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The window seat : notes from a life in motion / by Forna, Aminatta,author.;
"Aminatta Forna is one of our most important literary voices, and her novels have won the Windham Campbell Prize and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book. In this elegantly rendered and wide-ranging collection of new and previously published essays, Forna writes intimately about displacement, trauma and memory, love, and how we coexist and encroach on the non-human world. Movement is a constant here. In the title piece, "The Window Seat," Forna reveals the unexpected enchantments of commercial air travel. In "Obama and the Renaissance Generation," she documents how, despite the narrative of Obama's exceptionalism, his father, like her own, was one of a generation of gifted young Africans who came to the United Kingdom and the United States for education and were expected to build their home countries anew after colonialism. In "The Last Vet," time spent shadowing Dr. Jalloh, the only veterinarian in Sierra Leone, as he works with the street dogs of Freetown, becomes a meditation on what a society's treatment of animals tells us about its principles. In "Crossroads," she examines race in America from an African perspective, in "Power Walking" she describes what it means to walk in the world in a Black woman's body, and in "The Watch" she explores the raptures of sleep and sleeplessness the world over. Deeply meditative and written with a wry humor, The Window Seat confirms that Forna is a vital voice in international letters"--
Subjects: Essays.; Forna, Aminatta.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Whistle [text (large print)] : a novel / by Barclay, Linwood,author.;
"Annie Blunt has had an unimaginably terrible year. First, her husband was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident, then one of the children's books she's built her writing and illustrating career on ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal. But Annie's year is about to get worse. Bored and lonely in their isolated new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed on their property. Annie is glad to see Charlie happy, but there's something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night--she could swear she hears a train, but there isn't an active track for miles--and bizarre things begin happening in the neighborhood. Worse, Annie can't seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children's book. Grief can do strange things to the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she's walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying ... "--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Large print books.; Psychological fiction.; Novels.; Good and evil; Grief; Mothers and sons; Railroad trains; Sheds; Small cities; Toys; Women authors;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Sailor and fiddler : reflections of a 100-year-old author / by Wouk, Herman,1915-;
"In an unprecedented literary accomplishment, Herman Wouk, one of America's most beloved and enduring authors, reflects on his life and times from the remarkable vantage point of 100 years old. Many years ago, the great British philosopher Sir Isaiah Berlin urged Herman Wouk to write his autobiography. Wouk responded, "Why me? I'm nobody." Berlin answered, "No, no. You've traveled. You've known many people. You have interesting ideas. It would do a lot of good." Now, in the same year he has celebrated his hundredth birthday, Herman Wouk finally reflects on the life experiences that inspired his most beloved novels. Among those experiences are his days writing for comedian Fred Allen's radio show, one of the most popular shows in the history of the medium; enlisting in the US Navy during World War II; falling in love with Betty Sarah Brown, the woman who would become his wife (and literary agent) for sixty-six years; writing his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Caine Mutiny; as well as a big hit Broadway play The Caine Mutiny Court Martial; and the surprising inspirations and people behind such masterpieces as The Winds of War, War and Remembrance, Marjorie Morningstar, and Youngblood Hawke. Written with the wisdom of a man who has lived through two centuries and the wit of someone who began his career as professional comedy writer, the first part of Wouk's memoir ("Sailor") refers to his Navy experience and writing career, the second ("Fiddler") to what he's learned from living a life of faith. Ultimately, Sailor and Fiddler is an unprecedented reflection from a vantage point few people have lived to experience"--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Wouk, Herman, 1915-; Authors, American;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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What I know for sure / by Winfrey, Oprah,author.; Winfrey, Oprah.Essays.Selections.;
"In this updated edition of the bestseller that launched Flatiron's list ten years ago, Oprah shares what she has come to know for sure in the last decade. After film critic Gene Siskel asked her, "What do you know for sure?" Oprah Winfrey began writing the "What I Know For Sure" column in O, The Oprah Magazine. Saying that the question offered her a way to take "stock of her life," Oprah has penned one column a month over the last fourteen years, years in which she retired The Oprah Winfrey Show (the highest-rated program of its kind in history), launched her own television network, became America's only black billionaire, was awarded an honorary degree from Harvard University and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, watched friends and colleagues come and go, and celebrated milestone birthdays. Throughout it all, she's continued to offer her profound and inspiring words of wisdom in her "What I Know For Sure" column in O, The Oprah Magazine. Now, for the first time, these thoughtful gems have been revised, updated, and collected in What I Know For Sure, a beautiful book packed with insight and revelation from Oprah Winfrey. Organized by theme-joy, resilience, connection, gratitude, possibility, awe, clarity, and power-these essays offer a rare and powerful glimpse into the mind of one of the world's most extraordinary women. Candid, moving, exhilarating, uplifting, and dynamic, the words Oprah shares in What I Know For Sure shimmer with the sort of wisdom and truth that readers will turn to again and again"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Essays.; Personal narratives.; Winfrey, Oprah; Actors; Television personalities;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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15-minute Spanish : learn in just 12 weeks / by Bremón, Ana,author.; DK Publishing, Inc.;
"Teach yourself Spanish in just 12 weeks with this fun-filled language course. DK's 15 Minute Spanish is the perfect course for busy people who want to learn Spanish fast. The 12 themed chapters are broken down into easy-to-follow 15-minute daily lessons spanning a range of practical themes, including: leisure, business, food and drink, travel, and shopping. Each lesson combines vocabulary and grammar essentials with attractive full-color images, making it quick, easy, and fun to learn new Spanish vocabulary. There is no writing or homework--you simply use the cover flaps to hide the answers to exercises and test yourself as you learn. Each chapter ends with a review module, so you can track your progress and identify areas where you need further practice. Fancy becoming a pro at the language? Then get stuck in to discover: Annotated photographic scenes and word lists make it easy to learn and remember new vocabulary; 12 fun chapters, each designed to take a week to master, providing an easy-to-follow structure for new learners; Easy-to-use pronunciation guide for every word, plus a dictionary and menu guide at the back of the book; Regular review modules to help you track progress and assess how well you have learned the vocabulary in each chapter. The course includes a free audio app that lets you to hear Spanish words and phrases spoken by native speakers. Use the app alongside the book's easy-to-use pronunciation guides to perfect your pronunciation and practise Spanish conversation in real-life situations. Whether you're a complete beginner or just in need of a refresher course, there's no easier way to learn Spanish than with 15 Minute Spanish."--
Subjects: Programmed instructional materials.; Spanish language; Spanish language; Spanish language; Spanish language;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Spillane : king of pulp fiction : a biography / by Collins, Max Allan,author.; Traylor, James L.,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The first-ever biography of the most popular and most influential pulp writer of all time, written by the collaborator who knew him best. Beginning in 1947 with I, the Jury, Mickey Spillane's crime writing career charted one of the most meteoric rises in modern letters. The author quickly amassed a readership in the tens of millions, which made him the bestselling novelist in the history of American publishing. His Mike Hammer private eye novels were tough, violent, and sexually suggestive, which made them a lightning rod for controversy in post-war America. Scorned by critics and by the literary establishment, Spillane's work was nevertheless beloved by readers, and his character soon spurred film and television adaptations that were as popular and as influential as the books on which they were based. His enormous success changed the course of popular fiction in the decades that followed and inspired scores of imitations. There is, however, more to the life of Frank Morrison Spillane than his books. Born in Brooklyn, raised in New Jersey, the young son of a bartender worked as a circus performer and fighter pilot before his writing career took off, and, through writing, he went on to a career as an actor, a crimestopper, and a Miller Light spokesperson in commercials so popular they ran for a quarter of a century. These stories and more are included in Spillane: King of Pulp Fiction, the definitive biography of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, written by the author's friend and collaborator, Max Allan Collins, and pulp fiction scholar James L. Traylor"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Spillane, Mickey, 1918-2006.; Novelists, American;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Caste [sound recording] : the origins of our discontents / by Wilkerson, Isabel,author.; Miles, Robin,narrator.; Random House Audio Publishing,publisher.;
Read by Robin Miles.""As we go about our daily lives, caste is the wordless usher in a darkened theater, flashlight cast down in the aisles, guiding us to our assigned seats for a performance. The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is about power--which groups have it and which do not." In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings. Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people's lives and behavior and the nation's fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people--including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball's Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others--she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their out-cast of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity. Beautifully written, original, and revealing, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents is an eye-opening story of people and history, and a reexamination of what lies under the surface of ordinary lives and of America life today"--
Subjects: Audiobooks.; Caste; Ethnicity; Power (Social sciences); Social stratification;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The rom-commers [sound recording] / by Center, Katherine,author.; Murin, Patti,narrator.; Macmillan Audio (Firm),publisher.;
Read by Patti Murin."She's rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own? Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She's spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies-good ones! That win contests! But she's also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates-The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!-it's a break too big to pass up. Emma's younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don't meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn't want to write with anyone-much less "a failed, nobody screenwriter." Worse, the romantic comedy he's written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn't even care about the script-it's just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme. But Emma's not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter-even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But ... what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much ... more real than fiction? What if the love story they're writing breaks all Emma's rules-and comes true?"--
Subjects: Audiobooks.; Humorous fiction.; Novels.; Romance fiction.; Love; Man-woman relationships; Screenwriters; Women authors; Women screenwriters;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Listening well : bringing stories of hope to life / by Morris, Heather(Screenwriter),author.;
Includes bibliographical references."From New York Times bestselling author Heather Morris comes the memoir of a life of listening to others. In Listening Well, Heather will explore her extraordinary talents as a listener--a skill she employed when she first met Lale Sokolov, the tattooist at Auschwitz-Birkenau and the inspiration for her bestselling novel. It was this ability that led Lale to entrust Heather with his story, which she told in her novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz and the bestselling follow up, Cilka's Journey. Now Heather shares the story behind her inspirational writing journey and the defining experiences of her life, including her profound friendship with Lale, and explores how she learned to really listen to the stories people told her--skills she believes we can all learn."--
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Morris, Heather (Screenwriter); Authors, New Zealand; Listening (Philosophy);
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Death of the author : a novel / by Okorafor, Nnedi,author.;
Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sister's lavish Caribbean wedding, she's unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. It's a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it Rusted Robots. When Zelu finds the courage to share her strange novel, she does not realize she is about to embark on a life-altering journey--one that will catapult her into literary stardom, but also perhaps obliterate everything her book was meant to be. From Chicago to Lagos to the far reaches of space, Zelu's novel will change the future not only for humanity, but for the robots who come next. A book-within-a-book that blends the line between writing and being written, Death of the Author is a masterpiece of metafiction that manages to combine the razor-sharp commentary of Yellowface with the heartfelt humanity of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Surprisingly funny, deeply poignant, and endlessly discussable, this is at once the tale of a woman on the margins risking everything to be heard and a testament to the power of storytelling to shape the world as we know it.
Subjects: Psychological fiction.; Sagas.; Novels.; Authors; Fame; Families; Movement disorders; Nigerian Americans; Robots in literature; Women authors; Women with disabilities;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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