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Tarot as Storyteller: Psychic Development, Cartomancy, and Reading the Web of Fate
by Salicrow• Explores cartomancy as psychic storytelling, outlining techniques to develop intuition, psychic ability, and analytical questioning• Explains how to look deeply at the symbolic pictures each card provides and open your mind to the tale being told through your intuition• Shows how to interpret each card&’s symbolism through activated prayer, spell work, and guided journeys that introduce readers to the Major Arcana as personal experiencesIn this guide to the art of cartomancy, psychic medium Salicrow shows novice and seasoned practitioners alike how to read divination cards with greater accuracy and more profound insight. She shares practices to help you develop psychic ability—including empathic protection, body dowsing, utilizing sacred space, and divine timing—and how to build your own personal symbolic language. She offers techniques for developing intuition and analytical questioning, providing a clearer picture of the players, situations, and details, and thereby encouraging you to take on the role of storyteller by looking deeply into the symbols and tales that each card holds.Expanding the concept of each card&’s symbolism, Salicrow explores the meanings of tarot and oracle cards through activated prayer, spell work, and guided journeys that introduce the Major Arcana as personal experiences. She also shows how to pick a deck, cleanse and bless the cards, and properly store them, and she presents many spreads that look at relationships, career guidance, and healing.Through her insightful teachings, Salicrow demonstrates that card reading enhances the connection between intuition and imagination. With each reading, your storytelling ability will grow, as will your inner knowing for how to ask better questions.
The River Is Waiting: A Novel
by Wally LambFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two Oprah Book Club Picks—She&’s Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True—Wally Lamb comes the propulsive story of a young father who, after an unbearable tragedy, reckons with the possibility of atonement for the unforgivable.Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that&’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness and elemental kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light and some of his fellow offenders, including a tender-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. Buoyed by them and by his mother&’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?
The Upper Hand: Mastering Persuasion and Getting What You Want with the Science of Social Engineering
by Dr. Abbie MaroñoLearn to get what you want from others and build stronger relationships by replacing coercive tactics with this social science-backed playbook for winning trust. Having leverage—in the form of intelligence, charm, beauty, money, status, or insider knowledge—often gives you an advantage in an interaction. When it doesn&’t, or when you don&’t have any, people often turn to tricks and schemes that run the risk of damaging personal relationships. In The Upper Hand human behavioral scientist and sought-after speaker, advisor, and coach Dr. Abbie Maroño shows you how to influence people and situations in your favor with skill and integrity—and without the need for leverage or coercion. Based on principles of prosocial engineering, Dr. Abbie shows you how to build and maintain trust by gaining an understanding of the psychological mechanisms underpinning human decision making. She presents five key truths about the complexity of human behavior that you can count on one hand to give you the upper hand: we are our brains we are driven to survive (by any means necessary) we want to connect and cooperate we have a mind-body feedback loop we want to protect our self-identity By grasping how these truths are at play—and learning to see how they show up differently based on cultural contexts, individual differences, and situational dynamics—you&’ll be primed to tailor an informed approach to influencing outcomes when it matters most. Personal connections are key to getting what we want—whether moving up in our careers, attracting customers, or maintaining romantic partnerships. The Upper Hand is your indispensable guide to building trust and cooperation on your way to getting what you want, whatever it may be.
Time to Get Real: How I Built a Billion-Dollar Business That Rocked the Fashion Industry
by Julie WainwrightPart tell-all memoir and part entrepreneur crash course, the founder of The RealReal offers an emboldening story of perspective and triumph When she was 52, a recruiter told Julie Wainwright that her failure as CEO of Pets.com made her unemployable. But she proved him—and Silicon Valley—wrong and built her company from an idea into the world&’s largest resource for authenticated luxury resale. Since its launch in 2011, The RealReal has changed the world of fashion forever, making luxury items more accessible and sustainable. Time to Get Real spills the tea on the entrepreneurial journey from a woman&’s perspective and includes all the lessons learned and mistakes made along the way to a billion-dollar business and public company.. This is the book Julie wished she had when she was in the trenches—one that shares the whole exhilarating, stressful, glorious, messy truth about success. Time to Get Real isn&’t just about Julie&’s wild ride through Silicon Valley; it will also show you how to: Build a business from the ground up Hire for startups while avoiding common oversights Overcome workplace bias and adversity Be a shark—and create a unicorn With Julie&’s inspirational story and hard-earned wisdom, this is the perfect read for anyone who has ever imagined starting a company, loves fashion, or wants an uncensored glimpse behind the scenes from a woman who succeeded in spite of it all.
Devourer's Attack (Dragon Force #2)
by Katie Tsang Kevin TsangLance and Zoe must save their Camp Claw mentors from a dangerous, power-hungry creature in this second book in the high-flying middle grade adventure series Dragon Force that&’s How to Train Your Dragon meets Skandar and the Unicorn Thief.It&’s a dream come true for Lance Lo and his sister Zoe to be at Camp Claw, training for the elite Dragon Force to help protect the world. But with the core members captured by the evil Devourer, they soon find themselves taking on their most dangerous mission yet. Can they rescue the rest of the team from a creature who will do anything to feed his appetite for magic?
I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms
by Nancy ShearA vivid personal account of a Golden Age in classical music—the second half of the 20th century—providing a rare, behind-the-scenes view of the inner workings of a top symphony orchestra.Nancy Shear was only fifteen when she began sneaking into Philadelphia Orchestra concerts through the stage door, and seventeen when she was hired as a member of the orchestra&’s library staff to help prepare the music; one year later, she became Leopold Stokowski&’s musical assistant. Being young and female, she was a pioneer in both positions. I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms takes readers into the homes, studios, and minds of legendary artists with whom Shear shared close personal relationships, including Stokowski, Mstislav Rostropovich, Eugene Ormandy, and members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Many of these brilliant and talented artists were also outrageous, egocentric, and tyrannical. Throughout this book, Shear topples more than a few revered musicians from their podiums and their pedestals. A literary welcome mat to the beautiful world of classical music, this memoir is accessible and engaging for all. It brings readers into rehearsals and concert halls, revealing the choices musicians must consider, and what conductors, players, and composers really do. A heartwarming story about passion, determination, and survival, I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms explores music at its core. No reader will ever listen to music the same way again.
8 leyes universales: Guía para alcanzar la plenitud
by Fer Broca• Explica ocho de las leyes universales en un lenguaje directo y práctico para que puedas aplicarlas a tu vida de inmediato• Ayuda a comprender cómo funciona el universo, como una cadena infinita de causas y efectos que influyen en tu presente• Revela estrategias para lograr vivir en paz, sin importar las circunstancias que te rodeanDesde muy pequeño, Fer Broca empezó a buscar respuestas a sus profundas inquietudes espirituales. Tras sumergirse en las enseñanzas de culturas tan distantes en tiempo y espacio como la cristiana, la judaica, la hindú, la japonesa, la náhuatl y otras, además de iniciarse en el camino del chamanismo, el autor logró compilar las 8 leyes universales imprescindibles para alcanzar la plenitud vital.Con un característico estilo amistoso, y con sugerencias y ejemplos claros, Fer Broca desarrolla los principios de unicidad, generación, resonancia, karma, dharma, wu wei, ollin y la paz, para que puedas aplicarlos en tu cotidianeidad y hacer crecer tu espiritualidad. Las anécdotas del autor enriquecen la lectura y te ayudarán a comprender los sucesos de tu vida desde un punto de vista más amplio. ¿Conoces el juego del ego y cómo afecta tu conducta? ¿Cuáles son los pensamientos limitantes que han frustrado tus sueños? Fer Broca los revelará y te mostrará cómo hacerles frente para reconectar con tu esencia.Las 8 leyes universales te permitirán tomar decisiones desde tu centro y en plena consciencia. Con la guía de Fer Broca realizarás un viaje hacia tu interior, con el objetivo de que encuentres equilibrio, armonía y paz que, en palabras del autor, constituyen "la felicidad verdadera".
Expressive Networks: Poetry and Platform Cultures
by Matthew KilbaneExpressive Networks convenes an urgent conversation on digital media and the social life of contemporary poetry. Tracing how poems circulate through online spaces and how capitalized platforms have come to pattern the reading and writing of poetry, contributors emphasize both the expressivist cast of digital literary culture and the deep-running ambivalence that characterizes aesthetic and critical responses to platformed cultural production. The volume features chapters on Pan- African spoken word programs, Singaporean Facebook groups, decolonial hemispheric networks, and Japanese media-critical poetries as well as platforms such as Twitter/X, Instagram, and Amazon. Though contributors write from a variety of methodological positions and address themselves to a range of archives, they share the primary conviction that the impact of Web 2.0 on literary practice is far-reaching, far from self-evident, and far more variegated and unpredictable than easy summations of social media’s influence suggest. Expressive Networks asks after poetry’s present and future by examining what poems themselves express about the social make-up of networked platforms. Edited by Matthew Kilbane with contributions from Cameron Awkward-Rich, Micah Bateman, Andrew Campana, Sumita Chakraborty, Scott Challener, C.R. Grimmer, Tess McNulty, Michael Nardone, Seth Perlow, Anna Preus, Susanna Sacks, Carly Schnitzler, Melanie Walsh, and Samuel Caleb Wee.
Callable Mortgage Bonds: Numerical Methods and Valuation Models for Pricing and Risk Analysis (Finance for Professionals)
by Niels RomCallable mortgage bonds are utilized by individuals and companies to finance the purchase of real estate, and this asset class therefore plays a crucial role in modern society. Callable mortgage bonds constitute an enormous asset class and often offer long-term stable investments that are very attractive for pension funds. This book focuses on the pricing and calculation of risk numbers of callable fixed-rate mortgage bonds. Owing to the, from a financial perspective, irrational behaviour of borrowers, the pricing of these instruments usually requires the use of numerical solutions. Traditionally, it has been either a Monte Carlo simulation or a Finite Difference method. This book covers both methods and, in addition, the relatively new Fourier technique. This latter technique also creates a link between the interest rate derivatives market and the market for callable mortgage bonds. Finally, a chapter presenting a model for the valuation of a mortgage credit institute&’s loan book is included.
American Economic History: Earliest Americans to 1914 (Classroom Companion: Economics)
by John F. McDonaldThis textbook introduces undergraduate and advanced undergraduate students to the economic foundations of America. Providing a rigorous yet accessible exploration of American Economic History from pre-Columbian times up to 1914, it explains the economic and demographic nuances of colonial America, including the Spanish, French, and English colonies and how they were governed. The book presents the details of the controversy between the English colonists and the English Parliament. It further features the impact of slavery, the Revolutionary and Civil War eras, and it includes extensive economic analysis of the post Civil War nation up to 1914. Based on the author's lectures, the book allows an easy understanding of the economic evolution from the earliest Americans to World War I. Instructors can customize their curriculum by supplementing this fundamental text with additional readings, offering flexibility while ensuring a solid knowledge of the economic aspects of American history.
Indigenous Struggles in the United States: The Divide-and-Conquer Strategy of "Federal Recognition" (Springer Studies on Populism, Identity Politics and Social Justice)
by Barbara Alice MannThis book sheds light on the intricate history of Indigenous America's struggle for identity and sovereignty. Examining the utilization of a divide-and-conquer strategy through "federal recognition" in the United States, the book offers a profound analysis of the tactics employed by the U.S. government to subdue Indigenous peoples. From the early days of American colonization, the U.S. sought to eliminate Indigenous competition for land, leading to a complex interplay of alliances and divisions within Indigenous communities. This book investigates the government's systematic efforts to redefine racial identity, ultimately erasing Indigenous people from official records. The book calls for a reclamation of Indigenous America's narrative, emphasizing the importance of self-representation and unity. This compelling work challenges readers to confront the enduring consequences of historical injustices and rethink the concept of identity in a rapidly changing world.
Recht für Immobilienmakler (essentials)
by Peter S. PrzewieslikDieses essential hilft Maklern dabei, einen ersten Überblick über ihre Rechte und Pflichten sowie über „Fallstricke“ zu geben. Außerdem bietet, Studenten, sich mit den Regelungen des Maklerrechtes vertraut zu machen, Orientierung in kompakter Form. Mieter und Vermieter erhalten einen Überblick über die Rechte und Pflichten von Maklern, vor allem der Zahlungspflicht einer Maklercourtage zu geben.
New Perspectives in the Public and Cultural Sectors: Festschrift in Honor of Ilde Rizzo (Contributions to Economics)
by Isidoro Mazza Giacomo Pignataro Calogero GuccioThis book presents a unique collection of contributions on modern topics in applied public economics, written by leading experts in the respective disciplines and their intersections from cultural economics to public choice. It features contributions on fundamental, methodological, and empirical issues regarding the role and effects of public intervention in a broad range of fields, such as cultural heritage, creative industries, regulation, public procurement, corruption, tax evasion, health economics, and public goods. The book was written in honor of Ilde Rizzo, on the occasion of her retirement, for her many contributions to applied public economics. Given its scope, it will appeal to researchers and PhD students who are interested in the latest developments in cultural and public economics.
KI trifft Menschlichkeit: Warum unser Menschsein die treibende Kraft für eine sinnvolle Zukunft ist (Fit for Future)
by Jörg RistauDie KI-Revolution ist längst Realität – und sie stellt uns vor eine entscheidende Frage: Lassen wir uns von der Technik treiben oder nutzen wir sie, um unsere Kreativität, Empathie und Sinnhaftigkeit auf ein neues Level zu heben? Dieses Buch ist ein Weckruf, KI bewusst und wirkungsvoll einzusetzen – nicht als Ersatz, sondern als Verstärkung unserer Menschlichkeit. Denn die Revolution der KI ist keine technische – sie ist eine menschliche Revolution. Mit wegweisenden Impulsen für eine zukunftsorientierte Führung, die Menschlichkeit ins Zentrum rückt, und praxisnahen Werkzeugen zeigt dieses Buch, wie wir die Beziehung zwischen Mensch und Maschine aktiv gestalten können. Damit Führungskräfte, Unternehmen und jeder Einzelne die Möglichkeiten der Digitalisierung klug nutzen – ohne das Wesentliche aus den Augen zu verlieren.
The Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of China Electrotechnical Society: Volume IX (Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering #1410)
by Yang Li Qingxin Yang Cancan Rong Chunbo Zhu Chenyang Xia Zhichao LuoThis book compiles exceptional papers presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the China Electrotechnical Society (CES), held in Xi'an, China, from September 20 to 22, 2024. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including electrical technology, power systems, electromagnetic emission technology, and electrical equipment. The book highlights innovative solutions that integrate concepts from various disciplines, making it a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, practitioners, research students, and interested readers.
Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Frontiers of Electronics, Information and Computation Technologies: Volume II (Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering #1414)
by Qi Wang Wenli Zhang Weijian Liu Jinchao FengThis book contains papers that have been carefully compiled from the fourth International Conference on Frontiers of Electronics, Information and Computation Technologies (ICFEICT), which was held in Beijing from June 22 to June 24, 2024. These papers have undergone rigorous review processes and adhere to strict standards. The primary goal of the conference is to promote research and development efforts in these areas while fostering the exchange of scientific information. The intended audience for the papers presented at ICFEICT 2024 will primarily be leading academic scientists, researchers, scholars, educators, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working globally in the areas of electronics engineering, communications, and computing.
Recent Trends in Lignocellulosic Biofuels and Bioenergy: Advancements and Sustainability Assessment (Clean Energy Production Technologies)
by Mohd Shahnawaz Mudasir A. Dar Hossain M. ZabedThis book offers a comprehensive exploration of recent trends in lignocellulosic biofuels, focusing on advancements and sustainability assessments. Edited by leading experts, it provides an in-depth analysis of biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass, highlighting the latest technological innovations and their environmental impacts. The chapters cover a range of critical topics, including the life cycle assessment of biofuels, the socio-economic implications of bioenergy, and the integration of artificial intelligence in biofuel production. The chapters delve into the environmental, energetic, and economic perspectives of biofuels as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Readers will gain insights into the challenges and solutions for biofuel production, including the role of machine learning and global policy frameworks. This volume is essential for researchers, professionals, and students in the biofuels sector. It offers valuable perspectives on the future of bioenergy, making it a must-read for anyone interested in sustainable energy solutions. Whether you're a policymaker, academic, or industry professional, this book provides the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the evolving landscape of biofuels and bioenergy.
Immigrant and Refugee Entrepreneurs: History, Cases, and Frontiers (Ethnic and Indigenous Business Studies)
by Leo-Paul Dana Ivan Light Didier ChabaudIn this broad-based, imaginative and challenging volume by front-runners in the domain of immigrant and refugee entrepreneurship, Ivan Light, Leo-Paul Dana and Didier Chabaud contribute a near boundless magnitude to our understanding of this realm of scholarship, agency, endurance, and survivorship. Their insights into the saliency of these forms of collective effort are as impressive as they are persuasive. Seven Gold, Department of Sociology, Michigan State University. This book holds significant academic merit and also serves as an essential tool for policymakers, scholars, and anyone keen on understanding the deep influence of immigrant entrepreneurship on global society. Additionally, it celebrates the relentless spirit of immigrant entrepreneurs who persistently foster innovation and drive transformative changes within their communities. Thomas Cooney, College of Business, Technological University Dublin <p class="xparagraph" style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom
A Most Puzzling Murder: A quirky, humorous locked room murder mystery with riddles and puzzles for the reader to solve
by Bianca MaraisHow do you solve a murder that hasn't happened yet?Destiny Whip is a former child prodigy, world-renowned enigmatologist and very, very alone. A life filled with loss has made her a recluse, an existence she&’s content to endure until a letter arrives inviting her to interview for the position of Scruffmore family historian. Not only does an internet search for the name yield almost nothing, it&’s a role she never applied to in the first place!She decodes the invitation's hidden message with ease, and its promise to reveal her family secrets proves too powerful a draw for the orphaned Destiny, who soon finds herself on Eerie Island. It&’s a place whose inhabitants are almost as inhospitable as the tempestuous weather. The Scruffmores themselves turn out to be not much better, a snarled mess of secrets and motives connected by their mistrust for one another.Their newly arrived guest proves to be just as much an enigma to them as they are to her. While Destiny slowly works to unravel the mysteries hidden throughout the ominous castle, she struggles to interpret disturbing nightly visions of what is to come. In the midst of cryptic ciphers, hidden passages, and the family&’s magical line of succession, Destiny is certain of two things: one of the Scruffmores is going to die and she&’s running out of time to stop it.Interspersed with riddles and puzzles that both Destiny and the reader must solve, A Most Puzzling Murder is a one-of-a-kind mystery that will leave you guessing and gasping until the very last page!
The Marriage Vendetta: A Novel
by Caroline MaddenA darkly funny feminist debut about a resentful stay-at-home wife and her vindictive marriage therapistRevenge is in session.Eliza Sheridan is at her wits' end with her husband, Richard. Not only did he uproot her and their daughter Mara's lives for his career, but he also hasn&’t honored the one thing he promised before moving to Dublin: that he&’d make more time for his wife and daughter.So when Eliza receives an anonymous photo of Richard with another woman, she's just about ready to file for divorce. As a last resort, she pays a visit to a marriage therapist, Ms. Early, who Eliza quickly learns is a bit…alternative in her approach. As their sessions unfold, Ms. Early spurs her on to commit a series of vengeful acts against Richard—each more bizarre than the last—all in the name of &“re-training&” her husband. But when therapy takes a risky turn, suspicions grow and alliances shift... How far is Eliza willing to go to save her marriage?
Floored: A Woman's Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage
by Sara Reardon&“Floored is a transformative guide. A must-read for reclaiming comfort, dignity, and vitality.&”– Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Board Certified OBGYN and author of The New MenopauseThe definitive guide to pelvic floor health, written by pelvic floor physical therapist and creator of the Vagina Whisperer, Dr. Sara Reardon.Too many women put up with pelvic floor discomfort, thinking their symptoms are &“just part of motherhood and aging.&” And for far too long, the American health care system has normalized pelvic problems, leaving women feeling hopeless, ashamed and suffering in silence. Board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Sara Reardon helps women prevent and overcome common pelvic floor issues so they can trust and enjoy their bodies again. Floored is a rallying cry for women&’s health and the authoritative guide for the pelvic floor, a critical group of muscles involved in day-to-day functions from peeing and pooping and sex and childbirth to menstruation and menopause. Whether you&’re navigating postpartum recovery, seeking relief from urinary incontinence or aiming to enhance sexual pleasure, this comprehensive resource provides the insights and strategies every woman needs. Inside the pages of this book, you will find: Education on pelvic floor anatomy and its critical role in your overall health. Practical advice for pelvic floor self-assessment and signs of potential issues. Exercises to strengthen, rehabilitate and maintain pelvic floor health across different life stages. Tips for treating common pelvic floor symptoms, such as involuntary urine leakage and painful sex.With clear and engaging guidance, Dr. Reardon demystifies the complexities of pelvic floor care and provides everything you need to ensure your pelvic well-being. The time to take control of your pelvic health is now.Learn about a variety of topics related to pelvic floor health, including: Menopause Menstruation Pregnancy and childbirth Postpartum care Painful sex Incontinence and prolapse Vaginal hygiene
Writing Mr. Right: A Novel
by Alina Khawaja"A joyful, life-affirming story.... A lovely tribute to creatives everywhere." —Uzma Jalaluddin, author of Much Ado About NadaIn this charming, delightfully original rom-com, a struggling writer&’s muse suddenly comes to life, but can they create their own happily-ever-after? Legal secretary by day, aspiring novelist by night, Ziya Khan pours herself into writing stories featuring the kinds of diverse characters she loves. In exchange, she&’s got a growing pile of rejection letters. When yet another &“thanks but no thanks&” arrives on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Ziya decides to throw her novel and her dreams in the trash. End of story. Except that when Ziya wakes up, there&’s a flesh-and-blood version of her muse standing in her kitchen. His name is Aashiq, and it&’s his job to inspire Ziya to write again. From singing karaoke to standing up for herself at work, he&’s pushing Ziya out of the sidelines and into the world, showing her how to live and love fully. Even more impossibly, something starts to blossom between them. But as Ziya rediscovers the joy of writing, Aashiq starts to disappear. His job is almost done. And it seems soon Ziya will have to choose: Her art…or her heart?
Amelia, If Only
by Becky AlbertalliAmelia Applebaum isn’t in love with Walter Holland. He just happens to be her favorite moderately famous, chaotically bisexual YouTuber. Who she just happened to invite to prom. (But it’s fine. No, for real. If you delete the post, it didn’t happen.)Okay, maybe her friends are right: She’s slightly parasocially infatuated. But Amelia just knows sparks would fly—if only she could connect with Walter for real. If only he would host a meet and greet. If only it were just a short road trip away. And if only Amelia could talk her best friends into making it the perfect last hurrah before graduation—even her newly single, always-cynical, guitar-toting best friend Natalie.One thing’s for sure: All roads lead to butterflies.But what if Amelia’s butterflies aren’t for Walter at all?
Kakigori Summer: A Novel
by Emily ItamiA wry and tender novel from the author of Fault Lines about three very different sisters reunited in adulthood for one short summer, for readers of Hello Beautiful and Blue Sisters."Kakigori Summer is a novel about belonging… I loved retreating into its cocoon of sibling humor as the sisters briefly stepped back to discover their place in it." — Florence Knapp, author of The NamesRei, Kiki, and Ai are three sisters divided by distance and circumstance. Ambitious Rei works in finance in London; Kiki is the single mother of a young son, working in a retirement home in Tokyo; and Ai, the youngest, is a peripatetic Japanese music idol. Having lost both parents, one way or another, the sisters rely on each other as family, far-flung as they are.When Ai is embroiled in a scandal, Rei and Kiki pause their own lives to rescue their baby sister. Over the course of a summer spent in their childhood home on the Japanese coast, the sisters will reunite with their sharp-edged grandmother, care for Kiki’s irrepressible son, and silently worry about Ai, all while carefully not talking about the circumstances of their mother’s death fifteen years before. But silence between sisters can only last for so long…A transporting and redemptive novel, Kakigori Summer is a hopeful meditation on love and loss, sisterhood and family, and a profound exploration of the stories we tell ourselves about our past that enable us to move forward into the future.
The Paper Birds: A Novel
by Jeanette LynesImagine you have only a pencil and paper, and your puzzle-solving skills to help end the war Gemma Sullivan lands a coveted office job in the summer of 1943, only to discover that she’s been hired to work in a top-secret codebreaking office in an unsuspecting house along the lake in Mimico, Ontario. The ‘Cottage’ – run by the brilliant, eccentric Miss Fearing, who was trained at England’s Bletchley Park – pulls Gemma in with its urgent lure and mystery. But along with this job comes a lifelong oath of secrecy. Gem can’t tell anyone what she does for work, not even her elderly Aunt Wren, who has raised her since the age of three after the tragic death of her parents. Her aunt harbors of a deep love of crosswords and Tarot cards and an equally passionate hatred for war since the death of her own fiancée in WWI. The last thing she'd want for her niece is a job that involves anything to do with the war. The codebreaking is intense, mind-numbing, at times, but as Gem is pulled deeper into wartime intelligence work, she becomes an integral part of the codebreakers’ circle. The Cottage codebreaking unit is small but determined, but in order to be successful, they must learn to work together. But when Gem begins fraternizing with a handsome prisoner at a POW camp nearby - who later disappears - she risks losing everything.The Paper Birds is a WWII love story that reveals the struggles and sacrifices of every day working women during the war and highlights the previously unknown codebreaking work undertaken by women in Canada during the war.