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The last fire season : a personal and pyronatural history / by Martin, Manjula,author.;
Includes bibliographical references."H Is for Hawk meets Joan Didion in the Pyrocene in this arresting combination of memoir, natural history, and literary inquiry that chronicles one woman's experience of life in Northern California during the worst fire season on record. Told in luminous, perceptive prose, The Last Fire Season is a deeply incisive inquiry into what it really means--now--to live in relationship to the elements of the natural world. When Manjula Martin moved from the city to the woods of Northern California, she wanted to be closer to the wilderness that she had loved as a child. She was also seeking refuge from a health crisis that left her with chronic pain, and found a sense of healing through tending her garden beneath the redwoods of Sonoma County. But the landscape that Martin treasured was an ecosystem already in crisis. Wildfires fueled by climate change were growing bigger and more frequent: each autumn, her garden filled with smoke and ash, and the local firehouse siren wailed deep into the night. In 2020, when a dry lightning storm ignited hundreds of simultaneous wildfires across the West and kicked off the worst fire season on record, Martin, along with thousands of other Californians, evacuated her home in the midst of a pandemic. Both a love letter to the forests of the West and an interrogation of the colonialist practices that led to their current dilemma, The Last Fire Season, follows her from the oaky hills of Sonoma County to the redwood forests of coastal Santa Cruz, to the pines and peaks of the Sierra Nevada, as she seeks shelter, bears witness to the devastation, and tries to better understand fire's role in the ecology of the West. As Martin seeks a way to navigate the daily experience of living in a damaged body on a damaged planet, she comes to question her own assumptions about nature and the complicated connections between people and the land on which we live"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Personal narratives.; Martin, Manjula.; Human beings; Wildfires; Women authors, American;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The mistresses of Cliveden : three centuries of scandal, power, and intrigue in an English stately home / by Livingstone, Natalie,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."For fans of Downton Abbey comes an immersive historical epic about a lavish English manor and a dynasty of rich and powerful women who ruled the estate over three centuries of misbehavior, scandal, intrigue, and passion. Five miles from Windsor Castle, home of the royal family, sits the Cliveden estate. Overlooking the Thames, the mansion is flanked by two wings and surrounded by lavish gardens. Throughout its storied history, Cliveden has been a setting for misbehavior, intrigue, and passion--from its salacious, deadly beginnings in the seventeenth century to the 1960s Profumo Affair, the sex scandal that toppled the British government. Now, in this immersive chronicle, the manor's current mistress, Natalie Livingstone, opens the doors to this prominent house and lets the walls do the talking. Built during the reign of Charles II by the Duke of Buckingham, Cliveden attracted notoriety as a luxurious retreat in which the duke could conduct his scandalous affair with the ambitious courtesan Anna Maria, Countess of Shrewsbury. In 1668, Anna Maria's cuckolded husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury, challenged Buckingham to a duel. Buckingham killed Shrewsbury and claimed Anna Maria as his prize, making her the first mistress of Cliveden. Through the centuries, other enigmatic and indomitable women would assume stewardship over the estate, including Elizabeth, Countess of Orkney and illicit lover of William III, who became one of England's wealthiest women; Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the queen that Britain was promised and then denied; Harriet, Duchess of Sutherland, confidante of Queen Victoria and a glittering society hostess turned political activist; and the American-born Nancy Astor, the first female member of Parliament, who described herself as an 'ardent feminist' and welcomed controversy. Though their privileges were extraordinary, in Livingstone's hands, their struggles and sacrifices are universal. Cliveden weathered renovation and restoration, world conflicts and cold wars, societal shifts and technological advances. Rich in historical and architectural detail, The Mistresses of Cliveden is a tale of sex and power, and of the exceptional women who evaded, exploited, and confronted the expectations of their times; Praise for The Mistresses of Cliveden: 'An utterly fascinating and completely beguiling account of three centuries of high living, high politics, and high drama at one of Britain's most famous stately homes."--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Biographies.; Augusta, Princess of Wales, 1719-1772.; Astor, Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess, 1879-1964.; Shrewsbury, Anna Maria Brudenell Talbot, Countess of, 1642-1702.; Sutherland, Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Leveson-Gower, Duchess of, 1806-1868.; Villiers, Elizabeth, Countess of Orkney, 1657?-1733.; Cliveden (England); Cliveden (England); Nobility; Rich people; Women;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The photographer / by Carter, Mary Dixie,author.;
"Delta Dawn comes from humble beginnings, but in her work as a photographer for the children's parties of New York's elite she is used to moving, unnoticed, through their luxurious homes. As she observes their seemingly perfect lives, she adds to this veneer by transforming the images of their crying children, stiff hugs and unsmiling faces--editing the images to make sure the parents see the party they want. The party they may later, looking at the pictures, believe really happened that way. When Delta is hired to take pictures of Natalie Straub's 11th birthday, she finds herself wishing she wasn't behind the lens. She would fit so well in the pictures with the Straub family, wouldn't she, in their gorgeous home, their elegant life? This time editing the pictures isn't enough. Delta begins by babysitting for Natalie, befriending her mother Amelia, finding chances to listen to her father Fritz; soon she's bathing in the master bathtub, drinking their expensive wine, and eyeing the beautifully finished--and currently occupied--garden apartment in their townhouse. It seems like she can never get close enough. Until Delta discovers the one thing Amelia Straub wants most is also the perfect way for Delta to become permanently a part of the picture"--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Psychological fiction.; Babysitting; Envy; Manipulative behavior; Rich people; Stalkers; Surrogate mothers; Women photographers;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 2
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One good thing / by Potter, Alexandra,author.;
"Liv Brooks is still in shock. Newly-divorced and facing an uncertain future, she impulsively swaps her London life for the sweeping hills of the Yorkshire Dales, determined to make a fresh start. But fresh starts are harder than they look and feeling lost and lonely she decides to adopt Harry, an old dog from the local shelter, to keep her company. But Liv soon discovers she isn't the only one in need of a new beginning. On their daily walks around the village, they meet Valentine, an old man who suffers from loneliness who sits by the window and Stanley, a little boy who is scared of everyone and hides behind the garden gate and Maya, a teenager who is angry at everyone and everything. But slowly things start to change ... Utterly relatable, hilarious and heart-breakingly honest, this is a novel about friendship, finding happiness and living the life unexpected. And how when everything falls apart, all you need is one good thing to turn your life around and make it worth living again."--
Subjects: Domestic fiction.; Humorous fiction.; Novels.; Animal rescue; Divorced women; Friendship; Human-animal relationships; Interpersonal relations; Life change events;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The trouble with fairy tales : a memoir / by Johnson, Plum,author.;
"Plum Johnson, author of the bestselling, award-winning memoir about her parents, They Left Us Everything, turns her gaze toward her own fascinating romantic and creative history. This witty, energetic, surprising memoir explores the fairy tale models of romantic love that a young Plum, and most girls of her generation, absorbed -- of the prince who awakens the princess with a kiss, of the pied piper who irresistibly draws his followers close to the cliff's edge, of the tragic, damaged man who needs help -- but might turn out to be a terrible Bluebeard in disguise. These models shaped her life, but creativity has been an equally powerful influence. From the plays she wrote and put on as a child, through a college-age "improv" in which she slipped into the role of personal cook for a wealthy American, to decades of painting, inventing, and ultimately her revelatory, life-changing return to her first love, writing -- creation has been a life-force through joy and pain, triumph and terrible loss. The Trouble With Fairytales rings with wisdom, elegance, and hilarity, and will serve as an affirmation for all those who desire to write, paint, garden, invent, and create, but feel that they aren't "allowed," or that it is too late. Go forth and create; it might just save your life"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Personal narratives.; Johnson, Plum.; Johnson, Plum; Authors, Canadian; Authors; Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.); Fairy tales; Women authors;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Her first desire / by Maxwell, Cathy.;
As a member of the local Logical Men's Society, Ned Thurlowe prides himself on thinking clearly and calmly at all times. And it's clear that the meeting place of the society--a local tavern--is his even if the men have turned it to shambles. But Ned's claim is challenged Gemma Estep, who's announced she's decided to turn it into some sort of respectable tea garden for the local ladies. Ned challenges Gemma, and in doing so behaves most illogically, for though he wants to dismiss her, he also can't help but desire her. Gemma has had enough of men telling her what to do, and she's vowed to make her own way in the world. And Ned Thurlowe is ruining her plans. Not only has he laid claim to her property, pitting them in a heated fight for its ownership, he's also arousing in her feelings she's never sensed before. And although they argue, they quickly discover they have more in common than they'd each ever dreamed--could their disagreement be turning into desire?
Subjects: Romance fiction.; Historical fiction.; Nobility; Bars (Drinking establishments); Widows; Man-woman relationships;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Murder is for keeps / by Duncan, Elizabeth J.,author.;
"Local artist and amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan has been spending her summer painting the exterior and views of the once-lovely Gwrych Castle, now in a heartbreaking state of disrepair. A privately owned castellated country house of jaw dropping scale, the gorgeous house located just outside of Penny's picturesque Welsh town has been sadly neglected for decades. Penny is thrilled when she hears local Mark Baker is leading a team of enthusiastic volunteers to restore the castle grounds and formal gardens to their former grandeur. But there are always disagreements about how everything should be done, and it's not long before they turn deadly. Penny is horrified to discover the body of an overbearing volunteer who had opposed Mark at every turn. Convinced that Mark is innocent, Penny enlists the help of keen gardener Gareth Davies, recently retired from the North Wales Police Service. She asks that he join the volunteer brigade, so Gareth dons a hi-vis jacket, picks up a spade and picks up a few clues, too. Asked to examine watercolor paintings of the estate gardens from the 1920s, Penny is surprised to find a few clues of her own. Could the 90-year-old paintings really hold the keys to a present-day murder? Murder is for keeps is the latest book in this charming traditional mystery series from Elizabeth J. Duncan"--
Subjects: Detective and mystery fiction.; Brannigan, Penny (Fictitious character); Women private investigators; City and town life; Murder;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Abigail and Alexa save the wedding : a novel / by Dolan, Lian,author.;
Penelope and Chase make a lovely couple. She's a bubbly Southern California girl with killer work ethic. Chase is smart and charming and has political aspirations. They're planning a spectacular California wedding, wrapped in peonies and thousands of little white lights, soaked in custom cocktails and romantic hashtags. Everyone's excited about Penny and Chase's wedding--------except their mothers. The Mother of the Bride, suave Greek-born Alexa Diamandis, doesn't understand why any woman would get married. Ever! Raised in Athens and now perfectly situated in sun-splashed Montecito, California, she raised Penny as single mother by choice, supported by Lord Simon Fox, her old college friend who just happens to be an English aristocrat, and a wealthy circle of lady friends who call themselves the Merry Widows. The Mother of the Groom, Abigail Blakeman, is a garden club stalwart firmly planted in coastal Connecticut. She thinks the whole enterprise would be so much easier if the wedding was at their golf club. Especially because the Blakeman's fortunes have taken a turn for the worse--not that you would ever know it by looking at Abigail. Keeping up appearances is exhausting, but it is everything. But when a sudden twist of fate calls them into action, these two very different women are forced to take over the wedding planning. Despite their differences, Alexa and Abigail charge in to save the day. How far will two moms go to make their children's dream wedding a reality?
Subjects: Domestic fiction.; Novels.; Couples; Friendship; Interpersonal relations; Mothers; Weddings; Women;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Out of her depth / by Barber, Lizzy,author.;
"There are summers that will change your life. There are summers that may end it. In the lush green hills beyond Florence sits the Villa Medici--a graceful pensione surrounded by manicured gardens. Rachel, a college student from an unfashionable London suburb, can't believe her luck in landing a summer job here. Especially when she's drawn into a circle of privileged young sophisticates, including her glamorous co-worker Diana, who promises to help Rachel win the affections of handsome, confident Sebastian. But as champagne flows and rivalries fester in the Tuscan countryside, Rachel realizes that Diana has motivations of her own. Adrift in a world of backstabbing and bedhopping, lavish parties and easy betrayal, Rachel feels the stakes rising along with the temperatures until, one night, something snaps. Someone dies. And nothing will ever be the same ..."--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Psychological fiction.; Novels.; British; Murder; Rich people; Summer employment; Women college students;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Throne of grace : a mountain man, an epic adventure, and the bloody conquest of the American West / by Drury, Bob,author.; Clavin, Tom,1954-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The explosive true saga of the legendary adventurer Jedediah Smith and the Mountain Men who explored the American frontier. It is the early 19th century, and the land recently purchased by President Thomas Jefferson stretches west for thousands of miles. Who inhabits this vast new garden of Eden? What strange beasts and natural formations can be found? Thus was the birth of Manifest Destiny and the resulting bloody battles with Indigenous tribes encountered by white explorers. Also in this volatile mix are the grizzled fur trappers and mountain men, waging war against the Native American tribes whose lands they traverse. This is the setting of this book, and the guide to this epic narrative is arguably America's greatest yet most unsung pathfinder, Jedediah Smith. His explorations into the forested frontiers on both sides of the Rocky Mountains and all the way to the West Coast would become the stuff of legend. Thanks to painstaking research and riveting writing, the story of the making of modern America is told through the eyes of both the ordinary and memorable men and women, settlers and Indigenous, who witnessed it"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Personal narratives.; Smith, Jedediah Strong, 1799-1831.; Explorers; Fur trade; Overland journeys to the Pacific.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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