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Pluck : a memoir of a Newfoundland childhood and the raucous, terrible, amazing journey to becoming a novelist / by Morrissey, Donna,1956-author.;
"A deeply personal account of love's restorative ability as it leads renowned novelist Donna Morrissey through mental illness, family death, and despair to becoming a writer--told with charm and inimitable humour. When Donna Morrissey left the only home she had ever known, an isolated Newfoundland settlement, at age 16, she was ready for adventure. She had grown up without television or telephones but had absorbed the tragic stories and comic yarns of her close-knit family and community. The death of her infant brother marked the family, and years later, Morrissey suffers devastating guilt about the accidental death of her teenage brother, whom she'd enticed to join her in the oilfields. Her misery was compounded by her own misdiagnosis of a terminal illness, all of which contributed to crippling anxiety and an actual diagnosis of PTSD. Many of those events and themes would eventually be transformed and recast as fictional gold in Morrissey's novels. In another writer's hands, Morrissey's account of her personal story could easily be a tragedy. Instead, she combines darkness and light, levity and sadness into her tale, as her indomitable spirit and humour sustain her. Morrissey's path takes her from the drudgery of being a grocery clerk (who occasionally enlivens her shift with recreational drugs) to western oilfields, to marriage and divorce and working in a fish-processing plant to support herself and her two young children. Throughout her struggles, she nourishes a love of learning and language. Morrissey layers her account of her life with stories of those who came before her, a breed rarely seen in the modern world. It centers around iron-willed women: mothers and daughters, wives, sisters, teachers and mentors who find the support, the wind for their wings, outside the bounds given to them by nature. And it is a mysterious older woman she meets in Halifax who eventually unleashes the writer that Morrissey is destined to become. An inspiring and insightful memoir, Pluck illustrates that even when you find yourself unravelling, you can find a way to spin the yarns that will save you--and delight readers everywhere."--
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Morrissey, Donna, 1956-; Anxiety disorders; Brothers; Novelists, Canadian (English);

Ghosts of the orphanage : a story of mysterious deaths, a conspiracy of silence, and a search for justice / by Kenneally, Christine,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."A shocking expose of the dark, secret history of Catholic orphanages--the violence, abuse, and even murder that took place within their walls--and a call to hold the powerful to account. More than 5 million Americans passed through orphanages in the 20th century alone. At its peak in the 1930s, the American orphanage system included more than 1,600 institutions, partly supported with public funding but usually run by religious orders, including the Catholic Church. Ghosts of the Orphanage is the result of seven years of investigation, and what Christine Keneally found was shocking, yet hiding in plain sight. Terrible things, abuse, both physical and psychological, and even deaths have happened in orphanages for many years. The survivors have been telling their stories for a long time, but no one has been listening. People are too often unwilling to accept their stories. And their options for recourse have been limited by the years it has taken many survivors to process their trauma, tell their stories, and pursue legal action. Centering her story on St. Joseph's, a Catholic orphanage in Vermont, Keneally investigates and shares the stories of survivors. She has fought to expose the truth and hold the powerful--many of them Catholic priests and nuns--to account. And it is working. As these stories have come to light, the laws in Vermont have been forced to change, including the statute of limitations on prosecuting them. Told with human compassion, novelistic detail, and a powerful sense of purpose, Ghosts of the Orphanage is not only a gripping story but a reckoning. It is proof that real evil lurks at the edges of our society, and that, if we have the courage, we can bring it into the light and defeat it"--
Subjects: True crime stories.; Catholic Church; Child abuse; Orphanages;

Black work [videorecording] / by Charman, Matt.; Duce, Sharon,1950-; Kneafsey, Honor.; Knott, Andrew.; McNulty, Matthew,1982-; Samuels, Michael.; Smith, Sheridan,1981-; Woollford, Oliver.; Acorn Media (Firm); RLJ Entertainment.;
Sheridan Smith, Matthew McNulty, Oliver Woollford, Honor Kneafsey, Sharon Duce, Andrew Knott.Jo Gillespie is a policewoman whose detective husband is killed in the line of duty while working undercover on a case. Her coworkers expect her to stay out of the investigation, but when alarming information about her husband comes to light, Jo loses faith in her police family and sets out to find the killer herself. Along the way she learns of the many dark secrets surrounding her husband, his colleagues, and the criminals they were investigating.Canadian Home Video Rating: 14A.DVD, widescreen (1.78:1); Dolby Digital stereo.
Subjects: Crime television programs.; Husbands; Murder; Police; Secrets; Television mini-series.; Undercover operations;
For private home use only.

Batman. [graphic novel] / by King, Tom,1978-author.; Janín, Mikel,artist.; Bellaire, Jordie,colourist.; Stewart, Dave,colourist.; Morey, Tomeu,colourist,artist.; Gerads, Mitch,colourist.; Cowles, Clayton,letterer.; Daniel, Tony S.(Antonio Salvador),artist.;
"With Catwoman at his side, the Caped Crusader is looking to take down Bane's army and reclaim his city. But is the Dark Knight Detective ready to take on the foe who broke him worse than any other that came before? And what else stands in Batman's way, to put an obstacle between him and his enemy? Tread lightly, Batman, because not only do the lives of your son and trusted friends hang in the balance, but your entire home could collapse. Batman and his allies have a choice: let Bane stay in power and guarantee the city's survival, or risk everything to break free!"--
Subjects: Superhero comics.; Graphic novels.; Batman (Fictitious character); Superheroes; Supervillains; Criminal behavior; Good and evil;

Dark circles : a novel / by Dolan-Leach, Caite,author.;
"An unhinged actress turns to podcasting when she becomes entangled in a dark conspiracy at the retreat she once sought spiritual refuge at in this absorbing mystery about fame, violence, and our morbid fascination with murder-from the acclaimed author of Dead Letters. Olivia Reed needed a break. She doesn't want to think about her name plastered on tabloids or be reminded of her recent meltdown on a Manhattan street. Her micromanaging publicist has just the thing in mind: A remote retreat in Upstate New York-the House of Light. It's not rehab; it's a spiritual center, a site for seeking realignment and personal growth. There will be yoga and morning meditation, soft bamboo-blend fabrics and crystals to snuggle. But Liv will soon find that the House of Light is filled with darkness. She is approached by a prickly local, Ava, who informs her that something twisted is lurking beneath the the Light's veneer. There have been a series of mysterious suicides committed by women caught in the Light's web, and no matter who Ava talks to, no one believes her. To get the truth out and put her celebrity to good use, Liv starts a podcast, dodging flashlight beams to record at Ava's home and seeking to connect the dots and expose the Light's true intentions, if she and Ava can find them. Beneath the glowing skin of the Light's inhabitants are rotten souls, and Liv learns that she can trust no one-except herself. Caite Dolan-Leach brings her tantalizing voice and gift for atmosphere together with a cast of delightfully devious and absorbing characters to this riveting novel of suspense"--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Novels.; Actresses; Podcasts; Spiritual retreats; Suicide;

Paris '44 : the shame and the glory / by Bishop, Patrick(Patrick Joseph),author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Celebrating the eightieth anniversary of the liberation of Paris, a heart-stopping countdown narrative recreating the liberation of Paris in 1944, one of the great hinge moments of WW2. The fall of Paris to the Nazis in June 1940 seemed like the darkest day of the Second World War; and the liberation of the city in August 1944 felt like the brightest. The liberation was a hinge moment of immense significance for the twentieth century, heralding the final victory of light over darkness and opening the door to a future free from fear. It was also the party of the century: champagne flowed freely, total strangers embraced -- it was a celebration of life renewed against the backdrop of the world's favourite city, seen in by the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Lee Miller. This happy ending has come to feel as if it was pre-ordained. But there was nothing inevitable about it. Had things gone differently Paris might have gone down as a ghastly monument to Nazi nihilism, reduced to a rubble-strewn graveyard. This book, timed for the eightieth anniversary of the liberation of Paris, tells the story of those iridescent days in a startling new way. In a countdown narrative, packed with drama, heroism, joy -- and heart-thumping suspense -- the City of Lights' fate hangs in the balance."--
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945;

A Family Matter A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel [electronic resource] : by Lynch, Claire.aut; CloudLibrary;
A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY • A Most Anticipated Book of 2025: USA TODAY, Goodreads, and Today.com A young wife following her heart. A husband with the law on his side. Their daughter, caught in the middle. Forty years later, a family secret changes everything in this “perfect” (Elin Hilderbrand) debut novel. 1982. Dawn is a young mother, still adjusting to life with her husband, when Hazel lights up her world like a torch in the dark. Theirs is the kind of connection that’s impossible to resist, and suddenly life is more complicated, and more joyful, than Dawn ever expected. But she has responsibilities and commitments. She has a daughter. 2022. Heron has just received news from his doctor that turns everything upside down. He’s an older man, stuck in the habits of a quiet existence. Telling Maggie, his only child—the person around whom his life has revolved—seems impossible. Heron can’t tell her about his diagnosis, just as he can’t reveal all the other secrets he’s been keeping from her for so many years. A Family Matter is a heartbreaking and hopeful exploration of love and loss, intimacy and injustice, custody and care, and whether it is possible to heal from the wounds of the past in the changed world of today.
Subjects: Electronic books.; Lesbian; Literary;
© 2025., Scribner,

Blood jade / by Vee, Julia,author.; Bebelle, Ken,author.;
"It takes a killer to catch a killer. Emiko Soong, newly minted Sentinel of San Francisco, just can't catch a break. Just after she becomes the guardian for a sentient city, a murder strikes close to home. Called by the city and one of the most powerful clans to investigate, she traces the killer whose scent signature bears a haunting similarity to her mother's talent. The trail will lead her back to Tokyo where the thread she pulls threatens to unravel her whole world and bring dark family secrets to light. Meanwhile, the General rises in the East and Emiko must fight the hidden enemies of his growing army who are amped up on Blood Jade, while keeping her promises to her brother Tatsuya as he prepares for his tourney. Her duties as Sentinel and her loyalties collide when she must choose between hiding her deepest shame or stopping the General's relentless march"--
Subjects: Fantasy fiction.; Novels.; Family secrets; Female assassins; Magic;

The songbird & the heart of stone / by Broadbent, Carissa,author.;
"In the descent to the underworld, a bride of the sun must choose between the light of her redemption ... or a dark love that defies the gods themselves."--
Subjects: Vampire fiction.; Paranormal fiction.; Fantasy fiction.; Novels.; Betrayal; Good and evil; Imaginary places; Man-woman relationships; Vampires;

Small victories : spotting improbable moments of grace / by Lamott, Anne.;
"Anne Lamott writes about community, family and faith in essays that are wise, irreverent, funny and poignant - a style that has become her trademark. Now in Small Victories, Lamott has once again written a brilliant and insightful book that offers a message of hope that celebrates the triumph of light over the darkness in our lives. Our victories over hardships and pain may be small, they may be infrequent, but they keep us going and they often come from the most unexpected places: within ourselves. Lamott shows how we can forgive thoughtless family members; spotlights the value of turning toward love even in the most hopeless situations (the death of a loved one, a cancer diagnosis), and shows how to find the joy in getting lost in traffic while racing to the aid of a sick friend. Insightful and irreverent, the stories in Small Victories are proof that the human spirit is resilient and irrepressible"--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Lamott, Anne; Christian biography; Grace.; Hope.; Joy.; Life; Novelists, American; Spiritual life.;