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The Strongbox: Searching for My Absent Father
by Terry Sue HarmsFollowing the unexpected death of her alcoholic mother, and worn down by the unceasing taunts of &“bastard&” from her hostile and mentally unstable stepfather, plucky sixteen-year-old Terry Sue sets out to find her biological father—believing this man, whom she has never met, could change her life for the better. But before she can find him, she must identify him, and the unfamiliar names on her birth certificate perplex her. She comes to realize that tenacity must run in her family, for as determined as she is to find her father, he appears equally determined to remain hidden. In The Strongbox, Terry Sue offers readers a forthright and inspirational account of her challenges, as well as her against-all-odds successes. This decades-long personal journey reads like a detective novel, full of setbacks, false leads, jaw-dropping discoveries, and heartening triumphs. The narrative&’s twists and turns also pull back the curtain on many of today&’s inconvenient truths: child abandonment, multigenerational alcoholism, sexism, economic inequality, domestic violence, mental illness, and illiteracy. Undaunted by the many blind alleys she encounters, Terry Sue forges on in her hunt for the loving care and emotional support she never received from her parents, and she ultimately finds it—but it arrives in forms she never expected.
Zoya's Gift: Building a Bridge to a Global Family | A Memoir
by Gail McCormickStill recovering from the heartbreak of infertility, memoirist Gail McCormick and her husband volunteer to host two Children of Chernobyl for a summer reprieve from radiation exposure. Fate pairs the Seattle couple with eight-year-old Ukrainian twin sisters from Belarus—and rekindles Gail&’s childhood dream to build a bridge of peace between the US and the former Soviet Union.Over four summers of mayhem and magic with the twins, a deep relationship takes root. When the girls age out of the program that brought them to Seattle, Gail confronts her Cold War fears and travels with her husband to reunite with them in Ukraine and Belarus. On this soul-making trip to a land of unspeakable loss, she celebrates life in the homes of an accordion-playing Chernobyl hero and a barefooted babushka who distills her own vodka, and—behind the remnants of the Iron Curtain—finds her place as an honorary mother and babushka in a four-generation family of former Soviets. Poignant and culturally rich, her narrative transports readers to storied cities, villages, and dachas from Kyiv to Minsk.Written with reverence, insight, humor, and hope, Zoya&’s Gift illuminates the complexities, joys, and importance of reaching across political, class, and cultural divides.
The Opposite of Never: A Novel
by Mary Kathleen MehuronLife is mostly a mixed bag. Devastated when they lose their spouses, both Kenny Simmons and Georgia Best carry on for the sake of their children, although they are certain that the best part of their lives is long over. Then Georgia and her lifelong companions, Linda and Yvonne, meet Kenny while walking down a dusty Vermont country road, and the four of them hit it off. Soon, Kenny becomes a regular part of their hiking group, and he and Georgia grow more than fond of each other. Kenny&’s stepdaughter, Zelda, and Yvonne&’s teenage son, Spencer, also fall in love—at first sight. Through surprisingly relatable circumstances, they are drawn into opiate use, shocking everyone, and the two of them struggle through the torment of addiction together. In an impulsive and daring attempt to create a grand finale out of difficult times, Kenny takes Georgia off to vacation in Cuba just as it is opening up to Americans—and what they discover in the golden light of Old Havana is another startling surprise.
Promenade of Desire: A Barcelona Memoir
by Isidra Mencos“A brave and unblinkingly honest portrait of a young woman’s sensual and sexual awakening in the face of censure and repression, and her refusal to be held back by the constraints of her family, culture, and religion. The same joyful spirit that expresses itself in Mencos’ love of dancing shines through in her story of her own personal dance into a brave new world beyond the one her mother prescribed for her. Her story is shameless, in the very best sense of the word.”—Joyce Maynard, New York Times best-selling author of Labor Day, To Die For, and Count The Ways María Isidra is a proper Catholic girl raised in 1960s Spain by a strong matriarch during a repressive dictatorship. Early sexual trauma and a hefty dose of fear keep her in line for much of her childhood, but also lead her to live a double life. In her home, there is no discussing the needs of her growing body. In the street, kissing in public is forbidden.Upon the dictator’s death in 1975, Spain bursts wide open, giving way to democracy and a cultural revolution. Barcelona’s vibrant downtown and its new freedoms seduce María Isidra. She dives into a world of activism, communal living, literature, counterculture, open sexuality, and alcohol.And yet she knows something is missing. Longing to reconnect with her body—from which she has felt estranged since childhood—she finds a surprising home in a rundown salsa club, where the lush rhythm sparks a deep wave of healing. Transformed, she sets off on a series of sexual and romantic misadventures, in search for what she has always found painfully elusive: true intimacy.Promenade of Desire is a rich journey into the life of a woman once contained, who finds a way to set herself free.
Home Free: Adventures of a Child of the Sixties
by Rifka KreiterOn a bus trip to a Catskill Mountain ashram, Rifka Kreiter recollects her past as she travels to meet Swamiji, another new guru on the scene in the bustling spiritual marketplace of 1976. Memories abound of an eventful childhood with an unstable mother on New York&’s Upper West Side and in LA, of dancing the Twist at Manhattan&’s Peppermint Lounge, and of sitting in against the war—as well as getting tear-gassed in Mississippi, surviving broken love affairs, and more. A checkerboard ride through the fifties, sixties, and early seventies, Home Free is powered by Kreiter&’s passionate drive for pleasure, self-knowledge, and—above all—freedom from limitations, whether psychological, political, or spiritual. Ultimately, it is a joyful trip, as she strives to bust free, be it with drugs, therapy, political activism, or meditation. At last, she arrives at a destination as unexpected as it is transformational.
The Essential Sex Education Book for Parents: Guided Conversations to Have with Your Tweens and Teens
by Daniel RiceDiscover sex-positive guidance to help you have important talks with your tween or teen Find out how you can tackle the sometimes difficult subject of sex in a way that encourages your child to open up, be honest, and not feel ashamed. This modern guide helps you confidently discuss 70 essential sex education topics. Each subject features an easy-to-understand explanation, as well as questions and prompts designed to help you start meaningful dialogues. What sets this book apart from other books about sex education for teens: Sex education 101—Learn about the physical, mental, emotional, and social changes that your child is experiencing as they move through puberty. Tips for talking—In addition to helpful prompts, find guidance for how to have conversations with your child, respond to difficult questions, and more. Comprehensive info—Better understand up-to-date approaches on sex education, exploring everything from sexual health and safe sex to consent, gender identity, and social media. Make sure you're ready to have "The Talk" with The Essential Sex Education Book for Parents.
Uprooted: Memoir
by Esti SklootWhen pregnant Esther—a young, adventurous, British-born Israeli—follows her new husband, Steve, to America, she has no idea what she&’s getting herself into. Even before their baby is born, Esther discovers the dark side of her charming film production manager husband, and learns that she must cope with his moodiness and domineering personality. Left alone day after day in a high-rise apartment in Queens, Esther struggles with culture shock, homesickness, and adapting her husband&’s whims—like the baby goat he brings home to their eighth-floor apartment to keep as a pet. Ten years and two more children later, thirty-four-year-old Steve is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Despite aggressive treatments, he succumbs to the disease, leaving Esther to care for their three children alone, Esther at first feels lost and bewildered; as time goes on, however, she discovers that there is a freedom in her new situation—and that she has a greater inner strength than she ever before realized.
Affliction: Growing Up With a Closeted Gay Dad
by Laura HallIn 1937, at the age of nineteen, Ralph Hall, suicidal, revealed his sexual orientation to his grandmother, knowing she would comfort him. He was out for three years afterwards, until an indiscretion sent him back into the closet. At twenty-four, while in the army, he met and married Irene. The couple made their home on the San Francisco Peninsula and had four children. Ralph was an attentive husband and father—albeit with an intense interest in interior design, flower arranging, and fine objects—and a diligent worker who rose to payroll accountant at Standard Oil. It wasn't until 1975 that Ralph came out to his middle daughter, Laura, telling her that he had once considered his sexuality an aberration, an affliction. She was shocked, as the possibility her father might be gay had never crossed her mind. Irene had known Ralph’s secret for eighteen years, but the two remained married until she died. It was only then that this charismatic man and devoted father, by now in his eighties, could freely express his authentic, gay self.Here, Laura paints a vivid and honest portrait of her beloved father and the effect his secret had on her own life.
The Gaslighting Recovery Workbook: Healing From Emotional Abuse
by Amy Marlow-MaCoy LPCStart healing from gaslighting today Gaslighting is the practice of psychologically manipulating someone into questioning their own sanity—and if you are reading this, you may be all-too familiar with this form of emotional abuse. The Gaslighting Recovery Workbook is a uniquely interactive method of rebuilding your self-esteem and allowing yourself to heal from an abusive relationship. Through a process of explanation, advice, positive affirmations, daily logs, visualizations, and a journal-style workbook approach, you'll understand gaslighting, the stages of recovery, and how to heal and move forward. It contains the most effective, evidence-based strategies for conquering gaslighting at work, with friends and family, and partners. Recovery from gaslighting involves: Profile the abuser—Identifying and understanding abusive personality disorders is essential to the recovery process. You can do it—Grow through a positive and actionable approach filled with exercises that provide relief and recovery from abuse. Well thought out—Interactive exercises encourage thoughtful and comprehensive introspection, including a 'letter of commitment' to yourself. The Gaslighting Recovery Workbook is a thoughtful and comprehensive source of information for anyone who has been a victim of this form of abuse.
The Truth About Her: The addictive and utterly gripping psychological thriller
by Annie TaylorTHE DARK AND PROPULSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER THAT WILL KEEP YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT'A creepy, twisty page-turner where nothing is as it seems' Andrea Mara, Sunday Times bestseller'A compulsive and propulsive read: I would give it ten stars if I could' 5***** READER REVIEW'I couldn't put this down' 5***** READER REVIEW'A thrilling read. Full of twists and turns and shocks. Brilliant!' 5***** READER REVIEW'I was totally absorbed in this book from cover to cover' 5***** READER REVIEW'A book I didn't want to put down' 5***** READER REVIEW 'A definite 5 stars - brilliant' 5***** READER REVIEW‘Read this on holiday – it’s the PERFECT beach thriller’ 5***** READER REVIEW‘I devoured this book in a day!’ 5***** READER REVIEW ‘Read it, read it , READ it – a first class psych-thriller’ 5***** READER REVIEW __________When Callie rents a beach cottage in Whitstable, she doesn't expect for its owner to be glamorous influencer Vanessa Lowe.Vanessa has it all. A beautiful home, a loyal husband, three perfect children, and a growing number of adoring online fans.Callie has long admired her world from afar. But when Vanessa invites her in, the closer Callie looks, the more she suspects that there's more to Vanessa than meets the eye.So when Vanessa's son disappears, Callie must question everything she knows.Is Vanessa a mother in despair?Or is she a woman who'll do whatever it takes to cover up the cracks . . .__________PRAISE FOR ANNIE TAYLOR'Gripping from the start' 5* Reader Review'Lots of twists and turns throughout making you guess right until the last chapter!' 5* Reader Review'Emotional and gripping' 5* Reader Review
A Better Next: A Novel
by Maren CooperJess Lawson, a forty-five-year-old healthcare consultant, wife, and mother of two, has spent most of her adulthood fostering the illusion of having a perfect life. Her impending empty-nest syndrome as her youngest child prepares to start college is troubling enough, but when her doctor husband, Arthur, announces his intention to take a prestigious new job on the other side of the country—and relocate without Jess—her world quickly crumbles. Amid their acrimonious divorce, revelations about Arthur's infidelity come to light; and at work, instead of the revitalized career Jess is hoping for, she uncovers surprising financial corruption that threatens a scandal for her client—and the well-being of the many unsuspecting patients and physicians they serve. Ultimately, this superwoman is forced to acknowledge that her put-together veneer can't hold up under the weight of these new burdens. She also, however, refuses to wallow in victimhood. So what now?A smart, relatable story for every woman who&’s gone bold to sort out her next chapter, A Better Next shows how—with a little soul searching and a supportive circle of friends and colleagues—it&’s possible to redefine happiness and establish a liberating, new normal at any stage of life.
Closer to Fine: A Novel
by Jodi S. RosenfeldCloser to Fine is the story of Rachel Levine, a young, Jewish, bisexual woman finding her adult footing in a world full of uncertainties. Rachel has many teachers along the way—a stubborn grandfather, a progressive rabbi, a worldly girlfriend, a wise supervisor, and an insightful therapist—but in the end, it is her own anxiety that is the best teacher of all. As Rachel learns that accepting that which she cannot control is the mark of true growth, she becomes ever more connected to the people who matter most in her life.
Alphonse: A Novel
by Carl SeverAfter twenty years of riding the rails, Alphonse has earned a reputation for being a kindhearted soul always ready to help. When he helps the Sadlers, a young couple seeking a better life in small-town 1950s Indiana, he doesn&’t intend to stay. But stay he does, keeping a close eye on the Sadlers and their two young sons—and an even closer eye on the town&’s new priest, Father Brennon. On the surface, Brennon seems perfect for the job—but Alphonse crossed paths with him years earlier in the railyard jungle, and he knows better. Brennon doesn&’t recognize Alphonse, but Alphonse has never forgotten Brennon . . . or his crimes. So when Brennon assigns the Sadlers&’ son, Francis, who is now thirteen, the thankless task of cleaning and maintaining the church&’s bell tower—work that often continues into the night—Alphonse immediately grows suspicious. Soon, he discovers that his worst fears have come to pass, and he races to find a way to protect Francis and reveal the truth to the Sadler family.
At What Cost, Silence?: The Texian Trilogy, Book 1 (The Texian Trilogy)
by Karen Lynne KlinkAdrien Villere suspects he is not like other boys. For years, he desperately locks away his feelings and fears—but eventually, tragedy and loss drive him to seeking solace from his mentor, a young neighbor Jacob Hart. Jacob&’s betrayal of Adrien&’s trust, however, results in secret abuse, setting off a chain of actions from which neither Adrien&’s wise sister, Bernadette, nor his closest friend, Isaac, can turn him.At What Cost, Silence presents two contrasting plantation families in a society where strict rules of belief and behavior are clear, and public opinion can shape an entire life. Centerstage are the Villeres, a family less brutal than the Harts, but no less divisive. Often-absent Papa Paien Villere guards several secrets he has kept from everyone—including one which could destroy his entire family. Years after Jacob&’s betrayal, Adrien falls hopelessly in love with his former mentor&’s erotically precocious and beautiful young sister Lily—whose father has affianced her to a wealthy older man.What will happen if Lily&’s violent brother learns of Adrien and Lily&’s clandestine affair? Will Adrien aid in freeing Isaac—an enslaved Black man—as promised? Will Bernadette find the unconventional life she seeks? Or will their entire world end as states secede and war creeps ever closer?
Bowing to Elephants: Tales of a Travel Junkie
by Mag DimondIn Bowing to Elephants, a woman seeking love and authenticity comes to understand herself as a citizen of the world through decades of wandering the globe. During her travels she sees herself more clearly as she gazes into the feathery eyes of a 14,000-pound African elephant and looks for answers to old questions in Vietnam and the tragically ravaged landscape of Cambodia. Bowing to Elephants is a travel memoir with a twist―the story of an unloved rich girl from San Francisco who becomes a travel junkie, searching for herself in the world to avoid the tragic fate of her narcissistic, alcoholic mother. Haunted by images of childhood loneliness and the need to learn about her world, Dimond journeys to far-flung places―into the perfumed chaos of India, the nostalgic, damp streets of Paris, the gray, watery world of Venice in the winter, the reverent and silent mountains of Bhutan, and the gold temples of Burma. In the end, she accepts the death of the mother she never really had―and finds peace and her authentic self in the refuge of Buddhist practice.
The Art of Regret: A Novel
by Mary FlemingTrevor McFarquhar lives a controlled, contrary existence. Traumatized by early childhood loss, the silence surrounding those losses, and then a sudden family relocation from the United States to France, he has no ambitions or dreams for his struggling Parisian bicycle shop or even for himself. Now in his late thirties, his romantic relationships are only casual—his friendships, few. He&’s both aloof and exacting, holding everyone to his own high standards while being unforgiving of their faults. But then two things happen. The 1995 transit strike forces Parisians through Trevor&’s shop door to procure bicycles, and his once-sluggish business suddenly turns around. To his surprise, he is pleased. At the same time, Trevor enters into a relationship that threatens to destroy his relationship with his entire family. Humbled and ashamed, his veneer cracks, and he emerges from his cocoon a different man, ready to reconnect, to rediscover possibility, and ultimately to redeem himself.
Anger Management Activities for Kids: 50+ Exercises for Understanding Feelings, Staying Calm, and Managing Strong Emotions
by Holly Forman-Patel MA, LMFT, LPCCStand up to your angry feelings—50+ fun, anger management activities for kids ages 5 to 7 Everyone gets angry, and that's OK—it's how you express your angry feelings that really matters. Anger Management Activities for Kids is filled with more than 50 engaging exercises to help you understand and manage your anger so you can express yourself safely, without hurting others or yourself. Discover enjoyable activities that illustrate where anger comes from, what it feels like, how to show your feelings, how to tame your temper, and even how to understand and help other people when they're angry. With this workbook about anger management for kids, you'll use your imagination, have fun, and get creative as you learn how to show your anger who's boss! This book about anger management for kids includes: A mix of activities—In this fun book about anger management for kids, you can explore different ways to conquer your anger with awesome exercises like drawing, writing, thinking, and moving your body. Other kids' stories—Read about kids' experiences with angry feelings so you can see how others deal with the same feelings you have. Become an anger detective—This book about anger management for kids will help you learn the clues that tell you when anger is in your body, where it's coming from, and how to get it out in ways that are safe. Take control of your angry feelings! This entertaining book about anger management for kids will show you how.
Wolf Den Hollow: A Novel
by Donna MurraySila, a young, bewitching Cherokee, flees a marriage to a brutal drunk in the dead of winter and finds herself knocking on the door of a mill office, destitute and looking for work. There, she meets the handsome Charley Barkley, the owner and a married father of ten. Despite the fact that they have virtually nothing in common—and thirty years between them—a spark ignites.For Charley, once their passionate love affair intensifies, there is no going back to his loveless marriage—especially after Sila is with child. They marry and his logging empire expands, as does their family. Though they face tragedy and treachery along the way, they thrive until, just when their lives seems perfect, Charley falls victim to cancer. Sila&’s devastation at the loss of her husband is compounded by the onset of the Great Depression. With her inheritance gone and faced with losing her home, she is forced to do the unthinkable to protect herself and her children in a final act of survival.Inspired by a true story, and replete with natural healing, glimpses of the logging boom, and heartbreaking drama, Wolf Den Hollow brings to life this unlikely, captivating romance of the early 1900s.
Nobody's Daughter: A Memoir of Healing the Mother Wound
by Rica RamosShould Rica invite her mother to her wedding? In her early early forties and about to remarry, Rica Ramos realizes that starting over could mean leaving her mother behind. She longs to heal the relationship, but her mother still refuses to acknowledge the sexual abuse Rica suffered at the hands of her stepfather, or her own culpability throughout the years. With old traumas resurfacing and a new life unfolding before her, Rica grasps the power of unspoken grief—and the potential to suffer or heal. Will she and her mother ever cross the chasm between them, or are some secrets meant to stay buried? As Rica navigates her options, she faces two ultimate choices: submit to a culture that shames daughters for not honoring their mothers, or muster the courage to go her own way. Offering a bold and lucid look at mother-daughter relationships, Nobody's Daughter underscores every woman’s right to truth and validation.
The Cast: A Novel
by Amy Blumenfeld2019 Foreword Indies Finalist in Adult Fiction—General 2018 IPPY Gold Medal Winner in Popular Fiction 2018 International Book Awards Finalist in Best New Fiction Twenty-five years ago, a group of ninth graders produced a Saturday Night Live–style videotape to cheer up their ailing friend. The show&’s running time was only ninety minutes, but it had a lasting impact: Becca laughed her way through recovery, and the group—Jordana, Seth, Holly, and Lex—became her supporting cast for life. On the silver anniversary of Becca Night Live, the friends reunite over the Fourth of July to celebrate Becca&’s good health—but nothing goes as planned. The happy holiday card facades everyone&’s been hiding behind quickly crumble and give way to an unforgettable three days filled with complex moral dilemmas and life-altering choices. Through humor, drama, and the alternating perspectives of five characters, The Cast explores the power of forgiveness, the importance of authenticity, and the immeasurable value of deep, enduring friendships to buoy us when life plays out differently than expected.
And Still the Bird Sings: A Memoir of Finding Light After Loss
by Linda Broder“The day after my son died, a bird walked into my house. That tiny sparrow wouldn’t leave me alone. It kept knocking on my door and showing up in my dreams, until it finally sparked a light within me, and then, something so much more.” Linda Broder loses everything when her fifteen-year-old son Brendan dies—her music, faith, and hope. When a bird walks into her house, her husband and children embrace it as a sign from Brendan. But not Linda; she’s too logical to believe in signs. Still, birds keep clinging to Linda’s windows, whispering in her dreams, and showing up in unexpected places, pulling her back to her music and showing her how to stay open to wonder. Full of hope and resilience and the healing magic of music,And Still the Bird Singsis a story about finding sacred wonder in the midst of unimaginable loss, and a reminder of the many ways we can still connect with the ones we’ve lost. This unforgettable memoir will leave you filled with peace and wonder.
Searching for Normal: The Story of a Girl Gone Too Soon
by Karen MeadowsKaren Meadows had a normal, happy family until depression consumed her daughter, Sadie—a struggle that ended with Sadie&’s suicide at age eighteen. In Searching for Normal, Meadows shares her family&’s journey as she tries to help her daughter Sadie cope with her mental illness, expertly intertwining her own storyline with excerpts from her daughter&’s diaries. The years Meadows chronicles are characterized by Sadie&’s heartbreaking bouts of running away, cutting, and living with Portland street families while Karen and her husband desperately search for solutions—trying medication, hospitals, therapy, wilderness and residential treatment programs, and more. Ultimately, however, they find themselves confronted with the devastating shortcomings of the US&’s mental health system. Including hindsight advice from Meadows, along with an extensive list of resources that she wishes someone had provided her when she was trying to help Sadie, this book will help parents of struggling teens feel less isolated and better equipped to navigate their teenager&’s mental illness. : Meadows also describes recent developments that are paving the way for better diagnoses and treatment options.
When We Were All Still Alive: A Novel
by Keith McWalterFor Conrad Burrell—husband, father, and successful attorney in the autumn of his life—the world has come apart. Having long ago lost his first wife, the mother of his grown daughter and a widow herself, to youth and pride, he’s now lost his second to a violent accident,. “You think you’re finished, that you have no more stories in you,” his ex-wife warns, and he fears she’s right. Within hailing distance of the end of his days, after a lifetime of meeting the expectations of others, none are left but Conrad’s own, and he must discover whether love survives death as well as divorce—whether family memory can redeem individual mortality. What do we do, then, we widows and widowers for whom there’s nothing left but the world’s permission to stop what we’ve done all our lives? In the cities of his youth, in the deserts of New Mexico, but most of all in a small Pennsylvania town, Conrad finds he has one more lesson in love to learn from the women of his past, and the one woman he's certain he can't live without. When We Were All Still Alive is a novel of grief and healing, a portrait of a marriage, and a love song to ordinary lives.
The Guys' Guide to Being a Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Plan for Birth and Bring Your Baby Home
by Andrew ShawWho's the man with the kick-ass birth plan? You are! With all the attention on moms, dads can feel pretty lost in the whole birth and pregnancy thing. The Guys' Guide to Being a Birth Partner is here to help you out, giving you the info you need to be superstar support for your partner and new baby. Taking you from the third trimester of pregnancy to going home with your new bundle of joy, this guide to being a birth partner prepares you for the thoughts, feelings, and choices that are part of helping your baby enter the world. How can you and your partner plan ahead for pain management? Why does everyone keep using the word "cervix"? What should you put in your go-bag? Get answers to the questions you're asking as a birth partner—and those you haven't thought of yet. The Guys' Guide to Being a Birth Partner helps with: Straightforward advice for dads—Cut to the chase with clear guidance for new birth partners—without the wordy medical jargon. The final stretch—Get ready for the big day with essential tips for everything from creating a birth plan to supporting your partner through labor and birth. Now what?—Keep things super simple with plenty of tips for handling those first few days at home so you and your partner can focus on the new baby. Get ready to knock being a birth partner out of the park.
Will's Surreal Period: A Novel
by Robert Steven GoldsteinA novel about a family even more dysfunctional than the one you grew up in. Will’s Surreal Period is a richly satisfying tale—at times laugh-out-loud hilarious and at times deeply moving—that features a rollickingly dysfunctional family, a seemingly endless array of succulent foodstuffs, and a brain tumor that transforms a mediocre painter into a virtuoso. Now toss in a smidgen of BDSM and a few beguiling tidbits exploring brain chemistry and human evolution, and you have a story that will hook you fast and captivate you till the end. “Will’s Surreal Period proves why works of fiction are high art. . . . Robert Steven Goldstein deftly converts our raw human foibles into emotive entertainment and, as he does, reminds us, sometimes painfully, sometimes hilariously, who we are.” —MICHAEL J. COFFINO, award-winning author of Truth Is in the House