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Flyboy
by Kasey LeBlancSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets The Night Circus in this standout debut YA novel, about a boy who visits a magic-filled circus in his dreams in order to escape reality, where his trans identity remains a secret. An ideal next read for fans of Cemetery Boys.After an incident at his school leaves closeted trans teenager Asher Sullivan needing stitches, his mother betrays him in the worst possible way—she sends him to Catholic school for his senior year. Now he has to contend with hideous plaid skirts, cranky nuns, and #bathroomJesus.Nighttime brings an escape for Asher when he dreams of the Midnight Circus—the one place where he is seen for the boy he truly is. Too bad it exists only in his sleep. At least, that’s what he believes until the day his annoyingly attractive trapeze rival, Apollo, walks out of his dreams and into his classroom. On the heels of this realization that the magical circus might be real, Asher also learns that his time there is limited.In his desperation to hang on to the one place he feels at home, Asher sets both worlds on a collision course that could destroy all the relationships he cares about most. Now he must decide how far he’ll go to preserve the magical circus, even if it means facing his biggest challenge yet—coming out.
VMware vSphere Essentials: A Practical Approach to vSphere Deployment and Management
by Luciano PatrãoThis book fills a vacuum in the market for high-quality information on a VMware vSphere system and offers a thorough introduction to VMware virtualization. Written for novices and those seeking more information about vSphere, this book walks you through its key concepts and technology, such as vSphere infrastructure creation, maintenance, and performance for beginners and advanced users.You'll take a step-by-step approach to guarantee you grasp the fundamental concepts and practical procedures required to construct and manage virtual machines in a VMware vSphere system. You'll explore the key components of vSphere with detail and explanation for each feature, including the hypervisor, networking, storage, and high availability, unravelling their intricacies and highlighting best practices.This book provides full VMware knowledge to develop, set up, and maintain vSphere environments that meet modern computing needs. It also features advanced topics, such as resource optimization, performance monitoring, advanced settings, and automation, empowering you to take your virtualization skills to the next level. VMware vSphere Essentials uses a unique step-by-step instructions designed to provide a high-level understanding, accompanied by illustrative images. What You'll LearnEnhance network efficiency with advanced vSphere LACP setupConfigure and manage virtual machines in vSphereImplement vSphere networking and storage Explore advanced vSphere features, such as DRS, HA, and fault toleranceMaster seamless VM migration techniquesOptimize hardware utilization with direct path I/O passthroughWho This Book Is ForSystem administrators, advanced vSphere administrators, and IT professionals pursuing VMware certifications
Decolonizing Psychoanalytic Technique: Putting Freud on Fanon's Couch
by Daniel José GaztambideBoth new and seasoned psychotherapists wrestle with the relationship between psychological distress and inequality across race, class, gender, and sexuality. How does one address this organically in psychotherapy? What role does it play in therapeutic action? Who brings it up, the therapist or the patient? Daniel José Gaztambide addresses these questions by offering a rigorous decolonial approach that rethinks theory and technique from the ground up, providing an accessible, evidence-informed reintroduction to psychoanalytic practice. He re-examines foundational thinkers from three traditions—Freudian, relational-interpersonal, and Lacanian—through the lens of revolutionary psychiatrist Frantz Fanon, and offers a detailed analysis of Fanon’s psychoanalytic practice. Drawing on rich yet grounded discussions of theory and research, Gaztambide presents a clinical model that facilitates exploration of the social in the clinical space in a manner intimately related to the patient’s presenting problem. In doing so, this book demonstrates that clinicians no longer have to choose between attending to the personal, interpersonal, or sociopolitical. It is a guide to therapeutic action “on the couch,” which envisions political action “off the couch” and in the streets. Decolonizing Psychoanalytic Technique provides a comprehensive, practice-oriented and compelling guide for students, practitioners, and scholars of critical, multicultural and decolonial approaches to psychotherapy.
Olive Blackwood Takes Action!
by Sonja ThomasAn anxious aspiring filmmaker bands together with an unlikely friend group to protect their beloved state animal in this heartwarming contemporary middle grade novel perfect for fans of Jamie Sumner and Erin Entrada Kelly.Twelve-year-old Olive Blackwood&’s dream is to direct blockbuster fantasy movies, just like her dad wanted to before he died. She decides to apply to the highly competitive Rose City Summer Film Camp with the help of her best friend, Kayla. But Olive isn&’t sure how she can cast the movie when the mere thought of talking to a stranger makes her nervous. Then a surprise project in Olive&’s film class presents her best chance at going to Rose City: the group who makes the best documentary trailer will receive a recommendation to the elite program! But Olive&’s hopes are quickly dashed when she&’s paired with the two worst students in class: loud Jo Willems has a flashy style of dressing just as intimidating as their outspoken opinions and David Moore is even quieter than Olive, fading into the background. It seems impossible for the three of them to find enough common ground to produce something noteworthy. When Olive stumbles across an old lady chasing a beaver with a frying pan, she&’s disturbed to discover it&’s legal to kill beavers in Oregon—which has the animal on the state flag! Olive posts the video she took of the incident, and it goes viral. She wants to raise more awareness, and if she uses her documentary to do it, she could even get the coveted Rose City recommendation at the same time. With the help of unexpected friendship, counseling, and a little everyday magic, can Olive make her voice be heard?
Inside AI: Over 150 billion purchases per year use this author's AI
by Akli AdjaouteSeparate the AI facts from the AI fiction, and discover how you can best put these tools to work in your organization.In Inside AI AI professor and entrepreneur Dr. Akli Adjaoute puts AI in perspective, with informed insights from 30 years spent in the field. His book lays out a pragmatic blueprint that every leader can utilize to drive innovation with artificial intelligence. In Inside AI you&’ll learn how to: Gain insight into diverse AI techniques and methodologies Learn from both successful and failed AI applications Identify the capabilities and limitations of AI systems Understand successful and failed uses of AI in business See where human cognition still exceeds AI Bust common myths like AI&’s threat to jobs and civilization Manage AI projects effectively Inside AI takes you on a journey through artificial intelligence, from AI&’s origins in traditional expert systems all the way to deep learning and Large Language Models. There&’s no hype here—you&’ll get the grounded, evidence-based insights that are vital for making strategic decisions and preparing your business for the future. About the technology Artificial Intelligence enthusiasts promise everything from human-like collaboration on everyday tasks to the end of work as we know it. Is AI just a flash in the pan, or can it really transform how you do business? This intriguing book sifts through the hype and separates the truth from the myths, with clear advice on what AI can—and can&’t—achieve. About the book Inside AI provides a clear-headed overview of modern artificial intelligence, including the recent advances of Generative AI and Large Language Models. Its accessible and jargon-free explanations of leading AI techniques showcase how AI delivers tangible advantages to businesses. Both inspiring and practical, this book provides a proven framework for developing successful AI applications. What's inside Insights from successful and failed AI applications A survey of AI techniques and methodologies Bust common AI myths Manage AI projects effectively About the reader For anyone seeking grounded insights into AI&’s capabilities, including business leaders and decision makers. About the author Akli Adjaoute is the founder of multiple AI-related companies. He served as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco and as Scientific Committee Chair and Head of the AI department at EPITA. The technical editor on this book was Richard Vaughan. Table of contents 1 The rise of machine intelligence 2 AI mastery: Essential techniques, Part 1 3 AI mastery: Essential techniques, Part 2 4 Smart agent technology 5 Generative AI and large language models 6 Human vs. machine 7 AI doesn&’t turn data into intelligence 8 AI doesn&’t threaten our jobs 9 Technological singularity is absurd 10 Learning from successful and failed applications of AI 11 Next-generation AI A Tracing the roots: From mechanical calculators to digital dreams B Algorithms and programming languages
The Paradise Problem
by Christina LaurenChristina Lauren, the instant New York Times bestselling and &“reigning romance queens&” (PopSugar), returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam &“West&” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she&’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways. Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There&’s just one catch. Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather&’s will, Liam won&’t see a penny until he&’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he&’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he&’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife. But in the presence of his family, Liam&’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.
Animals I Want To See: A Memoir of Growing Up in the Projects and Defying the Odds
by Tom SeemanA lyrical coming-of-age story set in the projects of Toledo, Ohio, Animals I Want To See explores themes of identity, ambition, religion, and friendship—often across racial and social lines—as it spotlights a family of fourteen and tracks a boy&’s journey from a child janitor with big dreams to a teenage petty criminal to a student at Yale and Harvard.&“A terrific and moving memoir about dreaming big and making great things happen.&” —President Bill Clinton &“Read it and be inspired.&” —Deepak Chopra, New York Times bestselling author On Bronson Street, in the projects of Toledo, Ohio, in a crowded house occupied by a family of fourteen, Tom Seeman starts a very important list. Just as the trash-strewn field in his backyard is home to a treasure-trove of wild animals, Tom&’s list, &“Animals I Want To See One Day,&” is home to dreams of adventure in places far away from the downtrodden neighborhood where he lives. But for all its hardship and crime, Bronson Street is also something of a mythical street, populated by unforgettable people who share food, protect each other, and give surprising gifts of beauty and merriment, proving that the bonds of community and friendship (often across racial and social lines) can bridge any divide and transcend what many of us are taught to believe about each other. A luminous coming-of-age memoir that shimmers with countless marvels, Animals I Want To See tracks Tom Seeman&’s journey from a child janitor with big ambitions to a teenage petty criminal to a student at Yale and Harvard. At once a meditation on finding wonder in unlikely places, an ode to a heroic mother who makes the seemingly impossible possible, and an exploration of what it means to create our own identities, this is a heartwarming, thought-provoking, ultimately uplifting book for all readers.
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons
by Peter S. BeagleFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Unicorn comes a new novel with equal amounts of power and whimsy in which a loveable cast of characters trapped within their roles of dragon hunter, princess, and more must come together to take their fates into their own hands.Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad&’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince&’s valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…
Keep Living
by Loreal Chanel PalmerAs long as you&’re alive and breathing, you have a say in what direction your life will take. Just keep living.After seven years of marriage, multiple miscarriages, and three beautiful children, Loreal&’s life changed in an instant when she found out that her husband, her first and only love, had a secret. At first, they embraced an untraditional solution, separating romantically but choosing to live in the same house to continue raising their children together. But ultimately, at thirty-two, Loreal would need to start over in life, find herself, and pave her own way forward. Loreal used to make decisions based on internal fear and arbitrary timelines—until life started making decisions for her. In her inspirational memoir, she decides to step up and start taking control of her own destiny. Choosing to look back and learn from her past, with new insight, Loreal draws from the wisdom of her grandmother and her own personal journey to embolden readers to take control of their futures and turn change into fuel for self-discovery. By remembering her grandmother&’s phrase, &“keep living,&” she realizes that no matter what your past looks like, you are responsible for your own future.
The Off Season
by Amber CowieFor fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware, a destination thriller about a woman who accompanies her new husband to a remote hotel during the off season to do renovations—and uncovers deadly secrets behind every door, from the author of the &“endlessly entertaining and fiendishly clever&” (Christina McDonald, USA TODAY bestselling author) thriller Last One Alive.The Venatura Hotel desperately needs a facelift. Too bad renovations are murder on a marriage. While recovering from a professional setback, documentary filmmaker Jane Duvall stays at a remote hotel during the off season with her new contractor husband, Dom, and his daughter, Sienna. Surrounded by an immense forest and the mighty Fraser River, Jane wants nothing more than to bond with her new family. But she&’s unsettled by the cold, quiet presence of the hotel&’s owner, Peter, who is overseeing Dom&’s renovations. When she starts asking questions, Dom grows distant and Sienna becomes belligerent. Undeterred, Jane uncovers secrets that make her question exactly who she married, including a series of strange disappearances at the hotel in previous seasons. When a rainstorm of epic proportions threatens to flood the banks of the river and claim the Venatura Hotel, Jane must solve these mysteries if she&’s to survive the off season.
The CIA World Factbook 2024-2025
by Central Intelligence AgencyThe ultimate, comprehensive guide to official country data and statistics, from the world&’s most sophisticated intelligence-gathering organization. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, The CIA World Factbook 2024-2025 offers complete and up-to-date information on the world's nations. This comprehensive guide is packed with data on countries' politics, populations, economics, and environment for 2024 and looks ahead to 2025. The CIA World Factbook 2024-2025 includes the following for each country: Updated geopolitical maps Population statistics, with details on languages, religions, literacy rates, age structure, health indicators, and much more Up-to-date data on military expenditures and capabilities Geography information, including climate and natural hazards Details on prominent political figures and parties Contact information for diplomatic missions Facts on transportation, trade, and communication infrastructure Space program profiles for over 90 participating nations Also included are appendices with useful abbreviations, terror organization profiles, and more. Originally intended for use by government officials and policymakers as well as the broader intelligence community, this is a must-have resource for students, travelers, journalists, and anyone with a desire to know more about their world.
Home Run King: The Remarkable Record of Hank Aaron
by Dan SchlossbergIn the fifty years that have passed since Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run and supplanted Babe Ruth as baseball's home run king, his legend and legacy have only grown. Humble and modest to a fault, he always insisted that he didn't want people to forget Babe Ruth but only to remember Henry Aaron. Though he never had the benefit of playing in the media spotlight of New York or Los Angeles, he remains the career leader in total bases, runs batted in, and All-Star selections; shares records for home runs by brothers (with Tommie Aaron) and by teammates (with Eddie Mathews); and is remembered with respect and admiration for his outspoken advocacy of civil rights for all minorities. Written by a lifelong Braves fan who became a sportswriter, this book traces Aaron's odyssey from the segregated south to the baseball world revolutionized by Jackie Robinson, who became an early an important ally against bigotry and prejudice. It reveals how the New York Giants nearly beat the Boston Braves in signing Aaron, when the young slugger caught his first break, and why he changed his hitting style after the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta. Though he never won a Triple Crown or hit for the cycle, he won virtually every major honor, including an MVP award, a World Series ring, and a berth in the Baseball Hall of Fame. But he should have won more, as the author contends he was often taken for granted by voters (nine of whom left him off their Cooperstown ballots!). Turn these pages to find out what home run Aaron considered his greatest, what pitcher proved his easiest mark, and what managers he liked or disliked the most. Even the disappointments are included -- his team's move south, its inability to establish a dynasty, and his quests to become a manager, general manager, or even Commissioner of Baseball. This is also a book of personal tragedy: the death of a child, a difficult divorce, and the stunning loss of the 43-year-old brother-in-law who became the first black GM. Not to mention the deluge of hate mail as it became obvious that he was approaching the most cherished record in sports. Through it all, Henry Louis Aaron kept his composure, preferring to let his bat do the talking. He lacked the notoriety of Willie, Mickey & the Duke but he just might have been the best player in baseball history. He's certainly in the conversation.
Road to Ruin (Magebike Courier #1)
by Hana LeeAn electrifying, gritty fantasy from debut author Hana Lee that takes a royal messenger on a high-speed chase across a climate-ravaged wasteland, featuring motorcycles, monsters, and magic.Jin-Lu has the most dangerous job in the wasteland. She&’s a magebike courier, one of the few who venture outside the domed cities on motorcycles powered by magic. Every day, she braves the wasteland&’s dangers—deadly storms, roving marauders, and territorial beasts—to deliver her wares. Her most valuable cargo? A prince&’s love letters addressed to Yi-Nereen, a princess desperate to escape the clutches of her abusive family and soon-to-be husband. Jin, desperately in love with both her and the prince, can&’t refuse Yi-Nereen&’s plea for help. The two of them flee across the wastes, pursued by Yi-Nereen&’s furious father, her scheming betrothed, and a bounty hunter with mysterious powers. A storm to end all storms is brewing and dark secrets about the heritability of magic are coming to light. Jin&’s heart has led her into peril before, but this time she may not find her way back.
Devil in Profile: A Billie Levine Mystery Book 2
by Kimberly G. GiarratanoIn this sequel to to 2023's Death of a Dancing Queen, New Jersey P.I. Billie Levine finds herself at the forefront of a new crime adventure... perfect for fans of Veronica Mars and Serial. Unlicensed P.I. Billie Levine is trying to bank some extra cash, so she picks up hours working as a process server for another investigative firm. Mindless and mostly 9 to 5, Billie is content to simply hand over court documents until during a routine stakeout, she stumbles upon the corpse of an elderly man, an art collector with ties to Nazi Germany.Compared to Billie, the dead man has it easy. Billie is feeling on edge lately. Maybe it&’s because her father is insisting his estranged kids come to his wedding in Sedona, or that David is making plans to move out, or that a smug teaching assistant is getting underfoot on her latest case.Although, it&’s possible she could use the help when the cops zero in on Billie&’s boyfriend, Aaron, and his connections to an international art ring. Turns out, Aaron&’s stint in Israel has left him with more than just a thick scar across his neck. The woman he screwed over wants revenge, and she&’s determined to leverage Billie&’s murder case to get it.With the detectives focused on Aaron, Billie sets her sights on stopping a killer who is tying up loose ends — Billie being one of them.
Nuestras manzanas favoritas / Our Favorite Apples (Storytelling Math)
by Grace Lin¡Libro de cartón grueso ahora disponible en español-inglés bilingüe! La ganadora del Honor de Caldecott, Grace Lin, celebra las matemáticas para todos los niños, ¡en todas partes!Board book now available in bilingual Spanish-English! Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin celebrates math for every kid, everywhere!Manny, Olivia y Mei van a recoger manzanas y clasifican sus manzanas rojas, verdes y amarillas por colores. Pero luego encuentran una manzana que tiene los tres colores. ¿Qué deberían hacer? Una exploración juguetona de la clasificación, la categorización y la amistad.Storytelling Math celebra a los niños usando las matemáticas en sus aventuras diarias mientras juegan, construyen y descubren el mundo que les rodea. Historias alegres y actividades manuales hacen que sea fácil para los niños y sus adultos explorar las matemáticas cotidianas juntos. Desarrollado en colaboración con expertos en matemáticas de TERC, una organización educativa con enfoque en ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas (STEM, por sus siglas en inglés), bajo una subvención de la Fundación Heising-Simons.Manny, Olivia, and Mei go apple picking and sort their red, green, and yellow apples by color. But then they find an apple that&’s all three colors. What should they do? A playful exploration of sorting, classifying, and friendship.Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories and hands-on activities make it easy for kids and their grown-ups to explore everyday math together. Developed in collaboration with math experts at STEM education nonprofit TERC, under a grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation.
The Brain Code: Using neuroscience to improve learning, memory and emotional intelligence
by Yossi ChalamishThis practical and accessible book empowers readers to access their brain&’s full potential, featuring cutting-edge neuroscience research presented for the first time.This book introduces the new and fascinating field of Clinical Neuroscience, which argues that the brain has the power to prevent and treat a variety of neurobiological disorders, from autism to attention deficit disorder. With ground-breaking neuroscience research presented in an accessible, easy-to-understand way The Brain Code teaches readers how to get the most from their brains, how to access their peak cognitive function. Each chapter will look at different functions of the brain:how can we regulate and control our emotions and thereby promote optimal thinking and behaviourimproving creative thinking through some simple tried-and-tested tricks efficient ways to use memory and thinking to improve our learning ability – a mandatory chapter for every student!steps to take to promote peaceful sleep recent brain research describing natural ways to deal with fears and anxietieslook behind the scenes at a mind in love and understand how the knowledge can be harnessed to manage more successful relationshipsDr Yossi Chalamish uses his expertise in neuroscience to provide contemporary research on how each brain function works, featuring case studies from his clinical experience that illustrate its function, and practical exercises and tools to improve your cognitive abilities in your everyday life.
A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish
by Daniel BernstromFrom the creators of A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree comes another fun-to-read romp featuring lovable, hungry Bear. This time, he&’s after a determined fish, who has an altogether different plan!Readers of the beloved A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree met a bear who longed for honey, but never got to eat any. In this boisterous follow-up, will Bear&’s luck change? He&’s spotted a fish! And his wish? To gobble up this delicious fish dish, of course! Sadly for Bear, this is no ordinary fish—he&’s a homesick fellow determined to get back upstream where he belongs. Once again, Daniel Bernstrom and Brandon James Scott show off their deep understanding of what makes kids laugh. The longing, the chase, the action, and splash—and the delightfully tongue twisting text—will have kids asking to hear this story again and again. With just a few words and page after page of fantastic expressions, A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish has the madcap energy and playfulness that keeps kids riveted—as they learn to read!
Surviving Modern Yoga: Cult Dynamics, Charismatic Leaders, and What Survivors Can Teach Us
by Matthew RemskiGrounded in investigative research and real survivor stories, Surviving Modern Yoga uncovers the physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by Ashtanga yoga leader Pattabhi Jois—and reckons with the culture, structures, and mythos that enabled it.The revised edition of Practice and All is Coming from Conspirituality co-host Matthew RemskiYoga culture sells well-meaning westerners the full package: physical health, good vibes, and spiritual growth. Here, investigative journalist Matthew Remski explores how cultic dynamics, institutional self-interest, and spiritualized indifference collude to obscure the truth: Harm happens in plain sight.Through in-depth interviews, insider analysis, and Remski&’s own history with high-demand groups, Surviving Modern Yoga brings to light how we&’re each susceptible to cult abuse and exploitation. He shows how, with the right kind of situational vulnerability and the wrong kind of guru, the ideas we hold close about ourselves—like It wouldn&’t happen to me or I&’d speak up for victims—fail to protect us.Remski reckons with his own complicity in spiritual power dynamics, and shares how a process of disillusionment allowed him to recognize harm. He does the same for readers, peeling back the veneer of yoga marketing to reveal the abuse, assault, and silencing perpetrated against seekers who trusted Jois as a mentor, their guruji—even a father figure. Each survivor speaks in their own words, on their own terms, reclaiming agency against an insular, in-group culture that enabled a charismatic leader&’s devastating harm—and positioned him as its only remedy.Surviving Modern Yoga also includes practical tools to help readers:Understand how high-demand groups trap would-be targetsEvaluate their own situational vulnerabilitiesLearn to listen for loaded, red-flag languageCultivate their literacy of cult tactics
Blue Ruin: A novel
by Hari KunzruA MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK • From one of the sharpest voices in fiction today, a profound and enthralling novel about beauty and power, capital, art and those who devote their lives to creating itOnce, Jay was an artist. After graduating from art school in London, he was tipped for greatness, a promising career taking shape before him. That was not to happen. Now, undocumented in the United States, having survived Covid, he lives out of his car and barely makes a living as an essential worker, delivering groceries in a wealthy area of upstate New York. One day, as Jay attempts to make a delivery at a house surrounded by acres of woods, he is confronted by his destructive past: Alice, a former lover from his art school days, and the friend she left him for. Recognizing Jay&’s dire circumstances, Alice invites him to stay on their property—where an erratic gallery owner and his girlfriend are isolating as well—setting in motion a reckoning that has been decades in the making.Gripping and brilliantly orchestrated, Blue Ruin moves back and forth through time, delivering an extraordinary portrait of an artist as he reunites with his past and confronts the world he once loved and left behind.
We Were the Universe: A novel
by Kimberly King ParsonsA MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2024A young mother, in denial after the death of her sister, navigates the dizzying landscapes of desire, guilt, and grief in this darkly comic, highly anticipated debut novel from Kimberly King Parsons, author of the story collection, Black Light (long-listed for the National Book Award)."Kimberly King Parsons sings the lushest, cruelest, kindest, weirdest, darkest and most hilarious songs on paper; I want to hang these sentences in my house and admire them like the interdimensional multisensory illuminated artworks they truly are." —Karen Russell, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Swamplandia!The trip was supposed to be fun. When Kit&’s best friend gets dumped by his boyfriend, he begs her to ditch her family responsibilities for an idyllic weekend in the Montana mountains. They&’ll soak in hot springs, then sneak a vape into a dive bar and drink too much, like old times. Instead, their getaway only reminds Kit of everything she&’s lost lately: her wildness, her independence, and—most heartbreaking of all—her sister, Julie, who died a few years ago.When she returns home to the Dallas suburbs, Kit tries to settle in to her routine—long afternoons spent caring for her irrepressible daughter, going on therapist-advised dates with her concerned husband, and reluctantly taking her mother&’s phone calls. But in the secret recesses of Kit&’s mind, she&’s reminiscing about the band she used to be in—and how they&’d go out to the desert after shows and drop acid. She&’s imagining an impossible threesome with her kid&’s pretty gymnastics teacher and the cool playground mom. Keyed into everything that might distract from her surfacing pain, Kit spirals. As her already thin boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, she begins to wonder: Is Julie really gone?Neon bright in its insight, both devastating and laugh-out-loud funny, We Were the Universe is an ambitious, inventive novel from a revelatory new voice in American fiction—a fearless exploration of sisterhood, motherhood, friendship, marriage, psychedelics, and the many strange, transcendent shapes love can take.
Rick Steves Pocket Florence
by Rick StevesMake the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves! This colorful, compact guidebook is perfect for spending a week or less in Florence:City walks and tours: Five detailed tours and walks showcase Florence's essential sights, including the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, and Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, plus specific recommendations for each neighborhood Rick's strategic advice on what's worth your time and money What to eat and where to stay: Sample artisanal gelato, chat with locals over a glass of Chianti, and enjoy the Old-World ambience of a Florentine bed and breakfast Day-by-day itineraries to help you prioritize your time A detailed, detachable fold-out map, plus museum and city maps throughout Full-color, portable, and slim for exploring on the goTrip-planning practicalities like when to go, how to get around, basic Italian phrases, and more Lightweight yet packed with information on what to do and see, Rick Steves Pocket Florence truly is a tour guide in your pocket. Spending more time in the region? Try Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany.
Braiding Manes and Tails: A Visual Guide to 30 Basic Braids
by Charni LewisGive your horse a gorgeous look! Charni Lewis provides step-by-step instructions for 30 mane and tail braids for both casual outings and specialized events of all riding styles. Full-color photographs and detailed illustrations bring every twist and turn to life, while also clearly demonstrating proper hand positioning. Get inspired and experiment with a Scalloped mane braid or a Four-Strand Weave for the tail. Not only will your horse look great, the time you spend braiding will help develop that special bond between you and your horse.
The Fall of Dragons (The Traitor Son Cycle #5)
by Miles CameronMiles Cameron is the master of intrigue and action-packed battles in this epic tale of magic and mercenaries, war, depravity, and politics, the final book of the Traitor Son Cycle.In the climax of the Traitor Son Cycle, the allied armies of the Wild and the Kingdoms of men and women must face Ash for control of the gates to the hermetical universe, and for control of their own destinies. But exhaustion, treachery and time may all prove deadlier enemies.In Alba, Queen Desiderata struggles to rebuild her kingdom wrecked by a year of civil war, even as the Autumn battles are fought in the west. In the Terra Antica, The Red Knight attempts to force his unwilling allies to finish the Necromancer instead of each other. But as the last battle nears, The Red Knight makes a horrifying discovery. . .all of this fighting may have happened before.
The Running Grave: A Cormoran Strike Novel (A Cormoran Strike Novel #7)
by Robert GalbraithIn this New York Times bestselling installment of the "outrageously entertaining" Strike series (Financial Times), detective duo Cormoran and Robin must rescue a man ensnared in the trap of a dangerous cult. Private Detective Cormoran Strike is contacted by a worried father whose son, Will, has gone to join a religious cult in the depths of the Norfolk countryside. The Universal Humanitarian Church is, on the surface, a peaceable organization that campaigns for a better world. Yet Strike discovers that beneath the surface there are deeply sinister undertones, and unexplained deaths. In order to try to rescue Will, Strike's business partner, Robin Ellacott, decides to infiltrate the cult, and she travels to Norfolk to live incognito among its members. But in doing so, she is unprepared for the dangers that await her there or for the toll it will take on her. . . Utterly page-turning, The Running Grave moves Strike's and Robin's story forward in this epic, unforgettable seventh installment of the series.
The Sandalmaking Workshop: Make Your Own Mary Janes, Crisscross Sandals, Mules, Fisherman Sandals, Toe Slides, and More
by Rachel CorryCustom-fit for comfort, custom-designed to suit personal taste, and stylish and satisfyingly DIY? Shoemaking checks all the boxes! Making shoes is a surprisingly accessible and increasingly popular craft, and with this photo-rich guide, even a beginner can make a comfortable pair of sandals in the course of a day with just a few simple tools and materials. From setting up a workshop and refining a design to making uppers, attaching soles, and adding finishing touches like buckles or studs, The Sandalmaking Workshop takes readers step by step through the process of creating modern leather sandals that are stylish and comfortable. The book includes traceable patterns for 14 of author Rachel Corry&’s original sandal designs—both open- and closed-toe styles, including mules and slides—and covers a range of techniques so readers can build their skills and stretch the creative possibilities with each new pair they make. This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.