**What would happen if you were visited by your younger self, and got a chance for a do-over? ** Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she's actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce. A knock on the head has misplaced ten years of her life, and Alice isn't sure she likes who she's become. It turns out, though, that forgetting might be the most memorable thing that has ever happened to Alice.

With Texasville, Larry McMurtry returns to the unforgettable Texas town and characters of one of his best-loved books, The Last Picture Show. This is a Texas-sized story brimming with home truths of the heart, and men and women we recognize, believe in, and care about deeply. Set in the post-oil-boom 1980s, Texasville brings us up to date with Duane, who's got an adoring dog, a sassy wife, a twelve-million-dollar debt, and a hot tub by the pool; Jacy, who's finished playing "Jungla" in Italian movies and who's returned to Thalia; and Sonny -- Duane's teenage rival for Jacy's affections -- who owns the car wash, the Kwik-Sackstore, and the video arcade. One of Larry McMurtry's funniest and most touching contemporary novels.

“She saw: first, a square opening, about eight inches wide, in the lowest step…finally she saw that there was a walnut shell, or half one, outside the nearest door…she went to look at the shell—but looked with the greatest astonishment. There was a baby in it.” So ten-year-old Maria, orphaned mistress of Malplaquet, discovers the secret of her deteriorating estate: on a deserted island at its far corner, in the temple long ago nicknamed Mistress Masham’s Repose, live an entire community of people—”The People,” as they call themselves—all only inches tall. With the help of her only friend—the absurdly erudite Professor—Maria soon learns that this settlement is no less than the kingdom of Lilliput (first seen in Gulliver’s Travels) in exile. Safely hidden for centuries, the Lilliputians are at first endangered by Maria’s well-meaning but clumsy attempts to make their lives easier, but their situation grows truly ominous when they are discovered by Maria’s greedy guardians, who look at The People and see only a bundle of money.

With unraveled embroidery and fraying hems, the Traveling Pants are back for one last, glorious summer. Lena: Immerses herself in her painting and an intoxicating summer fling, fearing that the moment she forgets about Kostos will be the moment she sees him again. Carmen: Falls under the spell of a sophisticated college friend for whom a theatrical role means everything and the heritage of the Pants means nothing. Bridget: Joins a dig for an ancient city on the coast of Turkey and discovers that her archaeology professor is available in every way except one. Tibby: Leaves behind someone she loves, wrongly believing he will stay where she has left him. Join Ann Brashares's beloved sisterhood once again in a dazzling, fearless novel. It's a summer that will forever change the lives of Lena, Carmen, Bee, and Tibby, here and now, past and future, together and apart. From the Hardcover edition.

Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Abraham Lincoln's political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from obscurity to prevail over three gifted rivals of national reputation to become president. On May 18, 1860, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln waited in their hometowns for the results from the Republican National Convention in Chicago. When Lincoln emerged as the victor, his rivals were dismayed and angry. Throughout the turbulent 1850s, each had energetically sought the presidency as the conflict over slavery was leading inexorably to secession and civil war. That Lincoln succeeded, Goodwin demonstrates, was the result of a character that had been forged by experiences that raised him above his more privileged and accomplished rivals. He won because he possessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men, to experience what they were feeling, to understand their motives and desires. It was this capacity that enabled Lincoln as president to bring his disgruntled opponents together, create the most unusual cabinet in history, and marshal their talents to the task of preserving the Union and winning the war. We view the long, horrifying struggle from the vantage of the White House as Lincoln copes with incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and his raucous cabinet. He overcomes these obstacles by winning the respect of his former competitors, and in the case of Seward, finds a loyal and crucial friend to see him through. This brilliant multiple biography is centered on Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history.

The year is 1970, and the youth of Europe are in the chaotic, ecstatic throes of the sexual revolution. Though blindly dedicated to the cause, its nubile foot soldiers have yet to realize this disturbing truth: that between the death of one social order and the birth of another, there exists a state of terrifying purgatory—or, as Alexander Herzen put it, a pregnant widow. Keith Nearing is stuck in an exquisite limbo. Twenty years old and on vacation from college, Keith and an assortment of his peers are spending the long, hot summer in a castle in Italy. The tragicomedy of manners that ensues will have an indelible effect on all its participants, and we witness, too, how it shapes Keith’s subsequent love life for decades to come. Bitingly funny, full of wit and pathos, The Pregnant Widow is a trenchant portrait of young lives being carried away on a sea of change. From the Hardcover edition.

For fans of The Princess Diaries and Famous in Love, an engrossing look behind the velvet ropes of stardom from a former Teen People Senior Editor who has seen it all. What if your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status? It's a glamorous life, but 16-year-old Kaitlin Burke, co-star of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of her fame. So she decides to spend two months undercover as an ordinary high school student. But could it be that real life high school is just as harsh as cutthroat Hollywood?? Don't miss the first book in the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series from Jen Calonita, author of the Fairy Tale Reform School series.

In a marvellous, thrilling re-creation of the world of Pride and Prejudice, P.D. James fuses her lifelong passion for the work of Jane Austen with her own great talent for writing crime fiction.The year is 1803, and Darcy and Elizabeth have been married for six years. There are now two handsome, healthy sons in the Pemberley nursery, Elizabeth's beloved sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live within seventeen miles, the ordered and secure life of Pemberley seems unassailable, and Elizabeth's happiness in her marriage is complete. But their peace is threatened and old sins and misunderstandings are rekindled on the eve of the annual autumn ball. The Darcys and their guests are preparing to retire for the night when a chaise appears, rocking down the path from Pemberley's wild woodland, and as it pulls up, Lydia Wickham, an uninvited guest, tumbles out, screaming that her husband has been murdered.Death Comes to Pemberley is a powerful work...

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

The Count of Samerand is the final authority on crime, so much so that inspector James Wright of Scotland Yard has felt it necessary to bring eccentric count in on many a case. It is through these dealings and their unique meeting that the good inspector has to rely and even admire the count. In his later years he picks up his pen to defend this unique man, when the count is no longer able to.It is April 5, 1864, when the Count of Samerand busy in his experiments is commissioned by his good friend inspector James Wright in the murder of Robert Melbourne, a wealthy landowner from the states who has been found murdered by the house staff. The case should be a simple one for one so versed in crime, but circumstances are not what they seem to be, and the murderer has disappeared from a room that is barred from all sides. Will the count with all his worldly knowledge find the killer or has he met his match?

The financial collapse of 2008 has claimed both lives and fortunes as the collateral damage of unscrupulous manipulation. This play explores how the evil of those unpunished crimes becomes the downfall of all involved: the criminals, the ambivalent, and the innocent. A tragedy written in the Shakespearean tradition.The play follows the downfall of Chadwick, a prominent New York banker right before the fury of the financial collapse. Based on actual events surrounding the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, it gives voice to the individuals and emotions that surrounded this existential threat to our financial system. It explores the moral dynamics of the evil perpetrated in the quest for absolute power, and how it causes the end of the guilty and the innocent.

Rolly is an aberdeen buttery and together with his best friend Floury the morning roll, they go to a football match and a wedding.Time is running out for the abducted Monica/Frida. She's about to be forced into an even more horrible nightmare. Every day is a challenge to stay alive, but now the challenge has escalated into trying to find a way out of her most feared fate. All she has are her wits to light the path to survival--that and her special friendship with a boy. Will time be her friend or her enemy?

Welcome to Elephant Small Vol 4. This is the fourth in a series of five ebooks that cover five years of original verse previously published on my weblog 'Elephant Small'. Vol 4 covers edited highlights mainly from the year 2010.Jez and Jammer are brother and sister and find themselves in the middle of an adventure they will never forget, if they survive. Carried from their home by one of the large Jumper beasts, their world suddenly becomes unfamiliar and hostile. The House of the Gods is near and the Gods are stirring. It is life or death for Jez and Jammer, unless they can find their way home.The Giant Gods are not far away though and the dangers of the land are full of gargantuan creatures and hungry insects and beasts hiding in the forests. The darkness of night soon descends upon them and hope is all but lost.Join the two on their adventure to find out what happens.

Celebrated as a masterpiece from its first publication, A Single Man is the story of George, an English professor in suburban California left heartbroken after the death of his lover, Jim. With devastating clarity and humour, Christopher Isherwood shows George's determination to carry on, evoking the unexpected pleasures of life as well as the soul's ability to triumph over loneliness and alienation.

We each experience and envision our own version of Topeka. In these stories, 18 writers twist the past and future to explore alternate possibilities for our community. These stories will make you question what you know about the past and frighten you about what the future could hold. What if....? Read this collection from the 2016 Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Community Novel Project.We each experience and envision our own version of Topeka. In these stories, 18 writers twist the past and future to explore alternate possibilities for our community. These stories will make you question what you know about the past and frighten you about what the future could hold. What if....? Read this collection from the 2016 Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Community Novel Project and don't miss the exclusive author interviews at the end of the book to discover memorable moments, inspiration behind the stories, writing process, and what real-life twists for Topeka the authors fear. ADVANCE PRAISE FOR TWISTING TOPEKA“A rich collection of talent and imagination. The diversity of the stories is stunning, but they share one thing in common--each one will make you think.”—R.L. Naquin, author of the Monster Haven series“An eclectic collection of stories that will be entertaining for fans of short form literature.”—James Young, author of Acts of War“TWISTING TOPEKA—time travel, tricks / turbulent & terrifying times / tunnels / tragedy, treasure, triumphs / trysts & twists—NOT your typical Topeka tales.”—L.J. Williams, author of The Crystal Egg“The 18 short stories in this book twist the past and warp the future, challenging the reader to imagine ‘what if?’”—Angel Edenburn, author of Night Blind“Welcome to a world where nothing is as it seems. The stories, characters, and prose flow from each story like interwoven chains. Authors turn Kansas history upside down and inside out, giving us alternate timelines and new spins on the ordinary. Fellow Topekans, watch out! History is about to get twisted.”—Romualdo R. Chavez, author of El VampiroContents include:1.What Fate Ordains by Diana MarshWhat if the Apollo moon landing ended differently?2.Native Son by Marian RakestrawWhat if John Steuart Curry had stayed to finish his Capitol murals?3.The Printed Word by Miranda Ericsson KendallWhat if the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library made the decision to go bookless in 2026?4.Tovarishch O’Sullivan by Craig PaschangWhat if the Soviets had won the cold war by winning the hearts and minds of the people of America’s heartland?5.Test Year by Jamie CrispinWhat if parallel worlds did exist? 6.Proclaim the New Name by Duane L. HerrmannWhat if you had to travel to Chicago to gain inspiration for action in Topeka?7.Cleansing Waters by C.R. KennedyWhat if a vivacious young woman showed compassion to a distraught stranger in the rock garden at Gage Park?8.As Mercy Would Have It by Annette Hope BillingsWhat if the death of a little girl did not mean the end of her life?9.Underground Ark by Reaona HemmingwayWhat if a nuclear holocaust made the surface of Earth toxic, and a group of Kansans survived in a bunker underground?10.Shake, Rattle and Roll by Roxanna NameyWhat if the earth shook?11.Black Blizzard by Vernon NeffWhat if an extended drought turned a future Topeka into a perpetual twilight of dust and grit?12.A Library for Every Kid by S. R. ThompsonWhat if there was a library on almost every corner in Topeka and it didn’t cost the people of Shawnee County one red cent?13.The Jesse Owens Effect by Ian HallWhat if Alf Landon beat Teddy Roosevelt in the 1936 Presidential election?14.Happiness is a Cold Pistol by Paul SwearingenWhat if she had decided to shoot?15.Psychic Shift by Annabelle CorrickWhat if two errant children surprised a psychiatric patient into sanity?16.Tunnels by Leah SewellWhat if the Topeka State Hospital was destroyed?17.Love and Friendship by Lissa StaleyWhat if online public school was the only option for Kansas teens?18.Dance with the Devil by Aimee L. GrossWhat if the WW II headquarters of the OSS was actually Menninger Clinic, recruiting locals to catch an enemy spy ring in Topeka?