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Noir : a novel / by Moore, Christopher,1957-author.;
"It's not every afternoon that an enigmatic, comely blonde named Stilton (like the cheese) walks into the scruffy gin joint where Sammy "Two Toes" Tiffin tends bar. It's love at first sight, but before Sammy can make his move, an Air Force general named Remy arrives with some urgent business. 'Cause when you need something done, Sammy is the guy to go to; he's got the connections on the street. Meanwhile, a suspicious flying object has been spotted up the Pacific coast in Washington State near Mount Rainer, followed by a mysterious plane crash in a distant patch of desert in New Mexico that goes by the name Roswell. But that's nothing compared to the real weirdness happening in the City by the Bay. Before long, Sammy and the Cheese are making time and having a has. But when one of Sammy's schemes goes south and the lady mysteriously vanishes, Sammy must contend with his own dark secrets as he follows a tortuous trail from Chinatown to telegraph Hill to a hidden forest enclave in a desperate search to find his girl. Think Raymond Chandler meets Men in Black with more than a dash of the Looney Tunes All Stars. It's all very, very Noir. It's all very, very Christopher Moore."--Page [4] of cover.
Subjects: Humorous fiction.; Historical fiction.; Satirical literature.; Noir fiction.; Bartenders; Unidentified flying objects; Roswell Incident, Roswell, N.M., 1947; Missing persons;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Jameela Green ruins everything / by Nawaz, Zarqa,author.;
"Jameela Green only has one wish. To see her memoir on The New York Times bestseller list. When her dream doesn't come true, she seeks spiritual guidance at her local mosque. New imam and recent immigrant Ibrahim Sultan is appalled by Jameela's shallowness, but agrees to assist her on one condition: that she perform a good deed. Jameela reluctantly accepts his terms, kicking off a chain of absurd and unfortunate events. The homeless man they try and help gets recruited by a terrorist group, causing federal authorities to become suspicious of Ibrahim, and suddenly the imam mysteriously disappears. Certain that the CIA have captured Ibrahim for interrogation via torture, Jameela decides to set off on a one-woman operation to rescue him. Her quixotic quest soon finds her entangled in an international plan targeting the egomaniacal leader of the terrorist organization--a scheme that puts Jameela, and countless others, including her hapless husband and clever but disapproving daughter, at risk. A hilarious black comedy about the price of success, and a biting look at what has gone wrong with American foreign policy in the Middle East, Jameela Green Ruins Everything is a compulsively readable, yet unexpectedly touching story of one woman's search for meaning and connection.
Subjects: Humorous fiction.; Satirical literature.; Novels.; Muslim women; Muslims; Superficiality; Terrorist organizations;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The motion of the body through space : a novel / by Shriver, Lionel,author.;
In Lionel Shriver's entertaining send-up of today's cult of exercise--which not only encourages better health, but now like all religions also seems to promise meaning, social superiority, and eternal life--an aging husband's sudden obsession with extreme sport makes him unbearable. After an ignominious early retirement, Remington announces to his wife Serenata that he's decided to run a marathon. This from a sedentary man in his sixties who's never done a lick of exercise in his life. His wife can't help but observe that his ambition is "hopelessly trite." A loner, Serenata disdains mass group activities of any sort. Besides, his timing is cruel. Serenata has long been the couple's exercise freak, but by age sixty, her private fitness regimes have destroyed her knees, and she'll soon face debilitating surgery. Yes, becoming more active would be good for Remington's heart, but then why not just go for a walk? Without several thousand of your closest friends? As Remington joins the cult of fitness that increasingly consumes the Western world, her once-modest husband burgeons into an unbearable narcissist. Ignoring all his other obligations, he engages a saucy, sexy personal trainer named Bambi, who treats Serenata with contempt. When Remington sets his sights on the legendarily grueling triathlon, MettleMan, Serenata is sure he'll end up injured or dead. And even if he does survive, their marriage may not. The Motion of the Body Through Space is vintage Lionel Shriver written with psychological insight, a rich cast of characters, lots of verve and petulance, an astute reading of contemporary culture, and an emotionally resonant ending.
Subjects: Satirical fiction.; Domestic fiction.; Retirees; Spouses; Marital conflict; Exercise; Marathon running; Triathlon; Exercise addiction;
Available copies: 2 / Total copies: 2
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People like us : or The other continent, or Johnny Wordcount stumbles into a high-end croissant bar on the Seine in search of The Kid & orders the big dream / by Mott, Jason,author.;
"People Like Us is Jason Mott's electric new novel. It is not memoir, yet it has deeply personal connections to Jason's life. And while rooted in reality, it explodes with dreamlike experiences that pull a reader in and don't let go, from the ability to time travel to sightings of sea monsters and peacocks, and feelings of love and memory so real they hurt. In People Like Us, two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is riven with gun violence. One is on a global book tour after a big prize win; the other is set to give a speech at a school that has suffered a shooting. And as their two storylines merge, truths and antics abound in equal measure: characters drink booze out of an award trophy; menaces lurk in the shadows; tiny French cars putter around the countryside; handguns seem to hover in the air; and dreams endure against all odds"--
Subjects: Satirical fiction.; Novels.; Authors, Black; Literary prizes; School shootings; Violence;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Plays well with others : a novel / by Brickman, Sophie,author.;
"Annie Lewin is at the end of her rope. She's a mother of three young children, her workaholic husband is never around, and the vicious competition for spots in New York City's kindergartens is heating up. A New York Times journalist-turned-parenting-advice-columnist for an internet start-up, Annie can't help but judge the insanity of it all -- even as she finds herself going to impossible lengths to secure the best spot for her own son. As Annie comes to terms with the infinitesimal odds of success, her intensifying rivalry with hotshot lawyer Belinda Brenner -- a deliciously hateful nemesis, what with her perfectly curated bento box lunches and effortless Instagram chic -- pushes her to the brink. Of course, this newly raw and unhinged version of Annie is great for the advice column: the more she spins out, the more clicks and comments she gets. But when she commits a ghastly social faux pas that goes viral, she's forced to confront the question: is she really any better than the cutthroat parents she always judged? A shimmering epistolary novel incorporating emails, group texts, advice columns, newspaper profiles, and more, Plays Well with Others is a whip-smart, genuinely funny romp through the minefield of modern motherhood. But beneath its fast-paced, satirical veneer, Brickman gives us a fresh, open-hearted, all-too-real take on what it means to be a parent -- fierce love, craziness, and all."--
Subjects: Epistolary fiction.; Humorous fiction.; Novels.; Advice columnists; City and town life; Families; Motherhood; Social media; Women;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Same bed different dreams : a novel / by Park, Ed,1970-author.;
"March 1919. Far-flung Korean patriots establish the Korean Provisional Government to protest the Japanese occupation of their country. This government-in-exile proves mostly symbolic, its petitions ignored by heads of state as Korea's nationhood is erased. After Japan's defeat in World War II, the KPG dissolves and civil war erupts, resulting in the North-South split that remains today. But what if the KPG still existed now, today-working toward a unified Korea, secretly harnessing the might of a giant tech company to further its aims? That's the outrageous premise of Same Bed Different Dreams, which spins Korean history, American pop culture, and our tech-fraught lives into an extraordinary and unforgettable novel. Weaving together three distinct narrative voices, Park twists reality like a kaleidoscope, forging connections and reinterpreting the past. Early on we meet Soon Sheen, who works at the sprawling international technology company GLOAT, and comes into possession of an unfinished book authored by the KPG. The manuscript is a mysterious, revisionist history, tying famous names and obscure bit players to the KPG's grand project. This strange manuscript links together figures from architect-poet Yi Sang to Jack London to Marilyn Monroe. M*A*S*H is in here, too, and the Moonies, and a history of violence extending from the assassination of President McKinley to the Soviet downing of Korean Air Lines Flight 007"--
Subjects: Alternative histories (Fiction); Satirical literature.; Novels.; Governments in exile; Manuscripts; Technology;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Hollow Bamboo : a novel / by Ping, William,author.;
"The hilarious and heartbreaking story of two William Pings in Newfoundland--the lost millennial and the grandfather he knows nothing about. William Ping's millennial life revolves around eating at restaurants, posting online about eating at restaurants, then overanalyzing it. This changes unexpectedly when a dinner with his Chinese girlfriend's family goes sideways and his insecurity about his biracial identity and his ignorance of his own Chinese heritage overflow like lava. During a much-needed break from the dinner table, Will is visited in the men's room by a sarcastic, bullying spirit named Mo. The spirit whisks him into the past to learn about the life of his grandfather, the first William Ping, who emigrated from China to Newfoundland in 1931 to work in a laundry. Based on a true story, Hollow Bamboo recounts with humour and sympathy the often-brutal struggles, and occasional successes, faced by some of the first Chinese immigrants in Newfoundland. It is a journey of heartbreak, sacrifice, brotherhood and family ties. But most of all, it is about love and survival on the Rock. Drawing on elements of magical realism, autofiction and satire, as well as deep historical research, Hollow Bamboo is a fresh and original portrayal of our past and our present, and the debut of an extraordinary new author."--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Domestic fiction.; Magic realist fiction.; Novels.; Chinese; Families; Grandfathers; Chinese Canadians;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The lady makes her mark / by Craig, Susanna,author.;
"Known only as "Miss C." Constantia Cooper creates satirical cartoons for Mrs. Goode's. But her anonymity hides a more shocking secret -- one that requires she remain elusive. When a scandal at the magazine threatens to expose her, Constantia packs up and flees. But in her haste, she is struck by a carriage and suffers a blow to the head. Fortunately, she's rescued by a gentleman. Unfortunately, he is all too familiar. Feigning amnesia seems Constantia's best strategy ... Alistair Haythorne, Earl of Ryland, would never turn away a lady in distress -- even if he's often the target of said lady's biting satire. In fact, while "Miss C." recuperates, he will have her teach his sisters to draw. Perhaps it will inspire a more flattering portrait of him ... But secrets make interesting bedfellows and as Constantia and Alistair grow closer, their opinions of one another change -- drastically. With love in the air, two things stand between them: Alistair's need to marry an heiress to keep his family's estate intact ... and a series of threats that endanger Constantia's life. Can what keeps them apart ultimately bring them together?"--
Subjects: Romance fiction.; Novels.; Advice columnists; Artists; Amnesia; Man-woman relationships; Secrecy;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Pink glass houses : a novel / by Elias, Asha,author.;
There's a reason people call Miami Beach "a sunny place for shady people." Welcome to Sunset Academy, the most coveted elementary school in Miami Beach, where there are three categories of families: rich, wealthy, and ultra-wealthy. Perfectly tanned and smiling Charlotte Giordani is Sunset Academy's alpha mom. With a sleek blowout and relentless charm, Charlotte's brashness serves her well. She's up for election as the PTA president and is riding high, having just secured a massive donation from billionaire Don Walker and his socialite wife Patricia. Don and Patricia are philanthropists, media darlings, and the owners of Villa Rosé, a newly built modern glass house that everyone is talking about. (It's either spectacular or a tacky eyesore, depending on how you feel about billionaires.) Enter Melody Howard, a wide-eyed transplant from Wichita, Kansas. At first a skeptic about Miami Beach and its endlessly hashtaggable social scene, Melody finds herself sucked into the glossy, frenetic world of Sunset Academy moms. Melody's easygoing manner and background in nonprofit management make her an asset to the PTA. But when she emerges as a rival for the PTA presidency, Charlotte begins to unravel. Even the most powerful players on the social scene prove to be vulnerable when an investigation into white-collar crime--triggered by another school mom, the formidable Jamaican-American Judge Carol Lawson--threatens to take down the whole institution. No amount of rosé can soothe tensions as the drama builds to a shocking crisis point. Told in rotating first person voices, Pink Glass Houses is an irresistibly voyeuristic peek into the lives of the rich and infamous, where cocaine playdates, $100,000 kiddie birthday parties, and relentless social climbing are a way of life.
Subjects: Satirical fiction.; Novels.; Parents' and teachers' associations; Rich people; Scandals; Social status; Women;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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The American Society of Magical Negroes [videorecording] / by Libii, Kobi,screenwriter,film director.; Smith, Justice,1995-actor.; Barton, Zachary,actor.; Coons, Anthony,actor.; Grier, David Alan,1956 June 30-actor.; Bogan, An-Li,actor.; Tarver, Drew,actor.; Watkins, Michaela,1971-actor.; Hinds, Aisha,1975-actor.; Baltz, Tim,actor.; Friend, Rupert,actor.; Byer, Nicole,actor.; Universal Studios, Inc.,film distributor.;
Justice Smith, Zachary Barton, Anthony Coons, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds, Tim Baltz, Rupert Friend, Nicole Byer.The American Society of Magical Negroes is a fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people's lives easier.Canadian Home Video Rating: PG.MPAA rating: PG-13.Described video for the blind and visually impaired.Subtitled for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (SDH).DVD ; wide screen presentation ; Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0.
Subjects: Video recordings for people with visual disabilities.; Video recordings for the hearing impaired.; Comedy films.; Feature films.; African American men; Secret societies; White people; Magic;
For private home use only.
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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