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Useless Miracle
by Barry SchechterA classic, smart comedy in which a college professor attains mankind's oldest dream: the ability to fly...sort of...George Entmen just turned forty, and he can't complain. As the James Lydecker Chair of Hermeneutics in the English department at Northwestern, he is honored in his field, beloved by friends and family, and ready to drift quietly into tenured middle age. But then he discovers he can fly.Sure, he can only fly very, very slowly; he needs to have his hands thrust out in front of him like Superman; and he only flies three or four inches above the ground. In fact, as he has to be prone to do it, he is, in flight, further from the sky than ever.But why does this nonetheless amazing phenomenon drive so many people into a rage? Why do he and his family find themselves dodging livid magicians, exploitative friends, scheming billionairesses, thirteen-year-old boys who are sure they saw the wire, and, perhaps worst of all, angry hermeneuticians?George's friend Harvey tells him that, beneath all the chaos, his gift has to have a meaning. But to find it, Harvey says, George needs to understand one thing: "You're not flying, you're being flown."
Users: A Novel
by Colin WinnetteA New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceMarrying the philosophical absurdities of life, technology, start-up culture, and family, Users is for readers of Ling Ma, Dave Eggers&’s The Circle, and viewers of the hit Apple TV+ original series SeveranceMiles, a lead creative at a midsize virtual reality company known for its &“original experiences,&” has engineered a new product called The Ghost Lover. Wildly popular from the outset, the &“game&” is simple: a user&’s simulated life is almost identical to their reality, except they&’re haunted by the ghost of an ex-lover.However, when a shift in the company's strategic vision puts The Ghost Lover at the center of a platform-wide controversy, Miles becomes the target of user outrage, and starts receiving a series of anonymous death threats. Typed notes sealed in envelopes with no postage or return address, these persistent threats push Miles into a paranoid panic, blurring his own sense of reality, catalyzing the collapse of his career, his marriage, and his relationship with his children.The once-promising road to success becomes a narrow set of choices for Miles, who, in a last ditch effort to save his job, pitches his masterpiece, a revolutionary device code-named the Egg, which will transform the company. The consequences for Miles seal him inside the walls of his life as what was once anxiety explodes into devastating absoluteness.In a world rife with the unchecked power and ambition of tech, Users investigates—with both humor and creeping dread—how interpersonal experiences and private decisions influence the hasty developments that have the power to permanently alter the landscape of human experience.
The Usual Desire to Kill
by Camilla Barnes&‘Hilarious and heartbreaking&’ MONICA ALI 'Deeply funny and knowing' MEG WOLITZER 'Witty, moving' ANN NAPOLITANO 'Poignant, funny and brilliantly told' POSY SIMMONDSAn often hilarious, surprisingly moving portrait of a long-married couple, seen through the eyes of their wickedly observant daughter – for fans of A Man Called Ove and The Royal Tenenbaums. Miranda&’s parents live in a dilapidated house in rural France that they share with two llamas, eight ducks, five chickens, two cats, and a freezer full of food dating back to 1983. Miranda&’s father is a retired professor of philosophy who never loses an argument. Her mother likes to bring conversation back to the War, although she was born after it ended. Married for fifty years, they are uncommonly set in their ways. Miranda plays the role of translator when she visits, communicating the desires or complaints of one parent to the other and then venting her frustration to her sister and her daughter. A wry, propulsive, exquisitely observed story of a singularly eccentric family and the sibling rivalry, generational divides, and long-buried secrets that shape them. This is an extraordinary debut novel from a seasoned playwright with a flare for dialogue and, in the end, immense empathy. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ &‘Hilarious and heartbreaking. Barnes&’s dialogue is pitch-perfect, and her characters dance off the page and straight into your heart&’ Monica Ali, author of Love Marriage &‘Camilla Barnes deftly deciphers the secret language of one family, often with deeply funny and knowing results. I loved spending time in the very specific, complicated and memorable world of this novel&’ Meg Wolitzer, author of The Wife &‘I love nothing more than reading about eccentric families, and the family in The Usual Desire to Kill is just that. Miranda and her sister work to uncover the true story of their parents' marriage, only to have their brilliant, quirky mother and father deflect them at every turn. Barnes has written a witty, moving novel about characters who, even when they seem incapable of speaking honestly, are worth listening to nonetheless&’ Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful &‘An account of two ageing, secretive, disputatious and thoroughly maddening parents – poignant, funny and brilliantly told through gritted teeth&’ Posy Simmonds, author of Cassandra DarkeEARLY READERS' REVIEWS FOR THE USUAL DESIRE TO KILL: &‘Family saga at its very best told with a tenderness that matches the dark humour in equal parts. I think this a book a lot of people will identify with&’ &‘Hugely relatable. Endearingly flawed characters with real depth and an insightful understanding of the ways in which family dynamics play out&’ &‘A unique yet weirdly relatable family saga&’ &‘Funny, honest, and engaging&’ &‘An observant and darkly witty debut&’
The Usual Family Mayhem: A Novel
by HelenKay DimonRevenge is a dish best served cold—especially when it comes in the form of one of Grandma’s “special” pies. Get the best of family hijinks, girl power, and hilariously justifiable crime in the latest novel from award-winning author HelenKay Dimon.Kasey Nottingham needs a splashy idea at her company where they find and develop the next big thing for investors—her job depends on it. Impulsively, she pitches Mags’ Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and live-in “best friend” Celia, two women who overcame deadbeat husbands and financial ruin to build a word-of-mouth clientele. Kasey expects her boss to say no. Instead, he sends her home to North Carolina to land the deal…and now she has a problem.Mags and Celia aren’t interested, which isn’t a surprise, but something else is going on in their kitchen. Locked cabinets. Cryptic conversations. Unexpected notations on business records. The ladies have secrets and whatever they’re hiding is big. As reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface—all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags’ Desserts—Kasey worries Gram and Celia have gone into the poison pie business.As investors start circling, Kasey enlists Jackson Quaid, Celia’s nephew and Kasey’s long-time crush, as her reluctant investigation assistant. Jackson is practical. Kasey has a wild imagination. Together, they dodge Kasey’s boss and gather intel. And kiss. Lots of kissing, though probably not the best idea to start an unexpected romance. Doing it while keeping two feisty ladies from going to jail for knocking off bad husbands—even if those husbands deserve it—might be impossible…but Kasey never shied away from a challenge.
V for Veg: The Best of Philly’s Vegan Food Column
by Vance LehmkuhlV for Veg is a collection of the vegan food columns that Vance Lehmkuhl has written over the years for the Philadelphia Daily News. Filled with wit, humor and good information about the vegan/vegetarian plant-based community in Philadelphia, the book covers many of the events, personalities, restaurants, and industries that have grown up in and around Philadelphia. Combining healthful information with a sly, humorous style, Vance Lehmkuhl’s book will delight the veg-conscious and may spur many a meat eater to explore the animal-free options now available for feeding all aspects of our lives.
V for Victory: A Novel
by Lissa EvansIn this witty, charming follow-up to the acclaimed Crooked Heart, the life of lies a small time scammer and her adopted son have constructed in London becomes endangered during the tumultuous final months of World War II. It’s late 1944. Hitler’s rockets are raining down on London with vicious regularity and it’s the coldest winter in living memory. The Allies are gaining ground, but victory is certainly dragging its feet.In a large house next to Hampstead Heath, Vee Sedge is barely scraping by with a herd of lodgers to feed and her young charge Noel, almost fifteen now, to clothe and educate. When she witnesses an accident and finds herself in court, the repercussions are both unexpectedly marvelous and potentially disastrous. Because Vee is not actually the person she’s pretending to be, and neither is Noel.Victory is coming. Yet the end of the war won’t just mean peace, but discovery . . . With caustic wit and artful storytelling, Lissa Evans summons a time when the world could finally hope to emerge from the chaos of war. As witty as Old Baggage and poignant as Crooked Heart, V for Victory once again reveals Evans to be one of the most original and entertaining writers at work today.
V Is for... Vampire (Vampire Island #3)
by Adele GriffinLexie might be the first vampire ever to run for ninth-grade class president, but she's determined to make dreamy Dylan notice her, even if it means running against perfect, popular Mina. And things would be going pretty well, if it weren't for those annoying pixie houseguests! Blix and Mitzi are wreaking backwards-speaking, house-pinkifying havoc, and now they want Lexie to run a smear campaign against Mina. But how will all this dirty campaigning affect Lexie, when she's trying to shed her evil vampire nature and become human?
The Va Dinci Cod
by Adam RobertsSomething fishy is going on in the world of artistic scholarship. How can there possibly be a link between the hidden cod of Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings and the over fishing of the North Atlantic fish stocks? Could it be that Leonardo Da Vinci, the greatest genius of his age and inventor of the photocopier and mouse mat, had a chilling insight into European Union Fishing policies.Only one man can find out. Robert Hangdog, international scholar, master spy and action hero. Oh and Bezu Fish.
The Va Dinci Cod
by Adam RobertsSomething fishy is going on in the world of artistic scholarship. How can there possibly be a link between the hidden cod of Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings and the over fishing of the North Atlantic fish stocks? Could it be that Leonardo Da Vinci, the greatest genius of his age and inventor of the photocopier and mouse mat, had a chilling insight into European Union Fishing policies.Only one man can find out. Robert Hangdog, international scholar, master spy and action hero. Oh and Bezu Fish.
¡Vacaciones de campeonato! (Serie ¡Gol! #Volumen 6)
by Luigi GarlandoEn esta sexta entrega de la serie «¡Gol!», los Cebolletas se van de vacaciones a una ciudad muy especial. Ocho niñ@s.Una pasión: el fútbol.Un sueño: ¡ser los mejores! ¡El verano ya está aquí, y para Tomi y sus amigos se presenta muy emocionante! La Torre Eiffel, el jorobado de Nôtre Dame, la Mona Lisa... ¿Os suena? Gaston Champignon llevará a los Cebolletas a su ciudad de origen: ¡París! Y lo mejor de todo es que, además de hacer turismo, ¡disputarán un minimundial de futbol! Estas vacaciones prometen ser un stage de pretemporada de lo más profesional.
Vacanze Magiche
by Ol'Ga KryuchkovaMiranda e Arina partono alla ricerca di oggetti magici tra un mondo e l’altro: i capelli della dea Sif, il filatoio della dea Frigg e le ali di Pollicina. Mentre sono intente a cercare, scoprono che Raperonzolo è stata rapita. Nella famiglia di Arina arriva un nuovo gattino di nome Tudor, ma i genitori della ragazzina non sospettano che Tudor in realtà è un essere proveniente da un mondo magico e che è destinato ad avere un ruolo importante negli avvenimenti che seguiranno. Miranda chiede ancora una volta aiuto ad Arina. Nella comunità magica sono scomparsi degli antichi oggetti magici: i capelli della dea Sif, il filatoio della dea Frigg e le ali di Pollicina. Se ne sono impossessati il malvagio mago Fedel, fuggito di prigione, e la sua perfida matrigna Biancaneve, che sognano di diventare i padroni di tutti i mondi magici. Ecco perché per la ricerca vengono impiegate tutte le forze, fra cui anche i cavalieri del Ramo d’Oro. Ma Miranda e Arina vengono improvvisamente a sapere che il furto degli oggetti è legato al misterioso rapimento di Raperonzolo: l’ha rapita un certo cavaliere su sandali alati, entrato dalla finestra aperta della sua torre. Le fantastiche avventure di Arina Solov’ëv continuano. Come finirà quest’altra divertente avventura piena di vicende misteriose?
Vacuum (The Harpur & Iles Mysteries #28)
by Bill JamesHarpur and Iles juggle a new drug kingpin and a new chief in this hilarious police procedural from &“the Elmore Leonard of Britain&’s underworld&” (Kirkus Reviews). After his wife and son are gunned down in what appears to be a hit gone wrong, Local drug boss Mansel Shale turns to religion, leaving his drug business up for grabs. His second-in-command, a weirdo who believes he is Generalissimo Franco, is the wrong man to lead the organization, especially with rival Ralph Ember eager to gain control of Shale&’s territory. Neither Assistant Chief Desmond Iles nor DCS Colin Harpur wants a drug war. Both believe in the motto &“No blood on the pavement.&” But their new chief has a different motto—&“Lock &’em up and toss away the key&”—and is pushing matters in the wrong direction. &“The qualities that make James&’s books stand out from the crowd are his masterful ability with words and his howlingly funny, darkly brutal humor. . . . Despite the seriousness of the plot, it&’s impossible not to laugh aloud at the fierce ripostes, subtle digs, and overt insults peppered across every page. A true delight from a genre master.&” —Booklist (starred review) &“Not only the most stylishly adventurous books in British crime fiction today but also the funniest.&” —The Telegraph
Vacuum in the Dark: A Novel
by Jen BeaginFrom the Whiting Award-winning author of Pretend I’m Dead and one of the most exhilarating new voices in fiction, a new hilarious, edgy, and brilliant one-of-a-kind novel about a cleaning lady named Mona and her struggles to move forward in life. <P><P>Mona is twenty-six and cleans houses for a living in Taos, New Mexico. She moved there mostly because of a bad boyfriend—a junkie named Mr. Disgusting, long story—and her efforts to restart her life since haven’t exactly gone as planned. For one thing, she’s got another bad boyfriend. This one she calls Dark, and he happens to be married to one of Mona’s clients. He also might be a little unstable. Dark and his wife aren’t the only complicated clients on Mona’s roster, either. There’s also the Hungarian artist couple who—with her addiction to painkillers and his lingering stares—reminds Mona of troubling aspects of her childhood, and some of the underlying reasons her life had to be restarted in the first place. <P><P>As she tries to get over the heartache of her affair and the older pains of her youth, Mona winds up on an eccentric, moving journey of self-discovery that takes her back to her beginnings where she attempts to unlock the key to having a sense of home in the future. The only problems are Dark and her past. Neither is so easy to get rid of. <P><P>A constantly surprising, laugh-out-loud funny novel about an utterly unique woman dealing with some of the most universal issues in America today, Vacuum in the Dark is an unforgettable, astonishing read from one of the freshest voices in fiction today.
Vacuuming in the Nude: And Other Ways to Get Attention
by Peggy RowePeggy Rowe is at it again—this time giving a hilarious inside look at her writing career.Peggy Rowe has been writing all of her adult life. In fact, she doesn&’t know how not to write—even through those years of constant rejection from publishing houses. But between her tenacity and the encouragement of her family, Peggy&’s breakthrough finally came—at the age of eighty! Vacuuming in the Nude is most likely her funniest prose to date as she shares her journey of attending myriad writers&’ conferences and honing her ability to see humor in everyday situations. From the family&’s beloved dog Shim, who thrived on piles of fresh, warm manure from the horse pasture—to vacationing on the sweltering beach with mosquitos the size of dune buggies—to the challenges of aging, Peggy Rowe delivers a hilarious array of stories that reflect her addiction to making people laugh. Even in her cancer support group, she manages to use her humor to affect others for the good. If Peggy isn&’t putting her publisher on hold to finish a game of Mahjongg, she&’s at her kitchen table window-on-the-world taking notes for the next story for fans old and new to enjoy.
El vagabundo del norte
by Edgar WallaceAquel vagabundo no parecía tan inofensivo. Casi parecía peligroso por la destreza con la que jugaba con una pistola automática.La pasaba de una mano a la otra, la hacía girar en su índice desde la guarda, la balanceaba de un lado a otro hasta que quedó apuntando al suelo.La pistola parecía un juguete mágico: el vagabundo no podía apartar sus ojos de ella.Hasta que, como los niños, se cansó y la guardó en un bolsillo de sus destrozados pantalones.Solo por un instante, porque inmediatamente la desenfundó.
Vaishnav Ki Phisalan: वैष्णव की फिसलन
by Harishankar Parsaiवैष्णव की फिसलन हरिशंकर परसाई ‘वैष्णव की फिसलन’ प्रसिद्ध व्यंग्यकार हरिशंकर परसाई की श्रेष्ठ रचनाओं का संकलन है। इस संग्रह की व्यंग्य रचनाएँ यह स्थापित करने में कामयाब हैं कि जीवन की श्रेष्ठ आलोचना की संज्ञा व्यंग्य है। सहज ढंग से चुभती हुई भाषा में ये व्यंग्य रचनाएँ अपनी बात कहते हुए गहरी चोट कर जाती हैं। इस व्यंग्य-संग्रह की रचनाओं की सफलता के पीछे जो सबसे बड़ी चीज़ है वह है - लेखक की पैनी दृष्टि, जिससे छुपकर भी कुछ भी छुपा नहीं रह जाता और अव्यक्त भी व्यक्त होने लगता है। यह संग्रह चिन्ताओं का नहीं चिन्तन का संग्रह है, और यह लेखक की कुशलता ही है कि इसे वह विचार और संवेदना के सामंजस्य से कर पाया है। ‘वैष्णव की फिसलन’ में संकलित रचनाएँ हमारे आसपास की ज़िन्दगी को उघाड़कर इस प्रकार सामने रख देती हैं कि ऊपर से सीधी-सादी दिखनेवाली घटनाएँ और स्थितियाँ नए अर्थ देने लगती हैं, उनके अन्तर्निहित आशय उजागर हो उठते हैं। इस संग्रह की रचनाएँ आज के जीवन की विसंगतियों और विरूपताओं, अवरोधों और कुंठाओं पर चोट करती हैं और बताती हैं कि विसंगति के विरुद्ध क़लम कैसे तलवार का काम करती है।
The Vale of Laughter: A Novel
by Peter De VriesA brilliant, fiercely funny novel that ponders the eternal question: is it better to laugh or cry? Joe Sandwich is a clown. Not literally, but what else do you call an eleven-year-old who goes to church to confess his good deeds: &“I did my homework without being told&”? A stockbroker who gets seasick watching the market tape and claims the gross national product is &“deodorants&”? A father who mows curse words into his lawn and names his son Hamilton because, well, who can resist a Ham Sandwich? Prankster, punster, cut-up, card—Joe needs to crack wise about everything. Has he figured out the secret to embracing the inherent absurdity of life, or is there some terrible anxiety at the root of his compulsion? Lots of people want to know, including his wife, Naughty, who is anything but; his mistress, Gloria Bunshaft; and her husband, Wally Hines, a humorless professor who specializes is the philosophy of humor. &“If you look back,&” says Joe, &“you turn into a pillar of salt. If you look ahead, you turn into a pillar of society.&” He prefers to live in the moment, from one gag to the next, but the joke he doesn&’t see coming may get the biggest laugh of all.
Valentina Goldman Ships Out
by Marisol MuranoThe sequel to the best-selling Valentina Goldman's Immaculate Confusion has arrived! After her husband's unexpected departure a year ago, poor Valentina is stuck. Help arrives in the form of an unwelcome guest: her mother, who shows up unannounced at Valentina's doorstep to take her on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise full of unexpected detours. If you've always longed to go on a cruise, ship out with Valentina. And if you've never wanted to go on a cruise, go anyway. You'll likely find yourself alternately delighted and surprised by her quirky encounters at sea and alluring ports of call. In tightly wound language shimmering with wit and longing, Valentina Goldman Ships Out is a moving portrait of a woman looking for answers and coping with loss, even when the waters are deep.
Valentina Goldman's Immaculate Confusion
by Marisol MuranoSince her arrival in the United States from Venezuela, Valentina Goldman isn't exactly living the American Dream. She's living the American Nightmare. Her late husband, Max, has left her a young widow, a step-daughter whom Valentina didn't want, and a bi-polar ex-wife. And oh, having given up her dream job in New York, Valentina is also unemployed in Arizona. Part "Bridget Jones Diary," part "Modern Family," "Valentina Goldman's Immaculate Confusion" is the story of a woman trying to get a handle on her whacky life in America. In breathless, blog-like snippets, Valentina compares her own story with that of her eccentric sister, Azucena, who has bizarre troubles of her own down in the tropics. "Valentina Goldman's Immaculate Confusion" is a funny and moving story about what happens when a passionate South American woman moves to the USA and, like so many of us, ends up with a life she never imagined.
Valentine
by The Estate of Rebecca FarnworthWill a shocking secret cause a rising star to fall?Valentine Fleming dreams of making it as an actress but after years of failed auditions and bit parts her hopes are fading fast - so too is her self-esteem. She is staring into the abyss and a large jar of peanut butter. Her love life is faring no better, with too much time wasted with an ex who has bad news written all over him. So when she gets a call from her agent telling her she has a part in a play with a sexy leading man, she's over the moon. She's not packing her bags for the Hollywood hills just yet but could this be her lucky break? But just as it seems that her luck might be set to change she learns a shocking secret and Valentine's world is turned upside down...Rebecca Farnworth's first novel is an enchanting page turner with a heroine who you just can't help warming to, however many mistakes she makes....
The Valentine Affair!
by Mary LyonsSex, lies and Valentines!Alexandra Pemberton had promised her newspaper a Valentine exclusive: the story of Leo Hamilton's whirlwind engagement to Fiona Bliss. By fair means or foul-and more likely foul!-Fiona had succeeded where many had failed, and got the world's most determined bachelor at least halfway to the altar!Alex was impressed! She was also-she had to admit-jealous as hell! Eight years ago Leo had almost seduced Alex-almost. It had never been enough. And dogging Leo's all-too-attractive heels, Alex realized that she wanted Leo as an exclusive, all right-exclusively hers!Mary Lyons writes sharp, sophisticated and sexy stories that will leave you chuckling and breathless for more!
Valentine Crow & Mr Death
by Jenni SpanglerIt&’s not always easy being Death: a witty and gloriously gothic tale of friendship and discovery from bestselling Jenni Spangler. Twelve-year-old Valentine Crow has lived his entire life at the Foundling Hospital. Now, he and his best friend Philomena are leaving to begin their new lives as apprentices – but Valentine has been assigned to Death himself. Valentine finds himself in an impossible situation when his best friend&’s name appears on the list of souls to take. Can he fight Death to save her soul, or does fate have other ideas? Distinctive, warm and funny, the highly-acclaimed Jenni Spangler returns with a richly imagined world perfect for readers of The Beast and the Bethany and Lemony Snickett.
Valentine for an Angel
by Mary Anne WilsonFALLING IN LOVE IS A NO-BRAINER!After years of flawless matchmaking, fairy godmother Angelina Moore has lost her grip. That's why she's sent to earth for a crash course in sensitivity training. The first lesson learned: emotions are much more complicated than she'd thought...One look at Dennis Benning gives her hot flashes, cold sweats and weak knees. And the sweet stand-up guy is right there to catch her! In a heartbeat, Angelina's temporary humanity turns to permanent insanity when Dennis gives her a hands-on lesson in love!
Valentine Princess (Princess Diaries 7.75)
by Meg CabotValentine's Day means cards, flowers and chocolates... <P><P> That is, it usually means those things. But when you're Princess Mia, nothing happens the way it's supposed to. For one thing, Grandmère seems determined to prove that boy (or Michael, as he is commonly known) isn't the right one for the crown princess of Genovia. And Mia isn't having much luck proving otherwise, since Michael has a history of being decidedly against any kind of exploitative commercialization (Valentine's Day, as it is commonly known).<P> Boris can declare his love openly to Lilly, and even Kenny comes through with a paltry Whitman's Sampler. So why can't Michael give in to Cupid and tell Mia he loves her—preferably with something wrapped in red or pink and accompanied by roses—in time to prove he's Mia's true prince?
Valentine Shower (A Valentine Rainbow)
by John C. HouserFor Reuben, numbers are everything people are not: rational, predictable, and soothing. Outside of this family, his boss, Terry, is the one person he feels connected with. In the years they've worked together, listening to Terry's jokes and stories over coffee has become a reliable part of his routine. But he's missed having family nearby since his parents retired to Florida, and figures he'll need a woman to correct the problem. He's hurt and confused when Terry not only refuses to help, but announces he won't be coming around much anymore. It's up to Reuben's no-nonsense sister Yaffa and his therapist, Dr. Greenberg, to help him understand Terry's feelings--and his own.