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Windfall : a novel of suspense / by Staub, Wendy Corsi,author.;
"J.J., Molly, and Leila had once been inseparable, but it's been a long time since college, and life--not to mention distance--have disrupted the former roommates' friendship. When the three reunite for a birthday weekend in Las Vegas, the lottery ticket they buy on a whim has the winning numbers--giving them a billion-dollar windfall. Shell-shocked, they turn to Shea Daniels, a "sudden wealth manager," who promises to guide them through the pitfalls of having more money than they'd ever imagined. The trio travels to a secluded California mansion, where Shea and her staff cater to their every whim, promising to teach them to navigate their newfound wealthy lifestyles with ease. The house is luxurious beyond their wildest dreams--and purportedly cursed, the last place a missing movie star was seen alive. Their weekend turns to terror when they discover they are trapped--roads blocked and communication disrupted by the wildfires raging around them. And when history repeats itself and one of them disappears--the one who's holding the billion-dollar ticket--the others must face the fact that either their friend has betrayed them ... or a predator is lurking"--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Psychological fiction.; Novels.; Female friendship; Lottery winners; Missing persons;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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COVID-19 : the pandemic that never should have happened and how to stop the next one / by MacKenzie, Debora,author.;
Includes bibliographical references."Over the last 30 years of epidemics and pandemics, we learned every lesson needed to stop this coronavirus outbreak in its tracks. We heeded almost none of them. The result is a pandemic on a scale never before seen in our lifetimes. In this captivating, authoritative, and eye-opening book, science journalist Debora MacKenzie lays out the full story of how and why it happened: the previous viruses that should have prepared us, the shocking public health failures that paved the way, the failure to contain the outbreak, and most importantly, what we must do to prevent future pandemics. Debora MacKenzie has been reporting on emerging diseases for more than three decades, and she draws on that experience to explain how COVID-19 went from a potentially manageable outbreak to a global pandemic. Offering a compelling history of the most significant recent outbreaks, including SARS, MERS, H1N1, Zika, and Ebola, she gives a crash course in Epidemiology 101--how viruses spread and how pandemics end--and outlines the lessons we failed to learn from each past crisis. In vivid detail, she takes us through the arrival and spread of COVID-19, making clear the steps that governments knew they could have taken to prevent or at least prepare for this. Looking forward, MacKenzie makes a bold, optimistic argument: this pandemic might finally galvanize the world to take viruses seriously. Fighting this pandemic and preventing the next one will take political action of all kinds, globally, from governments, the scientific community, and individuals--but it is possible. No one has yet brought together our knowledge of COVID-19 in a comprehensive, informative, and accessible way. But that story can already be told, and Debora MacKenzie's urgent telling is required reading for these times and beyond. It is too early to say where the COVID-19 pandemic will go, but it is past time to talk about what went wrong and how we can do better"--
Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Coronaviruses.; Coronavirus infections; Communicable diseases; Communicable diseases; Epidemics; Emerging infectious diseases;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Secrets of giants : a journey to uncover the true meaning of strength / by Ages, Alyssa,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Everyone wants to know if they could do the impossible. Few of us will ever try. Alyssa Ages was the strongest she'd ever been, able to flip Mack truck tires and walk with 300 pounds on her back. She felt invincible, until the day her body betrayed her, leaving her vulnerable and grasping for control. Rebuilding her strength slowly brought her back to life. She began to wonder: What if strength wasn't about how much we can lift? What if it was about how we manage life's struggles? In Secrets of Giants, Ages, now a mom of two, embarks on an immersive journey to the fringe of the weight-lifting world, the sport of strongman. She hoists kegs and lifts boulders in suburban parking lots, attempts to pull a 50-ton truck using only a rope, and occasionally frightens her neighbors by dragging a sled full of weights down her quiet tree-lined street. She meets a powerlifter-turned-boxer who shares how lifting taught her to become a master of the mundane. A ten-time World's Strongest Man competitor is brought to tears illustrating how the gym helped him survive an abusive childhood. A pro strongwoman muses on managing setbacks before stepping on stage to deadlift the weight of a baby grand piano. Psychologists, researchers, and coaches offer insights into the fascinating ways that the pursuit of strength can permeate every aspect of our lives, from building resilience and confidence, to finding joy in discomfort, to teaching us to handle adversity. Part personal narrative, part research mission, part reckless midlife crisis odyssey, Secrets of Giants uncovers why physical strength matters, and how it teaches us that we're capable of so much more than we know"--
Subjects: Muscle strength.; Weight lifters.; Weight lifting; Weight training;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The high notes [text (large print)] : a novel / by Steel, Danielle,author.;
Iris Cooper has been singing ever since she can remember, hitting the high notes like no one else. When she is twelve, her father convinces the owner of a bar in Lake City, Texas, to let her perform, and she stuns the audience. In the ensuing years, never staying anywhere for long, father and daughter move from one dusty town to the next, her passion for music growing every time she takes the mike in another roadhouse. But it is not an easy life for Iris with her father in charge and using her income to pay for gambling, women, and booze. When she starts to tour at age eighteen, she takes on a real manager. Yet he exploits her too, and the singers and musicians she tours with are really the only family she has. It is they who give Iris the courage to finally fly free, leave the tour, and follow her dreams. After years of enduring the hardships of the road, exploitation, and abuse to do what she loves, Iris's big chance comes as her talent soars. But at the top at last, Iris still has to fight every step of the way. In The High Notes, Danielle Steel delivers an inspiring story about finding the strength to stand up for yourself and your dreams, no matter what it takes.
Subjects: Domestic fiction.; Large type books.; Novels.; Country musicians; Exploitation; Fame; Fathers and daughters; Singers; Women country musicians;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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A bright ray of darkness / by Hawke, Ethan,1970-author.;
"The first novel in nearly twenty years from the acclaimed actor/writer/director is a book about art and love, fame and heartbreak--a blistering story of a young man making his Broadway debut in Henry IV just as his marriage implodes A bracing meditationon fame and celebrity, and the redemptive, healing power of art; a portrait of the ravages of disappointment and divorce; a poignant consideration of the rites of fatherhood and manhood; a novel soaked in rage and sex, longing and despair, and a passionate love letter to the world of theater, A Bright Ray of Darkness showcases Ethan Hawke's gifts as a novelist as never before. Hawke's narrator is a young man in torment, disgusted with himself after the collapse of his marriage, still half-hoping for a reconciliation that would allow him to forgive himself and move on as he clumsily, and sometimes hilariously, tries to manage the wreckage of his personal life with whiskey and sex. What saves him is theater: in particular, the challenge of performing the role of Hotspur in a production of Henry IV under the leadership of a brilliant director, helmed by one of the most electrifying--and narcissistic--Falstaff's of all time. Searing, raw, and utterly transfixing, A Bright Ray of Darkness is a novel about shame and beauty and faith, and the moral power of art"--
Subjects: Psychological fiction.; Domestic fiction.; Actors;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Dusk, night, dawn : on revival and courage / by Lamott, Anne,author.;
"In Anne Lamott's new book, she confronts the harsh truth that many of us grapple with every day: How can we recapture the confidence we once had in the world and in the future as we stumble through the dark times that seem increasingly bleak? As bad news piles up every day -- from climate crises to threats to democracy to daily assaults on civility -- how can we mere mortals cope? Where, Lamott asks, "do we start to get our joy and hope and our faith in life itself back ... with sore feet, hearing loss, stiff fingers, poor digestion, stunned minds, broken hearts?" We begin, Lamott explains, by accepting our flaws and embracing our humanity "in the here and now. ... We look up and around for [the] brighter ribbons" of connection, loyalty, and support. Drawing from her own experiences and her own faith journey, Lamott offers insights into the intimate and human ways we can bring back hope by demonstrating we can travel through the darkest places toward a more hopeful light that is still burning. As she does in Help, Thanks, Wow and her other bestselling books, Lamott explores the thorny issues of life and faith by breaking them down into managable, human-sized questions for readers to ponder, and in the process she shows how each of us can amplify life's small moments of joy by staying open to love and connection even in these dark times. As Lamott notes, "I got Medicare three days before I got hitched, which sounds like something an old person might do, which does not describe adorably ageless me." Marrying for the first time with a grown son and a grandson, Lamott explains that finding happiness with a partner isn't a function of age or beauty but of outlook and perspective. Full of the honesty, humor and humanity that have made Lamott beloved by millions of readers, this book is classic Anne Lamott -- thoughtful and comic, warm and wise -- and further proof that Lamott truly speaks to the better angels in all of us"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Self-help publications.; Lamott, Anne.; Novelists, American; Christian biography; Faith.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Straight talk on your money : the biggest financial myths and mistakes ... and how to avoid them / by Hoyes, Doug,author.;
"In his thirty-year career, bankruptcy trustee Doug Hoyes has watched countless intelligent, well meaning people let their emotions get the better of them as they follow conventional financial wisdom and get into serious money trouble, often leading to bankruptcy. The truth is that, in many cases, everything you know about money is wrong. Times have changed, and what was good advice for your grandparents may be bad advice today. The world is fast moving and complicated, and the big banks and financial institutions wield more power than ever before. Consumers are at a disadvantage. How can they resist the billions of dollars the big banks spend convincing us to get another credit card, a second car loan, and a bigger mortgage? Doug Hoyes shatters conventional financial wisdom, explaining why a good credit score may be detrimental to your financial well-being, why a house is not an investment, why you should never pay a collection agent, why budgeting is a waste of time--and much more. In fact, most financial professionals will disagree with much of the advice in this book. But Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong is not simply a book that casts stones at financial glass houses. This is a book that challenges conventional wisdom, and replaces it with a fresh perspective and practical advice to help you prevent financial problems before they happen. Featuring simple stories that illustrate how conventional wisdom can lead you astray, and simple tweaks you can make to your approach to money management, this book shows you how to avoid the 22 most common financial mistakes and improve your financial health. With a seasoned expert to point you in the right direction-someone who's seen thousands of people in financial crisis, and helped them out of it-you can make informed decisions and live a debt-free, stress-free life."--
Subjects: Finance, Personal.; Financial literacy.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Commodities for dummies / by Bouchentouf, Amine,author.;
"Commodities For Dummies gives you a complete overview of the basics of investing in commodities. Step-by-step explanations, plus the most up-to-date market information and global events, make it easy to invest in the stuff the world is made of. This book helps you identify the most valuable commodities to add to your portfolio, use commodities as a safe haven in shifting economic times, and come out on top. Learn quick, with real-life examples, expert advice, and basic explanations to get you involved in energy, agriculture, and metals. Pick up this book, and you'll be ready to select the right investment vehicles for you, manage risk, and reap the benefits of investing in commodities--the Dummies way."--Publisher marketing.
Subjects: Handbooks and manuals.; Commercial products.; Commodity exchanges.; Finance, Personal.; Investments.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Behind the pickle jar / by McQuaig, Wendy,author.;
Amy Hewston, Assistant Manager of Ultra Luscious Relaxation Spa, is so stressed she can barely function. Her anxiety on overdrive, she finds herself forced to take some time off work, despite her Type A, goal-oriented personality. Her well-meaning husband Matt decides the best road to recovery would be to rent a farmhouse north of the city, where the whole family can relax and regroup. Their two teens are far from onside when their family van pulls into the old farmhouse on Concession 5. While fixing a broken window in the cellar, Amy and Matt come across a diary behind a long-forgotten jar of pickles. The diary belonged to Isabel Huntly who lived in the farmhouse at the turn of the 20th century. As Amy gradually reads through its pages, the history of the century home and the family who lived there takes hold of her psyche. Fascinated by the simple farm lifestyle and the intricate community, in contrast to her own harried existence, there is something about the diary that speaks to her. Suddenly her life choices, which once seemed so clear, are put to the test. She finds herself torn between the need to return to her stressful, high-paced career and her desire to live a simpler life, following her passion for opening a piano bar in a small town. Fraught with indecision, whichever choice Amy makes at this crossroad will affect herself and her family forever. This historical fiction, partially narrated by the old farmhouse itself, takes the reader on a journey through yesteryear, from horse-drawn buggies and church socials to Instagram and iPhones. Many people today can relate to Amy Hewston's hectic life. Her daily struggles, eventual crisis and life-altering decisions, would lead to great discussions over a glass of wine at any book club.
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Diary fiction.; Novels.; Diaries; Families; Farmhouses; Women;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Seeds on ice : Svalbard and the Global Seed Vault / by Fowler, Cary,author.; Tefre, Mari,photographer.; Richardson, Jim,1947 December 5-photographer.;
Includes bibliographical references.Closer to the North Pole than to the Arctic Circle, on an island in a remote Norwegian archipelago, lies a vast global seed bank buried within a frozen mountain. At the end of a 130-meter long tunnel chiseled out of solid stone is a room filled with humanity's precious treasure, the largest and most diverse seed collection ever assembled: more than a half billion seeds containing the world's most prized crops, a safeguard against catastrophic starvation. The Global Seed Vault, a visionary model of international collaboration, is the brainchild of Cary Fowler, renowned scientist, conservationist, and biodiversity advocate. In SEEDS ON ICE, Fowler tells for the first time the comprehensive inside story of how the "doomsday seed vault" came to be, while the breathtaking photographs offer a stunning guided tour not only of the private vault, but of the windswept beauty and majesty of Svalbard and the enchanting community of people in Longyearbyen. With growing evidence that unchecked climate change will seriously undermine food production and threaten the diversity of crops around the world, SEEDS ON ICE offers a personal and passionate reminder that we shouldn't take our reliance on the world of plants for granted--and that, in a very real sense, the future of the human race rides on this frozen and indispensable biodiversity.
Subjects: Svalbard Global Seed Vault.; Biodiversity; Climatic changes; Germplasm resources conservation.; Germplasm resources; Germplasm resources, Plant.; Seed supply.; Seeds;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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