Product DescriptionSet in New York during the Great Depression, Miss Lonelyhearts concerns a nameless man assigned to produce a newspaper advice column — but as time passes he begins to break under the endless misery of those who write in, begging him for advice. Unable to find answers, and with his shaky Christianity ridiculed to razor-edged shards by his poisonous editor, he tumbles into alcoholism and a madness fueled by his own spiritual emptiness.About the AuthorNathanael West — novelist, screenwriter, playwright — was one of the most gifted and original writers of his generation, a comic artist whose insight into the brutalities of modern life would prove prophetic. He is famous for two masterpieces, Miss Lonelyhearts (1933) and The Day of the Locust (1939). He died in a car crash in 1940, while returning to Los Angeles to attend the funeral of his friend F. Scott Fitzgerald.

In the Beauty of the Lilies begins in 1910 and traces God’s relation to four generations of American seekers, beginning with Clarence Wilmot, a clergyman in Paterson, New Jersey. He loses his faith but finds solace at the movies, respite from “the bleak facts of life, his life, gutted by God’s withdrawal.” His son, Teddy, becomes a mailman who retreats from American exceptionalism, religious and otherwise, into a life of studied ordinariness. Teddy has a daughter, Esther, who becomes a movie star, an object of worship, an All-American goddess. Her neglected son, Clark, is possessed of a native Christian fervor that brings the story full circle: in the late 1980s he joins a Colorado sect called the Temple, a handful of “God’s elect” hastening the day of reckoning. In following the Wilmots’ collective search for transcendence, John Updike pulls one wandering thread from the tapestry of the American Century and writes perhaps the greatest of his later novels.

Awakenings--which inspired the major motion picture--is the remarkable story of a group of patients who contracted sleeping-sickness during the great epidemic just after World War I. Frozen for decades in a trance-like state, these men and women were given up as hopeless until 1969, when Dr. Oliver Sacks gave them the then-new drug L-DOPA, which had an astonishing, explosive, "awakening" effect. Dr. Sacks recounts the moving case histories of his patients, their lives, and the extraordinary transformations which went with their reintroduction to a changed world.

The uptown girls are headed downtown as Serena and Jenny take on their new fabulous roles as rock-star model girlfriends of New York's hottest band, The Raves. Meanwhile, Dan is to busy drowning his sorrows in empty bottles to notice a mysterious French beauty who has a penchant for dirty, Jim Morrison-wannabe lead singers. Blair takes residence at the Plaza to think about her future. Will she become a gun-toting international spy or Manhattan's snobbiest society hostess? Decisions are so difficult Sounds like everyone needs a day off at the spa. And Senior Spa Day promises to serve up further doses of scandal for New York's busiest private-school vixens.

ON the thirteenth of May, 1770, Paris celebrated the wedding of the Dauphin or Prince Royal Louis Aguste, grandson of Louis XV. still reigning, with Marie-Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria. The entire population flocked towards Louis XV. Place, where fireworks were to be let off. A pyrotechnical display was the finish to all grand public ceremonies, and the Parisians were fond of them although they might make fun. The ground was happily chosen, as it would hold six thousand spectators. Around the equestrian statue of the King, stands were built circularly to give a view of the fireworks, to be set off at ten or twelve feet elevation.

Barry did a masterful job of drawing you into the world of Tommy Sands. Told in a conversational style, one becomes immersed in the world in which the child grows up. The book starts with a young Tommy living in the slums of London. Soon a baby sister appears, Elspeth. Living under such harsh conditions could harden a child, but instead Tommy becomes an empathetic figure, developing the ability to put himself, on an emotional level, into another person's shoes. We are told the story of Tommy and his sister as they relocate to Thrums, Scottland, after the death of their mother, taken in by the man scorned by their mother many years ago. Tommy's imagination and ability to create fantasy worlds for them to live in aid in their survival. Just as Barry's imagination ability draws you into the world of Sentimental Tommy.

Madame Lambert meets American diplomat Dexter Jones. Dedicated to her official work, the widow resists romance while becoming intrigued with the charming diplomat as he escorts her to salons across the Left Bank cultural scene. Romance ripens into commitment as momentous events unfold as the French attempt to face the Ethiopian crisis while countering the Nazi threat in the German Rhineland.In the darkening years of the 1930s, the beautiful Madame Lambert meets American diplomat Dexter Jones at the Quai d’Orsay. She works on the staff of French Premier Pierre Laval. Dedicated to her work, the austere widow resists romance while becoming increasingly intrigued with the charming diplomat as he escorts her to political and literary salons across the vibrant Left Bank cultural scene. Romance ripens into enduring commitment against a backdrop of momentous historical events as the French government attempts to contain the Ethiopian crisis at the League of Nations while countering the rising Nazi threat to remilitarize the German Rhineland.Madame Lambert witnesses first-hand the British-French diplomatic meetings between Premier Laval and British foreign secretary Sir Samuel Hoare that collapse in controversy over ending the Italo-Ethiopian war. Shortly afterwards, she is in the room when the French government bogs down with indecision over responding to Hitler’s march into the Rhineland, the key to preserving France’s alliances with its East European allies. Cameo appearances by Colonel Charles DeGaulle, André Malraux, Sylvia Beach, Adrienne Monnier, André Chamson, and journalists Genevieve Tabouis and Pertinax.

Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, an ordinary young couple, settle into a New York City apartment, unaware that the elderly neighbors and their bizarre group of friends have taken a disturbing interest in them. But by the time Rosemary discovers the horrifying truth, it may be far too late!

When our hero touches the face of evil, he resolves to fight. But he discovers when you fight fire with fire, everyone and everything gets burned, and there's nothing left to save.He knew better than to believe it could make a real difference, but he wanted to make oppression just a bit more expensive. So with the help of some friends, he hits back, and they succeed beyond their wildest dreams. Unfortunately, he paid an even higher price than those he was fighting, and almost lost his own soul. The biggest adventure of all was winning it back.

Opaque Window is a book of poems touching on Politics, Greed, Hypocrisy, Parenting, Love, Hope, and maybe some Aliens.Opaque Window is a selection of poems that have crossed through the fabrics of my mind onto paper or pixilated lettering on a glowing monitor. Some of these works are old, some are new. I would like to believe my art is timeless, and that these poems will carry validity through the ages. This short anecdote of literary pleasure can be paired with a steaming cup of coffee, a crisp Chianti, or an entire bottle of rum. I know that they pair well, because as a writer, especially a poet. Drinking is in the craft. I hope that you enjoy reading these as much as I enjoyed writing them. Shoot me a review either negative or positive. This book is free, so what I ask is more vital and expensive- your precious time. Thank YouKurt T Thomson

Little Bad Wolf is a wolf with a mission. Her mother had been killed and her father is in prison. Her mission is to get him released. To do this she must convince the Judge he is not dangerous. That should be easy. The hard part is that she must start by learning to speak human language. This is the story of her adventures.Little Bad Wolf's parents loved nothing more than dancing to the songs of Elvis Presley. They were unusual parents for wolves but had a very happy family until the day when everything went wrong. That day her mother was killed and her father was put in prison for nothing more than being a wolf.Little Bad Wolf now had a mission: to get her father released from prison.To convince the Judge he was not dangerous. That would be easy. The hard part was that she must start by learn to speak human language... but Little Bad Wolf was not the sort of creature to let impossibility stand in her way.

The four short stories included in this ebook were selected as finalists for the Best Short Stories of 2013 Award and were published during the month of December, 2013. Fans, well-wishers, and reading enthusiasts have selected this years top short story from among these distinguished finalists.Dear reader,The four short stories included in this ebook were selected as finalists for the Best Short Stories of 2013 Award and were published during the month of December, 2013. Fans, well-wishers, and reading enthusiasts have selected this years top short story from among these distinguished finalists. The results of this readers-choice poll are as follows:1. Dreamer by Janae Schiele2. Bliss by Vanessa Rasanen3. Out of the Shadows by Katrina Umland4. Facing Memories by Deanna WiseburnI hope you enjoy these stories as much as I, our judges, and all the wonderful readers at justinblaney.com did. Your friend,Justin BlaneyEditor of justinblaney.comPS, I included one of my own short stories as a bonus, fifth story at the conclusion of this volume. This is the first in a series called Isfits, which you can discover more about at isfits.com

Colby's post-high school plans have long been that he and his best friend Bev would tour with her band, then spend a year in Europe. When Bev she announces that she will start college just after the tour, Colby struggles to understand why she changed her mind and what losing her means for his future.

The Spring Issues are about spring, and the holidays in spring, and events of this season. This Spring 2014 issue contains writing by: Kerry E.B. Black Kat MagnoliRichard CottonSumiko SaulsonHaven MaloneShirley DentonJacqueline DriggersThe Writer's Muse Page is a group started by Richard Cotton where writers can share with and support one another. Any writers are welcome to join this group. The Writer's Group Smashwords Account was set up by Sumiko Saulson for the group to create a place to publish the quarterly free periodicals by the members of the Facebook Group. There are nearly 1000 writers on the Writer's Muse page. This Spring 2014 issue contains writing by: Kerry E.B. Black Kat MagnoliRichard CottonSumiko SaulsonHaven MaloneShirley DentonJacqueline Driggers

We live in a time where lots of people are overwhelmed with anxiety of "living" their lives. Poetry is the best form of acupuncture or massage you will have. This anthology is a collection of poems from the greatest minds of young poets across Africa. The anthology is put together to preserve the imaginative ingenuity of young Africans. Why not spend some time viewing some of these great poems?A short story warning the reader to listen for the sound of heavy rain as it means that aliens of long ago are about to pass judgement on our species.