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What Folklorists Do: Professional Possibilities in Folklore Studies
by Timothy LloydWhat can you do with a folklore degree? Over six dozen folklorists, writing from their own experiences, show us. What Folklorists Do examines a wide range of professionals—both within and outside the academy, at the beginning of their careers or holding senior management positions—to demonstrate the many ways that folklore studies can shape and support the activities of those trained in it. As one of the oldest academic professions in the United States and grounded in ethnographic fieldwork, folklore has always been concerned with public service and engagement beyond the academy. Consequently, as this book demonstrates, the career applications of a training in folklore are many—advocating for local and national causes; shaping public policy; directing and serving in museums; working as journalists, publishers, textbook writers, or journal editors; directing national government programs or being involved in historic preservation; teaching undergraduate and graduate students; producing music festivals; pursuing a career in politics; or even becoming a stand-up comedian. A comprehensive guide to the range of good work carried out by today's folklorists, What Folklorists Do is essential reading for folklore students and professionals and those in positions to hire them.Audio book narrated by Walter Brown. Produced by Speechki in 2021.
What Happened to Nina?: A Thriller
by Dervla McTiernanFrom the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Murder Rule comes an emotional novel of suspense about two families at war.Nina and Simon are the perfect couple. Young, fun and deeply in love. Until they leave for a weekend at his family’s cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home.WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA?Nobody knows. Simon’s explanation about what happened in their last hours together doesn’t add up. Nina’s parents push the police for answers, and Simon’s parents rush to protect him. They hire expensive lawyers and a PR firm that quickly ramps up a vicious, nothing-is-off-limits media campaign.HOW FAR WILL HIS FAMILY GO TO KEEP HIM SAFE?Soon, facts are lost in a swirl of accusation and counter-accusation. Everyone chooses a side, and the story goes viral, fueled by armchair investigators and wild conspiracy theories and illustrated with pretty pictures taken from Nina’s social media accounts. Journalists descend on their small Vermont town, followed by a few obsessive "fans."HOW FAR WILL HER FAMILY GO TO GET TO THE TRUTH?Nina’s family is under siege, but they never lose sight of the only thing that really matters — finding their daughter. Out-gunned by Simon’s wealthy, powerful family, Nina’s parents recognize that if playing by the rules won’t get them anywhere, it’s time to break them.
What Happened to You
by James CatchpoleA Schneider Family Book Award Honor book! This accessible, funny, and groundbreaking story addresses the questions children often ask, as well as a disabled child's choice not to answer. What happened to you? Was it a shark? A burglar? A lion? Did it fall off? A boy named Joe is trying to play pirates at the playground, but he keeps being asked what happened to his leg. Bombarded with questions and silly suggestions, Joe becomes more and more fed up...until the kids finally understand they don't need to know what happened. And that they're wasting valuable playtime! Based on the author's real childhood experiences, this honest, funny, and authentic picture book is an empowering read for anyone with a disability, and for young readers learning how best to address differences.
What He Desired
by Eva HoreMichael and Sarah are a normal married couple. Or are they? What happens when fantasy and reality cross?This couple finds out that pleasing each other with different scenarios might not be what they are really yearning for. Michael puts pen to paper and gets more than he bargained for when Sarah finds his hidden manuscript ...
What I Cannot Change
by Darrell Brown LeAnn RimesBillboard hits come and go, but once in a blue moon a song comes along that captures people's hearts and stands the test of time. Country / Pop sensation LeAnn Rimes' "What I Cannot Change" released to radio in August 2008 and immediately topped the charts. The song's simple message of peace and acceptance speaks to people from all walks of life:I will learn to let go what I cannot changeI will learn to forgive what I cannot changeI will learn to love what I cannot changeBut I will change, I will changeWhatever I, whenever I canThe book WHAT I CANNOT CHANGE is an elegant counterpart to the song that will include an introduction by Rimes, lyrics, interior photographs, stories from people who have experienced their own journeys of change.
What If My Snot Glowed in the Dark?
by John BottomleyEverybody pees, poos and pukes, and everyone has icky skin and smells horrible. But have you ever wondered what would happen if your burps could power a hot air balloon? You could burp your way across the country! Or what if your farts smelled like roses? Well, you could grow a fart garden, or start a range of perfumes inspired by your farts. Or what if you never, EVER showered again? (Please, do make sure you shower regularly!) With plenty hilarious, yucky facts to discover about the gross stuff that comes out of you, budding young scientists - and comedians! - can learn all about why their bodies do icky, sticky things. What if My Snot was Glow in the Dark? really puts the FUN in bodily functions.
What is AI?: The curious kid's guide to artificial intelligence
by Neal LaytonAn easy-to-understand picture book explaining AI to young readers, whilst celebrating how amazing human brains really are!Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence - and we all have LOTS of questions. What exactly is it? Why is it such a big deal? Are there any risks? And how is it going to transform our lives?Award-winning author-illustrator Neal Layton is here to explain all there is to know about AI, from the early computers that could only solve sums to the AI programs of today that can recognise human speech and recommend TV shows - and what AI might be able to do in the future. Along the way, readers will learn just how incredible their human brains really are, and what intelligence is all about.This entertaining non-fiction picture book, illustrated in Neal Layton's trademark zany collage style, is perfect for readers aged 6+ who are always asking HOW something works, and for parents wanting to help their kids make sense of a subject that everyone is talking about.
What is Health?
by Ruth CrossWhat is health? What does health mean to people? How do we make sense of health and experience it? There are no simple answers to these questions. Health is complex, subjective and varied. Drawing on theory, research and contemporary debates, Ruth Cross explores the nature of health in depth and challenges our thinking about it. Moving beyond taken-for-granted assumptions, she gives the meaning of ‘health’ its due attention, exploring everyday perspectives as well as ‘expert’ medical, academic and policy understandings and approaches. In doing so, the book brings together different knowledge and expertise on health, also considering the inextricable links between human and planetary health. This book is important for all those working in the health field, or training to do so, seeking a broad understanding about health and all its complexity.
What Is the Executive Branch (Your Guide To Government Ser.)
by James BowThe executive branch of the United States government is responsible for putting laws into action. This book carefully explains the workings of the executive branch, from its most visible figure, the President, through to the vice president, cabinet, and executive departments and agencies. Key roles such as the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Attorney General are profiled. A comparison to other executive powers in state and local governments, as well as other countries, is also included. Teacher's guide available.
What Is the Story of Godzilla? (What Is the Story Of?)
by Sheila Keenan Who HQWho HQ brings you the stories behind the most well-known characters of our time. In this addition to the What Is the Story Of? series, young readers will discover the exciting story of one of the world's favorite monsters...Godzilla!In 1954, Godzilla appeared on screen for the first time in a Japanese film directed by Ishirō Honda. Awakened by nuclear radiation, the enormous sea monster has appeared in over thirty other films, making Godzilla the longest-running film franchise in history. Known as the "King of the Monsters," Godzilla has earned a huge fanbase worldwide. The dinosaur-like amphibian has been featured alongside friends and foes such as Mothra and Mechagodzilla, in TV shows, books, video games, and more. There is even a Godzilla star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Learn about the lasting legacy of this iconic character in this nonfiction book for young readers.
What Is Veganism For? (What Is It For?)
by Catherine OliverAcross the world, an increasing number of people are turning to veganism, changing not just their diets, but completely removing animal products from their lives. For some, this is prompted by concerns over animal ethics; for others, it’s a response to the part played by animal agriculture in the climate crisis or an attempt to improve their own health. Catherine Oliver shows why the veganism movement has become a powerful social, political and environmental force, taking an honest look at how we live and eat. She discusses the health and environmental benefits of veganism, explores the practical and social impacts of the shift to eating plants, and explains why veganism is not just a diet, but a way of life.
What Is Your Baby Really Thinking?: All the Things Your Baby Wished They Could Tell You
by Sam HartThe secret’s out!When you look into your baby’s big, beautiful eyes, it can be hard to know what on earth is going through their curious minds. Well you needn’t wonder any more, because after delving deep into baby psychology we can now reveal the real thoughts behind those adorable pudgy faces.Find out what they’re really thinking when you blow raspberries on their tum-tum or "steal" their nose, why they particularly enjoy spitting up over your nice clean top, and what that funny expression means when you make them wear "novelty" onesies.
What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World
by Prentis HemphillNATIONAL BESTBELLER • From one of the most prominent voices in the trauma conversation comes a groundbreaking new way to heal on a personal and a collective level.&“I love this book.&”—Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score &“In a time when so many of us are being trained in cynicism, this book stands in necessary defiance.&”—Cole Arthur Riley, author of Black Liturgies and This Here FleshAs we emerge from the past few years of collective upheaval, are we ready to face the complexities of our time with joy, authenticity, and connection? Now more than ever, we must learn to heal ourselves, connect with one another, and embody our values. In this revolutionary book, Prentis Hemphill shows us how.What It Takes to Heal asserts that the principles of embodiment—the recognition of our body&’s sensations and habits, and the beliefs that inform them—are critical to lasting healing and change. Hemphill, an expert embodiment practitioner, therapist, and activist who has partnered with Brené Brown, Tarana Burke, and Esther Perel, among others, shows us that we don't have to carry our emotional burdens alone. Hemphill demonstrates a future in which healing is done in community, weaving together stories from their own experience as a trauma survivor with clinical accounts and lessons learned from their time as a social movement architect. They ask, &“What would it do to movements, to our society and culture, to have the principles of healing at the very center? And what does it do to have healing at the center of every structure and everything we create?&”In this life-affirming framework for the way forward, Hemphill shows us how to heal our bodies, minds, and souls—to develop the interpersonal skills necessary to break down the doors of disconnection and take the necessary risks to reshape our world toward justice.
What Lips My Lips Have Kissed: The Loves and Love Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Daniel Mark EpsteinA noted biographer and poet illuminates the unique woman who wrote the greatest American love poetry of the twentieth centuryWhat Lips My Lips Have Kissed is the story of a rare sort of American genius, who grew up in grinding poverty in Camden, Maine. Nothing could save the sensitive child but her talent for words, music and drama, and an inexorable desire to be loved. When she was twenty, her poetry would make her famous; at thirty she would be loved by readers the world over.Edna St. Vincent Millay was widely considered to be the most seductive woman of her age. Few men could resist her, and many women also fell under her spell. From the publication of her first poems until the scandal over Fatal Interview twenty years later, gossip about the poet's liberated lifestyle prompted speculation about who might be the real subject of her verses.Using letters, diaries and journals of the poet and her lovers that have only recently become available, Daniel Mark Epstein tells the astonishing story of the life, dedicated to art and love, that inspired the sublime lyrics of Edna St. Vincent Millay.
What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life
by Marlo Thomas Phil DonahueNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Power couple Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue have created a compelling and intimate collection of intriguing conversations with famous couples about their enduring marriages and how they have made them last through the challenges we all share.What makes a marriage last? Who doesn’t want to know the answer to that question? To unlock this mystery, iconic couple Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue crisscrossed the country and conducted intimate conversations with forty celebrated couples whose long marriages they’ve admired—from award-winning actors, athletes, and newsmakers to writers, comedians, musicians, and a former U.S. president and First Lady. Through these conversations, Marlo and Phil also revealed the rich journey of their own marriage. What Makes a MarriageLast offers practical and heartfelt wisdom for couples of all ages, and a rare glimpse into the lives of husbands and wives we have come to know and love. Marlo and Phil’s frequently funny, often touching, and always engaging conversations span the marital landscape—from that first rush of new love to keeping that precious spark alive, from navigating hard times to celebrating triumphs, from balancing work and play and family to growing better and stronger together. At once intimate, candid, revelatory, hilarious, instructive, and poignant, this book is a beautiful gift for couples of every age and stage.Featuring interviews with:Alan and Arlene Alda • Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick President Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter • James Carville and Mary Matalin Deepak and Rita Chopra • Patricia Cornwell and Staci Gruber Bryan Cranston and Robin Dearden • Billy and Janice Crystal Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest • Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen Viola Davis and Julius Tennon • Gloria and Emilio EstefanMichael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan • Chip and Joanna Gaines Sanjay and Rebecca Gupta • Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka • Ron and Cheryl Howard Jesse and Jacqueline Jackson • Elton John and David Furnish John and Justine Leguizamo • LL COOL J and Simone I. Smith Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone • John McEnroe and Patty Smyth Mehmet and Lisa Oz • Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete Letty Cottin Pogrebin and Bert Pogrebin • Rob and Michele Reiner Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos • Al Roker and Deborah Roberts Ray and Anna Romano • Tony Shalhoub and Brooke Adams Judges Judy and Jerry Sheindlin • George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth Sting and Trudie Styler • Capt. Chesley “Sully” and Lorrie Sullenberger Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner • Judith and Milton Viorst Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt • Bob Woodward and Elsa Walsh
What Really Works: The 4+2 Formula for Sustained Business Success
by William Joyce Nitin Nohria Bruce RobersonBased on a groundbreaking study, analysing data on 200 management practices gathered over a 10 year period. Reveals the effectiveness of the 4+2 practices (4 primary and 2 of 4 possible secondary) practices that really matter –– the ones that, if followed rigorously, ensure sustained business success. With a new introduction by the authors. With hundreds of well–known management practices and prescriptions promoted by consultants and available to business, which are really effective and contribute to the growth and continued success of a company? Which do little or nothing? Based on the "Evergreen Project," a massive, 5 year study involving the business school faculties of ten universities, the authors set out to find the management practices that truly promote long–term growth and success. Their findings will revolutionize the art and practice of business management.The book shows that there are essentially six management practices that all successful companies must master simultaneously. They range from focusing on a strategy of growth to maintaining the depth and quality of human talent in the organization.
What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love
by Carole RadziwillA stunning, tragic memoir about John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and his cousin Anthony Radziwill, by Radziwill&’s widow.What Remains is a vivid and haunting memoir about a girl from a working-class town who becomes an award-winning television producer and marries a prince, Anthony Radziwill. Carole grew up in a small suburb with a large, eccentric cast of characters. At nineteen, she struck out for New York City to find a different life. Her career at ABC News led her to the refugee camps of Cambodia, to a bunker in Tel Aviv, and to the scene of the Menendez murders. Her marriage led her into the old world of European nobility and the newer world of American aristocracy. What Remains begins with loss and returns to loss. A small plane plunges into the ocean carrying John F. Kennedy Jr., Anthony&’s cousin, and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Carole&’s closest friend. Three weeks later Anthony dies of cancer. With unflinching honesty and a journalist&’s keen eye, Carole Radziwill explores the enduring ties of family, the complexities of marriage, the importance of friendship, and the challenges of self-invention. Beautifully written, What Remains &“gets at the essence of what matters,&” wrote Oprah Winfrey. &“Friendship, compassion, destiny.&”
What She Doesn't Know (If Only She Knew Mystery Series #4)
by Pamela CraneYOUR FAVORITE SAVVY SLEUTHS ARE BACK, AND NOTHING CAN PREPARE THEM FOR THE TWIST THAT'S COMING! When her estranged husband shows up on her doorstep, Ginger Mallowan thinks she’s finally getting her happily ever after…until he disappears again and new a threat surfaces. Rick Mallowan had never been the type of father to play catch with his sons. Or the kind of husband to stick around. But when he shows up begging for another chance to win Ginger’s long-retired heart, she can’t deny her first love. He's proven he’s a changed man, and it feels like a dream come true. But a nightmare begins when he vanishes and someone takes revenge out on Ginger and her friends. Unlike Rick's previous disappearing acts, this time he leaves behind a trail of terrifying clues: Cryptic notes exposing secrets that put a target on her back. Bullets aimed at her in a deadly warning. Someone close to her abducted without a trace. Despite the missing years and unanswered questions, nothing can scare Ginger--or her sleuthing sidekick Tara and Deaf daughter-in-law Sloane--away from digging into the past to catch a killer…even if it costs Ginger's heart breaking all over again. As the search dredges up traumatic memories along with shocking clues from the 1970s, will flower power be enough to uncover The Who behind the deaths? While the truth might be dangerous, what she doesn’t know might kill her. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING... "Five gripping stars for the mind-blowing twist and unforgettable cast!" (Redhead Reviews) “This murder-solving trio will grip you! Meet Sloane, a Deaf Insta-famous party planner with a knack for finding evidence. Ginger, an eccentric grandma unafraid to speak her mind. And Tara, a horse rescuer who attracts trouble and fights for the truth. You'll laugh until you pee your pants, stay up past your bedtime, and be hooked until the twist has you reeling!” (reader review) "A witty cozy murder mystery perfect for fans of Nita Prose's The Maid, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series, and The Thursday Murder Club. Unlike anything you've read, it's guaranteed to keep you on your toes until the twisty end!" (Literary Lover Reviews)
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix (Remixed Classics #4)
by Tasha SuriIn the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. Two British Indian teens cut off from their heritage find solace in each other in this gothic Wuthering Heights YA remix that subverts the default whiteness of the original text.Sometimes, lost things find their way home...Yorkshire, North of England, 1786. As the abandoned son of a lascar—a sailor from India—Heathcliff has spent most of his young life maligned as an "outsider." Now he's been flung into an alien life in the Yorkshire moors, where he clings to his birth father's language even though it makes the children of the house call him an animal, and the maids claim he speaks gibberish.Catherine is the younger child of the estate's owner, a daughter with light skin and brown curls and a mother that nobody talks about. Her father is grooming her for a place in proper society, and that's all that matters. Catherine knows she must mold herself into someone pretty and good and marriageable, even though it might destroy her spirit.As they occasionally flee into the moors to escape judgment and share the half-remembered language of their unknown kin, Catherine and Heathcliff come to find solace in each other. Deep down in their souls, they can feel they are the same.But when Catherine's father dies and the household's treatment of Heathcliff only grows more cruel, their relationship becomes strained and threatens to unravel. For how can they ever be together, when loving each other—and indeed, loving themselves—is as good as throwing themselves into poverty and death?Praise for What Souls Are Made Of:"A gorgeously reclaimed Gothic. ... I’m a Tasha Suri fan for life." —Chloe Gong, New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent Delights"With its brooding characters, gorgeous setting, and a romance that sparkles with electricity, this retelling of Wuthering Heights breathes fresh air into an old classic." —Stacey Lee, New York Times-bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl and Luck of the TitanicThe Remixed Classics SeriesA Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. LeeSo Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. MorrowTravelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae SafiWhat Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha SuriSelf-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemoreMy Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn BayronTeach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb RoehrigInto the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie DimalineMost Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
What the Eye Hears: A History of Tap Dancing
by Brian SeibertMagisterial, revelatory, and-most suitably-entertaining, What the Eye Hears offers an authoritative account of the great American art of tap dancing. Brian Seibert, a dance critic for The New York Times, begins by exploring tap's origins as a hybrid of the jig and clog dancing from the British Isles and dances brought from Africa by slaves. He tracks tap's transfer to the stage through blackface minstrelsy and charts its growth as a cousin to jazz in the vaudeville circuits and nightclubs of the early twentieth century. Seibert chronicles tap's spread to ubiquity on Broadway and in Hollywood, analyzes its decline after World War II, and celebrates its rediscovery and reinvention by new generations of American and international performers. In the process, we discover how the history of tap dancing is central to any meaningful account of American popular culture. This is a story with a huge cast of characters, from Master Juba (it was probably a performance of his in a Five Points cellar that Charles Dickens described in American Notes for General Circulation) through Bill Robinson and Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and Gene Kelly and Paul Draper to Gregory Hines and Savion Glover. Seibert traces the stylistic development of tap through individual practitioners, vividly depicting dancers both well remembered and now obscure. And he illuminates the cultural exchange between blacks and whites over centuries, the interplay of imitation and theft, as well as the moving story of African-Americans in show business, wielding enormous influence as they grapple with the pain and pride of a complicated legacy.What the Eye Hears teaches us to see and hear the entire history of tap in its every step.
What the River Knows: A Novel (Secrets of the Nile #1)
by Isabel IbañezThe Mummy meets Death on the Nile in What the River Knows, Isabel Ibañez's lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and a golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.What the River Knows is the first book in the thrilling Secrets of the Nile duology. "Expertly plotted, explosively adventurous, and burning with romance." - Stephanie Garber #1 New York Times bestselling author"Take a plucky heroine, a historically grounded Indiana Jones-esque adventure through Ancient Egypt, and add a surprising dollop of magic — it’s a recipe for a delightful read." - Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author*Book 1 in the Secrets of the Nile duology*
What the Single Dad Wants . . . (Matchmaking Mamas #10)
by Marie Ferrarella"He's Brandon Slade, for God's sake, and you're...just you."He was a famous writer, the son of a Broadway legend. How had levelheaded Isabelle Sinclair let herself fall head over heels in love with Brandon Slade? No matter how great he made her feel when they were together, she knew he was out of her league. All she wanted was to enjoy their relationship while it lasted.Brandon had never met anyone like Isabelle...so genuine and full of life. For years, the single dad had locked up his heart. Now Isabelle made him want to risk it again. But evidently Isabelle couldn't believe Brandon could love an "ordinary girl" like her. How could he convince her she was everything he'd ever wanted-and thought he'd never find?
What the Taliban Told Me
by Ian FritzAn &“essential&” (Kevin Maurer, #1 New York Times bestselling author) memoir of a young Air Force linguist coming of age in a war that is lost.When Ian Fritz joined the Air Force at eighteen, he did so out of necessity. He hadn&’t been accepted into colleges thanks to an indifferent high school career. He&’d too often slept through his classes as he worked long hours at a Chinese restaurant to help pay the bills for his trailer-dwelling family in Lake City, Florida. But the Air Force recognizes his potential and sends him to the elite Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, to learn Dari and Pashto, the main languages of Afghanistan. By 2011, Fritz was an airborne cryptologic linguist and one of only a tiny number of people in the world trained to do this job on low-flying gunships. He monitors communications on the ground and determines in real time which Afghans are Taliban and which are innocent civilians. This eavesdropping is critical to supporting Special Forces units on the ground, but there is no training to counter the emotional complexity that develops as you listen to people&’s most intimate conversations over the course of two tours, Fritz listens to the Taliban for hundreds of hours, all over the country night and day, in moments of peace and in the middle of battle. What he hears teaches him about the people of Afghanistan—Taliban and otherwise—the war, and himself. Fritz&’s fluency is his greatest asset to the military, yet it becomes the greatest liability to his own commitment to the cause. Both proud of his service and in despair that he is instrumental in destroying the voices that he hears, What the Taliban Told Me is a &“fraught, moving&” (Kirkus Reviews) coming-of-age memoir and a reckoning with our twenty years of war in Afghanistan.
What Was She Thinking?: Notes on a Scandal: A Novel
by Zoë HellerA lonely schoolteacher reveals more than she intends when she records the story of her best friend's affair with a pupil in this sly, insightful novelSchoolteacher Barbara Covett has led a solitary existence; aside from her cat, Portia, she has few friends and no intimates. When Sheba Hart joins St. George's as the new art teacher, Barbara senses the possibility of a new friendship. It begins with lunches and continues with regular invitations to meals with Sheba's seemingly close-knit family. But as Barbara and Sheba's relationship develops, another does as well: Sheba has begun a passionate affair with an underage male student. When it comes to light and Sheba falls prey to the inevitable media circus, Barbara decides to write an account in her friend's defense—an account that reveals not only Sheba's secrets but her own.What Was She Thinking? is a story of repression and passion, envy and complacence, friendship and loneliness. A complex psychological portrait framed as a wicked satire, it is by turns funny, poignant, and sinister. With it, Zoë Heller surpasses the promise of her critically acclaimed first novel, Everything You Know.Shortlisted for the Man Booker PrizeWhat Was She Thinking? is the basis of the 2006 film, Notes on a Scandal, starring Judi Dench and Kate Blanchett.
What We Hide (A Tupelo Grove Novel #1)
by Colleen Coble Rick AckerFamily secrets. Historical wrongs. And the truths that refuse to stay buried.Savannah Webster is trying to find her way forward. She and her husband, Hez, have been separated since tragedy tore them apart and he began numbing his grief and guilt with alcohol. She returned to Tupelo Grove University, which her family helped found over a century ago, to teach history.When Hez turns up in her classroom asking for a second chance, she rejects the idea immediately. But twenty-four hours later she&’s under suspicion for murder, and since Hez is the best attorney she knows, she reluctantly asks him for help. They suspect the murder is tied to someone selling off the university&’s pre-Columbian artifacts, but the secrets go much deeper than they realize.The only hope they&’ve got is each other, and they&’re going to have to put their past behind them if they&’re going to stay alive long enough to uncover all that&’s hidden.Contemporary romantic suspensePerfect for fans of Laura Griffin, Laura Dave, Sarah Pearse, Allison Brennan, and Dani PettreyFirst installment in the Tupelo Grove seriesBook length: approximately 90,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubs