, Winny clings to the hope that she will someday find her friends again. Inspired by true events, The Forgotten Home Child is a moving and heartbreaking novel about place, belonging, and family--the one we make for ourselves and its enduring power to draw us home."--
Subjects: Domestic fiction.; Historical fiction.; Home children (Canadian immigrants); Orphans; Orphans; Family secrets;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Marble Hall Murders A Novel [electronic resource] : by Horowitz, Anthony.aut; CloudLibrary;
Murder links past and present once again in this mind-boggling metafictional mystery from Anthony Horowitz—another tribute to the golden age of Agatha Christie featuring detective Atticus Pund and editor Susan Ryland, stars of the New York Times bestsellers Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders Editor Susan Ryeland has left her Greek island, her hotel, and her Greek boyfriend, Andreas, in search of a new life back in England. Freelancing for Causton Books, she’s working on the manuscript of a novel, Pund’s Last Case, by a young author named Eliot Crace, a continuation of the popular Alan Conway series. Susan is surprised to learn that Eliot is the grandson of legendary children’s author Marian Crace, who died some fifteen years ago—murdered, Eliot insists, by poison. As Susan begins to read the manuscript’s opening chapters, the skeptical editor is relieved to find that Pund’s Last Case is actually very good. Set in the South of France, it revolves around the mysterious death of Lady Margaret Chalfont, who, though mortally ill, is poisoned—perhaps by a member of her own family. But who did it? And why? The deeper Susan reads, the more it becomes clear that the clues leading to the truth of Marian Crace’s death are hidden within this Atticus Pund mystery. While Eliot’s accusation becomes more plausible, his behaviour grows increasingly erratic. Then he is suddenly killed in a hit-and-run accident, and Susan finds herself under police scrutiny as a suspect in his death. Three mysterious deaths. Multiple motives and possible murderers. If Susan doesn’t solve the mystery of Pund’s Last Case, she may well be the next victim.
Subjects: Electronic books.; Amateur Sleuth;
© 2025., HarperCollins Canada,
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Africville : a novel / by Colvin, Jeffrey,author.; Colvin, Jeffrey.Africaville.;
"A ferociously talented writer makes his stunning debut with this richly woven tapestry, set in a small Nova Scotia town settled by former slaves, that depicts several generations of one family bound together and torn apart by blood, faith, time, and fate. Structured as a triptych, Africaville chronicles the lives of three generations of the Sebolt family-- Kath Ella, her son Omar/Etienne, and her grandson Warner-- whose lives unfold against the tumultuous events of the twentieth century from the Great Depression of the 1930s, through the social protests of the 1960s to the economic upheavals in the 1980s. A century earlier, Kath Ella's ancestors established a new home in Nova Scotia. Like her ancestors, Kath Ella's life is shaped by hardship-- she struggles to conceive and to provide for her family during the long, bitter Canadian winters. She must also contend with the locals' lingering suspicions about the dark-skinned "outsiders" who live in their midst. Kath Ella's fierce love for her son, Omar, cannot help her overcome the racial prejudices that linger in this remote, tight-knit place. As he grows up, the rebellious Omar refutes the past and decides to break from the family, threatening to upend all that Kath Ella and her people have tried to build. Over the decades, each successive generation drifts further from Africaville, yet they take a piece of this indelible place with them as they make their way to Montreal, Vermont, and beyond, to the deep South of America. As it explores notions of identity, passing, cross-racial relationships, the importance of place, and the meaning of home, Africaville tells the larger story of the black experience in parts of Canada and the United States."--
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Blacks; African Americans; Families; Slaves; Conflict of generations;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The rebel Romanov : Julie of Saxe-Coburg, the empress Russia never had / by Rappaport, Helen,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."From the New York Times bestselling author of The Romanov Sisters comes the story of a courageous young Imperial Grand Duchess who scandalized Europe in search of freedom. In 1795, Catherine the Great of Russia was in search of a bride for her grandson Constantine, who stood third in line to her throne. In an eerie echo of her own story, Catherine selected an innocent young German princess, Julie of Saxe-Coburg, aunt of the future Queen Victoria. Though Julie had everything a young bride could wish for, she was alone in a court dominated by an aging empress and riven with rivalries, plotting, and gossip--not to mention her brute of a husband, who was tender one moment and violent the next. She longed to leave Russia and her disastrous marriage, but her family in Germany refused to allow her to do so. Desperate for love, Julie allegedly sought consolation in the arms of others. Finally, Tsar Alexander granted her permission to leave in 1801, even though her husband was now heir to the throne. Rootless in Europe, Julie gave birth to two--possibly three--illegitimate children, all of whom she was forced to give up for adoption. Despite entreaties from Constantine to return and provide an heir, she refused, eventually finding love with her own married physician. At a time when many royal brides meekly submitted to disastrous marriages, Julie proved to be a woman ahead of her time, sacrificing her reputation and a life of luxury in exchange for the freedom to live as she wished. The Rebel Romanov is the inspiring tale of a bold woman who, until now, has been ignored by history"-- Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Biographies.; Anna Feodorovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, 1781-1860.; Anna Feodorovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, 1781-1860; Anna Feodorovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, 1781-1860; Konstantin Pavlovich, Grand Duke of Russia, 1779-1831.; Romanov, House of.; Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, House of.; Nobility; Nobility; Princesses; Royal houses;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Shadow of the Solstice A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel [electronic resource] : by Hillerman, Anne.aut; CloudLibrary;
“Anne Hillerman deserves recognition as one of the finest mystery authors currently working in the genre.”—New York Journal of Books In this gripping chapter in New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman’s Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, the detectives must sort out a save-the-planet meditation group connected to a mysterious death and a nefarious scheme targeting vulnerable indigenous people living with addiction. The Navajo Nation police are on high alert when a U.S. Cabinet Secretary schedules an unprecedented trip to the little Navajo town of Shiprock, New Mexico. The visit coincides with a plan to resume uranium mining along the Navajo Nation border. Tensions around the official’s arrival escalate when the body of a stranger is found in an area restricted for the disposal of radioactive uranium waste. Is it coincidence that a cult with a propensity for violence arrives at a private camp group outside Shiprock the same week to celebrate the summer solstice? When the outsiders’ erratic behavior makes their Navajo hosts uneasy, Officer Bernadette Manuelito is assigned to monitor the situation. She finds a young boy at grave risk, abused women, and other shocking discoveries that plunge her and Lt. Jim Chee into a volatile and deadly situation. Meanwhile, Darleen Manuelito, Bernie’s high spirited younger sister, learns one of her home health clients is gone–and the woman’s daughter doesn’t seem to care. Darleen’s curiosity and sense of duty combine to lead her to discover that the client’s grandson is also missing and that the two have become ensnared in a wickedly complex scheme exploiting indigenous people. Darleen’s information meshes with a case Chee has begun to solve that deals with the evil underside of human nature.
Subjects: Electronic books.; Police Procedural; Cultural Heritage; Native American & Aboriginal;
© 2025., HarperCollins,
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Love & courage : my story of family, resilience, and overcoming the unexpected : a memoir / by Singh, Jagmeet,1979-author.;
"Jagmeet Singh Jimmy Dhaliwal. Every part of Jagmeet Singh's full name reflects a part of his identity. Jagmeet--the intelligent, warm "friend to the world." Singh--the great grandson of a Punjabi freedom fighter who defended his people against injustice. Jimmy--the kid who grew up on the hardscrabble streets of Windsor. Dhaliwal--the son of immigrants who chanced it and uprooted themselves in Canada for a better life. With wisdom, warmth, and compassion, Love & Courage tells the stories behind each of those names. The son of Indian immigrants, Jagmeet Singh grew up in Windsor, and he learned at an early age that the world was not always be kind. Early experiences with racism and prejudice made Jagmeet question his place in the society around him as he fought on the streets and in the classroom to carve out a safe space for himself. But while the society around him sought to bring him down, Jagmeet's family lifted him up. Whenever Jagmeet returned home bruised or battered by the outside world, his mother repeated the same words: "We are all one. We are all connected." Drawing on his heritage and history, Jagmeet began to see the world through a new lens. To prove to a world that said, again and again, that he didn't have value, Jagmeet worked hard to be the best at everything he did. Martial arts, school, sports--he excelled at everything he tried. Still, he didn't want to simply push past others. He wanted to connect to them. Slowly but surely, Jagmeet learned the truth of his mother's words. As he broke down the barriers around him, Jagmeet came to define his life in two words: love and courage. Love & Courage is the story of how those two words came to define Jagmeet's life. It is a testament to the courage it takes to love those around us, and proof of the fact that we can't live without either one."-- Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Autobiographies.; Biographies.; Singh, Jagmeet, 1979-; Lawyers; Politicians; Sikhs; South Asians;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Shadow of the Solstice A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel [electronic resource] : by Hillerman, Anne.aut; Matten, Jessica.nrt; CloudLibrary;
“Anne Hillerman deserves recognition as one of the finest mystery authors currently working in the genre.”—New York Journal of Books In this gripping chapter in New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman’s Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, the detectives must sort out a save-the-planet meditation group connected to a mysterious death and a nefarious scheme targeting vulnerable indigenous people living with addiction. The Navajo Nation police are on high alert when a U.S. Cabinet Secretary schedules an unprecedented trip to the little Navajo town of Shiprock, New Mexico. The visit coincides with a plan to resume uranium mining along the Navajo Nation border. Tensions around the official’s arrival escalate when the body of a stranger is found in an area restricted for the disposal of radioactive uranium waste. Is it coincidence that a cult with a propensity for violence arrives at a private camp group outside Shiprock the same week to celebrate the summer solstice? When the outsiders’ erratic behavior makes their Navajo hosts uneasy, Officer Bernadette Manuelito is assigned to monitor the situation. She finds a young boy at grave risk, abused women, and other shocking discoveries that plunge her and Lt. Jim Chee into a volatile and deadly situation. Meanwhile, Darleen Manuelito, Bernie’s high spirited younger sister, learns one of her home health clients is gone–and the woman’s daughter doesn’t seem to care. Darleen’s curiosity and sense of duty combine to lead her to discover that the client’s grandson is also missing and that the two have become ensnared in a wickedly complex scheme exploiting indigenous people. Darleen’s information meshes with a case Chee has begun to solve that deals with the evil underside of human nature. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook
Subjects: Audiobooks.; Police Procedural; Cultural Heritage; Native American & Aboriginal;
© 2025., HarperCollins,
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