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The Golden Cup: A Cornwall Family Saga
by Marcia Willett'Riveting, moving and utterly feel-good' Daily Mail ___________________Paradise has been home to generations of Trevannions: Paradise, the house at the head of a sheltered Cornish valley where Mrs Trevannion lives, surrounded by her family. Frail and elderly Honor Trevannion, bedridden following a nasty fall, is inexplicably anxious and distressed by the arrival of a young American bearing an old black and white photograph of a double wedding and looking for a long-lost relation. Her children Bruno and Emma, granddaughter Joss and faithful cousin Mousie try to nurse Honor back to health, unaware of the secrets which she keeps from those closest to her. Increasingly troubled and confused, she begs Joss to find a cache of letters which have been hidden for fifty years.Too late to hear the story from Honor herself, the family are faced with revelations which could destroy the tranquillity of life in their beloved valley. Will they be torn apart or can they unite in admiration for one woman's courage in standing by the life-changing decision she made so many years ago?___________________Praise for Marcia Willett:'A genuine voice of our time' The Times'Riveting, moving and utterly feel-good' Daily Mail
The Golden Days
by Gail RadleyConvinced that his new foster parents do not really want him, eleven-year-old Cory decides to run away with his new friend, an old lady from the nearby nursing home. [From the front dust jacket flap:] "When eleven-year-old Cory first meets seventy-five-year-old Carlotta, he thinks she's just a weird, cranky old lady. But gradually, as they spend more time together, he comes to enjoy her stories of life in the circus, and he realizes that the two of them are a lot alike. Neither seems to belong anywhere: Carlotta hates the restrictions and depressing atmosphere of the nursing home she lives in, and Cory is ill at ease in his new foster home--his third in two years. With no real families of their own, they pledge to be family to each other. Then Cory finds out that his foster parents are expecting a baby. He's sure it won't be long before they send him back to the children's shelter, especially when they become upset over his poor performance in school. Rather than wait for them to get rid of him, he decides to run away, and he invites Carlotta to go with him. As they make their way from town to town, Cory grows to love and trust Carlotta. But the runaway life is a hard one, one Carlotta may not be strong enough for. And even harder, Cory discovers, are the emotions and decisions that confront him as he learns what it really means to be family." Ages 8-12
Golden Delicious
by Christopher Boucher"What a crazed, beautiful book ... Boucher makes the world come alive by making language come alive." -- George Saunders From the writer Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven) called "Strange and dazzling" comes a funny, heartbreaking, and wildly imaginative taleWelcome to Appleseed, Massachusetts, where stories grow in soil, sentences are kept as pets, and pianos change your point of view. Golden Delicious chronicles the narrator's rich, vivid childhood - driving to the local flea market with his father, causing trouble at school, pedaling through the neighborhood on his Bicycle Built for Two.But as the local economy sours, the narrator's family is torn apart. His mother joins a flying militia known as The Mothers; his father takes an all-consuming job; his sister runs away for a better life elsewhere. Who will save Appleseed? Will it be the Memory of Johnny Appleseed? The Mothers? The narrator himself?Golden Delicious is the eagerly awaited follow-up to Christopher Boucher's acclaimed debut, How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive. It's a tour-de-force unlike any other, that takes you to the heart of family, love and memory.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Golden Evening
by Stanley MiddletonFrom the Booker-Prize-winning author of Holiday. Rejacketed and reissued by Windmill to mark the 40th anniversary of Stanley Middleton's Booker Prize win. A brother and sister – Bernard is at college, Mary is still at school - are struggling with their own young lives and loves, near the end of one beautiful summer. At the same time, their mother Ivy is dying from cancer whilst their father, a simple and dignified man, is barely coping. A family faces fundamental changes, together and apart.'This humane book digs patiently beneath the surface of ordinary lives to the rock of universal truths.' Sunday Times'Stanley Middleton, once dubbed 'The Chekhov of suburbia', is to the Midlands suburb what Anne Tyler is to the Midwest picket fence. His careful writing creates an always precise and often unnerving picture of reality.' The Times
Golden Gate: City Spies; Golden Gate; Forbidden City (City Spies #2)
by James PontiIn this second installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies returns for another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith&’s Spy School for Girls.After thwarting a notorious villain at an eco-summit in Paris, the City Spies are gearing up for their next mission. Operating out of a base in Scotland, this secret team of young agents working for the British Secret Intelligence Service&’s MI6 division have honed their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can&’t. Fourteen-year-old Sydney is a surfer and a rebel from Bondi Beach, Australia. She&’s also a field ops specialist for the City Spies. Sydney is excited to learn that she&’ll be going undercover on the marine research vessel the Sylvia Earle. But things don&’t go exactly as planned, and while Sydney does find herself in the spotlight, it&’s not in the way she was hoping. Meanwhile, there&’s been some new intel regarding a potential mole within the organization, offering the spies a lead that takes them to San Francisco, California. But as they investigate a spy who died at the Botanical Gardens, they discover that they are also being investigated. And soon, they&’re caught up in an exciting adventure filled with rogue missions and double agents! This mission is hot! The City Spies are a go!
Golden Girl: The perfect escapist summer read from the #1 New York Times bestseller
by Elin Hilderbrand'I just LOVE [Elin Hilderbrand's] books, they are such compulsive reads' - Marian KeyesWhen Vivian Howe, author of thirteen novels and mother of three grown-up children, is killed in a hit-and-run incident while jogging near her home, she ascends to the Beyond. Because her death was unfair, she is allowed to watch what happens below with her children, her best friend, her ex-husband, and a rival novelist whose book is coming out the same day as Vivi's. Vivi is also given the use of three 'nudges' so that she can influence the outcome of events in the world of the living. As Vivi discovers her children's secrets, watches the investigation into her own death and worries about a secret from her youth coming to light, she must decide what she wants to manipulate - and what should be left well alone. Combining Elin Hilderbrand's trademark beach scenes, mouth-watering meals and picture-perfect homes with the heartfelt message that the people we lose never really leave us, Golden Girl is a beach book unlike any other from 'Queen of the Summer Novel' (People).Praise for Elin Hilderbrand:This sweeping love story is Hilderbrand's best ever - New York Times on 28 SUMMERS'Captivating and bittersweet' - People'Elin Hilderbrand is the godmother of beach reads for a reason' - Good Housekeeping'Hilderbrand sets the gold standard in escapist fiction' - Kirkus'Less a story about a secretive affair and more a tale of sweet nostalgia and fate, this title will be popular with a wide audience' - Library Journal
Golden Girl
by Elin HilderbrandIn this satisfying page-turner from "the queen of beach reads" (New York Magazine), a Nantucket novelist has one final summer to protect her secrets while her loved ones on earth learn to live without their golden girl. <P><P>On a perfect June day, Vivian Howe, author of thirteen beach novels and mother of three nearly grown children, is killed in a hit-and-run car accident while jogging near her home on Nantucket. She ascends to the Beyond where she's assigned to a Person named Martha, who allows Vivi to watch what happens below for one last summer. Vivi also is granted three “nudges” to change the outcome of events on earth, and with her daughter Willa on her third miscarriage, Carson partying until all hours, and Leo currently “off again” with his high-maintenance girlfriend, she’ll have to think carefully where to use them. <P><P>From the Beyond, Vivi watches “The Chief” Ed Kapenash investigate her death, but her greatest worry is her final book, which contains a secret from her own youth that could be disastrous for her reputation. But when hidden truths come to light, Vivi’s family will have to sort out their past and present mistakes—with or without a nudge of help from above—while Vivi finally lets them grow without her. <P><P>With all of Elin’s trademark beach scenes, mouth-watering meals, and picture-perfect homes, plus a heartfelt message—the people we lose never really leave us—Golden Girl is a beach book unlike any other. <P><P><b>A New York Times Best Seller</b>
Golden Girl: The perfect escapist summer read from the #1 New York Times bestseller
by Elin Hilderbrand'I just LOVE [Elin Hilderbrand's] books, they are such compulsive reads' - Marian KeyesWhen Vivian Howe, author of thirteen novels and mother of three grown-up children, is killed in a hit-and-run incident while jogging near her home, she ascends to the Beyond. Because her death was unfair, she is allowed to watch what happens below with her children, her best friend, her ex-husband, and a rival novelist whose book is coming out the same day as Vivi's. Vivi is also given the use of three 'nudges' so that she can influence the outcome of events in the world of the living. As Vivi discovers her children's secrets, watches the investigation into her own death and worries about a secret from her youth coming to light, she must decide what she wants to manipulate - and what should be left well alone. Combining Elin Hilderbrand's trademark beach scenes, mouth-watering meals and picture-perfect homes with the heartfelt message that the people we lose never really leave us, Golden Girl is a beach book unlike any other from 'Queen of the Summer Novel' (People).Praise for Elin Hilderbrand:This sweeping love story is Hilderbrand's best ever - New York Times on 28 SUMMERS'Captivating and bittersweet' - People'Elin Hilderbrand is the godmother of beach reads for a reason' - Good Housekeeping'Hilderbrand sets the gold standard in escapist fiction' - Kirkus'Less a story about a secretive affair and more a tale of sweet nostalgia and fate, this title will be popular with a wide audience' - Library Journal
Golden Girl
by Sarah ZettelCallie LeRoux has put her grimy, harrowing trip from the depths of the Dust Bowl behind her. Her life is a different kind of exciting now: she works at a major motion picture studio among powerful studio executives and stylish stars. Still nothing can distract her from her true goal. With help from her friend Jack and guidance from the great singer Paul Robeson, she will find her missing mother. But as a child of prophecy and daughter of the legitimate heir to the Seelie throne, Callie poses a huge threat to the warring fae factions who've attached themselves to the most powerful people in Hollywood . . . and they
The Golden Glove
by Fred BowenWhen Jamie, a twelve-year-old shortstop, loses the glove that "magically" helped him make fantastic catches, he wonders whether it was the sole secret of his success. Includes a history of baseball gloves.
The Golden Hat
by Keli Thorsteinsson Kate Winslet Margret EricsdottirThank you for taking this journey with us. We hope this book brings a new awareness of the opportunity we have to help those with autism learn to communicate and realize their ambitions. People with autism have the potential to achieve great things, but only when given the appropriate support and education. This is why the Golden Hat Foundation was formed. All author proceeds from this book go directly to the Golden Hat Foundation. With your help, we can change the world for people with autism. For more information about the Golden Hat Foundation and ways you can help, please visit our website: www.goldenhatfoundation.org "I simply couldn't conceive of how devastating it would be not to be able to hear my children's voices. Not to be able to communicate with them, to hear them learn, grow, and express themselves verbally. How fortunate, how blessed I am. This overwhelmed me. I can talk to my children, I can respond to their needs and comfort them when they tell me they are unwell. I can tell them stories and hear them tell theirs." Kate Winslet Imagine what it would be like not to be able to communicate with those we love. For many individuals living with nonverbal autism and their families, this is their everyday reality. The Golden Hat is an intimate response to this reality created by Kate Winslet, Margret Ericsdottir, and her son Keli, who has nonverbal autism. Kate and Margret's stories, their personal email correspondence, and Keli's poetry give us a profound insight into the world of those living with autism. Kate has shared this story with some of the world's most famous people, posing the question: "What is important to you to express?" Their responses are a collection of intimate self-portraits and unique quotes. Among them are: Christina Aguilera Zac Efron Julianne Moore Maria Sharapova Kobe Bryant James Franco Rosie O'Donnell Ben Stiller Michael Caine Ricky Gervais Michael Phelps Meryl Streep Kim Cattrall Tom Hanks John C. Reilly Justin Timberlake George Clooney Elton John Tim Robbins Naomi Watts Leonardo DiCaprio Jude Law Kristin Scott Thomas Oprah Winfrey Put together by Kate, Margret, and the dedicated team who work daily on the Golden Hat Foundation, this project has been a labor of love. All the author proceeds from this groundbreaking book will benefit the Golden Hat Foundation, founded by Kate Winslet and Margret Ericsdottir to build innovative living campuses for people with autism and raise public awareness of their intellectual capabilities.
The Golden Hour: A richly atmospheric and compelling historical novel from the author of THE FRENCH HOUSE
by Jacquie BloeseAt the golden hour, hidden truths and desires come to light . . .In the genteel squares and stuccoed villas of late-Victorian Brighton, Ellen and Reynold Harper - twins, companions, colleagues, - ply their trade as portrait photographers. But at the golden hour, the girls arrive to pose for the lucrative - and dangerous - illicit photographs that really keep the Harpers' business afloat. This is the other, shadowy world of the city: a world of erotic tableaux, boundary-crossing music hall artistes, and the sinister figure of the local gangster, the Croc.But when Ellen is drawn into the orbit of unhappy newly-wed Clementine, she finds herself torn between loyalty to her brother, her dangerous attraction to their new model, Lily, and a burgeoning friendship with Clem. And as the two worlds of Brighton collide, the three women discover that there is only a knife edge between the promise of freedom, and the threat of ruin . . .Atmospheric, sensual and powerfully moving , The Golden Hour is a spellbinding portrait of three women determined to find their freedom - perfect for fans of Sarah Waters, The Doll Factory and The Essex Serpent*Jacquie Bloese's stunning debut, THE FRENCH HOUSE, is available now*
The Golden Hour
by William NicholsonShe loves him. She's happy. But could she be happier? 'Capturing humour in the small, perfectly skewered moments of everyday life, this is a story of small, largely middle-class lives enclave, made golden by the light that Nicholson shines on them' Sunday Times'Nicholson is a subtle and addictive writer who deserves to be a household name' Observer Maggie and Andrew are lovers who live apart - Maggie in the country, Andrew in town. When Andrew is offered a job close to Maggie, moving in with her is the obvious next step. Or is it? Is this the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with? Maggie panics. She ends their relationship, devastating Andrew. But when he turns the tables on her, she begins to see him differently. Meanwhile, Maggie's Sussex neighbours are living through their own intense dilemmas. The stories of Maggie and other characters entwine in a continuous dance over seven golden days of high summer - a human kaleidoscope that captures how passionate yet mundane, painful yet comic our everyday lives can be.These are seven golden days of summer ... time enough for relationships to change for ever...
The Golden Hour
by William NicholsonShe loves him. She's happy. But could she be happier? 'Capturing humour in the small, perfectly skewered moments of everyday life, this is a story of small, largely middle-class lives enclave, made golden by the light that Nicholson shines on them' Sunday Times'Nicholson is a subtle and addictive writer who deserves to be a household name' Observer Maggie and Andrew are lovers who live apart - Maggie in the country, Andrew in town. When Andrew is offered a job close to Maggie, moving in with her is the obvious next step. Or is it? Is this the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with? Maggie panics. She ends their relationship, devastating Andrew. But when he turns the tables on her, she begins to see him differently. Meanwhile, Maggie's Sussex neighbours are living through their own intense dilemmas. The stories of Maggie and other characters entwine in a continuous dance over seven golden days of high summer - a human kaleidoscope that captures how passionate yet mundane, painful yet comic our everyday lives can be.These are seven golden days of summer ... time enough for relationships to change for ever...
The Golden Imaginarium (Hither & Nigh #2)
by Ellen PotterIf Nell wants to keep her magic and save her brother, she&’ll have to master her spell work and find some way back to the Nigh in this fun and fast-paced sequel to Hither & Nigh, perfect for fans of James Riley and Thirteen Witches!Weeks have passed since Nell Batista and her friends from the Last Chance Club learned how to use magic to access the hidden world of New York City called the Nigh. Weeks since Nell found her missing brother River in the Nigh and was forced to leave him behind. Desperate to find him again, Nell is eager to improve her spell work and get back to the Nigh. Then a visitor shows up at the club with the news that Nell and her friends are all being fast-tracked to become Watchers, magic practitioners tasked with making sure important events unfold the way they are supposed to. Before they can become Watchers, they must all pass three Initiation Trials, armed with tiny powerful creatures from the Nigh called Fates. Nell&’s Fates aren&’t particularly special, but they&’ll have to do, for the costs of failing are steep: not only would she be kicked out of the club and expelled from school, but she would lose all memories of magic—including the Nigh and her brother. Then she gets word that the terrifying Minister is gathering her Magicians in the Nigh to come after both Nell and River. If there were ever a time for Nell to excel at her spell work, it&’s now…but can she master her lessons—and muster enough magic—in time?
The Golden Legend: A novel (Vintage International Series)
by Nadeem AslamA brave, timely, searingly beautiful novel from the acclaimed author of The Blind Man's Garden: set in contemporary Pakistan, the story of a Muslim widow and her Christian neighbors whose community is consumed by violent religious intolerance When shots ring out on the Grand Trunk Road, Nargis's life begins to crumble around her. Her husband, Massud--a fellow architect--is caught in the cross fire and dies before she can confess her greatest secret to him. Now under threat from a powerful military intelligence officer, who demands that she pardon her husband's American killer, Nargis fears that the truth about her past will soon be exposed. For weeks someone has been broadcasting people's secrets from the minaret of the local mosque, and, in a country where even the accusation of blasphemy is a currency to be bartered, the mysterious broadcasts have struck fear in Christians and Muslims alike. When the loudspeakers reveal a forbidden romance between a Muslim cleric's daughter and Nargis's Christian neighbor, Nargis finds herself trapped in the center of the chaos tearing their community apart. In his characteristically luminous prose, Nadeem Aslam has given us a lionhearted novel that reflects Pakistan's past and present in a single mirror, a story of corruption, resilience, and the disguises that are sometimes necessary for survival--a revelatory portrait of the human spirit.From the Hardcover edition.
Golden Like Summer
by Gene GantCan two teens with everything stacked against them find love and happiness when doing the right thing leads to persecution? Held captive and sexually abused by a sadistic criminal, Joey rescued a younger boy when he got his chance to escape. But instead of being applauded for his bravery, he’s accused of hurting the boy and sees firsthand how unfair the system can be to someone young, poor, and black. He flees to an abandoned house, renames himself Alan, and shares his new life with Desi, another homeless youth. Desi is deeply attracted to Alan, and Alan feels the same, even if his past has tainted those feelings. While trying to let go of his past, Alan discovers that Desi isn’t free, chased by the older teen who’s been pimping him out. Alan intends to change that, but doing the right thing and confronting Desi’s pimp may put Alan on the wrong side of the law once again.
The Golden Pasture
by Joyce Carol ThomasThe exquisite horse twelve-year-old Carl Lee finds on his grandfather's farm one summer helps him to understand his difficult father better.
The Golden Rule: Longlisted for the Women's Prize 2021
by Amanda CraigA Times, Sunday Times, Observer, Daily Mail and Financial Times Best Book of 2020 Pick'A highly enjoyable story about female resilience and finding fulfilment on your own terms' Sunday Times'An irresistible summer read' Guardian Book of the Day'A typically sharp and hugely satisfying page-turner' Daily MailShe's such a skilful storyteller' Bernardine EvaristoWhen Hannah is invited into the First-Class carriage of the London to Penzance train by Jinni, she walks into a spider's web. Now a poor young single mother, Hannah once escaped Cornwall to go to university. But once she married Jake and had his child, her dreams were crushed into bitter disillusion. Her husband has left her for Eve, rich and childless, and Hannah has been surviving by becoming a cleaner in London. Jinni is equally angry and bitter, and in the course of their journey the two women agree to murder each other's husbands. After all, they are strangers on a train - who could possibly connect them?But when Hannah goes to Jinni's husband's home the next night, she finds Stan, a huge, hairy, ugly drunk who has his own problems - not least the care of a half-ruined house and garden. He claims Jinni is a very different person to the one who has persuaded Hannah to commit a terrible crime. Who is telling the truth - and who is the real victim?Praise for Amanda Craig'Terrific, page-turning, slyly funny' India Knight'As satisfying a novel as I have read in years' Sarah Perry'Amanda Craig is one of the most brilliant and entertaining novelists now working in Britain' Alison Lurie
The Golden Rule: Longlisted for the Women's Prize 2021
by Amanda CraigA Times, Sunday Times, Observer, Daily Mail and Financial Times Best Book of 2020 Pick'A highly enjoyable story about female resilience and finding fulfilment on your own terms' Sunday Times'An irresistible summer read' Guardian Book of the Day'A typically sharp and hugely satisfying page-turner' Daily MailShe's such a skilful storyteller' Bernardine EvaristoWhen Hannah is invited into the First-Class carriage of the London to Penzance train by Jinni, she walks into a spider's web. Now a poor young single mother, Hannah once escaped Cornwall to go to university. But once she married Jake and had his child, her dreams were crushed into bitter disillusion. Her husband has left her for Eve, rich and childless, and Hannah has been surviving by becoming a cleaner in London. Jinni is equally angry and bitter, and in the course of their journey the two women agree to murder each other's husbands. After all, they are strangers on a train - who could possibly connect them?But when Hannah goes to Jinni's husband's home the next night, she finds Stan, a huge, hairy, ugly drunk who has his own problems - not least the care of a half-ruined house and garden. He claims Jinni is a very different person to the one who has persuaded Hannah to commit a terrible crime. Who is telling the truth - and who is the real victim?Praise for Amanda Craig'Terrific, page-turning, slyly funny' India Knight'As satisfying a novel as I have read in years' Sarah Perry'Amanda Craig is one of the most brilliant and entertaining novelists now working in Britain' Alison Lurie
The Golden Rule: Longlisted for the Women's Prize 2021
by Amanda CraigLonglisted for the Women's Prize 2021A Times, Sunday Times, Observer, Daily Mail and Financial Times Best Book of 2020 Pick'A highly enjoyable story about female resilience and finding fulfilment on your own terms' Sunday Times'An irresistible summer read' Guardian Book of the Day'A typically sharp and hugely satisfying page-turner' Daily MailShe's such a skilful storyteller' Bernardine Evaristo When Hannah is invited into the First-Class carriage of the London to Penzance train by Jinni, she walks into a spider's web. Now a poor young single mother, Hannah once escaped Cornwall to go to university. But once she married Jake and had his child, her dreams were crushed into bitter disillusion. Her husband has left her for Eve, rich and childless, and Hannah has been surviving by becoming a cleaner in London. Jinni is equally angry and bitter, and in the course of their journey the two women agree to murder each other's husbands. After all, they are strangers on a train - who could possibly connect them? But when Hannah goes to Jinni's husband's home the next night, she finds Stan, a huge, hairy, ugly drunk who has his own problems - not least the care of a half-ruined house and garden. He claims Jinni is a very different person to the one who has persuaded Hannah to commit a terrible crime. Who is telling the truth - and who is the real victim?Praise for Amanda Craig'Terrific, page-turning, slyly funny' India Knight'As satisfying a novel as I have read in years' Sarah Perry'Amanda Craig is one of the most brilliant and entertaining novelists now working in Britain' Alison Lurie
The Golden Rules For Managers
by Frank McnairOften, the advice that makes the most impact does so because it's delivered in a clear, memorable saying that cuts to the heart of the issue. For business readers fed up with long books that say little, nothing could be more refreshing than The Golden Rules for Managers. Management expert Frank McNair distills the best business wisdom into 119 memorable nuggets that speak directly to management issues, then explains the lessons behind the each saying. * Paint a Clear Picture of the Target (goal setting) * What you Reward is What You Get (providing employee feedback) * Employees will Respect what you Expect if you Inspect (follow-up) * A Plan Is Not a Straightjacket (flexibility in execution) * The Madder You Get, the Dumber You Are (self-management) Packaged for visual impact and easy reading, The Golden Rules for Managers is the new golden standard in management guides.
The Golden Sands: Book 7 (Evie's Magic Bracelet #7)
by Jessica Ennis-Hill Elen CaldecottThe seventh in a magical, exciting series by Olympian and World Book Day ambassador Jessica Ennis-Hill. Perfect for fans of Rainbow Magic and My Little Pony!What if you had a magic bracelet that meant you could see golden magic everywhere?Evie's grandma has sent her another parcel. Inside layers of tissue and colourful ribbons is a beautiful bracelet! And when Evie and her friends find themselves on the most exciting beach holiday of their lives, they'll need all their magical know-how for their most dangerous challenge yet ... Evie shares Jessica's determination and drive - an inspiration for kids everywhere.The full list of titles: 1. The Silver Unicorn2. The Enchanted Puppy3. The Sprites' Den4. The Unicorn's Foal5. The Clocktower Charm6. The Fire Bird7. The Golden Sands
Golden State
by Stephanie KeganA haunting literary drama, with a ripped-from-the headlines urgency reminiscent of Defending Jacob and Sue Miller's While I Was Gone, Golden State asks hard questions about the limits of loyalty and the bounds of family ties.Growing up in the 1960s in one of California's most prominent political families, Natalie Askedahl worshipped her big brother, Bobby, a sensitive math prodigy who served as her protector and confidante. But after Bobby left home at sixteen on a Princeton scholarship, something changed between them. Now that Natalie is happily married, with a career and two young daughters, her only real regret is losing Bobby. Then, a bomb explodes in the middle of her seemingly ideal life. Her oldest daughter is on the Stanford campus when one person is killed and another maimed. Other bombings follow across California. Frightened for her family, Natalie grows obsessed with the case until she makes an unthinkable discovery: the bomber's manifesto reads alarmingly like the last letter she has from Bobby. Unsure of whom to sacrifice and whom to protect, Natalie is confronted with a terrible choice that will send her down a rabbit hole of confusion, lies, and betrayals. As her life splits irrevocably into before and after, she begins to learn that some of the most dangerous things in the world are the stories we tell ourselves.
The Golden Swift (The Silver Arrow)
by Lev GrossmanIn this thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling Silver Arrow series, Kate and Tom must confront the limits of what even magic can do—all while trying to bring balance back to the world. A lot has changed for Kate in a year. She and Tom are now full-fledged conductors of the steam-powered, animal-saving Great Secret Intercontinental Railway. Life is good! Or good-ish, anyway. Her uncle Herbert has gone missing, and the worsening climate means that there are more and more animals that need help all the time. How many times does Kate have to save the world before it stays saved? And her real life isn&’t exactly perfect either. She flunked her audition for the junior high musical and got stuck in the chorus, while her archenemy Jag got a lead. So, out of desperation, Kate breaks the rules and takes the Silver Arrow out on an unsanctioned mission, to find Uncle Herbert and bring back balance to the world. But she quickly discovers she&’s not the only one on the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway. There&’s a mysterious train called the Golden Swift out there too, with an agenda of its own. Is it an ally? A rival? An enemy? A bit of all three? The question will turn Kate&’s world upside down, take her from the Scottish Highlands to the Australian outback to the bottom of the Bering Sea, and lead her straight on a collision course with the mysterious masters of the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway itself. Because when you're a human being fighting to save nature, are you the hero or are you the villain? There are no simple answers.