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Haunted Akron (Haunted America)
by Jeri HollandThe ruins of an industrial past provide the perfect haunting grounds in this spirited Ohio city. Run down the apparitions that float down Rubber City streets and façades like the shadow of a passing blimp. Stroll along forgotten canals amid the restless chatter and clank of spirits cut down before their hard lives became easier. Catch a show at the Civic Theater with a &“former&” engineer who prophesied that death wouldn&’t keep him from work. A more restive spirit is that of John Tedrow, a twenty-something mauled and murdered during a drunken brawl in 1882; he wails for help and resolution. In this ghostly tour through Akron&’s haunted and sometimes brutal past, paranormal specialist and historian Jeri Holland digs into the ghost tales and local legends that linger here like this city&’s industrial heritage. &“Haunted Akron is a tour of events, places and creepy legends.&” —Ohio.com
Murder in Visalia: The Coin Dealer Killer (Murder And Mayhem Ser.)
by Ronn M. Couillard&“Recounts all the twists and turns of the case . . . two jury trials, a surprising appellate court ruling . . . and, decades later, a shocking development&” (Visalia Times Delta). One October morning in 1979, a stamp and coin dealer was gunned down in his Visalia shop. There were no witnesses. Persistent police efforts across jurisdictional lines connected it to another death. Two months earlier, the body of a Fresno coin dealer was found locked in the trunk of his car. The trail of evidence led to a most unlikely suspect. Author Ronn M. Couillard, retired judge and former Visalia district attorney, lays out the facts in this compelling case from the investigation to the court proceedings and the surprise that almost derailed the conviction. Includes photos!
Haunted Breckenridge (Haunted America)
by Gail WestwoodGhostly tales of Colorado&’s colorful—and chilling—past . . . photos included! From the old gold-mining towns of Summit County to skiing destinations in Breckenridge, eerie and true tales of life and loss in the Wild West abound in this corner of Colorado. The spirit of mutilated miner William Goodwin is said to haunt Blue River, warning of the dangers lurking below. Some say that the ghost of the widow Sylvia, who died destitute and alone at a boarding house on Main Street, still haunts the building today. Coldblooded killer Dr. Condon took revenge on his stalker and killed the town&’s favorite barkeeper. In this fascinating book, tour guide and author Gail Westwood explores the area&’s most haunted buildings and introduces the ghastly characters who seemingly never left.
Civil War Ghosts of Atlanta (Haunted America)
by Jim MilesThe author of the Civil War Explorer series unearths the ghostly legends and lore that haunt Georgia&’s capital city since the War Between the States. The Atlanta metropolis is one of America&’s most modern and progressive cities, it&’s easy to forget that 150 years ago it was the scene of a long and deadly campaign. Union general William T. Sherman hammered relentlessly against Atlanta at Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Ezra Church, and Jonesboro. Months later, as he began his infamous March to the Sea, much of Atlanta was destroyed by fire. Thousands died in the fighting, and thousands more succumbed to wounds and disease in large hospitals constructed around the city. Today, ghosts of Atlanta&’s Civil War haunt battlefields, hospital sites, cemeteries, homes, and commercial structures, all a testament to the tragic history of the city. Join author Jim Miles as he details the Civil War spirits that still haunt Atlanta. Includes photos! &“He&’s a connoisseur of Georgia&’s paranormal related activity, having both visited nearly every site discussed in his series of Civil War Ghost titles . . . Miles has covered a lot of ground so far from the bustling cities to the small towns seemingly in the middle of nowhere. This daunting task takes an inside look to the culture and stories that those born in Georgia grow up hearing about and connect with.&” —The Red & Black
Louisville Murder & Mayhem: Historic Crimes of Derby City (Murder And Mayhem Ser.)
by Keven McQueen&“Lovers of true crime will be thrilled to find a book devoted to Louisville&’s more iniquitous side . . . and McQueen captures it all with obvious glee&” (The Courier-Journal). Life in Louisville in the years following the Civil War, and through the turn of the century, was as exciting as it was dangerous. The city continued to grow as important urban hub of culture and commerce, connecting the South with the Midwest and Northern states. As Keven McQueen proves in this collection of morbid tales of crime and depravity, life in Louisville certainly had a darker side. Journey back to a time when Louisville&’s streets were filled with rail cars, its alleys populated by thieves, and its brothels hummed with activity. Whether it&’s the tale of the marriage of a convicted murderer to a notorious prostitute, or the exploits the criminal duo dubbed Louisville&’s Bonnie and Clyde, this is a true crime collection that is truly hard to believe. Includes photos!
The Beach at Night
by Elena FerranteA &“beautifully written&” dark fable from a doll&’s point of view—by the New York Times–bestselling author of The Lost Daughter and the Neapolitan Novels (The Washington Post). One of NPR&’s Best Books of the Year. Readers of Elena Ferrante&’s The Lost Daughter may recall the little doll—lost or stolen—around which that novel revolves. Here, Ferrante retells the tale from the doll&’s perspective. Celina is having a terrible night, one full of jealousy for the new kitten, Minù; feelings of abandonment and sadness; misadventures at the hands of the beach attendant; and dark dreams. But she will be happily found by Mati, her child, once the sun rises . . . &“Everyone should read anything with Ferrante&’s name on it.&” —The Boston Globe
The Cornfield: Antietam's Bloody Turning Point
by David A. WelkerThe Civil War battle in western Maryland that killed 22,000 men—and served no military purpose. For generations of Americans, the word Antietam—the name of a bucolic stream in western Maryland—held the same sense of horror and carnage that the date 9/11 does for Americans today. But Antietam eclipses even this modern tragedy as America&’s single bloodiest day, on which 22,000 men became casualties in a war to determine our nation&’s future. Antietam is forever burned into the American psyche as a battle bathed in blood that served no military purpose and brought no decisive victory. This much Americans know was true. What they didn&’t know was why the battle broke out at all—until now. The Cornfield: Antietam&’s Bloody Turning Point tells for the first time the full story of the struggle to control &“the Cornfield,&” the action on which the costly battle of Antietam turned. Because Federal and Confederate forces repeatedly traded control of the spot, the fight for the Cornfield is a story of human struggle against fearful odds, men seeking to do their duty, and a simple test of survival. Many of the firsthand accounts included in this volume have never before been revealed to modern readers or assembled in such a comprehensive, readable narrative. At the same time, The Cornfield offers fresh views of the battle as a whole, arguing that two central facts doomed thousands of soldiers. This new, provocative perspective is certain to change our modern understanding of how the battle of Antietam was fought and its role in American history.
The American Heroes Collection: Hal Moore, Shadow Commander, and American Guerrilla
by Mike GuardiaThree stirring military portraits—including a biography of the Vietnam War hero who wrote the New York Times bestseller, We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young. Hal Moore: A heroic commander in the Vietnam War, Harold G. Moore cowrote the New York Times–bestselling memoir of the battle at Ia Drang and was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film We Were Soldiers. This &“outstanding&” and definitive biography expands on the account of that pivotal battle to encompass Moore&’s distinguished military career from the Korean War through his courageous and invaluable service in Vietnam (Armchair General). Shadow Commander: In World War II, US Army legend Donald Blackburn escaped from Bataan along with Russell W. Volckmann and organized the guerrilla fighters known as &“Blackburn&’s Headhunters&” against the Japanese. He would go on to play a key role in the Vietnam War, revitalizing Army Special Forces operations in Southeast Asia, spearheading Operation White Star in Laos, and eventually taking command of the highly classified Studies and Observations Group (SOG). Blackburn was also the architect of the infamous Son Tay Prison Raid, officially termed Operation Ivory Coast, the largest prisoner-of-war rescue mission of the Vietnam War. &“A follow-up to a fine bio of Russell Volckmann, this tale of guerrilla warfare spans from Bataan to Vietnam.&” —World War II Magazine American Guerrilla: Here is Russell Volckmann&’s own story, from his refusal to surrender at Bataan to raising a Filipino army of more than twenty-two thousand men and leading a guerrilla war against the Japanese for the next three years. When General Yamashita finally surrendered, he made his initial overtures not to General Douglas MacArthur, but to Volckmann. The progenitor of modern counterinsurgency doctrine, Volkmann wrote the field manuals that became the US Army&’s first handbooks outlining the precepts for both special warfare and counter-guerrilla operations, making him the true &“father&” of Army Special Forces. &“[Volckmann&’s private army] waged arguably the most successful guerrilla campaign of the entire war . . . Mr. Guardia argues, convincingly, that Volckmann deserves the title of &‘father&’ of Special Forces.&” —The Washington Times
The CIA War in Kurdistan: The Untold Story of the Northern Front in the Iraq War
by Sam Faddis&“A valuable history [and] a stark warning to Washington policy and strategy makers.&” —James Stejskal, former US Army Special Forces and CIA officer In 2002, Sam Faddis was named to head a CIA team that would enter Iraq to facilitate the deployment of follow-on conventional military forces numbering over 40,000 American soldiers. This force, built around the 4th Infantry Division, would, in partnership with Kurdish forces and with the assistance of Turkey, engage Saddam&’s army in the North as part of a coming invasion. Faddis expected to be on the ground in Iraq within weeks, the entire campaign likely to be over by summer. Over the course of the next year, virtually every aspect of that plan for the conduct of the war in northern Iraq fell apart. The 4th Infantry Division never arrived, nor did any other conventional forces in substantial number. The Turks not only refused to provide support, they worked overtime to prevent the United States from achieving success. And an Arab army that was to assist US forces fell apart before it ever made it to the field. Alone, hopelessly outnumbered, short on supplies, and threatened by Iraqi assassination teams and Islamic extremists, Faddis&’s team, working with Kurdish peshmerga, miraculously paved the way for a brilliant and largely bloodless victory in the North and the fall of Saddam&’s Iraq. That victory, handed over to Washington and the Department of Defense on a silver platter, was then squandered. The decisions that followed would lead to catastrophic consequences that continue to this day. This is the story of the brave and effective team of men and women who overcame massive odds to help end the nightmare of Saddam&’s rule. It is also the story of how incompetence, bureaucracy, and ignorance threw that success away and condemned Iraq and the surrounding region to chaos
A History Lover's Guide to New York City (History And Guide Ser.)
by Alison FortierThis guidebook to the Big Apple goes beyond the traditional tour, offering visitors a fascinating exploration of the city&’s rich history. New York is a city of superlatives. It has the largest population, greatest wealth, broadest diversity, and most elegant museums in the nation. With that comes an amazing history that you can experience firsthand with this unique guide. George Washington took his first oath of office on the steps of Federal Hall. Visitors can still dine at the famed Fraunces Tavern and worship at historic St. Paul&’s Chapel. From the Brooklyn Bridge to stunning skyscrapers, the city celebrates its own history and that of the nation. Join author Alison Fortier as she traces the history and heritage of America&’s largest metropolis.
Less Oil or More Caskets: The National Security Argument for Moving Away from Oil
by Gregory A. BallardThe former Marine and Indianapolis mayor issues &“a call to action to shift from gasoline to electricity in transportation&” to transform our foreign policy (Hoosier History Live). Every day, millions of Americans get behind the wheels of their car, peacefully unaware of where the gas that powers their vehicle originates. Only transportation and industrial uses consume significant quantities of oil in the United States, with transportation by far the dominant user. Electric power generated by oil is virtually nonexistent, while residential and commercial heating uses for oil continue to fall. In Less Oil or More Caskets, Greg Ballard profiles the history of US troops in the Middle East the last forty plus years and the impact the oil industry has had on our international politics. More than a recap, Ballard makes a call to action for American politicians and citizens to change their ideas about transportation in America. By changing the fuel in our vehicles and embracing new technologies in transportation, he argues that within two decades our nation and the world could be on the path to freedom from the current dependence on oil-rich nations. This would preclude the United States from having to send troops overseas to protect the supply of oil for the entire world, saving both dollars and lives. &“Ballard is still proud of his initiatives to reduce the city&’s reliance on gasoline and has transformed that zeal into a national policy. His book emphasizes his hopes to bring the troops home by cutting funds that go to terrorism.&”—The Herald Bulletin &“An important, admonitory argument and appeal that will reward determined readers with open minds.&”—Kirkus Reviews
My Brilliant Friend: Neapolitan Novels, Book One (Neapolitan Novels #1)
by Elena FerranteNamed the #1 Book of the 21st Century by the New York Times: The &“enduring classic&” about the lifelong friendship of two women from Naples (The Atlantic). Beginning in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples, Elena Ferrante&’s four-volume story spans almost sixty years, as its main characters, the fiery and unforgettable Lila and the bookish narrator, Elena, become women, wives, mothers, and leaders, all the while maintaining a complex and at times conflicted friendship. This first novel in the series follows Lila and Elena from their fateful meeting as ten-year-olds through their school years and adolescence. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between two women. &“An intoxicatingly furious portrait of enmeshed friends.&” —Entertainment Weekly &“Spectacular.&” —Maureen Corrigan, NPR&’s Fresh Air &“Captivating.&” —The New YorkerBasis for the HBO series
Muncie Murder & Mayhem (Murder And Mayhem Ser.)
by Douglas Walker Keith RoysdonThe authors of Wicked Muncie tell the city&’s lurid history in the true stories of its most infamous criminals and the lawmen who brought them down. Muncie epitomizes the small-town America of squeaky-clean 1950s sitcoms, but its wholesome veneer conceals a violent past. Public scandals and personal tragedy dogged the long, notorious life of Dr. Jules LaDuron. Baseball ace Obie McCracken met a tragic and violent end after joining the police force. A mother&’s love could not stop James Hedges from committing murder. The paranoid delusions of Leonard Redden hounded him until one day he carried a shotgun into a quiet classroom. Detectives Melvin Miller and Ambrose Settles chased a murderer across county lines in pursuit of justice. And newsman George Dale&’s showdown with the Klan prepared him for the political fight of his life. Douglas Walker and Keith Roysdon, authors of Wicked Muncie, introduce a new cast of characters from the city's notorious past. Includes photos!
The Neapolitan Novels Boxed Set (Neapolitan Novels)
by Elena FerranteIn one volume, the New York Times–bestselling epic about hardship and female friendship in postwar Naples that has sold over five million copies. Beginning with My Brilliant Friend, the four Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante follow Elena and Lila, from their rough-edged upbringing in Naples, Italy, not long after WWII, through the many stages of their lives—and along paths that diverge wildly. Sometimes they are separated by jealousy or hostility or physical distance, but the bond between them is unbreakable, for better or for worse. This volume includes all four novels: My Brilliant Friend; The Story of a New Name; Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay; and The Story of the Lost Child. &“Imagine if Jane Austen got angry and you&’ll have some idea of how explosive these works are.&” —The Australian &“Nothing you read about Elena Ferrante&’s work prepares you for the ferocity of it.&” —The New York Times &“An enduring masterpiece.&” —The Atlantic
The Kinsey Institute: The First Seventy Years (Well House Bks.)
by Judith A. Allen Andrew Clark-Huckstep Brandon J. Hill Hallimeda E. Allinson Liana Zhou Stephanie A. SandersAn in-depth history of Alfred Kinsey&’s groundbreaking Institute for Sex Research and the cultural awakening it inspired in America—&“it has no rival&” (Angus McLaren). While teaching a course on Marriage and Family at Indiana University, biologist Alfred Kinsey noticed a surprising dearth of scientific literature on human sexuality. He immediately began conducting his own research into this important yet neglected field of inquiry, and in 1947, founded the Institute for Sex Research as a firewall against those who opposed his work on moral grounds. His frank and dispassionate research shocked America with the hidden truths of our own sex lives, and his two groundbreaking reports —Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953)—both became New York Times bestsellers. In The Kinsey Institute: The First Seventy Years, Judith A. Allen and her coauthors provide an in-depth history of Kinsey&’s groundbreaking work and explore how the Institute has continued to make an impact on our culture. Covering the early years of the Institute through the &“Sexual Revolution,&” into the AIDS pandemic of the Reagan era, and on into the &“internet hook-up&” culture of today, the book illuminates the Institute&’s enduring importance to society.
The Story of the Lost Child: Neapolitan Novels, Book Four (Neapolitan Novels #4)
by Elena FerranteThe &“stunning conclusion&” to the bestselling saga of the fierce lifelong bond between two women, from a gritty Naples childhood through old age (Publishers Weekly, starred review). One of the New York Times&’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century The Story of the Lost Child concludes the dazzling saga of two women, the brilliant, bookish Elena and the fiery, uncontainable Lila, who first met amid the shambles of postwar Italy. In this book, life&’s great discoveries have been made; its vagaries and losses have been suffered. Through it all, the women&’s friendship remains the gravitational center of their lives. Both women once fought to escape the neighborhood in which they grew up. Elena married, moved to Florence, started a family, and published several well-received books. But now, she has returned to Naples to be with the man she has always loved. Lila, on the other hand, never succeeded in freeing herself from Naples. She has become a successful entrepreneur, but her success draws her into closer proximity with the nepotism, chauvinism, and criminal violence that infect her neighborhood. Yet, somehow, this proximity to a world she has always rejected only brings her role as unacknowledged leader of that world into relief. &“Lila is a magnificent character.&” —The Atlantic &“Everyone should read anything with Ferrante&’s name on it.&” —The Boston Globe
The Story of a New Name (Neapolitan Novels #2)
by Elena FerranteA novel in the bestselling quartet about two very different women and their complex friendship: &“Everyone should read anything with Ferrante&’s name on it&” (The Boston Globe). The follow-up to My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name continues the epic New York Times–bestselling literary quartet that has inspired an HBO series, and returns us to the world of Lila and Elena, who grew up together in post-WWII Naples, Italy. In The Story of a New Name, Lila has recently married and made her entrée into the family business; Elena, meanwhile, continues her studies and her exploration of the world beyond the neighborhood that she so often finds stifling. Marriage appears to have imprisoned Lila, and the pressure to excel is at times too much for Elena. Yet the two young women share a complex and evolving bond that is central to their emotional lives and a source of strength in the face of life&’s challenges. In these Neapolitan Novels, Elena Ferrante, &“one of the great novelists of our time&” (The New York Times), gives us a poignant and universal story about friendship and belonging, a meditation on love and jealousy, freedom and commitment—at once a masterfully plotted page-turner and an intense, generous-hearted family saga. &“Imagine if Jane Austen got angry and you&’ll have some idea of how explosive these works are.&” —The Australian &“Brilliant . . . captivating and insightful . . . the richness of her storytelling is likely to please fans of Sara Gruen and Silvia Avallone.&” —Booklist (starred review)
On Shifting Ground: Muslim Women in the Global Era
by Edited by Fereshteh Nouraie-Simone&“Thoughtful, highly relevant, and frequently brilliant essays on the contemporary ideas, organization, activities, and agency of Muslim women&” (Nikki Keddie, author of Women in the Middle East: Past and Present). The world has drastically changed in recent years due to armed conflict, economic issues, and cultural revolutions both positive and negative. Nowhere have those changes been felt more than in the Middle East and Muslim worlds. And no one within those worlds has been more affected than women, who face new and vital questions. Has Arab Spring made life better for Muslim women? Has new media empowered feminists or is it simply a tool of the opposition? Will the newfound freedoms of Middle Eastern women grow or be taken away by yet more oppressive regimes? This &“provocative volume&” has been updated with a new introduction and two new essays, offering insider views on how Muslim women are navigating technology, social media, public space, the tension between secularism and fundamentalism, and the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship (Nikki Keddie, Professor Emerita of Middle Eastern and Iranian History, UCLA).
The Little Locksmith: A Memoir (Physically Handicapped In Society Ser.)
by Katharine Butler HathawayThis early 20th century memoir of a woman&’s faith in the face of debilitating disease is a &“remarkably un-self-pitying book remains poignant and truthful&” (Publishers Weekly). &“You must not miss it . . . It is the kind of book that cannot come into being without great living and great suffering and a rare spirit behind it.&” —The New York Times In 1895, a specialist straps five-year-old Katharine Hathaway, then suffering from spinal tuberculosis, to a board with halters and pulleys in a failed attempt to prevent her from becoming a &“hunchback&” like the &“little locksmith&” who does odd jobs at her family&’s home. Forced to endure her confinement for ten years, Katharine remains immobile until age fifteen, only to find that none of it has prevented her from developing a deformity of her own. The Little Locksmith charts Katharine&’s struggle to transcend physical limitations and embrace her life, her body, and herself. Her spirit and courage prevail as she expands her world far beyond the boundaries prescribed by her family and society: she attends Radcliffe College, forms deep friendships, begins to write, and in 1921, purchases a house of her own that she fashions into a space for guests, lovers, and artists. Revealing and inspirational, The Little Locksmith stands as a testimony to Katharine&’s aspirations and desires—for independence, love, and the pursuit of her art. &“A powerful revelation of spiritual truth&” —The Boston Globe &“Katharine Butler Hathaway . . . was the kind of heroine whose deeds are rarely chronicled . . . [She took] a life which fate had cast in the mold of a frightful tragedy and redesign[ed] it into a quiet, modest work of art.&” —The New Yorker
The Shipwrecked: Contemporary Stories by Women from Iran
by Edited by Fereshteh Nouraie-Simone, Translated from Farsi by Faridoun Farrokh and Sara KhaliliA collection of short stories by Iranian women writers that capture the fear, defiance, and enduring struggle of life under an oppressive regime. The 1979 Iranian Revolution was an event that shocked the world. After thousands of years of Persian monarchy, the Iranian people seized power and instituted a strict secular Islamic regime. The revolution sent the despised Shah into exile, put the Ayatollah Khomeini into power, and resulted in the Iran Hostage Crisis. In all the upheaval, little thought was given to the women who, even after helping install the new regime, would have to face a new kind of oppression in their homes and in the public square. Here, the voices of those women are heard. Evoking the enormous isolation of daily existence, and the persistence of a people living under a repressive regime, these literary gems—many by prize-winning authors—reward us with an inside view of a turbulent and closed society.
Intimate Wars: The Life and Times of the Woman Who Brought Abortion from the Back Alley to the Boardroom
by Merle HoffmanA &“searingly honest debut memoir&” from an activist and award-winning journalist who made a woman&’s right to choose her life&’s work (Kirkus Reviews). Merle Hoffman had built a life as a classical pianist and self-made millionaire before her passion for the equality and freedom of girls and women drew her to a bigger cause: protecting a woman&’s right to have a safe and legal abortion. Hoffman became an expert in women&’s reproductive healthcare and used her entrepreneurial spirit to build one of the most comprehensive women&’s medical centers in the country. In 1971, two years before the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision made abortion legal throughout the US, Hoffman founded the New York abortion clinic Choices. As a medical provider, she pioneered &“patient power,&” encouraging women to participate in their own health care decisions. Through her singular journey, Hoffman had many loves and even adopted a daughter from Russia, but never wavered in her commitment to fighting on the front lines of the feminist movement. &“From her decision to adopt a child to her love affairs, this is the story of one woman&’s quest to live fully. Opinionated, fierce, bold and brash, Intimate Wars chronicles Hoffman&’s efforts to improve women&’s lives and influence history. She deserves our gratitude.&” —Truthout
The Love Children (Classic Feminist Writers Ser.)
by Marilyn FrenchA girl comes of age in the radical 1960s in this &“beautifully written&” novel by the groundbreaking author of The Women&’s Room (Kate Mosse). It&’s 1968 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jess Leighton, the daughter of a temperamental painter and a proto-feminist Harvard professor, is struggling to make sense of her world amid racial tensions, Vietnam War protests, anti-government rage, her own burgeoning sexuality, and bad relationships. With more options than her mother&’s generation, but no role model for creating the life she desires, Jess experiments with sex and psychedelic drugs as she searches for happiness on her own terms. In the midst of joining and fleeing a commune, growing organic vegetables, and operating a sustainable restaurant, Jess grapples with the legacy of her mother&’s generation while building a future for herself, and for the postmodern woman. &“French&’s meticulous and affecting tale of the forging of one woman&’s conscience encompasses thoughtful portraits of &‘love children,&’ from peace activists to members of unconventional families, and a forthright critique of the counterculture that puts today&’s wars, struggles for equality, and environmental troubles into sharp perspective&” (Booklist).
Zipper Mouth: A Novel
by Laurie WeeksThis novel of a young lesbian addict in &’90s NYC &“recalls Naked Lunch&” with &“dreamy, impressionistic, and rapturous&” prose—&“an ecstatic love story&” (Publishers Weekly). Written in the brash, fervent voice of the young and addicted, this debut novel from underground superstar Laurie Weeks &“is a short tome of infinitesimal reach, a tiny star to light the land&” (Eileen Myles). Strung out on dope and unrequited love for her straight best friend, Jane, the novel&’s unnamed narrator zig-zags between glimpses of her childhood and early teens to the raw, super-caffeinated world of her present on the streets of New York. Chosen by Dave Eggers as Best American Nonrequired Reading and a winner of the 2012 Lambda Literary Awards, this novel encapsulates the soaring highs and gritty lows of the junkie and the reckless intensity of love. &“The book&’s pulse is evident on every page.&” (Lambda Literary) &“Zipper Mouth is a brilliant rabbit hole of pitch-black hilarity, undead obsession, the horror of the everyday, and drug, drugs, drugs.&” —Michelle Tea, co-founder of SisterSpit
Waiting: A Novel of Uganda at War (Women Writing Africa Ser.)
by Goretti KyomuhendoA Ugandan author&’s &“unsettling and richly atmospheric&” novel of a young African woman confronting the brutal end of Idi Amin&’s dictatorship (Publishers Weekly). Safe for years in their remote Ugandan village, thirteen-year-old Alinda and her family are suddenly faced with the terror of the self-proclaimed &“Last King of Scotland&” when troops of his use the local highway to escape anti-Amin Ugandan and Tanzanian allied forces. With her pregnant mother on the verge of labor, her brother anxious to join the Liberators, and a house full of hungry siblings, neighbors, and refugees, Alinda learns what it takes to endure terrible hardship, and to hope for a better tomorrow . . . Set in the seventies during Idi Amin&’s last year of rule, Waiting evokes the fear and courage of a close-knit society in a novel &“full of human interplay and pungent smaller events, told with a verbal chastity reflecting both tension and dawning adult consciousness&” (Booklist).
Savage Coast: A Novel
by Muriel RukeyserThe poet&’s newly discovered novel of reporting on the Spanish Civil War &“is both an absorbing read and an important contribution to 20th-century history&” (Publishers Weekly). As a young reporter in 1936, the pioneering poet and political activist Muriel Rukeyser traveled to Barcelona to witness the first days of the Spanish Civil War. She turned this experience into an autobiographical novel so forward thinking—both in its lyrical prose and its frank depictions of violence and sexuality—that it was never published in her lifetime. Recently discovered in her archive, Feminist Press finally makes this important work available to the public. Savage Coast charts a young American woman&’s political and sexual awakening as she witnesses the popular front resistance to the fascist coup and falls in love with a German political exile who joins the first international brigade. Rukeyser&’s narrative is a modernist exploration of violence, activism, and desire; a documentary text detailing the start of the war; and a testimony to those who fought and died for freedom and justice during the first major battle against European fascism.